Scott Morrison might have been a moderately successful salesman – he has certainly bamboozled his political peers into buying into his pseudo policies – but his realistic concern for people’s needs is absolutely non-existent and every policy he announces is doing more and more damage to our future.
Are we really making progress? – » The Australian Independent Media Network
When discourse between fair-minded people turns to speculation as to who has been Australia’s most appalling Prime Minister there are four names that are consistently short-listed – $3 Bill McMahon, fellow goblin John Howard, the feral friar Tony Abbott and Scott Spinocchio Morrison.
Can the Libs come up with someone even worse than Morrison? History says they will – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Last year, the Prime Minister said he wanted women to be believed. When journalist Ronan Farrow, who broke the Harvey Weinstein allegations, was asked if the best way to honour a woman’s experiences was to believe her, Farrow replied it was better to investigate. To trust — but verify. To listen, really listen. To understand just how much it took for a woman to speak out at all, and then do the work to establish the truth.
Anger has turned to sadness for Australia’s fed-up women – ABC News
Scott Morrison has a near obsession with control. But suddenly – in the course of only weeks – he has found himself presiding over a government in a shambles, where he is reacting rather than driving.
Grattan on Friday: Scott Morrison can’t get a circuit breaker while Porter remains
The left of politics is concerned with people who cannot help themselves. The right is concerned with those who can.
The week that will never go away – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Morrison’s media code could be catastrophic for climate and energy news – Michael West
Climate denial from Rupert Murdoch’s toxic Sky News, Buffy the Vampire Slayer from Junkee. This sort of “news” will be on display on Google News Showcase as a result of the government’s regressive new media laws. It is a travesty for journalism and dangerous to climate and energy transition, writes Giles Parkinson, founder of independent media site Renew Economy.
Morrison’s media code could be catastrophic for climate and energy news – Michael West
Journalist: A second woman has been raped. Prime Minister: I don’t need to know who that is. Imagine for one moment the tremendous privilege Mr Morrison enjoys that allows him to choose not to know. By any measure this is a bizarre reaction to such news, and one wonders why the Prime Minister felt compelled to let everyone know that he doesn’t know the name of the second victim, and, even more oddly, that he does not need to know.
“Don’t tell me her name…” – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Another thought At some time in the human narrative… in our history, man declared himself superior to women. It must have been an accident, or at least an act of gross stupidity. But that’s men for you. ( John Lord )
A tale of two wrongs: A rape and the Prime Minister’s response – » The Australian Independent Media Network
You wouldn’t necessarily know it from a media obsessed with posturing about Facebook, but it’s hard to overstate just what a disastrous week Scott Morrison and the rotten — in all senses of the adjective — government he leads has just had. Overlooked this week in the focus on Brittany Higgins and the implosion of the news media bargaining code was how deeply and bitterly divided the Coalition is. Scott Morrison was forced into the humiliating position of withdrawing a key bill — his legislation to push the Clean Energy Finance Corporation into funding gas projects — because his own backbenchers, led by former cabinet ministers Barnaby Joyce and Matt Canavan, intended to make it a vehicle for government funding of coal-fired power stations.
From parliamentary rape allegation to energy policy: Morrison’s bad week
Throwing Linda Reynolds to the wolves could suit Scott ‘I knew nothing’ Morrison right down to the ground.
Reshuffle on the cards as Defence becomes the best form of attack for PM
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins on Wednesday accused Scott Morrison of “victim-blaming rhetoric” – as the Prime Minister sought to explain why his own staffer failed to tell him Higgins had alleged she’d been raped. Malcolm Turnbull cast doubt on Morrison’s claim his office only knew of the allegation last week, saying it was “inconceivable” key members of the Prime Minister’s staff did not know earlier. Higgins, who worked for then defence industry minister Linda Reynolds, claims she was raped by a colleague after the two returned to the minister’s Parliament House late one night in March 2019. She has said she was very drunk and the assault occurred when she fell asleep on the minister’s couch. Morrison says he only learned of the rape allegation this week and his office only “became aware of this issue on February 12 of this year.”
