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The Magpie

Sunday, April 12th, 2020   |   186 comments

SECONDS OUT! Round 9 – Chris Condon v The Wallopers … Again.

Show boss Chris Condon is well ahead on points against the authorities, who have failed dismally in eight rounds to pin all manner of of naughtiness on him. Now the Feds are having a go, but they are not saying about what. The Magpie takes a guess or two.

But Mr Condon may well win a separate bout against The Townsville Bulletin for its reporting of the AFP raid on the showgrounds … could be a TKO.

Well, it hasn’t take her long to strut back into stride … Mayor Mullet has wasted no time in demonstrating her glib disregard for community welfare … in a dangerous and unwarranted move of dubious value, she has tried to cozy up the flagrantly irresponsible NRL. …

And developers with a sense of humour? The newest hotel proposal for Townsville shoukld win an award for corporate comedy.

…and The ‘Pie can exclusively reveal the never-mentioned real reason behind the rapid spread of corona virus in America.

But first ..

Coping Not Moping

By and large, Australians seem to be taking home isolation in their stride, perhaps with the danger they may get rather used to doing nothing. But rushed laws by bureaucrats and spooked politicians are the very essence of a camel being a horse designed by a committee. The Queensland Police FB page features this helpful (?) information.

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But then, scroll down far enough into the FAQs and we get this …

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The situation around the globe has brought out the Little Hitler in a few folks, but the prize for that goes to this  British copper …

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… who threatened the general population that his men would start searching shopping baskets That suggestion lasted less than 24 hours, with said copper qualifying for a spot on the gymnastics team with his back-flip, with the twist – not unexpected but palpably not true – that he’d been misquoted in the media. Always hard to claim when you say it on TV (can’t organise the clip, sorry.)

However, here in Oz the majority seem to have taken the situation as a cheerful challenge to  keep the kids amused, as Bentley has observed.

Easter flat small

Love it, mate.

And fidgety little hands that need something to do sometimes create ‘isolation victims’ of the innocent.

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But could it be that COVID-19 has been put amongst us with a secondary purpose of unearthing new Darwin Award contenders who exist in the shallow end of the gene pool. Some people TRY to do the right thing.

wank

Others just naturally ensure that people keep their distance.

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But Easter has special meaning for one particular group, who this Easter give an extra thanks that the current emergency regulations weren’t in force back then.

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But the COVID cops would have trouble arresting the Lord …. catching a bloke who can walk on water will present its own challenges, and anyone who can turn water into wine will easily get secret refuge in just about any home around the country.

Of course, old codgers like The ‘Pie are used to just sittin’ around, trying to relate modern reality to past memories.

funny mask corona

It’s The Cops V Condon Show Again

Condon AFPScreen Shot 2020-04-08 at 10.42.19 am

In a such a heavy … and rapidly becoming tedious … COVID coverage news week, it was an interesting diversion when the AFP wallopers piled into the Townsville show grounds and delivered a search warrant to manager Chris Condon. Then a small army of grim faced blokes and broad-beamed Brunhildes swarmed all over the place, but appearing to take only boxed files and computers. Nowhere in evidence were any bags of white powder, none of what the local drug squad calls ‘green leafy material’, no guns or machetes, not even a cowering whimpering Asian sex slave or two. All of which the overactive Townsville rumour mill have laid at the feet of Mr Condon over the years, in breathless whispers, all beginning with ‘I’ve got a mate who …’.

The thing that got The Magpie’s interest was that it was the AFP. The federal bluebags jurisdiction is a justifiably wide one, but it’s not easy to see what interest they would have in the manager of an organization that sits on state-owned land if none of the above mentioned causes were evident.

So The Magpie, in his famously cavalier way, reckons it must be financial. Sooooo … can’t be embezzlement, from what The Magpie can discover, the show society – its actual grand name is the Townsville Pastoral, Agricultural & Industrial Association – is in pretty good financial shape. When Condon took over and started making hard decisions, the Society had about $300k, it now boasts well in excess of $1 million in the kitty. But again why would the Feds care, even if Condon had his fingers in the till, wouldn’t that be a state matter?

But, hey, what if it was money-laundering, that would be a different matter. And if that turns out to be the case, anyone inept enough to leave a money trail deserves whatever they get – whoever that may be.

Thing is, if the AFP don’t lay charges, and sent back all the confiscated property with a bottle of Johnny Walker Black as an apology – as they always do – we’ll never know. And neither presumably, will Mr Condon. But if that comes to pass ….

… The AFP Will Have Plenty Of Company With Whom To Drown Their Sorrows

It has been said in this blog before and in the Bulletin way back when The Magpie was also the paper’s court reporter, he is no cheer squad leader for Mr Condon, who it is a good guess is certainly no lily-white, especially when involved in – ahem – robust union matters a couple of decades ago. The ‘Pie has always had a civil and friendly but never social relationship with Mr Condon (possibly because the old bird found out early on that Mr Condon didn’t drink). That relationship was based on chats outside – literally – the courts.

And there were plenty of opportunities for chats, because the local coppers, and one in particular, who is no longer in town – to use the vernacular, had it in for Condon. The Magpie doesn’t know the genesis for this oft-stated claim of a vendetta by Condon, but is seemed to be confirmed by eight failed actions against him in as many years, give or take. A variety of charges involved weapons and weed, mostly, and once something about a flash yellow sports car, can’t recall the details, but nothing stuck, which towards the end appeared to irk even the beaks. Eight straight fuck-ups is a dismal strike rate, and that’s what they were, generally insufficient evidence mostly, seemed to be caused by both over-eagerness or arrogance on behalf of certain ranking officers. Even when the finally won, they lost.

The most serious charge and outcome came in 2009, a matter the Townsville Bulletin fumbled its way into during the week.

Tuesday’ Bulletin carried a report on the AFP raid, in which reporter Shayla Bulloch wrote:

“Mr Condon, who is a well-known personality around the region, has previously been under the microscope of authorities when he was sentenced to a jail term for grievous bodily harm when he broke the jaw of a man at the showgrounds in March 2012.”

Sloppy reporting – the date is way wrong, the matter she refers to was 2009 by memory – and a half truth that deserves an immediate apology, if not damages, by falsely implying that Condon spent time in jail. He never did. Long story short, conviction overturned, new trial ordered, prosecution drops charges when re-trial moved to neutral Mackay. Christ, they can’t even get background right! Let The Magpie help out.

All that aside, it is fair to say that the AFP is not the Queensland police, so life will get very interesting for Mr Condon if charges are laid. But hey, maybe he can pay for his defence with the money that the Bulletin should pay him for prejudicing any future court action.

Christ, She Hasn’t Even Been Declared Yet, But

… already the dreadful stink of ill-considered mayoral thought farts hangs heavy in the Townsville air.

