And they could be coming to live next door. The Magpie now has evidence that in some unannounced deal, violent and possibly criminal kids from interstate – NT, it’s believed, and possibly NSW – will be plonked down in the middle of residential Annandale. And no one seems interested in speaking up for residents, so The Magpie will put what is known out there for you to judge. (Medical advice: take a blood pressure pill before reading.)
As some analysts wake from their slumber and are increasingly questioning whether Australia can actually afford to host the 2032 Olympics, David Crisafulli faces a challenge of integrity and responsibility … but he can meet that challenge with a simple statement to parliament RIGHT NOW.
It was a week of ferocious parliamentary farewell’s, but one was a real bobby dazzler … backed by factual names, dates and times.
And inevitably, we will have to visit the world-shattering issue that found commentators between a Rock and a slapped face. And The ‘Pie has a question no one has asked about this confrontation between two posturing nancy boys.
Before we get to all that, The Magpie seeks a helping hand with some necessary finances recently made necessary to make the Magpie’s Nest website more secure for you – we seem to be getting some attention from some smartarses out there. If you can help out, it will be much appreciated. The donate button is at the end of the blog. Thanks.
Now to the week’s nitty gritty.
A Razzle Dazzle ‘Look Over There Not Here’ Budget
There is little point in offering an opinion on any facet of this week’s Federal Budget, because to The ‘Pie, it was all smoke and mirrors, with priorities created by panic with the Government’s leadership liability. And really, let’s face it, that is no. more and no less than what the coming election boils down to – believability in leadership … it’s shaping as a classic – the grey and colourless Anal Albanese with no stand out policies resonating with voters up against the smirking proven liar Morrison.
It is fair to say that it is a classic ‘beads and blankets’ budget to keep the native from getting restless. But even this aspect is let down massively by the myriad ‘get out of jail’ cards Frydenberg has awarded the coalition to go back on campaign promises – Hells Gate Dam is a stand-out gold embossed escape card, a ‘oops, sorry, business case doesn’t stack up’ or ‘Queensland’s Labor Government won’t sign off on it’… both of which are likely to be true. As usual, it takes Bentley’s deft and wicked pen to say it most succinctly.
With more election promises to come in the next few weeks, mit is impossible to know what you can believe. And labor hasn’t laid a finger oin the coalition, all the damage there has been done by basically one person … Morrison himself, with a lot of help from folks like Barnaby Joyce.
An Old Saying renewed
Ashes to ashes,
Dust to dust,
If death don’t get you,
Inflation must.
The London Telegraph has seen the writing on the wall.
A Residents Revolt Is Brewing Out At Annandale
And no wonder.
In early February, the property at 39 Casuarina Dr Annandale was sold for $485,000 and was settled by end Feb 2022 – a very quick 21 day settlement.
Advertised as 5 bed, 3 bath, ample living area plus inground pool, so it could certainly have some flexibility in its residential purpose.
And so it seems it has turned out to be.
Interestingly, no new owner name/identity was immediately indicated on the sale records, which simply say ‘private person’ . But The ‘Pie has now been informed that the new owners, whoever they may be, have immediately leased it to a crowd called,CASPA, and like their namesake, CASPA seem to want to keep a ghostly invisible presence as much as they can. And little wonder, because CASPA turns out to be Child and Adolescent Specialist Programs and Accommodation (Australia), which really doesn’t need any further explanation. And neither does the purpose of their lease … it is to become a home for wayward kids from difficult backgrounds.
According to local residents who held a protest meeting about the scheme on which they were neither consulted or even informed – one resident would be a 15-year-old girl from the Northern Territory who has a history of violence and needs constant monitoring by supervisory staff. 24/7 That would be staff with the skills listed here in a Linkedin job ad in early March.
One of the organisers of a residents meeting to decide a course of action has told The Magpie that CASPA’s reason to bring the girl to Townsville in these circumstances was because ‘she has family here’. But no explanation of why she comes back from Darwin but not to her family.
The organiser of last Sunday’s meeting told The Magpie:
CASPA are receiving funding or are applying for funding from the Qld govt to house children. Residents in the area have not been consulted at all by this group. Residents found out when the neighbour who sold the home let it slip. Even if the NT girl does not end up comin,g the kiddy crims will go there. CVASPA and their connections have purchased another home in Townsville at an undisclosed location.
Although of course this home at 39 Casuarina Drive does concern me and this group, it also is of concern that any of these types of groups can get government funding and not have to consult residents, local state and federal MP’s or council to get approval on where these homes are located. Needs to be changes policy. These groups rent homes and just move in.
Although I freely admit I don’t want them next to me, nor do I think they should be placed in other residential areas either. It is up to those residents to start making noise as well.
Anybody who thinks it is fine can have them next door to them.’
The Magpie can see this is not a normal NIMBY argument. A group formed for the purposes of privatised profit from government program funding has no consideration of the rights of ratepaying, tax paying and law abiding citizens to have certain rights to amenity and safety. Done sensibly, sensitively and in a socially responsible manner, helping troubled youth is a necessary activity, but it cannot be done by riding roughshod over the rights – that’s rights not privilege – of homeowners and peaceful residents. The effect on property prices is just one consideration in all this, and a so-called not-for-profit government funded private organisation (no doubt fattening a fat cat or two) should not be allowed to make such a disruptive move. Especially buy stealth and fait accompli.
Les Messagebank Walker, the relevant local member, was invited to attend the meeting last Sunday, but apparently had to catch a flight to Brisbane to make it to the Cowboys game. You’d think he’d have an affinity with law breakers, anyway. Wonder if Mayor Mullet will ride to the rescue of the ratepayers she is about slug with some humongous rate rises after the land valuation bombshell of the past year. Maybe she could offer her inherited house on Malta to house these troubled kids.
If this was going to happen in her enclave of Douglas how she would react as a sharing, caring Labor stalwart? Just askin’.
Moving on.
Quote Of The Week
It was a case of the peacock and the parrot when Deputy Doo Dah Frothy Molachino echoed Mayor Mullet’s earlier statement this week in a council press release:
“Townsville has a reputation as the arts and culture capital of Northern Australia and this goes to prove it – we have a free concert with ARIA Award-winning band Killing Heidi as well as homegrown acts, and we’ll have a huge selection of food options, roving entertainment and amusements. There really will be something for everyone.”
And to imagine some outsiders think we’re just a bunch of bogans.
When Parting Is Not So Sweet Sorrow
There’ll be a few familiar faces missing when the new parliament reconvenes after the coming election, with quite a few valedictory last speeches notable for their venom. But in amongst all the ‘get-squares’, we lost a good one when former speaker Tony Smith retired, after 20 years representing the Victorian seat of Casey.
Former speaker Tony Smith
Smith was elected speaker in 2015, and quickly restored dignity, fairness and respectability to a position left in tatters by the vituperative rorting Bronwyn Bishop. Smith was probably the most respected politician in Australia over the past few years, and he is a real loss if for no other reason than an example to those less temperate. But there are others who won’t be missed, like this embarrassing lardo.
That would be ‘THINK OF YOURSELF’.
If ever there’s a famine in the Philippines, we’ll know who to blame. Absolutely no loss to the governance of Australia.
But for a final kick in the balls, one less than fond farewell takes the cake.
| The Magpie 9,469 approved email hidden; JavaScript is required 101.167.49.121 |
Submitted on 2022/03/30 at 10:41 amWe all have been told of the dangers of a woman scorned, but this is something else again.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pHTadA7h_UPhew! But for some brilliant comic relief, go right to the end for the The Greens Senator Whish-Wilson’s deadpan invitation. A Gteenie with a sens oifn humour … whodda thort?
NSW Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, long a savage critic of Morrison, was the victim of a Smirko-engineered pre-selection coup last weekend, so she didn’t miss him with her farewell speech in the Senate last night. To paraphrase Dylan Thomas’s most famous line, she |
Belling The Kat
News Ltd’s word puppeteers are collectively wetting themselves over the coming election, more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. If it wasn’t bad enough trying to put lipstick and calico dress on the pig that is the Prime Minister, they also have to worry about the rise of the independents.
Bob Katter in particular is seen as a threat, to the extent he has panicked them into going past exaggeration straight to outright lies.
Across all mastheads, in the usual News Ltd one-size-fits-all blitzkrieg, we read this last week.
All printed mastheads and website used the ‘wild call’ line, and Sky News settled for ‘proposed radical plan to arm all 13 year old children’.
This isn’t spin, this is an outright lie. Utter bullshit, Katter made no such call.
What he actually proposed – that high school students be trained in the use of rifles and high schools have armoury buildings for the weapons – is not only unalarming, it is not new. Such a policy successfully existed in NSW … maybe other states … in the late 40s, 50s and 60s, maybe loinger. And still does in at least some private schools.
High schools operated their own Cadet Corps as hopefully a feeder for the CMF – sort of like Cubs are to Scouts – where students could volunteer, get a uniform, do fortnightly parades and a couple of bivouacs in the bush each year … all of which involved training and firing weaponry, mostly ex-WW11 .303s.
