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The Magpie

Saturday, October 21st, 2023   |   172 comments

Call The Midwife: The Magpie Never Thought He’d Need The Services Of One, But He Did. He Was Greatly Assisted by Midwife Gracelyn Smallwood this week.

Yes, Nurse Smallwood  was a godsend for the old bird this week. She  arrived just in the nick of time, as The ‘Pie was despairing that he had nothing to write about in the Week of Silence by indigenous moral instructors, moping about the inevitable referendum outcome. But Nurse Smallwood never fails to come up with the goods. The Magpie contrasts her bitter ranting against a powerful article by Geoffrey Blainey, that delivers a few home truths that the Yes camp never acknowledged.

Having successfully divided the country along racist lines,  and with  the referendum debacle behind and clear air ahead, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wasted no time  in using his now proven skills at setting people at each others’ throats. But this time not just race but religion, too. And success first up, when he strutted the world stage and managed to cause a near race riot here in Australia.

Aaron Harper at his alert, sensitive best …

On the local scene, the Bulletin makes an ass of itself again … on the front page … which is hardly news but worth a chortle or two.

And a very funny boomer comedian takes those of us of a certain age on a hilarious walk down memory lane.

Big website hosting bill hit The Nest this week, any help with meeting it and other Nest costs will be a big help if you want to support your favourite weekly read. Donate by following the prompts to your right, or use the donate button at the bottom of the blog.

Shit And Myth: The Media, Politicians And Bitter Aboriginal Elites Are Addicted To Both. 

This is just nuts, complete fruit cake territory. No wonder Sara Lee is quitting Australia, too much competition.

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Kerrrissst!!! What about the psychological distress to taxpayers who have foot the bill? Now that really is fucking unbelievable … and the reason given by the chief shiny bum is even more cloud cuckoo land …

Commissioner David Mackie sent an email to directors-general approving the special entitlement, on top of sick leave, because Mr Mackie believes the move will keep government workplaces psychologically and culturally safe.

The Magpie isn’t so sure that this is a nation divided by race at the moment, it seems more like we’re living in parallel universes, with many of the indigenous elite and their supporters stepping through a fold in time and reality to continue with their own mythical moral saga in the face of a real world rejection of the Voice’s inherent racism.  And the false narrative of victimhood, passed down by generations and now aided and tedious molehill-hunting  media players will do nothing but further divide and antagonise Australian society.

Can there be any other explanation for the weirdness of the Palaszczuk’s Government offering five days ‘fully paid grief leave’  to public servants (FFS!!) for any  ‘devastated’ by the referendum result to the extent of being incapacitated to move papers from one side of the desk to the other? Not sure how this could be quantified, verified or policed – and The ‘Pie will bet there won’t be any ‘ Nah, I’m good with it’, either. Because there a nice Catch-22 trap – anyone who doesn’t take the time off will in essence be announcing  that they voted No, or aren’t worried about the outcome. And won’t that just make for a happy workplace of government employees.

Could the message be any clearer and the finger more aggressively thrusted to the Queensland taxpayer than this truly astounding and unheard-of attack on a majority vote ? And just to confirm that Anna Palaszczuk really has lost the electoral as well as the moral plot,  she is dictating that those taxpayers who voted No are the ones required to  compensate and fund  those who are so mentally unstable as to be rendered helpless with grief over the outcome?

Trump gave the world alternative facts, but it is Palaszczuk who has given alternative sanity.

Bentley thinks it’s all bullshit too, he reckons the overwhelming notion has been much the same from the very start.

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Blainey On Blame And Bullshit

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In a powerful article that deserves wide circulation, noted historian Professor Geoffrey Blainey has exploded the underlying myths of the Yes campaign’s implied premise of a downtrodden minority of ethnic people, worse off because of white settlement.  The article appearing in the Australian is behind a paywall, so no point putting up a link, but worth seeking out. Some salient points:

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Blainey will draw a lot of fire from the usual quarters, but the irony is the criticism will be in the same vein as the Yes campaign’s self-destruction … classic whataboutism.

 Once Again, Disgracelyn Smallwood Casts Hersel As A Black Boadica

After a bit of selective fence sitting during the Voice campaign, this thought disordered woman decided to let fly once it was all over. From comments during the week.

The Magpie

October 17, 2023 at 10:31 am  (Edit)

Life is a never ending learning curve, and if we allow ourselves freedom of thought, we learn something new about ourselves every day.

For instance, I learnt this week that I am not a decent person (admittedly have had my own suspicions about that for a while now – 50 years or so) and I have apparently indulged in or at least supported fear-mongering, lies and betrayal.

This enlightenment, long overdue many would think, comes from an unbiased, deeply skilled analyst in human relations Nurse Gracelyn Smallwood.-

Speaking about those of us who voted no, her exact words – if you trust a Bulletin reporter to get it right – are: “This is a defeat for decency and a victory for fear mongering, lies and betrayal.”
Nurse Smallwood, who enjoys many different appellations depending on who’s talking – such as ‘professor’ and ‘Doctor’ by sniggering academic colleagues, and to the Bulletin, a respected indigenous leader (which is news to many indignant indigenous locals who’ve contacted The ‘Pie over the years) and a long term human racist rights activist – meanders on through the usual unfiltered litany of perceived grievances.
She, like others in her vanguard, shadow box across past and concluded battlefields, ever moving further away from any realistic discourse about the future. Or the present, for that matter.

No surprise there, and none either when she comes to her usual conclusion, that she really doesn’t know what she wants. Apart from some hazy version of … well, everything. But she does end with an interesting question: “So where to next?’ she asks, We need politicians to grow up … and they should not be elected until they know the true history of their country.”

Well, as said, something new every day … Nurse Smallwood wants politicians to sit exams before being allowed to stand. (Actually, not a bad idea in a different context.)

This sort of racist bile has become truly tiresome from this angry, seething woman, and if she expects ‘you white fellas’ will be cowed into silence for fear of being branded racists, think again, Gracie girl, this one sure won’t be. I have personally witnessed your racism and sometimes unfocused simmering resentment around the courts over the years, which never once have you made the smallest allowance for indigenous responsibility in anything.

The ‘Pie could go on, but instead will just put this challenge to you, Gracelyn.

If you have the actual courage to do so, just cut to the chase. Skip all the bits about how badly white colonialists have treated aborigines. We all know about their shameful and barbaric behaviour at times, there’s no extra ‘truth-telling’ really required, and the massive bastardry and butchery inflicted by previous white generations has been acknowledged, nationally apologised for, and billions poured into trying to counter the constant efforts to instil victimhood into generations of youngsters who should be getting on with a happy and prosperous life.

No Gracelyn, go straight to the unvarnished, straightforward demands of what you want. Land? A share of taxes? A separate sovereign country – which btw this land, inhabited by 390 warring tribes with 200 different languages, never was before the white man?

You see, if you don’t tell us ‘whitey racists’ in unvarnished, non-judgemental language just what your end game is, and why you deserve your demands, you haven’t learnt anything from immediate recent history. Because this is exactly why the Yes vote went down so comprehensively. You and other indigenous claqueurs demanded a trust and honesty of the sort you were not willing to offer yourselves.

So forget the Vibe, the ‘trust us’ mantra, no, you tell us, Gracelyn, what is it in hard temporal terms you really want. If you actually know what you want.

I challenge you.

There’s Not Much Humour Around At The Moment …

..but The ‘Pie liked this on Twitter – disagreeing with wit is always the most effective response.

