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[bobnowhere]

aaaaaand he's gone

Yet another group he's been kicked out of for being a complete arseclown, long list. He'll probably be back on twitter abusing people tonight while sitting on his cushy political pension that he so rails against.

Even Ross Cameron sort of apologised after his unhinged Q-society rant.

 

[danm999]

Typical cowardice from noted leftist media outlet Sky News.

 

[Fredescu]

There's still hope: https://www.change.org/p/sky-news-australia-reinstate-mark-latham-to-sky-news

 

[Candescence]

Peter Martin nails why Morrison will have a huge uphill battle with the budget - the Centrelink debacle is going to continually destroy his credibility as long as it isn't resolved, because people will stop trusting ministers when they stop trusting the government to do its job right.

Also, Turnbull indicated that he might take the corporate tax cuts to a double dissolution election. Again. I don't think he'll have the stomach for it a second time, though, not after barely winning the last one.

 

[Elaugaufein]

Peter Martin nails why Morrison will have a huge uphill battle with the budget - the Centrelink debacle is going to continually destroy his credibility as long as it isn't resolved, because people will stop trusting ministers when they stop trusting the government to do its job right.

Also, Turnbull indicated that he might take the corporate tax cuts to a double dissolution election. Again. I don't think he'll have the stomach for it a second time, though, not after barely winning the last one.

Going to a DD on corporate tax cuts for big business may be the most suicidal political plan I've yet heard.

 

[D.Lo]

Also, Turnbull indicated that he might take the corporate tax cuts to a double dissolution election. Again. I don't think he'll have the stomach for it a second time, though, not after barely winning the last one.

He has such a tin ear for what will resonate with the electorate, that's bas bad as how proud he was announcing 'no changes to negative gearing' with the family buying an investment property for their baby...

 

[bobnowhere]

Going to a DD on corporate tax cuts for big business may be the most suicidal political plan I've yet heard.

It would be lunacy.

Forgot to mention it but Hanson has consulted the weathervane and is now against the cut to Sunday penalty rates Going to a DD based on a modest business tax cut that even the productivity commission has said is of marginal benefit, a wage cut during stagnant wage growth and the right for racists to be racist would be bold and based on Turnbull's performance during the last election a lost cause. I can't imagine it's serious or even accurate.

 

[TheWasTheJoke]

I know some of the guys who made the feminism clip and am so, so proud of how they've handled themselves.

Latham on the other hand is a worthless dickhead, though I do kinda sympathise with D.Lo's point (or how I interpreted it at least) that the whole anti-feminism shtick is a symptom of some serious voter alienation whose root cause needs to be addressed.

 

[danm999]

I think even Malcolm knows what the result of an election where he tries to spruik corporate tax cuts and reduction in penalty rates/decreasing the rise in minimum wage below inflation will look.

It would be lunacy. Forgot to mention it but Hanson has consulted the weathervane and is now against the cut to Sunday penalty rates

She forgot populists are supposed to pretend to like popular things.

Seriously political instincts of a bag of dog shit.

 

[Elaugaufein]

It would be lunacy.

Forgot to mention it but Hanson has consulted the weathervane and is now against the cut to Sunday penalty rates Going to a DD based on a modest business tax cut that even the productivity commission has said is of marginal benefit, a wage cut during stagnant wage growth and the right for racists to be racist would be bold and based on Turnbull's performance during the last election a lost cause. I can't imagine it's serious or even accurate.

Going to a DD for any reason at all in the current political environment would be unwise I think. The best case for the Libs is that PHON support is soft and they get stomped approximating the 2PP, the worst case is that PHON support is hard or hardens and they both get stomped and lose a bunch of rural seats to PHON, and Metro seats to Labor , while maybe gaining a few suburban seats. I can't see how they'd be seriously contemplating it. Let alone on tax cuts for huge businesses that primarily benefit foreign shareholders. If they are then I suspect they've decided they are doomed and may as well go for the Hail Mary and worst case give Labor a Senate with more PHON to deal with.

