Understanding Abbott

June 27, 2015
Written by: Kaye Lee
52 Replies

Tony Abbott came to power on a very clear platform.

He stands for small government.

Unless we are talking action on climate change where, rather than a market-based mechanism that was raising revenue and cutting emissions, he prefers the hugely expensive bureaucratic and logistical nightmare of an emissions reduction fund. Rather than a dedicated army of volunteers involved in Landcare programs, he prefers paying middlemen to conscript the unemployed into his Green Army. Rather than assisting the burgeoning renewable energy industry with the profitable Clean Energy Finance Corporation, he has set aside $5 billion to loan to mining companies to build their infrastructure because no-one else will back them.

He is cutting red tape.

By eliminating the need to turn your mobile phone off during takeoff and landing, Tony has saved the nation over $18 million. How, you say? How indeed! Who would have thought we could save so much.

But this is only one small example of money saved by red tape reduction. Getting rid of environmental laws was a great start. Giving Ministers sole discretion over decision-making and removing any right of appeal was a master stroke. Courts so often get it wrong in their blind adherence to the law – bypassing the judicial process will save a fortune.

He sees paid parental leave as a workplace entitlement where anything less than replacement wages plus superannuation for six months is discriminatory.

Unless he has to pay for it. And come to think of it, the government is already shelling out too much to these fraudulent double-dipping rorters. Why should we give them anything at all when their employer is already paying them?

Tony promised to stop the waste.

His lifestyle choice to live at Kirribilli House cannot be considered wasteful (even though it means empty jets fly backwards and forwards, often several times a day, to transport him to different photo opportunites), because it allows him to present his daughters to royalty and cricket teams in a fitting setting. Hugh and Deborah like it too, and the press in Sydney are so much more fun to entertain than that Canberra lynch mob.

Paying off your investment property with your accommodation allowance is entirely within guidelines, as is claiming for networking at weddings and football grand finals. George is entitled to his bookcases to house all the books he is entitled to buy. Unlike defence personnel and frontline officials in Immigration and Customs because we simply cannot afford to allow their conditions and entitlements to continue.

And paying tens of millions to find out what people are saying on social media is a good investment, as are the thousands of spin doctors, image consultants, advertising and PR people employed to manipulate, sorry, gauge public opinion. Polls and focus groups are essential because policy has to come from somewhere and we all know that experts can’t be trusted.

Tony promised to stop the boats.

To keep the message simple he left out the rest of the sentence – that he would stop the boats getting to safety. If that means setting people adrift with insufficient fuel and water and no amenities, or leaving them to drift around the ocean indefinitely with nowhere to land, or towing them until their boat falls apart, that’s their own fault. We never said we’d stop them setting sail. Indonesia needs to tighten up security of their 54,720 km of coastline.

Tony is a champion of free speech.

It is far more important than the disabled. It is the cornerstone of our democracy. Transparency allows people to judge for themselves. Even though we may disagree with them, or be offended by them, everyone has a right to express their opinion.

Unless they are a public servant. Or they want to talk about children in detention or the consequences of new citizenship laws. Or they are discussing anything to do with operational matters, unless it’s the addresses of suspected terrorists in which case a map will be provided. Or freedom of information requests about government spending. Or climate change (What were you thinking Barak?). And especially anything on the ABC unless it’s the Killing Season.

There will be no new taxes under a Coalition government.

We won’t be raising the GST – blame your premiers when it goes up. We won’t be charging a co-payment – blame your doctors and chemists when they charge more. And you know that 1.5% levy on big business – we were just kidding, we won’t need it now. And the 2% tax increase on high income earners is only temporary so it doesn’t count. And increasing the fuel excise isn’t really an increase because it’s only going up by the CPI so really it’s staying the same – unlike pensions which are increasing generously with the CPI twice a year. And we won’t be increasing income tax rates – bracket creep will work nicely to get us back on an (in)credible path back to surplus.

And Tony will fix the debt and deficit disaster.

Even though Tony said “I have never been as excited about economics as some of my colleagues; you know, I find economics is not for nothing known as the dismal science,” we can rest easy that the genetic makeup of the Coalition makes economic success assured – it’s in their DNA.

Eliminating the debt ceiling was a strategic first step in reducing the debt. Increasing the CGS on issue to $370 billion may look like the debt has increased but it’s less than what it would have been in ten years’ time if Labor had stayed in power and adopted Coalition policies.

Whilst the projected deficit has blown out with each fiscal statement, Tony’s strategy of pumping government money into coal, and flooding the market with iron ore, is sure to make the prices go up because coal is the future that will lift the world’s masses from poverty provided they can pay premium price for it.

And small business owners buying new coffee machines is sure to solve the unemployment problem at Harvey Norman for a month or two. The building of the submarine strike force and squadrons of fighter jets will employ thousands of people and inject hundreds of billions into the economies of our best friends Japan and the US.

When Tony promised no cuts, it should have been obvious that, in this time where we are all pulling together to fix Labor’s mess, no one would be immune from efficiency dividends.

Except defence, national security, intelligence agencies, the AFP, border security, and all those involved in Tony’s unrelenting war to keep us afraid, I mean safe.

We must all contribute our fair share.

Unless you are a big corporation in which case you can give your share to your accountants. Due to the danger of corporations being kidnapped [source required], we have decided they no longer need to declare their income should they have any left after loaning themselves money and paying themselves exorbitant interest.

I hope this has been helpful in understanding the vision that Tony Abbott has for his future and has reassured you that he means whatever he says that day and will do whatever it takes to be re-elected.

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Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 11:34 am

From a man who knows only too well….

TONY WINDSOR:

“Not knowing all the answers on displaced people should not be an excuse for rationalising their neglect. But given Abbott’s “do anything to get the job” attitude to politics, and presumably anything to keep it, the last thing that the PM wants is a genuine consensus on the asylum-seeker issue. His entire life in politics has been based on encouraging and fanning division within society. Whether it be climate science, windmills, school and university education, the strategy is always the same – divide and, in his mind at least, rule.

So the rhetoric regarding safe borders and the protection of the fortunate from the unfortunate is little more than bumper-sticker messaging. It treats an extremely complicated issue with a level of simplicity that dumbs down the population. It chases away the thoughtfulness that brings with it empathy.

The following is a controversial view, but it is one this government has forced me to hold: I believe that any tragedy or terrorist activity in Australia would almost be welcomed because of the political benefits that would flow from it. The continual progression of asylum-seeker and terrorist law is all about where the blame can be laid when that tragedy occurs, rather than engaging with the domestic and international drivers of these issues. This is all very well in the short term, but what Abbott and his conservative colleagues don’t seem to appreciate, or perhaps care about, are the long-term implications. ”

https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2015/06/27/asylum-seeker-policy-dark-spot-australias-history/14353272002050#.VY3-5Dcw9jq

BlinkyewokJune 27, 2015 at 11:42 am

Always good to hear from Tony Windsor. He brings clarity and helps us focus on Abbotts real agenda.

Bronte ALLANJune 27, 2015 at 12:17 pm

Where would we all be without Tony Abscess? Better off with LESS lies & more “concern” & action on climate change, more “action” on Science, & so on!

CharybdsJune 27, 2015 at 12:22 pm

I have always been of the opinion that to try to understand a lunatic is a path strewn with pitfalls.

Why? .. well it’s like this:-
Whatever the particular idea/s or mindset that a person holds which qualifies him as insane is obviously a more attractive way of thinking than actual sane ways of thought.
So if after all kinds of effort and mental gymnastics trying to understand a nutter you actually (god forbid) start to understand and comprehend whatever is going on in the echoing halls of the disturbed mind, the danger is you may actually ‘get it’ .. literally.

better to just placate or medicate the terminally insane.

Although Tony (not Mr Windsor) obviously needs a better pharmacist.

Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 12:45 pm

GREG JERICHO:
“While watching the final episode of the ABC documentary, The Killing Season, amid the delusional and revisionist retellings of history by ALP insiders, the one part that stuck out was the scene of Tony Abbott standing in front of the “Ju-liar – Bob Brown’s Bitch” sign.

He had appeared on the stage after Angry Anderson had warmed up the crowd with jokes about how the sign ought to have been “politically correct” should have read “Bob Brown’s female dog”.