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Coogee revisited? How To Promote A Race Riot

Albanese must be punch drunk – or just drunk – following his comprehensive thrashing in the referendum, because what other reason can there be for his further misjudgement – as the prime minister of a proudly multicultural country – to respond to the Hamas terrorism the way he did. His ‘all the way with Bibi Netanyahu’ and encouraging light displays in Israeli colours in major cities was another massive misjudgement.  The endorsement of Israel’s plans to understandably seek terrible revenge against Hamas is one thing,  ( who doesn’t condemn such vile disgusting terrorism? – but his rhetoric  … made on behalf of all Australians – clearly suggested not only was he unmoved by the imminent slaughter of civilians in Gaza but that he was against Palestinian demands for their own state. That was lead balloon stuff in western Sydney.

No wonder the Palestinians came out in force,  and marched on the Opera House the night it was sporting Israeli colours.

As an Australian, The ‘Pie reckons the right response would have been to condemn the barbaric acts of Hamas, denounce all terrorism, and offer condolences to Israel. And leave it at that. But no, he had to pick a side in a contest where there hasn’t been any winners and not likely to ever be.  And on a further crass level, Albo didn’t seem to realise that most of those Palestinian protests come from his Labor’s western Sydney stronghold of seats. Or that’s how they were last election. Next time will maybe be different.

This unravelling hasn’t finished, riveting to watch.

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Bulletin Buffoonery

We know Mt Isa is a ways out west,  but this far?

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And memo to the cut-price jokers out there, The ‘Pie will not be publishing any yukyukyukery about names.

And there was also an interesting yarn in the weekend Astonisher, mainly because amazingly it didn’t have a quote from Mayor Mullet — wonder why.

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Figures from the TCC Planning and Development folks confirm the five year low of just 81 dwelling approval in the July-Sept quarter just gone.  As mentioned, Jenny Hill was silent on the issue, but Alana Hopkins, Master Builders spokeswoman, offered all sorts of reasons, transport and fuel costs, cost of building materials,  labour costs, changes to national Construction Code and government Olympic contracts made Townsville the North Queensland  basket case.

All sounds pretty gruesome for those of us up this way, but somehow, it doesn’t seem to be bother Cairns too much.  Although The ‘Pie could only find figures for this year’s April-June quarter,  it appears there were about 249 dwelling approvals in the tropical Tinseltown.

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Wonder what Mayor Bob Manning’s secret is, apart from not being Jenny Hill.

Aaron Harper Has His Finger On The Pulse … 

… or his whole fist on something else again. Really, can someone be this out of touch and self destructive in a state … and in his own electorate vote almost 70% No.

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And this silliness was posted the day after Kiwis chucked Labor out.

But even the Ville got into the stupidity … this was last Sunday.

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Capitol Capers

Washington continues to goggle at the jaw-dropping spectacle of the Republicans playing in their sandpit.

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 Modern Life – You’re Either Cool Or  A Fool 

Which all depends on which generation is talking. We all have trouble with some changes  foisted on us.

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But there are others who embrace our brave new world.

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Stand-up comic Brad Upton

But one bloke who hasthe measure of Generation SmartArse is a boomer stand-up comic Brad Upton, who fires back with a world view that is funny because it is true. It’s a full show clip, enjoy at your leisure. (Better if you turn on captions.)

Finally … Why Golfers Hate Trees

They say trees are 90% air, to which most golfers have a universal one word answer.  but trees can be playful mischievous buggers, too, you’d swear the rustling leaves are actually giggling.  There’s been a bit of welcome foliage clearance  during upgrade works at Rowes Bay GC  and one discovery might make a suitable trophy.

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…………………

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The Magpie's Nest is now more than five years old, and remains an independent alternative voice for Townsville. The weekly warble is a labour of love and takes a lot of time to put together. So if you like your weekly load of old cobblers, you can help keep it aloft with a donation, or even a regular voluntary subscription. Paypal is at the ready, it's as easy as ... well, easy as pie. Limited advertising space is also available.

172 Comments

  1. Mike Douglas says:

    Palaszcuk Government so dysfunctional Aaastascia didn’t even discuss backflipping on Treaty with left faction leader Steven Miles . 50 % drop in building approvals . Team Hill Councillors voted the highest rates increase in Queensland and penalised investors . For Townsvilles sake , let’s hope Team Hill realise their could be ” a new kid in Town ” as far as LNP winning the State election and they dont play politics and act in the best interest of the City .

  2. Cantankerous but happy says:

    Townsville council have fucked over property investors with excessive rate hikes so they have abandoned the market, investors won’t build here, and with many units still worth less then they were 10 years ago who would have the confidence to invest, whereas Cairns has had solid price growth and is still building units and has not slugged rental properties with extra rates charges, although it is worth noting Bob Manning was considering a rental rates hike but unlike Townsville, other councillors actually voted against the Mayor and it was defeated, shame we don’t have those sort of councillors in Townsville instead of the gutless parasites we currently have.

  3. Alahazbin says:

    “Mr Mackie believes the move will keep government workplaces psychologically and culturally safe.”
    What a week to go to work! Not a toxic employee in sight.

    • Prince Rollmop says:

      Alahazbin, the 5 days off for public servants is not only an unconscionable rort, it is a bribe to garnish public servant support and votes in the next state election. From the March quarter, there is a figure of 232,554 full-time equivalent public sector employees. That’s a lot of votes. Keep in mind some government departments also pay their staff for taking days off to attend indigenous events,

    • Critical says:

      Is this leave for all Qld public servants or just the entitled untouchables?
      Is it also available to staff in other government entities such as the Townsville Hospital and Health Service?

      This stupid ruling is going to cost the Qld economy millions in lost productivity and service delivery to hard working Queenslanders.

      It’s a wonder Albanese hasn’t told the Federal public service that they can have the same leave but maybe that’s coming this week, assuming Albanese in Australia for once.

      • The Magpie says:

        Queensland edict only as far as The ‘Pie has read, and given the touchy-feely kumbaya vibe around this whole steaming load of ordure, it would have to apply to ALL Qld public servants. Palaszczuk clearly has some sort of political death wish.

  4. Dorfus says:

    Mick Lowcock is a great fellow but a Farther he is not!

  5. Grumpy says:

    Vale Bill Hayden. The last of the True Believers and the only reason ever to vote Labor.

    • The Magpie says:

      Totally agree, Grumps. Hayden showed his integrity and party loyalty when he stepped down to give Bob Hawke his eventually successful run at the Prime Ministership. Hawke’s backstabbing of Hayden became quite clear in his furious reaction in the now famous ‘blood on your hands’ interview with the ABC’s late Richard Carleton. One of Australian TV’s most memorable exchanges.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1aDvcP7-dw

    • Jeff, Condon says:

      Yep, Bill was also the one who brought in the tax for people who already received low pay in their main job so they could pay 47% tax on their part-time job, instead of about 30%.

      The inspiration on this was that it would discourage people taking up second jobs, leaving the positions open for the unemployed.

      Except…, the unemployed didn’t want to work and those who had to work two jobs just found life a little more difficult. On the bright side, Bill raised more tax revenue for Gough. Ahh Labor, the workers’ party.

  6. Long Suffering Ratepayer says:

    Of course Jenny Hill didn’t comment on the lack of building approvals. She never fronts up for negative stories and her lapdog Light-on Leighton knows better than to ask her the big questions. One day Frothy Molachino is going to finally wake up that he’s Jenny’s scapegoat. Mates who work at the council say he actually thinks Jenny is doing him a favour and giving him valuable media exposure by sending him out to do her dirty work.

