Another day without a mention of Robodebt featuring in the lizard Oz. If it had been a movie, it could only have been called "The Vanishing", though the pond would accept "The Great Vanishing", or if you wanted a different picture, it could have been the NSW transport system ...
Instead this was at the top of the digital edition ...
Oh dear, having successfully campaigned for the return of the comrade Dan government - could Dan possibly have succeeded without the help of the reptiles? - the lizard Oz has returned to its comrade Dan fixation, and he was all over the front page of the killer edition ...
Why it's a four comrade Dan flush, and if the pond only had that hand in a poker game, what a killing it would make ...
Meanwhile, in the comments section below the fold, what a rum lot hovered into view ...
Oh dear, the bouffant one celebrating the mutton Dutton, and simplistic Simon out and about, and what's this, the Riddster is still a reptile thing?
That's not the only cat out of uncle Elon's bag. The pond was delighted to read in WaPo At Elon Musk’s ‘brittle’ Twitter, tweaks trigger massive outages (likely paywall).
Uncle has been in spectacular form of late ...
Sorry, it's more interesting than keeping the company of an anti-vax, anti-mask IPA loon who thinks he knows all about pandemics ... but luckily the last gobbet is short ... sure, he could blather on about any number of other areas where he has tremendous expertise, but suddenly he discovers there's a need for vaccines against polio and rubella, despite having just scribbled "there now seems little doubt that vaccines are ineffective at preventing the spread of disease" ...
Sad really, when you fall off the perch, and all you've got left is the IPA, and the earth is looking flatter and flatter to you ...
Meanwhile, experienced reptile watches will have noted that flatulence has returned to the lizard Oz, with pompous, portentous "Ned" and a lesser member of the Kelly gang at the top of the digital edition early in the morning.
Before going there, the pond thought it might quaff a quick bromancer ...
India has resisted pressure and continued with its strategy of not directly criticising Russia, which is India's largest supplier of arms. It has regularly abstained from voting on UN resolutions condemning the war in Ukraine, including a vote held at the UN General Assembly last week.
It has also defended its decision to increase its oil imports from Russia, saying it has to look after the needs of its population.
Never mind, fundamentalist birds of a feather must flock together and so Albo is given a free kick by the bromancer for going there ...
And so to that returning bout of flatulence, at which point many can discreetly retire to the powder room or the john or wherever else misery can be relieved ...
The pond realises misery loves company, but there has to be a limit ...
Suddenly a comrade Dan obsession seems more interesting, but then starting from here, "Ned" couldn't go there ...
So many things to read, so little time, though the pond did take an interest in the AFR (possible paywall) and the punchline ...
...Revelations include Fox Corp executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch complaining to Fox News chief Suzanne Scott about two reporters expressing scepticism at a post-election Trump rally (“the narrative should be this is a huge celebration of the president”), and Scott herself promising to call a producer to fix coverage Murdoch viewed as “smug and obnoxious”.
While there are subtler (and no less effective) ways for media proprietors to exert editorial influence, this attention to editorial detail is how one-eyed Murdoch haters have always claimed the sausage is made. Others with plenty of exposure to the inner workings of the media, though, might have been surprised.
When experienced media silk Sue Chrysanthou successfully had Crikey owner Eric Beecher and CEO Will Hayward added to a defamation suit Murdoch has brought against the online publisher earlier this year, she cited her own side’s reading of subpoenaed documents which revealed the two as “active publishers” who had “planned and pursued” a campaign against Murdoch.
“It is, one would think, having regard to the history of defamation cases, frankly outside of a plaintiff’s comprehension that such editorial interference would have taken place,” she told the court.
“I plainly say it did not enter our minds that the suits, the businessmen, the non-journalists, would have been part of that editorial decision-making.”
The plaintiffs in both cases are yet to have their submissions challenged. Still, even if their respective narratives don’t stick, surely Chrysanthou will never be so naive again.
Sorry, sorry, where was the pond?
That's right, being bored bat crazy, bat shitless if you will, by the meandering mendacity of "Ned" ...
There's so much comedy elsewhere, from Marianne Williamson's aura being disturbed to life being a drag ...
But here the pond is, and the pond must finish the job, even if it means meandering back yet again to lost eras in order to please the old goat (which doesn't stand for GOAT, but simply for a butt billy goat butt goat)...
Will they change course, will they deviate, will they notice anything else going on in the world?
Of course not, and how silly and futile for Wilcox to try ... why that dreadful woman, who should have been stuffed in a chaff bag and tossed out to sea - ah, the parrot, the radio equivalent of "Ned" - is as far as "Ned" will go in his natter celebrating IWD, and the reptiles have a snap to show the sort of wretched company she kept ...
