Bonfire Of The Inanities: Labor Throw More Logs On Its Own Funeral Pyre.

Maybe not in two weeks time, but perhaps by the following Christmas, we will all be able to warm our hands around the traditional Labor implosion, which will see Albanese give us the most unwelcome Christmas present imaginable – Peter Dutton PM.  The Magpie charts the spiral.

The TCC’s surprising unsought generosity to a council tenderer, saw almost doubling a quote that does not appear to be requested by the local business.  And the council public servants have refused to explain it. But Fightin’ Fran O’Callaghan is on the case, and has called them out.

The hard-hitting open letter to the Premier about juvenile crime … Thommo socks it to her again.

Forget Lansdown, check out Clive Palmer’s continued callous disregard for this city with his close–to-criminal shenanigans with Yabulu that almost put Magnis to shame.  His association with shysters with unsavoury business records is ensuring the re-opening of the nickel refinery is a long way off – if ever. And there’s an unreported related development that suggests ‘never’ might be the answer.

Putting Townsville’s plight into poetry … The ‘Pie discovers not so much an ode to joy,  more a reality check on just how hard we’ll have to work to ensure a happy and safe holiday period. A clever, funny  but sorta disheartening reality check from an anonymous versifier, illustrated by Bentley.

If you’d like to support your weekly Nest with a donation, to help meet the ever-present costs of this blog, the donation button is at the bottom of the blog. Probably a silly suggestion in this expensive holiday season, but hope springs eternal in The Magpie breast.

Labor’s Credibility Now Flatter Than A Driveway Cane Toad

While the traditional changes to the seasons seem to be getting out of whack, one time honoured seasonal tradition is going like clockwork, as the Australian Labor Party’s internal slow-burning wick snakes its way to  the inevitable implosion.

Albanese, basking in the hubris of getting elected because he wasn’t Scott Morrison, promptly dropped his pants and mooned the Australian public with his Voice To Parliament misjudgement. (In terms of gullibility, Albo ranks up there with Chamberlain’s ‘peace in our time’ gurgle in 1939, after being hosted by his pal, a certain A Hitler.)

The divisive fallout from the stunning Voice misadventure is still being witnessed around the country, and will be for a long time yet, as people realise that this prime minister tried to sell Australians out to a noisy, myth-spinning racist minority. But division seems to be in the DNA of the current Labor leadership cf South Australia’s failed attempt to erase public holiday names like Anzac Day,  Christmas Day and Australia Day. But hey, thanks, Albo, your blueprint.

And while Albo and crew adopted many of the previous government’s policies, including a cynical tax break for the rich while thousands are sleeping rough  in streets, cars and under bridges. The inability to crank up a workable housing policy was a major failure of this so-called battler’s party  was exacerbated by the Prime Minister’s overseas trips … all were known and were pre-arranged, many were necessary, but Labor’s failure to be ahead of the publicity curve, taking the public into their confidence, and explaining the basis for the necessity of the travel, the baying of the ‘headlines-at-any-cost’ media about Airbus Albo was like a howling dog sitting on a thorn but too lazy to move off it.

There were other lesser matters … the ploy of mass immigration during a housing and socially shattering rental crisis was excused as a way to keep inflation down (really? If you say so.) And the on-going mad-woman’s-breakfast of an unworkable ‘too much too soon’ climate policy

But then came the deeply idiotic, deeply cynical and cringeworthy response the monstrous Hamas terror attack,  and the subsequent fallout for the Australian community. Surely you’d expect only a prize idiot who leads a proud and successful (more or less) multicultural country to – can you believe it –  pick a fucking side in the latest bit of gross, religiously-motivated barbarity.  But no, in a modern version of All The Way With LBJ, Albanese announces ‘we’ are all in with Israel. And the NSW Labor leader orders the Israeli flag to light up the Opera House, FFS.  Can’t these fucking people read immigration statistics,  are the windows of their ivory towers fogged up they can’t see the bleedin’ obvious.  And these are the cretins who endlessly honk on about ‘the most successful multicultural society on earth’?

Instead of offering the mature, measured response necessary, providing commiserations and sympathy to Israel,  and condemning Hamas and its sickening barbarity – and ending our national support at that dignified point – ‘we’ pull on Israel’s state of origin jumper, ‘we’ then barrack for the home team having the right to retaliate in any way they think fit,  and ‘we’ initially applaud the inevitable (literal) overkill response. That posture ended any chance of a believable response reflecting Australians general disgust with the mass murder of hospital patients, women and children seeking refuge, on the tissue thin excuse that Hamas had bunkers underneath the buildings.  Even if they did (that’s yet to be proven when journalists are allowed tro see for themselves) the response was grossly out of proportion. And now ‘we’ are the proud owners of a bit of this new holocaust committed by the Israelis.

Cue even greater Labor-inspired division, because now, Albanese cannot come out with any credible statement deploring the killing of civilians, most women and children, because it was ‘our’ side committing the barely excused mass murder. If this is defense, one wonders what actual aggression looks like, but ‘we’ are in no position to squeak,  because now ‘we’ are the proud owners of our own bit of the new holocaust committed by the Israelis.  And yet, they then have the gall to decry the dangerous protesting divisions that have flooded our streets.

