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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2020 20:03:54 GMT 10
Business as usual for Morrison...
March Australia 2 hrs · Paul Gregoire: ' Apocalyptic in tone. It brooks no compromise. It’s all or nothing. Alternative views are not permitted.” One could be forgiven for thinking these statements were a description of Scott Morrison’s religious beliefs, if they weren’t actually his own words. As he preached at a podium before a room full of his fossil fuel mates at a Queensland Resources Council lunch last Friday, the Pentecostal PM was actually referring to the rising climate activist movement in Australia, or as he put it, a “new breed of radical activism”. The prime minister hinted at the impact Extinction Rebellion is having, when he spoke of a “new absolutist activism” that’s been mobilising in “Queensland and elsewhere”. And he added that its members think they’ve got “an unlimited licence to disrupt people’s lives”. But, these street demonstrators were not the main target of Morrison’s diatribe. This time he was taking aim at “an escalating trend in the form of secondary boycotts”, which is a much broader net that would include the efforts of many of the PM’s favoured “quiet Australians”. We the corporates A secondary boycott is when activists put pressure on one company, so it stops doing business with another. Significantly, this sort of activism resulted in financial institutions globally boycotting investment in Adani’s Carmichael coalmine, which saw the project dramatically scaled down. “Environmental groups are targeting businesses and firms who provide goods or services to firms they don’t like,” Morrison told the old fossil fuel order. He even pointed to this form of activism as being a more “insidious threat than the street protests”. The Liberal leader announced that he and attorney general Christian Porter are currently drafting legislation that would enable “these indulgent and selfish practices” to be outlawed. And later that same day on 3AW, he pointed to an existing ban that prevents secondary boycotts by unions. In spruiking this new direction that he plans to take mounting anti-protest laws, the PM yet again signalled that his government legislates with the interests of big business and corporations in mind, while the “quiet Australians” sit by silently, as their rights further dwindle. Corporate security The prime minister is hardly alone is his disdain of climate activists. As always, Peter Dutton had something nasty to chime in. The home affairs minister told Nine News last Friday that he wants protesters to foot the bill for police sent in to deal with them. The most drastic scenes in this crackdown on dissent came from Melbourne last week, as Victoria police officers laid into nonviolent protesters out front of the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC). Batons, capsicum spray and horses were all deployed in an excessive show of force. As the images of police brutality did the rounds of the internet, it was a stark reminder that police essentially operate in much the same way as politicians from the major parties do: in the interests of the corporates to the disadvantage of the citizenry. Indeed, the role police took at the IMARC actions was the same that modern police forces have always taken. When these institutions were created in the UK and the US in the mid-1800s, they were brought in by ruling elites to combat collective actions that threatened their interests. '
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2020 20:00:25 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2020 5:08:36 GMT 10
Peabody here, there and everywhere...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2020 10:20:12 GMT 10
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Post by Gort on May 17, 2020 22:30:17 GMT 10
Newspoll: 51-49 to Coalition
The Coalition edges back into the lead in Newspoll, with Labor, the Greens and One Nation all down on the primary vote.
The Australian reports the Coalition has opened a 51-49 lead in the latest Newspoll, after the previous poll three weeks ago recorded a dead heat.
The Coalition is up two on the primary vote to 43%, with Labor down one to 35%, the Greens down two to 10% and One Nation down one to 3%.
Scott Morrison’s approval rating is down two to 66%, with the disapproval not yet provided; Albanese is down one on approval to 44% and up three on disapproval to 37%.
Morrison’s lead as preferred prime minister is all but unchanged at 56-29, compared with 56-28 last time. The poll was conducted Wednesday to Saturday from a sample of 1504.
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Post by pim on May 17, 2020 23:52:36 GMT 10
The polls ... the polls ... OMG the polls ... blessed be the polls for they are all that matters ... according to Trickles.
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Post by Gort on May 17, 2020 23:56:08 GMT 10
One year in and Albo is at 29% preferred prime minister is all but unchanged at 56- 29One year down and "Operation Albo" is off to a flying start!
