This blog is open to any who wish to comment on Australian society, the state of the environment or political shenanigans at Federal, State and Local Government level.
Bill Shorten has
narrowed the gap to Scott Morrison as preferred prime minister as Labor extends
its lead over the coalition in the latest Newspoll.
The coalition government
has slipped further behind Labor in the latest Newspoll as Bill
Shorten narrowed the gap to Scott Morrison as the nation's preferred leader.
The Liberal-National
coalition now trail Labor by 10 points after slipping to 45-55 on a two-party
preferred basis, according to the Newspoll published in The
Australian on Sunday night.
The coalition’s primary
vote fell by a point to 35 per cent - two points higher than the record low of
33 per cent.
Labor's primary vote,
according to the national poll of 1802 voters, sits at 40 per cent - only the
third time it has hit such a mark in almost four years.
The coalition has been
behind on the primary vote since the leadership change in August.
Mr Morrison's latest
effort to win back votes - his bus and plane tour of Queensland - appeared to
not work with voters with his net approval rating sinking another five points
to minus eight.....
Given Morrison history of politicizing his own extreme religious views pushback was inevitable.......
Dear #PMScum, over the last few years more people have died on #Manus & #Nauru at the hands of yourself and Dutton than have been killed by terrorists in Australia. Since you are both extremist faux-Christians, I'd argue that you are more dangerous than Islamic extremists #auspol
— John Wren, Fair Dinkum Scomophobe (@JohnWren1950) November 10, 2018
Australia's faux prime minister now has an Australian flag behind his desk as a photo opportunity prop and religious images showcased for effect. Dog whistles discreetly kept out of sight. Yep, a hard right PM at the helm following the US GOP campaign playbook pic.twitter.com/B8PapxjG4l
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It’s no
accident that interim Prime Minister and Liberal MP for Cook Scott Morrison (who
had a Kiwi grandfather and a mother who was a New Zealand citizen by descent)
has suddenly turned himself into a virulent ‘ocker’ - complete with an Aussie beer or
meat pie in hand, thumbs forever standing to attention when cameras begin to
click, spewing forth g’days and fair dinkums ad nauseum while sporting a cheap Australian flag lapel pin on his
business suit jacket. Togged out in hi-vis vests whenever possible. Wearing a veritable parade
of caps for less formal media moments as a "good bloke' and nicking the moniker “ScoMo” from
other Facebook users for his own public relations purposes. No recognition of his own multicultural background for Scott Morrison - it might offend the One Nation supporters he is so obviously wooing!
One has to
suspect he is personally getting a calculated makeover by a professional
image manager. If the image advice is coming from Finkelstein and Kunkelthey are definitely not earning their salaries.
The problem
for Morrison is that he has been a federal MP since 2007 and was a Cabinet
Minister from September 2013 until he became prime minister in August this year, so his underlying character is widely known to the national electorate.
A man without a genuine empathetic bone in his body; single-mindedly ambitious, self-righteous, arrogant, prevaricating, unwilling to accept responsibility for the consequences of his ministerial decisions, a shameless dog whistler and, a victim blamer from way back who believes that political or business success and/or personal wealth are visible manifestations of God's approval of the individual and consequently lacking success and wealth indicates moral failure. His track record as Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (18.9.13 to 23.12.14), Minister for Social Services (23.12.14 to 21.9.15) and Treasurer (21.9.15 to 26.08.2018) precludes him from ever being considered a good bloke.
So it was
inevitable that the artifice of his new persona would be mocked……
He didn’t want the job,
it was handed to him – just ask him. But now that the mantle of greatness has
been thrust upon him, Scott Morrison,
ScoMo to you thanks, is going to take that mantle, put a surf cap from Mick
Fanning’s mum on it and serve it meat and three veg. Fair dinkum. He’s the
nation’s daggy dad and, just in case you weren’t aware of it, he’s going to
stone the flamin’ crows and show you just how ridgy-didge he is. Below are some
memorable quotes. But who said them? Our 30th prime minister, or an Australian
icon?
Top of Form
1. "That’s why you keep backing it in. If
something is working well, you should back it in. And that’s what we are doing
here."
Scott
Morrison
Alf
Stewart from Home and Away
2. "The right is
constantly procreating while the left is grooming a dead dog."
Scott
Morrison
Cleaver
Greene from Rake
3. "No wonder the
country’s in a mess."
Scott
Morrison
Ted
Bullpitt from Kingswood Country
4."We’ve got a
future CEO of the farm down here, I reckon. He’s pretty keen on the ice
cream."
Scott
Morrison
Bill
Heslop from Muriel's Wedding
5. "This is me
doing what I do – I’m out, I’m listening, I’m hearing and I’m doing."
Scott
Morrison
Kenny
Smyth from Kenny
6. "It’s a simple
rule: pants first, shoes second. That always usually works for me."
Scott
Morrison
Alvin
Purple from the movie of the same name
7. "Feels good to
be on the road again. Feels like a drug. Not an illegal drug, a good
drug."
Scott
Morrison
Russell
Coight from All Aussie Adventures
8. "Mate, I think
I’ll take you down to Canberra and let you give the boys a bit of a
rev-up."