    • Bob Ferguson says:

      (Comment via Magpie email.)
      Magpie, you reported on the drop in building approvals in Townsville compared to Cairns. Here is one reason why.

      My late mother in law had a 5 acre vacant corner block at Black River. When she died and to finalise her estate my wife and I sold the block on behalf of the family. She and her late husband paid council rates on the block for 48 years. There was no sewerage or water connected. Prior to listing the land I enquired what it would cost to hook up the water and power. To connect to the council water, with the mains running past both boundaries, it was $27500 and that’s a fact, no bullshit. I thought there was a mistake and the cost was $2750 but no it was correct. The council water department bloke told me that was an infrastructure cost and it increased every year. Ergon wanted around $10k to hook up the power. We ended up allowing for those costs by dropping the the asking price and could have sold it more than once, it was a great block.

      Jenny Hill is an absolute loser along with her mates in council but is Fran up to it, I sure hope so. Margie Ryder is a piece of work. I have had dealings with her in Julia Creek.

        • The Magpie says:

          What’s the relevance of that? Smoke and mirrors, because others charges might not look so rosy. Bet rates certainly don’t compare favourably. But anyway, let’s take your on-off area being cheaper, why is Cairns surging ahead with approvals and we’re going backwards?

          • Bullshit says:

            The relevance is that Bob said this specific single charge is one reason why approvals are lower here than in Cairns.

        • Mike Douglas says:

          Bullshit . May 2023 Cairns Council waived infrastructure fees on social and affordable housing and advertised it to stimulate investment and assist their housing issues . Based on the infrastructure charge link you provided thats $32,000 in savings in Cairns .

      • Spielcheque says:

        Bob, as a matter of interest, what was the 6-monthly rates charge on a vacant 5 acre lot at Black River and what was the sale price?

      • Bob Ferguson says:

        My wife reminded me that I didn’t put in the earlier comment that on a rates notice it stated the rates are in part for infrastructure. When I talked to the council, the guy in the water section said that part of the $27500 was for the infrastructure ie to install the water mains past the property. So how can the council charge $27500 for a water connection after paying council rates for 48 years. It’s bullshit.

        Also something else re Black River. Clive Palmer and QNI have all the bore water in that area reserved for their use. I think Joh struck a deal with QNI initially. The mullet was going to look into having this bore water situation reversed now QNI is not operating. Has anyone heard anything about that?
        We couldn’t get a bore at the black river block we sold due to this QNI bullshit. Apparently a bore licence has to be recorded I think on the rates notice or somewhere. Maybe it’s on the Natural Resources paperwork. I wrote to The dishonourable Scott Stewart about getting a bore licence but he never replied. Probably due to my often putting shit emails into him. Asshole anyway.

        Has anyone heard anything further about the rate reduction in the CBD for a business and an increase for the likes of Domain to pick up the shortfall?

        Crime Rally next Sunday, 3 till 6 pm at the stadium to shake up the buffet Queen and her baboons while they are in town. Was going to go but have a meal deal on at 5.30pm so to continue sharing the matrimonial bed I’m going to the dinner.

        Off now, I’m taking my 5 days mourning leave. If that’s not absolute fucking bullshit what is. Have a great day Magpie

        • Spielcheque says:

          Not sure about local government and water mains, let alone time spans over which it is spread but with Ergon, if they were requested to lay in a power line to a new area they would spread the cost of the poles and wires etc. over all the users who signed up for the new supply. If someone in the same vicinity who was not interested in signing up in the first place, came along later and requested supply from the service that now ran past their property, they would be charged a percentage (their share, on some descending scale over time) of the original infrastructure cost. Perhaps that is what has happened with the Black River water supply.

        • Spielcheque says:

          Another small point, Bob, your in-laws would not have been paying towards the cost of water, sewerage or garbage collection because those services were not available at that vacant block. I doesn’t mean they paid nothing. But consider the increase in value for you, the vendor, if there was town water, 770,000 litres a year, connected at the front gate. Why should other ratepayers subsidise your very considerable value-add?

      • ExWater says:

        Bob, Council offered residents of Black River and areas of Jensen an opportunity to connect to the water network approximately 15 years ago. Your inlaws had an opportunity to connect then, and would have chosen not to. Just because the water main runs past your block, doesn’t mean you automatically get town water. There is significant work required to connect and maintain.

        Additionally, if you pay rates but don’t pay water and sewage charges, the infrastructure charge on your rates notice goes to maintaining current infrastructure, such as roads, curbing, stormwater, parks and gardens. It’s kept separate. So your inlaws have never paid for any water infrastructure.

  7. Strand Ghost says:

    Your correct CBH ! i have been investing in units for last 15 yrs, i now live in one and until recently had 2 investment units here in Tville, i sold one last yr at a loss of $20000 and i have the other one on the market now, this Govt and Council have forced me to sell as last yr with rates, bodycorp fee’s( insurance ) rise in mortgage rates these units were losing on average around $10000 a yr.
    With all these rises and stupid new Govt laws they have chased the small investors out of the market as we are subsidising the renter as they cant afford to pay more rent, i had to give notice to a lovely lady tenant who had rented off me for 6yrs and was a-great tenant but she had to move because the unit was bought by owner who wanted to live in it,
    So all these stupid rules are know forcing renters out onto the street, i have friend’s who are in same position as me and now are
    doing the same thing , as there is no incentive for investors i certainly wont be back as a investor in Tville.

    • Spielcheque says:

      Strand Ghost, I can understand your disappointment at having to give notice to your faithful tenant – I know several tenants who have had to get out for the same reason. I’m not so sure about your view that there is no incentive for investors in this town anymore. Whoever it was that bought your place, whether to live in or as a potential rental property, must have seen it as a worthwhile investment. If it became a rental (despite their earlier ambitions) there would quite likely be a large increase in the rent over what you used to charge. That is what I have seen in a few transactions I have observed. It seems to be happening everywhere. And as miners and their families leave Mt Isa over the next couple of years I imagine it will get a lot worse – or better, if you are an investor.

      • Cantankerous but happy says:

        Irrelevant, the discussion is about new construction and why this place is an investment black hole for new builds, who ends up in someone’s disgarded rental property is completely irrelevant, what Strand Ghost articulated is precisely the problem, who the fuck would stump up $400k for an off the plan build as an investment when units in the same area are selling for under $300k, that is the reason why unit approvals in Townsville have collapsed over the last 7-8 years, add to that Townsvilles extra rates and charges and it’s easy to see why people invest in a thousand other places before you would build in this town.

        • Spielcheque says:

          Strand Ghost did not mention an “off the plan build”. He did mention charging such a low rent that he lost money on his investment.

  8. Anihl Pahsage says:

    It’s true about Mayor Hill not looking to good. We’ve been discussing the matter around the Council corridors and quite a few of us have noticed that she is looking shittier than usual. Maybe stenographer Late’one Smith could do some investigating? That’s if Crass Garvey allows him.

  9. Echochamber says:

    From the ABC News website:

    “NSW has appointed its first-ever feral pig coordinator, with a $13 million elimination budget. She aims to kill 87,000 feral pigs across NSW in the next eight months”

    At 300 odd pigs a day I guess Bec “bloodthirsty” Gray is going to be one busy gal.