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2020 7:37:09 GMT 10
Polls will swing when Job Keeper payments are cut.
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Post by Gort on May 29, 2020 16:09:45 GMT 10
About bloody time. The Robo-debt was a disgrace. I wonder if the class actions can still proceed? Maybe a bonus coming up? Morrison government to repay $721 million in 'robo-debt' backflipBy Nick Bonyhady May 29, 2020 — 3.37pm The Morrison government will refund $721 million recouped from 470,000 debts through its controversial and flawed "robo-debt" scheme. It faces a class action over the scheme, which a Federal Court judge found used flawed calculations to recoup debts to the Commonwealth from alleged welfare overpayments. Government Services Minister Stuart Robert has announced a massive refund for people who were issued debts through the government's "robo-debt" program.CREDIT:ALEX ELLINGHAUSEN Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert said all money the government had recovered through the "income averaging" method would be refunded. Interest and fees will also be refunded. "The total value of refunds including fees and charges is estimated at $721 million," Minister Robert said in a statement. The government stopped using the income averaging method in November last year. It had been advised by the public service that it was "unlawful". Refunds will start being issued in July. The class action was due to go to trial this year. Labor's Bill Shorten, who has been a vocal critic of the scheme, had estimated the class action would recover hundreds of millions of dollars. Last year Mr Robert said only a "small cohort" of people will be affected by reviews of the scheme, but Services Australia data provided to the Senate suggested at least 220,000 cases were likely to be re-examined. On Friday the government announced 470,000 debts would be refunded. "It is important to note all other income compliance debts will continue to be subject to recovery, ensuring the integrity of Australia’s welfare system," Mr Robert said. www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-government-to-repay-721-million-in-robo-debt-backdown-20200529-p54xrj.html
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Post by pim on May 29, 2020 16:11:50 GMT 10
Bandwagon time
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Post by Gort on May 30, 2020 11:48:55 GMT 10
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Post by Gort on Jun 29, 2020 0:08:30 GMT 10
Meanwhile, although Labor will probably win Eden-Monaro next Saturday ... "Operation Albo" is a dismal failure: Scott Morrison has posted record approval ratings while the Coalition maintains its narrow lead over Labor nationally in the final week of campaigning for the Eden-Monaro by-election
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2020 3:37:02 GMT 10
The poor get robo debt and the non tax paying rich get franking credits...
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Post by Gort on Jul 5, 2020 10:22:48 GMT 10
So ... Mathias Cormann to quit. His political career was over once he decided to back Dutton over Turnbull. Still, he was a good operator in the Senate. As for his replacement as Senate leader? Simon Birmingham? I reckon Simon Birmingham should move to the Lower House, he is a potential future PM.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2020 7:51:01 GMT 10
Birmingham is the moderate wing of the Liberal party thus making him 90% ratbag fuckwit conservative climate denialist...<(")
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Post by pim on Jul 6, 2020 10:01:26 GMT 10
Birmingham is a Senator from SA. Look up your Australian history and find the name of any Australian PM who came from that State. And don’t blow smoke over the issue by citing Hawke and Gillard. It’s clear I mean that the State that an Australian PM is politically based in is a critical factor. Deny that and you make it clear you understand nothing about Australian political culture. Birmingham, whatever his qualities, is from SA. That disqualifies him as a potential PM right from the start.
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Post by Gort on Jul 6, 2020 10:06:16 GMT 10
Of course, if Birmingham moved to the Lower House, he would need a nice cosy seat, probably based in NSW.
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Post by pim on Jul 9, 2020 13:12:23 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2020 15:37:10 GMT 10
Peter Dutton should quit while he isn't ahead.
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Post by Gort on Jul 19, 2020 23:32:45 GMT 10
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Post by Gort on Jul 20, 2020 11:01:13 GMT 10
There is a story in The Australian* about Shorty** boosting his media presence by 2000 % over the last few weeks. Maybe that explains why the Labor 2PP vote is down in the latest poll? * Now wait for the Pavlov dog's response ... ** AND ... the other Pavlov dog's response.