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Bubble is exactly the right word for this poorly considered half-idea, with the NRL trying to make unilateral decisions wholly based on TV revenue, putting itself above both expert advice and community responsibility to start some sort of competition towards the end of next month. Bringing half the roster of NRL teams and their staff here for a locked-gate round of matches represents an untenable gamble with the well-being of our entire city and region. It wouldn’t be overly dramatic to say Jenny Hill is happy to dice with death to get a cheap headline. Yeah, yeah, same old, same old.

The dangers of this cheap drivel don’t have to be spelt out- not to anyone with an IQ beyond their shoe size. One –JUST ONE – infection amongst our sporting guests and we would be deep in the corona mire.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be so outrageous if there was some sort of real gain to be had beyond the lucky accommodation industry, because let’s face it, Australia as a whole and individual cities like ours have to now start planning recovery strategies. But there isn’t any widespread gain, no perceivable boost to the economy worth the risk, and certainly no boost to the image of a town already nationally known for its crime and a deeply wounded economy, even before COVID-19.

Hey, here’s a thought: perhaps we have such a low COVID presence because mayoral thoughts farts are so noxious that they kill corona virus. If that’s the case, for the next four years, Townsville will be the safest city on the planet.

Is This White-Shoe Corporate Humour?

Hotel melton Black DScreen Shot 2020-04-11 at 10.31.43 pm

The Astonisher reporter seemed to think it was a bit of a piss take, when you’ll note he used a favourite real estate verb when extolling the location of this new hotel-cum-child-minding centre(???), saying it would be nestled between the airport, existing homes, and the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.’ Benefit of the doubt here, and let’s take it as a sly joke. And why not, the Gold Coast developers joined in the levity with their application claimed ….

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C’mon, selling our city’s charms a bit short there, ain’t you?  There’s better landmarks than that … the Salvo’s drunk tank/drying out centre across the road, the cosy indigenous hamlet of Happy Valley with its well known party culture, and the city’s main cemetery, all on glorious show.  No doubt room rates will double when there’s a roof-top protest at Cleveland.

Well, the developers were right about one thing in their application, when they said it would be a place ‘where customers prefer the convenience of being close to the airport’. Damn straight, stay here and you couldn’t wait to get out of the place.

A Confirmation That Chiodo Is On His Way Out

From the week’s comments.

The Magpie

April 6, 2020 at 10:25 am  (Edit)

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The Magpie can now confirm that Townsville City Council CEO Mike Chiodo has resigned, or at least signalled his intention to do so, and will probably up-stumps in May. Mr Chiodo, long rumoured to have medical issues, stayed on for appearances sake during the election campaign … he has had a good relationship with the mayor.

So now, ponder this …. given the histories of the last couple of CEOs, and Mayor Mullet back in for four years (or until the CCC catches up with her), what plague of raining frogs will be conjured up from Mayor Mullet’s back-scratching, favour-owed Labor/LGQA/southern consultant conglomeration to fill the position to madam’s satisfaction?

Life is always meant to be ‘interesting’ in Townsville, apparently.

Trump’s Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Donald Trumop sniffles

One reason COVID-19 is spreading so rapidly in America, not unexpected when you have a President who continually makes people smack their foreheads.

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Let Us End On A Moment Of Whimsy …

In a hurly burly, often unfunny week, The ‘Pie really liked this gentle joke.

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…..

Have your say in comments, if you can wrestle the bloody computer back from the kids, plenty to talk about. Donations to help with blog costs always welcome and appreciated. Donate button below.

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

186 Comments

  1. Mike Douglas says:

    The voters of Townsville have given Mayor Mullet carte blanch for another few years of chasing rainbows like the Nrl being based here , battery plant , wave pool strand etc etc etc . Another Council Ceo bites the dust but what hasn’t changed is the difficulties and delays of dealing with Council on approvals for commercial / residential properties . Story after story of investors just throwing their hands in the air and either scaling back their project or relocating to Cairns or Mackay who are investor friendly and Townsville losing jobs / investment . Hopefully the Pie continuing the spotlight on the LGAQ supposed “ local buy “ scam locking local Townsville companies out of Council work will force the Mullet to at least support local businesses .

    • The Magpie says:

      What, and risk her lucrative featherbedded spot on the LGAQ board and the fawn-like glances of Greg Hallam? Not bloody likely, mate.

  2. Traveller says:

    The timing of the airport hotel is truly bizarre… air plane travel is so on the nose at the moment that the airlines are sticking their hands out for a taxpayer funded bail out (Shareholders, where the bloody ‘ell are yas?) …. Virgin has canned all domestic flights except Sydney and Melbourne. They won’t be coming back any time soon unless dramatic things are taken to make Townsville and its surrounds a place people will want to visit. An overnighter next to the airport and other local hotspots isn’t one of those draw cards.

    • The Magpie says:

      Such ventures are only for business hubs in the more bustling cities. It looks like this crowd is playing a waiting game, and was willing to spend the money on a new application, until they can, in typical fashion, on-sell approval to some other mug. The council has played this one with a straight bat, and quite rightly pocketed the application fee into consolidated revenue. If someone wants to play silly buggers, they’ve met their match in the TCC planning dept.

      • Traveller says:

        Indeed, you are wise ‘Pie. Pity the Bully couldn’t ask a few decent questions, instead just fawning over anything. The more things change eh?

      • I’ll be plucked says:

        Hotels adjacent to airports are great for business centres (a la large cities) and as transit sites for international/interstate travel.

        This one would serve neither of those purposes, so it’s hard to understand why it will ever proceed!

        • The Magpie says:

          It won’t, this is just the usual cynical game playing that makes Townsville Dumb Central for southern developers. We desperately need to able to introduce strict and agreed time frames on these sorts of hidden agenda (i.e on selling) applications. No need for big stick financial penalties, just up the application costs, a reasonable proportion of which will be refunded once the project is complete. Mayor Mullet could take this to the next LGAQ ‘tea and scones and here’s your cheque’ board meeting to lobby the government on. On form, though, Greg Hallam would only agree if the LGAQ gets a cut of the increased application fees.

          Unfortunately, this move would be vociferously opposed by the Townsville Bulletin, because they would lose around 60% of their if and maybe beat-up business stories.

    • Cantankerous but happy says:

      Bizarre is a good word, I don’t think I have ever seen a dumber idea in my life, an airport hotel , 1km from the airport, just defies belief, put the bastard in the car park straight opposite the terminal and move the car park further out. Can you imagine some Townsville cabbies reaction when someone wants a ride to the hotel, a camera with audio at the taxi rank will be very entertaining.

  3. Gobsmacked says:

    If brain farts are a numbers game surely we are due a decent one now, after so many howlers and stinkers! FFS, what sort of an idea is it to deliberately introduce a virus risk for what benefit? It’s like putting your hand up to have the nations next nuclear waste dump on your doorstep in return for some cheap pennies.