  10. Jeff, Condon says:

    Is Gracelyn a ‘lation of the Ayr Smallwoods? Many of that family make regular appearances in the QLD law forums, immediately prior to taking all expenses paid holidays. Perhaps that’s why she can never accept they are responsible for their actions.

    But she and the other opportunistic activists can’t stop thinking about past and they allow it to constantly broil up their hate. Read the Dialogues from the Uluru Statement and it is plain too see the heart is full of hatred. I didn’t see any love or yearning for reconciliation in there.

    While they let the past hang over them, they will never see the way to the future.

    • The Magpie says:

      The Smallwood clan is large and spread out along the coast from Ingham to Ayr. Once at a function at the late and truly lamented Ron Hynes offices, he introduced The ‘Pie to a bloke named Smallwood, with Ron immediately adding ‘Don’t worry, he’s one of the good Smallwoods, he’s from Ayr’.

  11. Achilles says:

    The problem with renewable energy, is there is no way of making any money from it.

  12. Dave of Kelso says:

    ABC News trying to verify unconfirmed report that Putin has suffered a heart attack. Report from single source Telegraph channel.

  13. Regular Reader says:

    The juvenile crime epidemic is impacting more and more Townsvilleans.
    On Sunday 3 cars were stolen from one street in Burdell, and in the CBD my wife has to lock the door of her business even during normal working hours after a gang of young crims harassed her and tried to kick in the door of her office.
    There have been hundreds of complaints both on this blog and in the Astonisher about juvenile crime being completely out of control and this Sunday we have a rare chance to let the Premier know, first hand, what we think about her kid gloves treatment of the little grubs.
    Please join me in standing up and being counted by attending the rally/protest at Queensland Country Bank Stadium from 3pm-6pm on Sunday.
    It’s time to front up or shut up.

    • The Magpie says:

      It’s not the locals who need to ‘put up or shut up’, (although, yes, attend for the best shown of strength of shared disgust with the government). It is the politicians who seem unable to grapple effectively with what is a pretty straight forward problem. And until we know otherwise when he has the reins, that goes for the premier-in-waiting, Kid Crisafulli. It’s one thing for voters to ‘shut up’ the likes of Harpic, Walker and Stewart, as well as the back-flipping Premier Alphabet, but the pressure must start being applied now to any alternative regime in George Street.

      • Spielcheque says:

        “It is the politicians who seem unable to grapple effectively with what is a pretty straight forward problem.”

        W.A. “solution”: Three strikes and you’re in.
        QLD “solution”: More youth detention centres. Draconian bail laws.
        NT “solution”: Don Dale.

        Effectiveness so far: Utter failure. Community response: Utter despair.
        A “straight forward problem”? Hmmm. I don’t think so.

        • The Magpie says:

          Person commits crime serious enough to go to jail/detention … goes to jail/detention. Simples no?

          • Spielcheque says:

            Simples? Apparently not. When state-run detention centres become uncontrollable, unsafe, abuse-riddled crime scenes such as happened quite recently at Don Dale in the NT, the community is revolted and outraged. Not just for the inmates who are subjected to unbelievable assaults and such abominations as ‘spit hoods’ but also for the staff and management whose professionalism is corrupted if not actually perverted by the experience. No one is looking to NSW or Victoria because they haven’t found a way either. Doing what we’ve done a dozen times over (law and order campaigns) and expecting a different outcome is is not even wrong. It’s just mindless.

          • The Magpie says:

            They become uncontrollable because of the well meaning but naive addleheads who put the discomfort of offenders ahead of the state-mandated punishment of strict confinement. Kids doing it tough for a short period is apparently not allowed anymore, and we end up with what we have … kids running riot over custodians hemmed in everywhere with bleeding heart regulations. And spit hoods? Of course not ones that inhibit breathing (I’m sure they don’t anyway) but that’s an example of what we’re talking about … the disgusting habit used by these juveniles (and older) should be countered with such devices. How about as a community and a government starts being on the side of the men and women we ask to do a difficult job for us? Why not? Sure, rehabilitate those who will be rehabilitated, and reward with an easier but still disciplined time inside. Those who wopn’t be disciplined or rehabilitated, just punish them with incarceration that is no picnic. There is a limit to how far we as a society should be expected to go to give these kids a second or even third chance.

            The ‘Pie sticks with his original point which is simples, yes?

          • Spielcheque says:

            Add WA’s Unit 18 to your appraisal list. Youth (read child) detention is a fraught if not failed project.

    • Mundingbird says:

      RR,
      Poor old Les will not be able to make it sadly,as he has his pathetic Halloween fun night on at Sherriff Park from 4-7pm.
      What a coincidence , a true sign of the gumption of this parasitic fuckwit.

  14. The Magpie says:

    Question of the Week/Year/Decade goes to Curious Snail columnist Mike O’Connor, who has asked:
    “Had the referendum passed, would five days’ paid leave have been extended to those who had voted against it and were “grieving” over the result? We know the answer.”

    Indeed we do, Mike.

  15. The Magpie says:

    This is the rapidly degenerating fruitcake MAGA wants to again have the nuclear codes.The ‘Pie has verified this report … the last line is a corker!!

    Unhinged Trump Fantasizes About Breaking Biden’s Nose

    Ron Filipkowski 3 hours ago
    Donald Trump gave another cognitively impaired, unhinged speech to a small gathering in New Hampshire today after signing paperwork to officially enter their primary.

    Trump claimed that the leader of Hungary Victor Orban was in charge of Turkey, forgot the reason why FDR was in a wheelchair, compared himself to Nelson Mandela, said he would ban people from entering the country who disagreed with Christianity, he then mused about what he wants to do to President Biden.

    Fake tough guy Donald Trump, who has never been in a fight in his life, said he would like to take his soft pink hand and punch Joe Biden in the face:

    “I dream of that. You know what I’d do with him?”

    Then Trump demonstrated throwing a couple of punches with his tiny right hand that couldn’t hurt anyone to the delight of the cheering cultists.

    “I’d hit him right in that fake nose. He’d have plastic lying all over the floor,” Trump said, while standing there with lifts in his shoes, five different hair transplants, a girdle, and three layers of bronzer makeup.

    • Sergeant Gunny Highway says:

      Trump isn’t the worst president in history. Both Bush’s and Biden are warmongering fuckwits whose only success was to have troops killed in war, and sink the USA into further debt. If Trump’s small hands are your only argument, go get a life.

      • The Magpie says:

        RUOK?

      • Alahazbin says:

        Gunny, Trump is a psychopath. Go to ABC Listerner and listen to podcast ‘The psychopaths amongst us’ by David Gillespie.

        • Sergeant Gunny Highway says:

          Alahazbin, I’m not disputing that Trump isn’t a psychopath, he is, and he is a narcissist. But he sanctioned the least amount of war killings out of recent decades of Presidents. Both Bush’s, Clinton, Obama, Biden, all warmongers sticking their fucking noses where it doesn’t belong. Now the US is fighting a proxy war against Russia and their drums are beating for a showdown with Iran. For each of the above Presidents there has been a spineless Aussie PM that has also supported America as it looks to supposedly democratise the world! Fuckers

          • Bullshit says:

            Biden ended two decades of US warfare, not very warmongering.

          • Grumpy says:

            BS – by throwing an entire country under the Taliban bus to the stone age.

          • Damn tailings says:

            Yes Trump made a deal with the Taliban, reportedly at the time, without the knowledge of the Afghan government.

          • Bullshit says:

            Another twenty years of occupation would have done the trick!

