As the owner went to ground, the mayor dodged, weaved and prevaricated, before finally admitting ‘there is more work to do ‘ for the council to avoid any repetition of this community tragedy. But the council is far from off the hook. Same for the owner. But a genuine ‘bravo’ for Leighton Smith’s aftermath reporting.
Division One Election: at the halfway mark of the count, Michelle Hobson has a handy lead with 3,096 votes (37.3%), with the only possible challenge coming Michael Pugh, with 2,659 (32.03%). At Nest publishing time, and at the close of counting last night, just under 50% of the 17,000 eligible votes had been counted. Click here for how it stands before counting resumes .
More ratepayer money for Townsville Enterprise? Reports of recent council redundancies make it a possibility. In fact, a likelihood.
WTF Labor? Panicked by One Notion forcing the immigration issue, you inexplicably come up with the most damaging, Alice In Wonderland economic scenario imaginable. But the real question about this idiocy is; who spooked you? Which lobbyist got your shrivelled walnuts in the Christmas hold?
A unexpected honour for Phil Thompson but … shhhh, it’s a surprise.
And it wouldn’t be your weekly Nest with some bullshit from the Bulletin.
America’s FBI chief announces a new meaning of doing it doggy style … indulging in bestiality is now no bar to being given a gun and a G-man badge. Presumably in case you get into a dog fight.
If you enjoy this alternative voice for Townsville and other matters, you can support it with a donation … it’s always voluntary, the Nest will always be free, but a helping hand with the inevitable costs of an enterprise like this would be greatly appreciated. The link is at the end of the blog.
Mayor Meathead, Man Or Mouse? The Betting Is That Slick Nick Likes Cheese.
What was needed, and what an irate community deserved was simple plain language admission that the council ignored obvious warning signs and no real efforts were made to avoid the catastrophic Great Northern fire .
But what did we get? Just a word salad with lots of cheese, before a soft cock admission that maybe the TCC should be more awake at the wheel in the future. At the risk of using a Bulletinesque headline pun, reporter Leighton Smith was really fired up, and turned in a good summation of the situation in Thursday’s paper.
Leighton, so often the Nest’s Aunt Sally for real and perceived shortcomings, this time showed some welcome independence, especially with the inclusion in the story of this refreshingly ‘on point’ sentence – something rarely seen in this compromised newspaper.
“Key stakeholders asked about the incident have either dodged questions or sought to distance themselves from responsibility.”
Smith tells us says he got a ‘no comment’ from the owner Adrian Gabrielli who then abruptly hung up. (The more you get hung up on Leighton, the more you know your doing the right job.)
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto
But the mayor didn’t have the option of playing ‘no speaks’ and unwisely decided to try and bluff it out, as Smith reported.
The mayor confirmed that the council had received (an undisclosed number of) complaints regarding the property over the years, and acted when it could (but) explained how the council was limited in its powers regarding the privately-owned and state heritage-listed building.
“This includes in relation to a deteriorated timber cellar door in the public footpath – a hazard to the public,” Mr (sic) Dametto said.
“Where (anti-social) activity occurs on privately owned land, council’s powers of enforcement are limited and responsibility rests with other agencies.
So what? Of course it does, you meathead. What we really now need to know, did you as the person entrusted with our well being and that of the city, press hard those ‘other agencies’ to act in our interest. And what were the conditions demanded on the Compliance Notice?
And an apology? not sure this bit of desiccated management speak reaches that standard..
“I agree there is more work to do in this space and I look forward to ensuring all agencies are working together to make the city safer and more enjoyable for everyone.”
See, still a hint that ‘other agencies’ were responsible.
In other words, using the standard buzz word translation app, your council was asleep at the wheel and you fucked up. But you haven’t got the backbone or good advice to say so openly.
Christ, Nick, how many pimples do you need on your appendage before you go to the pox doctor? You’re paid the big bucks … and so is Joe … to be ahead of the game, not scrambling, as Leighton said, to distance yourself from responsibility.
Until things change in Walker Street , the suggested slogan for the TCC remains true.
So, Jere’s A Question You Might Be Able To Give A Straight Answer
The ‘Pie jests of course, and perhaps you’d like to flick-pass this one to Joe McCabe. Or maybe Brisbane.