Australian politics reached a dark and stupid place that day and Tony Abbott not only rejoiced in it, he has done his level best to keep it in that space.

The most obvious sign of how he has kept it there is his ever more over-the-top rhetoric on national security – all done in the desire to wedge the ALP while also pretending to value “bi-partisanship” on the issue.

Last week, when the ALP timidly provided some opposition to the government’s proposed laws to strip dual citizens of their citizenship, Tony Abbott suggested in parliament this was the ALP saying to terrorists, “‘Please come back. We want you back. We will roll out the red carpet. We will roll out the welcome mat. Just come back.’”

It was a comment of such breathtaking idiocy that the speaker of it should scarce be trusted to hold sharp objects let alone hold the position of Prime Minister.

We are at the point now where Tony Abbott, or one of his ministers, could pretty much say anything on national security no matter how outrageous, and there would not even be the hint of a line having been crossed.

Australian politics has become an idiots’ paradise.”

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/06/26/comment-national-security-how-about-some-national-maturity-first

Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 12:59 pm

He’s out and about. Here’s today’s insights

why it is so important that what’s being done by Daesh (IS) has nothing to do with God, it has nothing to do with religion

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/06/27/abbott-says-no-change-to-nation-s-security.html

Really, it has nothing to do with religion. Hilarious.

Why doesn’t any of the MSM ever test his knowledge as to what this ‘religious’ war is all about. How much does he know about Salafism, for example?

Is he aware that many if not most (all) of the Islamic Schools in Australia are beneficiaries of Wahhabi/Salafist funds coming from Saudi Arabia?

Is he aware that the Sunnis and Shias have been at ‘war’ almost since the death of Muhammad in 632?

Simply Australia shouldn’t be there, engaging in what is a religious war, training Shia forces hated by 85 to 90% of the Islamic world.

Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 1:09 pm

He isn’t interested in the causes or as Windsor put it, the drivers of these issues.

He doesn’t care why people are fighting or fleeing, or why young Muslims here are feeling alienated, or why Aboriginal incarceration rates are so high, or why their kids don’t want to go to school.

More police, more fighter jets, more truancy officers, greater punishment, broader laws to spy on people – that should fix it

Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 1:10 pm

And let’s not forget, if we hadn’t invaded Iraq in the first place. The ‘circumstances’ which aided and abetted the rise of ISIL resulted from that ‘invasion’.

HarquebusJune 27, 2015 at 1:24 pm

Tony Abbott is merely a sock puppet. Who we really need to understand is, the owner of the hand that’s up his arse and making his lips move.

Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 1:32 pm

Let’s not forget Joseph de Maistre’s quote:

Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mérite

Because we as a nation elected them, and will in all probability, re-elect them.
.

Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 2:46 pm

Matters Not,

If the government told the truth about what they are doing and the nation was being informed by the media if they lied, then yes, I would say we deserve what we get. When the nation is kept completely in the dark, either by the government refusing to discuss operational or commercial in confidence or security or intelligence or onwater or diplomatic or expenditure matters, and is deliberately fed misinformation by one dominant foreign media owner (who is expanding his reach), then I call foul.

Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 3:11 pm

If the government told the truth about what they are doing and the nation was being informed by the media if they lied, … When the nation is kept completely in the dark

Kaye Lee, I don’t believe you are being kept completely in the dark. It’s possible to shine the light in very dark places if one wants to. The fact that too many don’t care and are prepared simply to accept a ‘reality’ as constructed by others, then we get the government we deserve.

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave explores the problem.

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

A ‘democracy’ isn’t just about voting every three or four years. Yes voting is a necessary condition, but it’s certainly not a sufficient one. Democracy has to be ‘lived’ on an ongoing basis. It has to be worked at. It requires inquiring minds, a powerful ‘crap detector’ and the desire to use same.

It’s not happening. The MSM is just soporific but that’s an explanation not an excuse.

Terry2June 27, 2015 at 3:32 pm

I wonder what “small government” means in Tony’s world.

Does it mean government retreating from funding and providing essential services and in the case of health and education saying that these are state responsibilities and then denying the states the funding ?

Or does it mean interfering in everyone’s day to day life and liberty to the extent that an act of anti government graffiti can lead to citizenship being forfeited and free speech on our public broadcaster brings about demented cries of ‘heads must roll’ ?

This is a very dangerous man who thinks that the separation of powers includes giving a politician discretion over matters of criminal law and citizenship and who doesn’t trust our judiciary as people he doesn’t like “might get off”

This has been a painful learning curve and a dangerous experiment in big ‘C’ conservative government and should be a lesson for the future for all of us and no matter the freebies thrown around at the next election we need to remember that this man is an opportunistic liar.

Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 3:46 pm

Matters Not,

Point taken.

Terry2,

Luckily David Leyonjhelm has been successful in getting a Senate inquiry into the nanny state. He is anti-bike helmet and pro-smoking. I am hoping someone is making a submission on what is the health cost of that stance.

One wonders at the mindset of a government who believes it should not interfere in people’s lives except to tell them who they can marry. Previous governments did the same thing to our Indigenous people.

abbienoiraudeJune 27, 2015 at 3:57 pm

Kaye Lee left my partner still with the truth of her post. It is shocking in its observations.
It depresses, informs and enrages.
What to do.

Thank you @ Matters Not for the link to ; Allegory of the Cave.
Being uneducated I soak up such information and need the fulcrum of such ideas to spin me onward to understanding.
The information you also provided re Shia’s and Sunni’s was also an eye opener.
What fools are we to tamper in such ancient angers. Stupid stupid stupid.

@Charybds
I have a mother in law with complex personality disorders. For over 40 years I have tried to understand her for her vitriol and hatred of me went beyond a joke ( mother-in-law joke). It was damaging me and mine. In the end I had to let it go. It was, indeed, making me ‘ill’. Depressed and anxious for no matter what I tried I could not placate or silence her anger or her vilification.
You are right.
Abbott is a sick puppy. Better he be ‘put down’ than for him to make the rest of our Nation ill. I can feel the anxiety rising already within our people and it is not conducive or helpful to a country’s future, let alone those who are stretching out their hands for us to help them. We can’t help others if we think they are indeed the ‘enemy’ when in fact we are ourselves.

I desire hope.

corvus boreusJune 27, 2015 at 4:12 pm

Harquebus,
The Tony-doll is actually a much more complicated puppet than you described.
As you observed, directional movement and lean is orchestrated through basal orifice sock-puppetry.
There are also entangled marionette strings attatched from above that dictate the hand gestures.
As to the speech, there is a draw-string squawk-box of limited simple capability which often malfunctions.
In default function, the Tony model remembers that it is just a Punch looking for a Judy.

mars08June 27, 2015 at 4:15 pm

“Of course the people don’t want war. But after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger. It works the same way in any country.”

~Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg trials (1946)

xiaoechoJune 27, 2015 at 4:26 pm

God, it is so depressing. It looks like we are going to get him for another term solely because the so called ‘opposition’ do not know what they stand for – other than Abbottism.
We have no alternative government.

To have such evil and base conduct and motives celebrated as the norm by that other part of the political class – the press – who are so out of touch with ‘the punters’ they dont even try to engage with them anymore( except in a patronising circus like/tabloid cartoonish way.)

I am poor. I live under the poverty line and I, and those like me have nothing to look forward to but more villification and disenranchisement from what once mine but is rapidly becoming ‘some-one elses country’ I am not welcome in the land of my birth.

PhiJune 27, 2015 at 5:36 pm

I think it was Kaye Lee who suggested that youth are the potential political game changers – or words to that effect. Article at the Insider linked in John Lords previous article on AIMN also discusses the potential influence of younger voters in progressive support i.e under 40 year olds.

To those commentators here who sound so exasperated or disenchanted I say I empathise – but there is a way forward that is personally uplifting and positive, and that is to start engaging with these younger people where they reside i.e. on-line, on social media – Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc but the engagement has to be on their terms.

I’d like to hear more from especially Kaye Lee but also from others with suitable experience as to the most effective way to frame the messages in the various social media platforms.

Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 6:13 pm

Phi,

Firstly our young people need to understand that they can make a difference. Including those who didn’t register and those who cast informal votes, there were about 2.2 million who didn’t have their vote counted at the last election and only 30,000 votes in marginal seats could cause a change of government. First step is empowering them. We should help them register – have booths at our concert where they can get the form, have help filling it in, seal it in an envelope and put it in a box at the booth to be forwarded to the AEC.

Next we have to inform them of the importance of ousting the Abbott government. Only Young Liberals care about debt and deficit and small government and nanny state because they have been repeating the phrases from birth. None of them actually know what socialism is if you engage – they are too busy talking about how much they are going to drink at their next conference. I’d leave economics alone.

It should be easy to fish around until you find what interests them because they are under attack on so many levels. The NBN resonates with most. Climate change should be an issue for all of them as it is they who will bear the brunt of our inaction. They may care about the environment and native flora and fauna. University fees, TAFE closures, paying for public education, cutting the tool allowance for apprentices – education will become out of their reach or leave them with crippling debt.

Unemployment is huge as is housing affordability, not just to buy but to rent anywhere near employment. Workplace entitlements are under attack and many young people will be worse off with no penalty rates and only casual jobs available or contracts with no entitlements.

Money has been stripped from so many small arts groups and directed to ballet and opera – they may feel passionately about that. They may abhor the way asylum seekers are being treated or see the injustice in poverty and the gap between white Australians and Aborigines. Marriage equality seems to be almost universally supported.

Listen to what matters to them and then help them learn about it. Rather than lecturing, give them information and remind them that a tsunami is made of individual drops in the ocean.

Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 6:24 pm

Oh and something I came to realise as I chatted to the passing parade of young people in my house, many of them don’t know who belongs to what party. All of them hate Abbott but several of them asked me what party he belonged to. We forget they are new to this stuff. When they asked me who to vote for I told them to put the Liberal candidate last, I briefly explained important Labor and Green policies, and then told them to google the independents. Many of them feel both major parties are a waste of time and vote for names they like like the sex party and the pirate party and the legalise marijuana party in the senate. We all need an education on the ramifications of doing that – transparency about where that vote ends up.

Florence nee FedupJune 27, 2015 at 9:55 pm

Maybe the future is in the hands of the young. They have a big problem. The numbers lie with the baby boomers. Who for some unfathomable reason seem to be sticking with Abbott.

HarquebusJune 27, 2015 at 10:30 pm

David Leyonjhelm’s inquiry into the nanny state has me also wondering about not only the health costs but, the brain injuries caused by not wearing a helmet. How many extra nannies will we need then?

corvus boreus
I keep lookin’ for them strings. They are hard to spot.

I do not use Twitter, Instagram, nor Facebook. They are NSA honey traps.

housing affordability: Just came across this today.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/hadrian-the-robot-bricklayer-can-build-a-whole-house-in-two-days-10347229.html
There’s also this which I came across a while ago.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-05-17/chinese-firm-reveals-worlds-first-3d-printed-five-story-apartment-building

Kaye Lee.
I also vote for the minor parties and can not bring myself to vote Labor even though I despise the Coalition.
Briefly, what are the ramifications? (A subject for another article perhaps?) I always vote below the line.
If the majors want my senate vote, they are going to have to change some policies to echo those of the minors’ and which, must also include the reversal of the erosion of our liberties.

Cheers.

Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 10:51 pm

abbienoiraude said:

Being uneducated ..

I suggest you stop there. I will passionately argue the opposite.

Becoming ‘educated’ is always about being on a journey that is never ending. There is no destination that can ever be defined in terms of ‘necessary and sufficient’ conditions.

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

It seems to me that you are indeed an ‘educated’ person because you, like me (hopefully), know nothing in the absolute sense but are open to ‘ideas’, regardless of source and prepared to discuss same.

Just sayin …

mars08June 27, 2015 at 10:52 pm

Abbott didn’t pop up… fully formed … after a rain shower.

He is grew up here. He went into politics here. He is a product of our society. There are many just like him. He is not an aberration. To understand Abbott, we have to understand a dark and disturbing side of our culture.

olddaveyJune 27, 2015 at 10:55 pm

Off topic I know, but one of the ads here reads:

“15 Gay Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Gay”

Surely that should read:

“15 Gay Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Celebrities”.

Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 11:12 pm

Harquebus, It seems to me that the average punter has no idea as to the implications of three dimensional printing. I have one son who visits China on a regular basis to source and supervise the provision of (cheap) ‘manufactured product’ and he tells me that the Chinese are shit scared that 3D printing has the real potential to stuff them up big time, to put it mildly.

He also goes into fits of laughter re the FTA and Chinese obligations re ‘environmental’ obligations.

As an occasional visitor to China I share his concerns.

But then again we have the assurances of Minister Robb. Don’t we? Or has he never been asked?

Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 11:30 pm

mars08 June 27, 2015 at 10:52 pm said with respect to Abbott:

He is grew up here. He went into politics here. He is a product of our society

To suggest that Abbott is simply a ‘product’ of our society is somewhat simplistic, and misleading. By way of example, so did Rudd, Gillard, Goss and Whitlam to name but a few.

I think there’s a few ‘forces’ or ‘drivers’ if you like that are also influential, such as ‘family’ and ‘schooling’. But perhaps, more importantly are the choices one makes as an individual. And for those personal ‘choices’, Abbott must be held accountable.

While social influences, broadly defined, are very important, let’s not absolve Abbott from personal responsibility.

Because when it comes to the evaluation of the ‘you’. he will never be that generous.

Will ‘terrorists’ be allowed to escape the consequences by claiming that it’s my background/schooling/family and the like?

And if not, then why not?

HarquebusJune 27, 2015 at 11:59 pm

Matters Not
An amazing new technology. The recent case of the young gentleman who had part of a missing jaw replaced, a first, was a truly inspiring story.
A health care worker who visited China in 2013 told me that, she expects a massive health catastrophe to overwhelm them due to the pollution and uncontrolled poisoning of their waters and environment.

Thanks for the tip. Just did a search and am off to have a read.
Search criteria: fta china environment

Cheers.

Moderator: Apologies for going off topic.

Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 8:24 am

Regarding the FTA with China, we have agreed to stop the mandatory skills assessments for 457 visas for Chinese electricians. Who needs qualifications when we can help our dear friends by bypassing regulations. Sorry to all those Australian apprentices looking for work.

Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 8:25 am

Harquebus, I have no problem with a discussion evolving just as long as every discussion does not become about peak oil and population reduction. I appreciate that you have expanded your repertoire of topics.

corvus boreusJune 28, 2015 at 8:29 am

Kaye Lee (08:24),
Alternative potential consequences also include possible fatalities from electrical fires caused by dodgy imported sparkies.

Surely one of the most obvious lessons of the ‘pink batts’ commissions was that basic necessary trade competencies should not be compromised by rushed legislation and hasty deregulation.

Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 8:36 am

cb,

Deregulation (or no regulation) is fraught with danger.

Unions and fire prevention experts warn high-rise apartment owners are sitting on time bombs if safety loopholes around cheap construction materials are not closed.

The concern was triggered by a fire in a 21-storey apartment building in Melbourne’s Docklands last November.

A cigarette left on a balcony table in the Lacrosse building started a fire, which engulfed 13 storeys in less than 15 minutes.

The problem was cheap cladding imported from China, which covered the entire building.

“When it comes to building materials, and particularly imported building materials, it looks like no-one’s in charge,” Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union national secretary Michael O’Connor said.

“We have a flood of building materials being brought into this country, some claiming to meet Australian standards and we know they don’t, some not even bothering to make a claim of meeting Australian standards.

“It endangers the public and increases the chances that someone’s going to be seriously injured.

“That’s a concern for everybody.”

Terry2June 28, 2015 at 8:47 am

Stephen Koukoulas in the Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/26/abbott-has-given-up-on-debt-and-deficit-reduction-but-few-have-noticed points to the way the questions of debt and deficit have deftly been removed from the government’s agenda – and hence the media – at a time when government debt has increased by almost $100 billion in less that two years of the Abbott government : representing around $2 billion of new debt for each week since the coalition came to office.

