We all know what it's like, that dreadful after-party hangover when all is unmasked by the cold, clear light of day and reality sets in with a vengeance. So it would appear to some/many (?) in the seat of Wentworth after the razzmatazz of election night fever abated:
"Didn't Dave Sharma pledge to tackle issues like climate change? It's only been a few weeks since the election, though long enough for recalling such particulars to become hazy, but isn't that what his letters, calls and pamphlets promised? So issues of national importance, have they fallen by the wayside? Dave now says he will focus on local issues, because that's what we want ('The promise of things to come', Courier, May 29). But do we need three layers of government focusing on local issues simultaneously? As our new member, the first thing he's done is earmark $15 million for the construction of a new headquarters for the Sydney Swans. Thinking of all the issues facing us right now, I could think of a lot more pressing than that one." (Patricia O'Neill, Paddington, Wentworth Courier, 12/6/19)
You get the sense from O'Neill's letter to the editor that that some/many (?) in Wentworth are feeling somewhat underwhelmed by the election of their new Liberal MP. Is this it? they seem to be saying. Is Sharma a complete dud?
But just to clarify, according to the aforementioned Wentworth Courier of May 29, another direct funding commitment, apart from that to the Sydney Swans h/q, was also made:
"Mr Sharma, who returned the seat to the Liberals just over a week ago, ran primarily on promises to deliver on local issues though offered no direct funds towards them. The only other direct funding commitment was $143,000 for more CCTV along the Bondi Beach promenade after a spate of anti-semitic graffiti." (The promise of things to come: MP Dave Sharma's commitments were mostly cost-free)
No surprises there, eh?.
Showing posts with label Liberal Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liberal Party. Show all posts
Friday, June 14, 2019
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Witless in Wentworth
Former Australian Ambassador for Israel, and self-styled 'modern' Liberal, Dave Sharma is now the new Liberal Party MP for the seat of Wentworth. So who voted for him, and why? My picking through the post-election msm garbage - slim pickings, I know - has so far revealed the following interesting emissions:
"'I voted for Kerryn last year but not now,' said Anna, 33, who did not want he last name used. She said she had cast a vote for Dr Phelps to signal her frustration to the Liberal Party, but over the week decided to vote for Mr Sharma, influenced in part by his campaign's daily phone messages to her emphasising trust and compassion." (Liberals confident Sharma to nab Wentworth, Nick O'Malley, The Sun-Herald, 19/5/19)
"Natalie Solenko, 83, who emerged from the booths with her 76-year-old husband Bruce Young, said she had voted Liberal, as she had since arriving in Australia from Russia via Paris in 1951: 'I have lived under a communist party, thank you very much.' She said she had told her greens-voting daughter that she should go and live in a tent." (ibid)
OK, is it updates as they arise, or enough already?
"'I voted for Kerryn last year but not now,' said Anna, 33, who did not want he last name used. She said she had cast a vote for Dr Phelps to signal her frustration to the Liberal Party, but over the week decided to vote for Mr Sharma, influenced in part by his campaign's daily phone messages to her emphasising trust and compassion." (Liberals confident Sharma to nab Wentworth, Nick O'Malley, The Sun-Herald, 19/5/19)
"Natalie Solenko, 83, who emerged from the booths with her 76-year-old husband Bruce Young, said she had voted Liberal, as she had since arriving in Australia from Russia via Paris in 1951: 'I have lived under a communist party, thank you very much.' She said she had told her greens-voting daughter that she should go and live in a tent." (ibid)
OK, is it updates as they arise, or enough already?
Friday, May 17, 2019
Shorten: 'We Can't Waste Talent'
Good grief!
First this:
"Those close to Shorten and Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong say things are shaping up well for former foreign minister Julie Bishop - should she want a job... Wong has already described Bishop as 'a very effective diplomat'... Another name in the race, even if by his own suggestion: former communications minister turned gambling lobbyist Stephen Conroy." (Chatter reaches fever pitch on plum overseas postings, CBD, Kylar Loussikian/Samantha Hutchinson, Sydney Morning Herald, 14/5/19)
Then this:
"Labor leader Bill Shorten has left the door open to offering former foreign minister Julie Bishop a job if Labor wins government. In a pitch to West Australian voters at a business breakfast yesterday, Mr Shorten praised the high-profile Perth Liberal, saying he thought of her 'very highly'. Asked if she would be offered the position of ambassador to the United States when it becomes vacant next year, Mr Shorten first acknowledged Ms Bishop had said she wants to work in the private sector. He then added: 'I'll certainly be talking to her. I know that her and Penny [Wong] have a very good working relationship... I will always rate her highly. I'm not going to put a name against a label because we haven't even won. But I'm saying to you unreservedly here, I've got a lot of respect for her. Chloe and I know her well. She's a good person... we can't waste talent'." (Shorten considers Bishop for US ambassador role, Judith Ireland, Sydney Morning Herald, 16/5/19)
Bishop? Conroy? Any more spent LibLabs out there, desperately seeking relevance under a possible Shorten regime? I shudder to think.
Bishop first. Her reported comment of January 2014, in Israel, questioning the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, namely, "I would like to see which international law has declared them illegal," should rule her out, both on the grounds of ignorance of international law and common knowledge, not to mention elementary decency. She it was, too, who withdrew Australian funding from the Palestinian Authority on the grounds that it could be given to "Palestinian criminals" in July last year. As the head Labor Zionist, Shorten's words are predictable, but what does Bishop and Wong's alleged "very good personal relationship" tell us about the latter?
Conroy? Good God! Assessed by the astute Bob Carr as having "an umbilical attachment to Israel," Conroy, alone in the Labor Party in 2003, endorsed the Bush/Blair/Howard war of regime change in Iraq.
First this:
"Those close to Shorten and Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong say things are shaping up well for former foreign minister Julie Bishop - should she want a job... Wong has already described Bishop as 'a very effective diplomat'... Another name in the race, even if by his own suggestion: former communications minister turned gambling lobbyist Stephen Conroy." (Chatter reaches fever pitch on plum overseas postings, CBD, Kylar Loussikian/Samantha Hutchinson, Sydney Morning Herald, 14/5/19)
Then this:
"Labor leader Bill Shorten has left the door open to offering former foreign minister Julie Bishop a job if Labor wins government. In a pitch to West Australian voters at a business breakfast yesterday, Mr Shorten praised the high-profile Perth Liberal, saying he thought of her 'very highly'. Asked if she would be offered the position of ambassador to the United States when it becomes vacant next year, Mr Shorten first acknowledged Ms Bishop had said she wants to work in the private sector. He then added: 'I'll certainly be talking to her. I know that her and Penny [Wong] have a very good working relationship... I will always rate her highly. I'm not going to put a name against a label because we haven't even won. But I'm saying to you unreservedly here, I've got a lot of respect for her. Chloe and I know her well. She's a good person... we can't waste talent'." (Shorten considers Bishop for US ambassador role, Judith Ireland, Sydney Morning Herald, 16/5/19)
Bishop? Conroy? Any more spent LibLabs out there, desperately seeking relevance under a possible Shorten regime? I shudder to think.