Some might wonder what that has to do with anything, but if you're a doddery old fart, all you have is the memories ... and as for insights, the pond has a reef to sell you, though would probably be a lot better for the mood if it were a reefer ...
And there you have it, and what an astonishing insight. It seems that Hawke and Keating have moved on, and no longer run the show, and yet there the pond was, thinking that in a few more years it might be able to party like it's 1999 ...
Some might even think that they continue to live rent free in "Ned's" meandering mind.
What's remarkable is that this tedious old bore can type without a hint of irony "audacity, authority and risk", as if a bit of cos wordplay will suffice, while the mutton Dutton is what's on offer as an alternative ... you know, plodding Queensland plod as bold warrior ...
But the pond has been there and done that, and the final word this day must go to the infallible Pope ...
I have great fears of RSI at herpetology headquarters due to the desperate turd polishing going on there.
ReplyDeleteThe robodebt royal commission should produce an avenue for those people affected by this unlawful program to take action against the DHS and DSS employees and the minister who oversaw this illegal process who are now trying to absolve themselves from responsibilities for the operation of this policy.
ReplyDeleteThey should face the courts for knowingly pursuing individuals with debts and that were not owed under the laws of social security act. Miss Musolino tried to deflect the question in the senate hearings by taking on notice a question from senator Kitching on what legal basis and also what part of the act they used to to justify the production of a debt. And the then secretary Leon of DHS said she would not comment because of the court cases in progress knowing full well that any evidence given is protected by parliamentary privilege and could not be used in court. I have searched but have not found the reply to senator Kitching question on notice. Those individuals effected by this corruption of the public service should be allowed to pursue those who knowingly ignored the law should be charged with misfeasance of operating an unlawful program.
On being questioned at the Robo RC, Kathryn Campbell strongly refuted that she felt pressured by Ministers to hide the concerns about the scheme's legality. Yet she concedes that she did, effectively but apparently mistakenly, do just that. So indeed, there may be an avenue for compensation, or retribution; I am not a lawyer.
DeleteWhat is strange is that there appears to be very little testimony that nails the ministers, yet we all know that ministers are very influential. My recent thinking on all this is how do we return the public service to the frank and fearless standard that is necessary to constrain the excesses of governments? We have heard testimony that some public servants believed that there were occurrences of rewards and favours depending on negative and positive responses from the PS to the government. And you can understand that a senior PS would feel it unfair and unreasonable that they should lose their job while simply trying to implement government programs consistent with the law.
I have two thoughts. Firstly, PS appointments should be completely independent of government. I speak from experience in working for the PS, that politicians have a big say in who are appointed to senior PS roles - but this is totally unnecessary, undesirable. The PS needs to be good at implementing legislation and funded programs - without fear or favour - politicians should have no influence in this, other than authorising or reducing funds, for which the politicians, not the PS, are answerable. Secondly, I was often perplexed about how I, a non-senior PS, could indicate unease or raise warnings when I strongly believed that rules were being broken, or standards compromised, usually in response to political pressure. These situations are often not black or white, but simply being outvoted at a meeting and then being left to watch the impending disaster as a helpless bystander seemed very inadequate. One method was simply to send an email to my superior, noting my concerns or indicating that I think the agreed action to be unwise/risky/wrong/etc. While this does not overturn the decision, it achieves two things: it warns seniors that there are dangers and consequences with the chosen path, and it places a record on file, discoverable, which may exonerate me personally and may remind managers of their ongoing accountability. I recall an occasion being asked by my manager to include a project in a funding program submission, on request of the minister's office. I responded that I would not do so, nor should he, since without any evidential justification, it was us and not the minister who would have to explain to the Auditor-General in a year or two why the project was included - more than my job was worth. I advised my manager to let the minister add the project himself, and let him explain to the Auditor-General or parliament how it ended up there.
There is a happy ending for me at least - I am no longer in the PS. AG.
Thank you for your contribution to the topic as I had a child who received a debt notice and had to go back to the employer for the information and was stressed at the time. But as I have stated in my earlier piece the people involved should not come out of this without being in some way punished.
DeleteVery astute comments Anony. It’s a wonderful feeling when the excreta hits the cooling device and you have a written record of your misgivings. More often, this approach simply torpedoed dumb ideas because the consequences of the stupidity would attach themselves to the originator.
DeleteAnon said "We have heard testimony that some public servants believed that there were occurrences of rewards and favours depending on negative and positive responses from the PS to the government".
DeleteYes. Kathryn Campbell was promoted!