Morrison invokes Chinese walls defence on why staffer didn’t tell him of Higgins’ rape allegation
It was no surprise to hear that Morrison’s government paid $190,000 of taxpayer money to an empathy consultant on how best to show drought-stricken farmers they care about them. Scotty doesn’t do empathy unless the focus groups suggest he should pretend to care and someone else explains to him what that looks like.
The daggy dad’s empathy vacuum – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Morrison’s handling of assault case raises old question: can he be trusted?
With his government now engulfed in the scandal of its mishandling of the alleged rape of staffer Brittany Higgins, Scott Morrison faces the consequences of two long-running features of his political persona. There is now an obvious and serious discrepancy between what Higgins has said about the role of the Prime Minister’s Office in the aftermath of her alleged assault in Parliament House, and Morrison’s own claims — reflected in material circulated to journalists — that she is wrong. In short, Higgins says Morrison’s private secretary, former Crosby Textor luminary Yaron Finkelstein, contacted her in relation to the matter. Morrison says it didn’t happen and his office only became aware of the alleged rape last week.
Morrison’s handling of assault case raises old question: can he be trusted?
With all the things that the Coalition have swept under the carpet, I can’t help but think it’s about time someone asked the Promo Minister if he has any plans to get a bigger one.
Note To Morrison: “You’re Going To Need A Bigger Carpet!” – » The Australian Independent Media Network
A lot can be explained about conservatives’ view by Scotty’s belief that “the economy is what people live in. It’s real.” Actually, we live in a society. Rather than Morrison’s view that “it all begins with keeping our economy strong”, it begins with supporting our people to be strong – facilitating them to be their best. Economic and social benefits flow from this rather than the other way around. Coalition governments measure their success by corporate profits and private wealth. Labor governments invest in the people.
Claiming credit when it’s not due – » The Australian Independent Media Network
My thought for the day We exercise our involvement in our democracy every three years by voting. After that, the vast majority takes very little interest. Why is it so? ( John Lord )
The revolving door of Conservative wrongdoings – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Morrison must have known, when he made his announcement one month ago, that there was no possibility of vaccinating 80,000 people in February and 4 million by the end of March. He must have known this, and yet he delivered this message to the country anyway. This is not how we need a leader to behave in these circumstances, or any other.
When you can’t trust the leader… – » The Australian Independent Media Network
In Australia and internationally, climate lawmaking has been going on for more than a decade. The evidence is clear: well designed, binding climate laws do effectively tackle the climate crisis. Anything less may well turn out be an empty promise.
Mr Morrison, please don’t make empty promises: enshrine our climate targets in law
Australia must commit to a net-zero carbon emission target to avoid becoming an international pariah, writes Professor John Quiggin.
Morrison missing the memo on climate change
My thought for the day One of the oddities of political polling is trying to understand how 50% of the voting public would willingly return a party that has governed so abysmally.
With all the luck in the world, the Prime Minister progresses but fails to move forward – » The Australian Independent Media Network
And the excuse for this inaction? We won’t commit to any target until we know how we will get there and how much it will cost. Seriously. If anyone can tell me what technology will be available in 2050 and how much anything will cost in 30 years’ time, I’d be interested to hear it. We listen to health experts about the pandemic. It’s similarly crucial that we listen to the warnings and advice from experts about the health of the planet. And Scotty – Matt Canavan, Keith Pitt, George Christensen, Craig Kelly and Jim Molan do not qualify as experts. Share this:
The world knows Scott Morrison is a liar. Now Australians need to wake up – » The Australian Independent Media Network
But the premiers have been given a free pass because the lockdowns have been funded by the Commonwealth. That money runs out in March, so it will be interesting to watch whether the will to imprison populations remains in the face of cash-strapped states being forced to bear the full financial cost of their decisions. If push comes to shove when the cash dries up expect the premiers to direct their communities’ anger at Canberra. This is a risk for Morrison because he won’t win a fight with a popular premier on a state’s home ground. It’s another depressing lesson from the pandemic: Australia is still a collection of colonies masquerading as a federation.
