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AusPoliGaf |Early 2016 Election| - the government's term has been... Shortened

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bobnowhere

Member
Not everyone with a low IQ votes Labor

Elaugaufein said:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...y/news-story/21124eab4e7748b82a1f588c27439ede (Paywall, you can bypass by googling the topic in incognito mode).

The Coalition is calling a campaign shortfall by them a democracy deficit.

I wasn't aware it was possible to be experiencing schadenfreude and rage at sheer self centred myopia at the same time until today.
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Yet it's always the Liberal party first to complain about lowering reporting limits or cracking down on blind inter-jurisdiction funds transfers let alone any suggestion of public funding. I suspect, actually is patently obvious, this is more about trying to limit Labor/progressive funding sources than actually doing anything serious about political funding.

The website is amazing. The Fair go, the Libs rival to Getup!

Who's you Gran-daddy? A rambling piece about Saunders and Corbyn and how OWLs (old white leaders) aren't good for you. Now there is a party packed full of OWLs in Australia...

A typical I'm a woman and I've succeeded so everything is fine. Written by Pru Goward's Daughter! Bootstraps.

Stillborn
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
bobnowhere said:
Not everyone with a low IQ votes Labor
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That reads like a straight up admission they are doing this to disadvantage people who have difficulty voting. Thats actually morally worse than I thought they were being, I figured it was just them trying to offset their inability to do boots on the ground the way progressives can (a younger voter demographic and one that's already predisposed to grassroots activism is good for that), which is naked political self interest but not outright evil.
 
D

Dryk

Member
If the Liberals are unhappy that the masses are coordinating to outspend them and their mates then maybe they should take a good hard look at themselves.
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
bobnowhere said:
Looks like Cory has another defector, the sole member of the DLP in the Victorian upper house.
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Wha? I thought the DLP were defined by being Catholic and anti-Conmunist but pro-Union/Labor, Bernadi fails that one pretty hard.

Actually looking at the priorities of that Candidate she's just Right Wing Catholic, so that defection makes more sense.

Bernadi is playing an interesting game here, vacuuming up Right Wing micros, if he gets all the votes he should manage about 5 Senators, if the voters decide his Ultra-Conservative on everything party isn't something they can endorse he might end up sending voters to the Libs or PHON or NXT depending on their issues and cripple the Religious Right groupings. He's definitely got a big time funding source somewhere too, a party like his shouldn't be able to afford to field full candidates at Federal and State level so the rumour he's gotten Gina's backing is likely true.
 
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bobnowhere

Member
Elaugaufein said:
Wha? I thought the DLP were defined by being Catholic and anti-Conmunist but pro-Union/Labor, Bernadi fails that one pretty hard.

Actually looking at the priorities of that Candidate she's just Right Wing Catholic, so that defection makes more sense.

Bernadi is playing an interesting game here, vacuuming up Right Wing micros, if he gets all the votes he should manage about 5 Senators, if the voters decide his Ultra-Conservative on everything party isn't something they can endorse he might end up sending voters to the Libs or PHON or NXT depending on their issues and cripple the Religious Right groupings. He's definitely got a big time funding source somewhere too, a party like his shouldn't be able to afford to field full candidates at Federal and State level so the rumour he's gotten Gina's backing is likely true.
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Cory is super dry, hence the Gina backing. The DLP one is a little strange but they aren't really what they used to be since their reformation. Hopefully this defection puts a final fork in them.

The article talks about others, that has to include Nile's CDP. Would be a big coup for Bernardi and comes with an already in place infrastructure and small but loyal group of voters. Though those voters are all probably as old as Nile himself. I can't see the CDP lasting long past Nile's eventual departure/demise so he might see this as a way to continue his legacy.

Also, lol Pyne. The smarter people in the Coalition know Marriage Equality is coming but their collective hatred of the ALP means they would rather be the ones to implement it rather than Labor get the credit after the next election.
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
bobnowhere said:
Cory is super dry, hence the Gina backing. The DLP one is a little strange but they aren't really what they used to be since their reformation. Hopefully this defection puts a final fork in them.

The article talks about others, that has to include Nile's CDP. Would be a big coup for Bernardi and comes with an already in place infrastructure and small but loyal group of voters. Though those voters are all probably as old as Nile himself. I can't see the CDP lasting long past Nile's eventual departure/demise so he might see this as a way to continue his legacy.