 

[Candescence]

So Paul Keating, one of the co-fathers of neoliberalism in Australia along with Bob Hawke, has basically agreed with Sally McManus' remarks on neoliberalism.

"Liberal economics had [in the past] dramatically increased wealth around the world, as it had in Australia – for instance a 50 per cent increase in real wages and a huge lift in personal wealth," Mr Keating said.

"But since 2008, liberal economics has gone nowhere and to the extent that Sally McManus is saying this, she is right."

"We have a comatose world economy held together by debt and central bank money," Mr Keating added.

"Liberal economics has run into a dead end and has had no answer to the contemporary malaise."

That's... A major admission from Keating. Neoliberalists have a reason to be scared now that one of their biggest champions on Labor's side has defected.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

Any solution to a given problem only works under a given set of conditions. Once those conditions no longer apply, it is incumbent upon policy makers to change the solution.

The problem with financial systems is that they are so complicated that it's impossible to say with certainty what these conditions are and avert policy failures before they happen.

The concentration of capital in the hands of a few and the growing disconnect between labour and productivity are creating weird, unprecedented conditions.

 

[D.Lo]

So Paul Keating, one of the co-fathers of neoliberalism in Australia along with Bob Hawke, has basically agreed with Sally McManus' remarks on neoliberalism.

That's... A major admission from Keating. Neoliberalists have a reason to be scared now that one of their biggest champions on Labor's side has defected.

Just shows that he's brilliant. Driven by evidence, not ideology.

 

[Elaugaufein]

Any solution to a given problem only works under a given set of conditions. Once those conditions no longer apply, it is incumbent upon policy makers to change the solution.

The problem with financial systems is that they are so complicated that it's impossible to say with certainty what these conditions are and avert policy failures before they happen.

The concentration of capital in the hands of a few and the growing disconnect between labour and productivity are creating weird, unprecedented conditions.

It's not really unprecedented let alone weird it's just a new (and somewhat more intense ) form of things that happened in the Industrial Revolution and Gilded Age. Any failure to see it coming is based more on wilful ignorance than a lack of precedent. Though admittedly the inability of governments to act , rather than an unwillingness based on largely being composed /backed by the people making out like bandits, is new and is a consequence of the globalization of capital but it was a hardly an unforeseeable outcome of the decisions that lead to the situation.

 

[legend166]

So something I've thought about (but not too hard) - it's pretty obvious the effects of globalisation, whilst I think are a net good from a global perspective (extreme poverty has declined dramatically), have increased wealth inequality in developed nations mainly at the expense of the middle class.

Howard was criticized heavily (and continues to be) for his middle class welfare policies. But is it possible that in the age of globalisation such policies are actually more necessary than maybe we give credit for?

Like I said I haven't really thought this through too much.

 

[D.Lo]

Howard was criticized heavily (and continues to be) for his middle class welfare policies. But is it possible that in the age of globalisation such policies are actually more necessary than maybe we give credit for?

Like I said I haven't really thought this through too much.

Broadly yes, but Howard's policies were pure pork to win elections, and not means tested enough so they were really 'middle plus upper class welfare'.

The ridiculousness of the Pension growing much higher than other welfare payments, even disability, when the recipients have no job search requirements or employment needs (and often own their own house) is demonstrative.

 

[Dryk]

So something I've thought about (but not too hard) - it's pretty obvious the effects of globalisation, whilst I think are a net good from a global perspective (extreme poverty has declined dramatically), have increased wealth inequality in developed nations mainly at the expense of the middle class.

Howard was criticized heavily (and continues to be) for his middle class welfare policies. But is it possible that in the age of globalisation such policies are actually more necessary than maybe we give credit for?

Like I said I haven't really thought this through too much.

It is looking like globalisation with redistribution seems like the optimal solution (annoyingly one that nobody wants to go for). Whether or not Howard's middle-class welfare was wise in that sense is up for debate, but doing it at the expense of the lower-class and government investment was still stupid.