Bishop first. Her reported comment of January 2014, in Israel, questioning the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, namely, "I would like to see which international law has declared them illegal," should rule her out, both on the grounds of ignorance of international law and common knowledge, not to mention elementary decency. She it was, too, who withdrew Australian funding from the Palestinian Authority on the grounds that it could be given to "Palestinian criminals" in July last year. As the head Labor Zionist, Shorten's words are predictable, but what does Bishop and Wong's alleged "very good personal relationship" tell us about the latter?
Conroy? Good God! Assessed by the astute Bob Carr as having "an umbilical attachment to Israel," Conroy, alone in the Labor Party in 2003, endorsed the Bush/Blair/Howard war of regime change in Iraq.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
The $3.5m Question
Hmm...
"It has been dubbed Scott Morrison's secret $500,000 fundraising coup - and it happened at billionaire Anthony Pratt's mansion [Raheen in March]... Here's what we missed. [Liberal federal president Nick Greiner made sure to invite Charles Goode, he of the impressive Melbourne Rolodex and also the chair of the Cormack Foundation, the much debated $75 million Liberal-aligned donor. And Greiner - the clever man - made sure Goode was seated next to the Prime Minister. Scomo sure didn't waste the opportunity. We are informed by senior Liberal sources that before the Raheen dinner, the Cormack Foundation - whose board also includes former PM John Howard and fellow grandee Richard Alston - had agreed to donate $3m to the federal party's campaign fund. After Morrison's dinner chat with Goode that amount was increased by $500,000 to a record $3.5m..." (ScoMo's $500,000 booster, Margin Call, Will Glasgow & Christine Lacy, The Australian, 9/5/19)
Remember how, despite former PM Malcolm Turnbull's extensive services to Netanyahu, he had to pay $1.75m of his own money to pay for his 2016 election campaign? (If not, see my 6/3/18 post Poor Old Malcolm.)
Well, what to make of the above? Seems like Anthony Pratt's Raheen was no more than a venue for this fundraiser, and Howard and Alston, like Turnbull before them, are having to dip into their own pockets to fund Morrison's election campaign.
Which has me puzzled: if the Zionist money of yore is no longer forthcoming, then why are these Liberal Party clowns still bending over backwards, foreign policy-wise, for Israel?
"It has been dubbed Scott Morrison's secret $500,000 fundraising coup - and it happened at billionaire Anthony Pratt's mansion [Raheen in March]... Here's what we missed. [Liberal federal president Nick Greiner made sure to invite Charles Goode, he of the impressive Melbourne Rolodex and also the chair of the Cormack Foundation, the much debated $75 million Liberal-aligned donor. And Greiner - the clever man - made sure Goode was seated next to the Prime Minister. Scomo sure didn't waste the opportunity. We are informed by senior Liberal sources that before the Raheen dinner, the Cormack Foundation - whose board also includes former PM John Howard and fellow grandee Richard Alston - had agreed to donate $3m to the federal party's campaign fund. After Morrison's dinner chat with Goode that amount was increased by $500,000 to a record $3.5m..." (ScoMo's $500,000 booster, Margin Call, Will Glasgow & Christine Lacy, The Australian, 9/5/19)
Remember how, despite former PM Malcolm Turnbull's extensive services to Netanyahu, he had to pay $1.75m of his own money to pay for his 2016 election campaign? (If not, see my 6/3/18 post Poor Old Malcolm.)
Well, what to make of the above? Seems like Anthony Pratt's Raheen was no more than a venue for this fundraiser, and Howard and Alston, like Turnbull before them, are having to dip into their own pockets to fund Morrison's election campaign.
Which has me puzzled: if the Zionist money of yore is no longer forthcoming, then why are these Liberal Party clowns still bending over backwards, foreign policy-wise, for Israel?
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Dave Sharma Watch
Y'all know former Australian ambassador to Israel (or is it the other way around?), and Wentworth wannabe, Dave Sharma by now, right?
How could you not?
*After all, government documents obtained by the ABC in February reveal that PM Morrison was persuaded by Sharma to move the Australian embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a decision that, coincidentally, was announced during last October's Wentworth by-election in the hope that Jewish voters there would rally to his cause.
*And who could forget Mrs Sharma's heartfelt sentiment that "we will be very, very proud ambassadors for Israel to the world"?
*Not to mention her husband's gushing declaration that "Israel will always be in our hearts, blood, souls, veins."
Memorable indeed!
Which brings us to the question, as the federal election nears, of what the man who has declared himself literally riddled with Israel has been up to. So, here's a round-up, incomplete no doubt, but so telling nonetheless of the stark Israelicentric realities of elite politics in this country:
"Independent MP Kerryn Phelps says 'dirty tricks' are behind the removal of hundreds of political posters promoting her campaign for the federal seat of Wentworth in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs. Dr Phelps is fighting to retain the seat she won after a resounding 20% swing against [Liberal Party] candidate Dave Sharma in the October by-election. But on Friday night her posters were taken down in several locations along New South Head Road at Rose Bay, at Bondi and in Elizabeth Bay, Dr Phelps said... The Liberal Party's posters remained in place, Dr Phelps said, adding: 'So you can make your own conclusions about that.' But Liberal candidate Dave Sharma flatly denied having anything to do with it, saying his posters had suffered the same fate." (Kerryn Phelps alleges 'dirty tricks' behind removal of election campaign posters in Wentworth, Sue Daniel, abc.net.au, 14/4/19)
"Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, told The Australian: 'I was very concerned to see that my opponent has been retweeting endorsements from a prominent supporter of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, one who has called on Australians to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest being held in Israel this month.' However Phelps, who converted to Judaism when she married [Jackie] Stricker... in 2011, had already deleted her retweet after being alerted to the author @Saints_Dragons' anti-Israel history. There was no mention of BDS or Israel in the Tweet, an endorsement of her re-election campaign by @Saints_Dragons, which Phelps had initially retweeted. Phelps told The Australian this, confirmed she was a supporter of Israel and made it clear she did not condone BDS. The story, and Sharma's comments, were then binned. When asked about the story that never was, Phelps told PS: 'It was a shameful attempt by Dave Sharma to discredit me and destroy my reputation within the Jewish community'." (Stayin' alive in Wentworth amid smears as campaign goes nuclear, PS, The Sydney Morning Herald, 4/5/19)
"Not spotted, however, [at the Liberal Party'a election fundraising machine at Justin Hemmes' gothic Vaucluse pile The Hermitage] former Australian ambassador to Israel turned Liberal candidate in Wentworth... Dave Sharma. He wasn't at Bondi Pavilion's High Tide Room either, where there was a local meet the candidates event with his independent rival, Wentworth MP Kerryn Phelps. But CBD did eventually locate him, at another swanky Wentworth home, this time in Double Bay, where he was attending a Liberal friends of Israel event." (Hemmes' lavish cocktail party for Libs, CBD, Kylar Loussikian, Sydney Morning Herald, 7/5/19)
"And while Hemmes, Morrison and a slew of his Cabinet including Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher and Trade Minister Simon Birmingham sat down for a $13,750-a-head fundraising dinner on Monday, Foreign Minister Marise Payne slipped out of the side door. She was a key guest at the Liberal Friends of Israel dinner at another lavish home in Double Bay that evening, raising money for Wentworth candidate Dave Sharma. While our attempts at wrangling the name of the mystery host came to nought - we're told it was a secretive Israeli tech player - we can tell you the dinner also attracted Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton, Fletcher staffer Will Nemesh and carpet scion Yosi Tal. (Tal also happens to be the president of the Friends of Israel." (Cash collection, CBD, Kylar Loussikian/Samantha Hutchinson, Sydney Morning Herald, 8/5/19)
How could you not?
