Yes, just a few snatches of things have caught the beady eye during the week like …
A re-run for the seat of Herbert is on the cards, but polled punters want more than that … much more …
And ‘bundled out’ -The Bulletin’s circulation numbers steady … but the methodology is more than a bit wobbly.
The best ever one–line description of a political party …
… and don’t fret for Aussie Sara Connor, she won’t be banged up in detention in Bali much longer, help is on the way.
But first …
Mayor Mullet And The Water Crisis We Had To Have
Remember our mayor’s scoffing campaign platform ‘what water crisis?’? Somehow, reality hasn’t seem to have dawned just yet, and our leadership seems more intent on raiding granny’s pension purse for fines than showing any sense of real urgency towards arguably our most important issue which underpins all other facets of this city’s progress.
Bentley reckons people might try all sorts of tricks to fool the council’s squad of watery Inspector Clouseau’s.
Planting A Poisonous Idea
The most disgraceful bit of political grandstanding this week came from the Green’s Richard Di Natale, when he decided to push against a same sex marriage plebiscite by predicting that any public debate would become so vitriolic it would cause some people to commit suicide.
Is The ‘Pie the only person to find this an extraordinary statement from a politician, a statement that, by the norms usually afforded this subject, could become a self-fulfilling prophecy? A subject that requires helpline information it is deemed so sensitive? A cheap shot that would only be expected from a cheap shit, which Di Natale is normally not.
Of course, the logical extension to this argument is that that could be the same outcome with a failed parliamentary vote, so why bring this hypothetical into the debate anyway? Hey, maybe those of us who believe in free speech and resent our rights are steadily being chipped away by fruitcakes like the Greens might top ourselves because we’ve been muzzled and we’re not allowed to have our say.
Disappointing, Dr Di Natale, but perhaps not surprising in one way …
Why The Greens Don’t Fear Failure.
This was the premise put forward by political writer Mark Kenny in the SMH today. In his article, he made what must be the most accurate and pithy summation yet of the party of the billowing and bellowing Sarah Hanson-Young when he wrote:
(The Greens Party doesn’t fear failure) because it has delivered up failure before and been applauded by an idealistic base that scores worthy intent over actual results.
Says it all.
Mind you, quite a few of those idealists write for the Sydney Morning Herald, too. Now that’s called free speech.
Making A Bundle
The latest quarterly circulation figures make interesting reading here in the ‘Ville. But if they’re honest with themselves , the suits at the Astonisher will be breaking out a sobering mineral water rather than cracking the champagne.
On the face of it, the good news is that print numbers appear to have stabilized, which it is hoped will back a new sales drive locally. Here’s how the print numbers came in.
But a little help is needed in reading these particular tea leaves, and much revolves around that word ‘bundled’. In the arcane language of print, here’s the legal definition of ‘bundled’.
Bundled Sale is a sale at a price of a Publication involving the bundling of the Publication (Primary Publication) with other consumer good(s) or service(s) under Arrangement by or with the publisher of the Publication(s) and the supplier of the items making up the Bundled.
In other words, a ‘giveaway’ (or at least heavily discounted) for buying another product . Don’t take The ‘Pie’s word for it, here it is from News exec in charge of regionals Damian Eales, talking to media site Mumbrella.
“We are also working with different channel partners, be it supermarkets or petrol and convenience stores, to create bundle options, be it bundling The Australian and a metro paper, or a coffee and a newspaper. So we are working with partners to create a reason to pick up the paper.
Good reason? Seems good journalism, lack of sensationalism and an absence of bias hasn’t occurred as such reasons.
But back to the figures … you’ll remember many comments sent in to here about stacks of Bulletin’s at junior sporting matches, a free copy with admission price, an offer few took up. Same at servos and some coffe shops. Well, that’s bundling, so you include airline, events, schools, and accommodation and hotel sales in that definition. Which means that genuine sales of the Townsville Bulletin Monday to Friday are 16,306, while Saturdays are even more dismal, revealing a true circulation of 24,016. Both figures would be at a guess, the lowest for at least 50 years.