The government’s sophisticated spin and media management team have just shifted community focus to terrorism, national security, death cults and the ABC. It will soon turn to destroying Bill Shorten and he is going to have to have strong Party and family support ’cause it ain’t going to be pretty. The Labor Party are wedged on the matter of leadership as, their own recent history makes it virtually impossible for Shorten to be replaced without significant electoral damage.

The strategies are cynical but clever and when you have the unflagging support of NEWS CORP it makes it extremely difficult to fight back or even get any media coverage : even the ABC are now in a straight jacket and anything they do in the political arena will be closely scrutinised with more government enquiries and calls for heads to roll until the government consider that “balance” ( in the sense of Fair & Balances as used by FOX News) has been achieved.

Interesting to see Peta Credlin speaking out about the blokie culture in public life and particularly including the Liberal Party for criticism. Not exactly clear why Ms Credlin, who is married to the Federal Director of the Liberal Party and confidant of the Prime Minister wouldn’t be using her unique position to change things. But, to be fair, when she did put her head above the parapet she was shot down by media mogul Rupert Murdoch who, from his New York office tweeted for her to be sacked – I still find it incredible that Murdoch would believe that he has this amount of control over the minutiae of the Liberal Party in Australia, a country where he is now only an occasional tourist (and ironically a dual citizen).

Sorry to say it ,folks but we may be stuck with this mob for quite some time.

corvus boreusJune 28, 2015 at 8:48 am

Kaye Lee,
Sub-standard tradies building from inferior materials to lax guidelines with negligable oversight; what could possibly go wrong?

Matters NotJune 28, 2015 at 9:01 am

There’s lots of safety concerns connected with importations from China. Take objects made from ‘brass’ as an example. Lead is often added to make the brass product more ‘machinable’. The problem lies in the concentration of lead because ‘lead posioning’ can result given the extensive use of brass in tapware and other areas of plumbing.

In the United States, California in particular in 2010, the content of lead allowed in ‘lead free’ brass was reduced from 4% to 0.25%. But that does not mean the Chinese manufacturers are complying.

One wonders what would be the outcome if we changed the ‘rules’ here is Australia to the disadvantage of Chinese manufacturers. Can they successfully sue using the ISDS?

Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 10:26 am

In going in so hard – labelling the ABC a “lefty lynch mob” and saying “heads should roll” – Abbott was not talking to mainstream Australians. He was pandering to the ideologically-driven radicals on his side of politics like Cory Bernardi and Andrew Bolt.

Australian National University emeritus professor John Warhurst believes Abbott’s combative and confrontational style is often mistaken for a hardline ideology. He believes he is not necessarily guided so much by an ideology or a philosophy as much as he is by a “win at all costs” pugilist mentality that he has never been able to shake.

Elsewhere though, Abbott’s more cautious approach has left the Prime Minister bereft of a policy agenda.

And it has left a lot of people – from experts to regular voters – wondering just what he stands for apart from strong borders and protections against Islamic extremists.

“I don’t think they have a clear agenda at the moment other than winning the next election.”

Griffith University senior lecturer Paul Williams said “Fourteen months ago we were in the greatest budget crisis the country has ever seen and now we’ve got money to spend. His inconsistency was writ large.”

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-the-conservative-or-the-radical-20150627-ghydc1

kerriJune 28, 2015 at 10:27 am

In reference to helping young people get involved and vote to their benefit my (now 21yo) was 18 at the last election decided to do some research. She found an AEC website page that listed all our local candidates and gave a brief outline of their reasons for standing. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY it provided an interactive “How To Vote” ticket generator that you could fill in online, print, take with you and copy on your actual ballot paper. I used it myself. It meant preferences were more real because you could read and establish whose intentions were to your liking. Incidentally she voted for the Sex Party as she read more about their principles other than just the sex aspect. Her favoured small parties and independants were chosen if they spoke of Environment, Education, Wildlife, social freedoms, internet, Same Sex Marriage etc. Her dislikes revolved around Religion, Strictures in laws, and anything that went against her likes. I was extremely proud that she approached voting from a perspective that she felt she could exercise her rights and vote according to her opinions. I think the 2 party system has young people disinterested, because, let’s face it, at the moment the two major parties are largely one party against all that matters to young progressive people and old people for that matter! I doubt it would be available ATM but should reappear before the next election and I will try to provide a link.
And my 83yo mum? She lives in Kevin Andrew’s electorate where he mails out postal votes in reply paid envelopes and promises to put them in the ballot box for the voter. Sound dodgy?? I implored her not to fall for this and I would love to see a journalistic enquiry into this practice. Mums electorate is largely elderly who love the idea they don’t have to go out on polling day and put up with the whole shemozzle, but what exactly does Kevin Andrews DO with those votes?? Mum says friends can’t stand him, so how does he win?
At worst does he alter them? At best does he bin them? And why is it legal for a candidate to be handling votes? It may be not equally important to help the elderly vote but given they are a huge demographic and too ready to take the easy way out maybe we need to help them vote correctly too? I cannot believe anyone on a pension would vote LNP next election ? But let’s see if Andrews wins again?

Matters NotJune 28, 2015 at 10:53 am

Settle down kerri, it’s common practice for candidates to do what Andrews does. His opponent (s) do exactly the same thing.

Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 10:57 am

There was talk that Andrews would not contest the next election. There was some speculation that Credlin might run though that was before the leadership spill where she temporarily had her wings clipped.

I agree about the postal votes mailed out by parties. It is fraught with danger. Firstly it gives the party a lot of information about you. Secondly, whilst it would be illegal for them to not pass on your application for a postal vote, they can delay it until it is too late. Crikey did a story on this. Kevin Rudd tried to have the rules changed and the Coalition opposed it. The AEC has pleaded for change to no avail. Crikey suggests you use the reply paid envelope to tell the major parties what you think.

How the parties trick you into handing over personal information

DanDarkJune 28, 2015 at 11:34 am

Mars said Tony didn’t just turn into Tony overnight, that is so true, it’s taken him a life time in this country to be a true blue stralian bloke, and that is the problem, there are many many many Tony Abbotts in this country and they are proud to be arseholes like Tony Abbott and all the other stralian blokes in the LNP…..
We have bred generations of chavanistic, mysoginist, violent males in this country and we accept that as a culture and still do.

Ken ButlerJune 28, 2015 at 11:41 am

In the new lexicion TRUTH is spelled as 1 9 8 4 !!!

Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 11:44 am

I have nothing but respect and admiration for the men in my life. Not all men are turkeys. And I have never accepted or tolerated a culture of misogyny. When I was 17 the local paper interviewed me under the headline “Schoolgirl pours scorn on sex bias.” I fought Tony Abbott in the 70s because of his anti-feminist views. I had no idea that I would still be doing the same thing 40 years later. I considered him an inconsequential bully boy then and still do. The idea that he is making decisions that affect my life is abhorrent.

DaDarkJune 28, 2015 at 11:52 am

Not all men are turkeys, and I have no respect left for men in this country, just other day the tyre bloke yelled obscenities at my son and I after giving him 190 bucks for 2 tyres, WTF men in this country think their shit don’t stink but their farts give them away, and you have been lucky enough to have good blokes in your life, well more power to you, yea I have fought men for my life, I think that was a good cause too….. I havnt commented for days and Kaye Lee pounces on my comment and has to disagree ….it’s your show Kaye,,, the floor is yours, and this country is full of men that are arseholes, bolt, Hadley, Roskam, Chris Berg, rowan dean, I won’t go on…cheers

Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 1:56 pm

I have indeed been lucky, or perhaps choosy, but it has not blinded me to discrimination or domestic violence. I am sorry for what you have endured and admire the strength of all survivors. Your response was unnecessarily aggressive and unwarranted. I merely stated that, in my experience, not all men are the same. I am not conducting a “show” but rather opening up a discussion. I do not expect everyone to agree with me at all times.

DanDarkJune 28, 2015 at 2:11 pm

I don’t want your pity, women do not choose to be beaten, raped and murdered, you were lucky Kaye
not ” choosy” ….. I think your choice of the word choosy is wrong and shows how little you do know about the subject, women choose men who abuse them, yeah right …….. Unless you have walked a mile in those moccaskins you have no idea about choice. And your always aggressive Kaye, so don’t project 🙂

paul walterJune 28, 2015 at 2:41 pm

Let’s not be mislead by the “small government ” proposition. This is not about getting the state out of people’s living rooms or backyards, but about weakening government to the extent that big business can operate without constraint or check.

