Author: peterimrich

LNP Economic Management

Australia’s economy not as robust as claimed by Morrison, Frydenberg

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)

The Coalition’s repeated claims that Australia’s economy is one of the world’s strongest can be refuted by simply looking at the numbers. THEY ARE LYING AUSTRALIA

Income per person

Slumped 4 to 8th under the LNP

Economic growth

27th of 38 OECD countries

Jobless rates

2008- 2013 under the ALP it went  from 8th to 6th Under LNP it went  to 18th in 2019 and now 16th

Government spending

Under Howard we were 14th Under the ALP we ranked 7-10th then we tumbled back to 15th

Government debt

In 2013 4th 2019 15th and now 18th

Value of the Aussie dollar

Under the ALP it averaged $1 and Under the LNP it’s 0.72

We can also look at wage rises, productivity and other variables to see the same trends. Clearly, Australia’s economy is not leading the advanced world. It is barely leading Costa Rica and Chile.

In what world other than in La La Land can what Frydenberg or Morrison are saying be believed the reality and facts tell a totally different story.

Source: Australia’s economy not as robust as claimed by Morrison, Frydenberg

Uncategorized

Economists warn Morrison’s tax pledge guarantees fiscal irresponsibility

 

Morrison announces a  “Lemming’s Promise” and expects us to follow

A Coalition pledge to keep taxes lower will inevitably lead to either budget blowouts, cuts to services or a broken promise, a leading economist has warned.

Source: Economists warn Morrison’s tax pledge guarantees fiscal irresponsibility

LNP Government

Coalition at odds on net-zero emissions target

matt canavan net zero

COAL-ition N-LP or L-NP, they still remain very divided. Morrison wants to maintain an unsigned International Agreement substituted by his religious “Committment” which makes him one with the world but neither the World, the Nationals nor we agree with him. His mentor afterall was Brian Houston.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is downplaying remarks made by a National Party colleague declaring the net-zero emissions target “dead”. Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said the internationally agreed target was “all-over”, despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier confirming it was still the Coalition’s policy.

Source: Coalition at odds on net-zero emissions target

Informed Comment

Wake in fright. What another election loss would do to Labor – Michael West

Anthony Albanese

It’s time. Time to consider the unthinkable – another term in opposition for Labor. What would it look like? Mark Sawyer looks at a post-Albanese era as if one were fated to begin on May 22.

Source: Wake in fright. What another election loss would do to Labor – Michael West

Media

The cheap gotya – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Even George Christensen’s jump to One Nation doesn’t out rate the Media

the winner of the ‘Gold Star of Dishonour’ for the first week of the election campaign has to go to a significant proportion of the Australian media. While we all like to expend minimum effort in the successful completion of what ever job we are attempting, in a lot of cases we have to try harder. As most of us will not have the opportunity to talk with both Albanese and Morrison during this election campaign we are relying on the media to ask meaningful and relevant questions on our behalf. So far they have generally failed miserably. What do you think?

Source: The cheap gotya – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Who can scare you the most? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day When a political party deliberately withholds information the voter needs to make an informed, balanced and reasoned assessment of how it is being governed. It is lying by omission. It is also tantamount to the manipulation of our democracy.( John Lord )

Source: Who can scare you the most? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Media

Why isn’t the Coalition’s election campaign being called a disaster?

Scott Morrison on Day 17 of the 2022 federal election campaign (Image: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Albo’s campaign is being called a gaffe-filled disaster but not Morrison’s?

With only three weeks until election day, Scott Morrison and the Coalition remain behind in the polls and aren’t making up much ground.

Source: Why isn’t the Coalition’s election campaign being called a disaster?

LNP, LNP Government

Scott Morrison is setting up another fake fight on a carbon ‘tax’ | Katharine Murphy | The Guardian

Scott Morrison

We’ve lived with their lies and spin for a decade. Isn’t it time for service of the kind Labor provided with Whitlam, Hawke, and Gillard. Service that moves a Nation forward, The LNP has simply taken us to wars and held us back. Their goal has been to service us at the cost of our living experience feelings of certainty about tomorrow and our savings. Our marrow and childrens futures sucked up for the bottom line figures of  their corporate donors and supporters. It’s now a historical footnote witnessed by the number of actual bills passed. Their claim “We can’t rule” because the ALP won’t let us.. WAKE UP AUSTRALIA

Abbott and Credlin flipping carbon pricing into a tax (abetted by the then Labor government that rolled over too easily on the nomenclature) was the core of the weaponisation of climate policy that continues to this day. So every time one of the current generation of Coalition politicians utters the words carbon “tax” and Labor in the same sentence, understand this: they are lying, and worse, they are fully aware they are lying.

