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Bill Shorten is popular somewhere…

November 24, 2015

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Bill Shorten’s popularity has soared to a remarkable 15% representing a 50% increase on the tolerance afforded to Julia Gillard when she was unceremoniously dumped as leader on 29%.

This means the Federal Labor leader is essentially a hollow cadaver of a man, occupying a space that 85% of Australians would prefer to be occupied by vacant space.

Meanwhile Talcum Turnbull continues to enjoy a stratospheric level of public adulation, unseen since former Labor leader Kevin Rudd vied for the top job back in 2007.

With Talcum in charge, the latest Newspoll shows the government comfortably ahead of Labor on the two-party preferred basis, leading 52 to 48, and recording a primary vote of 45 per cent against Labor’s 35 per cent.

Shorten’s leadership is now not just terminal, but already clinically dead, recording the worst result for a Labor leader in 12 years.

 

 

 

 

382 Comments leave one →
  1. November 24, 2015 10:04 am

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  2. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:07 am

    This means the Federal Labor leader is essentially a hollow cadaver of a man, occupying a space that 85% of Australians would prefer to be occupied by vacant space.

    Interestingly, that describes malcayman quite well 😉

    I’m trying to work out just what he achieved in Parliament.

    Obviously, he has done a lot that helped himself. But has he done anything that has helped the country?

  3. November 24, 2015 10:18 am

    “”But has he done anything that has helped the country?””

    He got rid of Tony Abbott.

    That’s a pretty good start.

  4. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:22 am

    It’s getting near the time when Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull will need to make decisions about tax, and I’m not talking about the GST.

    Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/tax-white-paper-will-target-superannuation-not-the-gst-20151122-gl4xbc.html#ixzz3sMLxyOgk
    Follow us: @theage on Twitter | theageAustralia on Facebook

    “getting near the time”??

    How long has this mob been in grubmint? It’s past time, and we KNOW what they WANT to do, and what they will TRY and do given half the chance.

    Wishin’ and whinin’ aint gonna make it so journo. Look to what they do, or what they still have on the books trying to still push through Parliament to inform your writing, not tables of everything in the nevernever, except of course when we start talking about it, then we can’t talk about it.

    If you don’t want to talk about it, say so, so we can all move onto talking about the real things.

    Yes, like super, which Labor HAVE been talking about for years now

    http://www.news.com.au/national/super-cuts-aimed-at-votes/story-e6frfkp9-1226354237939

    Like I said … Muppets!

  5. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:30 am

    He got rid of Tony Abbott.

    Luckily Mr 15% had nothing to do with that, hey 😉

  6. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:30 am

    He got rid of Tony Abbott.

    And that’s even after you claimed yabot knocked himself out.

    #justsayin

  7. November 24, 2015 10:36 am

    “”Luckily Mr 15% had nothing to do with that, hey””

    correct.

  8. November 24, 2015 10:37 am

    “”And that’s even after you claimed yabot knocked himself out.””

    He did. But someone had to take his place didn’t they…?

    Do I have to spell everything out….?? 🙄

  9. Walrus permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:45 am

    From TomR’s link

    “Rather than declaring that the investment earnings of retirees will be taxed now, Morrison could declare that the investment earnings of future retirees will be taxed in, say, 15 years. Nothing would be retrospective. Anyone who had already retired could keep their zero tax rate until they died.”

    This is a wonderful policy proposal…………………………….for my clients and Moi

  10. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:46 am

    Do I have to spell everything out….??

    Just thought since you were in so pedantic a mood earlier, that “got rid of” might not convey the action of “parachuted in” accurately enough 😉

  11. Walrus permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:46 am

    “Do I have to spell everything out….??”

    In TomR’s case………………………………….Yes !

    And then again and again and again !

  12. TB Queensland permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:49 am

    So Bill Shorten or the ultimate Robber Baron … the list of 1,498 companies exempt from filing an annual report to ASIC is interesting … including …

    TURNBULL & PARTNERS HOLDINGS PTY LIMITED 003276382

    Private companies associated with Australia’s business elite, including prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, are on a list of entities not required to publish tax information under a historical secrecy provision that will continue if the Senate caves in on its demand that the government introduce new tax transparency rules.

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/23/tax-transparency-full-list-of-exempt-companies-revealed-as-senate-battle-looms

    Never smile at a crocodile … or judge a book by its cover

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    He got rid of Tony Abbott.

    I’d argue that … Abbott got rid of himself … and I suspect Turncoat was manipulated – ie he didn’t instigate anything!

    Turncoat is certainly not a mover and shaker so far … far from it … nothing has changed!

  13. Walrus permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:50 am

    “Yes, like super, which Labor HAVE been talking about for years now”

    ROFLMAO…………………did you actually read that Link ?

    Its actually quite hostile to the ALP

  14. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:59 am

    for my clients and Moi

    It’s decided then 🙂

    Although, I do agree that, when messing with super, changes shouldn’t be regressive. People have made decisions on laws of the time, good or bad as they are. You can only change “moving forward” (so to speak)

  15. TB Queensland permalink
    November 24, 2015 10:59 am

    Its actually quite hostile to the ALP

    er?

  16. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 11:02 am

    Its actually quite hostile to the ALP

    Truly? A media article hostile to the ALP? Who’d have thunk it.

    Is this the same media now urging for reform on Super. The ones saying it’s all up to malcayman, and Labor has nothing.

    THAT media? ROFL

  17. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 11:35 am

    But like I said earlier, this isn’t going to make Labor any more popular

  18. November 24, 2015 11:39 am

    “”A media article hostile to the ALP? Who’d have thunk it.””

    I know. If only they’d focus on all those positive policy announcements….

    *crickets*

  19. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 11:42 am

    those positive policy announcements….

    You mean like the super ones the media are complaining about now?

    Those ones? 😉

    Or any of these?

    http://www.alp.org.au/policy_commitments

  20. TB Queensland permalink
    November 24, 2015 11:44 am

    You can only change “moving forward” (so to speak)

    TR, going/moving fkn forward! I know …

    Try – “the future” … … at the end of the day, you’ll have more empowerment and take ownership with a more value added deliverable and greater cost benefits … 🙄

  21. Walrus permalink
    November 24, 2015 11:46 am

    “I know. If only they’d focus on all those positive policy announcements….”

    ROFLMAO………oh yes………..I forgot all those positive policy announcements during the “Year of Ideas”

    So far we have $40 packets of cigarettes to whack the poor with.

  22. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 11:50 am

    So far we have $40 packets of cigarettes to whack the poor with.

    stoopid is what stoopid says 😉

  23. TB Queensland permalink
    November 24, 2015 11:59 am

    Has anyone had a good look at the companies listed in this article yet?

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/23/tax-transparency-full-list-of-exempt-companies-revealed-as-senate-battle-looms

    Because if you do you may be surprised at the “people” who are … “exempt from filing annual financial reports with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under a deal done by the Keating government in 1995.”

    Ridiculous!

    Whose government is this? The Robber Barons … that’s who!

  24. TB Queensland permalink
    November 24, 2015 12:02 pm

    So far we have … ” and then your brain slows down to a stop ….

    stoopid is … alright …

    Whacking the price of fags up is a public service … pity asbestos wasn’t taxed the same way!

    Or shonky financial advise … 🙂

  25. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 12:04 pm

    Whose government is this?

    The people on the list. I mean, even our tax avoidance prone PM is on there. So REALLY, the people on the list 😯

  26. November 24, 2015 12:22 pm

    So far we have…

    – Lock up asylum seekers in offshore detention centres

    – No SSM

    – Something about GST

    – Malcolm’s rich

  27. Walrus permalink
    November 24, 2015 12:24 pm

    “Ridiculous! ”

    Only to the naive.

    Many of those on the list appear to be single product companies for whom full disclosure would effectively publish their operating margins which is commercial in confidence in plenty of cases

    Perhaps you should ask your hero Paul Keating about it

  28. Walrus permalink
    November 24, 2015 12:26 pm

    Oooops……forgot the 🙂

  29. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 24, 2015 12:35 pm

    You can blame Turnbull for this. Billson apparently was very good however i have no idea if this was true.

    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bruce-billson-to-retire-from-parliament-after-being-dumped-from-cabinet-by-malcolm-turnbull-20151123-gl683u.html

    The federal Victorian MP and former cabinet minister Bruce Billson has announced his retirement from Parliament………Mr Billson was made small business minister and sat in cabinet under former prime minister Tony Abbott. But he was asked to accept a junior ministry when Malcolm Turnbull became leader in September.

  30. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 24, 2015 1:09 pm

    Whacking the price of fags up is a public service

    Be interesting to see what effect this has on behaviour. Smokers may just seek alternate options. The ALP is the party of the unforeseen stuff up.

    But i think alcohol could be just as bad a problem. It is everywhere. You can get a bottle of red wine at Aldi for $2.80.

  31. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 1:12 pm

    So far we have…

    See here 😉

    https://theguttertrash.com/2015/11/24/bill-shorten-is-popular-somewhere/#comment-119289

  32. November 24, 2015 1:48 pm

    “”You can get a bottle of red wine at Aldi for $2.80.””

    You can.

    But then you’d have to drink it.

    Or give it to TB.

  33. Walrus permalink
    November 24, 2015 2:03 pm

    Its amazing the makers of James Boag lets them get away with this…………

    http://www.aldiliquor.com.au/beer/lagers/fraser-briggs-premium-lager-24-pack

  34. Walrus permalink
    November 24, 2015 2:04 pm

    “”You can get a bottle of red wine at Aldi for $2.80.””

    $2.89 actually………….OK pedant alert

  35. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 24, 2015 2:05 pm

    You can.

    It is called Prescious Earth. how the makers of this red wine make a profit is beyond me.

  36. Tom R permalink
    November 24, 2015 2:30 pm

    lol 😦


    Labor Rules Out Bringing GST In Line With Bill Shorten’s 15% Approval Rating

    http://www.theshovel.com.au/2015/11/24/labor-rules-out-bringing-gst-in-line-with-bill-shortens-approval-rating/

  37. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 24, 2015 2:51 pm

    It really is difficult to understand why Shorten is so unpopular. Maybe if we could all concentrate on his positive features!

    * He was put in the job by union hacks and factional warlords
    * He knifed 2 Prime Ministers
    * He has admitted he lied about this and his intentions
    * He waffles around endlessly and avoids answering questions – people love this in a politician
    * His record as a union official is exemplary
    * The arms of his suit coats are always too long

    So everyone, LET’S GIVE BILL A GO!

  38. bigbluevegetable permalink
    November 24, 2015 3:29 pm

    Bill has as much political clout as a goldfish in a fishbowl.

  39. Walrus permalink
    November 24, 2015 3:30 pm

    “……..how the makers of this red wine make a profit is beyond me.”

    Well it helps that excise does not apply to wine as it does to other alcohol products

  40. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 24, 2015 3:46 pm

    is that $2.80 wine useful for getting the bird crap off my car duco?

    I usually use a better one, but maybe I’ll try Prescious (sic?) Earth

  41. TB Queensland permalink
    November 24, 2015 5:26 pm

    Or give it to TB.

    Want nowt, waste nowt, Jummy! Just send it on …

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    is that $2.80 wine useful for getting the bird crap off my car duco?

    Obviously an “expert” on motor vehicles too … duco* is pretty 20th century … and I wouldn’t recommend “any” wine for cleaning yer paintwork … alcohol especially cheap stuff is either acidic or alkaline … either way it won’t do it much good …

    *two pack is still used for repairs

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Bill has as much political clout as a goldfish in a fishbowl.

    And Tony Turnbull has as much political clout as Malcolm Abbot’s supporter’s allow him.

    Pretty sorry state of what used to be a democratic process ..

  42. CTPP permalink
    November 24, 2015 5:41 pm

    Go the Greens!

  43. November 24, 2015 5:42 pm

    LET’S GIVE BILL A GO!

    I’m with ToM on this one.

    What with Bill’s commercial acumen, years of experience in the private sector and boundless enthusiasm, I say it’s time to get behind Bill…!

  44. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 24, 2015 7:13 pm

    Bill has a track record in playing both sides off against each other and double dealing – he can see everything from every point of view and then carve out a beneficial position for himself.

    He’s a real consensus man.

    LET’S GIVE BILL A GO!

  45. TB Queensland permalink
    November 24, 2015 8:00 pm

    You want someone who’s really been around …

  46. TB Queensland permalink
    November 24, 2015 8:00 pm

    GO CLIVEY!

  47. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 7:18 am

    Remember what a roaring success the privatisation of childcare was? ABC Learning anyone? The same will/is happening with health and education.

    Bring back TAFE Like SA is doing.

  48. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 7:51 am

    And hot on the heels of the TAFE story, instead of learning, it appears the grubmint is about to double down on rewarding the spivs

    Scott Morrison has declared that a new era of competition reform will reverse the long decline in Australia’s productivity, as the federal government offered financial rewards to state governments that open their health and welfare services to competition and remove barriers to trade.

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/harper-review-competition-reforms-to-end-decline-in-growth/story-fn59niix-1227621768678?sv=e3fde3f3dd4621a73e6f0615b5a8ebe0

    Or google the headline “Harper review: Competition reforms to ‘end decline in growth’”

    State governments would be encouraged to separate their role in setting policy and funding health and welfare services from the actual service delivery, which could be contracted out to private providers, as already occurs with the jobs network, vocational education and training and the National Disability Insurance Scheme

    Yes, see above you tools!

    The government has deferred responding to the Harper recommendation that restrictions on competition in enterprise agreements should be outlawed, saying it will await the final report of the Productivity Commission.

    Yea, bring that one on too. You think a 15% GST scare campaign is something, wait until you start on workchoices again.

    They have learnt nothing, and, once the gubmint actually start showing its hand and doing something instead of continual soppy motherhood statements, see what happens to malcaymans popularity then.

  49. November 25, 2015 8:03 am

    reb,,,,,,,,I say it`s time to get behind Bill..!,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    #l agree, it`s time reb got behind blib, regularly if possible:-)

    ++++++

    40-bucks a pack, team-nanny-roxon aren`t learning are they, first, chasing-off more voters, and second, creating an even bigger black-market bonanza. Talk about fcuking dumb.

    ++++++

    No amount of pom-pom waving will prevent blib from landing in the wilderness. #yaaaaay.blib

  50. November 25, 2015 8:13 am

    team-cheerer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,actually start showing its hand and doing something instead of continual soppy motherhood statements, see what happens to malcaymans popularity then,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    #wish`n an`a hopin, the swoon will continue to flow `away` from blib, in the same manner buyers remorse had set-in and the swoon flowed `away` from mr-rabbit, giving `credit` to talkbull for blib`s low polls is wrong, give it to blib where it belongs ,, #yaaaaaay.blib

  51. November 25, 2015 8:23 am

    team-cheerer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,But like I said earlier, this isn`t going to make Labor any more popular,,,,,,,,,,,,

    #that`s fcuking funny team-cheerer, a couple of threads back you were in denial when l said the nanny-tax cost them votes #guffaw

  52. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 8:49 am

    a couple of threads back you were in denial when l said the nanny-tax cost them votes

    Or, if your time machine is working, you will note that I pointed out that the libs were still implementing (even increasing) them, but, “it’s all Labor’s fault”.

    I also note that malcayman is as uncommitted to the ciggies tax as he is to anything else (except protecting big money from suffering the same tax regime as ‘teh rest of us’). He’s a real nowhere man.

  53. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 8:51 am

    Tax rich old men, restrict wealthy pumping pre-tax income into super: report

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/tax-rich-old-men-restrict-wealthy-pumping-pretax-income-into-super-report-20151123-gl5trp.html#ixzz3sRqPXk9U
    Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

    Still no news from talcum if they will do anything with this?

    Going on the story in the oz posted above, the protection racket will continue. He’s as dry as the rest, just umms and ahhs a lot more about it.

    Time will reveal this.

  54. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 8:54 am

    Add another one to the already long list of policies the willfully ignorant can’t/won’t see.

    I thought it was the grubmint that was supposed to have policies, not the opposition.It’s a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for liberals
    Lo lo lo lo Lola.

    🙂

  55. November 25, 2015 9:19 am

    blib,,,,,,,,,,,Labor will introduce 5 days paid Domestic & Family Violence Leave to Australia’s minimum employment standards .. Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) November 24, 2015,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    #no you won`t blib, you won`t even retain enough seats to be considered a `formidable` opposition

    #what`s `sportsbet` reckon blib`s odds are?

