Political and local reality would strongly suggest it is, with Jenny Hill set up for another term even if a viable candidate popped up at the last minute. And that’s an outcome this city can ill afford. The Magpie prognosticates.
Jenny the diplomat – her latest spray targeting the southern media seems more like a stroke than a master stroke.
Academic Action Man plays The Joker: when boofhead threatens snowflake, JCU just shrugs and hangs out its double standards for all to see.
The Nest is a somewhat briefer this week, you’ll appreciate that like everyone else, The Magpie was prompted into uncharacteristic activity by the threat of a bit of wind and water – an imminent event about which the mayor indicated that we should panic by suggesting ‘don’t panic, stay calm’. But come hell or a bit of rain, The ‘Pie’s other panic – the financial one – is ever present. If you can support the Nest with a donation to help defray costs, it will be greatly appreciated. Donate button is at the end of the blog.
Art Imitates Life
Advertising art, that is. Given that 2024 is going to big on elections, both here and elsewhere, this on-line ad seems to carry a dual message.
And as if to prove the point of the pointlessness of the two party + fancy dress fringe chuckleheads, where as the outmoded Westminster system dictates ‘oppositions MUST oppose’, Bentley clearly predicts what lies ahead for us on the nationallevel.
First In A Bustling Year Of Bullshit, Queenslander Will Get To Limber Up Locally
The Qld Local Government elections will be held on March 16, but here in Townsville, as it stands as of last Friday, it’s going to somewhat of an anti-climax.
Fran O’Callaghan has been forced to pull out of the mayoral race due to serious health issues. No glory for glory’s sake poser, Fran spent tens of thousands of dollars of her own money (she repeatedly refused multiple offers of funding for avoid of being compromised by conflict of interest in office), and campaigned quietly last year through a debilitating health scare, which seems may now have reoccurred. This was her statement withdrawing from the race.
In the last week and a half I have become unwell. I am currently waiting for medical appointments to try and diagnose what is going on. I must however, accept the fact that I may not be able to continue in the election for Mayor, or in the coming months and years, I may not have the ability to conduct mayoral duties to their full capacity. It is for this reason that I formally announce that I will not be contesting the position of mayor of Townsville. I have deliberately taken this decision just over one week before nominations close, so I can urge any potential Mayoral candidates who understand how our Council needs to change, to come forward and nominate. Otherwise, Townsville is at risk of not having the chance of better local government. I will offer you whatever help and assistance I can.
I withdraw with the great regret that I will not be able to fight for stronger, transparent and more responsible leadership for the city that I love.
I sincerely thank and apologise to all those who have offered their unstinting support over the past months, I know you will understand.
I will not be discussing the matter any further with the media at this time, and ask that my privacy is respected.
Fran’s withdrawal was a double, even triple blow. We’ll never know now if she could make up ground in the last few hectic weeks of campaigning, and even those including many in Labor who believed Jenny’s time should be up, were not confident that Fran could overcome the well-oiled Hill/Labor/Bulletin machine. What was hoped for was enough voter opposition to hopefully put a brake on the runaway hubris of Mayor Mullet – stuff like blind-siding the visiting PM by telling the travelling media to ‘get off its arse, get out of the bubble, and stop telling us how to live’ (which they hadn’t). (Albo couldn’t hide that he was far from happy with that little outburst, all but shoving Hill to one side as he professionally laughed his way around the stupidity …. the most embarrassing bit was the open mouthed hillbilly cackle of self-appreciation Jenny awarded herself after her statement, while our local state dimwits laughed uproariously .)
As of writing, the only opposition now is a rejected One Notion candidate and questionable businessman Troy Thompson,.
Thompson talks down party affgiliations, which is wise of him – he’s running as an independent, probably because if you’re kicked out by Pauline Hanson, you really don’t have much prospect of serious backing. He’s making all the right noises with his policy posted on social media, but his track record leaves his ability to deliver in question. Frankly, The ‘Pie reckons he’d be a disaster of another variety for our beleaguered city. Unless the ‘anyone but Jenny ‘vibe ramps up considerably, he is unlikely to trouble the woman one Labor insider described to The Magpie ‘the luckiest politician I’ve ever known.’
The only small glimmer of hope we have is that Paul Jacob gets up as a councillor. Despite his suspect motives, Jacob was the one who stood up against the Adani airstrip scam, helping to reveal it while raging against the lack of transparency and accountability of the mayor. He resigned from council soon afterwards to have an unsuccessful run at state, and while aborting a run at the mayoralty because – he said – his ailing wife needed him at home. However, she seems to be OK with him being a councillor, which tends to suggest that being a Walker Street wanker isn’t quite as tough as he sometimes made out.
We may be the lucky country and Jenny may be the lucky politician, but it seems there’s precious little luck left in the pot for poor bloody Townsville.
But Fran’s Presence Lingers On
Remember this from The Nest of Dec 9 last year?
But it gets stranger. Not only did the Gnomes of Walker Street decline to tell the councillor anything, it seems they were spooked enough by the publicity her question got that there was a mysterious change to the record of declaration of tenders over $200k. This how it stands now. (Second bottom).
This Bloke Is About As Funny As A Fire In An Orphanage
..
And A Final Explanation Why You’re Hearing Loud Bitter Laughter From The TCC Offices …
… because staff just read this photo caption in the Bulletin.
……………………
That’s it this time around, hope the coming week isn’t such a trudge. Comments run 24/7, hop in. The donate button to help with Nest costs is below.
Been there 
When JCU Deputy Vice Chancellor and Indigenous Education and Strategy Professor Martin Nakata told a 65 year old female colleague if she didn’t increase indigenous enrolment ‘I will spear you’ – he said it three different times – he dismissed the oh-so-predictable reaction, claiming it ‘was just a joke.’
A joke, eh, Professor? Oh, you man just like footballer and child abuser Adam Goodes claimed he was joking when he pretended to throw a spear at the crowd
… and then sooked up big time …
and refused to believe that a 13 year old girl who called him an ape was making a joke. Oh, no, the child had intended a deep racial slur, according to Professor Goodes.
The sanitised, rarefied and closely monitored air of academia is light years away from the baying crowds of a football arena, but at least Goodes has the excuse that he’s just a footballing reverse-racist sook. What’s yours, Prof?
A commenter asked the very good question of double standards, suggesting if a white person had said something similar, they’d be down at Tom’s Tavern having a farewell beer within the hour.
Not that your ‘victim’ can feel too aggrieved. The way ‘woke’ works in the halls of academe, said woman was ‘so traumatised’ (oh FFS) that she’s been off work on full pay for the past month. Which leads one to whichever conclusion seems more likely … that someone so sensitive as to be ‘deeply traumatised’ by this bearded boofhead’s obviously empty threat that she has a serious fit of the vapours raises the question of what she is doing ion a institution of higher learning and supposed intelligence.
The other option – which The Magpie favours – is it is just another rort in the sheltered workshops that universities have become.
In The US, MAGA-GAGAs Continue To Bounce Off The Padded Walls
There continues an amazingly blatant war against truth and facts from the Republicans and the MAGA snapadoodles, and the most disheartening thing is how much of the mainstream media broadcast utter transparent drivel without suitable push bnack. The first offering in this week’s gallery sums it up accurately.