Incidentally if you put the words globalisation and redistribution into Twitter you most get people mad that global warming is a hoax concocted by globalists to redistribute wealth to the third world. Which makes me think that those people don't know what any of those words mean.

 

[Dead Man]

So something I've thought about (but not too hard) - it's pretty obvious the effects of globalisation, whilst I think are a net good from a global perspective (extreme poverty has declined dramatically), have increased wealth inequality in developed nations mainly at the expense of the middle class.

Howard was criticized heavily (and continues to be) for his middle class welfare policies. But is it possible that in the age of globalisation such policies are actually more necessary than maybe we give credit for?

Like I said I haven't really thought this through too much.

They might be, but he implemented them at the cost of the poorer class and purely for vote buying.

 

[bobnowhere]

The 18C changes are dead again.

 

[Elaugaufein]

The 18C changes are dead again.

They were zombies to start with. NXT , Labor and the Greens never supported it and it's impossible to pass anything without at least one of those 3.

 

[danm999]

The 18C changes are dead again.

Really a no win scenario for the govt. It didn't pass, it'll piss off the public and the lunatics like Bernardi think the government didn't try hard enough or whatever and were trying to placate them.

 

[Shaneus]

They were zombies to start with. NXT , Labor and the Greens never supported it and it's impossible to pass anything without at least one of those 3.

Surprised to see Hinch as one of the people *for* the changes, though. Thought he would've had a little more common sense than that.

 

[Arksy]

I agree with Keating on his analysis about central bank money and malaise, but what would he offer as a solution?

Surprised to see Hinch as one of the people *for* the changes, though. Thought he would've had a little more common sense than that.

The guy who went to prison because he willfully broke court suppression orders and ousted pedophiles and took it to the high court to argue that under the implied freedom of political communication he should be allowed to do it?

 

[Arksy]

Oop.

 

[Shaneus]

The guy who went to prison because he willfully broke court suppression orders and ousted pedophiles and took it to the high court to argue that under the implied freedom of political communication he should be allowed to do it?

I didn't realise that was related to racial discrimination. My bad.

 

[danm999]

I agree with Keating on his analysis about central bank money and malaise, but what would he offer as a solution?



The guy who went to prison because he willfully broke court suppression orders and ousted pedophiles and took it to the high court to argue that under the implied freedom of political communication he should be allowed to do it?

Now he's got dat sweet parliamentary privilege.

 

[Elaugaufein]

I didn't realise that was related to racial discrimination. My bad.

Its not. Hinch seems to genuinely​ believe it impinges on free speech rights and he's backing it for that reason. Its not really surprising , he was a Today Tonight / A Current Affair style journo back in the day , which is a mixture of genuine investigatory journalism and lowest common denominator sensationalism which probably does result in some strong beliefs regarding speech given how often that style cops it in the neck from everybody.

 

[Shaneus]

Its not. Hinch seems to genuinely​ believe it impinges on free speech rights and he's backing it for that reason. Its not really surprising , he was a Today Tonight / A Current Affair style journo back in the day , which is a mixture of genuine investigatory journalism and lowest common denominator sensationalism which probably does result in some strong beliefs regarding speech given how often that style cops it in the neck from everybody.

Huh. Consider me educated. Apologies, Arksy!

 

[mjontrix]

So business tax cuts passed up to $50,000,000.

Big business are probably fuming atm.

Gas reservation (potential) policy probably has pissed off a few donors as well. They can't just forget it either - without Xenophon they can't pass anything if they screw him over.

 

[bobnowhere]

So business tax cuts passed up to $50,000,000.

Big business are probably fuming atm.

Gas reservation (potential) policy probably has pissed off a few donors as well. They can't just forget it either - without Xenophon they can't pass anything if they screw him over.