The loaded and dishonest wording in the media said Katter wanted to ‘arm school children’, conjuring up lurid visions of kids with holstered six guns stalking the halls of academe, snarling such challenges as ‘why’d ya bring a popgun to a real gun fight?’
Wilfully ignoring the world of difference between ‘trained in the use of rifles’ and ‘arming schoolchildren’, reporters went out of their way to put the lie to a variety of folks who would reliably jerk the knees. (The ‘Pie was particularly taken with the irrelevant quote by Today host Ally Langdon, who said the idea made her ‘nervous’ – a stern warning from someone who probably goes into a blind panic if her make-up artist uses the wrong shade of lipstick.)
While everything Discombobulated Bob has to say about anything is always debatable when it’s not incomprehensible, it is clear the Murdoch media is out to get him, spooked by the outside chance that a bloke who would happily tell Rupert Murdoch to GFY might hold the balance of power in a new parliament.
Now that News Ltd is populated by ignorant young ‘thrusters’ or jaded old cynical hacks, it is a fair bet they didn’t know about the previous policy … which to the best of the Magpie’s knowledge, saw no one was killed or wounded.
Indeed, News would’ve heartily approved of the school Cadet Corp policy, it came in handy when 18 year olds fresh out of high school were forcibly sandbagged in the army as national servicemen to fight … and die … in Vietnam at the direction of the News Ltd hero, war criminal and LBJ bum boy Robert Menzies.
Why David Crisafulli Needs To Pick Up The Olympic Torch … And Chuck It In A Bucket
Seems others with more credibility than The Magpie (yes, rare, but such do exist) are starting to join with The ‘Pie’s warning of crippling financial disaster posed by the Olympic Games set for Brisbane in 2032. And that is not overstating it in the least.
This article spells out the inevitable outcome of this populist decision made by a financially incompetent premier trying to hang on tom power. Some key quotes from experienced analysts:
“Anyone who has seen how investment decisions are made in private sector companies would be appalled by this lack of feasibility analysis and due diligence.’’
… and …
“It said the history from cities that have hosted Olympic Games suggested a common tendency for overly optimistic estimates of the benefits, and underestimation of the significant direct and indirect costs, which has frequently resulted in large cost overruns.”
…and …
“Montreal took 30 years to pay off the debt incurred by the 720 per cent cost overrun on the 1976 Olympic Games. Cost overruns and associated debt from the Athens 2004 Olympics weakened the Greek economy and may have contributed to the country’s deep financial and economic crises for the next decade,” the report said.”
And no rejuvenated minerals boom … if that actually happens, and no matter how big … is going to able to foot that bill. Put simply, the Olympics, a long-running rorters’ picnic, is a foreseeable, predictable and – at this moment – avoidable financial catastrophe. A two week sugar hit that will inevitably result in severe if not fatal financial and political diabetes for decades hence.
David Crisafulli
And it is more than likely that the man carrying that unenviable can will be the then LNP Premier, David Crisafulli. So perhaps he might like to contemplate the most responsible and courageous way forward. The Kid should not wait to be in office. He should, at the next parliamentary sitting, announce publicly that if he is elected as Queensland’s leader, he will withdraw all support for the Olympic Games, giving well researched reasons why this state cannot afford this increasingly irrelevant and corrupt sports gymkhana. Whatever cost this incurs will be way better than the damage done by holding the Games.
There are two reasons why Crisafulli should do his … one is that the finances speak for themselves of the undeniable disaster awaiting Queensland. He should make this and the next generation realise what dupes they have been made by a flailing fading premier. The other reason may have more appeal to a career politician …. if such an announcement makes him so unpopular, he fails to win power, then frankly, he is better off out of it, watching from the opposition benches rather than handling the biggest hospital pass of all time … he will in a few short years, be seen to be a political clairvoyant.
But will he and his party do this?
Better chance of Pink Pig Aviation Services on the runway, awaiting clearance for take-off.
Men Behaving Almost Badly
Amazing what will make the whole world hyperventilate nowadays, isn’t it? Enough has been said elsewhere about Will Smith’s girly whack at Kid Rock at the Oscars, so The ‘Pie will add just this that no one seems to have mentioned.
Why a slap?
Seriously, if Smith was so incensed at a fairly innocuous comment about his wife that he felt impelled to barge on to the stage to defend his woman, why slap? Why not punch? karate chop? Kick his target right in Jimmy and The Twins? In not one single movie of his did Will Smith ever slap anyone … he punched, kicked, karate chopped and shot folks and things to death with an unimpressive array of both worldly and intergalactic weapons. But slap? Never. Sounds a bit half-hearted and staged, maybe hoping for a bit of ‘come here, ma man’ when he got home with the missus.
Anyway, the upshot is that, in a single moment of hokey chivalry, Will Smith did for the issue of perceived black male violence what Geoffrey Dahmer did for door to door salesmen.
Elsewhere in the US, a new wrinkle in the news cycle appeared when it was learnt that the wife of extreme right wing Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas was a conspiracist nut who endorsed and encouraged Trump’s illegal plans to over turn Biden’s election. Ginnie Thomas now joins the Republican pantheon of loose units alongside the likes of Sarah Palin (making a political comeback BTW), Sarah Huckabee Eyeshadow, uber ditz Kellyanne Conway and Marjorie Taylor Green. But even her antics and the war in the Ukraine couldn’t displace ‘The Slap’ as a delightful gift the the American funnymen.
And Finally …
Want to see something obscene? Have a look at this.
Hope you’re suitably disgusted.
……
That’s all for this week folks, see you in comments anytime, they run 24/7.
Care to support The Magpie’s Nest. The donate button is below.
What, no mention/criticism of the loony Katter proposal to provide guns and training to all our school kids, Pie? Who votes for this madman?
A little secret from The ‘Pie … when the story first appeared, he wrote a story for comments but decided it was better held back for the blog. Last night, when moving things around for the final edit, The ‘Pie managed to delete it forever. Wasn’t going to rewrite after 10 hours on the keyboard, so ran without it. But will see what I can recall of the sparkling, witty, mesmerising prose that deserves at least a Walkley, if not an Oscar, and place in comments. Maybe later today. (And BTW, this time, it is not Katter who is wrong, it is, as usual, the mainstream media’s wilful penchant for a beat up and purposely misquoting for a headline.)
Well, you did ask, Contributor.
Belling The Kat
News Ltd’s word puppeteers are collectively wetting themselves over the coming election, more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. If it wasn’t bad enough trying to put lipstick and calico dress on the pig that is the Prime Minister, they also have to worry about the rise of the independents.
Bob Katter in particular is seen as a threat, to the extent he has panicked them into going past exaggeration straight to outright lies.
Across all mastheads, in the usual News Ltd one-size-fits-all blitzkrieg, we read this last week.
All printed mastheads and website used the ‘wild call’ line, and Sky News settled for ‘proposed radical plan to arm all 13 year old children’.
This isn’t spin, this is an outright lie. Utter bullshit, Katter made no such call.
What he actually proposed – that high school students be trained in the use of rifles and high schools have armoury buildings for the weapons – is not only unalarming, it is not new. Such a policy successfully existed in NSW … maybe other states … in the late 40s, 50s and 60s, maybe loinger. And still does in at least some private schools.
High schools operated their own Cadet Corps as hopefully a feeder for the CMF – sort of like Cubs are to Scouts – where students could volunteer, get a uniform, do fortnightly parades and a couple of bivouacs in the bush each year … all of which involved training and firing weaponry, mostly ex-WW11 .303s.
The loaded and dishonest wording in the media said Katter wanted to ‘arm school children’, conjuring up lurid visions of kids with holstered six guns stalking the halls of academe, snarling such challenges as ‘why’d ya bring a popgun to a real gun fight?’
Wilfully ignoring the world of difference between ‘trained in the use of rifles’ and ‘arming schoolchildren’, reporters went out of their way to put the lie to a variety of folks who would reliably jerk the knees. (The ‘Pie was particularly taken with the irrelevant quote by Today host Ally Langdon, who said the idea made her ‘nervous’ – a stern warning from someone who probably goes into a blind panic if her make-up artist uses the wrong shade of lipstick.)
While everything Discombobulated Bob has to say about anything is always debatable when it’s not incomprehensible, it is clear the Murdoch media is out to get him, spooked by the outside chance that a bloke who would happily tell Rupert Murdoch to GFY might hold the balance of power in a new parliament.
Now that News Ltd is populated by ignorant young ‘thrusters’ or jaded old cynical hacks, it is a fair bet they didn’t know about the previous policy … which to the best of the Magpie’s knowledge, saw no one was killed or wounded.
Indeed, News would’ve heartily approved of the school Cadet Corp policy, it came in handy when 18 year olds fresh out of high school were forcibly sandbagged in the army as national servicemen to fight … and die … in Vietnam at the direction of the N ews Ltd hero, war criminal and LBJ bum boy Robert Menzies.