It’s pretty simple really: the Nest’s well connected info network reports that the council’s City growth team has been canned and its budget will now be added to the Townsville Enterprise annual rort on ratepayers. But that in itself involves another question …. will the $700,000 salaries of the four now-redundant City Growth staff also go to the Dudley Do Nothings? The ratepayers would most certainly like a clue as to WTF you and your boss, The Kid, are up to.
But it seems the fix is in, as they say on TV shows … the Bulletin is in lock-step with the council and TEL, and no pesky questions will likely be forthcoming. TEL’s place in the Bulletin’s universe was clearly evidenced in the weekend Astonisher.
TEL’s director of visitor economy Lisa Woolfe was at the top of the story giving her opinion, basically stating stock standard and pretty universal objections to the cuts to backpacker numbers. Ms Woolfe wasn’t wrong, but said nothing new, just the widely reported position of regional commerce. However, the paper decided to give her first call prominence over three other far better qualified and more relevant interviewees . Especially Chamber of Commerce CEO Emma Peters, the voice of Townsville’s real business organisation who spelt out specific effects on the city’s businesses and shoppers. while big backpacker employer, Ville and Ardo CEO Tim Richardson, described the serious effect likely on one of the city’s mainstay businesses.
Nothing specifically or personally against Ms Woolfe, but it demonstrates how the Bulleton is now laughably attempting to play kingmaker, determined to embed TEL firmly in the financial infrastructure of ratepayer funding. And that’s a major concern when it involves an organisation so sorely in need of closer scrutiny and oversight.
But let’s have a look at Labor’s weird immigration ‘let’s shoot ourselves in the foot’ immigration policy announced during the week.
Killing The Horse For Food Instead Of Riding It To Town For Supplies
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke … he’s a frightened little fucker, but who scared him?
It is simply inexplicable how Labor’s Tony Burke (use any spelling you like) came up with this economic self-destruction plan to limit backpacker visas. What possible reasoning can justify attacking a sector not only vital to a wide variety of Australian core businesses, but one that pays tax and primarily spends the money in the local economy.
The overwhelming majority of backpackers are young people – gap yearers, many of them – whose visa terms had ensured they saw more of Australia than just another increasingly anonymous world city. They were obliged to get out in the regions to what many regard as the real Australia. These people get jobs no locals want or for which we don’t have sufficient numbers to fill – agricultural, tourism, hospitality, health care – they pay tax and they spent the bulk of their money here in the Australian economy one way or another. They could be legally here for three years, and even if there were overstayers, by and large that does not harm the economy or society. When detected, they leave, voluntarily or otherwise. It was rolling system which this government and perhaps preceding ones, were lax in enforcing the three year rule, perhaps realising it was the least harmful, perhaps even beneficial, cohort in the temporary visa/illegal immigrant sector.
But now, a Labor Government utterly and totally panicked by the immigration debate forced upon them by One Nation, have come up with this scatterbrained, regressive idea that this is an area that urgently needs reform. What the actual fuck.!!!
At the last minute, and, ominously, without explanation, Burke put off an announcement of the scheduled immigration policy overhaul for a month, which begs the question: which fucking lobby group managed to get him and Albanese by their dried apricots and forced this risible policy on them, instead of something else that was obviously in the original document? What group gets the benefit of these crazily rejigged numbers? We’re not likely to know any time soon.
Add to this dog’s dinner of a policy from a government too spineless to ban gambling advertising, Burke now insists that in future, visa holders who want an extension will have to involuntarily gamble in a government lottery system for a chance to stay.
And these dunderheads wonder why Hanson’s spiteful and mostly unworkable, economy demolishing populist policies have gained so much traction. How long before you realise the truth of the political axiom, challengers don’t win seats, incumbents lose them?
But Maybe All That Might Be Another Back Flip Is In The Offing
After all, Labor has discovered the joys of hitting reverse gear, and taking one up the kyber for their stupidity. Like this, from a bloke who is going to be the member for Herbert for a long while yet. And rightly so, the right man in the right place at the right time.
Along with the justifiably passionate Jacqui Lambie and others, Phil is entitled to stick it right up this faltering government, floundering as they so sadly always do in choppy financial waters.
Seems the ABC tv newsroom decide Phil needed a special reward, and on the day the back flip was announced, kicked him upstairs.
