Does anyone recall Howard/any LNP politician saying privatisation would involve shovelling out BILLIONS of taxpayers money PER YEAR to companies operating in the privatised sectors? Aged Care 2023/24: budget allocation was $36 Billion, $21 Billion of that to residential care operators. Since 1997?

Control the language, control the argument. Time someone replaced government “spending” with “INVESTING” to change the argument. Even Liberal Party members understand a ‘return on investment’ ROI argument. Then their brain cells need to overcome their prejudice. Hmmm, suggestions welcome

$12 BILLION to upgrade the WA Henderson naval base! COVID spending proved the federal govt can overnight announce billions of spending that was not budgeted. Can people now see ANY spending on ANY, not every, program is possible? It is just a matter of priorities. “We couldn’t do it this budget?” ?

“Gas from offshore fields in Comm’th waters is a fed’l govt responsibility. They impose a petroleum resource rent tax on the exporters’ profits in lieu of (state) royalty. Trouble is, the poor design of the resource rent tax has meant little or no money has been collected.” -Gittins, 13/8/25, 1 of 3

The RBA has “a pro-biz bias…reinforced by having a board stacked with business people -at best, only one person from the employees’ perspective. The RBA consults extensively with biz’s, not bothering to talk to the union side. Little wonder forecasts for wage growth are consistently wrong.”- Gittins

Journalists continuing to seek the LNP’s irrelevant opinion for “balance” is akin to seeking a Flat Earther’s opinion after it was accepted that the earth is round.

QANTAS were fined $90 million for illegally sacking 1820 baggage handlers/ground staff - the largest fine & largest breach of industrial law EVER since the first Conciliation & Arbitration Court was established in 1904. Congrats QANTAS - worst in 121 years! Did MSM harass the CEO/Board members? Nope

“The new QLD LNP Govt ‘stands out as an example of wilful obstructionism. QLD was a bright spot for renewables investment until the last state election -hands down the favoured location for investment in renewables -generally, it had a receptive planning regime’ - a senior industry source.” 1 of 2

“Current world investment in CCS is aprx $4 billion p.a. -it needs to be $4 trillion p.a. to cover emissions from fossil fuel use.” IEA’s Fatih Birol labelled this “implausible”. AFR 10/5/24. CCS is a fossil fuel fantasy, not a “vital technology” as Madeleine King, Resources minister said. 3 of 3

The Gorgon Gas CCS project has had tens of billions of investment & cost blowouts, years of engineering delays resulted in abysmal failure. IEA chief Fatih Birol, said CCS technology will never scale up to cover the emissions of the oil & gas sector - “It’s a fantasy.” -AFR 10/5/24 2 of 3

World giants Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell, were approved in 2009 to operate the WA Gorgon gas project, the world’s largest Carbon Capture and Storage project, on the basis that it would capture 80% of the CO2 it removed.  In 2023/24, they captured only 30%, its worse underperformance. 1 of 3

“Working class people around the world have no innate desire to go to war with each other. They have to be conned in to it by the sociopaths who will profit from it.” - John Lennon.

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” - Isaac Asimov, who said this before the first term of Trump & the rise of social media.

Commenting on her 1968 ‘Rollascape 2’ painting, a bold & yellow series of exuberant curves, unfurling for 3 metres: “That’s one my favourites. I think it works very well & the fact it means absolutely nothing is terrific.” - 90yr old Janet Dawson, 2025 Decades of critics, defining its meaning!

“I did that photo of Michaelia Cash snarling, and she looks like she stepped in something every time she looks at me now! I always say, I didn’t make you do that!” - Mick Tsikas, AAP photographer

I understand Boyle stepped through the whole internal process to alert ATO management to the problem. With no management action, going public to whistleblow was his last option. Consequently, the ATO “changed” (IMPROVED?) the wages garnishee process. He was right, but they crucified him. It stinks!

“In 2019, researchers analysed employment data/surveyed 1,800+ employees & 200 owner-managers in retail & hospitality. They found NO EVIDENCE of jobs being created by the 2017 penalty rates reduction.” - C. Wright, The Conversation 29/7/25 MSM? Major news? Why not? 2 of 2

“In 2017, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) cut Sunday/public holiday PENALTY RATES by 25% - 50% for 700,000+ workers covered by retail, hospitality, fast food & pharmacy awards. The FWC agreed with employer groups…these cuts would create more jobs.” -The Conversation 16/5/19. Didn’t happen. 1 of 2

NSW Crime Comm’n said billions of aprx $95billion gambled in 2021/22 on NSW poker machines was likely dirty money. (Now) AUSTRAC takes NSW Mounties Grp to Fed’l Court for many breaches of (pokies) money laundering laws that gave organised crime opportunities -Crikey report. Minns? MSM? BIG news? No.

Champion cartoonist, Golding, would have considered it unethical to draw a dead body or two around this sign. He assumes everyone seeing this is aware that Israeli military shot innocent men, women & children who were queueing for food from aid organisations. They sink to new lows every day.

It’s happening: the Federal Govt scheme offering (up to?) 30% discount on batteries is pushing demand through the roof. It’s tagged “The Second Revolution.” Batteries very cost-effective for peak household demand 6pm to 9pm. This is when gas & coal based generators make their money. Not for long!

“Oz taxpayers on the hook to pay Chevron more than $500m ($500 MILLION - GASP!!!) to clean up oil wells.”- Guardian Oz 23/7/25 40yrs! of oil mining, Chevron paid only $1 billion in royalties. Burke WA govt passed 1985 law for taxpayers to pay rehab’n costs!!!!!! www.theguardian.com/business/202...

How the preferential system works, why it works even better with a few beers… and why the first-past-the-post beer may mean that the majority of beers are wasted. Magic!