  4. One legged tap dancer says:

    Oh no, face slapper, you’ve gone and given Jenny Hill another idea for a brain fart – make Townsville a nuclear wasteland!
    The city is already a wasteland, so all she needs to do is import some nuclear material.
    Think of all the COVID-19 cruise ships that will call in to take a gander.
    Little Patty will be already writing a media release gushing about her mate Hill’s latest stroke of genius.

  5. I’ll be plucked says:

    As time goes by there will be careful action around opening business and ‘relaxing’ restrictions in designated population pockets around the country.

    Townsville is in the box seat to be one of these areas – keep the airports, ports, road restrictions in place, but allow local businesses to progressively reopen. Keep potential spreaders out by controlling movement in/out of our area, as per now. Obviously keep the hygiene and social distancing measures generally up, but consider adjusting family contacts, some travel around our area, shop/travel/recreation at home etc.

    • Critical says:

      Everyone is talking about reopening businesses and so on which is great but no one seems to be talking about the impact of Crovid-19 on the capacity of many businesses, particularly small businesses, to fully reopen or the impact of Crovid-19 on peoples disposable income to spend in discretionary areas such as cafes and other food outlets, fashion stores, gyms, allied health services ( yes, many physiotherapists and other health related professionals have reduced their hours), mortgage repayments adjustments and the list goes on. What happens when the job seeker allowance ceases but there is increased unemployment? People need to think in the medium to longer term. I’ve heard of a couple of businesses who operate in the discretionary spending market and who are thinking of closing now and cutting their losses as they doubt that they will be able to survive in the mid to longer term particularly if Australia enters into a recession or worse.

      • The Magpie says:

        Guess it was always going to end up as a big shake-out, but even before the current virus, The ‘Pie noted that even if we had 10/15% jobless for a regretfully extended period, Townsville therefore still has 85% to 90% employment, jobs and work of one kind or another.

        Maybe a period where mindless ‘growth’ is put on hold while we temper our lifestyle by polishing and improving what we’ve got civically and socially – which is the basic infrastructure for a wonderful lifestyle. But that shift would have to include Jenny Hill and the council generally starting to restore pride in our city, spend money on making it looking spruce and uplifting, concentrate first on making the everyday reality which currently makes us downcast to something uplifting. Is it time for us as a city to reflect on what we really want, and do we really have to be bigger and better year on year, forever trying to beat Cairns and Mackay and Airlie in expansion? A time of reflection might suggest we contract to a leaner, tougher more resilient community, that doesn’t fold so easily under adversity, and accept that despite poor, often daft self-centred leadership and a fair amount of corporate bastardy, Townsville is still a pretty good place to live … but much better if it looked a bit more upbeat and took more pride in what we’ve got, not what we might or might not sometime, maybe, could possibly, points to, signals, perhaps, have. Perhaps a more circumspect and realistic business perspective will take hold. And while deeply affected people will take some time to get back into their desired lifestyle, perhaps that lifestyle too will be modified, through the current enforced reflection … especially among the younger overly materialistic generation.

        Because in the end, what do we really get out of benchmarking and straining for expansionary goals? Professor Schumacher’s seminal book ‘Small Is Beautiful’ could inform a more positive group-think in this city.

        Is it too outlandish to suggest we put growth as a mindlessly chanted mantra on hold in order to prioritise and improve what we already have?

        • Guy says:

          Its why We need to start building towards the CBD rather than continually keep building housing estates miles from the CBD, Melbourne is a classic example of the unworkable, my brief experience of living there convinced that that model was the path to damnation and ruin. As a city expands as a circle as you double the radius of the city you quadruple the area you need to build infrastructure in AND maintain. In Melbourne most things of interest were forced into the centre and the endless fields of houses built on its peripheries – it was a nightmare.

          • The Magpie says:

            There, there, pet.

          • The Stasi says:

            Guy, I don’t think Melbourne misses you at all, either. Your remarks are as clear as mud. Wanna have another go???

          • The (Barely) Civil Engineer says:

            Guy, we DID build several thousand apartments in the CBD – they are the big dark things you see at night. The CBD is dead and people just don’t want to go there or live there.

            If COVID has taught us anything it’s that spreading people out is more healthy – unless your main concern is improving council’s bottom line where concentrating people rather than building and maintaining trunk infrastructure is a better plan.

            How close to the Mayor’s office do you work, by the way? Just a nod and a wink will do – we are all watching.

          • The Magpie says:

            Geez, Barely, don’t encourage him!

        • Dave of Kelso says:

          Pie,

          I recall that many years ago Dick Smith made a standing offer or financial prize to anyone under a certian age, something like 40 I think, to come up with a credible pollicy or blueprint for national prosparity without continual growth. Since then I have not heard of the prize being given. I do not know why there was the age limit. An attempt to get ypunger folk thinking perhaps.

        • Ezra Pound Axe King says:

          Couldn’t agree more, ‘Pie!

  6. I’ll be plucked says:

    National Chief Health Officer presser today: ‘Some people have washed their hands more in last month than they usually do in a whole year’.

    We are a dirty mob aren’t we!!! Getting better though! :)

  7. The Wulguru Wonder says:

    NYC Dept of Health are recommending that people practice masturbation as a safeguard against catching Coronavirus.

    They don’t just want to flatten the curve, they want you to spank it down!

    I suppose it’s one way of taking the fight against Coronavirus into hand. Although I am wondering why they recommend you do the dishes before sex and again afterwards. Surely they can’t have got dirty again in two and a half minutes?

    https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/imm/covid-sex-guidance.pdf

  8. The Resurrection says:

    Well, that was a hoot – NOT! The stone was rolled back on my tomb this morning and there were around 50 people gathered outside all cheering and clapping. I went to the entrance and looked out at a strange site – men in uniform handing out fines for 50 shekels for breaking social distancing rules and that those assembled being ordered to go home!

    I asked my old man what to do and he suggested I go back inside and stay there; he said he would get some supplies to me, to see me through.

    Happy Easter everyone, I have risen, but can’t come out!

  9. Chris Condon says:

    Fair enough column, Magpie, but let me correct one thing: TPA&IA were actually $325000 in the red when I first took the helm and as of today $1.3 million in the black with no liabilities,

    • The Stasi says:

      Thanks for the clarification Chris – federal wallopers are at bay, is that 9 from 9 for you now?

      • The Magpie says:

        Don’t jump the gun, Goebbels. As The ‘Pie said, the AFP ain’t the Queensland variety, and certainly wouldn’t give a toss about any possible Qld government coercion. But maybe they might have to grill whoever gave them the tip-off, after all this is Townsville.

        • Non Aligned Worker says:

          If the Feds came up from Canberra they must have come up 2 weeks earlier, self isolated and then performed the raid. Back to Canberra for another 2 weeks self isolation. They must want him pretty badly.