Wonder if Angus Taylor knows?
Mr Robodebt Is Appalled.
Right, and Alan Jones is disgusted by Mardi Gras.
This Bloody Paper, Fair Dinkum
For a moment, the ‘Pie thought the Bulletin had a moment of self-realisation and self-recrimination.
But no, everything’s a fucking joke to these dimwits. Never mind a bloke has been savagely mauled by a couple dogs, has ongoing physical and psychological problems, he’s had to change jobs because of the mauling, let’s make a joke of it with a nonsensical word association headline.
But then, sometimes, a moment of cleverness pop up, usually on stories put together elsewhere. Like this one, about Katter’s brain fart to create a baby bonus of $75000 to stem what he sees as a fertility crisis. Unsurprisingly, the idea was quickly dismissed in Canberra, so Bonking For Bob’s Bucks Bombs would be the usual fare, but instead, this subtle effort.
Pretty good.
And the Magpie’s occasional Thank You For Sharing Award this week goes to this story, which seems little too fact-inclusive to be true.
This is supposed to have happened in Newcastle, NSW, but we were treated to it in the ‘ville because of the Astonisher’s addiction to weird, often too frank, off-beat medical stories. But in more ways than one, something’s on the nose with this yarn.
The FBI Go All Beastie Boys
In 2019, the prophetic Kevin ‘Bloody’ Wilson gave us ‘What’s Donald Gonna Do Today?’ (click to sing along) but Kevin didn’t know the half of how things would progress. Trying to keep up with the ‘new normal’ of Trump’s insane America requires a certain type of derangement, where bemusement seems to have replaced disbelief as each new dawn reveals yet another ring to the American political circus.
This week gave us the news of a rule change for candidates wishing to become FBI agents … bestiality is now no bar to joining the ranks of the legendary G-men. So even if you’ve been forced to have a romp with Rover or coerced into bonking your Boxer, no matter, your still in with a chance, providing you were forced and didn’t voluntarily mount the horse, so as to speak..
FBI Director Kash Patel at the moment he learnt his terrier was two-timing him.
This – as said, bemusing – bit of administrative minutiae came out when Trump’s newly appointed FBI director Kash Patel was being grilled in a Senate hearing.
This is presupposing that giving a badge and gun to people who have been traumatised after being forced into acts of bestiality is a good idea to maintain discipline, integrity and emotional stability in the ranks.
Whether this was deliberate distraction ordered by Trump to deflect from other issues he’s fucked up, this animal crackers hoo-ha was instant social media fodder (I know, unbelievable eh?). One troller saw a pattern in this, given the JD Vance (false) rumour of having sex with a couch, and Donald’s Trump’s Epstein flights of fancy.
And A Final One, So You Can Sleep Peacefully …
………….
Another foaming rant next week, but comments run 24/7. The donate link is below.
Dear Magpie, you having been serving the community for so very many years, yet under “Donations” it reads “The Magpie’s Nest is now more than five years old, and remains an independent alternative voice for Townsville. ”
Do please share with us how many years you have really been serving us all!
I can’t work out how many years I have been reading this column but it has to be way more than 10.
Thank you for your dedication.
Bon jour, Mme Lorna, J’espère que vous utilisez de la crème solaire.
Thanks for the kind words, and my bad about the five years bit, it has been something I’ve been meaning to attend to, and will do so when the updated platform is up and running, hopefully in a couple of weeks. It will then read: ‘The Magpie’s Nest began in 2010, and after 16 years, remains an independent alternative voice for Townsville’. And will continue as un travail passionne, colere et une satire politique.
As regards donations and financial support, The ‘Pie has often toyed with the idea of using a skilled grants writer to seek relief from the ever-present loup a la porte. Know anyone?
(Doncha just love AI.)
A striking win for The Nest. It seems to be the only news outlet in town carrying the current status of voting in the Division One by- election. Nothing at all from Aunty or News Corpse.
And a Sunday morning thought. Why are we suddenly overrun by a herd of publicity seeking and useless little men in this State. Crisafulli has surrounded himself with equal short and incompetent people. Think Dumetto or Cheesada up here and all the angry little gnomes in Brisbane. It’s like living in a Snow White movie.