  56. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 9:19 am

    “Tax rich old men, restrict wealthy pumping pre-tax income into super: report….”

    That is unbelieveably dumb that proposal. And the Grattan Institute really has outdone itself.

    Dont propose changes to current contribution laws. People need an incentive to accumulate retirement balances. Perhaps you need a cap on total balances whereupon they are then subject to higher taxes, after all $2M would barely generate $50K pa at current interest rates (not including CPI). Dont discourage them from getting to the maximum balance.

    If you want to do something smart tax the income in someway after they retire. i.e. tax free threshold set at the same rate as the pension each year.

  57. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 9:27 am

    Beam`Me`Up`Teabag

    🙂

    http://assets.amuniversal.com/ceec3860642a01331868005056a9545d

  58. November 25, 2015 9:44 am

    I see Bill has fronted the media to declare emphatically that he “doesn’t give up” in the wake of the polls that have his popularity at 15%.

    I remember Tony Abbott doing something similar a few weeks ago.

    You’ve really got to admire that sort of temerity, despite events unfolding in what other people might call “the real world.”

    I say:

    LET’S GIVE BILL A GO!

  59. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:10 am

    … after all $2M would barely generate $50K pa …

    You need to talk to a financial advisor … quickly … make sure they are qualified tho’ …

    If you want to do something smart tax the income in someway after they retire.

    The idea is to retire … not keep on filling out fkn government forms or webforms …

  60. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:26 am

    … after all $2M would barely generate $50K pa …

    Hence the reason people take a risk and buy Telstra shares. Based on the current share price you get a 5.5% return on your investment. Plus you get franking credits which takes the return higher.

  61. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:29 am

    True stories of family violence
    http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/rosie-batty-present-true-stories-of-family-violence/6963798

  62. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:29 am

    “You need to talk to a financial advisor … quickly … make sure they are qualified tho’ … ”

    Oh how very funny of you.

    A conservative investor would keep their money in cash mainly hence the return.

    But there are a few stoopid ones that invest in failed gun companies with “monety theyy could afford to lose” then bleat about a tiny rise in the cost of a few pain relief pills

  63. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:33 am

    “The idea is to retire … not keep on filling out fkn government forms or webforms …”

    Wow !………………………such a strong argument ……………D’uh !

  64. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:34 am

    “Plus you get franking credits which takes the return higher.”

    Exactly NoS…………around 8%

  65. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:36 am

    And then look at the Banks.

    If you are happy enough to put your money in deposits with them since it makes you feel more safe and secure why the hell wouldn’t you own shares in them if you believe they are so safe and secure

  66. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:44 am

    Exactly NoS…………around 8%

    I suspect the recent share price increase in Telstra shares has nothing to do with the value of the company, it is because interest rates in the bank are so low. It was not that long ago (2010) Telstra shares were trading for $2.90. About the same price as a bottle of Precious Earth.

  67. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:45 am

    Wally, we’ve maintained a steady 6%+ for a decade …

    Keep burbling about Metalstorm its not your issue, nor mine now (I actually spend more on my hobbies than the loss to MS) … it was always a gamble … and that was when I had a few shares … as for the pills my argument was for those folk, other than ME, it would affect … a concept you always seem to have trouble with.

    As for this … … after all $2M would barely generate $50K pa …

    If you couldn’t make 5% return on a million, you should stick it in the bank alright!

    Do the numbers tho’ …

    Let me walk you thru it … $1,000,000 x 5% = $50,000 pa … er, … after all $2M would barely generate $50K pa … mmmmm …

    An expert CPA* … and numbers seem to be a real problem … barely generate? … I see our resident Fuckwit© fell for your con …

    We used to laugh at the “financial advisors” walking down our driveway … who thought our home was an asset …

    Call me “stoopid” … but don’t treat me “stoopid” …

  68. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:47 am

    Ahh … 8% now … on $2million

    $160,000 pa … long way from $50K … 🙄

  69. November 25, 2015 10:55 am

    “”It was not that long ago (2010) Telstra shares were trading for $2.90. About the same price as a bottle of Precious Earth.””

    It’s good to see I’m not alone in measuring the value of something according to its equivalent in red wine.

  70. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:56 am

    Malcolm Turnbull has defended an exemption allowing 1,400 companies associated with Australia’s business elite to avoid financial reporting requirements but said he would remove one of his own companies from it because it was now a “relatively small … passive investment company”.

    And this?

    After an earlier Senate procedural bungle, the measures have now been included in a bill on multinational tax avoidance and the government has said it would rather see its own multinational tax bill defeated than allow the tax transparency requirements through.

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/24/malcolm-turnbull-defends-financial-reporting-exemption-for-business-elite

    Procedural bungles can be reversed with an amendment, surely?

    Remove one … remove ’em all!

    Discrimination at work …

  71. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:00 am

    I’m really pleased that we’ve finally got to this public campaign about the DV scourge, it’s been too long coming.

    But grand words and statements have to be followed up with more funding of services.

  72. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:01 am

    “… but don’t treat me “stoopid” …”

    Really………..so tell me where you are going to get 5% from one of our retail banks these days ?

  73. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:09 am

    Your talking retail banks not me … would you put $2 million into a bank? You were discussing Telstra a few moments ago …

  74. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:14 am

    The lib/lab duopoly united again in their subservience to big business.

    It’s all been so long ago, that the only answer to legal questions is “I can’t recall”

    AWB executive Mark Emons accused of ‘skimming’
    http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/cropping/awb-executive-mark-emons-accused-of-skimming/story-fnker6ee-1227620546503

    …A FORMER AWB executive has been accused of setting up a transport deal with Iraq in 1999 to “skim” money for the benefit of himself and a colleague…

  75. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:17 am

    “You were discussing Telstra a few moments ago …”

    Yeah…….because you were trying to be a smartarse and skew the argument not me.

    Plenty of the elderly (like you) dont trust the ASX and put their $ in a term deposit. Therefore 2.5% say x $2M = $50 pa.

    But you already knew that,.

  76. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:18 am

    I was out to dinner recently, someone said you’d be rich with $2m. I said that would provide $60-$70k a year – that’s not rich.

    I think you’re rich when you can maintain the standard of living you had when working, and not work.

    My standard of living doesn’t involve drinking $2.80 red from Aldi.

  77. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:20 am

    Discrimination at work …

    Seems to be what the libs do best.

    Nice of you to stand up for us but restoring funding for front-line services?

    Perhaps they have a different expectation on “standing up for” than I do?

  78. November 25, 2015 11:22 am

    “”My standard of living doesn’t involve drinking $2.80 red from Aldi.””

    Amen.

  79. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:36 am

    “I said that would provide $60-$70k a year – that’s not rich.”

    Yep……….provided it not all in cash deposits

  80. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:51 am

    My standard of living doesn’t involve drinking $2.80 red from Aldi.

    Some people like it. It does have some good reviews.

    http://www.aldiliquor.com.au/precious-earth-shiraz-merlot

  81. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 11:53 am

    …The cardinal has broken with the church’s legal team and its gentle determination not to cross-examine victims. After turning all his career for help to the top end of town, Pell has engaged the Melbourne mega-advocate Allan Myers to test his accusers…

    …Parents, parishioners and teachers all wanted the priest gone. Complaints about the priest went back a decade. But beyond dressing Searson down once or twice, Pell appears to have done little.

    That little will be closely examined by the commission. Expect hand-to-hand forensic contest on this ground…

    …Pell’s good work for the finances of the Melbourne archdiocese was documented dramatically by Furness in her opening address. Pell’s Melbourne Response paid victims so little. In Chicago each abuse claim has cost the church about US$1m. In Melbourne the tariff was $46,000.

    It’s a little miracle…

  82. November 25, 2015 11:55 am

    “”Some people like it. It does have some good reviews.””

    Who are these people? Masochists? Queenslanders..??

    I did however notice that one of the so-called reviewers said:

    “”Not yet opened. Will get back when opened…probably next weekend
    I will send a review by next Monday””

    That was back in September.

    Did they live?

  83. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 12:02 pm

    The cleaning Industry has been a law unto themselves for years. The worst practice they have is making workers sign up with their own ABN number.

    And the workers are largely unable to do anything about it.

    My name is Rafael and until Friday I worked into the night cleaning Myer Melbourne. In just 3 months I was underpaid by at least $7000. I spoke out. And a few weeks later I was sacked.

    When I started, a Myer subcontractor made me work on an ABN number on a flat rate of $20 an hour – that’s below the award. We got no sick leave, no super, no weekend rates and we had no job security.

    https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/tell-myer-reinstateraf

    Meanwhile, the grubmint is spending millions attacking Unions, and protecting Industries and businesses that do the real ripping off of workers.

  84. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 12:21 pm

    Finally, but a case of too little too late?

    The South Australian Government will mandate the use of Australian standard steel in all future government projects in a bid to arrest the flagging fortunes of local steelmaker Arrium.

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-25/sa-to-mandate-use-of-australian-steel-in-government-projects/6971910

    They would be well advised to do the same with their choice in tiles too, with many recent projects buying cheaper Chinese flagstones, only to find they are too slippery for their purposes, and spending millions on failed attempts to fix them up. Victoria Square and Hindley Street come to mind.

    It would have been cheaper to buy the more expensive but more suitable and better quality local products.

    Same old same old. Bean counters making decisions.

  85. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 12:27 pm

    A really good article to read today.

  86. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 12:45 pm

    Plenty of the elderly (like you) dont trust the ASX and put their $ in a term deposit. Therefore 2.5% say x $2M = $50 pa.

    But you already knew that,.

    You really need to get out more … and stop trying read people’s minds … term deposits? FMD, Wally, is that what you would do with $2 million?

    Yeah…….because you were trying to be a smartarse and skew the argument not me

    How? … didn’t I tell you that it’s possible to earn a steady 6% over a fkn decade?

    Then you went rambling on about 8% and then you “skewed” to term deposits @ 2.5% (say?) …

    And blame me for you’re misleading comments … go back and “comprehend” what you wrote …

    You’ll get over 2.5% on $250K … and certainly a better rate with $2 million …

    But we both know there are better ways … this is the best retirement calculator I know … try it sometime …

    https://www.sunsuper.com.au/retirement-forecaster/

    The only other argument skewing was your usual drivel about Metalstorm and Panadol FFS … as usual attacking the player not the ball … and then blaming others for what you actually did … ie wrote BS …

    And the last, little, ageist, personal snipe the elderly (like you)

    I’m retired, not fkn retarded …

    Some of us actually live the reality not text book shite …

    And you are advising retirees … Gawd save ’em …

  87. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 12:49 pm

    My standard of living doesn’t involve drinking $2.80 red from Aldi.

    Neither does mine actually … but its not tax breaks for WCP that should be supporting your expensive tastes either …

  88. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 1:13 pm

    “And you are advising retirees … Gawd save ’em …”

    My clients are earning a fairly steady 8% on a mix of investments. Its called diversification and I advise them to avoid gun companies.

    They live in the Northern Beaches area many with sea views and many refer their friends to me but I’m picky about who I take on these days. Most of them take 2 OS holidays per year.

    I live at Palm Beach up on a hill with sweeping views of the Tasman Sea and Broken Bay. As I type this I am watching a sail boat of around 25 metres meander up the coast. In fact one of my clients has a boat just like that…….maybe its hers ?

    Now ask yourself 2 questions.

    1) Where do you live ?

    Then

    2) Which of us needs a good financial adviser ?

    🙂

  89. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 1:23 pm

    “And the last, little, ageist, personal snipe the elderly (like you) ”

    “You need to talk to a financial advisor … quickly … make sure they are qualified tho’ … ”

    – TB 10:10 am

    “But there are a few stoopid ones that invest in failed gun companies…..”

    – Walrus 10:29 am

    Must be your elderly brain getting the better of you.

    From the above which of us started the day sniping ?

  90. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 1:35 pm

    “My clients are earning a fairly steady 8% on a mix of investments”

    Slight correction “Most of my clients”

    Some earn much more than that depending on how risk averse they are

  91. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 1:37 pm

  92. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 1:41 pm

    Wally, this is where you stuffed up …

    Dont propose changes to current contribution laws. People need an incentive to accumulate retirement balances. Perhaps you need a cap on total balances whereupon they are then subject to higher taxes, after all $2M would barely generate $50K pa at current interest rates (not including CPI). Dont discourage them from getting to the maximum balance.

    And then compounded it … for all to see …

    My clients are earning a fairly steady 8% on a mix of investments. Its called diversification and I advise them to avoid gun companies.

    They live in the Northern Beaches area many with sea views and many refer their friends to me but I’m picky about who I take on these days. Most of them take 2 OS holidays per year.

    I live at Palm Beach up on a hill with sweeping views of the Tasman Sea and Broken Bay. As I type this I am watching a sail boat of around 25 metres meander up the coast. In fact one of my clients has a boat just like that…….maybe its hers ?

    Now ask yourself 2 questions.

    1) Where do you live ?

    Then

    2) Which of us needs a good financial adviser ?

    If your clients earn a steady 8% where did the $2 million earning $50K come from

    A steady 8% gives you … wait for it … $160,000 pa … full pension for a couple … $34,000 …

    I certainly don’t live in lalaland …

    Vacuum Economics … focus on the rich …

    Trickle Down Economics … focus on the rich …

    FYI I look out to the city 30ks away and can watch ships enter Brisbane River … 270° views

    Aren’t WE lucky … many are not! They need the help not us …

  93. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 1:43 pm

    ’bout right, KL! 😉

  94. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 1:52 pm

    “If your clients earn a steady 8% where did the $2 million earning $50K come from ”

    Oh FFS………..they are my clients. Most of whom have a good understanding of investments. However some couples don’t and when say the husband dies the wife sometimes feels more comfortable with the money in the bank.

    Note “Most of my clients”………….some only earn 3% because they are risk averse.

    The common term deposit is between 2.5 to 3%.

  95. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 2:01 pm

    Oh FFS alright … off out for lunch … lucky me …

  96. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 2:33 pm

    The common term deposit is between 2.5 to 3%.

    To get rates like that at the Commonwealth bank you have to have your money locked up for at least 3 years.

    https://www.commbank.com.au/personal/accounts/term-deposits/rates-fees.html

  97. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 2:39 pm

    Succinct

  98. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 3:15 pm

    Who are these people? Masochists? Queenslanders..??

    If you are interested you can also get Precious Earth as a white wine ay Aldi. Also for $2.89, the price of a Telstra share in 2010.

    http://www.aldiliquor.com.au/precious-earth-semillon-sauvignon-blanc

  99. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 3:17 pm

    To get rates like that at the Commonwealth bank you have to have your money locked up for at least 3 years.

    Try three MONTHS!

    http://www.canstar.com.au/compare/term-deposits/?amount=%24250%

  100. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 3:18 pm

    it’s not fkn rocket science these days …

  101. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 3:32 pm

    Try three MONTHS!

    Some people do not like to leave the Commonwealth Bank.

    MEBank gives good rates on term deposits, much better than Comm Bank but lots of older people will not put it anywhere else but the Commonwealth

    https://www.mebank.com.au/pages/rates/term-deposits/

  102. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 3:39 pm

    FFS! Had enough BS for one day …

  103. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 4:01 pm

  104. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 4:08 pm

    Wow …………..two tenths of one percent extra at Citibank. 3.2% rather than 3%

    BFD !

  105. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 4:20 pm

  106. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 4:20 pm

    Ashby gates taking off, and so is the NoBN

    Mr Popularity may find himself sinking even before he has to make a decision.

    news Leaked internal documents have revealed that the NBN company is considering overbuilding the HFC cable network it purchased from Optus at a cost of $800 million, in a move which dramatically validates long-standing criticism that the HFC cable technology could not meet Australia’s future broadband needs.

    https://delimiter.com.au/2015/11/25/nbn-co-may-overbuild-the-optus-hfc-cable-network-it-bought-for-800-million/?utm_content=buffer69f8f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

    Of course, his defense for the NoBN stuff ups is probably that he was told to kill it.

    Mission Accomplished?

  107. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 4:27 pm

    From the twitter link AO

    Mr Brough was one of Mr Turnbull’s key backers.

    Comment is being sought from Mr Brough.

    Is comment being sought from yabot?

    It has his finger prints all over it. He has made a living out of attacking people through the legal system.