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Post by caskur on Jul 20, 2020 18:09:27 GMT 10
Meanwhile ... "Operation Albo" is still a dismal failure: I don't believe this.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2020 18:44:00 GMT 10
Such is the values of conservatism.... Shadow ministers slam priorities in Fox Sports “handout” July 23, 2020Written by: The AIM Network21 Replies
By William Olson Opposition communications ministers have called out the Morrison government’s continued hypocrisy in its funding of its broadcast interests – granting $10 million of public to Fox Sports, weeks after revelations of continued cutting millions of dollars in funding to the ABC. While $41 million of funding was recently found to be cut to the ABC in late June by the Morrison government in a move that may also result in as many as 250 jobs shed by the national broadcaster, the funnelling of money to Fox Sports is also not the first of its kind. In 2017, amid the absence of a paper trail that would have otherwise outlined the motives of such a move, the Turnbull government under the guardianship of then-communications minister Mitch Fifield extended a $30 million grant to Fox Sports – presumably to increase airtime for events and programming for women’s, niche, and under-represented sports on the Foxtel block of channels over a four-year interval, as outlined in the 2017 federal budget. Fifield, at the time, said the grant was merely part of a “broader media reform package”. However, South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young – reasonably aghast at the ongoing cost of cuts to the ABC totalling $783 million since 2013 – assails the brazen appearance of the grant to Fox Sports. “Another day, another public hand-out to the Morrison Government’s [Rupert] Murdoch mates,” said Hanson-Young, the Greens’ holder of the communications portfolio. “Giving tens of millions to Fox Sports while cutting funding to the ABC really is the height of arrogance,” she added. Paul Fletcher, the Morrison government’s minister for communications, has defended the extending of the grant, citing that Foxtel’s block of Fox Sports channels – between the presence of women’s professional sporting leagues such as the WNBL, WBBL, Super Netball, AFLW, NRLW, and the W-League, all of which currently operating under existing broadcasting deals – has provided a platform for a doubling of women’s sport coverage in programming hours since 2016. “With six dedicated sports channels and a wide range of sports news, Fox Sports has a strong commitment to broadcasting sports and events that may not otherwise receive television coverage,” Fletcher said on Wednesday. Nonetheless, Hanson-Young feels that the government grant money can be better spent on enhancing the public broadcaster, and went as far as suggesting that women’s sporting leagues should be on national free-to-air broadcasters such as the ABC and SBS, and not on any of the Fox Sports channels. “This funding program for Murdoch’s Fox Sports says everything about the priorities of the Morrison Government. The Morrison Government is handing out millions of dollars of taxpayer money to a private, corporate broadcaster while slashing funding at the public broadcaster,” Hanson-Young exclaimed. “Any support for the broadcast of women’s sport should be going to the public broadcasters which fans can watch for no further cost. “The ABC has suffered from repeated budget cuts under the Coalition Government, some $783 million since 2014, and is now cutting jobs and news services to stay afloat. If there is money to go around for broadcasting, it should go to the ABC and SBS. “The PM needs to reverse the funding cuts to the ABC. He can easily find the first $10 million by taking it back from Murdoch and putting it where it will be the most benefit to broadcasting and promoting women’s sport and where fans can actually watch it without forking out more money,” Hanson-Young said. Meanwhile, Labor front-bencher Michelle Rowland, the ALP’s shadow minister for communications, while assailing the government in restricting viewership of women’s sport to pay-TV platforms, hit a direct link between the aggregate total of $40 million to Fox Sports for what is now a six-year interval and the “sport rorts” scandal on the government’s watch stemming from last year’s federal election. “The Morrison Government left women and girls ‘changing in cars or out the back of the sheds’. Now, they’re keeping taxpayer-funded women’s sports coverage behind a pay wall,” Rowland said. “Australia’s sportswomen deserve better. Young girls can’t be what they can’t see. “At a time when Australia is in recession, many households are facing unemployment and money is tight, $10 million would go a long way to supporting sports coverage to which all Australians can see for free,” added Rowland. But like Hanson-Young, Rowland maintained that the Morrison government – a body that claims to be empowering women’s sport leagues and participation on Fox Sports – has its end-game priorities misplaced. “Despite spending more than $250 million pre-election on community sports infrastructure, the Morrison Government failed to fund hundreds of worthy women’s sports projects because it prioritised marginal seats over merit. “Today’s announcement just proves this government will always put political gain before real support for women and girls in sport,” Rowland said.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2020 9:09:02 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2020 23:46:04 GMT 10