          • The Magpie says:

            We enjoy a permanent contingent of AFP wallopers here permanently, and when last heard, are housed in a former small cop shop near the por behind the Metropole. But that may have changed.

  10. Who's the boss? says:

    Is anyone taking bets on who the new TCC CEO will be if Chiodo is out the door?

    • The Magpie says:

      The Magpie is awaiting the phone call.

    • I’ll be plucked says:

      The bird from Darwin that Impaler brought in – she’s been there a while now. Another Labor sympathiser type I believe.

    • Alahazbin says:

      Is the shelia from Planning & Devlopement still there? First name Leslie. She was great mates with the Impaler, even stayed with her when she first came to town.

    • Insider says:

      They will have to be a Labor stooge to fit with Jenny and the Mooney dynasty’s expectations; handpicked by the LGAQ.

  11. Critical says:

    Dan Tehan noted this morning that up to one quarter of university staff were expected to lose jobs within next 6 months and that senior university staff were taking salary cuts.
    I wonder how many JCU staff will be losing their jobs as this could have a long lasting impact upon the skills base of Townsville and JCU as many will probably be forced to leave Townsville for employment.
    Will the $1+ million JCU Vice Chancellor reveal the true value of her salary cut?
    Now we have the university sector telling the government that the $18 billion relief package and other measures announced today is not enough assistance. They use the argument of deceasing fees from international students as a major reason as to why $18 billion is not enough. Question, how did Australian universities allow themselves to become so dependent upon international student fees to ensure their sustainability?

    • Achilles says:

      It was never a case of dependency, it was a cause pure greed, they new they could not only charge much higher fees from well heeled OS students, but there was a highly lucrative spin off in such matters of accommodation, transport, food and clothing etc. outside of the curricula services.

      These “services” were/are mainly supplied by relatives or partners of staff.

    • CEO of Crap says:

      Just like Cairns tourism. If University’s operate under a heavy dependence foreign student model, then now if a really bad time for them.

  12. accountant says:

    the AFP execute search warrants when there is an investigation related to a federal issue such as tax or federal agencies
    I suggest someone have a look at any Federal grants the show society has received in the last 2 to 5 years and start to ask where the money was spent or what entities actuaL where paid for alleged services
    my information is that the society has been paying about the market rate for many services and some providers have paid commissions to third parties

  13. The Magpie says:

    Rather can keeping an ‘isolation diary’, a much better idea on the COVID era is a graph.

    Be honest now …

  14. J jones says:

    Sad news to report
    Madura the Teabag has left the Astonisher and headed for the NT
    Vale Teabag

    • The Magpie says:

      A promotion?

      • The Stasi says:

        Promotion Pie? Darwin and the NT is a wasteland which has been decimated by the Labor govt, with the economy on its knees for the last 3 years or so.

        It’s also a fucking steam bath climate, where they drink heavily and go hard at everything. When they run out of money, which is never ending, they cry poor to the Feds and blame them for their lack of revenue. Shit hole, 10 times worse than what we’ve got here, local and NT govt are useless, pay themselves and their mates a motsa got little to no community return. We’ve had a few NT rejects here, who have rained their mismanagement down on us with not a care or concern!

        • The Magpie says:

          Your razor sharp grasp of humour constantly amazes us here on the blog, Mr Goebbels.

        • The (Barely) Civil Engineer says:

          to be fair, the NT News runs rings around the Bullsheet in good humour, wit and occasionally news.

          • The Magpie says:

            Yep. There isn one essential difference to the Astonisher. The NT News is INTENTIONALLY funny, and doesn’t taken itself too seriously on stories that deserve a bit of fun.

  15. The Wulguru Wonder says:

    Premier Palaszczuk has been quoted pouring water on the NRL plan to restart their competition, saying that she would not give NRL sides from Queensland exemptions to travel to NSW.

    According to her we “all have to abide by the same rules…..otherwise it sends the wrong message to the public.”

    Except that is for indigenous funerals, hey Annastacia?

  16. The Maltese Cross says:

    Evening Mr Magpie, there was a special on SBS TV tonight about the Mediterranean.

    They called into Malta, which was described by the presenter and locals interviewed as the money laundering capital of that area of Europe. In addition, there is some sort of extension of the Italian Mafia operating there, who are killing anyone who speaks out against them, or corrupt politicians. They detailed the case of a female journo who was murdered recently by car bomb. There are only half a million souls who live there and the wealth as reported is eye-watering. You can also buy a Maltese and European Union passport there for 1 million euros, which gives feee passage all around the EU. They detailed examples of Russian criminals who had addresses in Malta and paid rent on sheds where they claimed on documents that they lived.

    Sounds like a great place………do we know anyone with roots to that old stomp???

  17. Le Chiffre says:

    The brits were funneling military related hardware to Libya via Malta during the embargo before ghadaffi got knocked. The parts were ostensibly for malta but where they went after was anyones guess.

  18. Mike Douglas says:

    So Queensland housing and public works Minister Mick de Brenni ( you know the one who spruiked the $50 mil overspend on Townsville stadium that the project came in on time and on budget ) thinks the State Government COVID -19 rental support package of $2,000 per applicant and compulsory conciliation by the residential tenants authority will fix issues between landlords and tenants . In all the announcements by the Feds tenants reductions by % of decline the reductions are deferred means it has to be eventually paid back . Like the remaining Townsville Flood / bushfire victims the State Governments will move on . On the local scene COVID -19 has been a leveller for a few supposed “ shakers and movers “ around town as their cashflow dried up so did the payments on their Mercs / Beemers and highly mortgaged houses . Expect a few fire sales around town .

  19. One legged tap dancer says:

    Don’t think you will hear any more from Jenny Hill on her NRL Townsville “bubble” plan to base all 16 teams here.
    Just like the battery factory, the Hilton hotel, and her admiration for Jamie Durie, the “bubble” has burst so she will be social distancing from the NRL and the Cowboys.
    In any case the Premier has poured cold water on Queensland teams being allowed to play in the proposed new NRL comp, and Jenny wouldn’t dare risk losing her protection against investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

    • Cantankerous but happy says:

      I don’t think Anna Alphabet can stop people flying out of Qld to NSW on a commercial or charter flight, and then living in NSW for the season, already the federal Govt is talking about underwriting domestic flights , so movement isn’t the issue, it’s only the socialist state Governments of Qld and Vic who are basking in the glory of the state controlling everyone’s lives, including whether or not people can go to work.

      • Critical says:

        Bit of a one sided comment as Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory also locked their borders and introduced even more restrictive measures to control people’s movements within their individual states. Some of these states are LNP governed so don’t slam the Qld ALP government even though I’m not an Anna Alphabet fan.
        The federal government is talking about underwriting domestic flights to get people back to their home states and loved one’s after they have arrived back in Australia and undergone 14 days of quarantine in a hotel.
        Longer term assistance to airlines to keep a two airline industry in Australia is still in the preliminary stages of discussion and is a very separate issue so don’t confuse the issues here.