Source: Scott Morrison is setting up another fake fight on a carbon ‘tax’ | Katharine Murphy | The Guardian

Morgan Poll, Polls

Poll: Hung parliament looms large as Coalition eats into Labor lead

Older but not wiser it would seem. Shame on the baby boomers.

The Coalition has made inroads into Labor’s lead, but a new poll shows only independent candidates have emerged as winners from a tight week of campaigning.

Source: Poll: Hung parliament looms large as Coalition eats into Labor lead

Peter Dutton

Fibbing on Anzac Day – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Australia supports the Saudi efforts in the Yemen and Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank not to speak of East Jerusalem and the illegal incursion in Syria’s Golan Heights

As for a free press, Australian federal authorities have raided the homes and offices of journalists, including that of the national broadcaster, the ABC, for publishing and writing about atrocities and violations of civil liberties. The Australian Federal Police even went so far as to advise the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecution that it could prosecute ABC journalist Dan Oakes, an important figure behind the publication of the Afghan Files. A reluctant CDPP decided against it, citing “a range of public interest factors, including the role of public interest journalism in Australia’s democracy.” Morrison’s idea of Australia as a political nirvana of freedom remains phantasm and fantasy.

Greater fibs then came from Australia’s Defence Minister, Peter Dutton, upon whom the muse of history, Clio, has never smiled sweetly. This was the occasion to push erroneous comparisons, the sort that any half-competent logician would have dispelled with sour contempt.

On Channel 9, the Minister encouraged peace lovers to prepare for war before searching the historical record for an anchor. “People like Hitler and others aren’t just a figment of our imagination or that they’re consign

Source: Fibbing on Anzac Day – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Israel

Israel: Release Long Detained Gaza Aid Worker: 6 Years After Arrest, Mohammad al-Halabi Has Not Been Convicted of a Crime

Human Rights Watch – (Jerusalem) – Israeli authorities should immediately release Mohammad al-Halabi, a humanitarian worker from Gaza detained for nearly six years both before and during his trial, Human Rights Watch said today. The Israeli Supreme Court on February 17, 2022, renewed al-Halabi’s detention for 90 days: its 23rd such renewal. Israeli prosecutors have charged al-Halabi, the 45-year-old head of the Gaza office of the Christian charity World Vision, with diverting tens of millions of dollars to Palestinian armed groups. But after more than 160 hearings, the court has yet to convict him. The trial has been marred by

Source: Israel: Release Long Detained Gaza Aid Worker: 6 Years After Arrest, Mohammad al-Halabi Has Not Been Convicted of a Crime

Billionaires

Elon Musk Won’t Protect Free Speech Online

Instead of counting on an allegedly benevolent billionaire like Elon Musk to guard free speech online by buying companies like Twitter, we should just take our digital public square out of rich people’s hands and into public ownership.

Source: Elon Musk Won’t Protect Free Speech Online

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News

Old Dog Thoughts- Peter Foster is innocent when compared with Murdoch selling false products. You pay for News and get this.

Fighting Fake News with REAL 27/4/22 :What Murdoch & Peter Foster have in Common; The LNP has been taken over by a Religious Cult; Morrison “feels optimistic”; Redlines; Labor is running the country; The “unblessed”; China Outtricks ScaMo;

Informed Comment

Department heads give worst ever economic report after eight Coalition years

Morrison’s “I feel Optimistic” v Department  Head Reports

The heads of Treasury and the Finance Department have just issued the most pessimistic Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook report since PEFOs have been a thing, as Alan Austin reports. LAST WEEK’S official assessment of the health of Australia’s economy foreshadows continuing worst-ever outcomes on virtually all important indicators. Had this been released with Labor in office, screaming headlines would be demanding the incompetent regime’s immediate sacking. The tabloids would be exhorting readers to take to the streets with pitchforks and flaming brands.

Source: Department heads give worst ever economic report after eight Coalition years

Informed Comment

“Who do you trust to manage the economy?” Not you lot. – Michael West

Josh Frydenberg pinocchio

This despite their claims that taxes will fall. They will fall however for top income earners who, under Stage 3 tax cuts, will get thousands of dollars back in their kit. These are the sad facts of the Coalition , performance. But what of vision for the future? There is none. All is based on a spurious, spun line, “trust us, we are superior economic managers”. The transfer of public wealth from poor and middle income earners to wealthy Australians continues apace, as does the $12bn in subsidies for fossil fuel companies, mostly foreign multinationals which pay little or no tax.

