Alan Joyce selling his own Qantas shares into the buy-back, que? – Michael West

Alan Joyce Qantas results presentation

What’s the scam with the Qantas board letting CEO Alan Joyce dump $17m worth of his own Qantas shares into the share buy-back?

The scam is buy-backs. They simply prop up the share price using shareholders’ own money, not to mention, in the case of Qantas, the public’s bail-out money. And this buy-back is already in the red so Qantas shareholders have helped Alan get out for a higher price. Meantime, not one new aircraft was bought under the Joyce regime, so the fleet ran down, customer service ran down and now Alan’s successor faces a massive capex bill to fix things.

If they had nationalised Qantas when the Pandemic hit, the government would be floating it again for $12bn now.

Source: Alan Joyce selling his own Qantas shares into the buy-back, que? – Michael West

Raising Interest Rates Won’t Stop Inflation

The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised interest rates again, ostensibly to keep inflation in check. But the reality is that the move will only enrich banks and rich property investors — at the expense of renters and struggling mortgage holders.

Source: Raising Interest Rates Won’t Stop Inflation

Informed Comment- Robert Reich- Fair Pay Myth

Climate Crisis Is on Track to Push One-Third of Humanity Out of Its Most Livable Environment

Source: Climate Crisis Is on Track to Push One-Third of Humanity Out of Its Most Livable Environment

Israel’s Punitive Home Demolition Policy, Explained – scheerpost.com

Did the Nazis apply these policies against entire areas and communities based on the actions of a few? They certainly did.

Human Rights Watch says: “various types of collective punishment, such as punitive home demolitions and sweeping movement restrictions against entire areas or communities based on the actions of a few people, are among the policies that Israeli authorities have relied on to systematically oppress Palestinians.”

Source: Israel’s Punitive Home Demolition Policy, Explained – scheerpost.com

Trump’s Mistake Was Committing Small Crimes by Himself

Screenshot 2023-06-12 at 08-34-35 Trump’s Mistake Was Committing Small Crimes by Himself

I hate taking away from anyone’s enjoyment of Trump’s troubles, especially given the shameless delight that they’ve brought me. I understand the temptation to look at what’s happening and believe that the system works. The problem is that this is correct: The system is working — it’s just not anything resembling a system of justice.

Source: Trump’s Mistake Was Committing Small Crimes by Himself

Trump Gives New Meaning to “Leopard Eating People’s Face Party” | The Smirking Chimp

Before special counsel Jack Smith released the indictment charging Donald Trump for mishandling hundreds of classified documents, speculation was rampant that the twice-impeached former president was going to be charged under the very law he signed in 2018 to toughen up misuse of classified documents. That would really have been delicious. Turns out, he’s not being charged under that law. What he is being charged under is even better—potentially 100 years in prison better.

Source: Trump Gives New Meaning to “Leopard Eating People’s Face Party” | The Smirking Chimp

Old Dog Thought- When the LNP feathered the Foxes’ Nest

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 11/6/23, The LNP/SCAM & Payback, QANTAS/SCAM, Fascism in Victoria, USTASHA,

How Croatian fascism symbols and rituals are lingering in Australia

Australia’s Croatian migrant community has a chequered history.

That small group of migrants deliberately chose to start their club on April 10. In 1953, that was the 12th anniversary of the creation of a Nazi-backed puppet state in Croatia. That state, ruled by a movement called the Ustasha, on conservative estimates killed 500,000 Serbs, Jews and Romani people during the war.

Source: How Croatian fascism symbols and rituals are lingering in Australia

Are you listening to the Voice and what it’s really saying? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day

We dislike and resist change in the foolish assumption that we can make permanent that which makes us feel secure. Yet change is part of the very fabric of our existence. ( John Lord )

Source: Are you listening to the Voice and what it’s really saying? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Promoting the Indigenous Voice: From Empire to Legitimate Recognition of 60,000 Years of History – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The Voice referendum is an opportunity to commence rewriting Australia’s future with a new perspective that has been undervalued in the past 253 years of history.