          • Grumpy says:

            Too right. It only took the Taliban six months to “do the trick” on women’s rights, individual freedoms, democracy, health and education. Don’t let your hate blind you to reality. I’m sure the overwhelming majority of Afghans are really enjoying their new overlords. Next thing, it’ll be that Hamas is merely a misunderstood bunch of well-meaning lads (with guns).

          • Bullshit says:

            There’s lots of terrible countries apart from Afghanistan, should the USA invade them? Getting out of an unwinnable war is a better option than continuing it until the end of time.

          • Grumpy says:

            Now that’s just insipid. Try harder.

          • Bullshit says:

            No answer eh?

          • The Magpie says:

            PUR-LEEESE …. sleeping dogs and all that.

          • Grumpy says:

            Oh, dear, dear me. Forgive me if you’re not that important to me that I have to RSVP to your inane comparisons. Further, I don’t respond to Whataboutism – a clear sign you are losing the thread.

  16. The Magpie says:

    So now it all comes it, in a welter of emotional mayhem..

    THIS IS WHAT WE WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT THE ‘FIRST STEP’ VOICE REFERENDUM

    And we can thank the thwarted ambitions of Anthony Albanese and a cohort of too smart by half half-baked academics and wannabes who sold false hope as a means to theirnown ends.

    A letter writer toi the Australian perfectly encapsulated the attempted subterfuge that Australians were to smart to swallow.

    It would seem the post-voice
    dummy-spit by some Aboriginal
    spokespeople has begun. As was
    feared by some, the voice was a
    poorly camouflaged attempt at
    gaining sovereignty by a cabal of
    disaffected ultra-leftist activists.
    In the wake of a resounding

    countrywide refusal of the pro-
    posal, we are to be immersed in

    pseudo-intellectual cant and
    hypocrisy and yet more screams
    of rampant racism. Sovereignty
    was never ceded will be the claim;
    sovereignty never existed will be
    the reply.
    What a pity that such energy
    wasn’t and won’t be directed at

    solving the problems of some re-
    mote Aboriginal settlements. One

    wonders just how much of the
    problems are caused by the very
    people emoting about them, but of
    course I am not allowed to ask
    such a question.
    L.J. O’Donoghue, Richmond, Vic

    • Dave of Kelso says:

      I lament that the post referendum week of silence is over. Clearly the Yes camp is bitter and emotional.
      To process that bitterness and emotion I recommend for the Yes camp 12, or even 48 months of silence.

      • Achilles says:

        Nah! DoK, let’s go with AI, Ad Infinitum.

      • Inspector Clouseau says:

        And I would suggest you are bitter and emotional DoK, about Australian Indigenous peoples. Are you a racist?
        Albanese has caused this latest issue, by insisting the referendum proceed when it was clearly going to fail. Most sensible Australians agree that something different needs to be done, but not a constitutional enshrinement of Australian Indigenous rights. It’s the white gals and blokes in policy and the well heeled Australian Indigenous folks who have taken us here, along with Albanese.

        • Dave of Kelso says:

          IC,
          I am a behaviorist. I judge people by their behavior and their acceptance and discharge of their responsibilities as citizens of a liberal western democracy.

          Provide a safe respectful home for spouse and children.
          Embrace child and adult education that leads to meaningful employment.
          Fund your own lifestyle as best as your circumstances permit.
          Respect for property, public and private.
          Public courtesy.
          Respect for the rule of law.
          Participation in the democratic process.
          Etc, etc, etc, you get the idea.
          Have a nice day, now go away.

          • Inspector Clouseau says:

            The feeling’s mutual DoK. According to other posters, well documented on this blog, you have an interest in rubbish trucks. Stick to that and leave human relations problem solving to others, much more caring and capable.
            Most of what you have written can’t be achieved by many Indigenous Australians and THAT is the problem. Lose the vitriol DoK and get on board with support and solutions (if your conscience will permit). If not, STFU please.

          • The Magpie says:

            Hey, Froggy Flatfoot, know what nominative determinism is … it’s basically the smart arse why of saying you behave like your name (cf the Queensland treasurer) … and you do it in spades, mate. You couldn’t be more wrong.
            You chose the wrong place to try to perpetuate a particular unsupported myth, when you scribbled ‘Most of what you have written can’t be achieved by many Indigenous Australians …’

            Let’s not waste time quantifying ‘many’, which would also apply to other groups in the community, but consider these two factors. Previous links provided recently in comments show that indigenous disadvantage applies to less than 20% of those who identify as indigenous, and the large bulk of those people are in remote and other non-urban areas. The other 80+% have taken advantage of the benefits of meicine, law, democratic government and education freely available to them, and the free university places reserved for them. When they haven’t wanted these, they have become skilled in trades, professions, business and other areas such as nursing and social service. All this while functioning as generally regular social members of their community, enjoying all manner of leisure time pursuits like any other bloke or bird. With the bonus of being able to celebrate their links to their unique heritage, which is at all levels encouraged, protected and willingly paid for by the taxpayer in general.

            It is people like you who instill a false resentment of an imagined ‘invasion’ who are dooming future generations to unwarranted and undignified emotional turmoil based on the mischievous ambitions of extreme left-wing academic activists and money grubbers like Pearson, Langton, Davy and Mayo.

          • Dave of Kelso says:

            Inspector C,
            You write,
            “Most of what you have written can’t be achieved by many Indigenous Australians and THAT is the problem.”

            Why? How?

            It’s a free country. We are all free to, with our families who we love and respect, move to economically viable communities where there is employment, health care, education, rule of law, and hairdressers.

            So IC, for those who choose to live in remote desert shitholes, so be it.

            As you are a student of my past comments you will be aware of my first hand experience living (5 – 10 days each) in many remote communities.

            I C,
            From your keyboard in France, what is your first hand experience??

            I have the urge to be very rude to you, but it is by behavior that a gentleman is defined and I will resist the urge to be rude as I am a gentleman.

          • The Magpie says:

            As The ‘Pie’s beloved old Nanna used to say ‘self praise is no recommendation’. And in your case Dave, your history here in comments in against you. Heh heh heh.

        • Inspector Clouseau says:

          Jumping to apparently racist D’head of Kelso’s defence Pie? I am surprised. The majority of AUSTRALIANS agree that there is a problem, in particular with remote services and supports for Indigenous Australians (including many Indigenous Australians).

          We can agree to disagree, the facts are Albanese and the group of well-heeled Indigenous Australians have caused this latest round of vitriol. DoK has form on this blog Pie, he slings big mud and offers nothing in return. His grasp of what a behaviourist is, at best, very slim and transparent. Thanks for taking the time to respond. My main current beef is with Albanese and co. and non-Indigenous Australians who chose to sling mud.

          Unfortunately this is now happening with increased fervour around our country at the moment.

          • The Magpie says:

            Seems you’re easily surprised. The ‘Pie was not jumping to anyone’s defence, just pointing out the selective lying in your comment. The ‘Pie’s response speaks for itself, facts that you chose to ignore. D of K can speak for himself, he doesn’t need The ‘Pie defence or endorsement.

          • Dave of Kelso says:

            Hello IC,
            Opinions other than yours are mud slinging?
            Humm,
            Suggestion: find someone to give you a full body 8 second hug.