Source: “Who do you trust to manage the economy?” Not you lot. – Michael West

LNP, LNP Economic Management, LNP Government

A Morrison guarantee? I would rather do a deal with Shylock – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Morrison wedges himself in his own lies

What does this mean? Well, firstly it means Mr Morrison’s “tax guarantee” is a bucket of lies, unless he cuts spending on health, aged care, and education, or raises taxes. Secondly, it’s further evidence Mr Morrison and the rest of the Morrison Government are not fit to lead this country.

Source: A Morrison guarantee? I would rather do a deal with Shylock – » The Australian Independent Media Network

LNP Tactics, Political Tactics

Let evidence not fear drive policies on trans athletes

University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas competes in the 500-yard freestyle finals at the NCAA Championships.

Morrison says “screw the evidence” take the bigot’s side on transgender children in sport  “its commonsense”. No. it’s his faith! Research on children shows his claim to be “bullshit”  and that saying his kids are “blessed” is little more than religious orthodoxy. There is nothing common about it and evidence proves it makes no sense.

The Police, and the AFP have found no evidence that his “Captain’s Pick” Katherine Deve’s family have been physically threatened. Morrison’s insincere apology about disabled kids not being “blessed” mirrors Deve’s equally insincere “I’m sorry I’ll just tone it down”. Neither are sorry. Morrison hasn’t reversed his NDIS cuts and Deves hasn’t stopped advocating transgirls are a massive to girls sports. They need to be judged on their beliefs not just their style of argument. They have been and loudly by a bipartisan majority that have declared them wrong, that children should be allowed to be children.

Morrison’s history in politics has known him to be as devious as a Golum and as cunning as a sewer rat when it comes to dividing and fragmenting communities for a handful of votes. It’s how he won preselection in the first place. Others have sworn stat decs which Morrison calls lies but won’t sue for defamation. He claimed he’d sign a dec countering their claims but then backed down for fear he might be prosecuted fo a false claim.

 All of us have implicit stereotypes that guide the way we view the world. Many people will look at a transgender woman’s face or height and think “it’s unfair” if she wants to play in a women’s sport. That is an assumption.

Source: Let evidence not fear drive policies on trans athletes

LNP, LNP Government

Featured electorate: MITCHELL (NSW) | The Shovel

Australia’s satire news site.

Source: Featured electorate: MITCHELL (NSW) | The Shovel

ALP

Labor to unveil plan to tackle China expansionism in the Pacific

Restoring Radio Australia is just one of 6 changes planned. There is already a generation of islanders less attached to Australia because of the LNP

Broadcasting and publishing content into the region will promote “Australian identity, values, and interests”, while partnerships and training with Pacific journalists will be strengthened. Increased funding for the public broadcaster is one of seven key points in the party’s plan to step up in the Pacific.

Source: Labor to unveil plan to tackle China expansionism in the Pacific

WAR

An Australian War Memorial sponsored by weapons dealers is no place for quiet reflection on Anzac Day | Paul Daley | The Guardian

General view of the Stone of Remembrance at the Australian War Memorial, which is inscribed 'Their name liveth for evermore'

What’s worse Morrison and Dutton who have proved to be clowns in preparing Australia for war want us to become one of the world’s top arms manufacturers. Dealers in weapons of mass death and destruction while sponsoring ANZAC Day as a National Day of Remembrance.

What is wrong with this picture? Discuss … This week Guardian Australia revealed the memorial had sought a new funding deal from Lockheed Martin despite being inundated with opposition from many veterans, historians and retired memorial staff. So, on what should be a day of quiet reflection – one far removed from the politicians who send young people to die in their wars but never go themselves, far removed from the companies that obscenely profit from combat and from those who’d obscure its callous truths – it pays to think about whether the war memorial remains the appropriate place for national Anzac commemorations. I’m not alone in thinking that the money of weapons manufacturers has sullied the place as a stage for official commemoration of Australian war dead.

Source: An Australian War Memorial sponsored by weapons dealers is no place for quiet reflection on Anzac Day | Paul Daley | The Guardian

Billionaires

BREAKING: Elon Musk to Buy Twitter – Mother Jones

Here comes Trump

With over 82 million followers, Musk has been a prolific Twitter user and a sharp critic of its use of content moderation, saying that he favors temporary suspensions over permanent bans. It remains unclear what changes, technical or philosophical, Musk’s stewardship will bring to the platform. In interviews, he’s floated a series of potential ideas, including installing an edit button, allowing for longer tweets, culling bots, and making Twitter’s algorithm open source.