    The Labor pollie who first approached the AFP must be wondering at the timing of it all.

  108. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 5:05 pm

    Brough is a distasteful, mean-spirited man … and I do hope the nastiness is coming home to roost …

  109. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 5:12 pm

    Sorry malcayman, running a project is a bit different than hiding your money in tax havens. And you just aren’t up to it.

    Former Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has accused the board of the NBN company of being “incompetent political hacks” who abrogated their responsibility in allowing the purchase of unfit networks such as Optus’ HFC cable infrastructure in an ill-fated attempt to ensure the Coalition’s Multi-Technology Mix model could be delivered.

    Under Labor’s previous near-universal Fibre to the Premises model for the NBN, the HFC cable and copper networks owned by Telstra and Optus would have been shut down. However, the Coalition’s Multi-Technology Mix plan instituted by Malcolm Turnbull as Communications Minister in the Abbott administration is seeing them acquired and upgraded by the NBN company. In Optus’ case, the network buy came at a cost of some $800 million.

    https://delimiter.com.au/2015/11/25/political-hacks-conroy-says-nbn-board-responsible-for-optus-hfc-disaster/?utm_content=buffer5bc5f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

    There’s a Conroyvian in there somewhere, I’m sure.

    Brough is a distasteful, mean-spirited man …

    When you put it like that, I can see how he got onto the libs front bench. 😉

  110. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 5:14 pm

    Of course, his defense for the NoBN stuff ups is probably that he was told to kill it.

    Mission Accomplished?

    Just what have the LibNits accomplished positively in this three year term? I see a lot of destruction and flip flopping, delay and obfuscation, secrecy and personal freedom bashing …

    … even their “stopping the boats” is tainted … paying the very people smugglers, boats wrecked after being turned around, incursions into Indonesian waters by the RAN, lying and denials … deceit about the “acceptance” of refugees and fiddling figures …

    Mismanagement of the NBN, the economy, renewable energy, tax reform, ADF pay and conditions (who Abbott wants to now go back to the ME!) …

    Our international reputation trashed … all in two years …

    And now we have a PM hobbled by the extreme right of the Liberal Party attempting to manipulate the economy for Robber Barons and WCP … at the expense of the poor, the weak, the sick, the old, the children, the unemployed and uni students …

    What a destructive, incompetent lot they are …

  111. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 5:21 pm

    It has his finger prints all over it. He has made a living out of attacking people through the legal system…

    Yes, it’s his MO. He must be getting ready to take out another hit on pauline hanson!

    Clive has made the same claim before, was no-one paying attention then?

    Victim-blaming rampant in Australians’ attitudes towards violence against women – study:
    http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/25/victim-blaming-rampant-in-australians-attitudes-towards-violence-against-women-study

    …A study has revealed high levels of victim blaming when Australians are told about cases of girls and young women experiencing disrespectful and aggressive behaviour from their male peers.

    The report, to be released by the Turnbull government on Wednesday, said while there was strong community support for ending extreme violence against women, the attitudes that perpetuated the problem were “firmly entrenched” among many adults and children in Australia…

    Inquest into death of Ms Dhu in police custody exposes institutional racism:
    https://independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/inquest-into-death-of-ms-dhu-in-custody-exposes-institutional-racism,8416

    A terminally ill woman is gaoled for unpaid fines of less than $5,000 and while under the “care” of police officers – those who serve and protect – she seeks medical assistance for her condition. Rather than receiving medical care, she is judged, belittled and ridiculed. She is treated with contempt and not consulted on her condition…

  112. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 5:22 pm

    This silly project will prove to be an utter waste of taxpayer’s money too … and once again the recovery will take years to accomplish!

    Incompetence and BS writ large!

    GREG HUNT: What I think has happened over the last few years is that, as the Prime Minister himself has acknowledged, the policy went a lot further than he had expected. It has been a lot more successful than many of the critics had predicted.

    CONOR DUFFY: But even one of the successful bidders in Direct Action has broken ranks to criticise the policy.

    HAMISH MCGOVERN, WATTLY ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Look, the way it’s currently structured – without providing incentives up front to drive new projects and without creating penalties for emissions today – then no, it’s not, it’s not incenting big polluters to reduce emissions.

    CONOR DUFFY: Hamish McGovern runs a business improving energy efficiency. He thinks Direct Action won’t drive the change needed to truly transform Australia’s economy.

    HAMISH MCGOVERN: What we’ve seen in the commercial, the residential and industrial space is almost no projects. And that’s because Direct Action is: it’s too little, it’s too late and it’s too hard.

    CONOR DUFFY: Another project successful at the Direct Action auction was a lighting upgrade worth more than $1 million for supermarket giant Wesfarmers.

    KELLY O’SHANASSY: Would Wesfarmers have replaced their lighting system? Should they? Yes; morally, ethically they should. It’s a no-brainer to put energy efficiency in, particularly if you’re making $2.4 billion a year.

    So we are very concerned that taxpayers’ money is used to fund things that would have been done anyway.

    http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4358895.htm

  113. Walrus permalink
    November 25, 2015 5:25 pm

    “FFS! Had enough BS for one day …”

    Well that didn’t take long………………………………something about lying Lefties

    🙂

  114. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 5:27 pm

    … aggressive behaviour from their male peers …

    Not exactly peers are they, KL!

    My Mum was 4′ 11″ my old man was 5’11” … to start with!

    She was his intellectual superior (and I suspect that was her problem)

  115. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 5:29 pm

    “FFS! Had enough BS for one day …”

    Well that didn’t take long………………………………something about lying Lefties

    One day you’ll get something right, Wally … I was referring to Kneel’s BS … but happy to include you …

    The rest of the thread after it seems OK … no BS there?

    Now I lie, too?

  116. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 6:48 pm

    I was referring to Kneel’s BS

    Please explain. What BS?

    There are lots of people who would rather a term deposit with the Commonwealth bank rather than ME Bank even though ME gives a better rate.

  117. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 7:02 pm

    Commonwealth bank rather than ME Bank even though ME gives a better rate.

    Link?

  118. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 7:20 pm

    Is this the way Australia now treats people?

    We can gladly spend millions of dollars rescuing “lost” yachtsmen but we put 15 refugees into the same harm’s way?

    Where’s the logic in that?

    Where’s the christianity in that?

    Where’s the morality in that?

    Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of the boat and the welfare of its occupants as the federal government refuses to discuss it.

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/25/christmas-island-asylum-seeker-boat-disappeared-after-being-towed-by-navy

  119. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 7:21 pm

    Link?

    Well me. I got my home loan from ME Bank but i have my term deposit with the Commonwealth because i do not trust ME Bank. ME is a dinki di bank with Federal govt backing but i do not trust it. Most probably a crazy belief but i do not trust ME Bank because it is a Union/ALP formed bank.

  120. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 7:36 pm

    Well me.

    ?

  121. TB Queensland permalink
    November 25, 2015 8:04 pm

    Just checking that I actually did read that comment … it’s fkn hard work around here sometimes …

  122. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 8:35 pm

    Well me.

    Yes i am talking about me, Neil of Sydney. I got my home loan from ME Bank but even though i can get a better rate for a term deposit with ME Bank i chose to put my money in a Comm Bank term deposit because i do not trust ME Bank.

    Am i crazy?

  123. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 25, 2015 8:56 pm

    Most probably a crazy belief but i do not trust ME Bank because it is a Union/ALP formed bank.

    Dont fkn bnk there neil if you feel like that [what a liar, btw] You’re probably getting a better deal. What a hypocrite!

    If you said you don’t trust any banks, it would sound more genuine, but you are just ridiculous with that hypocritical comment.

  124. Tom R permalink
    November 25, 2015 9:29 pm

    Am i crazy?

    Skyneil begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at November 25, 2015 8:35 pm

  125. November 25, 2015 9:41 pm

    LOL @ Tom… 🙂

  126. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 25, 2015 9:49 pm

    That would be really funny, if you’d said “exponential” instead of “geometric”…

  127. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 25, 2015 10:10 pm

    If you said you don’t trust any banks, it would sound more genuine, but you are just ridiculous with that hypocritical comment.

    No i do not trust any banks to do with ALP/Unions. However i did get my home loan from ME Bank

    But at the moment i would be not be puting into money into ME Bank

  128. TB Queensland permalink
    November 26, 2015 12:35 am

    Phewwwww!

  129. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 26, 2015 1:17 am

  130. Tom R permalink
    November 26, 2015 8:43 am

    It doesn’t get much better than this lol

  131. Tom R permalink
    November 26, 2015 8:49 am

    That would be really funny, if you’d said “exponential” instead of “geometric”…

    Debatable, but then not as true to the original is it 😉

    Speaking of Originals, this aint one 😉

  132. Walrus permalink
    November 26, 2015 9:40 am

    The Greens and their hypocrisy exposed yet again.

    Open the Borders but dont let any of them live near our voters.

    Fucking hypocrites

    “The centre would have provided temporary accommodation for some of the 7000 Syrian refugees due to be settled in NSW, as well as support services and facilities. …….Greens councillors joined the Liberals and an independent in rejecting the plan. Rochelle Porteous, a former mayor of Leichhardt, said she and her Greens colleagues wanted to amend the motion by also asking the federal government to stop offshore processing and remove all children from detention. “It needed strengthening,” she said…….”

    The the benefit of those not familiar with Sydney that area is very inner City and I thing would cover either Tanya Plibersek or Albenese’s Federal seat

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/leichhardt-council-vetoes-own-plan-for-refugee-hub-amid-antiislamic-protest-20151124-gl7adq.html#ixzz3sXtGFYVA
    Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

  133. Tom R permalink
    November 26, 2015 9:48 am

    Fucking hypocrites

    Well, they are a political party.

    Everyone does it, lib, Labor, Greens; it’s an imperfect world with imperfect demands and imperfect solutions.

    But nobody does it with the degree of Chutzpa and regulatory that the libs do it.

  134. Walrus permalink
    November 26, 2015 10:33 am

    “Everyone does it, lib, Labor, Greens;”

    Maybe Tom but the Greens like to claim they are above everybody in the morality stakes.

    I’d love to hear a good interview with Sarah Handout Young about how it is justified.

  135. Tom R permalink
    November 26, 2015 10:50 am

    I’d love to hear a good interview with Sarah Handout Young

    You really could have stopped there 😉

  136. TB Queensland permalink
    November 26, 2015 11:04 am

    Everyone does it, lib, Labor, Greens; it’s an imperfect world with imperfect demands and imperfect solutions.

    Bit like commenters on blogs, TR … hey?

    Maybe Tom but the Greens like to claim they are above everybody in the morality stakes

    Certainly higher than the catlik Liberal Party … not difficult to achieve I know … but there you are … in today’s world of politics morality is just another word …

  137. Tom R permalink
    November 26, 2015 11:13 am

    Bit like commenters on blogs, TR … hey?

    Perfectly put TB 😉

  138. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 26, 2015 11:19 am

    Understanding ‘nativism’ will help us end it
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-26/bradley-understanding-'nativism'-will-help-us-conquer-it/6974758

    …The argument of incompatibility is very old. Nativism has been around since the mid-19th century when so-called “Native American” political parties emerged in the United States whose members were white, Protestant, American-born males who objected to the large flow of Roman Catholic immigrants from Europe, especially Ireland…

    …The theoretical basis of anti-Catholicism was that Catholics could not peacefully co-exist and share a democratic polity with Protestants. Seems odd now, but it felt real to the nativists of the 19th Century…

    The gathering financial storm is just one effect of corporate power unbound:
    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/03/financial-crisis-corporate-power-george-monbiot

    …What have governments learned from the financial crisis? I could write a column spelling it out. Or I could do the same job with one word: nothing…

    …As a paper by the law professor Joel Bakan in the Cornell International Law Journal argues, two dire shifts have been happening simultaneously. On one hand governments have been removing laws that restrict banks and corporations, arguing that globalisation makes states weak and effective legislation impossible. Instead, they say, we should trust those who wield economic power to regulate themselves.

    On the other hand, the same governments devise draconian new laws to reinforce elite power. Corporations are given the rights of legal persons. Their property rights are enhanced. Those who protest against them are subject to policing and surveillance – the kind that’s more appropriate to dictatorships than democracies. Oh, state power still exists all right – when it’s wanted…

  139. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 26, 2015 11:42 am

  140. Walrus permalink
    November 26, 2015 11:52 am

    This is an interesting short article about a difference between the USA economy and our own.

    http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/corporate-australias-real-problem-ancient-companies-20151125-gl7wu2.html

  141. Tom R permalink
    November 26, 2015 11:54 am

    saying it is out of their reach

    Much like his tax arrangements.

  142. TB Queensland permalink
    November 26, 2015 12:03 pm

    From KL’s link …

    Ms Ley said the changes were needed to address the inequality in the current system which “pays patients in some of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs an average of $60 of safety net benefits per capita versus just $2 per capita in more disadvantaged areas”.

    That would be Palm Beach for the former and Cabramatta for the latter I suppose … I wonder Ms Ley?

    Re AiG … I’ve never understood why anyone should be paid on “gender” … surely its on knowledge, skill, experience and the ability to apply them all in a professional manner?

    When I left my last job (to start my own business) the single mum I had mentored to take my position was paid the same as I had been …

  143. Walrus permalink
    November 26, 2015 12:08 pm

    “That would be Palm Beach for the former…………………….”

    LOL

    $60……………………….barely a decent bottle of champagne

  144. TB Queensland permalink
    November 26, 2015 12:18 pm

    This is an interesting short article about a difference between the USA economy and our own.

    I agree, Wally, did you notice the absence of banks in the Yank graph (Citigroup was the only one I think) … and of course all our banks in the Oz graph … vacuuming the economy with no added value …

    BTW, future high technology is one of the reasons I invested Metalstorm, a solar system and our eagerly awaited Flow Hive … we’ll then be looking at a battery powered mower, a Tesla Power Wall (or equivalent) and hopefully an electric (preferably hydrogen) powered car …

    All business innovations with a huge potential … and obviously not all of them will succeed … just like nature otherwise we’d all have a thousand siblings … 😉

    This country is missing the boat (‘scuse the pun SA) with renewable energy development … the biggest boom this country could ever see … manufacture, generation, storage, and distribution worldwide …

    There has also been a big breakthrough in quantum silicone code that will exponentially double the capacity of computers in the near future … at Griffith Uni of all places …

  145. Walrus permalink
    November 26, 2015 12:32 pm

    The things that go on in Sydney……………..

    “POLICE responded to reports of a domestic violence incident in Sydney’s north only to discover the victim had eight legs.

    But all was not as it seemed.

    We’re reprinting the following report straight from the Harbourside LAC Facebook. It’s an all-time classic:

    At around 2am on November 21, police received numerous calls in relation to a violent domestic, with reports of a woman screaming hysterically, a man yelling, “I’m going to kill you, your dead! Die Die!!”, with the sounds of furniture being tossed around the unit.

    Numerous police cars responded to the address and began banging on the door.

    A man answered the door, out of breath and rather flushed, with the following conversation:
    .

    Police: “Where’s your wife?”

    Male: “Umm, I don’t have one”

    Police: “Where your girlfriend?”

    Male: “Umm, I don’t have one”

    Police: “We had a report of a domestic and a women screaming, where is she?”

    Male: “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I live alone”

    Police: “Come on mate, people clearly heard you yelling you were going to kill her and furniture getting thrown around the unit”

    At this point the male became very sheepish.

    Police: “Come on mate, what have you done to her?”

    Male: “It was a spider”

    Police “Sorry??”

    Male: “It was a spider, a really big one!!”

    Police: “What about the women screaming?”

    Male: “Yeah, sorry, that was me, I really hate spiders.”

    As it turns out the male was chasing a rather large spider around the unit with a can or Mortein. After a very long pause some laughter and a quick look in the unit to make sure there was no injured party (apart from the spider) we left. “

  146. Walrus permalink
    November 26, 2015 12:36 pm

    “..I agree, Wally, did you notice the absence of banks in the Yank graph (Citigroup was the only one I think) …”

    Yes I did.