Also, lol Pyne. The smarter people in the Coalition know Marriage Equality is coming but their collective hatred of the ALP means they would rather be the ones to implement it rather than Labor get the credit after the next election.
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The CDP, FF and that other one (a break off from Niles party) I don't care enough about to be bothered looking up have always had incredibly tight preference flows between them as Christian parties. I wonder how well that will hold when mixed together with explicitly hyper dry economics as a founding principle. For all else you can say about them the non-Fundementalist influenced Christian sects have generally been very redistributive even if only for the purposes of getting to proseltyze at people.

Yeah, I think Pyne was sent out to float this balloon deliberately, rumours about Brandis working on it are going around too. The timing is too close together to be accidental.
 
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danm999

Member
So the 2016 Census data is out.

No Religion is the leading religion, having overtaken Catholicism for the first time in history. And while it might be a bit cheeky to count a single religious denomination against irreligion, the trends amongst irreligion in youth and strong religious tendencies amongst elderly mean this trend is probably going to continue.

Guess we aren't being swamped by Muslims after all. Even Hindus grew faster.
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
danm999 said:
So the 2016 Census data is out.

No Religion is the leading religion, having overtaken Catholicism for the first time in history. And while it might be a bit cheeky to count a single religious denomination against irreligion, the trends amongst irreligion in youth and strong religious tendencies amongst elderly mean this trend is probably going to continue.

Guess we aren't being swamped by Muslims after all. Even Hindus grew faster.
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Sounds like the growth patterns are (shockingly) pretty much the same as the last census. TBF though Muslim's would have to grown at a rate of something like 4% of the Australian Population per year for the last 5 years to overtake either Catholic or No Religion, I think we might have noticed that particular wild fire conversion rate, given it'd be ~3x the rate irreligion is increasing and we've noticed that quiet clearly.
 
S

Shaneus

Member
bobnowhere said:
Christianity, in it's various forms, has also dropped to only 52.1%.
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Yet I'd wager there are far more than half our MPs who would align themselves with Christianity. Hell, I can only think of one MP off the top of my head who was openly non-religious, and that was Gillard. I'm sure there are more (mostly in the Greens, I'd think) but nowhere near half.
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
Shaneus said:
Yet I'd wager there are far more than half our MPs who would align themselves with Christianity. Hell, I can only think of one MP off the top of my head who was openly non-religious, and that was Gillard. I'm sure there are more (mostly in the Greens, I'd think) but nowhere near half.
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Hinch has actually mentioned it in his Crikey columns, that he , most of the Greens and some Labor Senators aren't religious (or at least have a compulsion to stare at the ceiling during the Senate prayer). I imagine that privately that a good few of the socially liberal wing of the Liberals aren't what you'd call actively religious either but they can't be seen to be that way.
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
Hmm Rhiannon (tech all Federal NSW Greens Senators)) suspended from Party Room until matter of conflicting bindings (Party Room vs State ) resolved.

Everyone except Rhiannon voted to seek a resolution to the matter and everyone but Rhiannon and Bandt voted for the suspension until the issue is resolved.

The suspension seems unusual though in that it only applies to contentious issues.
 
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bobnowhere

Member
Rhiannon and the NSW Greens were leaflet bombing Sydney inner city in complete opposition to the deal Di Natale was trying to get, though he got played hard by the coalition in the end. Being "suspended" from the party room does seem a little like getting hit with an organic wet lettuce.

The two Victorian Labor guys that decided their electorates weren't nice enough to live in an claimed huge benefits to live somewhere nicer are now getting investigated by the cops.
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
bobnowhere said:
Rhiannon and the NSW Greens were leaflet bombing Sydney inner city in complete opposition to the deal Di Natale was trying to get, though he got played hard by the coalition in the end. Being "suspended" from the party room does seem a little like getting hit with an organic wet lettuce.

The two Victorian Labor guys that decided their electorates weren't nice enough to live in an claimed huge benefits to live somewhere nicer are now getting investigated by the cops.
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Suspension is the 2nd worst thing they can do, the worst is expulsion from the party room. Because of how the Greens structure works the Parliamentary Party has no ability to disendorse or expel from the actual party, that's up to State or Local branches. Its not like the Greens have higher paid Parliamentary roles they can revoke as punishment which is the preferred Coalition / ALP method.

