Abbott is caught out - then slides away on the back of a number of political lies

On 24 May 2013 – eight days after he declared a budget emergency – Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott agreed to progress the passage and assure the Coalition vote for the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2013  which would retrospectively and into the future deliver millions of dollars to the coffers of major political parties.

Then the issue became a hot topic in both the backrooms of the halls of power and in electorates across Australia.

Suddenly Abbott's office claimed that the opposition had not seen the legislation, then that A deal on the reform was originally negotiated between senior Labor and Liberal figures but Mr Abbott had not formally declared his position.

Later still the line was that he had actually agreed to the legislation before his budget reply pointed out the so-called 'budget emergency'.

Finally we hear that even though Abbott had agreed, it was only provisional as he had no power to sign off on the agreement.

The political lies ran trippingly off Mr. Abbott's tongue during a number of televised interviews.

However his letter is out there in cyberspace for all to see........

Tony Abbott's letter to the Government showing Coalition support for controversial election funding legislation

Telstra and the Federal Coalition want you to continue to pay for privacy

Consumers Federation of Australia 28 May 2013:

In February, ACCAN welcomed Telstra’s move to waive the fee for people who are under a protection order or at risk of violence. However, ACCAN argued in its submission to a recent Senate Committee inquiry that this exemption is not enough and a Silent Line should be free for all consumers.

“Under Telstra’s policy, many people who rightly need a Silent Line will still be forced to pay the fee,” said ACCAN CEO Teresa Corbin. “It’s clear Telstra aren’t going to remove this fee for all consumers, which is why we’re calling on the government to act. We want to make sure all Australians do not have to pay for this privacy protection,” said Ms Corbin.

In the Senate Committee’s report, Labor and Greens Senators recommended the fee be banned, however a majority of Coalition Senators recommended against banning the fee……

Telstra has not said publicly how much revenue is collected from the Silent Line fee, however in 2007 a Fairfax newspaper estimated that the fee generates as much as $30 million annually. This conservative estimate is a small fraction – around 1/1000th – of Telstra’s annual sales revenue (over $25 billion FY 2011-2012).

Other providers like Internode, iPrimus and iiNet all charge their customers a Silent Line fee due to the costs passed on from Telstra. Optus charges a Silent Line fee when it resells a Telstra landline service, although it doesn’t charge a fee on its own service.

In 2008 the Australian Law Reform Commission recommended the fee be abolished.

In the No-Land of Oz

I was watching TV when news of the recognition walk and the push for a referendum so that Australian first peoples to be recognized in the Constitution of Australia came on the screen.

This started me thinking of the lies government tells itself and the public to achieve its ends.   

              

The idea of terra nullius was basically a lie and because Aboriginal people did not use the land in the manner of Europeans they were considered to have no rights to ownership of that land. 

This convenient lie allowed the British Government to appropriate all the landmass of Australia and give ownership to whoever they wished. 

The first peoples were considered part of the fauna and flora of the country, this in effect stripped them of their human status, and from this thinking came all the injustices that future generations suffered. 

This brings us to the current times were another convenient lie has gained ground - the idea of exempting even the mainland of Australia from our migration zone.

We have gone from terra nullius to nec terram. First there were no people now there is no land. 

Where could this lie lead us in the future? 

All ex-pat Australian citizens cannot return because there is now no land for them to return to! 

Maybe the government is correct and we have no land since it is all being dug up and shipped overseas anyway.

Does this mean that since the Australian population now lives in the wonderful No-Land of Oz we don't have ownership of our country or its resources?

This could explains an article in the Sunday Mail on the 26th of May on page 22 titled “Super Nation fails to take off”, it seems that there has been a campaign to force the US President to look at merging the United States and Australia into a new super nation called Ameristralia.

If it had succeeded I wonder when we Aussies would have been told?

Is your MP a psychopath?

This is Dr. John Clarke’s pick of the top jobs preferred by psychopaths:

1. CEO
2. Lawyer
3. Media (TV/radio)
4. Salesperson
5. Surgeon
6. Journalist
7. Police officer
8. Clergyperson
9. Chef
10. Civil servant

Ever noticed how many lawyers and journos gravitate towards Canberra? 