*After all, government documents obtained by the ABC in February reveal that PM Morrison was persuaded by Sharma to move the Australian embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a decision that, coincidentally, was announced during last October's Wentworth by-election in the hope that Jewish voters there would rally to his cause.
*And who could forget Mrs Sharma's heartfelt sentiment that "we will be very, very proud ambassadors for Israel to the world"?
*Not to mention her husband's gushing declaration that "Israel will always be in our hearts, blood, souls, veins."
Memorable indeed!
Which brings us to the question, as the federal election nears, of what the man who has declared himself literally riddled with Israel has been up to. So, here's a round-up, incomplete no doubt, but so telling nonetheless of the stark Israelicentric realities of elite politics in this country:
"Independent MP Kerryn Phelps says 'dirty tricks' are behind the removal of hundreds of political posters promoting her campaign for the federal seat of Wentworth in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs. Dr Phelps is fighting to retain the seat she won after a resounding 20% swing against [Liberal Party] candidate Dave Sharma in the October by-election. But on Friday night her posters were taken down in several locations along New South Head Road at Rose Bay, at Bondi and in Elizabeth Bay, Dr Phelps said... The Liberal Party's posters remained in place, Dr Phelps said, adding: 'So you can make your own conclusions about that.' But Liberal candidate Dave Sharma flatly denied having anything to do with it, saying his posters had suffered the same fate." (Kerryn Phelps alleges 'dirty tricks' behind removal of election campaign posters in Wentworth, Sue Daniel, abc.net.au, 14/4/19)
"Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, told The Australian: 'I was very concerned to see that my opponent has been retweeting endorsements from a prominent supporter of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, one who has called on Australians to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest being held in Israel this month.' However Phelps, who converted to Judaism when she married [Jackie] Stricker... in 2011, had already deleted her retweet after being alerted to the author @Saints_Dragons' anti-Israel history. There was no mention of BDS or Israel in the Tweet, an endorsement of her re-election campaign by @Saints_Dragons, which Phelps had initially retweeted. Phelps told The Australian this, confirmed she was a supporter of Israel and made it clear she did not condone BDS. The story, and Sharma's comments, were then binned. When asked about the story that never was, Phelps told PS: 'It was a shameful attempt by Dave Sharma to discredit me and destroy my reputation within the Jewish community'." (Stayin' alive in Wentworth amid smears as campaign goes nuclear, PS, The Sydney Morning Herald, 4/5/19)
"Not spotted, however, [at the Liberal Party'a election fundraising machine at Justin Hemmes' gothic Vaucluse pile The Hermitage] former Australian ambassador to Israel turned Liberal candidate in Wentworth... Dave Sharma. He wasn't at Bondi Pavilion's High Tide Room either, where there was a local meet the candidates event with his independent rival, Wentworth MP Kerryn Phelps. But CBD did eventually locate him, at another swanky Wentworth home, this time in Double Bay, where he was attending a Liberal friends of Israel event." (Hemmes' lavish cocktail party for Libs, CBD, Kylar Loussikian, Sydney Morning Herald, 7/5/19)
"And while Hemmes, Morrison and a slew of his Cabinet including Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher and Trade Minister Simon Birmingham sat down for a $13,750-a-head fundraising dinner on Monday, Foreign Minister Marise Payne slipped out of the side door. She was a key guest at the Liberal Friends of Israel dinner at another lavish home in Double Bay that evening, raising money for Wentworth candidate Dave Sharma. While our attempts at wrangling the name of the mystery host came to nought - we're told it was a secretive Israeli tech player - we can tell you the dinner also attracted Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton, Fletcher staffer Will Nemesh and carpet scion Yosi Tal. (Tal also happens to be the president of the Friends of Israel." (Cash collection, CBD, Kylar Loussikian/Samantha Hutchinson, Sydney Morning Herald, 8/5/19)
Saturday, May 4, 2019
The Israelification of the NSW Police Force
How interesting:
"The NSW Police Force has been ordered to publish an apology and implement racial vilification training for senior officers after a tribunal found a police training exercise in October 2017 racially vilified Palestinians and Arabs and portrayed them as potential terrorists.
"'Exercise Pantograph' featured hundreds of police... at Sydney's Central Station as though they were responding to a terrorist event... During the exercise, two officers pretending to be 'active armed offenders' wore headscarves as they boarded a train, simulated stabbing and shooting people, held hostages, then tried to escape before being caught by police. The pretend offenders displayed the Islamic State flag during the exercise, pushed people to the floor, held train passengers at gunpoint, and held up their index fingers in a salute notoriously associated with Islamic State." (From Police to apologise for 'vilifying Arabs' in terrorism exercise, Georgina Mitchell, Sydney Morning Herald, 3/5/19)
No mention here, you'll note, of how the hapless commuters managed to cope with this kind of treatment, but, hey, who, in this neoliberal police state, gives a stuff about them? (Anyone btw who thinks my use of the term 'police state' a tad hyperbolic, might like to peruse the article NSW: moving to a police state, Ugur Nedim, Sydney Criminal Lawyers, 19/9/16)
To continue:
"Yesterday, two members of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) found the headscarves were not necessary and would have been recognised by the public as keffiyehs, used by Palestinian and Arab communities. The use of the headscarves had the capacity to encourage members of the public to believe, 'Palestinians and/or Arabs were to be feared, despised, hated, and/or held in serious contempt as possibly or probably being terrorists', especially given that it was NSW Police who used them, NCAT found."
Now there's a backstory to this, but, predictably, you won't find anyone alluding to it in mainstream media outlets. For one thing their memory's too short. For another they're running scared.
As the posts filed under my 'NSW Police' label indicate, since the election of the Liberal O'Farrell/Baird/ Berejiklian NSW state governments (2011-), the boys in blue have displayed what can only be described as an extraordinary, even Zionist, interest in anyone in the state seeking to draw attention to the plight of the Palestinians.
But why? Maybe the following snippet provides a clue:
"Police officers in NSW will take part in a seminar where they will be taught about the threat of terrorism faced by Jews and Israelis, the history of Zionism and the Jewish community's connection to the Holy Land. The course... is being conducted by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) and the Communal Security Group (CSG) for members of the police forces' anti-terrorism unit." (Israel 101 course for police, The Australian Jewish News, 28/10/11)
My post on that is titled Israel 101 for Cops, 28/10/11, but feel free to read through the other 11 posts on this subject and be amazed at just how focused the NSW Police have been on pro-Palestinian activism. Oh, and enjoy your next train ride.
"The NSW Police Force has been ordered to publish an apology and implement racial vilification training for senior officers after a tribunal found a police training exercise in October 2017 racially vilified Palestinians and Arabs and portrayed them as potential terrorists.