And all pensioners are getting at least $75 to help pay for the price of energy and SA is getting a $100mil solar thermal plant. Nick sure knows how to look after Nick.

SA are also getting the worlds largest solar/battery farm, privately built, at the cost of $1bill for 330MW which is about what we just lost at Hazelwood. Hazlewood used to produce 1.6GW but has been operating well below that for many years now.

Imagine the storms all this renewable energy will cause. Batten down SA!

 

[Elaugaufein]

So business tax cuts passed up to $50,000,000.

Big business are probably fuming atm.

Gas reservation (potential) policy probably has pissed off a few donors as well. They can't just forget it either - without Xenophon they can't pass anything if they screw him over.

And all pensioners are getting at least $75 to help pay for the price of energy and SA is getting a $100mil solar thermal plant. Nick sure knows how to look after Nick.

SA are also getting the worlds largest solar/battery farm, privately built, at the cost of $1bill for 330MW which is about what we just lost at Hazelwood. Hazlewood used to produce 1.6GW but has been operating well below that for many years now.

Imagine the storms all this renewable energy will cause. Batten down SA!

Yeah, you can't say Xenophon isn't doing a good job getting pork for SA. Though this is pretty practical by pork standards.

The government could attempt to string him along by seeing how far they can delay whatever the deal is before he gets intransigent. Though that would be a risky game since Xenophon holds pretty much all the cards from the governments viewpoint so they'd be up the creek without a paddle if he called them on it.

 

[Candescence]

The Saturday Paper provides a fairly succinct picture of how badly the Turnbull government botched the attempted ratification of the China extradition treaty originally devised by the Howard government. At least three senators were planning to join Labor, the Greens and the crossbench in rejecting ratification had it come up for a vote, which would've been humiliating for both Turnbull and China, and would've pissed off the latter even more. And Abbott is using this as a means of attacking the government yet again.

Granted, they should've known it was a terrible idea to try and push an extradition treaty involving a country known for regularly violating rule of law.

 

[Elaugaufein]

The Saturday Paper provides a fairly succinct picture of how badly the Turnbull government botched the attempted ratification of the China extradition treaty originally devised by the Howard government. At least three senators were planning to join Labor, the Greens and the crossbench in rejecting ratification had it come up for a vote, which would've been humiliating for both Turnbull and China, and would've pissed off the latter even more. And Abbott is using this as a means of attacking the government yet again.

Granted, they should've known it was a terrible idea to try and push an extradition treaty involving a country known for regularly violating rule of law.

That explains why they pulled it rather than go through the theatre like they did with 18C. That would be really embarrassing

 

[bobnowhere]

Mark Latham to become Free Speech Commissioner.

 

[Elaugaufein]

Mark Latham to become Free Speech Commissioner.

Interesting.

Spoiler

This is an April fool's Day joke. Read the last 3 paragraphs.

 

[bobnowhere]

Interesting.

Spoiler

This is an April fool's Day joke. Read the last 3 paragraphs.

Lol, I know, was hoping to catch someone!

You know somewhere there is a group of people who think it would be a very good idea.

 

[hirokazu]

Lol, I know, was hoping to catch someone!

You know somewhere there is a group of people who think it would be a very good idea.

Haha, you caught me, I saw the date posted and it wasn't April 1st. Until I got to the end.

 

[Candescence]

Newspoll 2PP is 53/47 in favor of Labor, moving back towards the 55/45 of two Newspolls ago. The last Newspoll was very likely an outlier, then. The government is likely back to worrying.

 

[Elaugaufein]

Apparently the Government's plan is to destroy Bill Shorten over the next 6 months. This seems questionable for 2 reasons:
1) Haven't they been doing that for like 2 months already with little to show ?
And
2) They are talking about Shorten who's personal approval seems to hover between wet sponge and wet cardboard but it doesn't seem to affect the 2PP.