Yep, I went to one of those schools. We had a cadet unit which I joined. We had some 303’s modified to fire 22 rounds. We had a “brick wall” rifle range at the school and we would regularly go and shoot targets after school when we were in cadet uniform. No-one got shot, everyone enjoyed the experience and we learned to safely handle firearms. I enjoyed it so much I joined the Army from High School and stayed in for the next 21 years.
Cadets, Army, Navy and Airforce still exist and have quite a number of kids attending. Katter would have made far more sense and done far more good, promoting cadets, instead of armouries in schools. Even if NewsCorp had told the true story, Katter again missed an opportunity to do something good because he is nuts.
When the Chinese cross the Coral Sea from the Solomons you may regret not listening to Bob. Just a thought.
I don’t know about his plans but at least he is thinking of sending a message. China and the Solomon Islands is the most terrifying thing I can think of to this countries security, its the thing nightmares are made of. The budget and the election will pail into insignificance if this proposal actually happened.
Bentley, too many of our younger ones have grown up not knowing what war is, not knowing what high interest rates are like (17.5% in 1990). I know a 20 year old that didn’t even know what happened on 9/11. Our politicians are sheltered workshop employees who don’t have a set of balls between the lot of them. We need politicians who think outside the box and aren’t captured by big business, big pharma, and the military industrial complex. It’s time the Independents stepped up to the plate even more than they are, and it’s time that we voted them in. The Westminster form of government is a failure. Let’s vote out these traditional party fuckwits and go with the people more like you and I. It might mean some players like Hansen and Katter are given a shot, but it can’t be worse the present putrid mob of bubble politicians.
A little aside to my previous comment: My mother used to tell a story about shooting lessons when during the war, the Japanese were threatening to invade us. She and a lot of other wives of absent servicemen regularly attended shooting practice with their husbands’ firearms so that they could defend themselves, and their country. Dad had a Savage .22 LR single shot which is the rifle with which I learned to shoot, not exactly fit for purpose against an invader, but she was a crack shot, and so I can only presume that her training was taken seriously. Maybe, just maybe the anti-gun lobby, instead of confiscating firearms, should read some history books.
Perhaps, but the current gun laws are fine when we look around at other places, but it’s not about confiscating arms at all, the argument the Cadet Corps, Katter and I guess The ‘Pie endorse is that training in the use of firearms … which are then safely locked away between times and are not nin personal possession … is a positive, not a negative.
The CASPA party house sold for $359k in 2017, and now it has sold now for $485k. That’s not a bad little profit considering Townsville hasn’t been on the receiving end of exponential house price rises in the past 2 years like other major cities. My calculations put this house at around a 30% value increase, when in fact prices have only increased by around 7% according to some available data. My question is; has the Queensland government paid a fair price for this house or have they just slapped the money on the table with no bartering and no price negotiation with the seller? I might be overthinking things but it is our taxpayer money that is being used. And good luck to the neighbours, you now have a big old party house that will be filled with delinquents in the middle of your street
The buyer is NOT the Queensland Government, or any other government, according to records … the buyer, as yet not identified … is listed as ‘private person’. The ‘Pie is told the government bwould always identify itself on settlement of property. The taxpayer money you mention is being used to lease the premises at more than $800 a week.
Thanks Pie. I obviously misread what you wrote. Lots of love, Prince.
no votes to lose in Annandale for the State Government
they have FA to lose
can you imagine the screams if this was put onto a Labor support suburb
Pie, There is suspicion that the buyer/s are linked to the CASPA organisation/ board and are renting the property back for around $850/wk. A nice little earner. Who says this about children’s welfare?
Alahazbin, since no one here seems to know who will occupy this house it’s a bit rich to speculate about the possibility of “children’s welfare”. If there is a supervision situation 24/7 it is possibly being funded by the NDIS – you know, a person with a severe disability who cannot be cared for at home. It may have nothing to do with ‘little crims’ and more to do with caring for disabled people in the community rather than in some dysfunctional institution. BTW, this kind of facility costs an absolute motza to run but may be inconspicuous in a suburban setting.
If that is the case, why not let the local residents know, that would nipo in the bud any of the current outrage, decent people would hardly decry such usage. And suggest you refer to the CASPA ad on Linkedin, which seems to argue against your speculation. And it’s a bit rich for you to say it’s a bit rich when neighbourhood tranquility and deserved peaceful amenity have been upended by failed social engineering by a distant government and sometimes greedy cynical contractors. And The ‘Pie will bet you don’t live within a million miles of the said property.
Magpie, I know workers who occupy a couple of similar properties in TSV with 24/7 supervision of (in this case) middle-aged and older males with medium/severe disabilities who have also possibly done jail time. Occasionally the cops are seen there. But they are also seen at a couple of domestic violence hotspots just up the way. None of us that I know of live in some sort of blissful heaven. I also happen to live close by a family, who I know personally, with a severely disabled adult child who has rotating 24/7 carers supported on the NDIS. There has never been any need or obligation to discuss this situation or seek consent from the neighbours. But more importantly, what am I, a home owner, supposed to do if my neighbours object to my disabled child lurching around the yard half naked or calling out in the middle of the night? Am I supposed to apologise or worse, leave?
That’s just plain downright stupid argument from someone who knows he is floundering on this issue. ‘Living in a blissful heaven’? Ridiculous sophistry that has never been mentioned – why the fuck would it, only an ignorant fantasist would even think of the silly concept , but the complainants aren’t seeking or claiming heaven, they are seeking their right to protect their own law abiding lifestyle. This is nothing to do with disabilities, it is specifically to do with the residents concern that lawless and – as has been proven – largely unsupervised kids will be installed there, and create mayhem as they have done elsewhere. And to chuck DV matters into the argument … which have not and would not be mentioned on this issue, totally irrelevant – is straw clutching by someone who just won’t see the position of others. You are a wilfully selfish person on this Addled … and deep down, one suspects you just like to be a stirrer. Can’t believe you’re really this nasty, you’re just gum flapping, surely?
BTW you sound like you live some distance from blissful heaven in your area, but just because you have been put upon by circumstances doesn’t mean others have to, or be smeared for looking out for their kids and families.
Addled – It is extremely unlikely to be NDIS housing unless they spend a fortune retrofitting it to Platinum Liveability levels.
Magpie – good to know that no government money was directly spent. Much more transparent to get a “mate” to buy the property, then just hand them $41,600 a year into perpetuity.
Another Great blog Pie . in regards to Message Bank , yet another item when the residents need him he is M.I.A . . Add Scott Stewart Minister for Resources to that list . Land value increases in his electorate North Ward + 40% , South Townsville +44.2 % , Townsville City +29.9 % , Magnetic island suburbs 40-50 % but instead of defending his department he deflects enquirers to the Valuer General then buck passes to Council saying it will their decision if they raise rates . The Editor of the Bulletin then summed up deputy Mayor Molachinos response when concerns were raised on behalf of residents of Townsville he provided little to appease the feeling of Dread ” we will have to workshop the changes to try to help people as best we can ” . Translated ” yes it gives us the reason to raise rates and we can blame the State Government but we have to wait for Jenny to return from holidays to tell us what to do ” .
Mike. Is it even possible to imagine the hullabaloo that would be caused in the inner sanctum of Walker St if Frothy actually said something in the absence of “She Who Must Be Obeyed” ? He would be treated very badly on her return. Even cast off to join the outcast ranks of Sue and Fran to carry out his penance. How dare he speak without permission. Not that anyone would care what he said anyway.
Forget about the likely rates increase, I think there will be a lot of people who will soon be finding out that they need to start paying Land Tax to the Qld Government.
Next it will be the return of death duty.
Dave. Jo BP got rid of Death Duties many decades ago (mind you, at the same time, he also significantly increased Stamp Duty and other imposts). This resulted in a lot of mum and dad investment in Queensland, so all the other States followed suit soon after. It was an evil tax that drove many decent people off the land they had grazed/farmed for generations. However, governments all over the world love the concept of combining the only two true certainties in life. The first state government brave enough to reintroduce a form of inheritance tax (and a big hello to our comrades in Victoria ) shall the first in the conga line. Anna would be the first one to grab Dan’s hips and sashay to the music.
NQ Gal , Land valued $600,000- $999,999 $500 tax then 1% for every $ more than $600,000 . Even the Federal Government excludes principal place of residence . Pensioners , retirees , flood victims caught up with this Tax grab . No doubt for rental properties it will be passed on .
Can you imagine the pompous screams of self-righteous indignation if the slapper had been a white person?
Or vice versa.
Pie, Here is quote from Bill Maher.
“Aging is, trust me I know, it’s the degradation of the flesh. It happens to all of us. And you know, just put on a f—ing wig like everybody else at the Oscars if it bothers you so much,” Maher added.
Implying that there weren’t any?
An eclectic commentary from KK (not Kristina Keneally – the bitch bully). Let’s get some posts going;
Personally, I think I would’ve done the same thing that Will Smith did if somebody said what Chris Rock said about my wife who was going through that…might have second thoughts if it was ‘The’ Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson).