Most famous ex-journo currently strutting the corridors of Parliament House? Tony Abbott! Nuff said.

Tweeting pure hate * Strong Language*

Sometimes the level of hate directed at women using the Internet is truly mindboggling.......

This Twitter account has since been suspended:

It's pretty tough when even your so-called mates cannot get your name correct

Such was the level of mirth at the table of knowledge at the local watering hole yesterday a couple of the lads were thinking seriously they'd need to ring 000 and get an ambulance to take a few of their mates to the local hospital with instructions they have their sides sewn up - you see, they were splitting their sides while laughing after they read a piece in Monday's Daily Examiner.

The piece, titled Weekly Whispers, carried a copy of part of a NSW Farmers Association's notice of a meeting of its Grafton Branch. According to the notice, the special guest at the meeting would be Clarence MP Steve Gulaptis. 
Yep, that's right Steve Gulaptis!

In some circles the current Member for Clarence is referred to as Mr Walker (a.k.a The Phantom).

Credits: The Daily Examiner and Robbo

Prince George's County Maryland joins the IT scammers

I'm fairly certain that the Prince George's County Executive are blissfully unaware that their IT system and what appears a legitimate staff email addresses is being used to piggyback yet another email scam.

-----Original Message-----
From: Clay, Josephine B. [mailto:JBClay@co.pg.md.us]
Sent: Friday, 24 May 2013 12:17 AM
Subject: Please Confirm Details?

Your email has been announced the winner of the Microsoft E-mail Sweepstakes of 5.6, Million Pounds. Please send these informations:
Full Name:
Address:
Tel / Mobile No.:
Country:
Occupation:
Sex / Age:
Alternative E-mail:
Contact Mrs. Kathrin Rogers : Kath.rogers@msn.com<mailto:Kath.rogers@msn.com> OR Kath.rogers@rogers.com<mailto:Kath.rogers@rogers.com> with details. Sincerely, Josphine B. Clay (Microsoft Management Board, Copyright 1991-2013)


This E-mail and any of its attachments may contain Prince George's County Government or Prince George's County 7th Judicial Circuit Court proprietary information or Protected Health Information, which is privileged and confidential. This E-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient of this E-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying, or action taken in relation to the contents of and attachments to this E-mail is strictly prohibited by federal law and may expose you to civil and/or criminal penalties. If you have received this E-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copy of this E-mail and any printout.

More than $160,000 for Page Electorate community projects courtesy of Federal Labor

Joint Media Release

The Hon. Senator Joe Ludwig

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Janelle Saffin MP

Member for Page

More than $160,000 for Page community projects

Three local community groups have received a total of more than $160,000 in Community Landcare Grants as part of the Australian Government’s Sustainable Agriculture stream of Caring for our Country.

Member for Page, Janelle Saffin said Clarence Landcare Inc., North Coast Regional Landcare Network Inc., and the Alstonville-based Soilcare Incorporated, each received grants of up to $55,000.

“Groups such as these, whose members live and work in the community, have the local knowledge and ideas to keep our agricultural land healthy, resilient and sustainable.

“These local projects are about promoting sustainable land management practices and building local skills.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the Community Landcare Grants program provides support for community action, agricultural innovation and community capacity building.

“Community Landcare Grants will this year fund 152 projects across the country, helping local community-based organisations take on-ground action as well as build their capacity and skills to manage our productive lands.

“The government recognises the important contribution that volunteers, Landcare and other local groups and Indigenous organisations involved in sustainable agriculture make in engaging communities and inspiring local action,” Minister Ludwig said.

23 May 2013

Pending Message - Internet scammers scraping the bottom of the barrel

Some scammers obviously think Internet users are the worst form of idiot. At least someone at redturmar.com.ve/includes/pear/index.htm does.