Expulsion from the Fed Party Room does apparently trigger an immediate trigger a state expulsion hearing but the state branch can decide not too.
 
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Candescence

Member
NSW Greens are the real nutters. Actually, scratch that, NSW politicians in general are crazy compared to the rest of the country. My state is freaking cursed.
 
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bobnowhere

Member
Pell said:
Office of Cardinal George Pell

Although it is still in the early hours of the morning in Rome, Cardinal George Pell has been informed of the decision and action of Victoria Police.

He has again strenuously denied all allegations.

Cardinal Pell will return to Australia, as soon as possible, to clear his name following advice and approval by his doctors who will also advise on his travel arrangements.

He said he is looking forward to his day in court and will defend the charges vigorously.

Cardinal Pell will make a further statement in Rome at the Holy See Press Office at 8.30am, Rome time, or 4.30pm AEST.
Click to expand...

Not holding my breath!

Technically it turns out he lives in a plush apartment in Rome not in the Vatican so extradition is a possibility.
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
You know after the debacle that is the JSF I'm pretty sure Liberal Defence Hot takes should be regarded as cautionary tales until evidence proves otherwise.

ETA - I am willing to consider a submarine powered by Abbott on a bicycle as long as it can be deployed in the near future. I'm sure Turnbull could find some kind of role for it that requires going dark.
 
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bobnowhere

Member
Elaugaufein said:
You know after the debacle that is the JSF I'm pretty sure Liberal Defence Hot takes should be regarded as cautionary tales until evidence proves otherwise.

ETA - I am willing to consider a submarine powered by Abbott on a bicycle as long as it can be deployed in the near future. I'm sure Turnbull could find some kind of role for it that requires going dark.
Click to expand...

Kiwi's did just win the America's Cup with cycle powered rigging! Put Abbott in charge of Australia's next attempt.

aSWU7Gk.jpg
 
S

Shaneus

Member
Looks forward to clearing his name in court.

Hah.

Seriously hope he has no health issues, just so he can see the people his church has hurt face-to-face.
 
Q

Quasar

Member
Candescence said:
NSW Greens are the real nutters. Actually, scratch that, NSW politicians in general are crazy compared to the rest of the country. My state is freaking cursed.
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I thought the NSW greens were the ones standing up for green-ness rather than caving to the centre. Reminds me of the whole GST fiasco with the dems.
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
Quasar said:
I thought the NSW greens were the ones standing up for green-ness rather than caving to the centre. Reminds me of the whole GST fiasco with the dems.
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Both wings of the NSW Greens are pro-environment. The 2 (somewhat interlinked) prongs of the debate are about 1) whether the parliamentary Greens should act as a political body (cut legislative deals where appropriate, etc and thereby seek to gain political power and a wider base) or as a megaphone / push group for an activist base and 2) What position to take on economic (and related like union) issues, Rhiannon's group is further left on this compared to the other (hence Watermelons and Tree-Tories), though this is a relative thing.

This is a reasonable wide debate in the Greens generally but NSW is a flash point because of Rhiannon (who had ties to what is now the Communist Party of Australia and was at the time the Socialist Party), NSW Greens being the only state Branch to bind Federal reps against the party room, it makes a large financial contribution but significantly underperforms at Federal elections (with only 1 Senator and no MPs) despite that and (probably the biggest thing right now) that Rhiannon's grouping which undeniable had the power in NSW slipping, they've lost two preselection ballots which cost them the NSW State party room).
 
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Aarglefarg

Member
http://smh.com.au/national/centrelink-hacking-into-fraudsters-phones-20170627-gwzgqc.html

Centrelink hacking into fraudsters' phones
"Centrelink is using controversial high-tech phone-breaking devices to reveal secrets hidden by suspected fraudsters in their smart phones.

The agency says it uses the technology in strict accordance with the law and only when it has obtained a warrant when investigating cases of serious fraud.

But experts have warned the use of the 'Universal Forensic Extraction Devices' is jeopardising the communications security of Australians.

The welfare agency has joined other government outfits including the Australian Taxation Office and the Employment Department in using the extraction devices, which allow users to bypass security features on smart phones and extract data, including messages and call logs."

"Australian Privacy Foundation chair David Vaile said the use of this technology, originally justified to fight terrorism or child pornographers, was becoming more routine and broader."