Something really smells with the purchase of the crappy looking old Annandale area home. Is it just a way of mates looking after mates again.
Speaking of Labor, I am in favour of hosting the Olympics but it’s time the glamorous ‘my dick’s bigger than yours’ steroid budgets got watered down to the sporting event it is. Forget the ridiculous opening ceremony spend of hundreds of millions of dollars, the state of the art stadiums, etc. Step up but not over! Me thinks that 50% of the decision was based on PPP (Post Politics Positions) for the trough swilling Anna and her Pavlovas. She’ll throw everything at it including twice as many positions as what’s needed and they’ll be on no cancel contracts, unless it starts to go balls up. Olympics is supposed to be free of politics and commercial gain. Let’s watch that change with Pockets Miles up near the top.
As for the Federal election, I’m not a big fan of Scott Morrison but his Government saved this country from a massive COVID19 disaster. Yes, in hindsight, things could’ve been handled a lot better, but we have come out of this China challenge a lot better than most countries, and dare I say it, if AnAl and his useless front and back door bench were in power. There’s not much of a choice for the election but in my opinion, it’s the devil you know…
Rant over.
The sole purpose of the Olympics is to fill the coffers of the Olympic organisers and tickle the ego’s of the politicians in the region of where the games will be held. It has long been known that the financial fallout from holding this stupid event is monstrous. Queensland will fair no better. Excited idiot politicians jumping up and down and dry humping each other’s legs soon gives way to a legacy of debt once the games are but a distant memory. The issue with politicians, and for example people like Daniel Andrews who is one of these, is that many went straight from university into their chosen Party. They have never had a real job, they don’t have the worry or stress of going to bed at night and waking up thinking how can I survive another day. These fuckwits are making decisions, big decisions, that affect millions of us poor bastards who have to live with the consequences of their incompetence. Nana Anna doesn’t know how to run a business or budget money. She has spent decades sucking off the taxpayer teat and looking after fellow political mates. But in the years to come she will move on to a comfy $800k job with someone she favoured during her political life and we, Queensland, will be stuck with the bill for this outdated, out of touch, childlike Olympic bullshit.
And the difference between the Olympics and the Hells Gate dam is . . . ? The feasibility study for Hells Gate says the water will be prohibitively expensive, there is no way farmers there will be able to compete with Murray-Darling farmers, the kinds of POTENTIAL produce grown there has no known market in Australia and none established in the Asia-Pacific. And the 50-60,000 hectares of irrigation land created would probably go straight on the market to conglomerates from you-know-where. Where’s the legacy? Where’s the business case? What do taxpayers get for the $5.4 billion investment? Sure there’ll be jobs – perhaps as many as the Olympics construction produces. Yes, there’ll be lots of work for the earthmoving, quarrying, landclearing and construction sector with all that government dough to consume. So the legacy might be the sparkling new irrigation area that remains.
But the Olympics will have a legacy too. By 2032 the main overseas visitors will come from China – unless we have already lost a war with them. Asian tourists, students and investors will be a serious mainstay of the Australian economy, much more than today, whether we like it or not. We will have become dependent on them, unable to maintain our lifestyles without them. They may even be the saving grace of the government investment in the Hells Gate dam.
So if you want to bag the Olympics (and by all means go ahead), keep in mind that that extravaganza will likely be the biggest drawcard and advertisement Queensland and Australia has ever had. If Crisafulli becomes and is still premier by then, his Gold Coast electorate will be by far the biggest beneficiary of that gold-plated taxpayer-funded pork trough and his snout will be fully submerged in it.
Addled, the cost of building and hosting the Olympics, then dismantling or maintaining the ‘only used for 10 days’ infrastructure, policing and security is many many billions. Much more than the revenue earned from visitors to our country. Every country that has hosted the Olympics has ended up in debt. I also didn’t see a cost benefit analysis or business case for the Olympics nor the Dam that you mentioned.
And what will be our Olympic legacy if the whole Olympic occasion is marred by a new global disease (not the syphilis and mouth sores that the rooting Olympians spread), or some Allah fan decides to make a statement in the most unsavoury fashion.
Screw the Olympics, they are shite.
The most salient point in the study published in the nest is that the location of the venues decide the infrastructure build, not the other way around. So some places may be left like a shag on a rick, with roads, rail or trams that are overkill for the location. build it and they will come doesn’t fry, as we have found out in Townsville.
Rollmop, you wrote about the cost of holding Olympic games (in Australia): “Much more than the revenue earned from visitors to our country.” I don’t know how to put this in a respectful, diplomatic way but basically you don’t have a clue. Why not spend five minutes googling ‘sydney olympics economic benefits’ and establish some facts for your own edification.
Addled – that is pure bullshit. Apart from the initial sugar rush the long term financial consequences of hosting an olympics are nothing short of disastrous. The positive effects on tourism are negligible beyond the first three months. “Let’s go to Rio because they once held the Olympic there” said no one ever. This is the type of puerile hogwash used to convince the great unwashed that it is to everyone’s advantage. Just like the V8s, underwater art galleries and nonexistent wave pools that Jenny the Lush Titus.
Thanks for your unvarnished, baseless opinion, Grumpy. To add some evidence I found this reference about the Sydney Olympics which might (or might not) help:
“The present value of the impact on real GDP and real household consumption for Australia over the three phases of the Olympics [12 years before, during and after] is $6.1 billion (Australian dollars) and $2.7 billion respectively. However, virtually all of this gain occurs within New South Wales, with only a very small net effect on the other five state economies. Also while the effects are large in dollar terms, in percentage change terms the increases in New South Wales Gross State Product and real household consumption are only 0.36 and 0.22 per cent respectively in an average year of the twelve-year Olympics period.”
You will note that I asked critics of (Australian) government investment in (Australian) Olympics to compare it with $5.4 billion investment in Hells Gate dam. Your uninformed if not ignorant rant about the Olympics (notably cherry-picked from foreign attempts) suggests that you are uninterested or even acquiescent about the “puerile hogwash” being blathered about the dam.
Addled. The former.
PR,
Never had a real job. That would be Councillor Liam Mooney, never a proper job, no first hand experience, nothing to bring to the ratepayers of Division 9; but he does have the right Daddy to propel him up the greasy pole, and the ability to not think, just do as his elders (that is just about everyone) instruct.
Maybe we would be better off if councillors were reimbursed administrative expenses only. Dan Gleeson as Mayor of Thuringow did not draw a salary.
From “they’ve never had a real job etc. etc applies 100% to Bob Katter as well as most of the other “Professional politicians” we are lumbered with! If a true Independent should arise, not like Jenny ( ‘I’m not Labor’) Hill, we should welcome them with open arms – but it will never happen!!
H,
In the 1980s I think there was a federal minister who was a train driver. Labor.
… and now we just have ministers who go off the rails.
A slight edit on my post, Pie? Deleted a mention of a Labor Lobbyist?
Haven’t received anything from you today about a labor lobbyist.
Perfectly put, Prince.
There is a croc trap in the Ross River opposite pontoons B and C of the South Townsville boat park. It’s gate is open.
It appears only big enough for a 2mt croc if that. There were no sighting notices around . Though I scanned for eyes with my torch in the dark this morning , I didn’t notice the trap ! I do this anyway.
They are in the Bohle getting contaminated with PFAS. One was sighted at Horseshoe Bay, but I have always been of the opinion that there isn’t enough food for them to hang around the river for long. The river is PFAS contaminated too. Pay attention !
Just wondering if the PFAS will make the crocs more or less aggressive? Or will they mutate in other ways?
Overseas research has stated that it accumulates in the liver. It keeps building up in everything. It causes higher cholesterol. That it’s carcinogenic.
The defence reports say it bio accumulates. It’s gets into and stays in the roots of plants. That it’s in all the marine plants and shellfish. Bottom feeders like catfish pick it up the most at Palleranda. So , it’s in the marine food chain.
Defence denies all harmful effects. But states are compensating firies. Defence fights all claims to the last drop of blood on everything. Always has, always will.
PFAS cannot be removed. Once it is etched into soil and water it remains contaminated. Many civil airports and most military airfields around Australia have PFAS issues. Airservices Australia has a large warchest which is being used in either attempted rehabilitation or compensation. Google ‘PFAS Oakey’ and you will find a plethora of information on what was once excellent cattle grazing land that is now shitty contaminated land. As always, the Australian government has tried to play down accountability and stall compensation payouts. The USA on the other hand has been paying out PFAS compensation to its constituents for some time.
Err wasn’t my question Pat. Please stay on topic.
On mutation, there are suggestions in the overseas studies that says it may cause birth defects in humans.
What, no more rootin’ crocodiles, then? Oh, well, back to sisters in the outer ‘burbs.
Pat… your original comment was about the crocs in the river. And that the river had PFAS.
Is the PFAS going to make them more aggressive or not?
And if you don’t know the answer just say so and stop with the other stuff.
BTW Alcohol causes birth defects too, and it also damages your brain cells.
WHAT!?!?!?