In a Parliamentary speech on Thursday, Gladstone Labor MP Glenn Butcher raised critical concerns regarding the Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) and the need for accountability in Queensland’s government assets. Investigation Failures: Despite multiple allegations against GPC, none have been fully investigated. This lack of action is unacceptable and is corruption in itself. Whistleblowers have been victims of reprisals, allegations of corruption and misfeasance have been tabled, and the former CEO’s actions have been ignored. Meanwhile, the current CEO who has been there for 12 months, is the former CEO of the BOM, the same person who presided over the BOM’s $100m website upgrade that was a complete clusterfuck. Other issues include GPC’s incompetent board who are mostly hand picked LNP mates based in Brisbane. And I thought Townsville port was a dysfunctional mess!
Interesting info, but not sure why you think/thought Townsville port was a dysfunctional mess.
I’ve got an inside source who has told me firsthand that there are staff issues, unhappy people and there are victims of nepotism. The place has been described as the toffee coated turd.
It sounds possible your ‘inside source’ might be a tad bitter and twisted. But then again, Qld Ports are a Queensland Government outfit.
Pie, Tony Burqa’s announcement about the ALP’s updated immigration policy was rushed, disheveled and reflects panic. The ALP powerbrokers, including the left and the right, the unions and big business, have been spooked by One Nations rise in the polls. The Albanese/Chalmers government has contributed towards Australia’s largest national debt ever, cost of living pressures, high inflation due to endless and reckless spending, a lack of affordable housing for both renters and mortgage holders, the disastrous CGT changes and an influx of violent antisocial foreigners taking over our country. It’s no wonder every day Australians are turning away from the major political parties and demanding an alternative. The major parties are now sitting up and listening to what has become a roar of anger among Australian citizens.
WTF.
As a share of GDP the national debt is around 34-35%, well below the 47.5% peak hit in 2021 under the pandemic response. Or the 120% of GDP post WWII. Largest ever is accurate in raw dollars only but that needs some perspective on it.
Inflation has been elevated in 2026 (readings around 4.6% earlier this year), driven substantially by global factors including oil price spikes tied to the Iran conflict, not solely domestic spending. Attributing it purely to government spending oversimplifies the situation. Also what are they spending it on that has you so upset?
Violent antisocial foreigners taking over our country sound like hysterical bullshit. Crime stats show the Australian prison population is 83% Australian born. 32% of the general population is overseas born.
Perhaps less Sky News and YouTube.
Interesting little maths challenge in there, too, Ducky … given that 37% of the overall prison population is ATSI, what percentage do indigenous people represent of the 83% of Australian-born inmates? Must be heading upo towards 50% … despite accounting for only 3.8% of the population.
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto, Townsville CEO Joe McCabe and Division 3 Councillor Ann Maree Greaney, your legacy for this fine city. Will be defined by the demise of the Great Northern Hotel, it happened under your watch…
As for the latest Tony Burke brain fart, seriously how is man stilll on the front bench? Slash backpacker visa numbers, to ease immigration numbers. This has to be one of worst thought out policies of our current Federal Govt.
Backpackers haven’t contributed to housing shortages, they don’t rent houses – they rent rooms from struggling households to make ends meet. They actually help the economy.
Are Tony and the rest of Albo’s cabinet now going to pick fresh produce, clean rooms and serve customers? I think not.
That clearly defines the problem, but One Nation and Pauline Hanson are definitely not the solution.
Interesting how McCabe has pineappled his city growth team. Redundancies aren’t a cheap process so I would be interested in seeing how much that has cost the ratepayer. The sad thing is that this now means that TEL will continue its journey under its current structure. But will they hire more staff to compensate for a potential increased workload, or was the city growth team made up of duds that didn’t achieve anything, so no loss? Will any of the Councillors ask this question, ask for details about who, how, or what will fill the void where the city growth team sat? Has a risk assessment been carried out by TCC to make sure this decision isn’t detrimental to Townsville as a whole?
Some answers to all that occur.
The four staff may not have been made redundant, but absorbed into other vitally important Walker Street areas, like the Department for Colour Scheming Communal Staff Kitchenttes.
Will TEL hire more staff? Not if they can get away with not doing so, but then again, in the unlikely event of any ‘trimming’, having more troops on board will make that more politically tricky.
Will any of the Councillors ask this question, ask for details about who, how, or what will fill the void where the city growth team sat? You’re joking, right?