Source: BREAKING: Elon Musk to Buy Twitter – Mother Jones

American Dream, American Politics

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: ‘January 6 Was A Trial Run’ | Crooks and Liars

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 'January 6 Was A Trial Run'

During an NYC Town Hall on April 20, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explained that if the Republicans had control of the House on January 6, 2021, the insurrection would not have been thwarted and Trump might still be in office. “This is no joke. January 6 was a trial run and a lot of people don’t seem to understand that,” AOC said.

Source: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: ‘January 6 Was A Trial Run’ | Crooks and Liars

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News

Old Dog Thought- Has Morrison served Australia

Fighting Fake News with REAL 26/4/22; Cartoons; Memes,

Informed Comment

Old Dog Thought- ALPs Tanya Plibersk, Penny Wong are all stepping up while Albo’s got Covid. You wouldn’t know reading our MSM

PODCAST

https://cdn.theconversation.com/audio/2472/btl-e05-final-20220422.mp3

LNP, LNP Government, LNP Policy, LNP Tactics

Scott Morrison’s Icac claims are ‘absolute rubbish’, say transparency experts | Australian politics | The Guardian

Scott Morrison on the campaign trail in Queensland on Friday

Transparency experts have criticised as “absolute rubbish” Scott Morrison’s claims that the resignations of New South Wales Liberal premiers Nick Greiner and Barry O’Farrell show the Independent Commission Against Corruption is a “kangaroo court”. On the defensive after effectively ditching his commitment to create a federal anti-corruption body, Morrison complained on Friday that the NSW Icac had resulted in politicians quitting “too many times”.

Source: Scott Morrison’s Icac claims are ‘absolute rubbish’, say transparency experts | Australian politics | The Guardian

Dutton

Michael Pascoe: Australia’s spooks go dangerously rogue – or lie. Or both

Australia China Petter Dutton

Mr Dutton, regular readers will know, has done more than anyone to ensure no other country has a relationship with China as bad as ours, starting with his echoing of Donald Trump on COVID and never letting up since as he has beaten the drums of war. His latest effort is to repeatedly suggest the Solomon Islands government had been bribed to sign the security deal with China.

It’s not for nothing that I call Peter Dutton the Offence Minister. In my opinion, he has done more than anyone to make Australia a target while presiding over an ill-equipped, bungle-prone and undermanned defence force that seems to delight in signing up for things it is sold, rather buying what Australia actually needs.

Source: Michael Pascoe: Australia’s spooks go dangerously rogue – or lie. Or both

LNP

View from The Hill: Could going too negative on ‘teals’ do Liberals more harm than good?

John Howard’s “gaffe” was let slide by the Liberal Mainstream Media. He actually said “So What” to Albo’s slip but was forced by the Liberal party to correct it the next day. The attention that didn’t get and Albo continues to get tells the true story about our Mainstream Media.

As the government fights for its life, John Howard, the Liberals’ living icon, has been on the campaign trail. It’s not all been smooth sailing for the veteran, however. When Anthony Albanese had his now infamous numbers lapse, Howard’s first reaction was an understanding “So what?” This undermined the government’s exploitation of Albanese’s gaffe, bringing a quick clean up by Howard the following day.

Source: View from The Hill: Could going too negative on ‘teals’ do Liberals more harm than good?

Election

Election 2022: Coalition promises voters $833m a day as it outspends Labor during the campaign

In just four weeks, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised more than $23.3 billion worth of projects, including funding for the Wanneroo BMX club.

Morrison’s Circus is banging the freebie drum and playing Grasshopper in an effort to attract a swarm of camp followers to help create an increasing plague. The ALP have in the meantime been planning and beavering away putting together a plan to save SS Australia from sinking from rising debt, inflation, insufficient wages, and robber barons. Oddly enough but unlike Trump and Morrison, they do want Australia to be Great Again.

The Coalition has promised $833 million a day to electorates around the country since the week of the March 29 federal budget as it goes on a spending spree to hold on to power at next month’s election. From large-scale dams that have yet to be judged against a business case, to BMX courses and footpaths in must-win seats, the Coalition has announced $23.3 billion in projects in the four weeks since the budget at an average of eight election sweeteners a day.