The NQ field day is on again at Reid Park this week, I’ve been to this display many times at prison reserve free of charge, now it comes with a cost of $10 to go, I won’t pay that, my reasoning is that if I wanted to buy a new Car then I have to pay $10 to have a look the car I might buy which is what is happening here, Rotary now running this show, who do a great job but this money grab is not needed.
Interesting point … surely exhibitors and food and drink outlets should be footing the bill. If this is the way they operate, fuck Rotary then, despite whatever good works they do. Keep milking members, but don’t go after the public like this in such a cynical way.
Is it Rotary running it or a third party using Rotary to provide the parking, catering and other services? For as long as I can remember it was John and Vicky Williams that ran the NQ Field Days. Perhaps Frau Hill is charging a small fortune for rent on the land.
Why have they moved it in to town anyway?
That is a bit hard on Rotary and its volunteers, who are putting in thousands of hours to bring a major event back to Townsville. I have nothing to do with the event organisation- just one of the volunteers on the ground.
This Thursday/ Friday is the first NQ Field Days in eight years, having been closed down by the previous operator due to financial non-viability.
Rotary has resurrected the event, and is trying a new financial model. If it works, the event will be back in future years. Exhibiters are contributing (lots) but it would be a very expensive event to run- guess the insurance.
Looking at the programme, it looks fantastic- excellent value for ten dollars. https://nqfd.net.au
The Magpie has always supported the community minded efforts of Rotary clubs, all service clubs show excellent community spirit which is to be applauded and supported. So it would seem from your reasonable and informative comment that, like so many other things around this town, effective communication is the problem. Has the entrance fee been explained anywhere, as in, perhaps ‘Insurance costs have forced us to charge an entrance fee of $10′ – if that is the reason. Everyone in this neck of the woods can sympathise with that. But introducing an entry price where none existed before always needs an explanation. Of course, exhibitors and food/beverage license holders will help underwrite costs, but tell us, where is the Townsville Council in this? An event which this time will bring people into the city – especially adjacent to the CBD, which attracts such lavish monetary support from Walker Street – surely they would be waiving any rental fee for Reid Park, an area lavishly supported by the V8 SuperPests annual rental fee. Or aren’t they charged one? Please let us know, Westie.
The Field Days organisers also fenced off the section of car park behind the theatre that cast and crew use, so that patrons can use the actual car park. Certainly made it interesting for those attending School of Rock on Saturday.
So … anybody going to tell us the TCC role and costings in all this?
What a load of crap.
When event organisers double dip its a firm “no thank you” from me.
They charge the vendors and the patrons to take part and you’re trying to tell me the organisers make no profit?
Then why host it?
Pfft.
Ah, but the argument there is that it is now Rotary making the profit, profits that they will put to use for good nworks in the community. And (without sarcasm) Rotary’s books are surely open to be examined in the public interest, because of their designation as a charity (service club, whatever). Or aren’t they?
Mr. Pie, I cannot believe that the Bulletin didn’t run a report of the Cowboys game on Saturday…nothing digitally or in hard copy!
Okay, it was a thrashing, but really…
What a sad excuse for a newspaper it is!!
And who is The ‘Pie to disagree.
The Townsville Bulletin’s view of its dwindling readership is always out of touch and out-of-kilter, but when they start fucking around with sport – especially the Cowboys – they really have lost touch.
They seem to think fierce fans suddenly become fragile, hanky wring mess if the ‘Boys lose, whereas in reality, a thrashing is the conversation starter in every front bar and backyard BBQ in the city, everyone’s a coach. When the ‘Boys did the job on the Broncos, we had a full back page screamer ‘Send ‘Em To The Knackery’.
This week, the ‘Boy’s get thumped so what do we get. No pointer to match news in a teaser buried way down below lifestyle, entertainment and business., and just tired old stories mostly more than a week old … one or two months old.
And in today’s paper? Stories that make only a glancing mention that there was a game on this weekend, the score hurriedly whispered in passing half-way through a non-story about Scott Drinkwater, a game that, albeit a thrashing, pulled a healthy boast-worthy crowd to Total Tools Stadium. No analysis, no expert comment from ex-player comentators, zilch.
They really haven’t a clue, and this city will be much better served when the Bulletin becomes an insert in the Courier in a couple of years time. At least the Courier knows a story when it sees one.
See yas at the bottom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zjnPJSe6KU
BRILLIANT!!!
And don’t miss the second punchline.
“NSW to ban public display of Nazi flags and swastikas”
I wonder how the Buddhists will react, after all its their Sanskrit symbol occurring many times in their Vedas.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/04/nsw-to-ban-public-display-of-nazi-flags-and-swastikas
How will they react? They’ll just read the edict and say ‘Ummmmommm.’
Be that as it may, you don’t see too many buddhists out with their flags advocating racism and hate.
Good. And in light of current events this is appropriate, if not a little late.
In Germany the “Z” symbol being used by Russians is now banned.
DN,
With Z now banned in Germany what are the Germans call the institution where wild and other animals are kept for display to the public?
The Bundestag?
We call ours Canberra.
Reckon that this will partly answer your question
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/news-and-publications/media-releases/2022/march/nq-field-days-returns-with-support-from-tcc
but I’m certain that TCC will meet many other costs that won’t appear in any budget sheet eg TCC Events Team and other staff costs, area has probably had an extra mow to tart it it for visitors and so on
Thanks, Critical, missed that credit where its due, well done to the TCC (be sour grapes to say they had little choice or been seen as anti-charity). But that release raises another question echoed in. a comment about possible water restrictions. What is going on re Mayor Mullet? Because it is as rare as rocking horse shit that a councillor, in this case the mimsy but more or less competent Annp-Maree Greaney, gets the big kudos for this one … which is fact is one of the council’s biggest positives for the year. But wait … Mayor Mullet’s minions down at the Daily Mulletin are on the job …. by not making the front page story that this would’ve been had the Mullet been around. Where is she BTW? In an ashram seeking peace after a careless car smash?
She’s hiding big time magpie. Last week the services union told her to get fucked with her pay deal and now we have all these workshop meetings spread across council trying to sell their eba to us. We got more out of Les tyrell and that was after a union push. But it seems this time the unions have let us down by telling us it’s a great deal. Les gave us 3.5% this bitch gives us 2%. The council is broke, she knows it. All these do good event deals you just talked about, how about paying the workforce to actually do what a council should be doing and that provide services to a city. She can be a developer and a charity fundraiser after she pays for what gets down to serve what ratepayers pay for. I got one don’t pay my rates for council to advertise how good a pipeline was with the idiot JT standing in it. I pay for rubbish and roads along with fresh water and the ability to flush the toilet. Unlike wulguru. We are meant to vote next week so watch this space for the stop work.
Townsvilles 3 largest developers Lancini , Parkside Group , Honeycombes have been upfront with their comments ” Townsville will never succeed with Jenny Hill as Mayor ” . Our Mayor chose her Labor party over the people of Townsville in political games with the Feds on Haughton stage 2 funding and lost costing the Council $73 mil . Our 3 local State MP,s and Team Hill Councillors are complicit on not delivering pipeline 1 + 2 that work . Based on the Mayors failed projects , $73 mil blow out on a $195 mil project , Council $500 mil debt why would the Feds consider supporting Lansdown or NQ spark .
The way the publicity machine is going, is she thinking of calling it quits? Are we ready for Mayor Fran?
M.D.
Where were these comments made? I hope in a widely read and easy to obtain publication.
So the big 3 developers saying this now but where is and was there money at the last 2 local elections. I know first hand this woman is one who makes your life hard if you question her but these companies are multi million dollar. Her going after them is like the mayor going after Clive Palmer. She means nothing to them but the silence was deafening. You would think out of all the big knobs in Townsville they would have had a much better candidate they could back. They get what they deserve
OK, that’s a point of view, but a small edit as a reminder to commenters, please … calling anyone, including the mayor a ‘bitch’ is not acceptable. The Purple Doona and stuff like that is ok, because there’s a satirical element to to it, but unimaginative stuff like bitch (and a lot worse that have already been tried) won’t get through. And depending on The ‘Pie’s time management, might mean the whole comment gets binned … I’ve only got so much time, and patience, folks.
Lancini gets what Lancini wants. Seriously how greedy is this guy.
He did his dash with me with the Stadium.
It seems there is a cosy arrangement between the Cowboys and the Townsville Bulletin – print the good news and ignore the bad.
One could be excused for thinking the Cwboys write the stories and the local paper just prints them word for word. Joh used to call it Feeding The Chooks.
On a related matter, that halfback the Cowboys ditched because he wasn’t good enough, Jake Clifford (now with the Newcastle Knights) is currently in third place in the Dally M player of the year rankings with six points from 4 games. His replacement Tom Dearden is on one point.
Thats what happens when you have a James Cook University boss on your Recruitment and Retention committee.
All that’s a maybe – one doubts very much the ‘JCU boss’ has any real say in such matters – but in fairness all round, star players can only shine if they have a competent team around them. Imagine if all those brilliant and innovative moves by JT had missed the mark because of dumb team mates. The chatter is never about ‘nearly’.
