… and so far, nothing else. Bugger all about substance. That’s why the right opinion about the indigenous voice proposition is … no opinion. But according to one boofademic, even just wanting to know what’s involved makes The Magpie a redneck and racist. We examine the idiocy on both sides.
Mayor Mullet’s whacky scheme for the homeless … Jenny Hill wants to make squatting legal under council law, including in the empty shop fronts in Flinders Street … The ‘Pie wonders why this woman is slowly going completely gaga.
Anyone whose latest rates bill has landed will be totally unsurprised to learn that our mayor been telling porkies – yet again. Several readers relate the gory details.
The Daily Astonisher has a crack at virtue signalling, and the timing couldn’t be worse … at least the unaware iditor gives us all a good laugh …. at a price.
Info update: Thanks to those who have generously helped out with costs involved in the blog platform rebuild, which is moving along. Hopefully if we run into any problems, we should be able to sort them out quickly, but if we crash, it should be only momentarily – don’t think The Magpie has called it quits if something happens. If you care to help out, the donate button is at the end of the blog.
Now, let’s get on with it …
The Pig In A Poke Referendum On An Indigenous Voice
The bullying and bullshit – make that pig shit – is flying from both sides in this childish phase of referendum discussion about an indigenous voice in parliament. Right at this stage, the only intelligent opinion for the general populace is to have no view at all. The Magpie emphasises ‘at this stage’. Here’s an analogy: we’ve been handed a brown paper bag the contents of which are unknown, but we are asked by the donor to not only guess the contents, but nevertheless approve of them before we known what they are.
Seems everyone has jumped the gun.
Since this issue came to prominence when the Prime Minister announced that he was fulfilling his election promise (still can’t used to a PM doing that), The Magpie has diligently searched for information on which to base an opinion, and reach a decision. But all there has been insbile, hot air, partisan and irrelevant point scoring and insults based on virtue signalling, faux patriotism, scare mongering, and bullying from both sides. The emotive divide stretches between One Notion’s Hanson and her kneeler Mark Latham, who suggest we could be facing ewar painted ‘abos’ ordering us off our back lawn BBQs because it’s now their land – this from the foaming fevered media release. Mabo revisited.
Latham gives us this list of horrors:
Under a Labor Greens Government it could mean:
- winding back private property rights with an extension of Native Title under a rewriting of the Mabo settlement.
- a full scale Aboriginal Treaty the Australian people never agreed to.
- the rewriting of Australian history in our schools according to the Left interpretation of a vicious, genocidal nation.
- automatically moving Australia Day away from 26 January.
- a new Australian flag based on Indigenous design.
- increased Aboriginal welfare entitlements, further diminishing the pride and self-reliance of a once proud people, further entrenching their culture in welfare dependency, family violence, substance abuse and squalor.
- a repeat of the failed ATSIC body from the 1990s, which was riddled with nepotism, corruption and wasted taxpayers’ money.
… then across to the other perspective of the vacuous virtue signallers saying it’s the ‘right thing to do, they deserve it’.
OK but deserve what? The Yes camp appear to be depending on the sentiments of one of the most famous lines in Australian cinema, when incompetent lawyer Denis Denuto argued for sovereignty of the home by telling a judge “ it’s the constitution, it’s Mabo, it’s justice, it’s the law, it’s the vibe … I rest my case.’
And that’s about all we’ve got so far … certainly, more details will emerge, be argued and a final infrastructure agreed on, but we are being loudly bullied to either accept of reject something we no nothing about RIGHT NOW.
And while you’d imagine the most insulting and idiotic claim would be come from knee jerk referendum opponents like Latham, you’d be wrong, it comes from knee-jerk bullies wearing their halos as some most of iron dome protection against common sense. Take this for instance
Professor Nareen Young
The only people asking for details are people who oppose it (and the voice) is being undermined by Coalition rednecks and racists.’
Professor Nareen Young, University of Technology Sydney.
So by seeking information and making inquiry – just what your academic calling demands, madam – The Magpie and any like minded people are ‘racist and redneck’.?
Well, up yours, lady, you insulting self toucher. And if that seems an inelegant response, it is, because it’s all you deserve, you bloody disgraceful boofademic. Do you realise you have renounced the very core of the calling of universities and academia generally, which is inquiry and questioning?
It’s a rare day when The ‘Pie agrees with media commentator Chris Kenny, but his cringeworthy ‘interviews’ with the like-minded fawners on Sky belie an ability to more clearly lay out his views in print. This piece in Weekend Australian (no link, it’s paywalled) ticks all the boxes for The Magpie.