Source: Election 2022: Coalition promises voters $833m a day as it outspends Labor during the campaign

Informed Comment

Informed Comment- Morrison Blessed; NDIS; Barnaby; Wage Theft, Pork barreling

Weekend Wrap: Morrison’s ”blessing” a curse on NDIS, Barnaby’s Insiders sell off plus wage theft & pork barrelling

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-8tbjp-120b24e

LNP, LNP Government, LNP Tactics

They were trapped in immigration detention for nine years. Here’s what life after the Park Hotel looks like – ABC News

Two men stand next to each other.

Morrison simply can’t speak to the truth because to the truth of the matter would condemn and reveal him to be what he is on a larger and more intense scale than currently publicly seen. It’s why he’s currently being condemned by so many members within the Liberal Party and why so many are abandoning the Party in numbers and droves never seen before. The Party has shifted to no longer be  a diversity of individual opinions to become one of strategists tactitionsand liars to achieve one mans goal and win at any cost.

Should Morrison win this election the cycle of shattered promises and increased repression will be felt in the first year revealing truth and fakery. But shortly after Morrison’s campaign of lies and illusion will begin again with media aid forging a path to the election in 2025. Dealing in the lies is now the norm, to win the goal, ignore democracy, serve oneself and  a select group supporters and have those least likely to vote for you pay. Groups, organizations and Institutions like ABC, Universities, the Arts, were critical thought might flourish will be dismantled or neutered. Systems that maintain power and enable reward to trickle, no flow up not down strengthened. As a consequence decisions that serve the Nation merely secondary in intent. This has been the increasing autocratic nature of the LNP this century and their ever increasing move to the extreme and religious right.

Since arriving in Minnesota, local support groups have found the cousins a two-bedroom rental property, helped pay the bills and provided medical assistance. “As soon as we came here, they treated us with dignity,” Mehdi says. “Australia has never done that.” Former immigration minister in the Fraser government, Ian Macphee, says the Coalition’s track record with refugees makes him ashamed to be Australian. “People like Mehdi have committed no crime and yet have been locked up with no idea of when they’ll ever get out,” Macphee says. “The inhumanity of it is appalling, it’s racist and it’s hidden from most of us.” On March 24, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews announced Australia had agreed to New Zealand’s offer to take some of the boat arrivals, an offer made nine years ago. Mehdi welcomed the news but was sceptical: “I think they’re just trying to say before the election, ‘Look, we made a deal’.”

Source: They were trapped in immigration detention for nine years. Here’s what life after the Park Hotel looks like – ABC News

Israel

E. Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem accuse Israel of Violating Freedom of Worship over Easter Holy Fire Ceremony

E. Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem accuse Israel of Violating Freedom of Worship over Easter Holy Fire Ceremony

This year the Israeli state placed severe restrictions on how many Christians could attend, and on Saturday they set up metal barriers to enforce those limits, of only 4,000 attendees. Israeli government officials said they were afraid of a stampede. The Eastern Orthodox authorities in Jerusalem dismissed this fear as a pretext, pointing out that the ceremony had been held annually without incident. Controlling the some 370,000 Palestinians of East Jerusalem has become an obsession of the Israeli security forces, as the state and Israeli civil society make a press to implant Jewish squatters on Palestinian property there and to exercise increased control over civic and religious life.

Source: E. Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem accuse Israel of Violating Freedom of Worship over Easter Holy Fire Ceremony

American Dream, American Politics

Congress must act now to fix Insurrection Act before Trump returns to power: former FBI official – Raw Story – Celebrating 18 Years of Independent Journalism

Congress must act now to fix Insurrection Act before Trump returns to power: former FBI official

“Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill, a member of the Select Committee, characterized the January 6 attack on our democracy as a “dry run” – implying it could happen again – perhaps successfully. It will happen again – unless we put mechanisms in place to constrain a corrupt president from exploiting the absolute power presently conveyed by the Insurrection Act. That change needs to happen now – before yet another authoritarian – or even the same one – tries another Jan. 6 and succeeds,” he argued.

Source: Congress must act now to fix Insurrection Act before Trump returns to power: former FBI official – Raw Story – Celebrating 18 Years of Independent Journalism

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News

Old Dog Thought- Dutton and Morrison compete to Minister Offense.

Fighting Fake News with REAL 25/4/22 ; Macron Called Morrison a Liar he wins; ALP in the Pacific, Peter Dutton Australia’s Offense Minister;

Scott Morrison

Deves’ endorsement shows PM is willing to risk progressive seats

Full throated support: Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Perth this week.