If you’re referring to Sandra Harding she’s no longer a “JCU Boss” she retired. There’s a new bloke in charge.
I suppose it is just purely coincidental that the bad news on the front page of the Astonisher about TCC having to bring in harsher water restrictions just happens to come out when Mayor Mullet is on leave and poor old Frothy Molachino is left to carry the can.
And also, despite the story referring several times to the need to potentially pump from the Burdekin, not one mention (or question put to Frothy) about the lack of progress on the new pipeline? Funny that….
T.W.W.
Stop your complaining! We have a new stadium to use 12 or 13 times a year. You are most ungrateful. Who needs a secure water supply anyway?
Steve Price on the radio this morning asked Molachino all the questions the Townsville Bulletin should ask, he told Molachino the TCC’s action on the pipe line was unsatisfactory and they were treating the rate payers like mugs ( words to that effect), Pricey didn’t miss him. All Molachino could do was agree with him, when Pricey told him their actions were not good enough several times his answer each time was I agree 100%. Pricey then asked him when would we see some action, Molachino answer was the TCC were working on it, Pricey then hit him with the upper cut when he said that was the answer he got three years ago when he asked.the same question. So good to listen to.
Pricey has been a mate of The Magpie for almost 30 years, and his talent and MO have proved winners in this market. The Magpie privately calls him Berger, because he just keeps on keeping on. But Steve is no journo, and has always had the (quite reasonable) restraint of advertising considerations governing his shows. This is a bit of a departure for him and bloody welcome too … Steve is a valid spokesman for his wide listening audience, and one can only hope there’s more of it.
Shame the ABC doesn’t have a bit of the same moxie … Paula Tapiloas used to come close and show the occasional flash, but that’s about what we all we ever got for 8 cents a day up here.
I think you should have been calling Pricey “Berger”.
Correct and corrected.
Pricey having a bit more of a dig at TCC regarding the pipe line in his column in the Bulletin today, he’s not letting up, good to see.
Indeed it is. Using celebrity status to highlights community shortcomings is always interesting to watch. But you can be sure, if Pricey is sticking his nose in, (no inevitable jokes please) he’s sniffed which way the wind is blowing.
Comment from spectators with kids who attended the football on the weekend.
“Absolutely piss poor form North Absolutely piss poor form North Queensland Cowboys just because you lost doesn’t really excuse just walking off the field when you literally have THOUSANDS of kids who just participated in the Laurie Spina Carnival lined up around your field eagily waiting to see you and you just take your sorry asses straight to the sheds. What a fucking joke, there is so many young boys and girls along this fence in tears”
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160165280446204&id=638091203
The Federal LNP scum have parachutes some Liberal mates into positions in various plum jobs including Pru Goward and six Liberal-linked appointments by to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Absolute nepotistic crooked scum government. This is corruption.
https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/04/pru-goward-among-six-liberal-linked-appointments-by-coalition-to-administrative-appeals-tribunal
The bounders!!! Labor would never do such a dastardly thing. What is the world coming to!!!
Bloody copycats. They’re just doing what Anna has been doing for years.
She really is a trendsetter.
Hahahaha. You poor innocent Labor fucktard. I know Labor would never put their trough swillers into positions where work (yes that job thing where actual work is required to be done) because they wouldn’t know what to do in one of them things.
Bad bad LNP. You know you have to have no job experience and must have been working for the Socialist or Union cause for your whole adult life.
Hello Kinky Kennett. The difference in our argument is that yours is based on assumption.
Let’s not talk about Victoria where the Ombudsman is about start a probe into the appointment of ALP cronies into plum public service jobs.
Parties in power do this all over the world. Worst example was in the US where the GOP controlled Senate insisting that Obama couldn’t pick a Supreme Court judge during the final year of his term, but then managing to push through an Orange Ejit appointment a couple of weeks before the election. The court is now 6-3 with conservative judges and laws regarding abortion and voting rights are under threat. (US supreme court is a life time appointment for those who don’t know)
On TV News just now I saw a Canberra Government car with number plate C1 pull up and out stepped ScoMo …….. an appropriate plate number.
Yep, and Keneally and Wong have B1 & B2.
Hey Kenny, look up sarcasm in the dictionary.
Nanna Anna is finally removing the need to show your vaccination ticks anywhere except hospitals and aged care facilities on April 14. Now onto removing the order to stay at home for a week because you have a sore throat.
Well, TUH is ahead of the curve. Went out today for the regular grease and oil change of the throat mechjanism, strolled in mask I(but was wearing the cassette (i.e. plug for the neck opening, which I guess is accepted as a mask) interacted with at least a dozen staff(all wearing masks) and not challenged once about vaccination.
Well, this idiot has lost the plot – Mayor Tom Tate and his ‘spiritual adviser’ are concerned about ‘demonic influences’ in their Councils art precinct! You couldn’t make this shit up. Please don’t show Peter Newey, as he will no doubt want to bring Tate’s spiritual adviser to Townsville to exorcise the evil spirits out of our Arts precinct! Hang on a minute. Perhaps these fruit loops could exorcise the useless Councillors we have her in Townsville, out of Council altogether?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-06/tom-tates-spiritual-adviser-warned-of-demonic-stronghold-at-hota/100964428
What Townsville arts precinct?
I reckon he/she means the Perc Ticker gallery.
Yes……… l saw that on the ABC site and thought first ScoMo the happy clapper believing in miracles, now this. How many more ‘community leaders’ are out there that are prone to delusion?
https://cabinet.qld.gov.au/ministers-portfolios/assets/diary/2022/february/mark-ryan.pdf
So not only does the Police Minister Mark Ryan and Youth Minister Leanne Linard visit Cairns and Townsville obviously regarding the out of control youth crime… these twits meet with the editors of the Mulletin and Cairns Post during their sweeping visits!
Do your job if you don’t want the truth reported. Now let’s see if the Mulletins arm gets twisted and sways labor’s way!!
One thing none of these politicians have displayed or promoted in their lead up to the campaign commencement is the mention of ‘peace’. All we hear about is beefing up military capacity, then picking at each other with slander and accusations. Nothing short of nasty, angry vitriol. Whatever happened to love, beauty, peace and happiness? Why can’t these words be espoused by at least one person, one candidate, one sole party member? No, nothing at all. Not even a hint. Yes we live in a troubled world, nobody doubts that. But surely, before we all get nuked off the face of this planet, there is someone who can at least try to restore a measure of freedom, joy and peace in out country, in this world?
Well, you just have, and let’s see where that goes.
Un-fucking- believable!!
Out rorting the NFP Reef saving rort.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-05/question-millions-australian-future-leaders-foundation-funding/100965562?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=twitter&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
This scam has rort written all over it. ‘Training, consultants, pushed through quickly by PMC’. I hope some investigative journalists dig deep. Somewhere there will be former or current politicians and their family or friends involved in this scam. Fucking grubs
Pretty clear that the ABC is already on it, and they’re not likely to let it go … especially not in an election byear.
Well, you fucking said it, dearie … wouldn’t have anything to do with right wing columnists in national media, would it?
The level of unawareness has to be deliberate … and that also goes for anyone who believes this hypocritical virtue signalling.
Pie, you really need to stop reading The Guardian, Crikey and the GayBC, they are twisting your mind.
That doesn’t take into account that The ‘Pie daily reads The Bulletin, the Courier, INQueensland, The New Daily, IPA media releases, the SMH, the Fin Review when articles are free, follows a dozen twitter feeds on Townsville, state, national and global matters, at least a dozen media releases across the whole spectrum of local and other matters, every single comment that lands in the Nest,and avoids FB as much as possible. That’s enough to make a pretzel out of anyone’s noodle.
As is always said, when one is accused of bias, it simply means one is not biased in the accusers direction.
The ‘Pie will never give up the good fight.
To the editor and all Mumbrella People
You undoubtedly know your audience demographics, and talk to them in their ever changing industry vernacular. But some new perversions of the English language are best avoided in the interests of clarity… in this case ‘drops’.
Am I the only one who had to read the copy twice to realise what had happened? Is it just old geezerhood creeping up on me?
I am no grammar Nazi, I love to embrace most of the clever innovative new stylisations – but one doesn’t have to be an ancient journo like me to instantly parse the exact opposite meaning of this headline’s intention. Even younger generations might be confused by it, and no matter how widespread it becomes, the use of the word ‘drop’ in this manner will always be ambiguous at best, and require a second reading. And what happens when some outlets use it in the traditional sense of ‘discarding’?
Mumbrella is a great informative read, well written and clear in its information and messages, even when using ’shop talk’ jargon … so do yourselves a favour, and please drop ‘drop’ in this sense. Silly.
Malcolm Weatherup
Townsville
http://www.townsvillemagpie.com.au
Sounds like they may have had a “drop” too many of St. Hugo’s Pernod!
Or not enough.
Oh Achilles, we all know that you love the odd drink or ten, don’t we?