From: Mail Service Alert [mailto:Service-mail-alert@g08ksd77jjjjsd.gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, 23 May 2013 8:05 AM
To: redacted
Subject: Pending Message

Dear User

We need some information to verify your ID. This protects your account from unauthorized access. Please click the Link Below

 Verify

Account Team.

Coalition trying a CSG con job on Northern Rivers communities, says Saffin

Coalition con job on CSG

The Liberal National Coalition is pretending to oppose CSG on the North Coast, but has declared in Canberra it will wind back CSG environmental protections if elected.

Page MP Janelle Saffin said the Opposition’s shadow Parliamentary Secretary on the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham, has spelt out the Coalition’s position in the Senate.

“While National Party candidate Kevin Hogan says he opposes CSG, the Coalition he represents has declared it will undo the Government’s water protection measures if elected. He has to do more than say he doesn’t like it.

“I fought hard and worked with the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to find ways to protect our water and our farmers from harmful CSG,

“The Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill offers that protection. The House of Reps passed the Bill in March and it is now before the Senate.

“The Coalition is in a spot. They don’t like the CSG water protection measures, but they don’t want CSG to be an election issue because of the strong community campaign.

“So they are just lying low on the issue.

“Senator Birmingham listed the water protection measures they don’t like and then said: ‘we will work to fix these issues should we succeed later this year.’

“To add insult to injury, they are also trying to hand all environmental assessment powers to the states, in our case the New South Wales Government.

“We know we can’t trust the Liberal National NSW Government on CSG.

“The Government has ignored community demands for a CSG exclusion zone on the Northern Rivers, while declaring CSG exclusion zones for Hunter Valley horse studs and wineries.

“I have taken up the community concerns and have worked for years to push for the Federal Government to explore the extent of its powers to protect our area from CSG. This bill does that.

“The people of Page do not want 1000 gas wells across the Northern Rivers. And they do not deserve to be conned by a Coalition feigning community concern while plotting to bow to the mining companies’ demands and remove these protections.

“If Mr Hogan opposes CSG he needs to explain why he is standing for the Coalition which would remove our water protections. 

21 May 2013

Clarence Valley Council 2013-14 Budget and public meetings

 

Clarence Valley Council states it intends to spend $44 million in the forthcoming 2013-14 financial year.

 

The following documents are now available online:

Draft 2013/14 Fees and Charges
Draft 2013/2017 Delivery Program and 2013/14 Operational Plan including Revenue Policy

 

There are still two more public meetings for those residents who might be interested in following the money trail:

 

5pm Tuesday 28 May at Maclean Council Chamber

5pm Wednesday 29 May at Grafton Council Chamber

NSW Northern Tableland By-Election 25 May 2013 - polling results links for tonight

For all those political tragics.....

NSW Electoral Commission:

2013 Northern Tablelands By-election Results - online updates activated after 6pm tonight.

General

Electors Enrolled on 22 April 2013: 51,802

Number of Candidates: 7

Boundary map and polling places

Result

The results are presented in a series of 3 reports:

• Election Night Results  (PDF)[84 KB]
• Check Count Results  (PDF)[44 KB]
• Distribution of Preferences (PDF)[46 KB]

ABC NEWS - Antony Green - live cover online from 6pm

Fracking PsyOps. Yesterday America, today New South Wales?

For all those NSW Northern Rivers 'insurgents' out there.........

http://youtu.be/vJwAXTxPIXo

DRIVING FORWARD A UNITED INDUSTRY FRONT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, ENGAGE NGOs AND LEVERAGE MASS MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA AND GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY TO OVERCOME PUBLIC CONCERN OVER HYDRAULIC FRACTURING, Houston, Texas USA 2011

CNBC 8 November 2011:

CNBC has obtained audiotapes of the event, on which one presenter can be heard recommending that his colleagues download a copy of the Army and Marine Corps counterinsurgency manual. That’s because, he said, the opposition facing the industry is an “insurgency.”....

Another told attendees that his company has several former military psychological operations, or “psy ops” specialists on staff, applying their skills in Pennsylvania....