Liberal Party enacts ‘Bring out John Howard in case of emergency’ procedures
“Quick! Smash the glass and pull him out!”

Morrison apologized for declaring himself “Blessed” claiming not to be shaming or besmirching  disabled children. He was in fact maligned and the victim. But as his line of denial wasn’t being accepted after 2 days he apologised. But perfectly happy leaving parents of disabled children to deal and struggle with his cuts to their NDIS plans. NDIS lawyers are abandoning their jobs because any defence of the cuts was simply immoral.

However Morrison having said sorry for being wrong supports his “Captain’s Pick” Katherine Deves right to be a bigot on the governments behalf its her right to “free speech” even if wrong. Like Morrison all she has to do is say sorry and continue to genuinely represent the LNP. She’s a woman and has the right to declare that trans children “boys” and be banned from women’s sport. Despite the fact it never been a social problem. However, she is now doing what alpha-male Morrison did when he stood up and said disengenuously and now disengenuously defending women

Morrison is a contradiction on two legs. So two-faced and showing the insincerity, and meaninglessness of his apology. The two sorries don’t make it right and the LNP is now divided on the issue and Morrison’s incompetence and insincerity amplified.

“She is a woman standing up for women and girls and their access to fair sport in this country,” he said. “I am not going to allow her to be silenced.”

Source: Deves’ endorsement shows PM is willing to risk progressive seats

Informed Comment

Quentin Dempster, in this excellent, expose of #LNP interference with the #ABC

https://fb.watch/cAIngqJKM0/

Media

The Media, Ted Baillieu And Curry Recipes For Scotty – » The Australian Independent Media Network

To me, democracy is a fairly simple thing: People put forward ideas, either as a member of a party or as an individual, and everyone else votes for the person whose ideas they think are best, so it’s a matter of some concern when the media aren’t discussing these ideas but instead resemble football commentators speculating on which team is best placed to win and what last week’s result suggests about the upcoming finals.

We need to hear about what the actual plans are to ensure net-zero and an effective economy. Parroting the idea that we have lots and lots of jobs isn’t really an indication of the economy running smoothly. The fact that businesses are claiming that they can’t get workers is just as much a sign that the government is mismanaging the economy as higher unemployment.

While there’s every chance that the election will be tighter than the polls suggested a few weeks ago, there’s also a strong tendency to overlook the difficulty the Morrison government will have in holding on. Of course, it doesn’t help when the media keep asking Labor how much things will cost, while never asking the same question of the Liberals.

According to the framing, Labor spends money on things like infrastructure and education, while the Liberals invest in infrastructure and education.

 

Source: The Media, Ted Baillieu And Curry Recipes For Scotty – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Different year, same campaign – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Did you hear the LNP telling us that China was building a military base in Vanuatu? Or was that Norfolk Island?

Oh wait, that was 2018 when the headline read China eyes Vanuatu military base in plan with global ramifications.

Despite racking up huge debts and a structural deficit that will continue for years, the Coalition are still laying claim to being better economic managers, a claim that is debunked by Alan Austin in his article Worst debt blow-out in the developed world refutes Coalition claims of economic competence Having lost the battle to stop marriage equality, persecution of the rainbow community has moved to expelling gay students and stopping trans kids from playing sport. Different target, same bigotry. Oh, and death taxes….again. You have to wonder what the point is of this travelling circus since we’ve seen and heard it all before.

Source: Different year, same campaign – » The Australian Independent Media Network

LNP Corruption, LNP Tactics

Election 2022: Scott Morrison, Josh Frydenberg say Labor ad targeting Gladys Liu is racist

Morrison and Liu visit Wallies Lollies in the seat of Chisholm this month.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has chastised Labor for an ad highlighting Liberal MP Gladys Liu’s links to donors suspected to be risks to Australia’s national security, claiming the opposition is engaging in racist campaigning. “They go after Gladys Liu because she’s Chinese,” Morrison said on Sunday. “They’re engaged in what I think is a sewer tactic here. This is Morrison Wolf whistling and the The Age assisting with it’s banner

The Sunday Age revealed a new online ad targeting the Hong Kong-born MP’s record, including her involvement in a campaign against the LGBTQ Safe Schools program and her campaign’s use of controversial signage that appeared to mimic the Australian Electoral Commission.

One component of the ad stated that the Victorian division of the Liberal Party reportedly handed back $300,000 in donations because then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office was told the Chinese donors, invited to a 2015 event by Liu, were potential national security threats.