“We are the 7th lowest taxer of personal income in the OECD” (aprx 31 OECD nations tax income more!) & “the 11th lowest when you include corporate income” (ie. 27 OECD nations have a higher total income/ corporate tax than Oz.) -Greg Jericho, Guardian Oz 24/7/25 Biz sector/MSM always say opposite!

Philosophy. Sooo important in these troubled times: To do is to be - Kant To be is to do - Socrates Dooby dooby do - Sinatra

The Internat’l Court of Justice determined nations have an obligation under international law to prevent climate change -they may be liable to pay compensation. "There could be claims for reparations brought against Australia.” - Liz Hicks,Climate Law Specialist, Uni of Melb, ABC 26/7/25. Big News?

Littleproud asked Matt Canavan (gasp!) to do a review of (reducing carbon emissions) on Net Zero policy. “It brings to mind Sheriff Cobb in the Silverado movie: “We’re gonna give you a fair trial, followed by a first class hanging.” - Nick O’Malley, SMH, Huge division on this in Nats. Un-newsworthy?

Barnaby Joyce & orher Nats oppose reducing carbon emissions to Net Zero by 2050. Many deny climate change is happening. What a shock! Meteorologists have weighed rainbows and found out…. they’re pretty light. In other news, the sun rose in the east this morning.

Ken Henry NPC “..speech endorse(d)Graeme Samuel’s review of the Environment Protect’n & Biodiversity Conserv’n Act.” - Guardian Oz. MSM ignores Samuels was SCATHING of the Dept Environment & Regulator’s “FAILURE”, recommending a new Act, new Regulator, new Dept’l responsibilities, plus. 1 of 2

Eric Burdon & The Animals created world hit ‘The House of the Rising Sun’. Burdon said their manager told them wasn’t enough room on the record to credit all their names. Urgent pressing -said he put his & drummer’s name on it, fix up the biz later. They didn’t receive 1c in royalties, drummer left.

Ross Gittins - the biggest factor in low productivity is business FAILURE to invest in new technology. MSM prefers to focus elsewhere. What is Oz’s fastest growing & huge biz sector? ‘Service’ - humans, hairdressers, aged care, child care, cleaning etc. Technology can’t replace them, speed them up.

The ‘Tubular Bells’ album was the fledgling Virgin Records first world wide hit, making huge money. Richard Branson wrote that when negotiations with Mike Oldfield were difficult, he asked Oldfield what he would like. Branson gave him his Rolls Royce and the rest is Virgin Records history!

High quality journalism by Adam Morton. Newsworthy? MSM Spokesman Desmond (Whatsa) Waffleworth said: We’ve got a Trump story, a car chase and a nice negative nasty story on a court case. Wait on, there’s some footage available on a house fire & the car chase! Oh, you can’t beat good footage.

“Sussan Ley has told the AFR there will be ‘no rubber stamp’ from the Coalition on any tax rise suggestions that emerge from the coming Productivity round table. Can we say it louder for the people at the back? – IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT THE COALITION SAYS.” Quote from the inimitable Amy Remeikis.

Yes, journo’s use the “Some are saying that”..negative blah! They should say WHO! When you now who, there’s context. Told UK minister Profumo denied being with her/Keeler, call girl Mandy Rice Davies replied: “Well he WOULD say that, wouldn’t he?” Classic political quote-applies to self interest.

Asimov! Always ahead of his time!

John Cleese clearing up the Trump confusion, once and for all:

Alan Kohler stated Howard/Costello made a home an investment asset with negative gearing & 50% capital gains tax, stimulating home prices. Journo’s fondly quote Howard: I didn’t have home owners complaining to me that their house has gone up in value. -But the house market today? 1 of 2

@tomcballard.bsky.social “It’s almost as if these people (LNP) only give a flying Eff about the Big Scary Debt when they can use it as a political weapon to beat back any calls for wealth distribution to improve ordinary people’s lives.” Great point and wording! From yr ‘I Millennial’ book.

The words! Paul Sakkal, SMH: ALP’s “stabilisation policy on China..after a period of frostiness under Morrison govt”. Nope. ALP’s professional diplomacy rescued $80 Billion in lost trade, after the Morrison govt had trashed the China relationship. Fixed it. Stabilisation? Frostiness? LNP positive.

Just in case you missed it: “Do something to make more money for yourself - spend less time drinking or smoking and socialising, and more time working”. - billionaire Gina Rinehart. (True quote! -you couldn’t make this up!) But first, ensure Daddy leaves you many millions.

Come on, we’ve all been there!

“You can’t reason someone out of a position if they didn’t reason their way into it in the first place.” Climate scientists please note. Evidence, facts, graphs & data have failed to convince climate change deniers. We need science communicators who can use emotional language to persuade others.

A Briz woman organised book clubs & their indigenous reading material -history & personal experience, for over 20 years. Her list of all the indigenous books presented in this time was huge. If you only read one book in this area. Her recommendation? David Marr’s ‘Killing For Country’. Great book.

“..how we tax gas in Oz is a massive fail. This is a national asset.. Australians deserve a return…problem is..Australia struck deals (WHO? Name them) that ended up resulting in little tax from extracting the resources that we all own…so big gains go to owners of those businesses.” -S Eslake 1/6/25

“Never argue with a fool. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience”. - Mark Twain Timeless wisdom.

“The (Oz) capital territory has had a Labor/Greens power sharing govt for 16 years, & is one of richest, happiest, best educated, low emission jurisdictions in the world”. - Richard Dennis, economist, The Oz Institute,3/8/24 The LNP/Nats shared govt over decades, still arguing over low emissions.

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say”. - Edward Snowden Sparkling, apparently-dangerous-to-others intelligence. So US security agencies pursued him.

#auspol #Australia #mushrooms #media #racism