    In fact my ASX decisions of late have been almost exclusively towards companies that are quite young e.g. Tassal Group (Tasmanian Salmon farming), A2 Milk (Milk and Baby Formula), Costa Group (Fruit and Veg) and Select Harvests (chiefly Almonds) and Sirtex (liver cancer treatment)

  147. November 26, 2015 1:49 pm

    The ppl at Crikey have conveniently prepared this handy bingo card ahead of Talcum’s appearance on the 7:30 report tonight…

    http://www.crikey.com.au/2015/11/26/tips-and-rumours-b-i-n-g-o/

  148. Tom R permalink
    November 26, 2015 2:06 pm

    malcaymans on 7.30? Sorry, but I’ll stick with Netflix for my soft porn 😉

  149. Tom R permalink
    November 26, 2015 2:28 pm

  150. Tom R permalink
    November 26, 2015 2:36 pm

  151. TB Queensland permalink
    November 26, 2015 3:18 pm

    In fact my ASX decisions of late have been almost exclusively towards companies that are quite young

    Like the look of that mix … food and health are definitely the future …

    We should be creating a food bowl in Australia not sink holes … short term thinking as usual …

  152. Ugland House Rules permalink
    November 26, 2015 3:27 pm

    “As the annual “season of giving” dawns, a new study finds that stark income inequity – a dramatically rising trend in the United States – makes the “haves” less generous toward others.”
    Income inequality makes the rich more Scrooge-like, study finds

    “Understanding how income from stock market activity can add to income inequality is something that has never been fully explored by economists before. Our research shows that some wealthy individuals are making substantial profits on stock markets because they have tools at their disposal that individuals from modest incomes don’t. This further creates a widening income gap between rich and poor, which is bad for society, making it difficult to have equality of opportunity. “
    US Rich Get Richer on Stock Market Investments While Modest Investors Are Left Behind

  153. Walrus permalink
    November 26, 2015 3:48 pm

    “We should be creating a food bowl in Australia not sink holes … ”

    Not just food even vitamins. Here is Blackmore’s share price graph since its “broke” into China

    I wish I could claim to have bought a couple of thousand

  154. Walrus permalink
    November 26, 2015 3:49 pm

    And Bellamy’s who make baby formula

  155. TB Queensland permalink
    November 26, 2015 4:03 pm

    Not just food even vitamins. Yep, part of “health” to me …

    We live near and watched Bullivant – Natures Own – business grow and chuckled at his bizarre personal life … eccentric multi millionaire extraordinaire …

  156. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 26, 2015 5:04 pm

    Bingo! Thursday night is one of my favourites for that!

  157. TB Queensland permalink
    November 26, 2015 6:57 pm

    ToM playing bingo …

  158. November 26, 2015 7:04 pm

    lol.. 🙂

  159. November 26, 2015 9:20 pm

    C R E A T U R E

  160. November 26, 2015 9:23 pm

    Malcoml is popular mostwise…but not in Boltworld.

    Herr’s anguished grieving for Anthony Arsehat has only become keener as time has passed by (10 weeks or more by now, surely?)…

  161. November 26, 2015 9:25 pm

    I presume I’ve missed multitude of fearsquirting whilst I’ve been training in Syria?

    * scarily, I almost expect to be put in a database somewhere for that sarcastic utterance

  162. November 26, 2015 9:28 pm

    Bill Shorten is Rooted (and, by extension the ALP) electorally…unless the BullCorp shows its hand & goes after penalty rates et al, prior to the next election.

  163. November 26, 2015 9:29 pm

    Also, good to see the marine environment returning to equilibrium, with an abundance of shark encounters on the East Coast.

  164. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 26, 2015 9:41 pm

    And hello to you too HD.

  165. November 26, 2015 9:51 pm

    😉

    Greetings, YomM!

    Are you enjoying the rightards of the ‘Liberal’ Party cringing through the ascendancy of a ‘Liberal’ moderate?

    Personally, I enjoy their rolling piss-fit, but acknowledge that Malcolm hasn’t actually changed much at all. I do, however, endorse his more nuanced & less belligerent rhetoric.

    Watching Bolt & his nuts writhing in dispossession is glorious.

  166. November 26, 2015 9:54 pm

    Interesting times we live in.

    * Eagles Of Death Metal have fuck all to do with Death Metal

    ** Religious extremists with a penchant for soft targets deserve extinction & ridicule

  167. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 26, 2015 10:06 pm

    Turnbull isn’t embarrassing.

    The rantings of Bolt must be an endorsement of his more moderate orientation.

  168. November 26, 2015 10:29 pm

    A lot of the more pragmatic conservatards (ie not the Boltian hysterics who shit their knickers the day their man Abbott got the arse)are currently hanging their hats on the fact that Malcolm (who is clearly bound by the impositions of deposement) hasn’t altered Arsehat’s policies.
    I’d dispute that technically…and I’d also presume that that would change more overtly if Malcolm is re-elected in his own right.

    Fuck conservative wankers & their preponderance for wrongly assuming they’re not a dwindling demographic in Australia.

  169. November 26, 2015 11:33 pm

    armchair,,,,,,,,,,,really pleased that we`ve finally got to this public campaign about the DV scourge,,,,,,,,,,,

    #what l noticed was, yes, it`s white-ribbon time, fergie did a good job on her 2-part doco, likewise, sbs re-ran the uk doco equivalent again, even most of the pollies have dragged themselves into reality and admitted the problem, mr-talkbull even managed to speak some sense about there being a `cultural` problem, which needs to be addressed by the way `sexism` is reinforced by the `adults` language and behavior is observed by the `young`, all to the swooning of the feminista talking-heads.

    #yet they all seem to have missed that ack-ma rolled-over to the networks, and have allowed the violence, sex and `disrespect` on telly to have `earlier` rating time-slots. #yaaaaay.counter.productivity

  170. November 26, 2015 11:46 pm

    my-abc,,,,,,,,,,,the Direct Action auction was a lighting upgrade worth more than $1 million for supermarket giant Wesfarmers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    +

    ,,,,,,,making $2.4 billion a year,,,,,,

    +

    ,,,,,,,,,,,taxpayers` money is used to fund things that would have been done anyway,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    +

    #yaaaaaaay.GST.increase

  171. November 27, 2015 12:40 am

    yes dunny, you missed considerable teabag-squirt while away on your mission, and allah akbar for your safe return via france and belgium, don`t bother squirting too much about ending-up flagged in the homeland or echelon database tho, l`m reasonably certain we are both already in there being pondered over, as they hoovered-up skynet during the last decade, be confident, they will never crack `our` code:-)

    #acirema.ot.htaed

  172. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 27, 2015 12:46 am

    So nice to see you toiletboss, whatcha been doing?

    * scarily, I almost expect to be put in a database somewhere for that sarcastic utterance

    You’re safe, I sent my fridge magnet back 😉

  173. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 27, 2015 12:56 am

    even most of the pollies have dragged themselves into reality and admitted the problem, mr-talkbull even managed to speak some sense about there being a `cultural` problem, which needs to be addressed by the way `sexism` is reinforced by the `adults` language and behavior is observed by the `young`, all to the swooning of the feminista talking-heads.

    Yep, he’s reeling in the ladies, he sees that as the better option to tackling the problem of what to do about the abbott govt ‘s unflushable turd policies and a backbench ready to crucify him if he deviates.

  174. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 27, 2015 1:11 am

    I think I saw a program about these women on TV [SBS] they mean business and they looked fearless.

  175. Tom R permalink
    November 27, 2015 8:19 am

    * scarily, I almost expect to be put in a database somewhere for that sarcastic utterance

    You don’t think yer already there laddy?

    unless the BullCorp shows its hand & goes after penalty rates et al, prior to the next election.

    Yes, it largely depends on talcum. If he was smart, he would do what yabot did, and bullshit his way through to the next election. Labor have already mostly killed off any chance of a GST rise (thank dog)

    He is playing his cards close to his chest, which would be admirable for an opposition in the same position, but is quite remarkable for a grubmint. What is more remarkable is how the press are lauding him for it.

    They are IN grubmint for fucks sake. It was bad enough when they allowed the opposition to go through an election campaign without policies, but to allow the actual grubmint to be a policy free zone?

    Re the Kurds AO, I read elsewhere that “apparently” the female Kurdish fighters are particularly fearsome to isis fighters due to the fact that being killed by a female prevents you from going to heaven properly (or some such rot)

    I hope your heads feeling OK after last nights #abc730 outing reb. It read like you hit it pretty hard lol

    Malcayman, I thought you were here to help us??

    Business investment is collapsing at a record pace as resource companies accelerate cutbacks amid slides in coal, iron ore and gas prices.

    New capital expenditure figures released on Thursday show investment collapsed 9.2 per cent in the September quarter – the biggest quarterly slide since records began almost 30 years ago.

  176. Tom R permalink
    November 27, 2015 8:27 am

    And speaking of Peter “only comments supportive of the GST are allowed in a debate we are not having” Martin

    A shining example of all that is wrong with our media, and yet he is one of the better ones out there.

  177. Tom R permalink
    November 27, 2015 8:29 am

    And Mr. 15% lays the boot into Mr Nowhere Man on emmissions

    And they haven’t even started on his NoBN fiasco yet.

  178. Tom R permalink
    November 27, 2015 9:10 am

    lol “Business Backlash Feared” (if we can fan the flames enough anyway)

    Bill Shorten will pledge to almost double the nation’s ambitions on climate change by setting a new target to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, blasting ­Malcolm Turnbull’s “pathetic” policy but risking a backlash from business.
    ……
    But the new policy could wipe $30 billion off the economy when compared with doing nothing further on climate change — a far bigger cost than the government’s target.

    It’s a big number. Is there perspective? Of course not. Further down though, we find

    While Mr Turnbull’s target would trim gross domestic product by 0.6 per cent by 2030, accordi­ng to modelling prepared for the government by economist Warwick McKibbin, the new Labor target would trim 1 per cent.

    So, going by those numbers (as rubbery as they are), that would mean Labors plan to bring emissions to zero “ could wipe $30 billion off the economy “, but malcaymans do nothing approach could still wipe off $18 billion.

    But if the oz can keep the misinformation going, then they will get there hard won “Business Backlash” they so “fear”

  179. November 27, 2015 9:33 am

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

  180. November 27, 2015 9:35 am

    “”I hope your heads feeling OK after last nights #abc730 outing reb. It read like you hit it pretty hard lol””

    I’d finished my bingo card 5 minutes into the interview.

    I also learnt a new word – “turgid”

  181. TB Queensland permalink
    November 27, 2015 10:07 am

    Fuck conservative wankers & their preponderance for wrongly assuming they’re not a dwindling demographic in Australia.

    G’day, toylet!

    You bin gettin’ rich on dem penalty rates, boy?

    Pity so many poor sods can’t see how the tories suck ’em up and spit ’em out less most of their hard earned …

    Noice to read ya back again … ToM’s got a long memory … HDotBL! That were a long time ago …

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    then they will get there hard won

    I think you meant their, TR … just in case Unteroffizer ToM sees it … 😉

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    I’d finished my bingo card 5 minutes into the interview.

    I see the news.com.au headline on the story says Turnbull Grilled by Leigh Sales … more like, lightly toasted with large amounts of butter …

    I’m starting to “get” the NVCs with Turnbull … especially that little smirk … saying, “I know the fob off answer to this question … so predictable” …

  182. Tom R permalink
    November 27, 2015 10:32 am

    I also learnt a new word – “turgid”

    After two years of tabot, and you’re only JUST learning that word?

    But, speaking of turgid

    New twist in Republican war on climate science is unbelievable

    https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28556-new-twist-in-republican-war-on-climate-science-is-unbelievable/

    It’s not really a “new twist” to those of us from Oz. In fact, it pretty much sums up the actions of our current grubmint

    just in case Unteroffizer ToM sees it

    yer problem is caring what the Unteroffizer says in the furst place jimmy!

    It’s a bloody blog, not a national broadsheet. Not that they are any better mind you 😉

  183. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 27, 2015 10:34 am

    Tim Dunlop: The hypocrisy behind Costello’s ‘tough questions’ about Islam
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-27/dunlop-the-hypocrisy-behind-costello's-questions/6979278

    …Look, if the former treasurer really wants to ask some tough questions, I’ve got a few.

    Why did the government of which he was part carry us into a war in Iraq on a false premise?

    Why haven’t any of you taken responsibility for that act, an act most serious commentators consider the worst foreign policy blunder of the modern era, and an act that was a huge contributing factor to rise of Daesh itself?…

  184. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 27, 2015 10:57 am

    Turgid is a good word, It is offensive and you sound intelligent when you use it.

    I use it on my neighbours.

  185. TB Queensland permalink
    November 27, 2015 11:01 am

    It’s probably turbid to your neighbours, ToM … 😉

  186. Splatterbottom permalink
    November 27, 2015 11:04 am

    Obama’s new answer to terror – a great big Climate circle jerk – that’ll show ’em!

    “Next week, I will be joining President Hollande and world leaders in Paris for the global climate conference,” Obama said. “What a powerful rebuke to the terrorists it will be, when the world stands as one and shows that we will not be deterred from building a better future for our children.”

  187. Tom R permalink
    November 27, 2015 11:21 am

    Obama’s new answer to terror

    I’d hazard a guess it will be far more productive than bush’s ‘answer’, which really just fanned the flames.

  188. TB Queensland permalink
    November 27, 2015 11:25 am

    Joined by the Aussie Crusader Sir John Howard … Nobel Nominee for the Peace Prize 🙄

  189. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 27, 2015 11:36 am

    I use it on my neighbours.

    i use it on my employers [amongst others]

    I haven’t heard the backlash yet but lleyonhelm is causing havoc with his anti family welfare rhetoric

    ‘Won’t someone please think of the childless?’: Senator David Leyonhjelm says childless Australians should be praised
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/wont-someone-please-think-of-the-childless-senator-david-leyonhjelm-says-childless-australians-should-be-praised-20151122-gl5bwa.html#ixzz3seD5QzM1

    “To the childless people of Australia, I want to say, on behalf of this Parliament, thank you for being childless.
    “You work for more years and become more productive than the rest of Australia. You pay thousands and thousands of dollars more tax than other Australians. You get next to no welfare …
    “But you pay when other people get pregnant, you pay when they give birth, you pay when they stay at home to look after their offspring …” Senator Leyonhjelm said.
    The Liberal Democrat said that he was sorry than instead of receiving thanks, Australians without children were “often ignored, pitied, considered strange, or even thought of as irresponsible”.
    “For your sake, I hope the children you are forced to support don’t end up as juvenile delinquents, and I hope that they get immunised so that you don’t end up getting sick. Because you’ll pay then, too.”

    Victorian MP who did not stand for Rosie Batty ovation ‘overwhelmed’ with emotion, Opposition leader says
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-27/victorian-opposition-leader-defends-mp-did-not-stand-rosie-batty/6979586

  190. Walrus permalink
    November 27, 2015 11:57 am

    I’ve been pushing on and off for the Institute of Chartered Accountants to take on the State and Federal Governments about this for years. Too many letters but little reaction.

    Mainly because I became increasingly gobsmacked at the financial mess some of my clients children get themselves into.

    Reasons for teaching basic finance skills at school

    http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/buying/one-in-five-first-home-buyers-dont-know-lenders-can-raise-rates-independently-of-the-rba/news-story/d61f7876f81abfb5c5e5e2e879f4c4ad

  191. Walrus permalink
    November 27, 2015 11:59 am

    “What a powerful rebuke to the terrorists it will be, when the world stands as one and shows that we will not be deterred from building a better future for our children.”

    Has he completely lost the plot ?

  192. TB Queensland permalink
    November 27, 2015 12:52 pm

    Reasons for teaching basic finance skills at school

    Wow! Something else we agree on … I was 32 before I knew there was such a thing as an asset class, let alone three of ’em!

    At least I’ve managed to pass that and a few tips on to my kids and their kids!

    Schools ponce around with all sorts of “stuff” except the “stuff” of life!

    Keep up the letters, Wally … top stuff!

  193. TB Queensland permalink
    November 27, 2015 12:57 pm

    This is more like it!

    http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/hunt-approves-qlds-largest-windfarm/news-story/0db5aaa2b4d7d46f4bdf06f03239eed8

    That’s walking the talk!

    More please!

  194. Walrus permalink
    November 27, 2015 1:27 pm

    “Keep up the letters, Wally … top stuff!”

    Thanks

    Rest assured I am quite mortified and sickened at my altruistic slip ups from time to time.

  195. Splatterbottom permalink
    November 27, 2015 1:36 pm

    “I’d hazard a guess it will be far more productive than bush’s ‘answer’, which really just fanned the flames.”