Has a risk assessment been carried out by TCC to make sure this decision isn’t detrimental to Townsville as a whole? STOPPIT. The ‘Pie will do the satirical humour around here thank you very much.
FYI. Keep a watch if any of these names pop up down atn the Dudley’s office, wherever that is this week.
TEL would only hire the females, the bloke would miss out. Everybody knows that Claudia Bumme likes to have an almost all female work environment.
Oh Rollmop, where was this outrage when Richard Power’s preference was busty blonde TEL staff?
FIFO McCabe’s inflated salary irks me. Where’s the value for money?
Pffft, all this carry on about a broken down dump of a building – it’s timber and bricks ffs, rip it down and build more housing, same with all the other sad excuses for “architecture” in the CBD.
All these lovey doveys wanting to heritage list everything, waste of time, next you’ll be calling for a Wedgewood exhibition!
A droll bit of deliberate rage farming.
If the government is so concerned about heritage listing these old buildings then why doesn’t it police these buildings, enforce corrective actions, and properly or substantially fine the owners who allow the buildings to fall apart? The oversight of heritage listed buildings is bullshit.
Dametto does not know how to apologise, too slick.
The strongest part of this is the unanswered question. If Council says responsibility rested with other agencies, then show what Council actually did. Who was contacted, when, what action was requested and what follow-up occurred?
Same with City Growth and TEL. If functions, staff or money are being shifted around, ratepayers should be told exactly what is changing and what it will cost.
Adrian Gabrielli is a regular contractor to TCC, and is more often than not, declared as required when awarded contracts over $200,000. Oct-25 A Gabrielli Construction Pty Ltd $1,160,805.60 TCW00672 Hervey Range Landfill Rectification Project. Nov-2024 A Gabrielli Construction $1,323,101.93 TCW00638 Construction of the Picnic Bay Reservoir Renewal https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/tenders/contracts-over-$200,000
Those questions are the ones that Leighton Smith should’ve been asking as a follow-up to his initial story about the ducking and weaving over responsibility for the GN fire.
Anyone else noticed TCC visionary-cum wannabe mayor Ma Greaney has gone to ground, hoping ratepayers forget her track record come the Local Government elections?
Townsville voters should also be awake to Commandant Crisafulli using his influence to restructure the TCC to suit his own agenda.
Please consider voting for new candidates who will not sing from the Mayor/Premier hymn book.
When deciding who to vote for in your division, please consider taking into account what your current councillor has actually done to improve your area, and Townsville as a whole (not to be confused with a hole – there’s a sleeping giant out there waiting to be awakened).
Any councillor who has been sucking off the ratepayer teat and thinks putting their hand up at council meetings is earning their money surely needs to be replaced by a candidate who will actually do something to benefit the ratepayers.
For example, how much of our money has been wasted trying to flog the dead horse incorrectly described as the Central Business District?
And how much ratepayer’s hard earned has been shovelled down the sinkhole known as TEL?
And don’t start me on the ridiculously titled North Australian Festival of Tits and Bums.
It’s time for a TCC cleanout.
Political analysis ain’t your strong suit, is it OLTD. This simplistic codswallop seems to suggest a leg isn’t the only thing you’re missing, when it comes to reality.
Without any analyse, supporting theory or a single fact, you insinuate that it’s detrimental to the city for Crisafulli taking an interest in Townsville (where he himself was once a councillor) and having manoeuvred the mayor into position (albeit for his party’s state gain, the mayoralty was just the carrot for Mayor Meathead to desert KAP and let the LNP grab the seat), he will start a campaign of some sort of damage. Or just neglect us as a political done deal.
The exact opposite is more likely, because unlike any southern based politician or Premier of any party previously, The Kid knows the potential and value of the city and the region, and is more alert to opportunities that could benefit us. Hill had such connections but over-stepped the mark with her intra-party ambitions and game playing. That’s unlikely with the incumbent political dullard, who, whether he realises it or not, has reached as high as he will now go. He photographs better, too.
And just what do you think your hoped-for lily-white community champions who become councillors will achieve without strong lines of communication seeking the backing of Brisbane? Do you not think the likes of Batkovic, Robinson and Mooney don’t lead by example in representing their constituents and the city?