"'Exercise Pantograph' featured hundreds of police... at Sydney's Central Station as though they were responding to a terrorist event... During the exercise, two officers pretending to be 'active armed offenders' wore headscarves as they boarded a train, simulated stabbing and shooting people, held hostages, then tried to escape before being caught by police. The pretend offenders displayed the Islamic State flag during the exercise, pushed people to the floor, held train passengers at gunpoint, and held up their index fingers in a salute notoriously associated with Islamic State." (From Police to apologise for 'vilifying Arabs' in terrorism exercise, Georgina Mitchell, Sydney Morning Herald, 3/5/19)
No mention here, you'll note, of how the hapless commuters managed to cope with this kind of treatment, but, hey, who, in this neoliberal police state, gives a stuff about them? (Anyone btw who thinks my use of the term 'police state' a tad hyperbolic, might like to peruse the article NSW: moving to a police state, Ugur Nedim, Sydney Criminal Lawyers, 19/9/16)
To continue:
"Yesterday, two members of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) found the headscarves were not necessary and would have been recognised by the public as keffiyehs, used by Palestinian and Arab communities. The use of the headscarves had the capacity to encourage members of the public to believe, 'Palestinians and/or Arabs were to be feared, despised, hated, and/or held in serious contempt as possibly or probably being terrorists', especially given that it was NSW Police who used them, NCAT found."
Now there's a backstory to this, but, predictably, you won't find anyone alluding to it in mainstream media outlets. For one thing their memory's too short. For another they're running scared.
As the posts filed under my 'NSW Police' label indicate, since the election of the Liberal O'Farrell/Baird/ Berejiklian NSW state governments (2011-), the boys in blue have displayed what can only be described as an extraordinary, even Zionist, interest in anyone in the state seeking to draw attention to the plight of the Palestinians.
But why? Maybe the following snippet provides a clue:
"Police officers in NSW will take part in a seminar where they will be taught about the threat of terrorism faced by Jews and Israelis, the history of Zionism and the Jewish community's connection to the Holy Land. The course... is being conducted by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) and the Communal Security Group (CSG) for members of the police forces' anti-terrorism unit." (Israel 101 course for police, The Australian Jewish News, 28/10/11)
My post on that is titled Israel 101 for Cops, 28/10/11, but feel free to read through the other 11 posts on this subject and be amazed at just how focused the NSW Police have been on pro-Palestinian activism. Oh, and enjoy your next train ride.
Monday, April 22, 2019
On the Campaign Trail with Dave Sharma
"And while we may no longer be Australia's ambassador to Israel, we will be very proud ambassadors for Israel to the world." (Rachel Lord, From Australia's ambassadors to Israel to ambassadors for Israel to the world, Jerusalem Post, 14/6/17)
Here are the latest sightings of Dave Sharma, former Australian ambassador to Israel, currently "very proud ambassador for Israel to the world", and Liberal candidate (yet again!) for Turnbull's old seat of Wentworth:
1) The following words of Australia's "very proud ambassador for Israel to the world" make me wonder whether, in cases such as this, a 'noble sentiments' version of the 'directions for use' instruction found on pharmaceuticals is needed:
"I wish a Chag Pesach Sameach to the Jewish community celebrating the festival of Passover. I have many fond memories of nights spent around the Seder table in Israel reflecting on the escape from oppression, the pathway to liberty, and the triumph of freedom. These messages are just as relevant today, and we must remember these values as we struggle against intolerance and affirm the freedom we cherish as a society. As we reflect on why this night is different from all other nights and retell the story of the escape from Egypt, we should also pause to cherish the freedoms we enjoy here in Australia..." (Former Australian ambassador to Israel and candidate for Wentworth in the upcoming election Dave Sharma sends his message for Pesach, jwire.com.au, 18/4/19)
In the case of Sharma's noble sentiments above, for example, it could read: 'Applicable only to Australian Jews in particular, and Australians more generally. Not to be taken at all seriously by occupied/diaspora Palestinians'.
2) The Wentworth Courier, reveals, in a sneak-peek, that Mr & Mrs Sharma and the kids are now well and truly installed in their newly renovated Paddington terrace, "filled with treasures from his time abroad." (Souvenir edition, Melissa Hoyer, 17/4/19)
You will, of course, be fascinated to know that Dave and his wife, "international human rights lawyer for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade," Rachel Lord, "share their home with two Israeli street cats", "ceramics from the Middle East and Mediterranean", and "a tiled coffee table from Hebron."
Most interesting is the photograph of Dave's framed Zionist posters, 'Visit Palestine' (Franz Krausz, 1936) and 'Come to Palestine' (Zeev Rabin), which hark back to a time when Zionists had no problem whatever with the P-word (and which have most recently been appropriated by supporters of the Palestinian cause).
Alas, Ms Hoyer did not take the opportunity to ask Australia's "very proud ambassador for Israel to the world" about them, sadly depriving us of what could well have been a most interesting answer.
Here are the latest sightings of Dave Sharma, former Australian ambassador to Israel, currently "very proud ambassador for Israel to the world", and Liberal candidate (yet again!) for Turnbull's old seat of Wentworth:
1) The following words of Australia's "very proud ambassador for Israel to the world" make me wonder whether, in cases such as this, a 'noble sentiments' version of the 'directions for use' instruction found on pharmaceuticals is needed:
"I wish a Chag Pesach Sameach to the Jewish community celebrating the festival of Passover. I have many fond memories of nights spent around the Seder table in Israel reflecting on the escape from oppression, the pathway to liberty, and the triumph of freedom. These messages are just as relevant today, and we must remember these values as we struggle against intolerance and affirm the freedom we cherish as a society. As we reflect on why this night is different from all other nights and retell the story of the escape from Egypt, we should also pause to cherish the freedoms we enjoy here in Australia..." (Former Australian ambassador to Israel and candidate for Wentworth in the upcoming election Dave Sharma sends his message for Pesach, jwire.com.au, 18/4/19)
In the case of Sharma's noble sentiments above, for example, it could read: 'Applicable only to Australian Jews in particular, and Australians more generally. Not to be taken at all seriously by occupied/diaspora Palestinians'.
2) The Wentworth Courier, reveals, in a sneak-peek, that Mr & Mrs Sharma and the kids are now well and truly installed in their newly renovated Paddington terrace, "filled with treasures from his time abroad." (Souvenir edition, Melissa Hoyer, 17/4/19)
You will, of course, be fascinated to know that Dave and his wife, "international human rights lawyer for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade," Rachel Lord, "share their home with two Israeli street cats", "ceramics from the Middle East and Mediterranean", and "a tiled coffee table from Hebron."
Most interesting is the photograph of Dave's framed Zionist posters, 'Visit Palestine' (Franz Krausz, 1936) and 'Come to Palestine' (Zeev Rabin), which hark back to a time when Zionists had no problem whatever with the P-word (and which have most recently been appropriated by supporters of the Palestinian cause).
Alas, Ms Hoyer did not take the opportunity to ask Australia's "very proud ambassador for Israel to the world" about them, sadly depriving us of what could well have been a most interesting answer.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Extraordinary Death Experience
I've heard of election pitches, but this:
"The Liberal Party needs a variety of views, including people who have extraordinary life experience... I ran the war in Iraq for a year. That is unique experience." (Molan mounts insurgency to keep seat, David Wroe, Sydney Morning Herald, 18/4/19)
Yes folks, without Major-General Molan in charge, the war in Iraq would've been a complete and utter disaster.