And then comes the debacle of the refugee release, which was a panicked response of a decision that could be foreseen, and in the event, any release should have waited until the High Court’s reasons were published.  (BTW it turns out it was illegal detention because Dutton, who designed the legislation while in government,  awarded the appropriate minister (himself at the time) the power to order such indefinite detention – and that, said the High Court, was their turf alone to have that power.) It didn’t take long for four of the grubs to commit crimes while out in the community. 

Albo , a shy master of the humblebrag,  assigned a bevy of ministers to handle this one, while cursed his luck at being in the country when it blew up.

So, thanks, Albo, you have now moved us closer to a disaster of a different kind … Prime Minister Peter Dutton.

A sort of political Sophie’s Choice we could well do without.

Secret Sign Language? The Walker Street Hermit Kingdom Keeps Mum …

… and its public servants refuse to even explain why one matter is a secret. Not even the usually parotted Commercial in Connivance. Here’s how the latest bit of transparency TCC-style came to our attention.

That lastline is a corker, isn’t it? A councillor who represents ratepayers is denied information to justify a successful $635,000 tender inexplicably hiked by  $400,000+  by an unelected public servant.

And The Magpie reckons he knows who is – or should be – indignant with this secrecy. These blokes.

The Magpie had a bit of a beak around – took him a while – but it seems that the company in question is Paradise Outdoor Advertising.  This happy crew of ad men look more like they’re ready for some professional bull riding rather than professional bullshiting,  but they seem to have a successful business with a solid track record.

So one imagines they would be mightily pissed off at any suggestion that ratepayers have illicitly funded a whopping tender increase for some contract or other, and would want the council to come clean about the matter. In fact, insist, in order to preserve their reputation.

Arrogantly refusing a councillor information she is entitled to – or, if legitimately not entitled to,  at least give a reason why – raises eyebrows and suspicions about a council highly on the nose already. No successful business (except News Corpse) would want to be identified as involved with what could appear as shady practice in Walker Street.

So perhaps the shiny-bum public servant who refused Clr O’Callaghan’s request might consider reassessing his position, which has accidentally reflected badly on a respected local company … unless of course he has something he wants to keep secret.

A New TCC CEO On The Cards?

With the inevitability of a slowly descending fog,  mists of rumour about the possible departure of Prins Ralston are getting thicker by the day. They started a few weeks ago, when The Prince made the finals of Council CEO of The Year awards. The interesting thing is that shortly afterwards the awards were announced, Mayor Mullet mentioned the matter an an industry breakfast, and jokingly suggested the council might need to start looking for a new boss and ‘anyone know a good CEO?”

Sure, a rhetorical question only,  Jenny, but with the madly twirling CEO turnstile in Walker Street, it’s a sure thing you fuckin’ don’t.

Keep An Eye Out For The Following In Monday – Maybe Tuesday’s Bulletin

The weekend Astonisher ran this piece of pointless twaddle on Saturday.

This is just opportunistic and pointless gum flapping by a couple of minor characters suffering relative Deprivation Syndrome … the hubris of Dametto thinking he has the clout to call to Queensland ministers and unspecified ‘local leaders’ to a round table meeting next Wednesday for a pointless discussion about juvie crime is laughable in itself – unless he already knows such a meeting is on and will look like a hero when it happens. And Frothy Molachino’s appearance shows that this is no serious matter because if it was, he wouldn’t be anywhere to be seen, and Mayor Mullet would’ve elbowed her way front and center.  Or he’s gone rogue, which is in fact a possibility. But this empty flapdoodle was good enough for the unquestioning Bulletin, but the following wasn’t up to their lofty news standards, apparently … federal member for Herbert,  Phillip Thompson socking it to Premier Alphabet over the government’s disgraceful record on curbing crime. He sums up the community feeling perfectly.

As Thompson said on his FB page ‘We did it (recalled federal parliament), why can’t you?’

Good question.

Laugh At This … Or Maybe Cry

Aussie humour has always lightened up the some dark moments in our lives,  and there are some clever and funny people out there. Like the anonymous poet who penned the following ode to a Townsville Christmas, which has been perfectly illustrated by Bentley.