        • The Magpie says:

          Surely its is the wrong time for political point scoring. EVERYBODY is in unchartered territory, so it might be a good idea to wait until its over and the medical scientists work their usual miracles before we start the tedious round of ‘how we would’ve done it better’ from opposition parties.

        • Cantankerous but happy says:

          NRL is not played in NT, SA or WA or Tas, so your point is completely irrelevant Crits, a business wants to restart and employ people, one state is exploring the option to facilitate that happening, the other 2 states are being overbearing turds by trying to prevent that from happening. If the NRl and NSW Govt can come up with a scheme to allow it to happen then good on them, and the teams from the other states can either move to NSW and play, or they can sit at home and go broke, it’s as simple as that, but people need to remember the clubs want to play, it’s only the Qld and Vic Govt that are trying to stop them.

          • Critical says:

            The QLD and Victorian governments are in the business of taking the advice from the best medical professionals in Australia and stopping the spread of Cronid-19, not propping up the NRL which appears to be broke and probably has an unsustainable business model.
            I wonder what your response will be if one or more of the players or support staff gets Cronid-19 or if that person either has long term health and/or financial consequences from the infection or passes away.

          • Cantankerous but happy says:

            You just shit on your own argument Critical, the players and staff are leaving Qld and heading to NSW to live for the season, how the fuck is that a health threat to Qld, they won’t be here, they will be in NSW. No one is holding a gun to the players heads, if they don’t want to go they can stay home and sit by the pool, something I have chosen to do myself, rather than live in Brisbane or Melbourne for the duration of this thing. People need to start pushing back with all this stuff, these power hungry public servants will be loading everyone’s head full of all sorts of shit and scaremongering, they even stopped people playing golf, Victoria actually has, and so did Qld for a period, both very left leaning governments, be very wary of these people.

  20. cobalos says:

    In this zombie apocalypse, The Goodie’s Tim B-T’s I’m a Teapot is just as pertinent as it was in the 70’s

    • The Magpie says:

      Vale Tim B-T, gone from COVID at 79.

      Also, another deeply embedded part of the ‘Pie generation, F1 super hero Stirling Moss, has left us, at 90, which is less than half the speed he lived most of his life, when racing was real and dangerous, unlike the cosseted life of the current crop of posturing snowflakes.

      • Zoom Zoom says:

        So true Maggie, Stirling Moss was a brilliant driver and racer. One of the best in the business. And yes, his racing career was well before drivers became wrapped in cotton wool and ‘soft’. R.I.P

        And R.I.P Tim, a brilliant comedian gone too soon.

      • Achilles says:

        When I lived in the UK late 60’s-early70’s my first car was the first car that Stirling Moss crashed, many years earlier.
        It was a Morgan 3 wheeler owned by his dad and it was his first drive, he’d only gone less than a mile when he rolled it into a ditch.

        • The Magpie says:

          Did Arthur and Terry tell you that when they sold you the car?

          • Achilles says:

            I’m unsure if The Pie is a cynic or a stirrer, In those long ago days in the UK cars came with a log book, and lo and behold the Moss name was there as the second owner.
            The story about Stirling’s incident was told to me by Chris Booth, he’s now a top honcho in the Morgan Three Wheeler Club, saw him recently on Car SOS.
            Moggies seemed to change hands regularly and during my 5 year tenure in the UK I had 3 of them.
            I met the great man when he presented me with an impromptu trophy when I rode my recently restored Royal Mail (made by Singer) high ordinary (penny farthing), from Chichester to a place who’s name escapes me but near Bognor Regis.
            So there……

          • The Magpie says:

            Who writes your material? Arfer or Terry?

        • CEO of Crap says:

          I bought a black Falcon Coupe apparently owned by an ex copper by the name of Max Rockatansky. Sounded legit at the time……

      • Billoddie says:

        TBT once expressed a desire to be an earl and also get an OBE, which he did, Bill, with such a quick wit, suggested that he would then be an Earlobe :)

      • Jatzcrackers says:

        Bit harsh there Pie ! Today’s F1 drivers are just as hardy if not more so than drivers of earlier days ! I agree with you, the likes of Stirling Moss won’t be seen again with their unbelievable bravery, only tempered by their passion and goal to go faster, better and win at all costs ! Many with their lives !
        Today it’s a different game, equally as competitive, a skill set required greater than flying an F16 and reflexes only a chosen few are granted. Racing around world circuits and circa 300 klms an hour, 800 gear changes with paddles, 600 precision braking etc etc where missing one means you’re into the guard rails, game over possible life over ! No, I don’t think they’re snow flakes in this super tough and competitive internal sport !

  21. Cynical Cricket says:

    After a long weekend at home trying to flatten the curve, I have come to realise 2 things:
    1. There are an inordinate amount of retards in Townsville. (e.g. 6 people from a family have to go to the supermarket together to do essential shopping; therefore no hope of social distancing)
    2. Social distancing rules don’t apply to indigenous people. (Party been going for a week with between 6 to 20 people present. Good ole coronavirus supplement must have kicked in.)

  22. Achilles says:

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/stirling-mosss-widows-poignant-tribute-21856188

    When he was nine, his father bought him an old Austin Seven, which he drove in the fields surrounding his home.

    He got his driving licence at 15 and, with £50 from equestrian winnings traded the Austin for a Morgan. It was followed by an MG in which, aged 17, his mother caught him with one of his father’s dental receptionists.

  23. Zoom Zoom says:

    But but what about the Mullet? She drives a V8 mate. Bit of a legend with that mullet hairstyle, manly walk and barking orders at Council staff like Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket.

  24. One legged tap dancer says:

    I’m sure everyone is buoyed by the fact we are “flattening the curve”, but is there a bigger picture they’re not telling us about?
    To be fair So Mo and his crew are preparing for it, and we should all be thankful that they are.
    If you look at the Covid19 world maps, most of the damage is currently being done in the northern hemisphere, where they are just coming out of winter.
    The virus thrives in cold climates.
    We in Oz are just coming out of our summer, and winter is looming.
    So brace yourselves as the southern hemisphere’s turn could be just weeks away.
    I don’t mean to cause alarm but I fear those who think we are thru the worst have a reality check coming. The Fed Govt is spending a fortune preparing thousands of extra intensive care beds around Australia, most of which are empty at the moment.
    I hope we don’t need them but I applaud the authorities for being prepared.
    And as for the NRL – they have to be kidding.
    When it comes to life or death, and it could, who cares whether the players can play or even whether the game survives.
    Time to crack open a good bottle of red, or two.