          • Damn tailings says:

            “and the free university places reserved for them”

            Nope, not free. There are plenty of scholarships available to all students but I don’t know any Murris that are getting free uni

          • The Magpie says:

            https://study.uq.edu.au/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-admission-pathways

            Do Aboriginal people get free university?
            New demand-driven funding will support all First Nations Australians to go to university. From 2024, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Australia will be guaranteed a Commonwealth supported place at a university of their choice, when accepted into their chosen course of study.22 Aug 2023

            How many aboriginals go to university?
            Among Indigenous Australians aged 18–24, 3.2% (3,044) were in secondary school, 11% (10,314) in tertiary university or other higher education and 8.8% (8,478) in tertiary vocational education (including Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and private training providers) (Table D2.6 July 2023

            And if not uni, there is a wealth fee-free jobs training available to indigenous people. Most states have variation of the NSW example.

            https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw/apprentices-and-trainees/low-cost-and-free-training-options/subsidised-training-for-aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-people

            All of which is almost unanimously supported by the Australian community, always willing to give a fair go and a leg up to those who have the pride and drive to get on in life.

          • tropical cyclone says:

            “Unfortunately this is now happening with increased fervour around our country at the moment.”

            I think it’s called truth-telling. Unfortunately not the truth you want to hear.

  17. The Magpie says:

    We all know that – if you’re lucky – ther Townsville Bulletin will bring you yesterday’s news tomorrow, probably making old stuff sound new as they play catch-up, and with an exclusive tag attached to make them feel important.

    But the paper has broken some sort of record today … seven months behind the what they call ‘breaking news’.

    Ahem. I said AHEM!!

    This from the Magpie’s Nest 7 (that’s SEVEN) months ago, March 12 to be precise.

    In case you’re an unbeliever, here’s the link …
    https://www.townsvillemagpie.com.au/the-game-is-on-and-the-game-is-hide-and-seek-mayor-mullet-doing-the-hiding-fightin-fran-ocallaghan-doing-the-seeking/

    … and here’s what The Magpie had to say at that time.

    The ‘Pie has it on good authority Clr Maurie Soars will not seek to return as councillor for Division 8 at the council elections next March. He hasn’t said why, but The ‘Pie guesses because Maury is no spring chicken, he would like to retire with enough time to retain a little dignity after his shameless knee bending for handsome dollars of the past few years.
    Given this, it is quite possible The Mullet has tapped him on the shoulder, and maybe we can expect to see Maury get some lucrative do-nothing bum polishing reward down the track. In fairness, apart from being among the spineless crew, Maury has been one of the least offensive of Jenny’s jackals, so good luck, old timer.

    Knowing that the Astonisher staff are the most avid but miserly Nest readers (not even a spotter’s fee after scores of tip-offs, let alone a generous donation!!), here’s what undoubtedly happened. Light-On Smith took his feet off his desk, parked his bubble gum on the side of his screen and languidly dialled Jenny’s minder of the day.
    ‘G’day. See The Magpie says Maury Soars is pulling the plug. Wanna confirm?’
    ‘Shit, NO, NO WAY, you leave it alone mate, we’re sorting out a big announcement down the track, and we’ll follow that up a couple days later with Jenny’s pick to replace him. All part of our campaign strategy.’
    ‘So, nothing?’
    “Absolutely nothing, don’t you dare go near it … or you know what’ll happen.’
    ‘(Gulp) Yeah, sure no worries.’

    Reinserted, that bubble gum had a lot more mileage in it … seven months worth, in fact. But he still missed out in the end and gave the hospital pass to Caitlan Charles.

    • Prince Rollmop says:

      Light-on Smith was too busy reading the Magpies Nest and never saw the Maurie story bubbling away in the background in our community. Another lost opportunity to add to Light-on’s growing list of missed stories. Jenny has him shackled to her desk so tightly he doesn’t have time to watch the world (and many news stories) pass him buy.

  18. Hee Haw says:

    The three advisors to the mayor each earn $167,720 each per annum. Half a million dollars between them. Not bad work if you can get it.

    • The Magpie says:

      And the expenses list is interesting, especially the last entry.
      Cr Hill claimed the most in expenses during the previous financial year, with just over $50,000 claimed.

      During the 2022/23 financial year, Cr Hill went overseas twice to Singapore and South Korea.

      Her trip to the World Cities Summit and the WCS Mayors Forum in Singapore cost the council about $3400, while the trip to South Korea for the Suwon Sister City Visit cost about $4000. An adviser accompanied her on the trips, with their expenses costing about $7000 to council.

      Cr Molachino recorded the second highest expenses at $33,700.

      Cr Margie Ryder had $31,899; Cr Sue Blom $16,013; Cr Ann-Maree Greaney $23,335; Cr Russ Cook $20,861; Cr Suzy Batkovic $17,806; Cr Kurt Behbein $11,075; Cr Maurie Soars $23,747; Cr Liam Mooney 16,816; and Cr Fran O’Callaghan made no claims.

      In total, the councillors’ expenses, totalled $245,379.

      The ‘Pie hasn’t seen the report, but wonders about two things: could the mayor advise the ratepayers of what value the city has received from her overseas jaunts that required someone to wheel her luggage?

      And is there a breakdown of how the councillors spent the money claimed … especially Margie Ryder. It is hard to imagine just what she would be doing to incur that eye-watering amount.

      • Mike Douglas says:

        Pie , Canberra bubble has nothing on Townsvilles ” Council ” . Ceo on $500-$600 was paid as a consultant to make Council more productive trimmed staff . In the last year he has added 111 and still can’t empty our bins our keep the City clean . Margie Ryder Audit Committee knows Council will lose $3.54 mil this year but has no issues spending $600 a week in expenses . Household rate payers are funding this calamity with building approvals down 50 % .

      • Prince Rollmop says:

        There is absolutely no value to the ratepayer by having elected dipshits visit ‘sister cities’. These trips are 100% olly jolly’s, always have been and always will be. TBH, the bogan Hill is an embarrassment in both her physical appearance and communication skills. Townsville can do much better, and until that day happens we will remain a laughing stock. This Council only knows how to piss ratepayer money up agains the wall.

  19. Doug K says:

    Maurie is a good bloke, just a shame he was shackled to the mayor.
    A comment on the Townsville Bulletin webpage suggests that the three achievements Maurie said he was most proud of are either unfinished or not even started.
    Can anyone in his division confirm or deny?

  20. The Magpie says:

    Pedants Corner.

    What, in basic terms of accepted English, is the well known, always used phrase in cricket that is not only incorrect but clearly impossible?

    • Grumpy says:

      Maiden over?

    • Spielcheque says:

      Stick it up your arse?

      • The Magpie says:

        This suggestion is both possible and, given our new liberal views on accepted uses for the anus, not necessarily incorrect – especially when someone is bowled middle stump. But a clue for those pondering the question: it is not a trick or a joke, it just bears thinking about, and it is a phrase used by players, commentators and cricket fans alike.

        • Inspector Clouseau says:

          He/she’s hit it to cow corner

        • Dave of Kelso says:

          Diamond duck

          • Red dog says:

            Are you on drugs Cuz? What does that fucking statement even mean?

          • Dave of Kelso says:

            As I know bugger al about cricket I went to a web site of cricket terms and phrases. From the web site a diamond duck is being run out without a ball being bowled to that player, usually as a result of a poor call by the other batter at the other end of the pitch. I had never heard the term before looking at that website.

    • Tangles says:

      well, you could have a sticky wicket, or perhaps hit someone for six! I can just see the bowler flying over the long off boundary.

    • Achilles says:

      Caught and bowled?

      • Achilles says:

        A dropped catch?

        • The Magpie says:

          See where you’re coming from but as a descriptive phrase, it is accurate, although dropped ball would also apply.