Mr Pie, don’t encourage him, alcohol in excessive amounts is sinful.
And your point is?
Define excessive.
And Dear E B declare your point of reference.
A bible thumping protestant tea total bore, or a fun loving soul devoted to good music, dance, loving, and strong drink.
Sinful? what a meaningless term, there was only one deity ever worthy of veneration and that was Bacchus
EB Cheers
THE BATTLE FOR CASUARINA DRIVE, ANNANDALE HOTS UP
… and how’s this for gob-smacking FIFO arrogance?
A second meeting of residents opposed to a establishment of a hostel for ‘troubled ‘and possibly violent youth in the Annandale street will be held tomorrow (Thursday April 7) afternoon. And after receiving an emailed summary of a recent meeting with the proponents, The ‘Pie reckons it’s gunna be a lively get together … the locals are seething.
One enraged homeowner sent The Magpie the following summary of the meeting, which was emailed to all residents. The Magpie could be wrong here (unlikely) but if the following summary of that meeting is a fair and accurate overview, CASPA (Child and Adolescent Specialist Programs and Accommodation (Australia)) is the epitome of a FIFO money grubbing mob of smug arrogant arsesoles.
Dear Resident
IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!
MEETING WITH CASPA 2.30pm 31March 2022.
The fight to keep the home at 39 Casuarina Drive from being used by CASPA or any other similar service has not gone off the boil. Cameron and I will keep you informed as much as possible. Here is a summary of our meeting with Caspa.
Local Representatives
• Cameron Wright
• Donna Yates
• Councilor Liam Mooney
• Tony Mooney as an advocate
The CASPA representatives were
• Naraah Rodwell – CEO
• Pete Freer – Chief Operating Officer
• Michael Manning – Clinical Lead
To say the discussions were lively would be an understatement. CASPA refused to give direct answers to most of the questions we asked.
The company, Caspa, is NSW based and provides services including a bail house in that state.
It has never operated in Townsville and claims it ‘was invited’ by the Queensland government to set up here. The government will pay for the care of juveniles and up to 4 employees will be needed per teenager because of aggressive behavior.
At the meeting CASPA acknowledged these services, will be funded by the State of Queensland and there could be some NDIS (federal) funding.
They confirmed the first juvenile there would be a girl of 14 coming from the NT. When asked if she had a history of violence they did not confirm/deny this on the grounds of privacy. Please note that the make up of the residents under Caspa’s care could change from week to week.
CASPA admitted that a friend/supporter had purchased the property at 39 Casuarina Drive and then rented it to them without informing the local community.
When asked why they had not consulted local residents, they gave a number of reasons including:
• The floods in Lismore where their head office was located – we pointed out that planning to purchase/lease the property would have started well before the NSW/Lismore floods;
• CASPA stated that are planning to consult with the community in late April or May. We pointed out to them that consulting should be done before the event – afterwards it is just informing the residents what they are doing;
• CASPA were told that residents are angry there had been no community consultation about the proposal. CASPA said we should all be patient and stop scaremongering.
When asked who else would be going into the home and would juvenile offenders be accommodated onsite they initially refused to answer. CASPA said they had different models of care that were tailored to individual needs, but would not give us any details of these models.
CASPA was asked what upgrades were being done to the home, including if secure rooms were being installed. CASPA said that a builder had plans for work to be done but they were unsure of the details.
Towards the end of the meeting CASPA eventually acknowledged they would not rule out violent residents or juvenile offenders staying onsite.
They also stated that if after consultation residents did not want them there, they would go ahead anyway.
To add further insult they said “how do the residents in the area know that their current neighbours wont jump the fence and punch one another.” We pointed out that in this case why would juvenile offenders be actively sought out to live in the premises.
Of major concern, CASPA made it clear that if juveniles under their care broke the law in our neighbourhood, this would be a matter for the police. They would accept no responsibility.
CASPA said there could be more then one person cared for there (it is a five bedroom, three bathroom home)
Believe it or not CASPA also claimed that our property values will go up once we have the juvenile offenders living near to us
CASPA also stated that maybe the children would feel unsafe moving into such an unwelcoming neighbourhood
Given the tone of the summary, and the evasive and patronising answers from the proponents, CASPA is one of those self-interested ‘not-for-profits’ that can smell bags of juicy government money a mile away demanding hefty management fees, and will trample without question over the rights of others who stand in their way. So far, their FIFO ‘you’re all yokels’ attitude indicates that if they actually do any good deeds (yet to be proven) it is incidental to them maintaining a cosy little government earner.
Good to see the Mooney’s – father and son – in there fighting for the home side … His Radiance is only supposed to be an advocate/mediator, but The ‘Pie will bet his loyalties this time will be with the residents – cannot imagine His Radiance, the father of modern Townsville until the current clusterfuck took over – siding with CASPA on this one.
Why don’t CASPA give the Wagner’s a call. We the taxpayer are already coughing up big dollars for Chateau Wellcamp to accomodate…..nobody. (Almost completely empty). Put up a separation chain link fence and house some of these troubled little snots out there in Wagnerville. The perfect location.
So thankful TCC removed all the planning requirements for changes of use in Townsville so people like this and the state government can just plop what they want into a neighourhood and not tell anyone. Fucken Labor and fucken Jenny Hill. We should buy a home in her street in Douglas and rent it out to bikies or pros.
As a sometime visitor to the Patriots Club, she’d be right at home with the bikies part of that.
Patriot’s? Bikies? Hahahahaha. You very funny man, Mr Pie.
Perhaps more a mild bunch than a wild bunch … so The Magpie adjusts his wording the ‘bikERs’ club. Funny that their ad on FB doesn’t mention the biggest drawcard … mayoral dancing on the table.
I can’t remember exactly when this happened but a similar situation happened in a residential court in Kelso in 2018 and one of these we can see another government cash cow organisation expanded a house for violent youth. Came out at a Council meeting that council couldn’t do much about it either. Annandale residents should also protest about where are staff, visitors, police, government staff and so on aregoing to park. Your street is soon going to become very congested. Your visitors are going to have to get used to walking and residents are going to have to get used to staff parking right up to the edge of their driveways and on their footpath. Also raise the issue of additional noise as the staff are generally shift workers coming and going at all hours and add onto that additional cars if there’s a night time problem. There’s a similar type of house run by one of these organisations in Mabin Street Mundingburra but the young people never causes any issues for the community but staff park however and wherever and staff all of the rubbish virtually on the footpath so a visual eyesore for local residents who keep their yards and footpath well presented.
Any chance of a pic of the rubbish on the street/footpath? Pix always reinforce a story. Just send to email hidden; JavaScript is required
G’day Magpie, we’ve been answered re the delay in the Haughton pipeline in this mornings Bulletin (7/4), subMayor Molechino is quoted: “ Acting Mayor Mark Molachino said the council was finalising land use agreements and was almost through the environmental approval process – however, it was still waiting for the rubber stamp.”
Obvious question: ‘ how come these ‘approvals etc’ were not done prior to the commencement of the Project? So now I can build my house, business what ever and then ask for planning approval? No wonder we’re doomed!
And then there’s the question of increased costs because landowners have the upper hand by holding out for a higher settlement. There is always the possibility of resumption, but that would look bad politically. Where’s Barry Taylor when you need him, he made his boodles of booty by rorting on fees on land resumption deals with landowners for a rail line out west. Before that, he had the arse out of his pants. Wonder how he missed out on this little bonanza.
The land holders were holding out on this 5 years ago. Why hasn’t the council moved this forward? This is the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard.
Wonder if the Townsville Bulletin will ever get around to running a story on the CASPA disaster. With both Tony and Liam Mooney involved you can bet there’s a nice little earn in it. The chosen few are getting away with just about anything in Townsville because of the Townsville Bulletin’s continued failure to shine a torch on dodgy deals like the CASPA home for out of control young crims.
Re possible earner, probably just brownie points for Clr Liam, but maybe a brown paper bag for His Radiance … but both will deserve it if they can run these grasping mongrels out of town.
I see that an angry pensioner has given Scotty from Marketing a pretty decent spray while Scotty was doing a street walk in Newcastle. Pretty funny shit!
Was in a pub and was just a cranky old bastard with personal grievances about his ‘partner’ and her residency status … or that’s what it sounded like. As usual, though, a bit of a beat, although The ‘Pie liked the bit where the sheila quietly waited in line for a selfie, and as she was taking it, sweetly told Smirko ‘Congratulations on being the worst prime minister ever.’
He was probably pissed as well. Would be interesting to see his political allegiances over the years.
What’s happening with the old Stuart Primary School? Surely that would be better used as a Care House facility than a house in a suburban street.
I assume it’s State owned, it’s a bit out of the way of the citizens, good parking and just a short stroll to the Big House.
Spin and lies about water today in the Astonisher.
Real cause of water pipeline delay is flawed design. The design never considered source of water, the suspended sediment in the water and the adhoc usage of the pipeline.
The Astonisher needs to stop cut & paste newspaper production and try a little journalism.