Scott
Morrison
Barry
McKenzie from The Adventures of Barry McKenzie
9. "People don’t
hassle me. It’s always very friendly anywhere in the world."
Scott
Morrison
Paul
Hogan
10. "Lily and I had
a great time yesterday doing the hot lap with Mark Skaife and coming down it
was a bit like doing the Wild Mouse."
Scott
Morrison
Steve
Irwin
11. "And yeah, fair
dinkum, we should be supporting Australian businesses."
This tea-towel may contain traces of bigotry and zealotry. Wash in a gentle, upper-class cycle with whites only.
Tea towels available now at www.cathywilcox.com.au
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
[Adopted and proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948]
Hi! My name is Boy. I'm a male bi-coloured tabby cat. Ever since I discovered that Malcolm Turnbull's dogs were allowed to blog, I have been pestering Clarencegirl to allow me a small space on North Coast Voices.
A false flag musing: I have noticed one particular voice on Facebook which is Pollyanna-positive on the subject of the Port of Yamba becoming a designated cruise ship destination. What this gentleman doesn’t disclose is that, as a principal of Middle Star Pty Ltd, he could be thought to have a potential pecuniary interest due to the fact that this corporation (which has had an office in Grafton since 2012) provides consultancy services and tourismbusiness development services.
A religion & local government musing: On 11 October 2017 Clarence Valley Council has the Church of Jesus Christ Development Fund Inc in Sutherland Local Court No. 6 for a small claims hearing. It would appear that there may be a little issue in rendering unto Caesar. On 19 September 2017 an ordained minister of a religion (which was named by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in relation to 40 instances of historical child sexual abuse on the NSW North Coast) read the Opening Prayer at Council’s ordinary monthly meeting. Earlier in the year an ordained minister (from a church network alleged to have supported an overseas orphanage closed because of child abuse claims in 2013) read the Opening Prayer and an ordained minister (belonging to yet another church network accused of ignoring child sexual abuse in the US and racism in South Africa) read the Opening Prayer at yet another ordinary monthly meeting. Nice one councillors - you are covering yourselves with glory!
An investigative musing: Newcastle Herald, 12 August 2017: The state’s corruption watchdog has been asked to investigate the finances of the Awabakal Aboriginal Local Land Council, less than 12 months after the troubled organisation was placed into administration by the state government. The Newcastle Herald understands accounting firm PKF Lawler made the decision to refer the land council to the Independent Commission Against Corruption after discovering a number of irregularities during an audit of its financial statements.The results of the audit were recently presented to a meeting of Awabakal members. Administrator Terry Lawler did not respond when contacted by the Herald and a PKF Lawler spokesperson said it was unable to comment on the matter. Given the intricate web of company relationships that existed with at least one former board member it is not outside the realms of possibility that, if ICAC accepts this referral, then United Land Councils Limited (registered New Zealand) and United First Peoples Syndications Pty Ltd(registered Australia) might be interviewed. North Coast Voices readers will remember that on 15 August 2015 representatives of these two companied gave evidence before NSW Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No. 6 INQUIRY INTO CROWN LAND. This evidence included advocating for a Yamba mega port.
A Nationals musing: Word around the traps is that NSW Nats MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis has been talking up the notion of cruise ships visiting the Clarence River estuary. Fair dinkum! That man can be guaranteed to run with any bad idea put to him. I'm sure one or more cruise ships moored in the main navigation channel on a regular basis for one, two or three days is something other regular river users will really welcome. *pause for appreciation of irony* The draft of the smallest of the smaller cruise vessels is 3 metres and it would only stay safely afloat in that channel. Even the Yamba-Iluka ferry has been known to get momentarily stuck in silt/sand from time to time in Yamba Bay and even a very small cruise ship wouldn't be able to safely enter and exit Iluka Bay. You can bet your bottom dollar operators of cruise lines would soon be calling for dredging at the approach to the river mouth - and you know how well that goes down with the local residents.
A local councils musing: Which Northern Rivers council is on a low-key NSW Office of Local Government watch list courtesy of feet dragging by a past general manager?
A serial pest musing: I'm sure the Clarence Valley was thrilled to find that a well-known fantasist is active once again in the wee small hours of the morning treading a well-worn path of accusations involving police, local business owners and others.
An investigative musing: Which NSW North Coast council is batting to have the longest running code of conduct complaint investigation on record?
A which bank? musing: Despite a net profit last year of $9,227 million the Commonwealth Bank still insists on paying below Centrelink deeming rates interest on money held in Pensioner Security Accounts. One local wag says he’s waiting for the first bill from the bank charging him for the privilege of keeping his pension dollars at that bank.
A Daily Examiner musing: Just when you thought this newspaper could sink no lower under News Corp management, it continues to give column space to Andrew Bolt.
A thought to ponder musing: In case of bushfire or flood - do you have an emergency evacuation plan for the family pet?
An adoption musing: Every week on the NSW North Coast a number of cats and dogs find themselves without a home. If you want to do your bit and give one bundle of joy a new family, contact Happy Paws on 0419 404 766 or your local council pound.
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