You get the flavour from the closing paragraphs.
Those using bulldozers to push this on both sides damage the whole process … the only proper response at this moment is summed up in an even more famous line from The Castle …’tell ‘em they’re dreaming’.’
The Bulletin’s Selective Social Morality
The growing rental crisis in Townsville which is leading to whole families in dire need is a legitimate concern. And the Bulletin duly covered it, detailing the reality of the situation. And turn over a few pages, also story about ‘the cost of living woes’. But then we get to the editorial, which – as in the lazy editor’s habit – just simply repeats the story a few pages earlier.
But wait, what’s that cartoon right next to the editorial?
In case you can’t read what is written on the newspaper being used as a tent, the list reads: Corporate profits soaring, Big business double digit profit growth , oil,gas companies double profits during crisis, Comm Bank $9.7b profit … CEO pockets $7m for year.’ Cartoonist Harry is clearly making a point about the imbalance in society.
But hang on a sec, what’s this we read in Wednesday’s Bulletin.
Seems Harry missed mentioning that News Ltd boasts its $14.9billion revenue was up 11% and net income rose 95% to $760million.Yup, seems that those rotten big business corporate grifters include News Ltd, but Harry wasn’t silly enough to tarnish the editor’s scolding finger.
And the cherry on top? This editorial and cartoon was published the very same day the Bulletin announced that it’s cover price in newsagents was being hiked a whopping 17% to $3.50.
Timing is everything, and not just in politics, it seems.
That’s A Lesson Peter Dutton Learnt During The Week
The world is full of surprises, and this week’s list included Courier editor Chris Jones saying something intentionally funny … and Peter Dutton sportingly makes fun of himself. You don’t need much imagination as to why this photo of Dutton at the EKKA is attracting plenty of ribald comment on social media.
And it was his tongue that Jones had in his cheek when he send this clever little advisory out to accompany the pic.
But being aware of gender quotas and balance, The Magpie feels you need to see this from the gal who took to radio a while back seeking a bloke with ‘a big package’.
Headline Of The Week
The Australian was quick off the mark when it was revealed that among items the FBI were after when raiding Donald Trump’s Florida digs were nuclear launch codes.
Ummm, Jenny, Pet, Have You Actually Thought This Through?
Try as he has, The Magpie can’t quite get his head around this latest thought fart from our mayor …
So our leader wants the Townsville council to be able to take over empty and/or abandoned properties, including the CBD as well as the suburbs, to house the newly homeless caused by rate …ooops, sorry, rent rises. The J in J Hill stands for jenius.
The ’Pie believes this cockamamie idea, which flies in the face of a basic democratic, free market economy and basic property rights which depends on the goodwill of investors to trust local authorities, has about the life span of a fart in a fan factory.
Madam mayor, we know you are the Labor Party, we know you sing The Red Flag Forever each night before putting on your Wonder Woman jim-jams and hopping in the cot each night, but do you really that even the money grubbing LGAQ will fly this kite for you? And make you some sort of local government pioneer.
Well, Jenny, you can lead by example, because you’re the visionary that made the Townsville ratepayers half owners of the bus stop laneway arcade disaster on Flinders st. Plenty of room there for a few homeless families since only ONE of the dozen or so holes in the wall has a tenant, after more than 12 months.
This idea is a shining example of your special brand of inspired lunacy … we are the envy of Cairns, Mackay and Rocky. We thank you.
But Wait, There’s More …
But your social and financial wizardry also extends to mathematics apparently. Or at least home owners receiving their annual rates bill are finding out … your boast of keeping any rise to two percent seems a tad off the mark.
Overseas Now, But Don’t Expect Any Honesty There, Either
Seems America could have a treasonous ex-president walking amongst them. As mentioned earlier, it’s been revealed that this week’s FBI raid on Trump’s Florida digs was looking for … and early reports say found … classified documents the Mobster President illegally took with him when he was kicked out of the White House. This is all still unfolding but that hasn’t stopped the fun and games already starting.
The Fat Of The Land – When Tolerance Spills Over Into Encouragement
Comedian/commentator Bill Maher has inherited the comedy mantle of the legendary George Carlin. Week after week, Maher uses his popular TV show to outrage the woke elite with bitingly funny routines which burst many a pompous PC bubble.
And none more so than this recent episode where he pinpointed a little mentioned American epidemic, which is also growing in Australia … the epidemic of fat people. Maher, you will note, neither uses or endorses the term ‘fat shaming’, and has no problem with ‘fat acceptance’.