    Yep, Tom R, fighting back is the cause of all our problems. The best way to fight ISIS by having a climate summit??!! Like all those on the “take it up the arse from terrorists trip” you are going to end wondering how countries which produce so much petroleum have so little petroleum jelly!

  196. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 27, 2015 1:38 pm

    That’s walking the talk!

    More please!

    Well hawke/Keating and Rudd/Gillard destroyed most of our manufacturing industry. Now you want to destroy our coal mining industry.

    Do ALP supporters do anything but destroy things?

  197. November 27, 2015 3:01 pm

    BREAKING: New Zealand obesity campaigner quits saying country has made ‘no progress’ http://trib.al/2eOxouJ

    I think that’s quite unfair. I’ve been to NZ and can vouch that there are a lot of obese ppl there, so the obesity campaigner has actually done quite a good job.

  198. Tom R permalink
    November 27, 2015 3:18 pm

    Yep, Tom R, fighting back is the cause of all our problems.

    Ah! Misrepresentation. The refuge of those with nothing valuable to say.

    Since I didn’t say anything about not fighting back or not. I simply highlighted that the debacle that was the coalition of the dipshits Iraq has fanned the flames.

  199. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 27, 2015 4:34 pm

    Obesity is a problem in NZ?

    Here’s my solution to obesity –
    1. There should be a tax on fat people, they take up room on public transport, and hospitals are full of them. Put the GST on their food.
    2. Weigh them with their luggage for aircraft travel. I mean, here I am, a fit young person, with a luggage allowance the same as theirs.
    3. Make them book 2 seats, they spill into my space
    4. Call security if they go into a trendy club
    5. Have you seen their table manners?
    6. Get them out of the motorised wheel chairs – make them get some exercise

    Interested to know what everyone else thinks…

  200. November 27, 2015 4:54 pm

    “”I mean, here I am, a fit young person””

    Oh how we laughed and laughed….! 🙂

  201. TB Queensland permalink
    November 27, 2015 5:03 pm

    Chuckle @ sreb ToM

    How would this “solution” work, ToM? (Solution?)

    5. Have you seen their table manners?

    Stop watching them eat?

  202. Walrus permalink
    November 27, 2015 5:45 pm

    “”I mean, here I am, a fit young person””

  203. Walrus permalink
    November 27, 2015 5:55 pm

    Surf is up for ToM

  204. November 27, 2015 6:33 pm

    dunlop,,,,,,,,,,,,if the former treasurer really wants to ask some tough questions, I’ve got a few. ,, ,, Why did the government of which he was part carry us into a war in Iraq on a false premise? ,, ,, Why haven’t any of you taken responsibility for that act,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    ,,,,,,,,,,the worst foreign policy blunder of the modern era, and an act that was a huge contributing factor to rise of Daesh itself?,,,,,,,,,,,

    #could the reason be, that costello `knows` teabag-media played it`s part too, preferring to cheer and scream like teenage girls at a beatles concert, instead of challenging the zombies excuses for invading iraq, and afghanistan, free-passing mr-rabbit pre-election, or their anti-jooliar campaign?

    dunlop,,,,,,,,,,people who were in actual positions of power and influence, started owning up to the havoc they helped wreak?,,,,,,,,,(#lacks.self.awareness)

    ,,,,,,,,,sly `think pieces`(#think???#guffaw) that do nothing more than play on the fears of a rightly anxious electorate, wouldn’t it be nice, if just once, those who got it wrong in the past owned up to their mistakes and subjected themselves to the same reckoning and standards they demand of others?,,,,,,,,,,,,,(#yeah.teabag-media.too)

    ,,,,,,,,,,I’m not exactly holding my breath.,,,,,,,,,(#me.neither)

    #with a solid recent history of teabag-media `laying-down` at critical times the public NEEDED them to do THEIR job, l find the 20/20-hindsight a tad underwhelming

  205. November 27, 2015 6:43 pm

    “”I mean, here I am, a fit young person””

  206. November 27, 2015 6:52 pm

    smh,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,David Leyonhjelm, whose party also wants to see family payments restricted and childcare subsidies abolished,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    #just another teabag trying to divide citizens along the non-breeder(23%) and breeder(77%) lines, instead of shutting-down `subsidies` that rich, off-shore, and corporates get

  207. Tom R permalink
    November 27, 2015 7:04 pm

    Surfs UP

    (and so am I ?)

  208. Tom R permalink
    November 27, 2015 7:10 pm

    And since yer back toilet

  209. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 27, 2015 7:24 pm

    More like this –
    *Fat old guy
    *Passed out
    *Wetsuit on backwards

  210. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 27, 2015 7:26 pm

    I don’t EVER dance!

  211. November 27, 2015 9:03 pm

    #acirema.ot.htaed

    #acirema.fo.htaed.eht.eb.lliw.pmurt.dlanod.fo.noitcele.eht

  212. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 27, 2015 9:07 pm

    I was in the US a few weeks ago ( surfing at Malibu!). Everyone I spoke to hated The Donald.

  213. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 27, 2015 10:37 pm

    #acirema.fo.htaed.eht.eb.lliw.pmurt.dlanod.fo.noitcele.eht

    But wouldn’t it be fun to see? Would he get shafted as quickly as abbott?

    It is america toilet, they’ll just have him assassinated!

  214. November 27, 2015 10:42 pm

    Hello. Good evening.Thank you you’re welcome…..

  215. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 27, 2015 10:46 pm

    I was in the US a few weeks ago ( surfing at Malibu!)

    No sharks there?

  216. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 27, 2015 11:04 pm

  217. November 27, 2015 11:26 pm

    “I was in the US a few weeks ago ( surfing at Malibu!). Everyone I spoke to hated The Donald.”

    I think if the Republicans actually nominate Trump, or one of the overt creationist nutjobs, they are ensuring another term for the Democrats.
    I doubt that, when it comes to the crunch, Trump will make the cut. If he does, I’ll be staggered & my opinion of the US political circus will be appropriately diminished.

    He is a slimy populist fuckwit, who only got to throw his hat in the ring because he has brand recognition amongst ignorant dumbfounded dipshits who recognise him from Big Reality TV.
    He also has an arrogant mean streak a hundred miles wide.

    As he insulted Ronda Rousey last week (?) I couldn’t help pondering how much I’d like to have seen her snap his elbow & make him eat his rug.

  218. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 28, 2015 12:11 am

    Malcolm Turnbull is soaring so Bill Shorten is safe as Opposition Leader
    http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/laurie-oakes/malcolm-turnbull-is-soaring-so-bill-shorten-is-safe-as-opposition-leader/news-story/e2c80d965e0060e158ead94e11dd965d

    HERE’S a tip. Bill Shorten is not under threat as Labor leader, despite being Mr 15 Per Cent in the opinion polls.

    Malcolm Turnbull, preferred as prime minister by 60 per cent of voters, is so far in the ascendant at the moment that nobody wants Shorten’s job. I doubt he could give it away…

    …It was known police had taken an interest. Yet Turnbull decided that Brough, one of the plotters who helped him roll Abbott, should be rewarded with the Special Minister of State portfolio, which oversees government integrity issues and ministerial standards.

    Apparently he did it without checking with police whether their investigation had been completed. It was a stupid decision and raised questions not only about Turnbull’s judgment but also about his own attitude to standards.

    If it was a sign of things to come, Turnbull’s popularity might not remain at stratospheric levels and Shorten’s rivals might start to regard the Opposition leadership with more interest…

  219. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 28, 2015 3:37 pm

    I must admit i do miss Tony

    http://zanettisview.com/cartoons/stop-the-cakes/1536

  220. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 28, 2015 5:46 pm

    Three killed, nine injured in attack on Colorado abortion clinic
    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) – A gunman stormed a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Colorado Springs on Friday and opened fire with a rifle in an attack that left three people dead and nine others injured, authorities said.

    The dead included one police officer and two civilians, Colorado Springs Police Chief Peter Carey told reporters about an hour after the suspect had been captured.

  221. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 29, 2015 9:23 am

  222. November 29, 2015 9:56 am

    “I must admit i do miss Tony”

    Unsurprisingly, you & Herr Andrew are in the underwhelming minority in your pining for a return to Abbott.

  223. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 29, 2015 11:37 am

    Unsurprisingly, you & Herr Andrew are in the underwhelming minority in your pining for a return to Abbott.

    Good.

  224. November 29, 2015 3:24 pm

    Tragically amusing.

  225. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 29, 2015 6:13 pm

    I am sure there are lots of times when the minority are correct.

  226. TB Queensland permalink
    November 29, 2015 9:13 pm

    Like the Labor Party?

  227. November 30, 2015 6:58 am

    West-coast Mexico ,, Surf`s Up!!

    #onion.free

  228. November 30, 2015 7:06 am

    #pmurt.htiw.sniamer.sguper.eht.fo.edirp.eht

    #fo.maerd.ylno.nac.bilb.esab.naf.a.sah.giw.sih

    #acirema.ot.htaed

  229. Tom R permalink
    November 30, 2015 8:24 am

    I see the “Get Bill” crowd have been out in full force on the weekend. The media angle settled on by the assembled muppets for Labor raising their Emissions target is simply Labor playing politics.

    Well, they ARE a political party, I’m sure the timing was politically motivated. BUT, to claim this is the only reason ignores the fact that Labor have ALWAYS led the way in tackling AGW. It ignores the fact that this simply builds on Labors previous commitments, which were probably called political back when, yet were actually carried through. It ignores the fact that, by carrying it through, Labor suffered a heavy price via the same sort of attacks that we see now from the press gallery.

    It is also interesting to look back at the way abbotts rolled gold parental payments scheme was accepted unquestioningly by these same media hacks, even though nothing yabot had said or done in the past hinted at any support of the concept of paid parental schemes. In fact, everything he had said and done showed that he was against them. And some of us were ridiculed for saying that this would never see the light of day.

    Well, the media have their angle. Labor, all politics, even though they now have a policy reflective of their long term trend of implementing AGW action that is ahead of the curve. And, at the same time, I see on the front page of the oz that malcayman is being lauded still because he said he might consider lifting action some time in the future?

    We really have worlds worst media in this place. A Chinese style media would be more effective.

  230. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 30, 2015 8:46 am

    So did Abbott get the knife because the media hated him?

  231. TB Queensland permalink
    November 30, 2015 9:20 am

    NO! The Liberals figured out the Australian population hated him!

  232. November 30, 2015 9:52 am

    “”A Chinese style media would be more effective””

    Be careful what you wish for..

  233. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 30, 2015 9:56 am

    But hang on…the population is manipulated by the media, if the media liked Abbott, surely the population would just mindlessly follow.

    I mean that’s been the case since Rudd & Gillard!

  234. Tom R permalink
    November 30, 2015 10:01 am

    Abbott got the knife because people saw he was a total fuckwit DESPITE the media running a protection racket for him for years.

    Did abbott become PM because of his innate talent?

    Do you think Labors AGW policy is purely political?

    Be careful what you wish for..

    Anything but what we have now

  235. November 30, 2015 10:08 am

    the ,,,,assembled muppets for Labor,,,, for some strange reason believe there is a ,,,,get-blib-crowd,,,, which displays a very high lack of `self-awareness` among said muppets, had they any level of self-awareness, they would rapidly realize `blib-GOT-himself`. Don`t forget, the lack of self-awareness extends way beyond the average muppet, and is fully `entrenched` within the whole `team` thru to caucus. We will all watch caucus at the next leadership-meeting after the next election, over-ride members and/or reinforce blib`s leadership, even tho plib and albo will have lost to the greenz, and have no `alternative` remaining, to replace blib with, as two more potential leaders are lost.

    #yaaaaaay.blib

  236. November 30, 2015 10:15 am

    reb,,,,,,Be careful what you wish for,,,,,,,

    #l know, it would be terrible. Could you imagine how bad it would be to have a powerful propaganda out-fit, that was only prepared to peddle fact-free, ideology-based nonsense?:-)

    #limited.news

  237. November 30, 2015 10:44 am

    Their main trouble is the `team` are totally fcuking clueless to what `blow-back` is, and how their actions cause it,

    t,,,,,,that Labor have ALWAYS led the way in tackling AGW,,,,,,

    #yeah blib`s making the global warming noise, big deal, most of us still remember that blib/jooliar/team told kevin07 to put it on the `back-burner`, then knifed him when he did, blow-back=team/blib has no fcuking credibility on global cooling, (ditto for gay-marriage and joolya)

    #there is two topics the `team` arse-fcuked themselves over, and can`t live-down the blow-back, no matter how `small-target` blib tries to get

    #yaaaay.blib

  238. Splatterbottom permalink
    November 30, 2015 10:55 am

    “The Liberals figured out the Australian population hated him!”

    Abbott had so many chances and he totally fucked-up.

    Now that the Lib’s new mealy-mouthed two-faced cretin is much more popular than the Lab’s mealy-mouthed two-faced cretin, the ALP has some thinking to do about who should lead it.

  239. Tom R permalink
    November 30, 2015 10:56 am

    You realise you make as much sense forward or backwards team nowhere

  240. November 30, 2015 10:59 am

    Everyone knows that Blib’s finished, except Blib. And I think he even has doubts about himself.

  241. November 30, 2015 11:03 am

    The teabags at least had enough brains to slap a shiny new label on their can of crap, and appoint a new brand ambassador splatters.

    #yes.its.still.the.same.can.of.crap

  242. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 30, 2015 11:05 am

    I must admit the backstabbing that goes on in politics is amazing. I did not like the way that Abbott got backstabbed.

    However it does appear that people could not stand Credlin anymore. He was told to get rid of her and he didn’t.

  243. Tom R permalink
    November 30, 2015 11:23 am

    Abbott had so many chances

    Ask yerself why that was 😉

    Everyone knows that Blib’s finished

    Yes, I think that point has been reached. This latest attack on Labors climate policy is the death knell. The press gallery win again. I just can’t wait to see what they do to tear down the next candidate

    I’m also pretty sure Bill knows it too. But he/they are probably weighing up burning him at the election, and starting afresh next time, or burning that candidate now in the hopes they get a honeymoon.

  244. November 30, 2015 11:28 am

    “”This latest attack on Labors climate policy is the death knell. The press gallery win again.””

    Really. Perhaps if Labor had installed the leader the people actually wanted (Albanese) rather than the ex-union hack favoured by the union powerlords then things wouldn’t have unravelled so quickly.

    Blib’s so-called “leadership” was tainted in the respect from the outset, and never really recovered.

  245. Tom R permalink
    November 30, 2015 11:39 am

    rather than the ex-union hack favoured by the union powerlords

    You mean like rudd?

    That worked well, didn’t it?

    And, even if you don’t like Labors method of selecting a Leader, it is still the most democratic of ALL the parties.

    And I for one do not think that yabot would be gone under Albanese. He was too eager to join the fray, which was always yabots strength.

  246. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 30, 2015 11:48 am

    That worked well, didn’t it?

    Rudd –

    * Remained immensely popular with he public
    * 2 time PM
    * Reinstalled by the party after the disastrously unpopular Gillard (installed by power brokers/union hacks)
    * Salvaged a respectable outcome for the ALP

  247. Tom R permalink
    November 30, 2015 11:53 am

    rudd

    backstabbed his own party to the point that they were unelectable

    I’ll stick with someone who comes from an organization with average people’s interests at their forefront.

  248. Splatterbottom permalink
    November 30, 2015 11:55 am

    “You mean like rudd?”

    Rudd is not an “ex-union hack” – unless you mean the Evangelical Union! He was a diplomat then a political staffer.

  249. Tom R permalink
    November 30, 2015 12:34 pm

    Rudd is not an “ex-union hack

    That was pretty much the point sb 😉

  250. armchair opinionator permalink
    November 30, 2015 1:39 pm

  251. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 30, 2015 3:29 pm

    backstabbed his own party to the point that they were unelectable

    Gillard destroyed the ALP government with her dishonesty and incompetence. Union hacks installed her and her fate was sealed – the electorate doesn’t go for hacks offloading a popular PM – remember how Rudd had the ALP 52/48 2PP when he was knifed?