Your concern should be focussed on the efficiency and proper staffing of the council infrastructure itself, while there is a bit of deadwood around the table, these councillors haven’t posed any great problems since being howled down by an outraged public over the Strand parking issue.
You have not understood the age old truism OLTD … you may say you’re done with politics, but rest assured, politics isn’t done with you.
Magpie… I do not see or hear from my councillor. He may as well not exist for my division.
That upside down Polly … does your councillor see or hear from you? Has he ignored any concern you have expressed to him, or any question that has been bothering you? your comment is only a complaint when your councillor fails to respond to a reasonably couched complaint, inquiry or suggestion. Expecting your localcouncillor to pop in for a cuppa and good old chinwag is both unreasonable and unrealistic.
That said, The ‘Pie has often advocated that all councillors should have an advertised time and place for constituents to access him/her once a week or fortnight. Common sense suggests that at all others times, the approach must come from the punter.
Yes Magpie. I wrote to him some time ago over a civic matter Apparently he doesn’t actively engage because he’s shy.
Last time I checked everyone was entitled to an opinion.
We’ll see what Crisafulli does if he gets control of the council.
The ‘Pie would be interested to hear of any theory about how he would go about that … a premier doesn’t have to have a Hill-like control when he controls the state purse strings that all council’s try to loosen from time to time.
The questions in your comment are valid, your analysis and conclusions are pretty silly.
Local news is reporting that the hotel
Fire isn’t suspicious and it wasn’t insured. Now that’s. Bit silly isn’t it, not having insurance.
It appears that Mr Gabrielli was in deep dispute with the insurance people over the previous 2015 fire, apparently a stalkmate that has dragged on for years. So it is possible no one else in the insurance industry would touch the property which was being neglected because of an on-going dispute over a previous insurance policy wrangle.
But while Mr G is entitled to enter into heated and protracted business negotiations in this matter, what he was not ethically or morally entitled to do was allow his property deliberately deteriorate to a dangerous level that saw an inevitable outcome.
But hey, cheer up Mr G, by sheer dumb luck, it looks like you’re left with a prime city site on three street frontages, a few minutes stroll from the Total Tools stadium, Civic Theatre, V8 SuperPest circuit and railway station, and a short cab ride to the Entertainment Centre, the casino and the ferry terminal. Wonder who’d be interested in a site like that?
Here’s a tip for you, Mr G … next Leighton calls, don’t hang-up, see if he’ll give you the number for his mates at Hilton Hotels. Dicey but they may be interested in doing business again in Townsville. Maybe.
I have been trying to obtain reults for the Div 1 council election but the Electoral Commission web site has hardly changed since the weekend. So far they have counted 8557 votes from a potential total of 17018. Is it because they are still waiting on votes coming in? Does anyone have an understanding of the vote counting process?
One of the joys of the mail-in voting system. Mailed votes are accepted upo to 5.00pm on Tuesday, Sept 29.
It appears no progressive counting either done or otherwise reported until then. One of the obvious detractions of this system is that the division is disenfranchised for an extra week or two than would be the case in a normal booth voting by election.
The count has moved again. As of 2.53pm today, 9,555 votes have been counted, or 56.15% of enrolment. Postal votes can still arrive until 29 September, so there’s a fair way to go.
In 2024, 80.79% of enrolled voters were counted. If turnout is similar, there could be another 4,000 or so votes to come.
With optional preferential voting and five candidates, the primary vote is only part of the picture. The remaining postal votes and preference distribution will determine the result. Worth waiting for the full count before anyone starts celebrating.
Pie, just quietly, the electorate has been disenfranchised since the Phantom was elected. Another week or two is a drop in the ocean.
True. The comment was about the principle.
Jacinda Ardern just paid over $5m for a Sydney home. Horse face entered politics with assets of leas less than $1m. She exited politics worth $30m. Rumour has it that she invested in big pharma and cleaned up during the COVID pandemic. These parasitic government scum are really just that, scum.
That assessment is only true if she used her position nto influence her investments. Otherwise, your ranting against the capitalist system.
Magpie, Mr Ed does raise a reasonable comment. How does somebody make $30m in 8 years? Just look at the great orange fuckhead in the US of A. Reports say he has made well over two billion dollars since being in office. Much of that from “inside knowledge”, advanced knowledge of legislated change and knowing in advance what the US is going to invest in or purchase, such as minerals and commodities. As George Carlin said “it’s one giant club and you ain’t part of it”. That of course in reference to us shit kickers.