Not “small government”; “weak government”.

And not even “weak” government, but government by the rich without even the modest constraints of democracy.

Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 2:43 pm

I agree with you….that word was ill-considered. I no not pity you or anyone else. And having worked with troubled teenagers for most of my life, both as a teacher and working for a homeless youth refuge, I am very well aware of the unchosen path many have to travel. You know nothing about me Dan. Your assertion that I am always aggressive is your opinion formed with no knowledge of who I am and what I do. It is similar to your statement that you “have no respect left for men in this country.”

Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 2:47 pm

I agree paul. Small government means privatisation which means profit. Employment and services usually suffer as does protection from the greed of corporations.

kerriJune 28, 2015 at 7:00 pm

Dan Dark I could also take exception at Matters Not telling me to settle down about something I feel passionate about! This is a respectful discussion forum. Well, respectful to each other and not to those who don’t deserve it. I don’t need to elaborate.
In general this site works to inform and keep the bastards honest. Whether the bastards are listening or not. Let’s not do Abbott’s bidding by splitting our commenters and/or citizen journalists and fighting amongst ourselves when losing the all important goal of informing everyone of the LNPs corruption, unfairness and secrecy is way too important!
Eyes on the prize!

kerriJune 28, 2015 at 11:48 pm

DanDarkJune 29, 2015 at 10:43 am

Kerri keep up the good work, but I am out of AIMN there are other ways to help the country, not just sit on a comp and type lots of stuff, I didn’t attack Kaye, I didn’t attack the article, I made a comment off Mars comment, but Kaye jumped on my comment, I have 4 adult sons, and I respect them because they are good men.. Good luck Kerri but AIMN is full of nasties now…. 🙂

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Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 11:34 am

From a man who knows only too well….

TONY WINDSOR:

“Not knowing all the answers on displaced people should not be an excuse for rationalising their neglect. But given Abbott’s “do anything to get the job” attitude to politics, and presumably anything to keep it, the last thing that the PM wants is a genuine consensus on the asylum-seeker issue. His entire life in politics has been based on encouraging and fanning division within society. Whether it be climate science, windmills, school and university education, the strategy is always the same – divide and, in his mind at least, rule.

So the rhetoric regarding safe borders and the protection of the fortunate from the unfortunate is little more than bumper-sticker messaging. It treats an extremely complicated issue with a level of simplicity that dumbs down the population. It chases away the thoughtfulness that brings with it empathy.

The following is a controversial view, but it is one this government has forced me to hold: I believe that any tragedy or terrorist activity in Australia would almost be welcomed because of the political benefits that would flow from it. The continual progression of asylum-seeker and terrorist law is all about where the blame can be laid when that tragedy occurs, rather than engaging with the domestic and international drivers of these issues. This is all very well in the short term, but what Abbott and his conservative colleagues don’t seem to appreciate, or perhaps care about, are the long-term implications. ”

https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2015/06/27/asylum-seeker-policy-dark-spot-australias-history/14353272002050#.VY3-5Dcw9jq
BlinkyewokJune 27, 2015 at 11:42 am

Always good to hear from Tony Windsor. He brings clarity and helps us focus on Abbotts real agenda.
Bronte ALLANJune 27, 2015 at 12:17 pm

Where would we all be without Tony Abscess? Better off with LESS lies & more “concern” & action on climate change, more “action” on Science, & so on!
CharybdsJune 27, 2015 at 12:22 pm

I have always been of the opinion that to try to understand a lunatic is a path strewn with pitfalls.

Why? .. well it’s like this:-
Whatever the particular idea/s or mindset that a person holds which qualifies him as insane is obviously a more attractive way of thinking than actual sane ways of thought.
So if after all kinds of effort and mental gymnastics trying to understand a nutter you actually (god forbid) start to understand and comprehend whatever is going on in the echoing halls of the disturbed mind, the danger is you may actually ‘get it’ .. literally.

better to just placate or medicate the terminally insane.

Although Tony (not Mr Windsor) obviously needs a better pharmacist.
Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 12:45 pm

GREG JERICHO:
“While watching the final episode of the ABC documentary, The Killing Season, amid the delusional and revisionist retellings of history by ALP insiders, the one part that stuck out was the scene of Tony Abbott standing in front of the “Ju-liar – Bob Brown’s Bitch” sign.

He had appeared on the stage after Angry Anderson had warmed up the crowd with jokes about how the sign ought to have been “politically correct” should have read “Bob Brown’s female dog”.

Australian politics reached a dark and stupid place that day and Tony Abbott not only rejoiced in it, he has done his level best to keep it in that space.

The most obvious sign of how he has kept it there is his ever more over-the-top rhetoric on national security – all done in the desire to wedge the ALP while also pretending to value “bi-partisanship” on the issue.

Last week, when the ALP timidly provided some opposition to the government’s proposed laws to strip dual citizens of their citizenship, Tony Abbott suggested in parliament this was the ALP saying to terrorists, “‘Please come back. We want you back. We will roll out the red carpet. We will roll out the welcome mat. Just come back.’”

It was a comment of such breathtaking idiocy that the speaker of it should scarce be trusted to hold sharp objects let alone hold the position of Prime Minister.

We are at the point now where Tony Abbott, or one of his ministers, could pretty much say anything on national security no matter how outrageous, and there would not even be the hint of a line having been crossed.

Australian politics has become an idiots’ paradise.”

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/06/26/comment-national-security-how-about-some-national-maturity-first
Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 12:59 pm

He’s out and about. Here’s today’s insights

why it is so important that what’s being done by Daesh (IS) has nothing to do with God, it has nothing to do with religion

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/06/27/abbott-says-no-change-to-nation-s-security.html

Really, it has nothing to do with religion. Hilarious.

Why doesn’t any of the MSM ever test his knowledge as to what this ‘religious’ war is all about. How much does he know about Salafism, for example?

Is he aware that many if not most (all) of the Islamic Schools in Australia are beneficiaries of Wahhabi/Salafist funds coming from Saudi Arabia?

Is he aware that the Sunnis and Shias have been at ‘war’ almost since the death of Muhammad in 632?

Simply Australia shouldn’t be there, engaging in what is a religious war, training Shia forces hated by 85 to 90% of the Islamic world.
Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 1:09 pm

He isn’t interested in the causes or as Windsor put it, the drivers of these issues.

He doesn’t care why people are fighting or fleeing, or why young Muslims here are feeling alienated, or why Aboriginal incarceration rates are so high, or why their kids don’t want to go to school.

More police, more fighter jets, more truancy officers, greater punishment, broader laws to spy on people – that should fix it
Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 1:10 pm

And let’s not forget, if we hadn’t invaded Iraq in the first place. The ‘circumstances’ which aided and abetted the rise of ISIL resulted from that ‘invasion’.
HarquebusJune 27, 2015 at 1:24 pm

Tony Abbott is merely a sock puppet. Who we really need to understand is, the owner of the hand that’s up his arse and making his lips move.
Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 1:32 pm

Let’s not forget Joseph de Maistre’s quote:

Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mérite

Because we as a nation elected them, and will in all probability, re-elect them.
.
Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 2:46 pm

Matters Not,

If the government told the truth about what they are doing and the nation was being informed by the media if they lied, then yes, I would say we deserve what we get. When the nation is kept completely in the dark, either by the government refusing to discuss operational or commercial in confidence or security or intelligence or onwater or diplomatic or expenditure matters, and is deliberately fed misinformation by one dominant foreign media owner (who is expanding his reach), then I call foul.
Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 3:11 pm

If the government told the truth about what they are doing and the nation was being informed by the media if they lied, … When the nation is kept completely in the dark

Kaye Lee, I don’t believe you are being kept completely in the dark. It’s possible to shine the light in very dark places if one wants to. The fact that too many don’t care and are prepared simply to accept a ‘reality’ as constructed by others, then we get the government we deserve.

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave explores the problem.