    • TheOtherGuy says:

      This issue about winter is simply specious scaremongering by the government. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that this particular virus thrives better in cold conditions. It MAY spread easier in cold dry air but what is more likely is that 90% of the worlds population – approx 6.6 billion – live in the northern hemisphere and the resulting population densities and the accommodation types make contagion a virtual given. The remaining 10% are spread out over large land masses with natural social distancing between neighbors. The good ‘ole Australian dream of a quarter acre block might save lives. Provided the social distancing is maintained it should not matter whether it is summer or winter.

  25. winni says:

    Hey OLTDancer

    Some of us true Australians do care about the p[layers and whether the game survive
    because that is the Australian Character

    • Dave of Kelso says:

      More tickets are sold to performing and visual arts events than to sport. Fact! Look it up. I am more concerned for participants in the arts who are outside of the casual employees income safety net.

      I am sure the NRL will look after a bunch of unsophisticated men who’s main job is to run around a paddock and bump into each other.

      • I’ll be plucked says:

        Well Kelso, lucky I follow the AFL and not the NRL then, hey?

        • Dave of Kelso says:

          You are still a minority compared to the arts community. Don’t split hairs. At the end of the day you lot all run around the paddock and bump into each other. With a poor medical prognosis into old age. Get a grip Plucker.

          • I’ll be plucked says:

            Kelso, I think you should stop gripping whatever you are hanging onto when you make such remarks. Normally you seem to be a quite balanced fella, but not when it comes to sports, obviously! :)

          • Peter Sandery says:

            To plagiarise Oscar W – the unspeakable persuing the uneatable – hits the spot I think Dave.

  26. Isolated and Irritated says:

    Couldn’t agree more Cynical Cricket.
    Its time our local cops got serious about handing out fines for flaunting social distancing laws. They would get writer’s cramp if they raided a block of South Townsville holiday apartments on weekends where groups of millennials party like thee’s no tomorrow. Here’s how it works. One person makes an online booking and checks in, then invites mates around. They arrive in pairs so as not to arouse suspicion and soon there are 8 to 10 people crammed into one apartment. Some nights there are parties in 3 or 4 apartments.
    The management of the apartments either doesn’t care or turns a blind eye in the name of earning a quid in tough times. Police have been alerted but do nothing yet they chip people for sitting alone on the Strand reading a book.
    Unbelievable.

  27. Bing4814 says:

    Even with all the doom and gloom the comedians are coming out thick and fast
    https://facebook.com/angela.cane/videos/10222348688454227/?t=38

  28. Mein Kampf says:

    The Cops are obeying orders from their supreme leader Anna alphabet, and as usual, targeting the wrong crowd. They never go after the Grubs having their ICE parties. Instead they go after Granma and Pops walking the dog or some jogger washing her feet in the ocean. It’s a Stasi reigeime and will only get worse. COVID-19 creates an opportunity for more people control and the introduction of draconian laws that will affect us long after COVID is forgotten. Maybe I’ve got my Peter Newey tinfoil hat on?? Time will tell.

    • The Stasi says:

      Mein, thanks for the mention. We all feel quite at home with all the goings on around the place at the moment. Fall into line, or fall out/over!

      • Lies says:

        Get even more comfortable particularly with the current government advisers.

        Professor Murphy said until a vaccine or treatment was found, he does not believe the social distancing measures can be relaxed entirely.

        “Unless you’re absolutely, completely confident about your borders, your testing, your surveillance, you can’t relax a measure of distancing,” he said.

        It will be these so called experts totally disconnected from reality and how society actual works who will set goals that will never be achieved, and will ruin a nations wealth that has taken decades to accumulate.

        We did we actually decide nobody can die. Professor Murphy is setting a very dangerous precedent.

    • The Magpie says:

      Is that so?

  29. Critical says:

    OK, who fell asleep and missed the opportunity for Townsville to be part of this national event, was it TCC, TEL or the Townsville arts community or a combination of these groups.

    I see that Cairns is participating in the event and supporting those front line health workers fighting Crovid-19 and also those in the entertainment industry who have been impacted by Crovid-19.

    http://www.alia.com.au/light-unite-needs-your-support/

    https://www.tropicnow.com.au/2020/april/14/cairns-light-display-to-pay-homage-to-frontline-health-workers.html

  30. Dave of Kelso says:

    Just to cheer every body up, the usual time frame for a new vaccine to be rolled out, if successful at all, is 5 years. Note that in the last 35 years or so a vaccine for HIV has alluded the medical scientists. So, good luck on a quick fix vaccine for Cv19. While we hope for it, on the balance of probabilities, it is unlikely.

    • The Stasi says:

      Yes Dave of Kelso, many years under normal circumstances. These times are certainly not normal and there is an unprecedented worldwide effort in progress to identify, trial and provide a vaccine.

      Have you been living under a rock, or in a cave? You should be aware of this, in our opinion.

      • The Magpie says:

        Surely the emphasis with the COVID-19 treatments has the wrong focus. We should surely be looking more at treatment of the existing virus than eventual immunisation by vaccine. Some steps are being made in this direction, testing a variety of existing drugs and conditions, but more effort could be expended in this aspect of the research, rather than the eventual ‘vaccine’ outcome.

      • Dave of Kelso says:

        TS,
        Is there open and transparent collaboration among the world’s laboratories or are they all working independently?

        I have a relative who is a retired medical scientist. She will not donate to cancer research as each laboratory is working independently and in secret to make a breakthrough and therefore the very big profits. In her professional opinion had there been open and transparent sharing of information between these laboratories a cancer cure would have been found by now or very close to it.

        So, re Cv19, is there collaboration or not?

        And to answer your question, a grass hut just above the high tide mark.

  31. Mike Douglas says:

    Trad and de Brenni have done it again and taking a 6 mth tenant Moratorium and butchering it in Queensland exposing landlords to possible major financial exposure . REIQ reports the 6 mth rent Moratorium extends to 12 mths in Queensland and the tenant under proposed legislation , does not have to supply the landlord any supportive documents or evidence their income has been effected by COVID – 19 . Trad and de Brenni are proposing the rent reduction becomes a permanent rent waiver so if you drop rent from $400 – $200 a week the $200 is the new rent and losses are not recoverable .

    • The (Barely) Civil Engineer says:

      I’ve heard about a couple of landlords (who rent to in one case a hospital worker, and in the other a couple on the dole). Both have claimed they are unable to pay the rent – despite receiving ongoing and unchanged government income – and the landlords just have to suck it up.

      Oh please can’t we have a government which can understand balancing the books?

      Will we see a string of rentals burning down like in the good old days?

      • Critical says:

        Heard of other landlords who are looking at their options and considering not letting out properties as they are worried about the difficulties of evicting tenants (difficult enough now and will probably get even more difficult under this new government scheme) who are damaging their property and these same tenants not paying rent and then being left with the combined costs of repairing their property plus the loss of rental income.