A controversial $10 million given to Foxtel to broadcast women’s and under-represented sports has been revealed as being funded under a federal coronavirus response package, a decision derided as a “mockery”. Labor has slammed the government for providing “absolutely no accountability” around the decision to award the funding. As reported last month, the $10 million came in addition to a previous $30 million grant to the broadcaster in 2017 under the same program to show under-represented sports. Questions were raised over that previous decision, after the government declined to answer why and how the funding was allocated and spent. In July, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called the additional $10m “another public handout to the Morrison government’s Murdoch mates”, claiming it was unfair to send such funds to the pay TV broadcaster while the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was subject to an indexation freeze on funding. She told The New Daily at the time that the decision “really is the height of arrogance.” Sarah Hanson-Young, via video link, asks department officials about the Foxtel grant. Photo: Parlview The Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 met again on Thursday, with senators grilling employment, education and infrastructure department officials. As part of the hearing, Senator Hanson-Young asked the communications department how the $10 million granted to Fox Sports last month was decided – and why it wound up being listed as part of the federal government’s COVID-19 Response Package for the communications, cyber safety and arts sector. “I don’t think it was announced as a specific COVID measure, as such,” answered Richard Windeyer, deputy secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. “It’s the extension of that under-represented sports program… to extend the program, which was otherwise terminating.” Government documents list the new $10 million as funding “to extend the Supporting Television and Online Coverage of Under‑represented Sports Program to provide further support for the broadcasting of underrepresented sports on subscription television, including women’s sports, niche sports and sports with a high level of community involvement and participation.” The grant was listed alongside other measures such as funds to specifically support the arts and entertainment sectors to resume after COVID shutdowns, including large signature Morrison government policies such as $90 million in concessional loans for artistic productions and $400 million to entice international screen productions to film in Australia. Government officials said the funding was specifically listed under the COVID response package because it would support sports that would resume once coronavirus shutdowns were lifted. “This is an extension for when those under-represented sports come back on, so that we can prioritise coverage of those sports,” said department secretary Simon Atkinson. “It was put in through that as an extension to ensure the under-represented sports had proper coverage as they started to re-open up through the back end of COVID.” Senator Hanson-Young asked whether public broadcasters, such as the ABC or SBS, could instead have been used to promote women’s or under-represented sports. The department later said the women’s sports to be broadcast through the program included AFLW, soccer, cricket, hockey and more. Labor senator Kristina Keneally later noted some of these sports had previously been broadcast on the ABC. Senator Keneally, picking up after Senator Hanson-Young, asked numerous questions about how and why the funding was deemed necessary. Department officials said unable to give specifics on exactly how and why the funding was allocated to Foxtel, but said the initial $30 million funding was a “grant” – and that therefore, the additional $10 million was not available for application or tender by other broadcasters. Senator Kristina Keneally asks about Foxtel at the committee hearing. Photo: Parlview Michelle Rowland, Labor’s shadow communications minister, claimed there was “absolutely no accountability” around the funding, and criticised the government for “putting taxpayer-funded sports broadcasts behind a paywall.” “The Department was unable to answer basic questions about the grant when asked by the Senate’s COVID-19 Committee today,” she told The New Daily after the hearing. Senator Hanson-Young later slammed the decision to give Foxtel cash under the coronavirus package. “This program makes a mockery of the Morrison Government’s Covid response measures and should be cancelled or redirected to ABC and SBS,” she told The New Daily. Exstensively its a rort for the conservative propaganda arm...bastards think they are entitled to rorts.
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