“What do we know about Liberal Gladys Liu?” a male voice says in the ad, with an ominous-sounding background track.

Source: Election 2022: Scott Morrison, Josh Frydenberg say Labor ad targeting Gladys Liu is racist

Filed under:
Scott Morrison

Barrow Boys and Spiffs – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Morrison’s “I’m Optimistic” doesn’t cut it!!

Barrow Boys and Spiffs: The Australian federal government – parties that damaged the nation – a reflection on the last three years of political escapades in Australia.

Source: Barrow Boys and Spiffs – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Media

Further News Corp Bias in Favour of Scott Morrison – » The Australian Independent Media Network

 

Earlier in the week, I published an article about what I perceived to be blatant media bias in favor of the Liberal Party and Scott Morrison during this 2022 Federal Election campaign. It has been brought to my attention by one of my fellow branch members (named Don) that The Courier Mail (CM) appears to only be publishing letters to the editor which are favoring Morrison and the Liberal Party, and normal progressive contributors like him are not having their letters published, even though he has been a regularly published contributor to the CM for many years before the 2022 Federal Election was called. As you may recall from my above-mentioned article, the CM is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp Australia (NCA).

Source: Further News Corp Bias in Favour of Scott Morrison – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Australia's Shame

Inspired by Australia’s inhumanity, UK plans to send refugees to Rwanda

The Morrison Model of Asylum,

As broadcast on the BBC ‘s World Service on 15 April, the policy of asylum seeker deterrence is just about moving a problem elsewhere. By creating a policy whereby asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in UK territory without a visa are sent to Rwanda does nothing to address the global consequences of conflict. It simply moves the problem to a developing nation. And what of the needs of Rwandans? “Out of sight, out of mind” strategies have (in Australia’s experience) led to astounding abuse and massive national shame.

Source: Inspired by Australia’s inhumanity, UK plans to send refugees to Rwanda

Israel

How Israel uses Judaism as a settler-colonial weapon | The Electronic Intifada

At its heart the situation in Palestine is not a religious conflict, but rather a struggle by the indigenous Palestinians to survive and resist the settler-colonial takeover of their land by Zionism, a violent colonial movement founded in Europe. Zionism and the settler-colonial state it created have always been ready to weaponize Judaism as a pretext to conquer the land of the Palestinians.

Source: How Israel uses Judaism as a settler-colonial weapon | The Electronic Intifada

Uncategorized

Old Dog Thought- Morrison’s Team of “I”s the plague of Grasshoppers that have left the cupboard bare and shamed the Nation. Or Albanese Team of a focused “We” prepared for rational decisions work and the restoration of National pride.

Fighting Fake News with REAL 24/4/22; Aesop’s Fable; Morrison and China;

Uncategorized

Election 2022: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese make their pitch to Australia’s 4.6 million uncommitted voters

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have made their pitches to uncommitted voters.The Ant and the Grasshopper (+ Free Downloadable Ebook) | by Sir John Hargrave | Medium

Morrison and Aesop’s Fable

It’s a case of the tent preacher leading a ragged bunch of camp followers into town banging his drum promising “miracles” having left disaster behind in his wake. It’s the huckster promising the last 3 years didn’t happen and weren’t his fault that it was the opposition that made him do it. Yes, It’s Morrison the grasshopper leaving our cupboard bare and a bill to pay, and the ant wanting, he, and his team to rebuild it.  It’s the hare prancing about like the energizer bunny doing little or nothing while the tortoise has been purposefully moving forward knowing what the race really means It’s not about blind faith or optimism or blind trust but focused rational attention to work changing direction and everyone doing it together for their kids kids.

In a pair of opinion pieces commissioned by The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age four weeks out from polling day on May 21, both men have laid out their visions for Australia’s future – while emphasising the risks presented by their opponents.

Source: Election 2022: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese make their pitch to Australia’s 4.6 million uncommitted voters

Informed Comment

While Albanese looks to the future, Morrison just talks about the past – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day Wouldn’t it be good if in our parliament, regardless of ideology, we had politician’s whose first interest was the peoples and not their own. (John Lord )

Source: While Albanese looks to the future, Morrison just talks about the past – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Morrison

In the interest of full disclosure – Scott Morrison’s salute to China – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Less than 3 years ago Morrison couldn’t have had a more different attitude to China and today Morrison Blames them for everything

Our relationship with China has many strengths.