  252. TB Queensland permalink
    November 30, 2015 3:51 pm

    … the electorate doesn’t go for hacks offloading a popular PM …

    And yet the Liberal hacks offloaded an unpopular PM … but kept the unpopular policies …

    Unfortunately the voters only seem to see the smiley face not the shite, behind it … Turncoat is, always has been and always will be a Liberal Party puppet prostitute … it began with the Republic Referendum … weak as piss then, weak as piss over Utegate and weak as piss now …

    And I just heard/saw that silly prick Hunt on the TV … the boofhead lives in lalaland … what really frightening is that he actually seems to believe what he spouts … utter airhead nonsense …

    Add Dopey Dutton, Bad Boy Brough, Prissy Pyne and Scott (I’m just a cuddly bear – with sharp teeth) Morriscum … it really is a circus full of clowns … and a bear …

    Emperor Turncoat Has No Clothes …

  253. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 30, 2015 4:37 pm

    Add Dopey Dutton, Bad Boy Brough, Prissy Pyne and Scott (I’m just a cuddly bear – with sharp teeth) Morriscum

    At least they did not lock up 2,000 kids, trash the budget and explode unemployment.

  254. Splatterbottom permalink
    November 30, 2015 5:09 pm

    “Turncoat is, always has been and always will be a Liberal Party puppet prostitute “

    To be fair Turdbull tried very hard to get into the ALP. But they had enough overweening power-crazed narcissists on the books. So Richo told him to stick to strangling his ex’s cats or something.

    Turdbull, being a posturing wanker of vaguely leftist temperament, was a more natural fit with the ALP. To his Machiavellian credit he has been able to con the Libs into electing him leader. They love power and the influence-pedlars and back-room lobbyists don’t want the money-train stopping anytime soon. At least Abbott stood up to Photias, Campbell and the lobbyists. No danger of Turdbull getting in the way of entrepreneurial activity.

  255. TB Queensland permalink
    November 30, 2015 5:17 pm

    No danger of Turdbull getting in the way of entrepreneurial activity.

    No argument here … just another Robber Baron demonstrating Vacuum Up Economics© with his mates …

  256. TB Queensland permalink
    November 30, 2015 5:31 pm

    Brisbane’s new theme song …

    I hear another one a’comin’ …

  257. November 30, 2015 6:18 pm

    my.abc,,,,,,,,,,,as the Coalition has gained in the opinion polls since Turnbull’s return, the Greens’ vote has remained relatively unchanged. This suggests soft Labor voters have shifted to the Coalition, while soft Green voters have not (yet) been persuaded to change to the Shorten’s Green-lite Labor,,,,,,,,,,,

    http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-30/matthewson-labor's-getting-squeezed-out-of-the-market/6985104

    #this is a `must read` for our resident team-cheerer

  258. November 30, 2015 6:33 pm

    “Be careful what you wish for..

    Anything but what we have now”

    One of the creeds I live by is, and always has been…“Could Be Worse” …it is worth considering in most frustrating situations.

    The Australian media clearly falls under the creed, imho. A one state media is the worst case scenario…with plenty of historical precedents & their outcomes.
    It is healthy to read contrarian opinions.

  259. November 30, 2015 6:34 pm

    That’s not to say that calling for change, moderation or reason isn’t admirable. Just not TOTALITARIAN change.

  260. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 30, 2015 6:51 pm

    At least they did not lock up 2,000 kids, trash the budget and explode unemployment.

    The statement i made about labor locking up 2,000 kids shows how biased the media is. Biased to labor.

    Just imagine if Howard had locked up 2,000 kids. I remember Howard was called nasty for locking up a much smaller number. Howard of course responded and released them.

    The media would have exploded if the Coalition had locked up 2,000 kids but was mainly silent while Rudd/ Gillard were locking them up. Of course the media sprung into action as soon as Abbott was elected.

  261. November 30, 2015 6:52 pm

    “And I just heard/saw that silly prick Hunt on the TV … the boofhead lives in lalaland … what really frightening is that he actually seems to believe what he spouts … utter airhead nonsense …”

    Remember the landscaper with delusions of political influence used to crow about having the ear of Greg Hunt? *among others, not least inferences towards Rhinehart et al

    Hilarious.

    Self promoting, illegitimate fuckhead that he was/is.

  262. November 30, 2015 7:29 pm

    Kneel, you are archetypal Boltian slaverer materiel.

  263. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    November 30, 2015 7:41 pm

    Self promoting, illegitimate fuckhead that he was/is.

    I believe this is the thriving metropolis he envisioned –

    http://cache4.asset-cache.net/gc/166327509-outback-shed-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=99OvX%2FMHdIigEW6w1pMxr5eRU0UxOq2XEc2d9%2BAfZxctO2Mi2lfjD%2BDq14hMJ3R9

  264. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 30, 2015 8:11 pm

    Kneel, you are archetypal Boltian slaverer materiel.

    My last comment i claim credit for. Labor supporters do seem to support their team much more strongly than Coalition supporters.

    And it is true. If Howard locked up 2,000 kids like Rudd/Gillard did there would be marching in the streets. However nobody said much until Abbott became PM and then out they all came. TRiggs didn;t do anything until Abbott was elected.

    TomR is right. The media is biased. But to Labor.

  265. November 30, 2015 8:21 pm

    dunny,,,,,,It is healthy to read contrarian opinions,,,,,,

    #l`m not sure about that. l just don`t see how you, dunny, can become `more-healthy`, knowledgeable or smarter, by reading dumpty`s `opinion` instead of science/fact, boo-of-melbs `opinion` of onion/safety/ohs instead of historical-fact, or kneels/team-cheerers `opinion` of yay-team, instead of `investigative-reporting/interviews`(tho-rare-now). We already have an ocean of fact-free `opinion` that drowns-out truth/fact, and is little different to the `other`system.

  266. TB Queensland permalink
    November 30, 2015 8:23 pm

    Self promoting, illegitimate fuckhead that he was/is.

    Ahhh … The Rockshifter … ate my lunch, drank my beer and then turned into a political satanic rites worshipper … against me!

    Dickwitted Fuckwit© indeed …

    He’d probably get on quite well with Kneel …

    … last time I sneaked a peek he was still posting on the website over the road …

  267. TB Queensland permalink
    November 30, 2015 8:25 pm

    I believe this is the thriving metropolis he envisioned –

    But this was the end result, ToM …

  268. Neil of Sydney permalink
    November 30, 2015 8:29 pm

    kneels/team-cheerers `opinion`

    No. Labor trashes most things it touches. That is not opinion, it is fact.

    2007 unemployment = 4.3% 2008 = 5.8%

    2007 debt = zero 2008 debt = 10% of GDP and exploding

    2007 kids in detention = zero 2008 kids in detention = 2.000

    and i could go on.

  269. November 30, 2015 9:21 pm

    k,,,,,,and i could go on,,,,,,

    #and l really don`t know why you bother kneel-zombie,

    #your zombies fcuk everything they touch too, iraq, afghanistan, syria, nbn, deficit, economy, debt, citizens-privacy/rights

  270. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 8:20 am

    Yea, I read that dragonista drivel. greens-lite. What vacuous twaddle.

    It’s amazing how Labor seem to fluctuate from being liberal clones to green clones, depending on which angle the driveller want to attack them from, but never being portrayed as the Labor they have always been.

    It’s just another ‘journalist” trashing the Labor brand, as they all do remorselessly.

    She says Labor is getting squeezed out, Another way of looking at it is Labor have dragged the libs back from the far right. But that would indicate that Labor were actually successful at something. Or Dog forbid, Shorten actually achieved something (apart from his rich history of saving workers jobs and getting them better pay and conditions)

    Labor are simply continuing their strong tradition of environmental awareness balanced by hard nosed realism of the economic world we live in.

    When they pursue environmentalism, they are greenie wannabees, when they pursue economics, they are liberal wannabees.

    It’s bloody tiring reading these journo wannabes pretend they have insight, when all they have is regurgitations.

    If Turnbull and Morrison deliver a budget that is not only fair but also seen to be so

    And they live in eternal hope that malcayman will become the man he pretends to be, ignoring his rich history of being the exact opposite.

    I also recall that these same churnos tried to tell us plebs that the last budget was “not only fair but also seen to be so”, so I’m sure the next one will be spun that way initially.

    Muppets!

  271. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 8:28 am

    And, still bought and paid for by the miners

    Australia has dumped plans to sign a global agreement to phase out fossil fuel subsidies following a threatened revolt by miners, farmers and the Coalition backbench.

    …………
    Each year, the 38¢-a-litre diesel excise rebate costs the budget abut $5.5 billion but is not classified officially as a subsidy.

    Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/policy/climate/un-climate-conference-2015-revolt-sparks-backdown-on-fossil-fuel-phase-out-20151130-glbo0n#ixzz3t0pnOGFM
    Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook

    Well of course it isn’t, cos only worthless bludgers get subsidies, while hard working land clearers get ‘rebates’

    We won’t have to wait for a budget for malcayman to show his true colours, but the likes of dragonista and the other churnos will keep the green hue applied to him. (but never sink to calling him green-lite)

  272. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 8:34 am

  273. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 9:03 am

    Oh malcayman. This is the same idiot who said something better than fiber would come along for our NBN, and then proceeded to replace copper for the same price as it would have cost to lay fiber

    Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australia will not be “daunted” by the challenge of climate change, saying he is confident human ingenuity can help secure the future.

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-30/australia-won%27t-be-daunted-by-challenge-of-climate-change/6988534

    So, he’s still backing fairies down the end of the garden creating rain than actually doing anything concrete to tackle AGW. And the gallery will lap it up all over again.

  274. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 9:07 am

    Yep, and our brave churnos are now giving talcum the same benefit of the doubt they gave tabot before the last election, probably because that worked out so well for everyone.

    Interesting Julie Bishop is trying to convey the impression nothing changes on the target for five years. I strongly suspect Turnbull’s timetable for iterations on the climate policy is much sooner than that – after the next election

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/dec/01/turnbull-says-1bn-of-the-aid-budget-will-go-to-emissions-reduction-politics-live?CMP=share_btn_tw#block-565cbe4ae4b0fd56932e3054

    And these are the same muppets who are calling Labors emission targets purely political, while barracking for a purely political stance from the libs, and hoping they will change their tune AFTER the election?

    WTF!!

  275. Tom of Melbourne permalink
    December 1, 2015 9:58 am

    It’s the MEDIA!!!

    They were against Rudd* – he went
    They were against Gillard – she went
    They were (not) against Abbott – he went

    It’s all the media’s fault!!

    * apparently they were right about Rudd

  276. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 10:14 am

    So, you are content with the likes of murphy giving turnball a free pass, again, DESPITE all he has done to show he is no friend to the environment, whilst at the same time calling Labors CONTINUING action, at much political expense, a purely political move?

    You are happy with journalism/barracking of that calibre.

  277. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 11:12 am

  278. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 11:24 am

  279. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 11:25 am

    …There is something about women’s independence and self-determination that really sets off religious radicals of all persuasion, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jewish…

  280. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 11:52 am

    Fossil Fuels = Fossil Fkn Liberal* Government

    (* Yah I know its a “coalition” but do the Nats actually represent anyone … fracking anyone?)

    How to fiddle and fart with climate change, renewables, friendly neighbours in need and our childrens’ childrens’ futures!

    AS WORLD leaders meet for historic climate talks in Paris, prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has pledged $800 million to Pacific countries to combat climate change, after refusing to sign an international agreement to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.

    Australia will commit an extra $800 million over five years to help Pacific countries cope with climate change but will redirect the funds from the existing foreign aid budget.

    Turnbull confirmed the multi-million dollar gift on Tuesday (AEDT) during his national statement at the United Nations climate change conference in Paris.

    However, like the $200 million reluctantly pledged for the Green Climate Fund in Peru last year, the additional $800 million will be redirected from the foreign aid budget. The extra cash to bring Australia’s climate finance contribution to $1 billion was yet to be allocated to other aid projects.

    http://www.news.com.au/world/money-earmarked-to-help-vulnerable-pacific-island-nations/news-story/579c7916932602f9874cf4aeee4724e4

    Fkn hopeless hypocrites … Marionette Turnbull poncing across the world stage, wobbly limbs, smiley face and wooden brain …

  281. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 11:57 am

    Each year, the 38¢-a-litre diesel excise rebate costs the budget abut $5.5 billion but is not classified officially as a subsidy.

    That’s because its welfare for The Robber Baron Cartel … Vacuum Up Economics at work …

    That crap that Richardson wrote for Deloitte abouy reducing expenditure doesn’t mean that!

  282. December 1, 2015 12:08 pm

    “”Ahaha..Ashby, Brough & Pyne now conspiring to throw @Wyatt_MP under the #Ashbygate bus…. “”

    Yeah, I was reading about that this morning..

    Both Ashby and Roy are being played…

    Despite being both a dickead and a poncy twat, Christopher Pyne is a masterful player and is no doubt orchestrating all of this while keeping his own nose perfectly clean.

  283. December 1, 2015 12:09 pm

    Ashby actually bears not a passing resemblance to Slipper – especially in this photo..

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/james-ashbys-diary-admission-wyatt-roy-told-me-to-do-it/story-fn59niix-1227628798013

  284. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 12:13 pm

    Yeah, I was reading about that this morning..

    Do you have web link? I don’t (know how) play with tweets …

    As you know I’m a big fan of young Roy and bovver boy Mal … I don’t give a FF about the telegram boy Ashby … 🙂

  285. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 12:14 pm

    Do you have a web link I don’t have to subscribe to? It is 2015 …

  286. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 12:17 pm

    keeping his own nose perfectly clean.

    So, meeting with one of the key players on the sly, lying about, and still refusing to acknowledge it is “perfectly clean”?

    That’s because its welfare for The Robber Baron Cartel

    In the same way that Labor introduces TAXES (even temporary ones) but the libs do a “levy”

  287. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 12:21 pm

    I see some libs are asking malcayman not to continue with a proposal he isn’t proposing.

    This Christmas present to Turnbull, plus the upcoming summer break, mean it is also a good time to dump unsuitable policies. Today’s best candidate for dumping is the proposal to increase the rate of the GST. Turnbull should shut down this discussion before Christmas.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/raising-the-gst-should–be-ruled-out-by-malcolm-turnbull-before-christmas-20151130-glbb1y.html#ixzz3t1m9WSKN
    Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

    This bit made me laugh

    so as to pre-empt the usual misleading attacks by Labor on wages.

    This is the same moron who ranted all the way through Labors years in Government about the imminent “wages explosion” ROFL

  288. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 12:24 pm

    Party wars. Abbott’s still in aggressive denial and ‘i’m on my way back’ mode, the bomb thrower would rather wreck the party’s prospects for the next election than go quietly to the back bench or out of parliament.

    It’s everyone else’s fault [as always, the man who has never taken responsibility for his own actions throughout his entire life].

    Not much empathy or support for abbott in the comments though.

    Tony Abbott says he would have died happy on the morning he was removed as PM:
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-i-would-have-died-happy-20151130-glbule.html

    That article provoked a reply from bishop.

    Tony Abbott a victim of his performance and not white-anting, says Julie Bishop
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-a-victim-of-his-performance-and-not-whiteanting-says-julie-bishop-20151130-glc0g1.html#ixzz3t1kWHoQS

  289. December 1, 2015 12:26 pm

    “”So, meeting with one of the key players on the sly, lying about, and still refusing to acknowledge it is “perfectly clean”?

    FFS. I wasn’t saying that Pyne isn’t incriminated in all of this, far from it.

    What I am saying, is that he’s clever enough to manipulate other people into doing his own bidding while keeping himself at a safe distance from being seen to be doing anything untoward himself.

  290. Neil of Sydney permalink
    December 1, 2015 12:36 pm

    Not much empathy or support for abbott in the comments though.

    There never is for Coalition leaders in the SMH. Which is why i am worried about Turnbull. Some lefties seem to like him.

  291. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 12:44 pm

    FFS

    I get what you mean, it just didn’t seem to gel with what you were saying, just saying 😉

    Not much empathy or support for abbott in the comments though.

    People are beginning to see what a petty and vindictive piece of work he is?

  292. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:15 pm

  293. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:18 pm

    Isn’t Arnott’s cutting off coles supply of tim tam’s because they refused to raise their price an example of price fixing? or have I got that wrong?

  294. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:26 pm

    oops, I didn’t see yours before I posted mine tomR 🙂

  295. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:32 pm

    “Isn’t Arnott’s cutting off coles supply of tim tam’s because they refused to raise their price an example of price fixing? or have I got that wrong?”

    Yes you got it wrong.