        • The Magpie says:

          And just to think that ending negative gearing sunk Shorten (inter alia) at the last election. Gotta love this country’s politics.

    • Cantankerous but happy says:

      Property investing will be about as popular as cruise ships for the next little while, but as with all things once this has passed, it will all even out, and a lot of smart arses will find themselves on the street with nowhere to live and a big black x next to their name, and a lot of losses will need to be recouped, mostly in much higher rentals. So for the few dregs who decide this is a nice time to sink the boot in to that bastard landlord, enjoy, but don’t come whinging when you end up living in the back of the car.

  32. Memory Man says:

    Poodles are wonderful dogs. They shed no hair. But poodles make poor economists, as the Bulletin’s eagerly panting pet economic poodle Colin Dwyer demonstrates.

    These are very difficult times, because the lifeblood that connects businesses to consumers and which course through the veins of economies have been traumatised. Some of the vessels and economic cells – call them businesses – will never recover. The attached is one of dozens of respected analyses that point to massive hits on the economy.

    There is no “rapid healing”. The traumas are too great.

    Any community – which is at the end of the day what we would other call an “economy” – needs to be realistic in its diagnostics. We need to staunch the loss of blood. We need to rapidly excise the rotten pieces to stem the contagion. That’s the here and now.

    Looking forward, we need to map out new pathways of repair and regeneration. Some of this will come from within. New cells will grow. Wounds will heal. Functions will come back. However, we also need to add new capabilities. If an economy or a community is like a body, we can now begin thinking about how we augment its core capabilities with new “machinery”.

    Social distancing may be with us for 2-3 years, at least, according to recent work published in Science. So, we need to find new ways of enabling economies to function in this new found situation. We need to be attractive to the new capabilities that can strengthen our economic body. We need to further diversify our base. This will require concerted and serious effort, not throwaway lines simply “spruiking a feel good” as if that is enough to “bring the good times back”.

    https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/coronavirus-australia-live-updates/live-coverage/c48a7bca7507f7b8a17f5c261b684347

    • The (Barely) Civil Engineer says:

      Dear Addled,

      Did you even read what he wrote?

      After wading through your rambling medically-inspire rave (which seems to say more about your memory pathways than anything else) you don’t actually make any points.

      Here are a few REALLY simple takeouts to keep it easy for even you to understand:

      – if your regional economy is based on tourism, international investment or other fluff – you are fucked in the long term

      – if your regional economy is based on mining, primary production and or government, you are fucked (along with everyone else) now but will bounce back faster

      Go have a lie down and take your meds.

      • Traveller says:

        Actually without private sector investment in anything you can get happening you’ll be fucked. Let’s not get picky. Reliance on government for the past umpteen years has got the place where? The lack of international investment has got the place exactly where? Mining is fucked unless the international market picks up. What do you think drives demand for metals and coal? What do you think drives primary industries? The joint exports about 2/3 of it. No global exposure and global recovery, or access to decent export markets, the sector is fucked too. Incidentally tourism employed more people in Townsville than mining by last count, many more. The Poodle doesn’t get it; all those things he rests his hopes on depend on someone else in the world buying lots of it.

        • Mike Douglas says:

          Traveller , have you actually linkedin on the amount of local private investment ? Riverway shopping centre , Westend private hospital, Mater development leased to specialists and have a look at China and their manufacturing has come back online and their steel and use of Coal is nearly back to pre COVID-19 . Just in time supply is changing with interest in Townsville as a hub to supply regional Qld . I agree that Townsville is well placed for a re-bound re-set and the Federal and State Governments are pulling projects forward from 2021 to try and continue momentum . There are plenty of businesses and people doing well in the Ville and those that simply write negatives but hell , we live in a democracy . Its always a good feeling doing things people say cant be done .

          • The Magpie says:

            Mike, The Magpie generally agrees with your usually informed and positive comments, but the old bird, through experience, has to take issue with your last line …“Its always a good feeling doing things people say cant be done”. COVID-19 offers the Bulletin a golden opportunity to continue it’s tiresome run of ‘possible, maybe, might, perhaps could’ run of purely advertorial-motivated headlines and stories, and Col Dwyer’s is no doubt the first in a string of unrealistic reporting. This paper has been peddling false hope stories for years, 90% of which never eventuated, and it has consistently denied the community a realistic overview of the city’s and the region’s true situation on many fronts. The counter to your final passage is” it is always a bad feeling to read misleading reports saying that things that cannot be done, will be done.’

            To again quote Memory Man:
            “I know in challenging times, it’s important for people to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel but we also need to be grounded and real. There are real challenges ahead, and every sensible commentator around the country acknowledges there will be no rapid “back to normal”. Instead, the future will be very different to the recent past and needs to be reimagined and rebuilt.”

          • Cantankerous but happy says:

            Your drinking too much of TEL cool aid there Mike, time for a reality check, a supermarket and a few specialty shops needs to be put into perspective. The West End Private Hospital, haven’t seen those drawings yet, nor many of the poodles other projects that he keeps listing as started or about to start, how the fuck do you start a project without certified plans. If you are constructing something at the moment in Townsville then good on you, would love to hear about it, and be told to shut up and piss off, but every time I have one of these conversations with someone in Townsville all they ever talk about is what someone else is doing, not what they are doing, which actually equates to no one doing anything, think about it.

          • Traveller says:

            The long run data on dwelling construction tells us all it hasn’t been a bed of roses for a long time …. we can be grateful that China’s manufacturing is coming back but it will be limited by the flatness in the global economy for a while yet. Still, we can only hope it roars and drives demand for our exports. Of those projects you mention, just take a look at the building approvals data and it tells you it’s actually not a pretty picture overall …. for those who are doing ok, good luck to them of course. Fingers crossed you’re more right than wrong.

    • Jatzcrackers says:

      Give me a break ! ‘Leading Economist’ !!! This bloke built a housing commission style dwelling on Yarrawonga and has been trying to sell it now for close to seven years ! Records show he’s had countless Real Estate agents try and sell it with the latest one holding the ‘Hot’ listing for more than 400 days !
      Keep up the bullshit rhetoric Mr Dwyer/Astonisher, most of us aren’t surprised !

  33. The Magpie says:

    Some good news from the High Court … with possible long term consequences if the matter is pursued further. Dutton must be soiling is small clothes.

    • Dave of Kelso says:

      How now for the ABC?

      • The Magpie says:

        No, unlikely, totally different circumstances since it was served on a corporation and not an individual and certainly a different warrant executed differently. Court has already ruled against ABC and haven’t heard if they’ll go another notch up the ladder.

    • Old Tradesman says:

      Thank God Dutton is in charge of our borders, imagine if Richard Marles, The Short One and the likes of the Tool, “Let them Stay” we in power. The ships and the virus would have been sailing in.