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

A ‘democracy’ isn’t just about voting every three or four years. Yes voting is a necessary condition, but it’s certainly not a sufficient one. Democracy has to be ‘lived’ on an ongoing basis. It has to be worked at. It requires inquiring minds, a powerful ‘crap detector’ and the desire to use same.

It’s not happening. The MSM is just soporific but that’s an explanation not an excuse.
Terry2June 27, 2015 at 3:32 pm

I wonder what “small government” means in Tony’s world.

Does it mean government retreating from funding and providing essential services and in the case of health and education saying that these are state responsibilities and then denying the states the funding ?

Or does it mean interfering in everyone’s day to day life and liberty to the extent that an act of anti government graffiti can lead to citizenship being forfeited and free speech on our public broadcaster brings about demented cries of ‘heads must roll’ ?

This is a very dangerous man who thinks that the separation of powers includes giving a politician discretion over matters of criminal law and citizenship and who doesn’t trust our judiciary as people he doesn’t like “might get off”

This has been a painful learning curve and a dangerous experiment in big ‘C’ conservative government and should be a lesson for the future for all of us and no matter the freebies thrown around at the next election we need to remember that this man is an opportunistic liar.
Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 3:46 pm

Matters Not,

Point taken.

Terry2,

Luckily David Leyonjhelm has been successful in getting a Senate inquiry into the nanny state. He is anti-bike helmet and pro-smoking. I am hoping someone is making a submission on what is the health cost of that stance.

One wonders at the mindset of a government who believes it should not interfere in people’s lives except to tell them who they can marry. Previous governments did the same thing to our Indigenous people.
abbienoiraudeJune 27, 2015 at 3:57 pm

Kaye Lee left my partner still with the truth of her post. It is shocking in its observations.
It depresses, informs and enrages.
What to do.

Thank you @ Matters Not for the link to ; Allegory of the Cave.
Being uneducated I soak up such information and need the fulcrum of such ideas to spin me onward to understanding.
The information you also provided re Shia’s and Sunni’s was also an eye opener.
What fools are we to tamper in such ancient angers. Stupid stupid stupid.

@Charybds
I have a mother in law with complex personality disorders. For over 40 years I have tried to understand her for her vitriol and hatred of me went beyond a joke ( mother-in-law joke). It was damaging me and mine. In the end I had to let it go. It was, indeed, making me ‘ill’. Depressed and anxious for no matter what I tried I could not placate or silence her anger or her vilification.
You are right.
Abbott is a sick puppy. Better he be ‘put down’ than for him to make the rest of our Nation ill. I can feel the anxiety rising already within our people and it is not conducive or helpful to a country’s future, let alone those who are stretching out their hands for us to help them. We can’t help others if we think they are indeed the ‘enemy’ when in fact we are ourselves.

I desire hope.
corvus boreusJune 27, 2015 at 4:12 pm

Harquebus,
The Tony-doll is actually a much more complicated puppet than you described.
As you observed, directional movement and lean is orchestrated through basal orifice sock-puppetry.
There are also entangled marionette strings attatched from above that dictate the hand gestures.
As to the speech, there is a draw-string squawk-box of limited simple capability which often malfunctions.
In default function, the Tony model remembers that it is just a Punch looking for a Judy.
mars08June 27, 2015 at 4:15 pm

“Of course the people don’t want war. But after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger. It works the same way in any country.”

~Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg trials (1946)
xiaoechoJune 27, 2015 at 4:26 pm

God, it is so depressing. It looks like we are going to get him for another term solely because the so called ‘opposition’ do not know what they stand for – other than Abbottism.
We have no alternative government.

To have such evil and base conduct and motives celebrated as the norm by that other part of the political class – the press – who are so out of touch with ‘the punters’ they dont even try to engage with them anymore( except in a patronising circus like/tabloid cartoonish way.)

I am poor. I live under the poverty line and I, and those like me have nothing to look forward to but more villification and disenranchisement from what once mine but is rapidly becoming ‘some-one elses country’ I am not welcome in the land of my birth.
PhiJune 27, 2015 at 5:36 pm

I think it was Kaye Lee who suggested that youth are the potential political game changers – or words to that effect. Article at the Insider linked in John Lords previous article on AIMN also discusses the potential influence of younger voters in progressive support i.e under 40 year olds.

To those commentators here who sound so exasperated or disenchanted I say I empathise – but there is a way forward that is personally uplifting and positive, and that is to start engaging with these younger people where they reside i.e. on-line, on social media – Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc but the engagement has to be on their terms.

I’d like to hear more from especially Kaye Lee but also from others with suitable experience as to the most effective way to frame the messages in the various social media platforms.
Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 6:13 pm

Phi,

Firstly our young people need to understand that they can make a difference. Including those who didn’t register and those who cast informal votes, there were about 2.2 million who didn’t have their vote counted at the last election and only 30,000 votes in marginal seats could cause a change of government. First step is empowering them. We should help them register – have booths at our concert where they can get the form, have help filling it in, seal it in an envelope and put it in a box at the booth to be forwarded to the AEC.

Next we have to inform them of the importance of ousting the Abbott government. Only Young Liberals care about debt and deficit and small government and nanny state because they have been repeating the phrases from birth. None of them actually know what socialism is if you engage – they are too busy talking about how much they are going to drink at their next conference. I’d leave economics alone.

It should be easy to fish around until you find what interests them because they are under attack on so many levels. The NBN resonates with most. Climate change should be an issue for all of them as it is they who will bear the brunt of our inaction. They may care about the environment and native flora and fauna. University fees, TAFE closures, paying for public education, cutting the tool allowance for apprentices – education will become out of their reach or leave them with crippling debt.

Unemployment is huge as is housing affordability, not just to buy but to rent anywhere near employment. Workplace entitlements are under attack and many young people will be worse off with no penalty rates and only casual jobs available or contracts with no entitlements.

Money has been stripped from so many small arts groups and directed to ballet and opera – they may feel passionately about that. They may abhor the way asylum seekers are being treated or see the injustice in poverty and the gap between white Australians and Aborigines. Marriage equality seems to be almost universally supported.

Listen to what matters to them and then help them learn about it. Rather than lecturing, give them information and remind them that a tsunami is made of individual drops in the ocean.
Kaye LeeJune 27, 2015 at 6:24 pm

Oh and something I came to realise as I chatted to the passing parade of young people in my house, many of them don’t know who belongs to what party. All of them hate Abbott but several of them asked me what party he belonged to. We forget they are new to this stuff. When they asked me who to vote for I told them to put the Liberal candidate last, I briefly explained important Labor and Green policies, and then told them to google the independents. Many of them feel both major parties are a waste of time and vote for names they like like the sex party and the pirate party and the legalise marijuana party in the senate. We all need an education on the ramifications of doing that – transparency about where that vote ends up.
Florence nee FedupJune 27, 2015 at 9:55 pm

Maybe the future is in the hands of the young. They have a big problem. The numbers lie with the baby boomers. Who for some unfathomable reason seem to be sticking with Abbott.
HarquebusJune 27, 2015 at 10:30 pm

David Leyonjhelm’s inquiry into the nanny state has me also wondering about not only the health costs but, the brain injuries caused by not wearing a helmet. How many extra nannies will we need then?

corvus boreus
I keep lookin’ for them strings. They are hard to spot.

I do not use Twitter, Instagram, nor Facebook. They are NSA honey traps.

housing affordability: Just came across this today.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/hadrian-the-robot-bricklayer-can-build-a-whole-house-in-two-days-10347229.html
There’s also this which I came across a while ago.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-05-17/chinese-firm-reveals-worlds-first-3d-printed-five-story-apartment-building

Kaye Lee.
I also vote for the minor parties and can not bring myself to vote Labor even though I despise the Coalition.
Briefly, what are the ramifications? (A subject for another article perhaps?) I always vote below the line.
If the majors want my senate vote, they are going to have to change some policies to echo those of the minors’ and which, must also include the reversal of the erosion of our liberties.

Cheers.
Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 10:51 pm

abbienoiraude said:

Being uneducated ..

I suggest you stop there. I will passionately argue the opposite.

Becoming ‘educated’ is always about being on a journey that is never ending. There is no destination that can ever be defined in terms of ‘necessary and sufficient’ conditions.