The  Night Before Christmas In Townsville
It was the night  before Christmas, and all through the ‘Ville.
Little creatures from Kirwan were ready to steal.
All wallets are hidden, and cars locked with care.
With hope in the morning, they would all still be there.
The  children are sleeping, and parents alike.
Whilst in their backyard, someone’s stealing their bike.
I switched on the aircon, and began counting  sheep.
And settled right in, for a good night’s sleep.
When out on the  lawn, there arose such a clatter.
I sprang from the bed, to see what was the  matter.
Seems I forgot to lock my front door.
And someone drove away, in my commodore.
The police were called, to file a report.
We’ll be there in 4 hours came the retort.
Say goodbye to your car, and your neighbours new ute.
Cause police aren’t allowed to engage in pursuit.
The constable says,  I’m real sorry mate.
But our balls are in a vice, from the laws in this  state.
Coming straight out of Condon, and up to no good.
Gangs of delinquents, roam neighbourhoods.
They’re bashing, they’re stealing, they’re  cutting and burning.
They’re robbing, they’re breaking, each night they’re  returning.
Just when you believe they won’t go too far, 
They’re jacking old people, when they stop in their car.
You’ve set up the tree, and laid out the presents.
Too unaware of an intruder’s presence.
You’ve bought the  kids new scooters, knowing full well though.
They will shortly belong, to some kid in Kelso.
And the cricket bat for Timmy to swing in the park
Will  be used in a robbery, once it gets dark.
They’re creeping and sneaking,  quiet as a mouse.
As all electronics are removed from your house.
They  empty your cupboards, your pantry and drawers.
They’ll find where you wallet is hidden for sure.
Your statement will show that your AMEX and Visa,
Were maxed out at BWS Mount Louisa.
Stolen cars are pulled from Ross River by divers.
While an ambulance treats the 12 year old drivers.
They’re arrested and held by police til the morning.
When the judge lets them off with their 17th warning.
The magistrate happily let this farce go on longer.
Because it doesn’t affect them in Yarrawonga.
Christmas  morning you wake, and open your eyes.
And find with the greatest degree of  surprise.
That no burglar, no prowler, no mischievous brat.
Had managed to  break through the door of your flat.
The tree and the presents you managed to defend.
You must be the luckiest guy in West End.

The dog was let out, and your car may be taken,
But you somehow avoided a full blown break-in.
So key lock your doors, and keep valuables out of sight.
Merry Christmas to all, they’ll come back tonight

But, Gawd, There Some Very Unfunny Boofheads Out And About

A jarring, insulting note on ABC news on Friday night. A report on Jasper had an official exhorting us to calmly prepare for a possible visit from Jasper, and ensure we had the necessary cyclone stores on hand, including bottled water … but no more than 10 seconds later, we had some bald, wobbly-jowled walloper, noting that some supermarket shelves of bottled water had been cleaned out admonished people for ‘panic buying’.  Twerp.

Fatso Is Still Fucking About With Yabulu After a Year Of Lies

The future of the mothballed nickel refinery looks as clouded as ever, but comes into sharp focus for this city down that we may be facing down a cyclone. A direct hit by Cat 4 or 5 could spell an environmental disaster for Townsville, but the callous Palmer couldn’t care less, preferring to play his Little Richie Rich games with politics.

But if Jasper suddenly becomes the joker in the pack for Palmer, he could be facing the environmental clean-up costs he has so desperately tried to avoid by not completing any sale.

But perhaps you thought Yabulu had been sold to a Swiss-based company Zero Carbon Investek as reported last December, but, well, not really, that is a highly sus company, associated with a number of highly sus shonks, none less so than the bloke said to be its boss, disgraced former CPA president Richard Petty (he was kicked out for an accounting scam that ran for years, which forced him top flee the country).

And besides, it is c lear that palmer set it up and controls it anyway, so nothing has happened.

Palmer blurted a lot  at the time about reopening the refinery and negotiating with the Townsville port to start importing and exporting nickel products, but not a single tonne has passed through the port in either direction ion the year since the announcement.  Petty has also gone to ground, and questions to Palmer are answered loftily by Fatso’s step’n’fetchit with ‘Mr Palmer will make an announcement when he’s ready.’ couple of months ago, the whole sorry scamming saga of a man who doesn’t think $24billion is enough was documented in a well researched article in the SMH.

Be all that as it may, an interesting bit of info floated into the Nest this week, concerning the nickel plant’s esclusive rights to the artesian water under the northern suburbs. This is a right conferred by a special act of parliament  (ordered by  Joh, ta muchly) which prohibits bores by farmers in the area.

Well, seems one such landholder found a sunset clause of sorts in the act, so he and a neighbour reapplied for their cancelled water licences … and they were granted.  The ‘Pie’s contact says another five landholders were then also granted reinstated water rights, but then Clive brought in the big legal guns, and it is said then even the solicitor working for the landholders was threatened and backed off. Threatened with what has not been specified.

But surely even Fatso has to be subject to the principle of ‘use it or lose it.’

Irony Corner

So Graham ‘whatever it takes’ Richardson has settled his dust up with unsavoury Sydney partner Danny Meares over the sale of The Watermark here in Townsville. Richo had 10% of the action, but reckoned he got dudded on the sale. Between these two, hard to know who to believe.

And the irony is laid on with a trowel when we learn that a dispute in Townsville was Commercial In Confidence. How fitting.

This Week’s American Gallery

The lunacy continues.

And A  Couple of Notes From The Week

From the funny folks at The Shovel

………

That’s yer lot for this week, but keep those comments coming in, they run 24/7 … and its all free around here. But of course, you are allowed to make a donation to show your love for The Nest and The Magpie … you can push button by hitting the one below.