The simplest way to find out is to ask her. Or just as reasonably, do some financial forensics and follow the money.
Interesting how a prime minister abandoned her country once she had destroyed it.
Its the same old story of such politicians they want power and authority without any of the inconvenience of accountability.
The great thing about the western model of politics is that someone can cannibalise their civilisation. Look at trump, buying stock, threatening war/ bombing people – stocks go up, he sells then the process starts again.
Before 911 there were huge anomalies regarding the stock market / insurance/ speculation with someone/ organisations clearly having insider knowledge of a major terrorist attack and making billions from it. To my knowledge the names of the individuals/ organisations that made profit from the attack are CLASSIFIED.
Behind a great fortune often lays a great crime.
Hey Guy, do some research on this guy, Larry Silverstein. Never missed a days work except for on 11/9/01. And he just happened to take out large insurance policies on the buildings a few months prior to the attacks. He picked around $4.5 billion. And no, they aren’t conspiracies, they are well documented facts.
Obviously you didn’t do any research, French Pox, that Silverstein stuff has long bdeen a discounted conspiracy theory — utter bullshit.
An editorial note for EVERYBODY: The ‘Pie is tired of wasting his limited time demonstrating the obvious bullshit of some comments. So from now on, such childish ignorant foaming will go straight to trash, with no apology. “Free speech’ comes with certain responsibilities THIS AIN’T FACEBOOK AND NEVER WILL BE.
Still got shit on the liver eh Guy?
Ed, your claim about Jacinda Ardern’s “$30 million” looked dubious to me so I asked Dr Google to check it:
“No, Jacinda Ardern did not exit politics with a personal net worth of $30 million. While viral internet rumors and speculative net worth websites frequently claim she accumulated massive wealth, credible financial tracking and media reports place her actual net worth at a much lower estimate, generally between $3.5 million and $10 million NZD.The $30 million figure stems from a separate, public philanthropic announcement rather than her personal bank account: The Melinda French Gates Grant: In 2024, Melinda French Gates pledged $30 million USD to Jacinda Ardern via her organization, Pivotal Ventures. However, this was not personal wealth; it was a dedicated charitable fund provided to Ardern to distribute entirely to non-profit organizations focused on women’s health and well-being. Political Earnings: During her tenure as Prime Minister, Ardern earned a transparent, publicly disclosed salary of roughly $470,000 to $490,000 NZD per year. Recent Major Assets: Reflecting her actual financial standing, Ardern and her husband Clarke Gayford purchased a five-bedroom home in Dee Why, Sydney, for $5.3 million AUD.”
Not that I expect you to revise your deliciously frank execution of her as “parasitic government scum.” Can you actually read?
Good response Bob. A fine example of the good uses AI be put to.
But of course, there are those who would suggest that it may be misinformation, so now the ball’s in their court to prove its not.
Ardern jumped on the COVID bandwagon and shut her country down for over 2 years, destroying lives, business, and the economy of NZ. She is just another WHO footstool bowing down to the UN. That to me constitutes political scum.
….says Mr Ed, the Talking Donkey.
Wilbur….., come in the room.
Ardern’s former home in Auckland sold for double the 2018 purchase price..estimated to be upward of $2.5 mil. No doubt the “halo effect” (as they call it in real estate) contributed, but Auckland property market has always been insane compared with the rest of NZ
Ardern also took up a lucrative academic post in the US, wrote books, and founded a production company selling a doco to streaming giant Netflix. All fairly legit. Like it or not, Ardern became an international figure due to her ‘lightning in a bottle’ term as NZ PM which happened to coincide with a string of major domestic and international events. She’s parlayed that interest into $$$$ and who wouldn’t? Such opportunities are rare and to those who wouldn’t know a good opportunity, education or how to convert these into financial success are always given to cooking up some bitter parallel explanation. Now retired from politics, she and her husband and child are perfectly entitled to live wherever they choose. The fact that interest in her, her appearance and her life decisions continues internationally is evidenced by the fact a group of old malcontents in regional Australia are still grumbling and wheezing about her. By the way..have you seen the current NZ PM? Google him and come back with a fitting animal nickname.
Please don’t.