"The Liberal Party needs a variety of views, including people who have extraordinary life experience... I ran the war in Iraq for a year. That is unique experience." (Molan mounts insurgency to keep seat, David Wroe, Sydney Morning Herald, 18/4/19)
Yes folks, without Major-General Molan in charge, the war in Iraq would've been a complete and utter disaster.
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Lie Back & Think of Two States
The Labor candidate for the WA seat of Curtin, Melissa Parke, "has pulled out of the contest after reports she told a public meeting last month that Israel's treatment of Palestinians was 'worse than the South African system of apartheid'." (Labor's candidate for Curtin, Melissa Parke, withdraws from federal election race, abc.net.au, 12/4/19)
Parke didn't pull out - she was pushed out. And what's more, she was pushed out not for any wrongdoing on her part, but simply for stating the bleeding obvious.
The details of the push are still murky, and will likely remain so, but this will come as no surprise:
"ECAJ chief executive Alex Ryvchin said he had conveyed his concerns about Ms Parke to several Labor figures." (Jewish advocates label WA Labor's star pick for Curtin 'extreme and divisive', Nathan Hondros, watoday.com, 10/4/19)
Yet another example of the malign hold of the Israel lobby over Bill Shorten's Labor Party.
Presumably, the ideal Labor candidate/politician is one who does no more than mindlessly chant the 'two-state' solution mantra.
But, of course, the Israel lobby has an even greater hold over Morrison's Liberal Party.
Scott Morrison's principal private secretary, Yaron Finkelstein, described as "in charge of the political strategy of the office," and "a former advisor in the Howard government, and later the chief executive of heavyweight of Liberal campaign firm Crosby Textor," (Power behind the leaders, Sydney Morning Herald, 12/4/19) has some very interesting baggage indeed:
"The NSW Liberal Friends of Israel group was launched at NSW Parliament House in Sydney this week [15/8/12]... Chairman Yaron Finkelstein told J-wire: 'All Liberal State and Federal Members of Parliament from NSW have been asked to join the Liberal Friends of Israel, and be active participants in its programme of events which include intelligence and policy briefings, visiting speaker functions and ongoing Australian/Israeli political exchanges'." (NSW Liberal Friends of Israel, Henry Benjamin, jwire.com, 15/8/12)
Did anyone dare decline?
Parke didn't pull out - she was pushed out. And what's more, she was pushed out not for any wrongdoing on her part, but simply for stating the bleeding obvious.
The details of the push are still murky, and will likely remain so, but this will come as no surprise:
"ECAJ chief executive Alex Ryvchin said he had conveyed his concerns about Ms Parke to several Labor figures." (Jewish advocates label WA Labor's star pick for Curtin 'extreme and divisive', Nathan Hondros, watoday.com, 10/4/19)
Yet another example of the malign hold of the Israel lobby over Bill Shorten's Labor Party.
Presumably, the ideal Labor candidate/politician is one who does no more than mindlessly chant the 'two-state' solution mantra.
But, of course, the Israel lobby has an even greater hold over Morrison's Liberal Party.
Scott Morrison's principal private secretary, Yaron Finkelstein, described as "in charge of the political strategy of the office," and "a former advisor in the Howard government, and later the chief executive of heavyweight of Liberal campaign firm Crosby Textor," (Power behind the leaders, Sydney Morning Herald, 12/4/19) has some very interesting baggage indeed:
"The NSW Liberal Friends of Israel group was launched at NSW Parliament House in Sydney this week [15/8/12]... Chairman Yaron Finkelstein told J-wire: 'All Liberal State and Federal Members of Parliament from NSW have been asked to join the Liberal Friends of Israel, and be active participants in its programme of events which include intelligence and policy briefings, visiting speaker functions and ongoing Australian/Israeli political exchanges'." (NSW Liberal Friends of Israel, Henry Benjamin, jwire.com, 15/8/12)
Did anyone dare decline?
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Know Your Prime Minister
Some insights into the character of Australia's PM Scott Morrison, culled from Herald journalist Peter Hartcher's expose: 'He was in it right up to his neck': How Morrison deposed a PM (26/3/19)
His duplicity:
"When a reporter asked Scott Morrison if he had ambitions for Malcolm Turnbull's job at a joint press conference, he responded by throwing a friendly arm around his prime minister's shoulder. 'This is my leader and I'm ambitious for him!' he declared exuberantly. That was on August 22, 2018. Two days later, Turnbull was gone. Morrison had taken his place."
His disciples:
"Once Turnbull had realised he probably couldn't survive, his key numbers man, Craig Laundy, the workplace minister at the time, agreed to talk to Morrison's backers about the situation. They were now simply doing the numbers for Morrison. The Turnbull and Morrison camps were united in seeking to block Dutton. Laundy sat down in the office of one of Morrison's key organisers, Alex Hawke... two days after the first ballot. He found himself in a meeting of Morrison's core support crew - Hawke, Stuart Robert, Ben Morton, Lucy Wicks and Bert van Manen. It was the Morrison prayer group... "
His scheming:
"Joyce told Turnbull, 'But Morrison is a schemer. Watch out for him. He's going to come for you.' To be noted as a schemer in a profession of schemers is a professional compliment. Such was Morrison's reputation in the Coalition."
His fascism:
"As the new immigration minister, Morrison brought forward a proposal to start detaining asylum seekers who were living in Australia on bridging visas awaiting the outcome of applications for permanent visas, according to multiple former and current ministers and officials. These were people living in the community. Morrison asked for $9 billion to $10 billion... to pay for a mass detention program. There were some 30,000 people in this category in Australia at that time... A spokesman for the Prime Minister said he had no recollection of such a proposal."
His duplicity:
"When a reporter asked Scott Morrison if he had ambitions for Malcolm Turnbull's job at a joint press conference, he responded by throwing a friendly arm around his prime minister's shoulder. 'This is my leader and I'm ambitious for him!' he declared exuberantly. That was on August 22, 2018. Two days later, Turnbull was gone. Morrison had taken his place."
His disciples:
"Once Turnbull had realised he probably couldn't survive, his key numbers man, Craig Laundy, the workplace minister at the time, agreed to talk to Morrison's backers about the situation. They were now simply doing the numbers for Morrison. The Turnbull and Morrison camps were united in seeking to block Dutton. Laundy sat down in the office of one of Morrison's key organisers, Alex Hawke... two days after the first ballot. He found himself in a meeting of Morrison's core support crew - Hawke, Stuart Robert, Ben Morton, Lucy Wicks and Bert van Manen. It was the Morrison prayer group... "
His scheming:
"Joyce told Turnbull, 'But Morrison is a schemer. Watch out for him. He's going to come for you.' To be noted as a schemer in a profession of schemers is a professional compliment. Such was Morrison's reputation in the Coalition."