In a session entitled “Designing a Media Relations Strategy To Overcome Concerns Surrounding Hydraulic Fracturing,” Range Resources communications director Matt Pitzarella spoke about “overcoming stakeholder concerns” about the fracking process.

“We have several former psy ops folks that work for us at Range because they’re very comfortable in dealing with localized issues and local governments,” Pitzarella said. “Really all they do is spend most of their time helping folks develop local ordinances and things like that. But very much having that understanding of psy ops in the Army and in the Middle East has applied very helpfully here for us in Pennsylvania.”

At another session, Matt Carmichael, the manager of external affairs for Anadarko Petroleum , spoke on the topic of “Understanding How Unconventional Oil & Gas Operators are Developing a Comprehensive Media Relations Strategy to Engage Stakeholders and Educate the Public.”

He said he had several recommendations for the oil industry media professionals at the event, one of which, he said, involved the military.

“Download the U.S. Army-slash-Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Manual, because we are dealing with an insurgency,” Carmichael said. “There’s a lot of good lessons in there and coming from a military background, I found the insight in that extremely remarkable.”

Audio here.

Approximately 472 page U.S. Army -Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual (December 2006) here.

Excerpt from U.S. Army - Marine Corp Counterinsurgency Field Manual: Afghanistan Edition here.

Moggy Musings [Archived material from Boy the Wonder Cat]

 

A federal election musing: The cat pack met last night to discuss our two-legged servants and Minnie the Mooch from Maclean told us that she had heard that someone at Tweed Heads had given Matthew Fraser a new nickname; LNP Fraser the living conditions eraser. I snorted milk through my nose!

 

A stupefied musing: We moggies love our catnip but even under the influence we know who makes the rules about our supply; the two-legged can openers. Not so the lovers of another 'herb': About 40 people have arrived outside Page MP Janelle Saffin's Lismore office to protest against cannabis laws and the jailing of a man for providing marijuana at Nimbin. The protesters marched from the Police Station and Court House to Ms Saffin's office calling for the release of "Tony Cleverman", otherwise known as Tony Bower. The protesters have said Mr Bower had been providing them with marijuana for medical purposes until he was arrested about a year ago. Ironically, neither the courts, nor the police, nor Janelle Saffin have much ability to influence cannabis laws, because the laws fall under the NSW Government's criminal code. *snigger*

 

A reading the DEX musing: On the second last day of April The Daily Examiner cheekily ran a rumour; Word on the street is it's never too late for a career change. One Valley man who either grew tired with politics or politics grew tired of him, will be starting a new life in, er, tyres. More on this in coming weeks. One local wag emailed North Coast Voices and asked; Will he specialise in retreads?!?

 

A Lawrence Reservoir musing: Following on the heels of bacterial contamination in the small Maclean Lookout reservoir and bacterial contamination in Minnie Waters’ town water supply; on April 16 Clarence Valley moggies had all heard a strong rumour doing the rounds that council management forgot to tell the contractor sandblasting paint off the Lawrence water reservoir that this paint was in fact lead-based. Consequently no special measures were taken and paint flakes and dust spread onto at least one neighbouring property leaving council with a hefty clean-up bill. The figure being bandied around is $100,000 and counting. That would buy a lot of cat food! 

 

A moggies are boiling musing: I've been told that moggies all over the Lower Clarence are yowling at the top of their voices in sympathy, because The Daily Examiner put a billboard outside news agencies saying that Grafton Gets Its Voice. But when their humans opened the newspaper they were left speechless because the story was all about a couple who used to live in Maclean - a good 50km away from that presumptuous little upriver city.

 

A reading Teh Netz over her shoulder musing: I was amazed to see that if you search for tweets about Tony Abbott on Twitter - the only person saying nice things about Tony is Tony himself. This tweet from @spacekidette was my fav. Anyway, if God didn’t want Tony Abbott as a priest, why would I want him as my Prime Minister?” Elderly Lady Caller on Talkback Radio 

 

A Terrible Tones musing: What 60 Minutes revealed about the new and improved Tony Abbott: * He’s a crap surfer * He admits to using “product” in his hair and Margie let slip that he combs over the bald spot. * He is still telling pork pies - insisting that his extreme views about women were from “thirty-five years ago”. * He’s also still riding herd on Margie when she’s in front of the camera.