And there’s one undeniable statement in there that doesn’t just apply to obesity, when Maher says, “There is a disturbing trend going on in America these days, re-writing science to fit ideology or fit just what you want reality to be. We’ve gone from fat acceptance to fat celebration. Healthy at any weight is a lie. At some point, acceptance becomes enabling.’ And not just America.
To underline the truth of Maher’s latest dose of refreshing common sense, we get this story today from London.
The Economist magazine is being sued by an Iraqi actress for ‘fat shaming’ her in what actually a very serious study they published about links to obesity and sexism in the Middle East. The magazine’s story never used terms like overweight or even obese, instead describing the popular TV personality as ‘Rubenesque’ and ‘possessing ample curves’ which made her an ‘ideal of beauty in Iraq’. She claims to have been greatly distressed by these ‘insults’.
Observers don’t think this pouting little action will go far, especially since the woman looks less like doing the Dance of the Seven Veils, more the Dance of the Seven Army Surplus Blankets.
Finally, Here’s Something You May Find Useful …
… especially if you occasionally find yourself tied to a bedhead.
……….
That’s the week that was, join in the fun on comments, the banter there sure beats Tinder … and sometimes Grindr … so The ‘Pie is told. If you feel it’s worth your while to chip in to help with blog costs, the donate button is below. Again thanks to those who have already helped.
Further to the Mullet’s admirable plan to compulsory acquire vacant property to house the hopeless…… er I mean homeless; the people next door have a bright shiny caravan that sits empty in their back yard from one month to the next. I reckon the Mullet should extend her plan to caravans. I mean, a bunch of previously homeless people living in your caravan and back yard would be no imposition at all, would it?
See the point you’re making, Dave, but think we should be careful not to confuse families forced into dire circumstances because of rent inflation with the traditional and chronic homeless who perhaps made some very bad lifestyle de in the past. The hard view that people are solely responsible for unfortunate circumstances they find themselves is often not fair, and absolves governments from implementing laws and regulations that would go a long way towards avoiding such situations (e.g. allowing multinationals to pillage and export our gas fields without a WA-style ‘holdback’ provision, and thus send energy costs soaring). The ‘Pie is no extreme socialists (you might have guessed) but he does believe that some sectors of our economy should remain in government hands and bugger the self-serving fantasies of a global free market.
Question: if my property is resumed by Jenny to house the unfortunate – who pays to bring the property up to a rentable standard? Who maintains the property to such a standard during the course of the rental? Who receives the rent? Who pays for the inevitable damage (malicious or fair wear and tear)? Do I ever get it back? Am I prevented from selling it? The whole idea is a teaming pile of populist nonsense, redolent of the one child policy and Castro’s Cuba. Can you imagine the slippery slope this will create? I fucking dare her to try it on.
It is a measure of the her level of desperation nin seeking relevance. To anything.
Good morning Magpie. The Saint has gone missing in the homeless cartoon and unfortunately the photo of Lambie cannot be unseen. Yuk!!
4,000 Townsville people waiting for public housing which has increased 150 % in 5 years , the same time that Labor has held the 3 main Townsville State seats . Add our Council whose answer to the rental shortage / cost of living issues is penalising landlords and investors by increases their rates by 20-40 % and driving some of Townsville biggest developers / investors to sell up and leave town and having the highest rates and rates increase in Queensland . Mayor Hill has Tony Mooney-itis . Its when you want to leave a signature project like the Strand for people to remember you but you currently have a crime ridden , dirty City and residents and Council debt ridden .
The same day the Townsville Bulletin announced an exorbitant price rise for its Saturday edition of the Harvey Norman News, the editor also provided two excellent examples of why we should stop buying the paper.
In the Text The Editor section, they had a comment repeated word for word from the previous day, and another repeated the same day.
They can’t be getting short of texts because my mates at the pub are always complaining their comments don’t get printed, so it appears the editor just couldn’t give a fxxk.
And they expect us to pay extra for this?
Points well taken reader, but The ‘Pie wonders what sort of comments have been rejected. The Magpie will bet comments from your mates in the front bar would draw a legal eye, as well as the parameters of permissible words. heh heh heh.
A few times a week there seem to be stories, texts or letters duplicated. I think even a whole page once though that might have been a glitch in the digital edition browser. Something has seriously broken down on the assembly line recently.
Pricey’s piece in today’s Astonisher was duplicated.
Now there is an opening for a proof reader.
The Price has doubled!
Worth every penny, is old Conkhead.