Our trading relationship is flourishing, with two-way trade reaching a remarkable $215 billion in 2018, which benefits both countries.

Our cooperation with China through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership goes well beyond economic issues.

We are working together across fields including health, education, and taxation, where Australia offers world-class expertise.

We’ve also been cooperating successfully to counter drug trafficking through Taskforce Blaze.

There is more we can do. That’s why we established the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations earlier this year.

“That is why we operate a non-discriminatory approach to investment screening.

And I note that all nations, including China, screen foreign investment.

The infrastructure needs of the region are enormous and Australia welcomes the contribution that the Belt and Road Initiative can make to regional infrastructure investment and to regional development.

We support regional investments with commercial merit that meet genuine market need and international standards, including on transparency and debt sustainability.”

Source: In the interest of full disclosure – Scott Morrison’s salute to China – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Media

Australian climate change policy: What Liberal Party, Labor Party are offering

The climate policies of both major parties fall short, according to experts.

The Age claims it’s not biased. But, if it hasn’t overstated Albanese gaffe for over a week and continued to understate Morrison’s several as simply slips or supported the proposition Albanese,a once Deputy PM and politician for 25 years, is “unknown” and therefore somehow a darker figure to back than warts, and all Morrison they now suggest falsely there’s an equivalency between the ALP and the LNP on Climate. The ALP for a start wouldn’t have had us be unsigned participants in a world agreed emissions target. Australia would today not be regarded as a global pariah on Climate and wouldn’t be threatened with trade sanctions.

To what extent did LNP attitudes bring about ease with which China has now gained a presence in the Pacific?

One only needs to compare Team ALP with Team NLP and one doesn’t need to be a genius to consider which is a Team and the other a discordant self seeking set of individuals who don’t trust each other.

The disconnect is jarring when you look closely. After years of drought, fire and flood – and in the wake of a series of United Nations reports spelling out in terrible detail the catastrophic costs of inaction – Australia’s major political parties are running cold on climate action.

Source: Australian climate change policy: What Liberal Party, Labor Party are offering

Fact Checks

The Prime Minister’s failure to establish a federal ICAC looks like a broken promise – ABC News

A group of people chat and shake hands on the floor of the House of Representatives.

During a campaign stop last week in Launceston, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was challenged on his record of delivering promises made during the 2019 election campaign.Asked if his failure to establish a federal anti-corruption body amounted to a broken promise, Mr Morrison responded: “Well, no. It’s not.””I have honoured my proposal,” he said, arguing the issue lay not with the government but with a lack of “bipartisan support” from Labor.”We put forward our proposal in detailed legislation and it has not been supported by the Labor Party,” he added.But the evidence suggests that Mr Morrison did break his promise.

Source: The Prime Minister’s failure to establish a federal ICAC looks like a broken promise – ABC News

LNP, LNP Government

Bernard Collaery’s War Against Secret Trials – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Morrison calls an ICAC investigation a ” kangaroo court” when it’s not even a trial. Yet, he pursues this case the ex-ACT AG with vigor and secrecy and it is court and not just an investigation. The hypocrisy of this government can be found at every turn their principles non existent.

This charade now continues its ghastly way back to the ACT Supreme Court. Even now, dates of the actual trial, times and so forth, have yet to be set. This will no doubt give prosecutors further time to cook up something. All rather galling coming from a government which has the temerity to complain about the way secret trials are conducted in other countries against its citizens.

Source: Bernard Collaery’s War Against Secret Trials – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Uncategorized

Election 2022: Morrison a failure in fields he claims to have mastered and jury still out on Labor

Illustration: John Shakespeare

Before we’d even heard of COVID-19, before the first Wuhan bat had shed its first viral load, this government already had the worst fiscal record of any postwar government. Morrison’s debt run-up makes Whitlam, Hawke, Keating and Rudd and Gillard look like skinflints.

The Coalition inherited gross national debt at 20 per cent of GDP. By the time COVID-19 struck, it had run it up to 28. There’d been no crisis, yet it created the biggest load of national debt since 1958, drawing on the budget papers and a 2019 Treasury research paper,A History of Public Debt in Australia, which provides a consistent time series back to 1908.

Today? The Morrison-Frydenberg gross national debt is 42.5 per cent of GDP. Peak Whitlam was 24.5. Peak Hawke-Keating was 24. Peak Rudd-Gillard Government debt was 20.

Source: Election 2022: Morrison a failure in fields he claims to have mastered and jury still out on Labor