  34. Just Say'n says:

    High Court seems to be getting it right lately. Fixed the Pell injustice and has now put the boot into the Federal coppers.

    Pity that they stuffed up the “can’t deport an indigenous person” case.

    S’pose two out of three aint bad

  35. Achilles says:

    Nude Czech bathers told to wear masks, does that mean that a different National does not have to?

    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/nude-czech-bathers-told-to-wear-masks/news-story/f08ccd529294c9890005c5359a49d410

  36. Critical says:

    WTF is all I can say.
    Certain groups are going to have a great time if this information is correct.

    https://www.realestate.com.au/news/coronavirus-anger-over-govt-plan-to-pass-laws-to-make-landlords-foot-the-bill-for-govt-rent-scheme/

  37. J jones says:

    What’s the latest on the Mayor’s accident from months ago?

  38. Dave of Kelso says:

    ABC RN this morning. 70 laborities in a race to develop a safe vaccine. All working independently. No collaboration. All chasing the money.

    • The Magpie says:

      ‘Laborities’?
      Sorry, shouldn’t make fun but is that a political comment about Labor priorities, or about greedy scientists?

      • The Wulguru Wonder says:

        Couldn’t be about Labor. No one in the ALP is allowed to work independently, that would mean independent thought, and collaborative action is strictly enforced through the factions.

  39. The Wulguru Wonder says:

    I consider Bill Maher to be one of the more insightful US comedians. He is certainly no Trump fan or apologist, but he’s also willing to call out the hypocrisy of the PC liberal left as well.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dEfDwc2G2_8

  40. Just Say'n says:

    I sympathise with the USA and their position as the epicentre of the Chinese Virus.

    Good news is that all the nutjobs are also self isolating and no school kids in their classroom have been shot by the crazies.

    That said, it looks like the Trumpet is ducking for cover.

    God Bless America

    • I’ll be plucked says:

      Hey Unjust! How the fuck do you equate the virus with the non killing of kids in schools in America? What dot are you trying to connect here? WTF?

      • Just Say'n says:

        Hey Plucker!!

        Not actually trying to connect any dots.

        Just Say’n that the nut jobs are at home as well as the sane people so no-one’s getting shot in the USA. Could have made similar comments about road accident casualties.

        My advice: come out of the chook shed, make sure your sober, read my post again 3 times slowly (aloud if necessary) and if you still have concerns leave a post and I will attempt to make it clearer.

        • I’ll be plucked says:

          Unjust, NO NEED to bring shot schools kids into it then, if that’s what you were trying to say, just say crazies running around with guns. That was my point – GET IT NOW?

          • Just Say'n says:

            Plucker! No need to shout.

            I wholly disapprove of what you say—and will defend to the death your right to say it

          • The Magpie says:

            Perhaps it’s worth contemplating the ever-brilliant Marina Hyde – arguably the planet’s best and most biting columnist – when she wrote yesterday:
            Having actively contributed to the loss of lives, Trump is going to have to get very creative in citing any that he’s saved. That said, last month was the first March without a school shooting since 2002, so maybe he could credit himself with the new approach to the US school shootings problem currently being trialled. Which is to say: no schools. All that time parent activists have spent trying to limit guns, it turned out that the smart way to do it was just to shut schools. Really makes you think. Do expect to see the National Rifle Association unveil a new slogan in the coming months: Guns don’t kill people; schools do.

  41. The shadow of the saint on the hill says:

    The real reason Condon is being investigated is race fixing on the greyhounds. As those races are used in TABs across the country they fall under federal law.

    • The Magpie says:

      Luv it – Chris Condon as a dog whisperer!?! Hey, there’s a great charge to add to all the other listed in the front bar ledgers of the various bits of naughtiness attributed to Mr Condon – not a single one of which has ever resulted in any court sanctions. The ‘Pie might add that the information he has seen about the investigation certainly doesn’t have a canine flavour to it.

    • CEO of Crap says:

      A rumour or just being funny?

      • The Magpie says:

        That is seriously silly … the only answer can be a rumour an d/or funny, because anyone who knows will be breaching god knows how many regulations to state it as fact. And as said before, that wasn’t on the radar of any information The ‘Pie has received from credible sources. But before today, some credible sources have gone a bit wobbly in the end.

  42. J jones says:

    Here’s a goodie
    The new Astonisher editor now has his wife as chief of staff / wow

  43. Tony Moon says:

    Howdy. I notice today that our indigenous brothers and sisters on Palm Island are demanding exceptions to the 10 person per funeral rule “because funerals are import customary matters” Despite what Drew might like to fantasise I really have had a sympathetic view to the way in which indigenous people have been and still are mistreated in Australia. Well that is now my final hurray. Funerals are just a bit important in our “culture” as well. So fuck the lot of em….let em eat cake

    • Achilles says:

      They are not our indigenous brothers and sisters, at best they are very very distant cousins, fact. The self deluded pious snowflakes and their tutors demand an even level playing field, that ignores facts because feelings are more important than reality or truth..

      Before they get all sanctimonious read the real scientific anthropological examination reports from the early real scientists that carried out unbiased real anatomical science and published their findings in an age when evidence trumped emotion and ideology.

      Facts are facts.

      • The Magpie says:

        Hark, what be that creaking sound …. oh, dear, it is the floodgates opening.

        • Achilles says:

          That creaking sound may be the hinges on the “its too late door” the lunatics are well and truly managing the asylum, just watch the absurd lefty, greeney cretins and weirdo’s who have full control of the ABC.
          Behind every endeavor in the public forum these devotees of idealism, rather than realism have the key.

        • Achilles says:

          Hopefully its the long ignored elephant in the room, exposing its reality and trampling on the new-age self appointed guardians of thought.

      • Fact checker says:

        Hello Greek One.

        Where do I find the “real scientific anthropological examination reports from the early real scientists”. I like to check the facts.

  44. No Longer Inside TCC says:

    Not sure if any eagle eyed viewers picked up Jenny saying the council was heading into difficult times economically as they aren’t eligible for jobkeeper payments (7 news tonight). I feel a rates rise coming, best case scenario a rates freeze.

    • The Magpie says:

      The ‘Pie feels a co\ver-up of council mismanagement over the past four or more years. Do a Trump and blame it on anyone but yourself.

  45. The Stasi says:

    Is Mullet now untouchable for the next 4 years? Majority of her team in Council; new, no doubt hand picked CEO on the way; has the Qld Premier in her pocket; rules the roost with TEL etc???

    • The Magpie says:

      Not around here she’s not … and there are some matters that may well come back and bite her on the bum … slowly but it seems surely, we are moving towards finding out the gory details of what she promised Adani over the $18.5m of ratepayer funds for the miner’s proposed airstrip.

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Current ye@r *

Countdown until the next council election:

-1479Days -16 -55 -4