His fascism:
"As the new immigration minister, Morrison brought forward a proposal to start detaining asylum seekers who were living in Australia on bridging visas awaiting the outcome of applications for permanent visas, according to multiple former and current ministers and officials. These were people living in the community. Morrison asked for $9 billion to $10 billion... to pay for a mass detention program. There were some 30,000 people in this category in Australia at that time... A spokesman for the Prime Minister said he had no recollection of such a proposal."
Friday, March 15, 2019
Pre-Election Fundraising at the Pratt's
Sarah Ferguson: They're [the Israel lobby] still a very small group of people. How do you account for them wielding so much power?
Bob Carr: I think party donations and a program of giving trips to MPs and journalists to Israel. (7.30 Report, 9/4/14)
***
And the latest news on the political donations front is as follows:
"Treasurer Josh Frydenberg struggled to get past security when he drove himself to the billionaire Pratt family mansion Raheen for a fundraiser last night. Life's a bit like that for the Liberals right now... Last night's event was a Liberal Party pre-election fundraiser with Melbourne's money: a $12,000-a-head dinner hosted by the billionaire family matriarch Jeanne Pratt.
"Despite the salubrious setting, selling selling tickets wasn't as easy as for events at previous elections.* All up, we're told there were fewer than 100 people at the Kew mansion. That's including the Morrison ministry. 'The Libs aren't going to bloody win, are they?' one well-connected Melbourne businessperson told us, explaining the lack of paying guests.
"Not everyone kept away from an autumnal event that, some might observe, skewed towards the pale, male and stale. Those along were each gifted two federal ministers per table... In trundled the determinedly optimistic Foreign Minister Marise Payne, the endangered Attorney-General Christian Porter, the Xavier College-alumni turned Catholic-loving Education Minister Dan Tehan... and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and his fellow Turnbull-slayer Mitch Fifield...
"Presumably paying guests spotted by Margin Call included Myer boss Garry Hounsell... Vocus Bob Mansfield (Telstra's chair back in the Howard era), Arnold, Bloch Leibler senior partner Mark Leibler and Pratt family member Raphael 'Raffy' Geminder, the billionaire chair of packaging outfit Pact.
"While Jeanne was on hosting duties, we gather that her son and Raheen housemate Anthony Pratt (Australia's richest person) was last night away on business.
"Bet you the Visy billionaire is back in the manor when ascendant Labor leader Bill Shorten and his troops arrive for a reciprocal fundraising event in a couple of weeks. Some fundraising dinners are better than others - even when they're held at your place." (More ghosts than guests at Lib fundraiser, Margin Call, Will Glasgow & Christine Lacy, The Australian Business Review, 13/3/19)
Bob Carr: I think party donations and a program of giving trips to MPs and journalists to Israel. (7.30 Report, 9/4/14)
***
And the latest news on the political donations front is as follows:
"Treasurer Josh Frydenberg struggled to get past security when he drove himself to the billionaire Pratt family mansion Raheen for a fundraiser last night. Life's a bit like that for the Liberals right now... Last night's event was a Liberal Party pre-election fundraiser with Melbourne's money: a $12,000-a-head dinner hosted by the billionaire family matriarch Jeanne Pratt.
"Despite the salubrious setting, selling selling tickets wasn't as easy as for events at previous elections.* All up, we're told there were fewer than 100 people at the Kew mansion. That's including the Morrison ministry. 'The Libs aren't going to bloody win, are they?' one well-connected Melbourne businessperson told us, explaining the lack of paying guests.
"Not everyone kept away from an autumnal event that, some might observe, skewed towards the pale, male and stale. Those along were each gifted two federal ministers per table... In trundled the determinedly optimistic Foreign Minister Marise Payne, the endangered Attorney-General Christian Porter, the Xavier College-alumni turned Catholic-loving Education Minister Dan Tehan... and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and his fellow Turnbull-slayer Mitch Fifield...
"Presumably paying guests spotted by Margin Call included Myer boss Garry Hounsell... Vocus Bob Mansfield (Telstra's chair back in the Howard era), Arnold, Bloch Leibler senior partner Mark Leibler and Pratt family member Raphael 'Raffy' Geminder, the billionaire chair of packaging outfit Pact.
"While Jeanne was on hosting duties, we gather that her son and Raheen housemate Anthony Pratt (Australia's richest person) was last night away on business.
"Bet you the Visy billionaire is back in the manor when ascendant Labor leader Bill Shorten and his troops arrive for a reciprocal fundraising event in a couple of weeks. Some fundraising dinners are better than others - even when they're held at your place." (More ghosts than guests at Lib fundraiser, Margin Call, Will Glasgow & Christine Lacy, The Australian Business Review, 13/3/19)
Saturday, November 24, 2018
A LibLab Witch Hunt
A South Australian public school teacher, Regina Wilson, is currently being crucified by the Murdoch press for introducing "partisan politics" - the words are those of the Liberal South Australian treasurer, Rob Lucas - for posting the following on the Australian Education Union's FB page:
"I am going to try to ensure that the next generation of voters in my classroom don't vote Liberal, without being political of course, as I won't tell my students what to think, but I teach them how to be critical thinkers who question those in power and especially those who seek to keep the status quo for the rich, upper classes and refuse to acknowledge the rest of us." (Teacher's vow to turn kids off Libs, Michael Owen, The Australian, 21/11/18)
Far from being hounded by the Murdoch press, Ms Wilson deserves a medal for her devotion to the welfare of her students. After all, she's doing her bit to ensure that the racist, sexist, born-to-rule rabble, quoted below, get nowhere near the reins of power:
"... CBD has stumbled upon a rich resource that should allow future anthropologists to answer the question: how do party staffers and their friends see themselves? The answer is in a private Facebook page populated by Liberal staffers for dozens of (NSW) MPs from Premier Gladys Berejiklian to Finance Minister Victor Dominello, Sports Minister Stuart Ayres and Better Regulations Minister Matt Kean. Its name? 'Not so Subtle Young Lib Traits'.
'Having the ethnic pushed to the front of every group photo,' one Lib suggests.
'And the females!' another quips.
'Thinking that you're a humanitarian because coal exports lift billions out of poverty' is another well-liked post.
'The ratio of gay to straight men almost making up for the lack of women,' gets 60 likes.
'Working for a politician and realising that you're working in this public sector and that makes you nothing more than a filthy commie', comes with the crying face emoji.
One of our favourites: 'Trying to hide your metro aussie accent when talking to Young Nats, Aboriginals or anybody over the age of 50 by faking a strong rural accent like a top country gent' (only 18 likes).
Less creative: 'Being white.' " (The Young Liberal Manual, Kylar Loussikian, CBD, Sydney Morning Herald, 25/10/18)
Now read on as South Australian and federal Labor unite with the Liberals against this admirable woman:
"State Labor's education spokeswoman, Susan Close, said yesterday: 'Party politics should be kept out of the classroom.' This came a day after federal Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek joined federal Education Minister Dan Tehan in calling on schools to ensure children were not being indoctrinated with the political ideologies of teachers." (Teacher claims harassment by 'sexist minister', Michael Owen, The Australian, 24/11/18)
Truly vile.