Succinctly argued. Thank you.
Pie
Unsure if you are aware, Bullsheet ran front page article where IMO Mr G stuffs even more of his foot in his mouth.
Apparently plans according to him were on the way to refurbish the GN. Suurree they were mate…
Sorry not paying $3.25 to read the rest.
That one’s got a long way to run.
From the Guardian;
“Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will provide $60m more in support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion during an emotional meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN meeting in New York”.
Another day, more Australian taxpayer money being wasted. Let’s spend it on the Ukraine, one of the most corrupt countries on this planet. Meanwhile everyday Aussies are getting hammered negatively by tax changes, cost of living, energy – and no financial relief.
Yeah, spot on … let’s give to the Russians, where there is no corruption. or better still, to the shining beacon anti-corrupt behaviour, Trump’s Amerika. Those bloody Ukies deserve what they get for standing up for their sovereignty with foolhardy bravery and courage.
Mopsey, what the fuck is up with your lately?
You’re either not coping or the name has been lifted by someone of diametrically opposed views than those you were known for.
Sorry Pie, most of my views remain the same. However of late I have become very disillusioned with where our country is headed. Russia, Ukraine, America, Australia, China, all fucked mate. No decent political leaders, no respectable business icons, just bottom dwelling grubs looking to load their pockets at every opportunity while the majority of us feel the pinch.
I will attempt to be more positive, less emotional, and less angry in future posts.
Mopsey, as a long standing and trusted commenter on The Nest, your views will always be welcome but to allow others some rationale debate/agreement/ or question, they do have to be a bit more temperant (to use the Olde English spelling). Rants usually only get rants in reply.
Channel 7is reporting on a massive breakout of syphilis in Townsville. I would suggest no more sitting on public shitters and wear a condom if you are pulling a backpacker root.
Serious subject, well deserving of your deeply analytical advice. However, FYI, syphilis cannot be transmitted through toilet seats or eating utensils. And can easily be treated with antibiotics.
That wasn’t always the case, up to 100 or so years ago, when many a gay blade was blunted with the bligh. The appropriate saying was ‘A night with Venus, a lifetime with Mercury’ – mercury being the extremely painful and ineffective treatment back then. In fact, many died of the various mercury treatments than of the pox itself.
And while syphilis it’s no laughing matter – especially if you’ve got it – it was central to the cleverest and swiftest ( and probably apocryphal) political retorts in British parliament.
The Earl of Sandwich: “‘Pon my soul, Wilkes, I don’t know whether you’ll die upon the gallows or of the pox.”
John Wilkes: “That depends, my Lord, whether I first embrace your Lordship’s principles, or your Lordship’s mistresses.”
The syphilis issue has become a bore to me. At my stage of life, I can’t imagine an instance where I could be infected.
Well…, imagination…?
More like wishful thinking.
Okay, I know the way out.
As the old adage has it, ‘the great thing about masturbation is that you meet a better class of person’.
I’m a retired aviator. I won’t disclose which airline. However, we used to call AIDS ‘the Qantas cough’. It was a nice way of describing a horrible illness spread amongst certain staff members. Nobody ever wanted to catch the Qantas cough.
Well, well, well, guess who?
Makes one wonder why Jenny Hill tried to use Townsville ratepayers’ money to build an airport 400kms away for no supportable reason. (She failed, of course, but did she get a pay day for trying?)
Wonder if the Astonisher will be allowed to mention this story, and Got ‘Em’s loving connection to the town.
Magpie, you carry on like some grand elder statesman of Townsville journalism, but half the time you just sound like a grubby little trollop yelling obscenities through a letterbox.
Well thank you, a very generous endorsement that half the time, The ‘Pie is sounding like an elder statesman of Townsville journalism. A dubious distinction, but gratefully received anyway.
So don’t open the letterbox, duh!
You are obviously hurt by the Magpie’s comments. Are his comments a bit close to home? You are a big sook. The Magpie posts scoops and articles that beat the local news providers hands down every time. And the Magpie has spent many years in Townsville with a connection to the news industry that goes back decades, a far longer career than the musical chairs that take place at the Bulletin and Astonisher. So yes, he does deserve the title of elder statesman. So fuck off Pat, you imbecile.
Perhaps your pay off line might have been a name change for Pat, to Phil Yraz.