    Coles are refusing to pay Arnotts the wholesale price increase that Arnotts are demanding. Just like any customer can do

  296. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:33 pm

    SNAP! to AO 🙂

  297. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:40 pm

    hehe, haven’t we all thought similar? A heart attack waiting to happen?

  298. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:42 pm

    Yes you got it wrong.

    Thanks walrus, I was hoping you would explain 🙂

  299. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:50 pm

    “Thanks walrus, I was hoping you would explain ”

    Apparently Coles have a house brand called “Chocolate Surrender”

    Not a big fan of Tim Tams here.

  300. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:52 pm

    “Clive Palmer (@CliveFPalmer)”

    So Clive is going to “defame” someone using Cowards Castle

  301. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:55 pm

    Apparently Coles have a house brand called “Chocolate Surrender”
    Not a big fan of Tim Tams here.

    I hate all those ‘own brands’ that have taken over coles and woolies.

    I got so fed up with it that I have taken myself off to Aldi and IGA in a kind of sole pointless protest, but it makes me feel better!

  302. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 1:58 pm

    Just like any customer can do

    lol

    Yea, exactly the same …. if your store only has two customers that is 😉

  303. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 2:00 pm

    Looks like li’l whyatt is going to be introduced to the “rough and tumble” of politics liberal style

    A former staffer to Peter Slipper has rejected claims federal minister Mal Brough asked him to obtain copies of the ex-Speaker’s diaries, but has pointed the finger at another MP.
    Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/12/01/08/14/ashby-denies-brough-asked-for-diary-copies#WZyulmap8Sj9c3cr.99

    Apparently Coles have a house brand called “Chocolate Surrender”

    Yea, but can you drink your coffee through them?

  304. December 1, 2015 2:02 pm

    “”Essential poll. 51-49. “”

    If that’s true, imagine the result with Albanese as leader.

  305. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 2:03 pm

    “I hate all those ‘own brands’ that have taken over coles and woolies.”

    Ditto

    Then there is their “Free Range” egg section. How the fuck would you know which packaging is truthful amongst all those brands ?

    “Barn Laid”…………………means crammed into a tiny barn rather than a cage ?????????

    If you have the storage space people should go to Costco or if you dont have the storage do some joint grocery shopping with friends or relatives. Costco have brands plus their homebrand at much lower prices

  306. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 2:05 pm

    So Clive is going to “defame” someone using Cowards Castle

    Like Hartchers ‘shirtfront’ i doubt we’re going to hear anything new, but clivey does hate his former love, the Qld LNP with a passion!

    Oh yuk, I just saw an ad for annabelle’s next kitchen cabinet, it’s cory bernardi FFS, i refuse to watch it, how dare she try to humanise the zombie monster!

  307. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 2:09 pm

    imagine the result with Albanese as leader.

    abbott still preferred PM 😉

  308. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 2:20 pm

    A former staffer to Peter Slipper has rejected claims federal minister Mal Brough asked him to obtain copies of the ex-Speaker’s diaries, but has pointed the finger at another MP.

    Even though it was brough who asked for the diary contents to be sent to him and who admitted to it on national TV.

    They need to find out who is paying ashby and how much. I don’t think we need to look much further than the conservative uglies of the party [including abbott], those rejects who want to bring down malcolm’s ministry. If so, it really was stupid of malcolm…unless…he needed those who were angry at abbott for not promoting them to get the numbers to knock abbott off. It has the conservative MO all over it.

    A very tangled web. Pretty sure the AFP will continue to look the other way.

  309. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 2:28 pm

    If you have the storage space people should go to Costco or if you dont have the storage do some joint grocery shopping with friends or relatives. Costco have brands plus their homebrand at much lower prices

    I fundamentally and philosophically disagree with paying a corporation a fee to enter their store to purchase their products. Just being a ‘valued’ customer should be enough for them!

  310. December 1, 2015 2:30 pm

    “”How the fuck would you know which packaging is truthful amongst all those brands “”

    I don’t buy anything from Pace Farms, who despite claiming to have free range eggs, have one of the worst reputations when it comes to barn laid eggs.

    I do buy eggs which have those QR codes on the boxes that enable you to scan the code and see the chooks roaming around in the yard. Which could all be a complete fabrication of course, but it does make me feel better – which is what all this feel good leftie appeasing marketing is all about isn’t it?

  311. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 2:35 pm

    I’m having a look at #qt now, the government benches, isn’t it amazing how quickly those blue ties got thrown away?

  312. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 2:49 pm

    isn’t it amazing how quickly those blue ties got thrown away?

    Dare I say … thanks Billy Boy 😆

  313. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 2:51 pm

    I do buy eggs which have those QR codes on the boxes that enable you to scan the code and see the chooks roaming around in the yard.

    I’ll check that out!

    …which is what all this feel good leftie appeasing marketing is all about isn’t it?…

    yeah, which is exactly why industry has fought tooth and nail against labelling products so that we know exactly what we are buying and from where. What happened to the ‘health star’ rating anyway, has that got off the ground yet? I haven’t seen much advertising of it.

    Normally the pollies jump at every chance to wear the coloured ribbon of the day to show their support of campaigns, they proudly show their chested ribbons which always made me think that they give them away at the door of parliament house as they enter.

    I can’t see too many red ribbons for World Aids Day. An overwhelming minority on both sides of the house. Broughie is wearing a white ribbon.

  314. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 3:28 pm

    I hadn’t heard about the QR codes on eggs. I did some googling, and ended up at Whirlpool

    They weren’t so convinced

    http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1810406#r11

  315. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 3:35 pm

    No longer a functioning drug addict

    Arrest warrant issued for comedian Greg Fleet after court no-show
    http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/arrest-warrant-issued-for-comedian-greg-fleet-after-court-noshow-20151201-glccfd.html#ixzz3t2ZMJw9E

  316. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 3:38 pm

    So “Barnlaid” might just mean we keep them in tiny cages which we keep in a big fucking barn

  317. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 3:44 pm

    cory bernardi has deleted 3 years worth of tweets. Was it his embarrassing tweet where he quoted a nazi paedophile and thought it was voltaire?

  318. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 3:51 pm

  319. December 1, 2015 4:13 pm

    AO,,,,,,,,,,,,I fundamentally and philosophically disagree with paying a corporation a fee to enter their store to purchase their products. Just being a `valued` customer should be enough,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    #Yeah we came to the same conclusion armchair. lt just didn`t make sense for our household/s to obtain a `truck`, find storage for, by buying stuff by the pallet-load to save 3-cents/item, AND walk past aldi to do so. The whole `costco`thing wasn`t for us. There is no shortage of retailers, and LIDL is on its way. The costco system is probably a good option for `other` small businesses to better prices on their business-supplies, instead of remaining hostage to the traditional suppliers.

  320. December 1, 2015 4:21 pm

    “”They weren’t so convinced””

    Like I said – “”feel good leftie appeasing marketing””

  321. December 1, 2015 4:25 pm

    “” lt just didn`t make sense for our household/s to obtain a `truck`, find storage for, by buying stuff by the pallet-load to save 3-cents/item””

    Let this man be heard.

    Costco is fine for breeders who live in the ‘burbs with a sackful of kids and spurtin’ out more like the proverbial garden sprinkler to soak up our taxpayer funded hard earned $$$ in parental benefits etc but certainly not tailored towards a couple of inner city poofs living in a miniscule 2 bedroom apartment in South Yarra.

    I mean what exactly does one do with a pallet load of chocolate fudge brownies or 5 x 25 litre cans of cooking oil?

  322. December 1, 2015 4:30 pm

    limited.news,,,,,,after refusing to sign an international agreement to phase out fossil fuel subsidies,,,,,,,,,,

    ,,,,,,,,Australia will commit an extra $800 million over five years to help Pacific countries cope with climate change,,,,,,,

    #yaaaaay.counter.productivity

  323. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 4:34 pm

    “I mean what exactly does one do with a pallet load of chocolate fudge brownies or 5 x 25 litre cans of cooking oil?”

    A slight exaggeration there.

    Costco usually sells in packs of 3 especially for household cleaning stuff (we have cleaners anyway) and for toothpaste, razors (Gilette double blade razors with that little green strip) $26 for a pack of 52, bum wipes (huge multiple rolls for $12), hand towels, Schmackos (compulsory in our household or a dog riot would break out) etc.

    And not everything is in massive quantities

  324. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 4:40 pm

    A former staffer to Peter Slipper has rejected claims federal minister Mal Brough asked him to obtain copies of the ex-Speaker’s diaries, but has pointed the finger at another MP.

    Slippery the lot of them … Ashby is as dodgy as they come … and looks like he’ll be the one to slip up … the more lies you tell the more you have to remember …

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Costco have brands plus their homebrand at much lower prices

    Not everywhere, I can assure you, we’ve visited twice … only to walk out empty handed, saying why did we bother …

    And we shop bulk … I even buy Bowlers Run four dozen at a time … 🙂

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    I do buy eggs which have those QR codes on the boxes that enable you to scan the code and see the chooks roaming around in the yard. Which could all be a complete fabrication of course, but it does make me feel better – which is what all this feel good leftie appeasing marketing is all about isn’t it?

    Assisted abortion?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    I mean what exactly does one do with a pallet load of chocolate fudge brownies or 5 x 25 litre cans of cooking oil?

    Well if you lived in Scotland f’rinstance … or say had some Scottish blood … you could batter and deep fry ’em … easy, hey?

  325. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 4:42 pm

    A slight exaggeration there.

    Wohohohohohoho! … do Costco have bulk paper towels so I can wipe up the tea that just sprayed my screen and keyboard? 😀

  326. December 1, 2015 4:46 pm

    t,,,,,,Labor seem to fluctuate from being liberal clones to green clones,,,,,,

    #l`ve been tellin`ya for ages, `teabag-lite` is a crap strategy, and dragonista explains well, the failure of `brand-differentiation` the `team` suffers from, in the top-half of the post.

    my.abc,,,,,,,Shorten’s strongest selling point was that he wasn’t Abbott. Unfortunately for him, the Labor alternative suddenly became less attractive to voters once the Liberal product was upgraded to Turnbull 2.0,,,,,,

    ,,,,At this early stage, Turnbull also is benefiting from product differentiation,,,,,,

  327. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 4:51 pm

    “Not everywhere, I can assure you, ”

    OK…Ok……..there is basically no difference in fresh meat or fruit and vegetable since they are at auction prices anyways.

    I did buy a Bluetooth Bose speaker for my iPad for $130

    http://www.getprice.com.au/Bose-SoundLink-Speaker.htm

  328. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 4:54 pm

    “,,,,At this early stage, Turnbull also is benefiting from product differentiation,,,,,,”

    Agree……………… Bill is like a “homebrand” product only to be used as a last resort

  329. December 1, 2015 4:55 pm

    ROFL @ December 1, 2015 4:25 pm:-)

  330. December 1, 2015 4:58 pm

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

  331. December 1, 2015 5:03 pm

    “”Bill is like a “homebrand” product only to be used as a last resort””

    This is true.

    A bit like those environmentally friendly laundry and dishwashing detergents…

    Your conscience tells you that you ought to use then but your wisdom reminds you they’re shit and won’t do anywhere near a good enough job.

  332. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 5:13 pm

    “……….but your wisdom reminds you they’re shit and won’t do anywhere near a good enough job.”

    Yep……….then you have to reach for something else and fix the mess up

  333. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 5:25 pm

    Steve Lewis and the evasions of Mal Brough — the Ashbygate lame duck:
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/steve-lewis-and-the-evasions-of-mal-brough–the-ashbygate-lame-duck,8439

    …From: Lewis, Steve

    Sent: Thursday 29 March 2012 3.27pm

    To: malbrough2@bigpond.com

    Subject: questions re Slipper

    Mal here is a start. I would be fascinated to see what they said for these dates, they involve some large outlays and the destinations were…er…unusual

    NEW ZEALAND

    On how many occasions has Peter Slipper travelled to New Zealand since July 2010?

    DIARY EXTRACTS – CAN THESE BE PROVIDED FOR THE FOLLOWING DATES:

    Between 11/10/2010 and 13/10/2010 (Canberra)

    Between 21/09/2009 and 24/09/2009 (Sydney)

    Between 24/07/2009 and 27/07/2009(Canberra)
    Another Lewis email 34 minutes later, asks:

    Subject: also can you check the following dates

    Dec 11 and 12 2009 – there are four of five cab charge expenditures all of which are listed ‘not specified’ on these dates

    And what is it about Oaklimo and Slipper?? He has spent literally thousands and thousands on this firm

    Steve
    So, to survive until his boss gets back from saving the world, Mal needs to argue he did not respond to Lewis’ request…

    cops called around last night:
    http://tonymagrathea.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/cops-called-around-last-night.html

    …I twitter a bit.

    Yesterday I mentioned that the Director General of the Queensland government department planning on extinguishing native title to allow the Adani Carmichael coal mine to go ahead was easily found.

    Online in about 30 seconds you could find his address and phone number and get a look at his front door on google maps.

    The police turned up at my place about 10pm. No warrant because no crime had been committed.

    They were concerned that my telling twitter that something that is in every house in Brisbane could be used to find the address of the Director General. I can’t make Sensis of it…

  334. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 5:26 pm

    Your conscience tells you that you ought to use then but your wisdom reminds you they’re shit and won’t do anywhere near a good enough job.

    So you look for the label with the nice man with a smiley face of the swishy swanky “in” product full of dangerous chemicals and fuck up the environment … 😉

  335. December 1, 2015 5:36 pm

    TB,,,,,,Not everywhere, I can assure you, we`ve visited twice .. only to walk out empty handed, saying why did we bother .. And we shop bulk,,,,,,

    #teebz, l think part of costco operations has a `clearance` aspect, when goods don`t pass quality-control via a minor defect, say the box of laundry powder didn`t get the `scoop` included, or stripped toothpaste didn`t `stripe` properly, it is easier for the manufacturer to off-load the packed and palleted goods via `clearance`, instead of trying to `recover` or dump at the garbage-tip. Same goes for warehouses full of `short-date` goods that haven`t moved via the `usual` retail distribution. Therefore bananaland `clearance` stock could very well be different to canoe-state `clearance` stock.

  336. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 5:40 pm

    And not everything is in massive quantities

    How long does it take before you’ve ‘saved’ the cost of the yearly membership fee?

  337. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 5:47 pm

    Well we tend to spend around $400 every time we go. It would pay for itself everytime from our POV. But we do entertain alot so we might buy a three of boxes of a dozen frozen Canadian lobsters for $90 and we have a fully stocked bar area full of spirits, different beers and various wines.

    Plus a few of our friends make the trek up to Palm Beach and generally get too pissed to drive home so we do need to keep provisions of coffee and bacon on hand for the next morning.

  338. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 5:52 pm

    `teabag-lite` is a crap strategy

    You really are quite an empty void aren’t ya!

  339. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 5:59 pm

    ‘Black lung’ makes comeback in Queensland coal mines, union suggests ‘cover-up’ could ‘blow top off industry’
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-01/'black-lung'-makes-comeback-in-queensland-coal-mines/6990842

    …X-rays and lung tests have been used since 1947 as an early warning system to detect early signs of black lung and dust levels in mines have been constantly monitored.

    However, the mining boom and new longwall mining techniques have exposed more miners to more dust.

    At the same time, the monitoring system appears to have failed.

    Recently, the Queensland Mines Department admitted that qualified ‘B readers’ of X-rays — the industry standard developed by the International Labour Organisation to identify black lung — “were in very short supply in Australia”.

    The union was told there were none in Queensland…

  340. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 6:00 pm

    The police turned up at my place about 10pm.

    And was Winston Smith home?

    That’s just creepy.

  341. Walrus permalink
    December 1, 2015 6:23 pm

    “” l think part of costco operations has a `clearance` aspect, when goods don`t pass quality-control via a minor defect””

    Never once have I encountered that at Costco

  342. December 1, 2015 6:27 pm

    bagz,,,,`teabag-lite` is a crap strategy,,,,

    t,,,,You really are quite an empty void aren`t ya!,,,,

    #how are dem `polls` doing?