        • The Magpie says:

          OK OK OK before this gets stale, let the arguments start … and remember, we are talking in terms of English only.
          The term The Magpie refers to is ‘all out’. A team is never ‘all out’ because there is always one batsman left at the crease. Under cricket English and cricket rules, he is deemed out although he isn’t, and the the team ‘all out’, but in simple English – over which the cricket authorities have no authority – that is impossible, especially when it is considered there is no such thing as a double run out. And as far as The ‘Pie could research, the accepted term ‘unable to continue – retired’ does not apply.

          The sensible answer is to use the phrase ‘the team was out for etc etc’. Because there is also the fact that ‘all’ is redundant in these cases, a team can’t be partially out when signifying the end of an innings.

          Now, before anyone dons their striped jacket and propellor cap to hit the keyboards in high ‘Gad sir!!!’ dudgeon, this is about language and not cricket. So let’s not burst a vein in a throbbing temple over this.

          And fuck it, just to save some female foamers the trouble, read he/she wherever ‘he’ is written. FFS!!

          • Inspector Clouseau says:

            Oh dear! Well, as per Spiels earlier remark, stick it up your arse :)

          • Achilles says:

            A hypothetical scenario:
            Last 2 batsmen are in, ball is hit high and the 2 batsmen run, the ball is caught and the hitter is out. But the other batsman is still out of his crease so the ball is tossed to the other end, and bails are removed…… is he out too??????

  21. Prince Rollmop says:

    The gloves are off. Round 1 to Fran below. Her latest Facebook comment;

    I was sledged on the TV news last night by the mayor who stated that I love to play politics.

    You made it personal Madam Mayor so I respond by stating that this is an extraordinary comment coming from a career politician who has been a councillor for the past twenty years and who has continually manipulated circumstances to suit her and her teams ends. For example, why did Cr Soars announce his resignation at the Full Council meeting yesterday – to take the attention away from the Council’s Annual Report of course, in which we discover information such as the Mayor spent over half a million dollars of your ratepayer money on three councillor advisors to assist her to do her job – you’d think she’d know how to do it by now after doing it for the last ten years.
    And I fully believe that a deal has been struck between her and Cr Molachino that she will stand for re-election as Mayor next year and utilise the benefit of her profile as the incumbent to get over the line and then resign shortly into her four year term so Cr Molachino can then run for the position of Mayor. They would hope I would be out of the way by then and not be able to run two campaigns in such close succession. So only the Townsville voter can halt this repugnant manipulation by Team Hill by voting for all independent candidates at the Local Government Election in March 2024.

    • Bullshit says:

      It seems a bit speculative and “inside the bubble”, and actually might be walking into the trap of playing politics and confirming why was said about her. If she wants to cut through she should avoid politicking and address issues that matter to people where they live.

      • Mike Douglas says:

        Bullshit , short on correct information again . Are you a Labor plant ? . The comments by the Mayor was in response to Frans asking for more transparency after Councils annual report presented in Council meeting . You have read Councils annual report ? how they again missed the three measures of financial sustainability . Council spent $10.6 mil on Lansdown but only $7.15 mil on fleet upgrades . That’s 3 times more than the previous year on the fleet . Total Council borrowings $418 mil at what interest rates ? . Plenty of details of $500 donations but you can’t find the big $ spends on V8,s etc . Fran motion for more transparency on Council tenders $200,000 was voted down by Team Hill . When was asking for transparency Political .

        • Spielcheque says:

          I agree with you, Mike. When was asking for transparency political?
          But Cr. Fran has gone further. She has concocted a conspiracy theory that a deal has been struck between the mayor and Cr Molachino whereby she [Hill] will stand for re-election as Mayor next year and utilise the benefit of her profile as the incumbent to get over the line and then resign shortly into her four year term so Cr Molachino can then run for the position of Mayor. I think you might agree, Mike, that this narrative requires a pretty fertile and defeatist imagination. Not just for the presumed political strategy of the mayor but the consequences for Cr. Fran who, in her own words, assumes she will lose the first election and then have depleted resources to run in a second election. Maybe it’s just Facebook but this kind of transparency is painful.

          • The Magpie says:

            Pretty weird reasoning, there, Spielmeister. For starters, take it from The ‘Pie, the MO is well known … here’s how it goes – Mayor Mullet wins another term, running only because alternative moves she has been working on (The ‘Pie’s info is solid) do not look like coming off in the short term. If she is successful next March, she will serve (if that’s the word) until a year out of from ’28 election, step down and let her selected successor – at this stage, Frothy M – take over without an election – none required in the case of a retirement 12 months or less out from an election. Of course, once the Mullet wiggles off of the scene, the new mayor must be selected and voted in by all the other councillors, but can’t see these mob of spine-shiverers going rogue, they’re so unused to that sort of behaviour.

            Now THAT’S what The ‘Pie calls a conspiracy theory.

          • Spielcheque says:

            Neither Mike or I were really talking about the mayor’s strategy which may well be what you have outlined. The thrust was about mayoral-aspirant Cr. Fran’s dream interpretation and consequences, noting that she expected the successful mayor to resign “shortly” into her four year term so Cr Molachino can then run for the position of Mayor. In the picture you paint, colourful though it is, there would be no by-election and Cr. Fran is nowhere to be seen. I doubt that is what she had in mind.

          • The Magpie says:

            It was a hypothetical, since Fran will be the new mayor anyway. Well, in a sane world.

        • Grumpy says:

          Mike, of course he is a Labor plant. Expect to see many more over the next twelve-month. I’ve met a few of these social media stormtroopers. Mostly halitosis-suffering, gender-confused, fully-indoctrinated, academic -struggling undergraduates with an exaggerated opinion of their own importance.

        • Inspector Clouseau says:

          G’day Mike!

          Q. What is a Labor plant?

          A. A tumbleweed ( rolls around aimlessly, with nowhere in particular to go) :)

  22. Red dog says:

    These parasites have profiteered off the back of high inflation and other factors, not excluding the pain that every day Australians are dealing with. To the CEO and the shareholders – fuck you. To every day Australians – boycott these grubs and hit them where it hurts. Cunts.

    https://www.9news.com.au/finance/coles-quarter-1-2023-2024-results/d4d49e89-4bd6-4e8e-b755-a5694e202af6

    • Cantankerous but happy says:

      Really? So the brainless masses who toddle off to Coles or Woolworths for that matter every week have nothing to do with it. Coles closes all of its meat sections, sacks hundreds of butchers but their meat sales increase, its fruit and vege section is full of snap frozen rubbish picked 6 months ago but sales increase, perhaps the real cunts are the brainless fuckwits who walk past the fruit and vegetable shop and the butcher every week to buy the pre packed shit Coles and Woolworths throw at them.

      • Dave of Kelso says:

        Cbh,
        100% correct. Well said.

        But first a trigger warning. Gratuitous vulgar deliberate recommendations to follow.

        Non-perishables from Willows Woolworths, then local fruit and veg from the fruit and veg shop just outside, and meat from a terrific carnivore shop on Gallogly Lane. And why is it that butchers are a jolly friendly lot. This place is a therapeutic tonic for carnivores both bold and timmed.

        One young bloke there asked me how I wanted to pay for my purchase. I replied, “With South Pacific sea shells.”
        Why ask such a silly question when he wanted Australian dollars all along.