Council could add the Reid Park Complex to your list of empty sites suitable for the homeless. It sits empty for most of the year and even council staff try not to use it for meetings if possible.
Hey, there’s a thought … Jenny could give the Wagners a call, they’re whiz-bangs at this sort of set-up. But because it is nothing to do with the pandemic, and we need to keep the residents spirits up, we could call it Swellcamp.
Having mentioned the Wagner’s, Toowoomba’s homeless problem must be solved by now, or is the ex quarantine camp being kept vacant in readiness for Monkey Pox?
Donald Trump would be proud of Scott Morrison. While my leanings are a bit to the right of centre I now of the opinion that it is a bloody good thing that Albo is PM, at least for one term. FFS!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-15/scott-morrison-secret-ministry-appointments-covid-19-pandemic/101333856
“Police are investigating the sudden death of a woman after her body was found in bushland in Townsville.”
Daniel Shirkie
less than 2 min read
August 14, 2022 – 7:44AM
Townsville Bulletin
“sudden death” eh Daniel…as in immediately…instantaneously…instantly?
How do you know this Daniel?
Were you there?
At least it wasn’t “alleged!”
If the unfortunate woman was fatally shot, that would be kinda sudden, wouldn’t it?
I have been a loyal Cowboys supported from their start, and remember the flood of anger and cruelty aimed at Paul Green during the 2020 season which drove him to quit. Then the same NRL leading lights did the same hatchet job on him in 2021 about SOO. Now these same bastards are wringing their hands and saying how much they loved him and they have no idea what drove him to suicide. They don’t need to look outside their own office for the answer.
That, my friend, is a veeerrry long bow. The issue of suicide in anyone’s case (except perhaps extreme chronic pain) is a dark complex of imbalances which cannot be off-handedly subscribed solely to overt actions by others. Besides, Paul Green was on the cusp of a career uplift with a return to coaching. I read an article recently explaining that in the case of gay suicide, there has been no definitive study of the role of rejection (non-acceptance) plays in a psychological and chemical imbalance in some people. While it is certainly a factor, some researchers believe it is not the predominant reason, and one reasonably imagines the same can be said of all those, not just gay people – who take their own lives. And not sure you can substantiate how RL authorities went about parting company with Green – your suggestion seems to be be it was arbitrary, insulting and cruel (‘hatchet job’). That is an emotive terms that is a seriously unfair accusation of professional misconduct. Unless proven, of course. Given the available recourse to legal action nowadays to redress inappropriate dealings, The ‘Pie would say your suggestion is both highly unlikely and unfair.
My point is that the same people who were blaming him for the performance of the Cowboys andQueensland teams and calling for him to be replaced are now claiming to be his best friends and to be upset.
As professional administrators, they can’t be both? The two facts are not mutually exclusive, mate, and are quite possible.
If we all agreed on everything what a boring life that would be
Perhaps someone should suggest to the Maltese Government that they resume vacant properties to house their homeless? I sure rhe Mullet will fully support the idea.
Residents in M***n St Mundingburra scratching their heads about who’s paying for a jumping castle being put up in a vacant allotment next to a Qld government owned house. This house is being used by one of these government funded do-gooder organisations to accommodate the you know who youth. Best guess is that you and I, the taxpayers are paying for this jumping castle.
Is the jumping castle part of Jenny or Pallachooks housing for the homeless ?
Hahahahaha ! How bloody laughable.
Government Services Minister and all round total wanker, Bill Shorten on ABC News asks ‘What’s going on with people ? How can people think like that ?’ when commenting on some members of the public making false claims of Government assistance funds during the recent Southern states floods.
This comment from probably the biggest bloody criminal politician to ever grace the halls of Canberra’s Parliament House !
More front than Myers as he tries for brownie points with his latest hanky wringing bleats !
The Magpie sadly notes that lawyer Kevin Rose has passed on. He died in his sleep last week, aged 62.
Kevin worked for many years in the Townsville legal fraternity, passionately defending those who could not defend themselves in the jungle of the law, and mentoring many of those coming up through the ranks.
Although quietly spoken for the most part, and, in my experience, a gentle and genial person in social life, Kevin first and foremost was wholly devoted to seeking fairness for those he spoke for in court. He was so committed that more than once had got a rap mover the knuckles from the bench, when he voiced his opinion of a sentence he thought unfair. But for all that, he was respected for his tenacity and is well remembered fondly by many now successful practitioners he helped get a start.
He was very active in the ALP in Townsville, but then walked away from the party in disillusionment over several decisions. He was always threatening to run as an independent Labor candidate, but he could never bring himself to do so.