Source: Promoting the Indigenous Voice: From Empire to Legitimate Recognition of 60,000 Years of History – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment- The Hillsong Collapse SBS on Demand

Peter Singer Remastered

Brand Loyalty – Pearls and Irritations

Magnet and figures of people. Acquisition and retention.

I am in complete sympathy with Jennifer Bush Pearls and Irritations 5, June 2023 in resigning from the Labor Party because of Prime Minister Albanese’s congratulations to Israel despite its government’s disgraceful treatment of Palestinian people.

Source: Brand Loyalty – Pearls and Irritations

Ten Years Ago, Edward Snowden Blew the Whistle on the US’s Most Secretive Spy Agency

This week 10 years ago, Edward Snowden exposed the National Security Agency’s mass surveillance of Americans. The US government responded with ruthless persecution — just one egregious example in the NSA’s long, sordid history of fiercely guarding its secrecy.

Source: Ten Years Ago, Edward Snowden Blew the Whistle on the US’s Most Secretive Spy Agency

UN Report Accuses Israel of ‘Silencing of Civil Society’ to Repress Palestinians

Palestinian civil society groups

Civil society groups in Israel and Palestine face serious human rights violations by Israeli authorities seeking to perpetuate an illegal occupation and apartheid regime, according to a report published Thursday by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Source: UN Report Accuses Israel of ‘Silencing of Civil Society’ to Repress Palestinians

7 Wild Takeaways From Donald Trump’s Indictment | HuffPost Latest News

The 49-page indictment repeatedly accuses Trump of risking national security and misleading federal agents in coordination with his aide Walt Nauta. The allegations range from the shocking, like Trump describing U.S. military operations to people without security clearances, to the surreal, like the onetime reality TV star storing documents in a shower at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Source: 7 Wild Takeaways From Donald Trump’s Indictment | HuffPost Latest News

As Criminally twice-indicted ex-President, Trump joins Global Rogues’ Gallery of Disgraced former Heads of State

 Donald John Trump (the newspapers always give all three names of criminals) has been indicted on 7 counts having to do with espionage and obstruction of justice arising from his removal of classified documents from the White House and his refusal to turn some of them over when the government demanded them. The insular American television news media keeps calling this indictment ‘unprecedented.’ But lots of heads of state have been indicted, even indicted more than once, and tried and jailed. The U.S. has been peculiar in the degree to which it has neglected to

Source: As Criminally twice-indicted ex-President, Trump joins Global Rogues’ Gallery of Disgraced former Heads of State

Felon Trump (updated!) – Robert Reich

It is the first time in American history that a former president has been indicted on federal charges.

Source: Felon Trump (updated!) – Robert Reich

How Many Indictments Does It Take to Bring Down a Cult Leader?

Screenshot 2023-06-11 at 07-35-55 How Many Indictments Does It Take to Bring Down a Cult Leader

Wrong Question…. In this case how much money does it take to save one?…. It’s America.

How many indictments will it take to wake Republicans from their fever dream?

Source: How Many Indictments Does It Take to Bring Down a Cult Leader?

Old Dog Thought- Arabs use Norman and the Israelis use Albo

Fighting Fake News with REAL 10/6/23, Gough Whitlam 1972, Aborigines, Greg Norman, ALP Government Shame,

Australia’s real test – 1972 Whitlam said: Pearls and Irritations

Canberra, Australia - February 22 2019:The Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra Parliamentary Zone Australia Capital Territory. Activists claim to represent the political rights of Aboriginal Australians.

Some Australians claim the honor of being the “world’s greatest multicultural success story”. It makes us sound more like Trump using’ a hollow advertising slogan at best in the eyes of the rest of the world. The LNP has been saying it while hiding our indigenous past from the eyes of others. Gough Whitlam was right!