The Daily Mulletin trying journalism is, like the pipeline, not about to happen anytime soon. But the is reason to be optimistic … when the paper becomes an insert in the Courier Mail (predicted by some insiders within 2 years), the foot on the neck of the editor will be removed and the brave fearless journos left to man the Townsville outpost might grow a pair and start informing the town about what’s really going on.
What the hell is Liam Mooney doing in the CASPA issue, it isn’t even in his division its in Suzy Batkovic’s division. See link below.This must raise questions about why both Mooney’s are involved and why Suzy Batkovic has been sidelined. Is there a hidden relationship between the Mooney’s and CASPA, does the involvement of Tony Mooney demonstrate that Liam Mooney and Suzy Batkovic are to useless to deal with this issue.
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/mayor-and-councillors/councillor-profiles/cr-suzy-batkovic
Well, the interesting thing among those interesting observations is that on previous similar matters, the mayor has said she is virtually powerless (she must have choked on those words) to do anything about this. basically, nothing to do with council. But it is a good question why Liam is involved, somebody want to email him and ask?
Oh so negative Mr Pie.
Realistic.
Young Liam is cutting his teeth on this matter with good guidance from his dad. It’s sort of like a training session, and the young man is doing really well. He will become a great leader like his father was.
Couldn’t agree more, there’s a Disney animated movie in this somewhere. unfortunately, the name Fantasia has already been taken.
E B,
‘Cutting his teeth on this matter with good guidance from his dad.’
You have to be joking. The position of city councillor is for the experienced, wise (maybe) who have achieved in commerce, industry, perhaps academia. A wide world understanding perhaps? Someone who has not lived all his short life in and around Division 9.
The position of city councillor is no place for a junior space cadet with his ‘wing’s obtained from the breakfast Wheeties packet.
Next you will be advocating for 12 year olds to have the vote and to stand for election. It will work well as the 12 year old will have the ‘good guidance of their Dad.’
EB,
What are you on ?
It must be good shit………….
Perhaps the Mooneys don’t want to see any of these places south of the River. There’s a chance they may edge towards the Penitentiary and thus Rocky Springs.
Scott ‘liar liar pants on fire’ Morrison didn’t look convincing when grilled by Leigh Sales this week. Our toxic PM fended off a number of questions with his standard bullshit spin and dance that he usually employs. I have no doubt that the Libtards are on the way to a monumental electoral thumping. However, middle aged model and trimmed down sex machine Anthony All’that’cheesy really isn’t offering up anything exciting for the voters. I’m not going to vote for either of these cardboard cutouts and I’m going to throw my support behind Independents.
No one cares who the hell you vote for, your choice.
In fact your idiotic attacks on the PM are really tiresome.
As for Leigh Sales she is a washed up has been who is only watched by unfortunate enough to be in a nursing home.
Sales father will turning in his grave. He was a brilliant man who accomplished much in his military career.
The Ritalin kicking in, is it?
Bit early.
The Magpie apologises to you Tropical, for his jibe about you being on Ritalin …. it is clearly LSD.
Is the Biden corruption more or less than than the $600m plus that Ivanka managed to make while working in the White House for Daddy, plus the hundreds of millions that were spent by various foreign governments for accommodation or rent at Trump owned properties plus Donny himself billing the US taxpayer for millions more while staying at his own golf resorts?
Not the normal way of this blog, but please don’t encourage debate on the Trump/Biden subject …. the truth is glaringly obvious – that any frailties Biden has are far outweighed by the criminal and treasonous behaviour of Donald Trump. It is a waste of time arguing or even humorously entertaining emotional hunchbacks and intellectual cripples like Tropical on this subject, he has drowned in the Kool Aid and gone to Fox News heaven. Let’s leave him there.
I see the Double Tree hotel has front page of the paper again this morning and the proponents are now up to the “attracting finance” stage. Comments on the Astonisher facebook site are quite brutal…
Yeah, don’t worry, The Magpie is adjusting the crosshairs for the weekend turkey shoot.
With respect to the local rates, due tomorrow to get the discount (mine at least), it was interesting to look back at the last ten years of rates notices (2012-2022) and see the changes. These are my numbers, but I would think they would be in the same ballpark as others.
General Rates as based on valuations up 19.84%. For rates due 2017/09 and since, we decreased from 15% discount to 10% discount for general rates.
For utilities, Waste and recycling – wheelie bin up 13.71%, Sewerage – residential up 20.48%, State Gov Mgmt Emerg Fire & Rescue up 42.56%, then in 2018 they introduced a cost for Local Waste Mgmt , which has since increased 46.67%.
Even the waterwatcher plan has increased markedly, which will cause those trying to do the right thing (water management) to rethink due to costs.
Mate, I just took hold of my place again after a few years, some turbulent with tenants.
A small time back in the city has convinced me to sell up in 2024 when the position’s tenure I accepted here ends.
Was in Mackay last weekend and despite the “mining tax” added to everything there was surprised how much better run the place was. Ditto a Cairns trip that I flew in last year.
Don’t want to sound condescending but the voters here are obviously satisfied with their lot. Just my realisation anyway.
PS Pie from last week and my recent experience. The Gregory Developmental rd/Carnarvon Hwy will take an eon and many times $400mil to be a viable alternative to the Bruce. Barnaby needs to lay off the grog, especially a former resident of St George!
Re increased land valuations. More digging and the new Land tax is for investment properties and you have to ask yourself whether the Minister, Scott Stewart knows that. And why he wouldn’t come out and say that .
It’s new and it’s yet another costs for investors from a Labor Government .
Tropical has gone troppo. What a sad, angry outburst.
Troppo, go relax and take an enjoyment pill.
I think it’s more like ‘sub-tropical’. What a muppet.
I suspect there are as many on this blog who agree with Tropical as disagree with him, especially his comment of 7:18 am today.
Elusive Caterpillar, are you a mental health specialist and an expert in giving advice to others??? Some of the remarks you make in this blog indicate no, but let’s hear from you!
The unfortunate aircraft, broken in two is yellow. Clive Palmer UAP yellow.
It is an omen.
I am taking heart that Cholesterol Clive’s political ambitions will end up like this aircraft. Check out the two photos.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-08/dhl-cargo-plane-runway-emeregency-landing-costa-rica/100977158
That’s a bloody long bow there – DHL have zero to do with Clive – now if it was a 747 then you might have a point
Agree with you DoK, old Palmer doesn’t look like he’s going to live a long life with his excess baggage.
The unfortunate cock up landing of the yellow 757 is just that, unfortunate…however the 200 series of that aircraft is pretty bloody old at close to 40 years !
A breakup from a botched landing will put massive stress on the hull and the results speak for themselves.
Old Clive should pay attention to body maintenance and pay an annual gym fee instead of wasting millions on politics !
By Industry Standards the aircraft is not very old.. It was delivered new as a Passenger Aircraft to Eastern Air Transport in Taipei in 1999. in 2003 it passed to EVA air Taiwan . in 2010 it was converted to a Freighter aircraft & has been flying for Various Companies as a Freighter aircraft .If it was Maintained Properly it Would was Probably a good Aircraft Just Google HP-2010 DAE (That’s the Aircraft Registration Each Country has it’s own Aircraft Prefix ie Australia is VH … the USA is N…… etc .
Why are we talking about this?
Magpie Refer Jatzcrackers Comment 8 April…
You misunderstand … so let’s put it this way … why are we STILL talking about this>?
Hey Pie. What a wonderful game by the Matilda’s and Sam Kerr the winner. Just checked the magpie archives. That was all beat up for ticket sales. Never going to play here. The magpie piece must have made them tell football Australia to get her out to play.
Of course, that was the plan all along.
But seriously, if she was going to play, why not say so instead of putting it in doubt, and if there were reasons she might not play, why not say that? Pretty weird.
Frothy the Deputy Dog is technically right when he says the Douglas TP “can treat” “as required” up to 180 a day. But that is the same as saying your can can drive with no oil. It is not a sustainable option and would cause the plant (in technical terms) to shit itself.
140 is a throughout which can be maintained day after day.
Remember, we can all fly if the cliff is high enough, but the sudden stop at the end is a real killer.
TP? Treatment Plant?
Sorry, yes. TP is abbreviation for Treatment Plant.
We can’t say WTF (for Water Treatment Facility) any more for some reason.
Acronyms, gotta love ‘em. The ‘Pie was amused when FAQ suddenly became Frequently Asked Questions early in the social media era … as a country lad, The ‘Pie knew very early the importance of FAQ regarding crops, particularly wheat … Fair Average Quality.
There is a free family fun day and Meet your Member afternoon in Cambridge Park on 16 April at 2pm, put on by Les Walker. Flyer was in my letterbox. I’m struggling to work out if this is legitimate or not as the whole thing is aimed at kids and Les looks deranged in the photo of him on the flyer.
Pic of the flyer please, send to email hidden; JavaScript is required
The Ross River at Bowen Road bridge smelt like sewerage big time as I went over it this morning.
awww shit!