 

A when map makers go wrong musing: Even cats can count - we always know when the clock shows that it's dinner time! So why is it that the staff at one particular North Coast council created not one, but six proposed plans of the same section of an existing main road and recorded a different total road area on most of these plans. 

 

A court musing: Now which magistrate said this about THAT protest? Never in the history of man has one small protest generated so much paperwork. 

 

A naming ceremony musing: My little canine friend Veronica Lake tells me she overheard her human laughing about the fact that NSW Nationals Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis has yet another nickname - The Missing MP. 

 

A royal rage musing: Which member of Clarence Valley Council's management team is fast gaining a reputation for shouting down the phone first rather than giving any sort of answer to polite enquiries from local media? 

 

A commercialism gone mad musing: On the third day of 2013 The Northern Star reported sighting Easter hot cross buns for sale. Is this a record and will chocolate eggs follow next week? 

 

A pedestrian rages musing: Almost as a logical consequence of Clarence Valley Council management removing part of the Yamba Road Cycleway, there appears to have been an upswing in local pavement rage. I'm hearing that one older man refused to move for a cyclist using the same section of the so-called ‘shared’ footpath running alongside Yamba Road near the marina. Loud words ensued and a threat to go down to the police station to sort the matter out. Allegedly a push was also involved. 

 

An Obeid-esque musing: Wags following the latest ICAC inquiry have renamed Mt. Penny near Bylong as the money mountain grows to $30 million. It's now being called Mt. Pennies.

 

A list keeps growing musing: Which council general manager on the NSW North Coast is now rumoured to have specifically mentioned or implied the D word - defamation - to one local journalist, two regional editors and one pensioner? Rocky the Mutt tells me his hoomin would not be surprised to find that the next person to hear from the GM will still going to primary school. 

 

A bad show musing: Which council general manager on the NSW North Coast is rumoured to have threatened a local journalist with a defamation action if he reported in-depth on the carriage of a planning matter currently before council? 

 

Boy

Yamba Farmers’ Market First Birthday Celebration

May 29, 2013   7:00 am – 12:00 pm

Whiting Beach Car Park,  Yamba 

 

Yamba Farmers’ Market will be celebrating its first birthday with free birthday cake, a bumper lucky gate prize and a huge range of local produce. Free range eggs, local pork and beef, Northern Rivers rice, real strawberry ice cream, baked goods, award winning jams and relishes, large glossy tomatoes, local coffee, flowers and sun hardened seedlings.

Info from sustainfood.com.au

March against Monsanto - May 25 in Bellingen NSW

Media Release

Carol Vernon

Greens candidate for Cowper

May 21, 2013

Carol Vernon will be supporting the rally against Monsanto in Maam Gaduying Park , outside the Bellingen Council Chambers on Saturday, May 25, starting at 9.00 am.

Mrs Vernon said, "As a member of Bellingen Seedsavers I am totally committed to preserving heritage seeds. Many people in our local area demonstrate a huge commitment to sustainable food production.

" Genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs), their products, and the chemicals used to manage them pose significant risks to natural and agricultural ecosystems and human health.

" The precautionary principle must be applied to the use of GMOs and the techniques for producing them.

" Scientific evidence must be the basis for assessing and licensing GMOs. GMO assessments must be broad, independent and scientifically robust.

" Living organisms such as plants, animals and micro-organisms are not inventions. Patents on life are unethical and against the public interest.

"Farmers and consumers have a right to grow and consume non-GMO foods.

" Everyone has a right to know if foods contain any ingredients made using GM techniques, through the comprehensive labelling of those products." 

Facebook: Carol Vernon Greens for Cowper

Carol Vernon (Greens4Cowper) on Twitter

Blog: http://mncgreens.blogspot.com.au

Has the Daily Examiner discovered Tony Abbott's beauty secret?