A few days after coming to power in 1972 Gough Whitlam declared that ‘Australia’s real test as far as the rest of the world is concerned is the role we create for our own Aborigines’. More than foreign aid programmes, more than any role the country plays in agreements or alliances, treatment of the Aborigines will be the thing upon which the rest of the world will judge Australia and Australians ‘not just now but in the greater perspective of history.’

Source: Australia’s real test – Pearls and Irritations

Voice, treaty, truth: compared to other settler nations, Australia is the exception, not the rule

histories remind us how long First Nations people have waited for political recognition in this country – and that, compared to other former colonial sites, Australia is the exception, not the rule.

Source: Voice, treaty, truth: compared to other settler nations, Australia is the exception, not the rule

The cowardly conduct of the media, government and AFP – Pearls and Irritations

Shaoquett Moselmane looking to camera - valedictory speech to NSW parliament . Image: Supplied

Didn’t Morrison apply similar sort of tactics to get preselected in Cook?  Similar BS tactics, he used against his front-running popular leading Christian-Lebanese opponent at the time?

When former NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane was vilified, his home raided and false claims made by a journalist who wanted to promote himself, no apology was given, no restoration made. Instead, the victim became the guilty party, punished for something he did not do. Sounds familiar?

It is not too late to say sorry and thereby restore the reputation of a highly principled person whose political career was ended by this controversy. A chorus of Ray Hadley, Peter Dutton, Peta Credlin and Nick McKenzie could give their apologies and restore public hope that the amoral culture which encouraged abuse of Shaoquett Moselmane and his family has ended.

Source: The cowardly conduct of the media, government and AFP – Pearls and Irritations

Informed Comment- Michael West Media- PWC Treason

No, Arms Dealers Don’t Count as “Environmentally and Socially Responsible” Investments

Arms industries across Europe and North America are trying to get credentialed as “ESG”-friendly options for environmentally and socially conscious investors. That’s absurd. As long as their products are used to perpetuate war, they will remain sin stocks.

Source: No, Arms Dealers Don’t Count as “Environmentally and Socially Responsible” Investments

With Canadian wildfires, Fox News follows its COVID playbook | Media Matters for America

Murdoch’s Reporting, “Nothing to See Here”

Fox News hosts and guests and other right-wing media figures are minimizing the public health risk of the cloud of particulate matter from Canadian forest fires that descended on much of the United States this week and mocking people for taking steps to protect themselves.

Source: With Canadian wildfires, Fox News follows its COVID playbook | Media Matters for America

Israeli Defence Force shoots and kills a 3-year-old – Pearls and Irritations

Flags of Palestine and Israel.

Israel Defense we are innocent. We are right because we alone exist in the absence of worng

So why does the IDF constantly claim they mistakenly shoot civilians? They’re either well trained, or they’re not. Take that as you will. This time they killed a 3-year-old boy in Palestine. In a car. With his father. Also shot. The father and son were minding their own business on their way to meet relatives. The boy was shot in the head, the father in the shoulder. How blinded by hatred do you have to be not to see that it’s a child? The IDF said it, “regrets harm to non-combatants and is committed to doing everything in its power to prevent such incidents”. 34 children were killed last year and 21 children so far this year.

Source: Israeli Defence Force shoots and kills a 3-year-old – Pearls and Irritations

‘Nobody Has Told Me’: Trump Erupts Amid Report of Imminent Espionage and Obstruction Indictments | The Smirking Chimp

Donald is literally yelling “I’m innocent” ” I’m like an Oath Keeper” “I’m like a Patriot” ” Poor me” all media, and money-making sound bytes only Trump attract for both the media profit and donations.  Meanwhile, when President he gave massive tax cuts to the rich. His history has been one of scamming the poor and giving to the rich. His actions speak louder than his words America. Wake Up!!