  23. Alacan says:

    I had occasion to drive along Ingham rd Bohle today .. youd would have to say at face value its a forgotten road. The pavement and wearing surface is buggered and linemarking well overdue for a repaint

    Youd wounder if there is some type of dispute going on at State and Local or are they planning an entire upgrade so not doing any maintenance

    I thought many years ago Tcc took this over from MRD?

    Whatever reasons it has got to be unsafe and unfit

    Our Rates Not At Work

    • AFU QUIT says:

      Not just the roads. Our garbage collection process is severely flawed. The trucks are never on time and the garbage dump is disorganised as well.

    • Spielcheque says:

      Alacan, I found a media release with the heading “Ingham Road four lane upgrade”:

      “Townsville City Council plans to upgrade Ingham Road to four lanes between Enterprise and Mathers Streets.

      Council has engaged a local engineering company, SMEC, to undertake the preliminary and detailed design. Complying with the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Road’s current design standards, Council intends to apply for State and Federal funding to deliver this project as future works.”

      Don’t hold your breath.

      • The Magpie says:

        Agreed, not holding breath. And why would this take priority over, oh, say, maybe 100 other worthy projects costing the same amount?

        • Spielcheque says:

          Some of the bright young things employed by Council devote a lot of energy to writing funding applications. A hundred other worthy projects in Townsville may not be eligible for the particular funding sources that, the media release implies, the Bohle area and its heavy vehicle traffic seems to better fit:

          “In preparation for future upgrades, Council has completed three intersection upgrades along Ingham Road to improve traffic flow and heavy vehicle safety in the Bohle Industrial Area. State and Federal funding through the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme and the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program also contributed to this portion of the project.”

        • The Wulguru Wonder says:

          Very fanciful of TCC to call SMEC a “local engineering company”.

          Grew out of the Snowy Mountains Scheme as the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation in the early 1970s.

          Now part of the world wide Surbana Jurong Group.

          By TCC’s measure Woolworths and Coles are classified as local corner stores.

      • Alacan says:

        Thanks spiels .. thats the section

        Didnt say when eh ?

  24. Polly says:

    Poor Mr Lehrmann has been publicly named in his latest lot of rape charges. I do hope this case is handled better.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-26/bruce-lehrmann-toowoomba-court-rape-charges/102962680

  25. Prickster says:

    Talking with someone who when to the UDIA Townsville branch Property Outlook event, where he said average property prices in Cairns are $550k while in Townsville they are $400k. We are going backwards faster than I thought, while other towns are racing ahead. He said there was a whole heap of information shared that didn’t paint a good picture.

  26. The Magpie says:

    MUGWUMP
    Try again now … been a bit of a foul up with emails of late.

  27. Mugwump says:

    Phil calls Harpic a “Muppet” in a public forum.
    Be interesting to see Harpic’s response given his normal unhinged public posts.

    He latest was to vilify the organiser of this Saturday’s crime rally and his motives.

    • The Magpie says:

      Although not a term The Magpie would normally resort to, but having listen to this insult to the democratic system, Aaron Harper is a slime.

    • Prince Rollmop says:

      Well, he IS a muppet! And he looks like he has swallowed a soccer ball. Very puffy face.

    • Salami Clasper says:

      Calling the ex-Ambo driver a muppet is a very well restrained comment. There are much much more colourful phrases that come to mind when one speaks about Harpic. A limp and useless human being.

    • Dave of Kelso says:

      Aaron (who) Harper’s care and attention to his hair grooming is a reflection of his care and attention to representing and supporting his constituents regarding indigenous youth crime.

  28. The Magpie says:

    Another triumph for you Gunny … that bloody Biden, breakin’ promises an’ all.

  29. Dave of Kelso says:

    Kimberly Horizontal Falls
    Well boys and girls, this is a step up in community relations and economic prosperity.

    The boats cause no erosion or damage so what is the problem?

    And don’t give me this sacred site bullshit. Everywhere can be claimed as a sacred site when convenient.

    It seems to me that, in regards to access to and enjoying “our” country this is another case of “traditional owners” sticking it to the “fucking white cunts.”

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-27/traditional-owners-to-ban-boats-through-horizontal-falls-gaps/103032448

    Post Script: Pour yourself a drink and buckle up everybody, here we go,,,,,,,, “Cue Inspector Clouseau”.

    • OED says:

      Just because nothing is sacred to you, except bin day, that doesn’t invalidate the concept of sacred sites and the desire of people to not have jet boats crashing into them.

      • The Magpie says:

        Basically the argument of all barbarous superstitions otherwise known as religion.

        Y’know, given all the events that can take place in 65000 years, it’s a fair bet that not a single inch of land or water on this continent isn’t sacred for one imagined reason or another. Any such disputes are settled for money, which brings aboriginal sacredness into line with certain Christian practices, like the medieval Catholic practice of selling of indulgences to make your stint in the Devil’s AirBnB a short term stay.

        But The ‘Pie does rather like the all encompassing gambit, like Woggal Breath in WA, or the Swan Brewery site in Perth that couldn’t be redeveloped, elders said, because The Great Rainbow Serpent who created the Swan River was permanently resting from its labours there – one account suggested this subterranean serpent snaked its way half up the continent, its tail a couple of thousand kilometres away.

        • Ducks Nuts says:

          Not all beaches need development. And if what it takes is a rainbow serpent to stop
          highrises or resorts being built on beautiful beaches then I’ll gladly support the rainbow serpent.

          • The Magpie says:

            Surely it would be more productive to make a stand on factual, environmental and aesthetic grounds rather than on some moveable myth of convenience.

            And why are you talking about beaches, don’t follow?

      • Dave of Kelso says:

        Garbage day, garbage trucks, rubbish sorting, I get it, go ahead and poke fun. What isn’t funny is that none of these things are getting done properly and that costs us ratepayers a lot of wasted money.

      • The Magpie says:

        Well, yes, there is a safety issue which seems to be blown out of proportion and not seen a one-off after years and years of safe operation. The correct investigative and legal response to the accident has been initiated. But in reference to The ‘Pie’s own comment earlier, he noted this from the ABC report.

        Businesses currently pay a fee to traditional owner group Dambeemangaree for use of the land and sea, who consider the falls and surrounds as a spiritual place with cultural significance.

        So the local folks regard the falls and the immediate area as ‘a spiritual place with cultural significance’, but have been willing to hock their revered deep spirituality for a some big bucks. Be Ok if it wasn’t so hypocritical …. like previously said, just like any myth based religion, especially christianity.

  30. Prince Rollmop says:

    I have had a thought about what might be Fran’s strategy for the upcoming election. I’m not going to tell her how to suck eggs because she wasn’t born yesterday, but I reckon that on top of her campaign she might want to also consider a ‘first 100 days’ strategy. It’s normal for CEO’s to have agendas like that, so why not Fran? She could also provide us with a brief roadmap outlining what she will achieve and how she will achieve it in those 100 days if she becomes Mayor.

  31. Joseph and the technicolored dream coat says:

    Ye ol Triple Chins trying the motherly approach and attempting to be honest about her and her government. Desperate attempt to accumulate future votes.

    https://amp.abc.net.au/article/103026356

    • The Magpie says:

      She’s toast … and Labor must be in deep misery, because there isn’t a viable alternative Lightweight Smiley Miles would likely lose by an even bigger margin.

      A win’s a win, and Crisafulli is aware enough to take a victory helped largely by the ‘he’s not Anna’ vote.

  32. Grandma says:

    ohh, dear, watching the ICC Mens world cup and they have signs about the Men’s World Cup… poor grammar

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