    #it is pretty clear the `empty-void` remains within the team and blib, had blib and team not been an `empty-void`, they would have been `different` on several issues, both under blib and joolya, yet every time the teabags want to take something away from the average citizen, the teabags know to press the `national-security` button, and hey! presto! the team become teabag-lite and trot along invading afghanistan, iraq, syria, snooping on citizens web and phone, even beating-up boaties

    #yaaaay.blib

  343. December 1, 2015 6:38 pm

    b,,,,,,Never once have I encountered that at Costco,,,,,,

    minor.defect = consumer probably won`t notice

    eg. you won`t notice that your tube of toothpaste has 3% more/less `peppermint-flavor`, or has 20-grams more/less in the tube

  344. December 1, 2015 6:42 pm

    blubbers, l worked with a guy years ago ,, he previously worked in a carburetor (auto) plant on quality control ,, he told me he destroyed hundreds of carby`s that fell `out-side` the quality control specs ,, about half of them ,, too efficient

  345. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 6:58 pm

    Black lung’ makes comeback in Queensland coal mines, union suggests ‘cover-up’ could ‘blow top off industry’

    We need a RC into the Coal Mining Industry by the looks …

    Longwall isn’t exactly “new” … I was working at a longwall mine in the 80’s …

    There can’t be many underground mines working now, most are open cut …

    That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a problem it sounds like it may be bigger than anyone knew too …

    The dust monitoring issue is worrying – its not all that hard to do … even Roche is concerned …

    Yep get rid of those unions, hey?

    (I used to know Mannie Rathus … often a guest speaker at seminars I organised)

  346. December 1, 2015 7:11 pm

    “”you won`t notice that your tube of toothpaste has 3% more/less `peppermint-flavor`, or has 20-grams more/less in the tube””

    Is this a verifiable fact, or just the “facts” according to “”bagz’ mates.””

  347. December 1, 2015 7:38 pm

    Bye bye Mal…

    Mal Brough faces fresh parliamentary pressure over his role in the downfall of the former speaker Peter Slipper, after his attempt to walk away from a key admission was undermined by 60 Minutes releasing the unedited interview exchange.

    The Nine Network published transcripts of its interview with Brough and released video after the special minister of state accused the program of selectively editing a question about his contact with Slipper’s former staffer James Ashby.

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/01/mal-brough-full-60-minutes-transcript-undermines-selective-editing-claim?CMP=soc_567

  348. December 1, 2015 7:58 pm

    NOW, WHERE IS MY TEABAG,

    my.abc,,,,,,,,,,,,Four Queensland coal miners have been diagnosed with pneumoconiosis or `black lung` .. a potentially fatal disease thought to have been eradicated in Australia more than 60 years ago.

    Unions fear the cases could be just the tip of the iceberg, with hundreds, possibly thousands of workers potentially at risk,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-01/%27black-lung%27-makes-comeback-in-queensland-coal-mines/6990842

    COME OUT, COME OUT, WHERE EVER YOU ARE #onion.panic

  349. December 1, 2015 8:04 pm

    WILLFUL MURDER BY BOARDROOM NEGLIGENCE

    my.abc,,,,,,,,,What makes the mining union even angrier is that no current underground mine in the state has been in compliance with the regulated level of dust.

    “There’s not one mine that’s in compliance,” Mr Smyth said.

    “All mines have exceeded the legal limit of dust.”,,,,,,

    #show.me.my.teabag

  350. December 1, 2015 8:11 pm

    reb,,,,,,Is this a verifiable fact,,,,,,

    #lt`s a verifiable fact, on a product-by product basis, according to the specific products quality control specs .. #teabags

  351. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 8:32 pm

    Bye bye Mal…which one(s)

    Chrissy, Wyatt, Ashby … as I said once before … 200 years ago they would be hung … 100 years ago they would be jailed for life!

    ‘Tis TREASON … ! To attempt to bring down a duly elected government … the RC on unions pales into insignificance …

  352. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 8:36 pm

    COME OUT, COME OUT, WHERE EVER YOU ARE #onion.panic

    Don’t be a fkn idiot, tbagz … oh that’s right you support fags … the same ones that killed my old man … emphysema … black lung has similar symptoms and outcomes … one is too many … fkn FOUR in 2015 is third world shite!

    Robber Barons at work! Making profit on the backs (and lungs) of workers!

  353. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 8:49 pm

    they would have been `different` on several issues

    You mean like Gonski, Carbon Pricing, multinational tax avoidance, superannuation, Medicare, NBN, workers rights, renewables, automotive assistance ………

    Like I said, your an empty void, just waiting to filled by the other empty voids we call our media

    And you come here parroting their li(n)es while pretending you are some lone thinker.

    Your the biggest #teabag of the lot, and I’ll bet you’re not even aware of it.

  354. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 8:53 pm

    Chrissy, Wyatt, Ashby

    And pynes getting drawn in too from what I’ve heard from question time today.

    really, the core cabal who turned on abbott and excised him from his righteous position.

    And people sit back wondering at the alacrity with which the AFP have acted on all of a suddens?

  355. armchair opinionator permalink
    December 1, 2015 8:58 pm

    …my.abc,,,,,,,,,What makes the mining union even angrier is that no current underground mine in the state has been in compliance with the regulated level of dust…

    Who is responsible for regulation of these private enterprises?
    Please don’t tell me it’s self [no] regulation, or that the workers were responsible for themselves.

  356. Tom R permalink
    December 1, 2015 9:16 pm

    Who is responsible for regulation of these private enterprises?

    You remember when this grubmint proudly had their regulation demolition days. Not looking so good now is it.

  357. December 1, 2015 9:56 pm

    meltdown@ December 1, 2015 8:49 pm,,,,,,,Your the biggest #teabag of the lot,,,,,,,,

    #l`m such a teabag, l`m thinking of relocating before next federal election to plib or albo seat, so l can get rid of a teabag-lite and push a greenz into the seat, and finally have a fcuking vote that actually `counts` for something.

  358. December 1, 2015 10:34 pm

    AO,,,,,,Who is responsible for regulation of these private enterprises?,,,,,,

    my.abc,,,,,,Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham

    has promised urgent action, commissioning a study through Monash University. The Minister conceded to 7.30 that there were thousands of miners’ X-rays stored by the

    Mines Department

    that had not been reviewed,,,,,,

    +

    AO,,,,,,Please don`t tell me it`s self [no] regulation, or that the workers were responsible for themselves.,,,,,,

    #the states (all) have been pretty shonky upholding their OWN `safety` laws in recent times armchair, you may recall me saying similar when `burnt-batts` were the topic of the day.

    #we are still at the tip-of-iceberg stage tho, things will get a lot worse before `better`, 40,000 residences have flammable electric cables installed in them, fcuk-knows for the commercial/industrial quantity. The `batts` and `cable` will pale into insignificance tho, when compared to all the other sub-standard and flammables installed in all manner of recent constructions, which will result in more fires (including-bushfires) thru to things like bridge collapse. Hint, balconies, cover-ways, supports.

    #we are going to cop more 457-visas with questionable skill levels too, a large chunk of trade-workers are also retiring in next several years, common knowedge, a little publicized fact is that others are leaving early, not renewing licences, exiting trades if they can, due to safety worries.

  359. TB Queensland permalink
    December 1, 2015 11:24 pm

    Just another sting in the tail from this government …

    MUMS on casual contracts working a few shifts a fortnight could lose up to six hours a week of childcare under the federal government’s new early learning package.

    http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/hidden-hit-in-governments-childcare-reforms-for-mums-working-casual-jobs/news-story/68ad7c104a2623a8e5e04f3e62e00cc5

    Nothing has changed …

  360. Tom R permalink
    December 2, 2015 7:24 am

    so l can get rid of a teabag-lite and push a greenz into the seat

    So what is it, what are they

    green-lite or teabag-lite

    Make ya mind up instead of swinging in the churno breeze ya mindless numbnut

    And miraculously enough, in that vein

    Countries that are heavy users of fossil fuels, they found – predictably enough – are likely to be more sceptical than others. The authors don’t mention the influence of the mass media, but it can’t be irrelevant that Australia’s is so unusually concentrated.

    News Corp’s papers, websites and apps are still read daily by a higher percentage of Australia’s population than is reached by any other single publisher in any other sizeable democracy in the world.

    Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/climate-change-debate-comes-down-to-choosing-sides-20151130-glc252.html#ixzz3t6OGVdvJ
    Follow us: @theage on Twitter | theageAustralia on Facebook

    No matter how distrustful you are of mass media, it iIS all pervasive, and the constant repetition of their favourite talking points (eg teabag-lite. green-lite, and my favourite “dysfunctional government”) seep in if you want it to or not. Not to forget that the other empty vessels spouting the nightly news (and other broadcast “commentary”) generally just mimic what line the morning papers have led for them.

    And 730teabagboo is a shining example of the outcome.

    Vacuous and repetitive, and completely oblivious to the germination of his “ideas”

  361. Tom R permalink
    December 2, 2015 7:44 am

    Nothing has changed …

    Except of course that the libs aren’t promising better childcare anymore, which the muppet media lapped up against all contrary evidence. No, their real agenda is becoming clear. cut, cut , cut! As it always was if you didn’t accept hollow words from hollow people. Which the churnos are doing all over again with malcayman.

    I see the grubmint has a wonderful solution to their tearing down of TAFE and replacing with private. cut, cut , cut! . No, don’t bring TAFE back in, just have less students.

    An emergency funding freeze will hit private training colleges next year as the Turnbull government “turns off the tap’’ of taxpayer support for questionable courses.

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/funding-freeze-to-end-training-college-rorts/story-fn59nlz9-1227630379194

  362. Tom R permalink
    December 2, 2015 8:30 am

  363. Tom R permalink
    December 2, 2015 8:32 am

    Mark Dreyfus:

    It appears that Mal Brough has misled parliament. He said yesterday that the 60 Minutes interview in which he gave clear answers to clear questions had been selectively edited.

    I was invited by Channel 9 to listen and to watch the unedited version of that interview, and it’s absolutely clear that the question he was asked was what he answered, that there wasn’t a selective editing.

    That appears then that he has misled parliament.

    Q: What does it say about Malcolm Turnbull’s judgment that he appointed Brough to a role safeguarding integrity?

    Whatever else one can say about Mal Brough, he’s clearly good at plotting. This was a reward from Malcolm Turnbull to him, on Mal Brough’s role – as yet undisclosed – in the plotting that took place over this year to remove Tony Abbott as prime minister of Australia.

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/dec/02/pressure-grows-on-turnbull-to-address-mal-brough-over-ashby-affair-politics-live?CMP=soc_568#block-565e0c49e4b055e8a9bd1feb

    How the worm has turned. 🙂

  364. December 2, 2015 8:41 am

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

  365. Tom R permalink
    December 2, 2015 8:49 am

    lol reb

    so who is the third one trying to break them up?

    murdoch?

  366. December 2, 2015 9:03 am

    So team-cheerer, under your theory of it`s all the embedded-media`s and we all follow their churn,

    you will be blaming teabag-media for talkbulls woes this week regarding mal-bro,

    all the while ignoring both myself and teebz have been saying since talkbull took charge, they still the same box of zombies,

    or will you be crediting this to some `miracle` performed by blib,

    when really it is just typical talkbull judgment of the utegate/godwin style

    #yaaaay.blib

  367. December 2, 2015 9:48 am

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  368. December 2, 2015 9:52 am

    holmes,,,,,,,The authors don’t mention the influence of the mass media, but it can’t be irrelevant that Australia’s is so unusually concentrated.

    News Corp’s papers, websites and apps are still read daily by a higher percentage of Australia’s population than is reached by any other single publisher in any other sizeable democracy in the world.,,,,,,,,,,

    #this is over-blown, all limited-news chip-wrappers have less than 10% of the population as direct consumers(see-my-site) including `digital`.

    #what holmes don`t mention is, the `abdicating` of govt actually governing, and LAYING-DOWN THE LAW to the corporates, so what we end-up with is money frittered away on kevin07`s `clean-coal` corporate gifting, joolya droning incessantly `carbon-price-not-a-tax-oh-okay-it`s-carbon-tax`, and mr-rabbits do-nothing corporate wheel of fortune hand-out. All of them inferior to `actually` governing, yet dear old holmes omits that part of the global-cooling circus which is boring the public bat-shit.

  369. Walrus permalink
    December 2, 2015 10:13 am

    So much for your touted Green Energy……..LOL

    And yet another example of Obama getting it wrong

    http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/other-industries/spanish-solar-energy-firm-abengoa-facing-296-billion-bankruptcy/news-story/aa119d77a29f11e16e9839e425fc30c0

  370. Neil of Sydney permalink
    December 2, 2015 10:35 am

    Looks like lefties want to destroy everything. Now they want to stop coal mining in Australia one of our biggest export earners.

  371. TB Queensland permalink
    December 2, 2015 11:09 am

    An emergency funding freeze will hit private training colleges next year as the Turnbull government “turns off the tap’’ of taxpayer support for questionable courses.

    Good!

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    So much for your touted Green Energy……..LOL

    And yet another example of Obama getting it wrong

    Nice try, Wally, another twisted take on things to suit your worldwide plot … the problem here was poor management … nothing wrong with green energy … it was fossil fools …

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Now they want to stop coal mining in Australia one of our biggest export earners.

    We could export asbestos too … ???

  372. Tom R permalink
    December 2, 2015 11:28 am

    your theory of it`s all the embedded-media`s and we all follow their churn

    You’ll have to point me to this theory you claim. Where have I said ‘all”

    Or, since you can’t raise a valid argument, you going to stick with MakingShitUp!

    #this is over-blown, all limited-news chip-wrappers have less than 10% of the population as direct consumers

    Note the bold, and then try reading my comment, either again, or properly for the first time.

    Good!

    I AGREE!

    Now they want to stop coal mining in Australia one of our biggest export earners.

    Is he referring to Labor-lite?

  373. Neil of Sydney permalink
    December 2, 2015 11:34 am

    We could export asbestos too … ???

    When you burn coal it produces carbon dioxide and CO2 is not a pollutant.

  374. Tom R permalink
    December 2, 2015 11:38 am

    CO2 is not a pollutant

    Just in case there was any doubt, nil comes out to prove yet again that he is still the biggest fucken idiot posting here

    With the like of teaboo to contend with, that’s an achievement in itself 😉

  375. TB Queensland permalink
    December 2, 2015 12:23 pm

    Asfknstounding!

    Although listening to the Abbott sock puppet, now Milkum’s Mouthpiece, Greg Aunt prattling on last night on Lateline I can understand anyone with only half a brain being confused with his misplaced “confidence” …

    We’ve now reduced the carbon footprint by either 80,000 tonnes or 29, 000 tonnes or the same as Brazil and better than anyone else, except the Europeans or some other third world country at 34% when we are -26%/-28% … however, this is at a per capita rate, that is really good for Australia and will demonstrate we are reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 or 3020 but we are number one in something and the plenary chamber stopped to applaud Australia’s commitment of $800,000 of money for climate change that is already earmarked for foreign aid (this was after refusing to get involved in reducing the biggest emissions contributor – fossil fuels… and besides Australia can be proud of what we seem to have done, although we have to vote on something tomorrow we are really, really, committed to (?) and I must say again that the plenary chamber stopped to listen to Milkum Turncoat pledge something but not everything but it was really good …

    As I desperately tried to stay awake and make some sense out of this twittering idiot’s convoluted, half-hysteric nonsense … a little thought crept into my mind (no, no I don’t believe in violence!) … it was this …

    Does the taxpayer get its money back if any Direct Action programs don’t work … and how are they monitored anyway? Who actually counts the saved tonnage?

    The one positive aspect of Greg Bunt in the job is that it will be a lot easier to sell an ETS in the future …

    Fuckwit© that he is …

  376. December 2, 2015 12:53 pm

    For the two Toms…

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

  377. Looks Like permalink
    December 2, 2015 12:55 pm

    Pyromaniac NIEL is a hypocritical LIAR who wants to DESTROY all our good and clean and noble and green AUSSIE coals, because Niel is a nasty, cruel, LYING, rightard firebug vandal SYCKO with no appreciation of the intrinsic beauty of amazing things like little black rocks living and roaming free in their natural environments without being BURNT TO DEATH to fuel his cheap, disgusting, PREVERTED habits!

  378. Neil of Sydney permalink
    December 2, 2015 1:38 pm

    I will give more thought to AGW if the ALP when in power bans coal exports.

  379. December 2, 2015 1:53 pm

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  380. Tom R permalink
    December 2, 2015 2:29 pm

    I will give more thought to AGW

    Don’t you mean “some” thought?

    #justsayin’

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