Source: ‘Nobody Has Told Me’: Trump Erupts Amid Report of Imminent Espionage and Obstruction Indictments | The Smirking Chimp

Donald Trump seeks new trial in E Jean Carroll sex abuse case | US News | Metro News

Ex-President Donald Trump (left) is asking for a new trial or reduced money damages in the E Jean Carroll (right) sex abuse case

America’s Billionaire Justice System, where money, lawyers, dead cats and the Law come together. “Even if I did it”, the law isn’t being equal is his defense. I have the money to demand another go to buy a new version my version of justice” Yep he’ll use the media to have 5% of Americans side with him and DONATE $10. On the face of it for his politics but in reality to keep the lawyers paid.

‘Trump now argues that, even if he did those things, Ms Carroll doesn’t deserve the $5million in damages that the jury awarded,’ said Kaplan.

Source: Donald Trump seeks new trial in E Jean Carroll sex abuse case | US News | Metro News

Old Dog Thought- Corporate profits fly sky-high and more so than personal debt and spending

Fighting Fake News with REAL,9/6/23, Politics and Racism, Whitlam Said in 1972, Aborigines,

Bank misconduct: Banks found to be charging fees to deceased estates

Some major banks have recently cut mortgage cashbacks and raised interest rates for new customers. Six Australian banks, including the big four, have been found wanting when it comes to handling deceased estates, with an inquiry finding they continued to charge customers’ accounts even after being notified of their deaths.

Source: Bank misconduct: Banks found to be charging fees to deceased estates

AFP Detective Marcus Boorman’s tampering with a police document to conceal Bruce Lehrmann’s lies exposed at the ACT InquiryKangaroo Court of Australia

Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman deliberately deleted 2 key paragraphs of a document written by other police, that accused Bruce Lehrmann of lying, which was sent to a senior police officer to determine the prospect of rape charges against Lehrmann as per the below video of the ACT Police Corruption Inquiry

Source: AFP Detective Marcus Boorman’s tampering with a police document to conceal Bruce Lehrmann’s lies exposed at the ACT InquiryKangaroo Court of Australia

Ben Roberts-Smith judgment: Samantha Crompvoets who sparked Brereton war crimes report calls to strip medals

.

whack-a-mole polices but won’t change the system. It could drive things to further secrecy rather than openness. The fact is the ADF is a system that promotes war and war by definition is at all costs. The Vietnamese fought for their freedom and won they were right we were wrong. The nuclear bombing of Japan certainly ended the war but wasn’t it a crime? Win at all cost is war and within it is the promotion of crime crime . Is Smith really guilty?

Samantha Crompvoets, an expert on organisational culture, was commissioned by the Department of Defence in 2015 to produce a report that led to military personnel disclosing claims of unlawful behaviour including alleged war crimes.

Source: Ben Roberts-Smith judgment: Samantha Crompvoets who sparked Brereton war crimes report calls to strip medals

National accounts: Households using up savings as interest bills skyrocket

Pandemic-era savings have been eroded by rising interest rates.

Remember 1992 the  CBA ads “Which Bank?” It was advertising regarded as unneeded irresponsible marketing of DEBT and it was told to stop. Unrequired debt became the standard product for sale to Australia’s lowest 20% and middle 40% and sold for discretionary spending and the money spent flowed into the coffers of the top 20%. The debt accumulated by ordinary Australians was encouraged by the last decade of LNP policies but it was for necessities for an increasing number of families in precarious employment while at the top a minority were organized to invest in hoovering it up. Payday lenders grew like topsy and were even advertising on TV ready to lend to those that banks no longer would with bank money.

The LNP  almost looked socialist throwing money at QANTAS and Harvey Norman and cutting the taxes of those earning $180,000 plus while refusing to help those that really needed it. Unlike the ALP during the GFC there was no money put directly into the accounts of the suffering poor they could borrow and pay the Shylock price.