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

It seems to me that you are indeed an ‘educated’ person because you, like me (hopefully), know nothing in the absolute sense but are open to ‘ideas’, regardless of source and prepared to discuss same.

Just sayin …
mars08June 27, 2015 at 10:52 pm

Abbott didn’t pop up… fully formed … after a rain shower.

He is grew up here. He went into politics here. He is a product of our society. There are many just like him. He is not an aberration. To understand Abbott, we have to understand a dark and disturbing side of our culture.
olddaveyJune 27, 2015 at 10:55 pm

Off topic I know, but one of the ads here reads:

“15 Gay Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Gay”

Surely that should read:

“15 Gay Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Celebrities”.
Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 11:12 pm

Harquebus, It seems to me that the average punter has no idea as to the implications of three dimensional printing. I have one son who visits China on a regular basis to source and supervise the provision of (cheap) ‘manufactured product’ and he tells me that the Chinese are shit scared that 3D printing has the real potential to stuff them up big time, to put it mildly.

He also goes into fits of laughter re the FTA and Chinese obligations re ‘environmental’ obligations.

As an occasional visitor to China I share his concerns.

But then again we have the assurances of Minister Robb. Don’t we? Or has he never been asked?
Matters NotJune 27, 2015 at 11:30 pm

mars08 June 27, 2015 at 10:52 pm said with respect to Abbott:

He is grew up here. He went into politics here. He is a product of our society

To suggest that Abbott is simply a ‘product’ of our society is somewhat simplistic, and misleading. By way of example, so did Rudd, Gillard, Goss and Whitlam to name but a few.

I think there’s a few ‘forces’ or ‘drivers’ if you like that are also influential, such as ‘family’ and ‘schooling’. But perhaps, more importantly are the choices one makes as an individual. And for those personal ‘choices’, Abbott must be held accountable.

While social influences, broadly defined, are very important, let’s not absolve Abbott from personal responsibility.

Because when it comes to the evaluation of the ‘you’. he will never be that generous.

Will ‘terrorists’ be allowed to escape the consequences by claiming that it’s my background/schooling/family and the like?

And if not, then why not?
HarquebusJune 27, 2015 at 11:59 pm

Matters Not
An amazing new technology. The recent case of the young gentleman who had part of a missing jaw replaced, a first, was a truly inspiring story.
A health care worker who visited China in 2013 told me that, she expects a massive health catastrophe to overwhelm them due to the pollution and uncontrolled poisoning of their waters and environment.

Thanks for the tip. Just did a search and am off to have a read.
Search criteria: fta china environment

Cheers.

Moderator: Apologies for going off topic.
Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 8:24 am

Regarding the FTA with China, we have agreed to stop the mandatory skills assessments for 457 visas for Chinese electricians. Who needs qualifications when we can help our dear friends by bypassing regulations. Sorry to all those Australian apprentices looking for work.
Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 8:25 am

Harquebus, I have no problem with a discussion evolving just as long as every discussion does not become about peak oil and population reduction. I appreciate that you have expanded your repertoire of topics.
corvus boreusJune 28, 2015 at 8:29 am

Kaye Lee (08:24),
Alternative potential consequences also include possible fatalities from electrical fires caused by dodgy imported sparkies.

Surely one of the most obvious lessons of the ‘pink batts’ commissions was that basic necessary trade competencies should not be compromised by rushed legislation and hasty deregulation.
Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 8:36 am

cb,

Deregulation (or no regulation) is fraught with danger.

Unions and fire prevention experts warn high-rise apartment owners are sitting on time bombs if safety loopholes around cheap construction materials are not closed.

The concern was triggered by a fire in a 21-storey apartment building in Melbourne’s Docklands last November.

A cigarette left on a balcony table in the Lacrosse building started a fire, which engulfed 13 storeys in less than 15 minutes.

The problem was cheap cladding imported from China, which covered the entire building.

“When it comes to building materials, and particularly imported building materials, it looks like no-one’s in charge,” Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union national secretary Michael O’Connor said.

“We have a flood of building materials being brought into this country, some claiming to meet Australian standards and we know they don’t, some not even bothering to make a claim of meeting Australian standards.

“It endangers the public and increases the chances that someone’s going to be seriously injured.

“That’s a concern for everybody.”
Terry2June 28, 2015 at 8:47 am

Stephen Koukoulas in the Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/26/abbott-has-given-up-on-debt-and-deficit-reduction-but-few-have-noticed points to the way the questions of debt and deficit have deftly been removed from the government’s agenda – and hence the media – at a time when government debt has increased by almost $100 billion in less that two years of the Abbott government : representing around $2 billion of new debt for each week since the coalition came to office.

The government’s sophisticated spin and media management team have just shifted community focus to terrorism, national security, death cults and the ABC. It will soon turn to destroying Bill Shorten and he is going to have to have strong Party and family support ’cause it ain’t going to be pretty. The Labor Party are wedged on the matter of leadership as, their own recent history makes it virtually impossible for Shorten to be replaced without significant electoral damage.

The strategies are cynical but clever and when you have the unflagging support of NEWS CORP it makes it extremely difficult to fight back or even get any media coverage : even the ABC are now in a straight jacket and anything they do in the political arena will be closely scrutinised with more government enquiries and calls for heads to roll until the government consider that “balance” ( in the sense of Fair & Balances as used by FOX News) has been achieved.

Interesting to see Peta Credlin speaking out about the blokie culture in public life and particularly including the Liberal Party for criticism. Not exactly clear why Ms Credlin, who is married to the Federal Director of the Liberal Party and confidant of the Prime Minister wouldn’t be using her unique position to change things. But, to be fair, when she did put her head above the parapet she was shot down by media mogul Rupert Murdoch who, from his New York office tweeted for her to be sacked – I still find it incredible that Murdoch would believe that he has this amount of control over the minutiae of the Liberal Party in Australia, a country where he is now only an occasional tourist (and ironically a dual citizen).

Sorry to say it ,folks but we may be stuck with this mob for quite some time.
corvus boreusJune 28, 2015 at 8:48 am

Kaye Lee,
Sub-standard tradies building from inferior materials to lax guidelines with negligable oversight; what could possibly go wrong?
Matters NotJune 28, 2015 at 9:01 am

There’s lots of safety concerns connected with importations from China. Take objects made from ‘brass’ as an example. Lead is often added to make the brass product more ‘machinable’. The problem lies in the concentration of lead because ‘lead posioning’ can result given the extensive use of brass in tapware and other areas of plumbing.

In the United States, California in particular in 2010, the content of lead allowed in ‘lead free’ brass was reduced from 4% to 0.25%. But that does not mean the Chinese manufacturers are complying.

One wonders what would be the outcome if we changed the ‘rules’ here is Australia to the disadvantage of Chinese manufacturers. Can they successfully sue using the ISDS?
Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 10:26 am

In going in so hard – labelling the ABC a “lefty lynch mob” and saying “heads should roll” – Abbott was not talking to mainstream Australians. He was pandering to the ideologically-driven radicals on his side of politics like Cory Bernardi and Andrew Bolt.

Australian National University emeritus professor John Warhurst believes Abbott’s combative and confrontational style is often mistaken for a hardline ideology. He believes he is not necessarily guided so much by an ideology or a philosophy as much as he is by a “win at all costs” pugilist mentality that he has never been able to shake.

Elsewhere though, Abbott’s more cautious approach has left the Prime Minister bereft of a policy agenda.

And it has left a lot of people – from experts to regular voters – wondering just what he stands for apart from strong borders and protections against Islamic extremists.

“I don’t think they have a clear agenda at the moment other than winning the next election.”

Griffith University senior lecturer Paul Williams said “Fourteen months ago we were in the greatest budget crisis the country has ever seen and now we’ve got money to spend. His inconsistency was writ large.”