"Mr Molnar said Centrelink employees wanting to blow the whistle on misuse of Cellebrite technology faced jail time under the Crimes Act."
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
Aarglefarg said:
http://smh.com.au/national/centrelink-hacking-into-fraudsters-phones-20170627-gwzgqc.html

Centrelink hacking into fraudsters' phones
"Centrelink is using controversial high-tech phone-breaking devices to reveal secrets hidden by suspected fraudsters in their smart phones.

The agency says it uses the technology in strict accordance with the law and only when it has obtained a warrant when investigating cases of serious fraud.

But experts have warned the use of the 'Universal Forensic Extraction Devices' is jeopardising the communications security of Australians.

The welfare agency has joined other government outfits including the Australian Taxation Office and the Employment Department in using the extraction devices, which allow users to bypass security features on smart phones and extract data, including messages and call logs."

"Australian Privacy Foundation chair David Vaile said the use of this technology, originally justified to fight terrorism or child pornographers, was becoming more routine and broader."

"Mr Molnar said Centrelink employees wanting to blow the whistle on misuse of Cellebrite technology faced jail time under the Crimes Act."
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A significant reduction of a civil liberties (privacy) introduced under the rationale of terrorosm / child protection spreads to other uses. I'm shocked , that certainly doesn't happen with remarkable consistency.

/so much sarcasm
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
Hmm Greens internal war hotting up it seems, doesn't look like anyone is going to back down without a fight. There's been obvious drops/leaks to sympathetic writers from both camps.

Interesting note: Australian Greens can't get a win here at state level, the split in NSW is ~50/50 and you need 75% to amend the state constitution, and even some who aren't part of Rhiannon's group want to keep the binding power though through a different mechanism.

The only sane way they could "win" is amending the National Constitution which would almost certainly result in a split in NSW at least.

The insane way would be escalation and having all states bind Federal members which would result in an epic clustefuck that might result in backdown because you'd end up with 6 groups of 1 or 2 Senators and no real bargaining power for any of them. All states technically have these authority it's just that everyone but NSW agreed not to use it, and resolve such matters by letting them take their natural toll at the next preselection.
 
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Arksy

Member
Man, with the absolute trainwreck that is the US, I have barely focused on Australian politics at all. Except for that mini-constitutional crisis for contempt of court that never actually turned into a crisis.
 
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Elaugaufein

Member
Arksy said:
Man, with the absolute trainwreck that is the US, I have barely focused on Australian politics at all. Except for that mini-constitutional crisis for contempt of court that never actually turned into a crisis.
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Yeah, I'm pretty sure someone realised the potential implications given the current balance of power and told them to apologize given the sudden reversal after initially refusing to front personally or apologize. And the judges seemed aware of it too since they let it go despite the apologies being beyond last minute. Probably as close to a win / win as you could get when the inciting incident was so god damn stupid.

Bernadi's eating all the Christian groups and still polling appallingly badly despite that, but he'll have plenty of money to splash at ads since he's apparently got Gina's backing so it might yet amount to something.

Day and Cullerton getting dismissed , and the FF replacement choosing to sit as an Independent rather than Australian Conservative. I'm still not sure what's going on there, she hasn't really laid out anything that would have stopped her sitting as an Australian Conservative (except maybe that she's got a better chance of getting reelected by sitting as an Independent and starting her own party , because she's got fuck all chance of getting reelected as the number 2 on Bernadi's ticket in SA while NXT exists).

Everything else is interesting to watch play out but hardly unexpected.
 
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Quasar

Member
https://www.theguardian.com/austral...details-of-any-australian-for-sale-on-darknet

A darknet trader is illegally selling the Medicare patient details of any Australian on request by “exploiting a vulnerability” in a government system, raising concerns that a health agency may be seriously compromised.

An investigation by Guardian Australia can reveal that a darknet vendor on a popular auction site for illegal products claims to have access to any Australian’s Medicare card details and can supply them on request.
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Can't say I'm surprised by this.
 
B

bobnowhere

Member
People seem obsessed with medical details but the real issue is now a potential 25 points of the 100 point ID test is completely compromised let alone potential medicare claim fraud.
 
H

hirokazu

Member
bobnowhere said:
People seem obsessed with medical details but the real issue is now a potential 25 points of the 100 point ID test is completely compromised let alone potential medicare claim fraud.
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Yeah, sounds to me like Medicare cards should be crossed off the list of valid IDs, at least temporarily.
 
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