This isn’t a new cycle it’s one we’ve seen time and time again and Australia leads the world living life in debt and we create every opportunity for bottom feeders to create more. Who the fuck is putting all that coke up their nose it ain’t the bottom half of the nation at $300 a gram it’s the debtless and those that debt don’t even touch the sides. There is a system in place that encourages the debt cycle to flourish and increase again and again..

ANZ deputy chief economist Diana Mousina said pandemic savings were now being drawn down, and at the current pace those savings will be depleted by September

Source: National accounts: Households using up savings as interest bills skyrocket

Why the housing crisis is here to stay

Australia’s reliance on property development and real estate speculation has led to a housing crisis that will continue to worsen, while our cities and towns continue to sprawl and densify. This can end in only two ways: either through economic/environmental collapse or massive systemic change to a form of post-growth society.

Source: Why the housing crisis is here to stay

Carbon Dioxide in our Atmosphere hits High not seen for Millions of Years, threatening Accelerated Global Heating

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced Monday that parts per million of carbon dioxide in our planet’s atmosphere averaged 424 ppm in the month of May, reaching a level not seen for millions of years. In May 2022 it was only 421 ppm so this is a tremendous jump on a year over year basis. It probably reflects the resurgence of the world economy as the COVID pandemic has transitioned to an endemic infection and governments have dropped most prophylactic measures. Courtesy NOAA NOAA administrator Dr. Rich Spinrad observed, “Every year we see

Source: Carbon Dioxide in our Atmosphere hits High not seen for Millions of Years, threatening Accelerated Global Heating

Automation Could Set Us Free — If We Didn’t Live Under Capitalism

Under capitalism, automation destroys jobs. Under socialism, it would be an instrument of liberation.

Source: Automation Could Set Us Free — If We Didn’t Live Under Capitalism

‘Fake Investigations RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CAMPAIGN’ | Crooks and Liars

'Fake Investigations RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CAMPAIGN'

As for the rest of his word salad, he sounds like a desperate man. And he should be scared. He’s only running to stay out of prison.

Source: ‘Fake Investigations RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CAMPAIGN’ | Crooks and Liars

Old Dog Thought- Individuals are reflections of poor systems. Propaganda sells them. Journalism is a danger and threat. Julian Assange is a Journalist

May be a doodle of text

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 8/6/23, Truth in Humor, Corporations are global pirates, Brookfield, A List,

Big business cries poor on wages even as profits mount – Pearls and Irritations

Businessman figurine looking at the growth of stacked coins. Saving money for finance accounting.

Because they are so low-paid, and mainly part-time, these people account for only about 11 per cent of the nation’s total wage bill. So, as the commission says, the pay rise ‘‘will make only a modest contribution to total wages growth in 2023-24 and will consequently not cause or contribute to any wage-spiral’’.

But that’s not the impression you’d get from all the wailing and gnashing of teeth by the main employer group, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It claims ‘‘an arbitrary increase of this magnitude consigns Australia to high inflation, mounting interest rates and fewer jobs’’.

 

Source: Big business cries poor on wages even as profits mount – Pearls and Irritations

RBA Cleverly Responds to Business-driven Inflation by Increasing Struggling Family’s Mortgage by $150 a Month — The Shovel

Airline price gouging, Gas and oil Price Hikes,…..someone has to pay!!

The Reserve Bank has acted decisively on data which shows that excess company profits are largely to blame for inflation, ingeniously upping the monthly mortgage repayments for a family who can’t afford it.

Source: RBA Cleverly Responds to Business-driven Inflation by Increasing Struggling Family’s Mortgage by $150 a Month — The Shovel

Smoke and Mirrors: report finds Origin Energy’s suitor Brookfield an aggressive global tax dodger – Michael West

Brookfield Place

Like the British East India Company the pirates are still here and overpowering governments and politicians BEIC is gone but they laid the foundation for what remains.