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-the-conservative-or-the-radical-20150627-ghydc1
kerriJune 28, 2015 at 10:27 am

In reference to helping young people get involved and vote to their benefit my (now 21yo) was 18 at the last election decided to do some research. She found an AEC website page that listed all our local candidates and gave a brief outline of their reasons for standing. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY it provided an interactive “How To Vote” ticket generator that you could fill in online, print, take with you and copy on your actual ballot paper. I used it myself. It meant preferences were more real because you could read and establish whose intentions were to your liking. Incidentally she voted for the Sex Party as she read more about their principles other than just the sex aspect. Her favoured small parties and independants were chosen if they spoke of Environment, Education, Wildlife, social freedoms, internet, Same Sex Marriage etc. Her dislikes revolved around Religion, Strictures in laws, and anything that went against her likes. I was extremely proud that she approached voting from a perspective that she felt she could exercise her rights and vote according to her opinions. I think the 2 party system has young people disinterested, because, let’s face it, at the moment the two major parties are largely one party against all that matters to young progressive people and old people for that matter! I doubt it would be available ATM but should reappear before the next election and I will try to provide a link.
And my 83yo mum? She lives in Kevin Andrew’s electorate where he mails out postal votes in reply paid envelopes and promises to put them in the ballot box for the voter. Sound dodgy?? I implored her not to fall for this and I would love to see a journalistic enquiry into this practice. Mums electorate is largely elderly who love the idea they don’t have to go out on polling day and put up with the whole shemozzle, but what exactly does Kevin Andrews DO with those votes?? Mum says friends can’t stand him, so how does he win?
At worst does he alter them? At best does he bin them? And why is it legal for a candidate to be handling votes? It may be not equally important to help the elderly vote but given they are a huge demographic and too ready to take the easy way out maybe we need to help them vote correctly too? I cannot believe anyone on a pension would vote LNP next election ? But let’s see if Andrews wins again?
Matters NotJune 28, 2015 at 10:53 am

Settle down kerri, it’s common practice for candidates to do what Andrews does. His opponent (s) do exactly the same thing.
Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 10:57 am

There was talk that Andrews would not contest the next election. There was some speculation that Credlin might run though that was before the leadership spill where she temporarily had her wings clipped.

I agree about the postal votes mailed out by parties. It is fraught with danger. Firstly it gives the party a lot of information about you. Secondly, whilst it would be illegal for them to not pass on your application for a postal vote, they can delay it until it is too late. Crikey did a story on this. Kevin Rudd tried to have the rules changed and the Coalition opposed it. The AEC has pleaded for change to no avail. Crikey suggests you use the reply paid envelope to tell the major parties what you think.

How the parties trick you into handing over personal information
DanDarkJune 28, 2015 at 11:34 am

Mars said Tony didn’t just turn into Tony overnight, that is so true, it’s taken him a life time in this country to be a true blue stralian bloke, and that is the problem, there are many many many Tony Abbotts in this country and they are proud to be arseholes like Tony Abbott and all the other stralian blokes in the LNP…..
We have bred generations of chavanistic, mysoginist, violent males in this country and we accept that as a culture and still do.
Ken ButlerJune 28, 2015 at 11:41 am

In the new lexicion TRUTH is spelled as 1 9 8 4 !!!
Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 11:44 am

I have nothing but respect and admiration for the men in my life. Not all men are turkeys. And I have never accepted or tolerated a culture of misogyny. When I was 17 the local paper interviewed me under the headline “Schoolgirl pours scorn on sex bias.” I fought Tony Abbott in the 70s because of his anti-feminist views. I had no idea that I would still be doing the same thing 40 years later. I considered him an inconsequential bully boy then and still do. The idea that he is making decisions that affect my life is abhorrent.
DaDarkJune 28, 2015 at 11:52 am

Not all men are turkeys, and I have no respect left for men in this country, just other day the tyre bloke yelled obscenities at my son and I after giving him 190 bucks for 2 tyres, WTF men in this country think their shit don’t stink but their farts give them away, and you have been lucky enough to have good blokes in your life, well more power to you, yea I have fought men for my life, I think that was a good cause too….. I havnt commented for days and Kaye Lee pounces on my comment and has to disagree ….it’s your show Kaye,,, the floor is yours, and this country is full of men that are arseholes, bolt, Hadley, Roskam, Chris Berg, rowan dean, I won’t go on…cheers
Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 1:56 pm

I have indeed been lucky, or perhaps choosy, but it has not blinded me to discrimination or domestic violence. I am sorry for what you have endured and admire the strength of all survivors. Your response was unnecessarily aggressive and unwarranted. I merely stated that, in my experience, not all men are the same. I am not conducting a “show” but rather opening up a discussion. I do not expect everyone to agree with me at all times.
DanDarkJune 28, 2015 at 2:11 pm

I don’t want your pity, women do not choose to be beaten, raped and murdered, you were lucky Kaye
not ” choosy” ….. I think your choice of the word choosy is wrong and shows how little you do know about the subject, women choose men who abuse them, yeah right …….. Unless you have walked a mile in those moccaskins you have no idea about choice. And your always aggressive Kaye, so don’t project 🙂
paul walterJune 28, 2015 at 2:41 pm

Let’s not be mislead by the “small government ” proposition. This is not about getting the state out of people’s living rooms or backyards, but about weakening government to the extent that big business can operate without constraint or check.

Not “small government”; “weak government”.

And not even “weak” government, but government by the rich without even the modest constraints of democracy.
Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 2:43 pm

I agree with you….that word was ill-considered. I no not pity you or anyone else. And having worked with troubled teenagers for most of my life, both as a teacher and working for a homeless youth refuge, I am very well aware of the unchosen path many have to travel. You know nothing about me Dan. Your assertion that I am always aggressive is your opinion formed with no knowledge of who I am and what I do. It is similar to your statement that you “have no respect left for men in this country.”
Kaye LeeJune 28, 2015 at 2:47 pm

I agree paul. Small government means privatisation which means profit. Employment and services usually suffer as does protection from the greed of corporations.
kerriJune 28, 2015 at 7:00 pm

Dan Dark I could also take exception at Matters Not telling me to settle down about something I feel passionate about! This is a respectful discussion forum. Well, respectful to each other and not to those who don’t deserve it. I don’t need to elaborate.
In general this site works to inform and keep the bastards honest. Whether the bastards are listening or not. Let’s not do Abbott’s bidding by splitting our commenters and/or citizen journalists and fighting amongst ourselves when losing the all important goal of informing everyone of the LNPs corruption, unfairness and secrecy is way too important!
Eyes on the prize!
kerriJune 28, 2015 at 11:48 pm

In reference to helping young people get involved and vote to their benefit my (now 21yo) was 18 at the last election decided to do some research. She found an AEC website page that listed all our local candidates and gave a brief outline of their reasons for standing. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY it provided an interactive “How To Vote” ticket generator that you could fill in online, print, take with you and copy on your actual ballot paper. I used it myself. It meant preferences were more real because you could read and establish whose intentions were to your liking. Incidentally she voted for the Sex Party as she read more about their principles other than just the sex aspect. Her favoured small parties and independants were chosen if they spoke of Environment, Education, Wildlife, social freedoms, internet, Same Sex Marriage etc. Her dislikes revolved around Religion, Strictures in laws, and anything that went against her likes. I was extremely proud that she approached voting from a perspective that she felt she could exercise her rights and vote according to her opinions. I think the 2 party system has young people disinterested, because, let’s face it, at the moment the two major parties are largely one party against all that matters to young progressive people and old people for that matter! I doubt it would be available ATM but should reappear before the next election and I will try to provide a link.
And my 83yo mum? She lives in Kevin Andrew’s electorate where he mails out postal votes in reply paid envelopes and promises to put them in the ballot box for the voter. Sound dodgy?? I implored her not to fall for this and I would love to see a journalistic enquiry into this practice. Mums electorate is largely elderly who love the idea they don’t have to go out on polling day and put up with the whole shemozzle, but what exactly does Kevin Andrews DO with those votes?? Mum says friends can’t stand him, so how does he win?
At worst does he alter them? At best does he bin them? And why is it legal for a candidate to be handling votes?
DanDarkJune 29, 2015 at 10:43 am

Kerri keep up the good work, but I am out of AIMN there are other ways to help the country, not just sit on a comp and type lots of stuff, I didn’t attack Kaye, I didn’t attack the article, I made a comment off Mars comment, but Kaye jumped on my comment, I have 4 adult sons, and I respect them because they are good men.. Good luck Kerri but AIMN is full of nasties now…. 🙂

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