But the need for a second bottle of mineral water and an aspirin comes with the digital figures. For some months now, The Astonisher has been flogging the bejesus out of the bundled sale of various bundle options, e.g Courier or Sunday Mail with the Bulletin thrown in, all at half price for the first 12 weeks. (Home delivery included in some offers, and on empirical evidence, good luck with the paper turning up on your lawn.) At the end of the offer period, you’ll be paying close enough to full freight, possibly for one publication that you don’t want anyway. Alas, it doesn’t seem to have had a meaningful impact. Starting with around 130 paid subs, there hasn’t exactly been a stampede.
On top of that, it would be interesting to know how many of these digital subs are simply print readers swapping over for no new gain for the paper.
So mineral water futures are still looking a good investment.
Re-Run Or Complete Rewind?
The ‘Pie hears some fascinating unofficial polling has startled both sides of politics, as we wait to see if there will be a by-election for Herbert – the government has three weeks to head to court, otherwise The Tool remains in place, along with that other redhead in the Senate.
BUT … the message getting through is that just about everybody wants a fresh election, but supporters of both sides want completely new candidates!
Fanciful, and more than a bit unlikely, but sure would be interesting to see who we would be presented with as a choice. Seems like a case of the better the devil you know.
The Poodle Departs
Colin Dwyer
Erstwhile Katter candidate and The Astonisher economic pet poodle Colin Dwyer is heading south. He tells us he has secured a job in ‘management’. He hasn’t told us whether it’s a Hungry Jack’s or a KFC he’ll be managing but he will make a great meal of it, no doubt.
Good luck. Col, and The ‘Pie would just like to acknowledge your good humour and willingness to engage with the old bird over the years. You are greatly respected by many a misguided soul up and liked by all thisaway, mate, and you’ll be a tearaway success in the Big Smoke. Hasta La Vista.
Speaking Of Hasta La Vista …
That phrase literally translates from the Spanish as ‘until the next sighting’. In the case of Aussie Sara Connor, cooling her heels in Bali while the local Keystones sort out a murder charge, we don’t know when or where the next sighting of her will be, but is she about to be busted out?
The ‘Pie is informed that an old pal is coming to collect her, and won’t brook any argument.
What’s that you say? Wrong Sara Connor? Oh, you mean this one, with an ‘h’? This one?
Oh, bad luck, Sara, but you must be brimming with confidence, what with an experienced local lawyer in your corner, the same one who did such a great job for Schapelle Corby.
Storm Damage And More Gore
Former Townsville Nescafe Society A-listers Emmanuel and Julie Cassimatis have been found to be financial grubs by a Federal Court judge. Justice James Edelman didn’t quite use that terminology, contenting himself with finding that the couple ‘had contravened the Corporations Act by failing to prevent inappropriate advice being given to relevant investors’. Their Storm Financial collapsed in 2009, ruining thousands of investors and racking up loses of $3 billion. Penalties yet to be determined.
And the loveliness that was Craig and Marina Gore still has repercussions for investors, but at least some corporates are doing the right thing (unlike the Commonwealth Bank in the Storm affair). ASIC has accepted EU (Enforceable Undertaking) by My Adviser Pty Ltd, after one of its representatives provided poor advice. And where did this advice come from? You got it, Craig Gore, who is now disporting himself in sunny self-imposed exile in Phoenix, USA.
Under the EU, My Adviser is required to repay clients who transferred money to a company with which Gore was involved. My Adviser has already repaid $2 million.
A Picture Worth a Thousand Vitriolic Words
The Guardian Martin Rowson nails Trump. The serpents are multiple heads of Trump supporter Nigel Farage.
Finally, The ‘Pie Shares The Secret Editorial Policy Of This Blog (a secret which he is about to put into action)