A global analysis of Canadian financial engineering juggernaut Brookfield, which is close to wrapping its $20bn takeover of Australia’s Origin Energy, reveals a complex global structure and aggressive tax avoidance strategies, reports Callum Foote.

Source: Smoke and Mirrors: report finds Origin Energy’s suitor Brookfield an aggressive global tax dodger – Michael West

Top Seven Worst Businesses List Contains Some Surprises | Crooks and Liars

Top Seven Worst Businesses List Contains Some Surprises

Here’s the full list.

  1. The Trump Organization
  2. FTX
  3. Fox Corporation
  4. Twitter
  5. Meta
  6. Spirit Airlines
  7. TikTok

Source: Top Seven Worst Businesses List Contains Some Surprises | Crooks and Liars

How serious is the Australian propaganda infection? – Pearls and Irritations

Propaganda trolling and broadcast on screen.

Thinking in contradictory terms is the main symptom of a propaganda infection. We complain that China, our biggest trading partner, is damaging our trade with sanctions on a few items but we are preparing to fight them to completely destroy our trade with them. We accuse China of violating freedom of navigation when the navigation route they are protecting is our own trade passage to and from China.

Source: How serious is the Australian propaganda infection? – Pearls and Irritations

The Ben Roberts-Smith case must force ADF leadership to re-examine Brereton report flagging how unethical conduct can flourish – ABC News

Ben Roberts-Smith receives Victoria Cross

The System that is scapegoating Smith as a rogue is our Defense and the ADF structure and it’s bigger than any one individual. It remains protected and hidden. Let’s not forget the bastardy, misogyny and rape that took place at Duntroon and how it too put the blame on rogue elements rather than the organization. Victim blaming even went into full force.

Beginning with the Brereton report of 2020, and through to the BRS judgement last week, two Australian judges have exposed war crimes by Australian special forces soldiers but have also shown how the command and leadership culture of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) failed.

Source: The Ben Roberts-Smith case must force ADF leadership to re-examine Brereton report flagging how unethical conduct can flourish – ABC News

Diluted Sovereignty: A Very Australian Example – » The Australian Independent Media Network

All written and mythologised as greatness,

Australian concepts of sovereignty have always been qualified. First came the British settlers and invaders in 1788. They are pregnant with the sovereignty of the British Crown, bringing convicts, the sadistic screws, and forced labour to a garrison of penal experiments and brutality. The native populations are treated as nothing more than spares, opportunistic chances, and fluff of the land, a legal nonsense. In a land deemed empty, sovereignty is eviscerated.

Source: Diluted Sovereignty: A Very Australian Example – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Biden Embraces Antisemitism Definition That Has Upended Free Speech in Europe

rtshp88a-e1685985657645The definition conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism. A new report details how it’s been used to justify punitive action against Palestine advocates in Europe.

Source: Biden Embraces Antisemitism Definition That Has Upended Free Speech in Europe

Israeli Forces, Settlers Invade Palestinian Community

Israeli forces continued their campaign of repression and colonization in the Palestinian village of Masafer Yatta over the weekend, leading to multiple injuries, including to a 6-year old child.

After signing a military decree on May 18, allowing illegal Israeli Jewish settlers to reclaim the abandoned Homesh settlement located in the northern Occupied West Bank, the Israeli government has informed the Biden administration it will not turn the area into a new settlement.”

YET

Source: Israeli Forces, Settlers Invade Palestinian Community

Israeli Squatters attacking Palestinian town Burqa for Second Time caught on CCTV Cameras

State Sponsored Terrorism. Israel in Action,

CCTV cameras from a Palestinian home captured the start of an attack by Israeli settlers which damaged property and left some requiring medical treatment in a village near Nablus in the occupied West Bank. It’s the second such attack on Burqa village in as many weeks, Israelis from the nearby illegal outpost burned down a farmhouse in Burqa in late May 2023.

Source: Israeli Squatters attacking Palestinian town Burqa for Second Time caught on CCTV Cameras