Events will decide political fates and defy expert predictions
My thought for the day There are three kinds of people. Those who know. Those who know when they are shown, and those who have no interest in knowing.(JOHN LORD)
Can Joe Biden change Australian politics for the better? – » The Australian Independent Media Network
So, is Morrison’s behaviour a lack of leadership, which seems likely given his stance or lack of it on so many issues, or is it a demonstration of his and the right-wing intolerance, insensitivity and racism towards our own Indigenous peoples? Perhaps he is simply appealing to his base and it is all about votes. Whatever the case, history will not be kind to him when it judges his performance. Or is it all three. I suspect it is the latter.
Morrison: Opportunity Lost to Attack Racism or Political Expediency? – » The Australian Independent Media Network
The Liberal Party has benefited from its relationship to the mining sector, but at great cost to the Australian people, writes Richard Gillies.
Coalition’s dependence on mining sector causing a decline in economic growth
Australia stands alone in the world on Climate Change America has joined the Paris accord and abandoned Trumpist Morrison
Bushfires caused by climate change had a significant impact on the survival of koalas while the Government continues to ignore warnings, writes Sue Arnold.
Governments continue to ignore climate change as a cause of koala extinction
The Labor leader thundered that Scott Morrison had gone “too far” in his support for the defeated President, claiming “Trumpists” were the “bedrock” of the Prime Minister’s supporters. While it’s no secret Mr Morrison enjoyed a far better relationship with Mr Trump than most world leaders – feted with a state dinner, lauded as the “man of titanium”, and awarded the Legion of Merit – what is less clear is how the Trump era changed Australian politics.
A ‘last outpost’ for Trump tactics: did Donald change Australian politics?
Morrison’s National Cabinet served the purpose of his being able to claim credit for any worthwhile policies agreed to, while passing national responsibility for issues like quarantine – for which the Federal government is responsible – onto the states and territories, brushing aside the appalling level of deaths in Aged Care accommodation – again a Federal responsibility – and generally doing little but appearing to be in charge. Because of Trump, the USA has experienced a massive loss of respect from the rest of the world. Recent events have brought out very clearly the extent to which Trump’s Presidency has been a total disaster. Because of Morrison and his stubborn refusal to properly review his policies on emissions reductions, Australia is also losing respect in the developed world.
Is Scott Morrison a Donald Trump lite? – » The Australian Independent Media Network
And it is hard to imagine that the recent actions of the U.S. President, which continue to incite violence and terrorism and refute the wishes of the democratic majority, and even the decisions of the judiciary, would ever be repeated here.
Morrison crew backs Capitol coup
Australia’s Disgusting Leadership (ODT)
Members of the Morrison government have saved their loudest outrage for Twitter, the social media platform Trump used to incite his followers, and the platform that has finally banned Trump for life. This, it appears, is the great injustice, an affront to “free speech,” and, wait for it, censorship.
When your government thinks banning Trump from Twitter is the real injustice – » The Australian Independent Media Network
My thought for the day Wouldn’t it be good if in our parliament, regardless of ideology, we had politicians whose first interest was the peoples’ and not their own. Eg: Wage stagnation. Massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Australians and foreign corporations. Attempts to undermine Medicare. More expensive university degrees. Shrinking homeownership. The everyday cost of living up. Higher debt. ( John Lord)
The baggage the Morrison government has lugged from one year to the next means that 2021 will be a hard slog – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Calls are growing for the Morrison government to fight for the release of Julian Assange and bring him home after the Queensland-born whistleblower narrowly avoided extradition to the United States on Monday night.
Pressure mounting on Scott Morrison to ask US to drop Assange charges
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