Well you know, Anony AG, that if you want to de-politicise the Fed PS, the very first thing you might have to do is recreate the Public Service Board and re-empower it in respect of PS operating procedures and practices.
DeleteThen you can work on 'de-privatising' the PS and get rid of most of the politically appointed "contractors" and go back to employed 'permanent' staff.
Now that'd be something to achieve, wouldn't it.
GB right on. Well you know, Anony AG, that if you want to de-politicise the Fed PS, the very first thing you might have to do is recreate the Public Service Board and re-empower it in respect of PS operating procedures and practices.
DeleteGB. something I have now thought to express is the history of Morrison when he was in New Zealand and was then employed by tourism Australia and his dismissal from those positions and how he is a persistent in causing problems.
DeleteYeah, with all of the joyful experiences that ScoMo has brought us over many years - at least since his election in 2007 anyway - we can tend to overlook his very chequered prior career. He had some involvement in the 'where the bloody hell are you' campaign, didn't he ?
DeleteJust a little aside:
Delete"Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who also holds the public service portfolio, has previously said the number of contractors employed across the APS is too high.
The department's spending on consultants has jumped to almost $90 million in 2021-22, up from $5 million in 2012-13."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-08/agriculture-department-finance-problems-bail-out/102069134
Everyday is MMD (media manipulation day), but today seems especially so, judging by the efforts of the lizards in a smear pile-on against Dastardly Dan of Massachusetts. This may be a few days old, but worth a look - ACMA leading the charge for integrity in journalism.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.abcfriendsvic.org.au/acma_stands_by_its_dodgy_decision
So apparently the ABC is guilty of broadcasting the result of an investigation that strongly suggests that Fox News is spreading lies. It is not surprising that the ABC thought they were lies, because by the time they broadcast, many states had certified their election results as valid, and further, some of the many (sixty and counting) legal challenges had already failed (ultimately they all failed). It would seem that the ABC was more than justified in questioning the integrity of Fox News; by comparison it appears that more often than not News Corp (biological relation of Fox News) publishes or broadcasts news and opinions that barely have a sniff of evidence or may even be pure fiction; yet ACMA seems unperturbed by this. My question of the day is: what is necessary to justify broadcasting or publication if widely publicly available and credible material (from others, not self-manufactured) is not sufficient, let alone that it turns out to be true? Afterall, if it is widely publicly available, someone must consider it to be in the public interest too. It appears we can thank Malware for his efforts in managing Australian media standards, with his appointments of Milne and Chapman. And here I was thinking that he as the least distasteful of recent PMs. AG.
Repeats comment from yesterday:
Delete"The picture ... is 'based almost solely on propaganda, cited as if it were fact'.
Two lines stand out amongst the rest of Ned’s nonsense. The first is:
ReplyDelete“The previous Coalition government struggled for years after the badly received first Abbott-Hockey 2014 reform budget unleashed a wave of anti-reform politics.”
Leaving aside the false claim about a wave of anti-reform politics and that it was a reform budget, Ned wants to tell the public, that what went wrong was that the voters did not receive the policy well; no mention that the policy itself was the problem. This is like that much loved line from the Coalition after it loses an election that the reason that it lost was that its messaging didn’t cut through. Never say that the Coalition's policies were the problem.
The other line is:
“..a public with no stomach for reform and a politics where the power of the negative is triumphant.”
Ned makes a valiant attempt to win friends and influence people here by blaming the general populace. Yet his memory fails him and he forgets the negativity of Abbott, not to mention the that the current negative politics is displayed by Ley, Taylor and Dutton.
And Ned, apart from his adoration for that Banks geek, wants to know: "So will Labor take an ambitious manifesto to the next election or will it succumb to another round of 'safe change'." Oh yeah, quite a question to ask by a prime member of the 'attack Labor indiscriminately any time they try to actually achieve something' crowd, isn't it.
DeleteSo, maybe that's why: "The Hawke-Keating party doesn't exist any more." And aren't we all very glad of that.
A dog returning to its own vomit or generals still fighting the last war; I’m not sure which is a more fitting description for the Reptiles’ latest attack on Dictator Dan. Sure, it’s the Hun’s bread and butter - every day they devote at least some space to attacks on Dan and his Gagne of corrupt socialists. But why should the Lizard Oz launch yet another campaign on lockdowns, when it’s clearly failed before and Andrews’ government was re-elected only a few months ago? The only vaguely rational explanation I’ve seen is that it’s an attempt to influence the upcoming by-election in Tudge’s old seat, although that would be based on the dubious assumption that voters are too dopey to distinguish between State and Federal issues. If that’s not the rationale, I assume the Oz simply has nothing better to put on the front page. It’s not like they’re ever going to devote the space to covering the Robodebt RC. At least they’re not following the lead of the Costello rags, which are currently leading each day with attempts to build up hysteria over a war with China; the Oz is sensible enough to confine that to the Bromancer on the inside pages.