"I am going to try to ensure that the next generation of voters in my classroom don't vote Liberal, without being political of course, as I won't tell my students what to think, but I teach them how to be critical thinkers who question those in power and especially those who seek to keep the status quo for the rich, upper classes and refuse to acknowledge the rest of us." (Teacher's vow to turn kids off Libs, Michael Owen, The Australian, 21/11/18)
Far from being hounded by the Murdoch press, Ms Wilson deserves a medal for her devotion to the welfare of her students. After all, she's doing her bit to ensure that the racist, sexist, born-to-rule rabble, quoted below, get nowhere near the reins of power:
"... CBD has stumbled upon a rich resource that should allow future anthropologists to answer the question: how do party staffers and their friends see themselves? The answer is in a private Facebook page populated by Liberal staffers for dozens of (NSW) MPs from Premier Gladys Berejiklian to Finance Minister Victor Dominello, Sports Minister Stuart Ayres and Better Regulations Minister Matt Kean. Its name? 'Not so Subtle Young Lib Traits'.
'Having the ethnic pushed to the front of every group photo,' one Lib suggests.
'And the females!' another quips.
'Thinking that you're a humanitarian because coal exports lift billions out of poverty' is another well-liked post.
'The ratio of gay to straight men almost making up for the lack of women,' gets 60 likes.
'Working for a politician and realising that you're working in this public sector and that makes you nothing more than a filthy commie', comes with the crying face emoji.
One of our favourites: 'Trying to hide your metro aussie accent when talking to Young Nats, Aboriginals or anybody over the age of 50 by faking a strong rural accent like a top country gent' (only 18 likes).
Less creative: 'Being white.' " (The Young Liberal Manual, Kylar Loussikian, CBD, Sydney Morning Herald, 25/10/18)
Now read on as South Australian and federal Labor unite with the Liberals against this admirable woman:
"State Labor's education spokeswoman, Susan Close, said yesterday: 'Party politics should be kept out of the classroom.' This came a day after federal Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek joined federal Education Minister Dan Tehan in calling on schools to ensure children were not being indoctrinated with the political ideologies of teachers." (Teacher claims harassment by 'sexist minister', Michael Owen, The Australian, 24/11/18)
Truly vile.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Ship of Fools
If the Morrison government isn't the scurviest ship of fools in the annals of Australian political history, I don't know what is:
"Support for moving Australia's Israel embassy to Jerusalem remains strong among Liberal MPs... Deputy Liberal leader Josh Frydenberg yesterday denied Mr Morrison's comments [on the subject] were a political tactic aimed at appeasing Jewish voters in Wentworth. 'The reality is, as Scott Morrison has explained, there was a major vote at the UN that Australia had to make a decision on, and it was therefore timely to announce our position,' the Treasurer told Sky News... Crossbench MP Bob Katter said he 'absolutely' supported moving the embassy in solidarity with Israel. 'This is a little country of people who have been persecuted for thousands of years, and their neighbours say they want them annihilated,' he said. NSW Liberal MPs Alex Hawke, Jason Falinski and Trent Zimmerman said the government's position on moving the embassy should not change because of the Wentworth result." (Desire to move embassy remains, Rachel Baxendale, The Australian, 22/10/10/18)
"Support for moving Australia's Israel embassy to Jerusalem remains strong among Liberal MPs... Deputy Liberal leader Josh Frydenberg yesterday denied Mr Morrison's comments [on the subject] were a political tactic aimed at appeasing Jewish voters in Wentworth. 'The reality is, as Scott Morrison has explained, there was a major vote at the UN that Australia had to make a decision on, and it was therefore timely to announce our position,' the Treasurer told Sky News... Crossbench MP Bob Katter said he 'absolutely' supported moving the embassy in solidarity with Israel. 'This is a little country of people who have been persecuted for thousands of years, and their neighbours say they want them annihilated,' he said. NSW Liberal MPs Alex Hawke, Jason Falinski and Trent Zimmerman said the government's position on moving the embassy should not change because of the Wentworth result." (Desire to move embassy remains, Rachel Baxendale, The Australian, 22/10/10/18)
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
The UK Disease
It seems as though the drive-by smear of 'ANTISEMITE!', hurled relentlessly by Zionists at pro-Palestinian supporters of UK Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has now reached these shores, although emanating here from a most curious source:
"NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes has issued a stunning call-to-arms to save universities from what he sees as the twin threats of international students and 'anti-Semitic' left-wing activists." (Stokes' speech takes aim at foreign cash, 'safe spaces', Michael Koziol, Sydney Morning Herald, 22/10/18)
You really have to wonder who has been in Stokes' ear.
Remember when the term 'anti-Semite' meant anyone who hated Jews as Jews? Passe. It's now the Zionist weapon of choice for anyone who opposes Israeli apartheid and supports Palestinian rights.
"NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes has issued a stunning call-to-arms to save universities from what he sees as the twin threats of international students and 'anti-Semitic' left-wing activists." (Stokes' speech takes aim at foreign cash, 'safe spaces', Michael Koziol, Sydney Morning Herald, 22/10/18)
You really have to wonder who has been in Stokes' ear.
Remember when the term 'anti-Semite' meant anyone who hated Jews as Jews? Passe. It's now the Zionist weapon of choice for anyone who opposes Israeli apartheid and supports Palestinian rights.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Headline of the Week
Turnbull shows no mercy as warring Liberals tear out the party's heart and soul (Katharine Murphy, guardian.com.au, 23/8/18)
Come again...
What bloody heart?
What bloody soul?
Come again...
What bloody heart?
What bloody soul?
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Meet the NSW Liberals' Israeli Youth Wing
"NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley is refusing to release any details of a letter he has received from ASIO boss Duncan Lewis concerning the Labor upper house Chinese-born MP Ernest Wong and whether there are concerns about China attempting to infiltrate the Labor Party [...] It comes as Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the Liberal Party step up efforts to woo the Chinese community, including a fundraiser for about 500 Chinese... in Sydney early last week, to launch a Chinese Youth Council arm of the Liberal Party... The party had arms similar to the Chinese council that involved Indians, Nepalese and Israelis, and was starting an Armenian arm, the source said." (Foley won't release ASIO letter on MP, Andrew Clennell, The Australian, 1/8/18)
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Malcolm's Party
It has been said that the fish stinks from the head down. Well, you can smell the head of Australia's governing Liberal Party a mile away. Get a whiff of this:
Last year...
"Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is the highest paid politician in the OECD... Mr Turnbull's base pay rose to $527,854 after the independent Remuneration Tribunal ordered a 2% pay rise for politicians last year, delivering him a $10,000 jump." (Turnbull's pay highest of any OECD leader, Eryk Bagshaw, The Sun-Herald, 27/5/47)
Next month...
"Malcolm Turnbull will pocket a pay rise of more than $10,000 next month after the independent Remuneration Tribunal decided to lift salaries for federal politicians by 2%... The decision will see the Prime Minister's annual income rise to $538,460... " ($10k top-up for Turnbull as pay lifted for MPs, Joe Kelly, The Australian, 14/6/18)
Then, of course, there's the awful stench of the party's rank and vile:
"The [Liberal Party's] council... voted, by a narrow margin of 43 to 31 votes, to relocate the Australian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a highly contentious move opposed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop during the debate." (Liberal Party council votes to sell off the ABC, David Crowe, smh.com.au, 16/6/18)
Smelling salts, anyone?