The new improved Mr. Rabbit who denies using Botox

“Don’t fancy Botox? Try Physicians Formula Aging Expression Line Freeze, $29.99, a serum designed to immediately tighten, lift and smooth.” {The Daily Examiner 22^nd May 2013}

For $25.99 you too can buy: “Topical alternative to Wrinkle Freezing Injections. Improves the look of deep wrinkles & expression lines. Advanced formula delivers a tightening, lifting and smoothing effect and helps promote skin's elasticity.”

Lismore then; Lismore now

In 2010 Lismore City Council installed water bubblers in the Lismore CBD to provide free filtered water. It was (and still is) a terrific example of how local government can play its part in reducing the demand for purchased water and help get rid of plastic bottles.

Then: 2010

 
Pic source:  The Northern Star

 Now: 2013

It's more than time other local councils did likewise. However, let's hope other councils don't use the same signwriter. (Hint: check out the bottom line)

A politician to whom bald-faced political lying is as natural as breathing in and breathing out

This was Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on 21 May 2013 during a doorstop interview:

Last week in the Parliament, I announced what I think is a breakthrough initiative for the families and the workers of our country. We will get rid of the carbon tax but we will keep the tax cuts and the pension and benefit increases associated with it. So instead of being just compensation, they will be real tax cuts and real pension rises. That means that when you’re doing your weekly, your fortnightly or your monthly budgets on the kitchen tables, the family kitchen tables right around Australia, you will be significantly better off under the Coalition, because no-one will lose any money, but everyone will lose the carbon tax. You won’t lose any money, but you will lose a carbon tax and that’s good for families. It’s good for households and it’s good for workers….

So there it is again. Under an Abbott government we, the ordinary voters, won’t lose any money. This is a bald-faced political lie.

Because Abbott has previously stated to the Australian Parliament and elsewhere that he will remove the following:

Super contribution tax payment of up to $500 annually for low income earners. The payment amount is 15% of concessional contributions (including employer contributions) made by or for individuals with an adjusted taxable income that does not exceed $37,000.

[http://www.ato.gov.au/content/00245688.htm]

Income Support Bonus worth $210 a year to eligible single people and $350 to couples and paid to those receiving Abstudy Living Allowance, Austudy, Exceptional Circumstances Payment, Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment, Sickness Allowance, Special Benefit, Transitional Farm Family Payment and Youth Allowance. [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/income-support-bonus]

Increase family payments (Family Tax Benefit Schedule A) for eligible families when they have a new baby. Worth $2,000 for the first child and $1,000 for any subsequent child. [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1314/measures/families/48-15254]

Schoolkids Bonus. An annual payment of $410 for each dependent primary school child and $820 for each dependent high school child of a parent or carer who gets Family Tax Benefit Part A. [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/schoolkids-bonus]

The increase in compulsory employer contributions to workers superannuation until after 2016-17. [http://www.futuretax.gov.au/content/Content.aspx?doc=FactSheets/super_guarantee_rate_to_12_percent.htm]

It would appear that the majority of Australian households and workers will lose money if a Coalition Government is elected and, Mr Abbott said more spending cuts would be announced before the September 14 election.

Ross Leigh of Brisbane cynically suggests that the new Coalition campaign slogan should be; Over the next five years, we promise to take $15,000 off every Australian! Sorry, we promise to save $75 billion. He may be right.

Hit and run driver tweets to brag about her actions

This young woman has since deleted her Twitter account and appears to have taken her Facebook page offline.

However, as ever, if it was up on the Internet it is almost inevitably retrievable and, this tale is still there for all to see on Topsy.

The Telegraph UK 20 May 2013:

A spokesperson for the police force posted on Twitter: "we have identified parties believed involved and are progressing".

The rider involved, Toby Hockley, 29, was taking part in the organised Boudicca Sportive ride in Norfolk on Sunday and claims that he was knocked down by a car coming in the opposite direction, five miles from the finish of the 100-mile event.

He suffered a "bruised shin and a sore elbow" and says that he considers it to have been a "miraculous escape".