ReplyDeleteI wondered who'd been tasked on the "collector's edition - here's a pin-up for your bedroom wall" obsessive attacks on Dan Andrews - an odd by-line there in the herpetarium?
DeleteWhy yes, yes - Damon Johnston - ex-editor of the News Ltd journal that's waste more space attacking the ALP in Victoria - and getting its nose bloodied every single time they do - Damon Johnston.
It's thrilling to see the flexibility at News Ltd across their turd-polishing mastheads. Can I grab at a slogan at this time? "For what matters to ALL Australians – your national newspaper "
The Oz never has anything better to put on the front page, Anony. But really it's just that old saw about how, if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes accepted as truth. And boy, do the reptiles know about repeating ... and repeating and repeating ... lies.
DeleteAs you say Dorothy - ‘when you fall off the perch, and all you’ve got left is the IPA’ - you have the Riddster. My own feeling was for a kind of metaphoric put him across my shoulder, pat his back, and say ‘There there - feeling better now?’ It worked when my own offspring were toddlers, and had the odd toddler rant against their immediate world, and that is essentially what the Riddster has vented here.
ReplyDelete‘I could go on about the dubious science of bushfires’ - um, is he hinting that bushfires are some kind of fake news? Or is he alluding to the quite wrong claims that recent bushfires did happen, but were much worse because of ‘greenies’? In which case I offer him the findings of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, and invite him to comment on the almost total lack of action, by the three levels of government, to the simple suggestions for co-ordinated response to mitigate inevitable bushfires. Direct him to it, because, while I made a submission to that inquiry, I cannot recall one from the Riddster, even though it was an open invitation.
‘Murray-Darling water allocations’ - not a lot of science, dubious or otherwise, to contend with there. Well, lots of sociology - there is a water ‘budget’, it can be allocated in these ways - and watch how the political party that claims it is for ‘rural and regional Australia’ continues to allocate water to its mates - usually to the detriment of the rest of the region around the Murray-Darling.
‘Queensland tree clearing’? No - cannot figure what he is getting at there. He used remote sensing in his own academic work - so should not be questioning the validity of information from remote sensing about tree clearing and its cumulative effects.
‘Commercial fisheries closures’. We could start with what is claimed to be our first commercial fishery - whaling. Actually, that is a misattribution, because the Macassan trepang fishery was unquestionably commercial, and preceded whitefella settlement by a couple of centuries, but - let’s go with whaling, which closed ultimately because the whaling companies in Australia had taken stocks down to the level where it wasn’t worth opening up the processing works, and recommissioning the ‘chasers’ each year, because there weren’t enough whales to make it pay. I wonder what caused that?
And ‘a worrying number of medical issues’. Jay Bhattacharya gets a mention, so should we expect a reappearance of Gigi Foster on the deck of the flagship? She has rather dropped from public view, even after (especially after?) Connor Court published her book on lockdowns, which received a stirring recommendation from fellow economist Adam Creighton. But that is just one set of alleged medical ‘issues’. How big is a ‘worrying number’ of medical issues? Or is that the title of another book in the works with Connor Court?
Hmmm: Riddles-me allocates 'water to his mates' - you reckon he might someday allocate it to his enemies ? - 'usually to the detriment of the region'. But, BG, butt: allocated to the benefit of the party he supports, yes ? And the region will never complain because that would just be giving ammunition to those 'woke lefties' wouldn't it.
DeleteBut hey:
"The next generation of conservatives support their party's culture wars. But they hate the way their elder Republicans describe them."
Young Republicans Are Begging Party Elders To Stop Saying ‘Woke’
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/cpac-young-republicans-culture-wars-nikki-haley-marjorie-taylor-greene-woke-1234690875/
Then also: 'should not be questioning the validity of information from remote sensing'. But he isn't, Chad, he's just pointing out that when he does it it produces valid results, but when those other incompetents use it, it produces garbage data. Surely we know by now that if it wasn't done and/or said by him, then it must be wrong.
Quite fortuitously, GB, the conservative-free ABC, right now, has a convenient reminder of how minister Littleproud fought so valiantly to protect the industries of rural and regional Australia -
Deletehttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-20/biosecurity-levy-axed-designed-protect-farmers-pests-diseases/12267082
I guess nobody should ever underestimate the power of the "cement, minerals and freight industry groups" and their unmatched capacity to contribute to LNP funds - unmatched by a bunch of country yokels who'll vote for 'em regardless, anyway.
Delete