Last year...
"Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is the highest paid politician in the OECD... Mr Turnbull's base pay rose to $527,854 after the independent Remuneration Tribunal ordered a 2% pay rise for politicians last year, delivering him a $10,000 jump." (Turnbull's pay highest of any OECD leader, Eryk Bagshaw, The Sun-Herald, 27/5/47)
Next month...
"Malcolm Turnbull will pocket a pay rise of more than $10,000 next month after the independent Remuneration Tribunal decided to lift salaries for federal politicians by 2%... The decision will see the Prime Minister's annual income rise to $538,460... " ($10k top-up for Turnbull as pay lifted for MPs, Joe Kelly, The Australian, 14/6/18)
Then, of course, there's the awful stench of the party's rank and vile:
"The [Liberal Party's] council... voted, by a narrow margin of 43 to 31 votes, to relocate the Australian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a highly contentious move opposed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop during the debate." (Liberal Party council votes to sell off the ABC, David Crowe, smh.com.au, 16/6/18)
Smelling salts, anyone?
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Facepalm
"For a handful of settlers to take their laws, values, language, technology, medicine and civic institutions out of Europe and transplant them to largely underdeveloped lands across the other side of the planet in an age of no internet, no smartphones and no air travel is a miracle; a miracle that not only continues to benefit those whose ancestors set it in motion but those who joined the team later." (We should rescue these people from a failing system bent on revenge, Sherry Sufi*, The Australian, 20/3/18)
[*Chairman of the West Australian Liberal Party's policy committee.]
[*Chairman of the West Australian Liberal Party's policy committee.]
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Sun, Sand & Startups
I understand. Victoria can be awfully cold in winter. One longs for sun, sand... and startups:
"Over the course of eight days in July, a delegation of 11 [Victorian] Coalition MPs, including a number of Shadow Ministers, travelled to Israel to partake in AIJAC's Rambam Israel Fellowship Program with a key focus on learning about Israel'supstart startup culture and industries." (Victorian Coalition delegation looks to Israel for innovation inspiration, jwire.com.au, 12/8/16)
The rambammed were as follows:
David Southwick MP, Shadow Minister for Innovation:
"Israel is a global leader in theupstart startup world, one which Victoria can continue to partner with and learn from."
MPs Cindy McLeish, Neale Burgess, Graham Watt, Nick Wakeling, Richard Riordan, and Martin Dixon are all identified in a group photo. The identity of the other 4 remains a mystery.
"Over the course of eight days in July, a delegation of 11 [Victorian] Coalition MPs, including a number of Shadow Ministers, travelled to Israel to partake in AIJAC's Rambam Israel Fellowship Program with a key focus on learning about Israel's
The rambammed were as follows:
David Southwick MP, Shadow Minister for Innovation:
"Israel is a global leader in the
MPs Cindy McLeish, Neale Burgess, Graham Watt, Nick Wakeling, Richard Riordan, and Martin Dixon are all identified in a group photo. The identity of the other 4 remains a mystery.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Michaelia Cash: No Gertrude Bell
Last week's Kitchen Cabinet with Annabel Crabb on ABC TV proved definitively, if proof were necessary, that travel doesn't always, as the old adage assures us, broaden the mind.
Annabel's guest, the frenetic Minister for Women & Cats, Michaelia Cash, is described on the program's website as "whipping up a salmon bake and talking about her travels in the Middle East." But don't let your imagination run wild. Michaelia's no Gertrude Bell. Here's the relevant transcript - with annotations:
MC: I went backpacking for 3 years.
AC: But that's such a long time to go backpacking...
MC: It is a long time to go backpacking.
AC: But why'd you go to the Middle East?
MC: Oh, I actually went to London first... I then met an Israeli girl and she said to me 'Look I live on a kibbutz in Israel... in the Golan Heights.' When you're a backpacker the beauty of it is you just go with the flow.
The Golan Heights is not in Israel. It's occupied Syrian territory.
AC: You just go with the flow?
MC: You just go with the flow, quite literally.
AC: Wow...
MC: And so it was fantastic.
AC: And did you venture into Palestine?
*Sigh* If you're in 'Israel', you're in occupied Palestine.
MC: I did go into Palestine. I lived in the Old City of Jerusalem, in the Muslim section, for 3 months.
AC: Right... and did you see much of the conflict first hand?
MC: I had arrived just after the intifada had ended, and so if you went out, basically everybody was armed.
Cash is referring here to the first intifada (1987-1993). "Everybody," of course, means Israelis.
I remember you'd go to nightclub after nightclub after nightclub.
Night clubs are such great places to learn about a country. Just remember: wherever you go, if you want to know what's going on - for example, why, in this case, "everybody was armed" - just go to "nightclub after nightclub after nightclub, OK?"
People would literally just be there with their machine guns and, you know, playing with them as though they were guitars. It was quite bizarre. So yeah, it was an interesting time to be in Israel. It was an interesting time to be there.
AC: Obviously, in Australian politics, there's always, um, you know, a fairly spirited debate about the Middle East. So where does it leave you?
MC: I very much believe in the two-state solution. I very much believe in the two-state solution.
Good grasp of the mantra there! Watch your back, Julie Bishop...
Annabel's guest, the frenetic Minister for Women & Cats, Michaelia Cash, is described on the program's website as "whipping up a salmon bake and talking about her travels in the Middle East." But don't let your imagination run wild. Michaelia's no Gertrude Bell. Here's the relevant transcript - with annotations:
MC: I went backpacking for 3 years.
AC: But that's such a long time to go backpacking...
MC: It is a long time to go backpacking.
AC: But why'd you go to the Middle East?
MC: Oh, I actually went to London first... I then met an Israeli girl and she said to me 'Look I live on a kibbutz in Israel... in the Golan Heights.' When you're a backpacker the beauty of it is you just go with the flow.
The Golan Heights is not in Israel. It's occupied Syrian territory.
AC: You just go with the flow?
MC: You just go with the flow, quite literally.
AC: Wow...
MC: And so it was fantastic.
AC: And did you venture into Palestine?
*Sigh* If you're in 'Israel', you're in occupied Palestine.
MC: I did go into Palestine. I lived in the Old City of Jerusalem, in the Muslim section, for 3 months.
AC: Right... and did you see much of the conflict first hand?
MC: I had arrived just after the intifada had ended, and so if you went out, basically everybody was armed.
Cash is referring here to the first intifada (1987-1993). "Everybody," of course, means Israelis.
I remember you'd go to nightclub after nightclub after nightclub.
Night clubs are such great places to learn about a country. Just remember: wherever you go, if you want to know what's going on - for example, why, in this case, "everybody was armed" - just go to "nightclub after nightclub after nightclub, OK?"
People would literally just be there with their machine guns and, you know, playing with them as though they were guitars. It was quite bizarre. So yeah, it was an interesting time to be in Israel. It was an interesting time to be there.
AC: Obviously, in Australian politics, there's always, um, you know, a fairly spirited debate about the Middle East. So where does it leave you?
MC: I very much believe in the two-state solution. I very much believe in the two-state solution.
Good grasp of the mantra there! Watch your back, Julie Bishop...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)