 

[bobnowhere]

Apparently the Government's plan is to destroy Bill Shorten over the next 6 months. This seems questionable for 2 reasons:
1) Haven't they been doing that for like 2 months already with little to show ?
And
2) They are talking about Shorten who's personal approval seems to hover between wet sponge and wet cardboard but it doesn't seem to affect the 2PP.

ScoMo has a new "genius" attack this morning. He's complaining about the $4bill...ish hole in Labor's costings which he himself caused on Friday with the small business tax cut.

As for Shorten isn't it better the devil you know? Albo, Tanya or Bowen are far more serious threats.

 

[CrankyKong]

Apparently the Government's plan is to destroy Bill Shorten over the next 6 months. This seems questionable for 2 reasons:
1) Haven't they been doing that for like 2 months already with little to show ?
And
2) They are talking about Shorten who's personal approval seems to hover between wet sponge and wet cardboard but it doesn't seem to affect the 2PP.

Where did hear that?

 

[danm999]

ScoMo has a new "genius" attack this morning. He's complaining about the $4bill...ish hole in Labor's costings which he himself caused on Friday with the small business tax cut.

Yeah basically implying you've blown a bigger hole in the budget that Labor will have to clean up certainly is an interesting gloat.

 

[Elaugaufein]

Where did hear that?

The usual anonymous person talking of the record apparently.

 

[Dryk]

Yeah basically implying you've blown a bigger hole in the budget that Labor will have to clean up certainly is an interesting gloat.

Let's not pretend like that tactic hasn't worked out well for them in the past

 

[Shaneus]

Well, that PHON thing on 4 Corners last night was certainly interesting. Anyone else catch it?

 

[bobnowhere]

Well, that PHON thing on 4 Corners last night was certainly interesting. Anyone else catch it?

There wasn't too much that wasn't already out there but it did show that Pauline still thinks the rules don't apply to her. That's what got her in trouble the last time, the jail sentence aside. Also jeez rural Queensland could you be any more racist?

First there was Sausagegate 2016 that absolutely positively cost Bill Shorten the Lodge and now Turnbull has refused a Sausage sandwich while touring the flood damage. Turnbull to be rolled in months if not weeks.

Spoiler

I can't believe people are wasting pixels/print about this shit.

 

[D.Lo]

First there was Sausagegate 2016 that absolutely positively cost Bill Shorten the Lodge and now Turnbull has refused a Sausage sandwich while touring the flood damage. Turnbull to be rolled in months if not weeks.

He can't win. If he'd eaten it the headline would probably be 'Turnbull takes valuable supplies from locals'.

 

[danm999]

Man Abbott is a little shitstirrer.

Abbott said, “You should never agree to do something that is wrong to get something that is right” – although he conceded he hadn’t examined the details of the deal with Xenophon.

The former prime minister said he was “very cautious about horse-trading”.

No wonder he got fuck all passed through the Senate. I have this mental image though of him sipping on a glass of red wine at night thinking himself a Machiavellian genius.

 

[Candescence]

Well, that PHON thing on 4 Corners last night was certainly interesting. Anyone else catch it?

Watched it last night, it was certainly enlightening as to how really messed up One Nation is this time around. The former party treasurer admitting he was a fool to have not vetted Ashby (and that if he had, Ashby would've never gotten anywhere near the party) was a highlight, and both Pauline and Ashby acting like incompetently corrupt scumbags. I really feel sorry for the people burned by their idiocy.

 

[D.Lo]

Watched it last night, it was certainly enlightening as to how really messed up One Nation is this time around. The former party treasurer admitting he was a fool to have not vetted Ashby (and that if he had, Ashby would've never gotten anywhere near the party) was a highlight, and both Pauline and Ashby acting like incompetently corrupt scumbags. I really feel sorry for the people burned by their idiocy.

Oh wow I might check it out tonight.

How bizarre that the majors are on the nose so much that a chunk of the electorate have turned to literally crazy people. I mean I guess it's lucky they're so bad and incompetent, it prevents them from winning like Trump.