Kevin moved south some years ago, to Ipswich, where he died last Monday.
One now successful Brisbane barrister said ‘He was a very nice man, with strong connection to the aboriginal community. He was head of ATSILS in Ipswich for many years.’
I both liked and admired Kevin.
Vale, mate.
Ditto Magpie.
I knew Kevin from school days and had kept in casual contact with him since then. A thoroughly decent and compassionate man with an innate sense of fairness and justice.
Agreed ‘Pie – a decent, friendly bloke and a good lawyer – sad and unexpected news and much too young – condolences to his family and friends
Vale Kevin. I went to uni with Kevin. He was a mature age student and came to uni with more life experience than the rest of us snot nose kids combined. Always up for a chat. Comrade Rose was a bloody good bloke.
More revelations coming out about Pastor Morrison. This time self appointing himself to ministries without advising other ministers. It would seem that this control freak and religious freak truly is full of himself. For fucks sake, even in opposition, somebody please sack this wanker;
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-15/scott-morrison-secret-ministry-appointments-to-be-investigated/101332916
The boys at The S hovel nail it.
President *would be” Morrison should read Magna Carta
And apparently when asked details by Sky News Scotty says he doesn’t do day to day politics anymore.
Apparently he needs to be reminded he’s the elected representative for Cook.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/scott-morrison-says-he-is-not-engaged-in-any-day-to-day-politics-amid-revelations-of-secret-ministry-jobs/92hkhqx19
The the investigative Shovel team eases our anxiety about a madman having a nuclear button.
And tweet of the week.
The only proper response for all time to the proposal for a Voice is to” tell ‘em they’re dreaming”. I don’t agree with Chris Kenny; he doesn’t understand the ramifications/consequences of such a constitutional amendment. I and everyone should oppose this proposal
But my point, Clive, is NO ONE understands what’s involved, and astoundingly, some arguing we should not be given any details, just vote yes because they say it’s the right thing … whatever that ‘thing’ may end up being. How a reputed academic can suggest you are a racist and a redneck for wanting to know details change of law which you are asked to vote on is idiotic bullying at best, straight out of the Trump/GOP playbook. Tends to show their well founded misgivings for a referendum which the pro camp wants the old GPs motto: open your wallets and repeat after me, “help yourself”.
To quote that part of Kenny’s argument with which I wholeheartedly agree: “The imagined moral superiority, arrogance and obscene double standards of the political green left are stripped bare.
These same tendencies drive the cancel culture mentality of our universities, media and politics across a range of areas such as climate and immigration. They metastasise aggressively around identity politics.”
Writing blank cheques is a fool’s game, and this argument has gone a long way to reducing this to a TV ‘Choose A Door’ quiz game.
Here’s an interesting thought: the half’n’halfs right up to the octoroons who jumped on the lucrative indigenous bandwagon are surely being racist towards their own heritage … their white, brown or Asian forebears. They choose for various reasons (often access to the existing pools of generous government schemes) to denigrate those forbears who bestowed on them half or more of their genes and hence at least half their intelligence and more sturdy physical attributes. Can’t have it both ways.
If you want upset any of these bandwagoneers, just suggest blood, or better still DNA, testing. But make sure you do from a safe distance.
What a bunch of racist supremacists this site has become. And probably always has been.
The vote to give the indigenous people, who were here a few years before it was “cleansed” from 1788 by that wonderful race we Australians pander to as they constitutionally still own us, love to hate and beat on any sporting field, the British; run by a 96yo matriarch to be quickly followed by the genius prince and all the other inbreeds and general fucktards, when close to 50% of us are born overseas or our parents were,,,, beggars belief!
Get a grip people! If the yes vote gets a gong, “whiteman” will suffer NOTHING! We will still own the banks. The real estate that matters. The government even if it doesn’t matter. But we’ll own something much more important … our heritage!
OK,OK, deep breath. Now you’ve got that garbled rant of your chest, would you care to answer the two questions that tends to bother sane thoughtful people – what would the yes vote entail in practical terms, in terms of how we wish to be governed … the 97% of the population would really like to know what they’re being asked to consider, and 2. how does wanting to know what we are being asked to vote on make us redneck and racist?
What I want to see is the draft legislation, agreed to by all parties, that is going to be put through the House of Representatives and Senate if the referendum is successful.
A very clear and transparent process ensuring that ALL voters are hopefully clear about what they are voting for.
Doubt it will happen though, too many minority groups might lose out on the potential power and $$ grab if a vaguely worded motion is voted on by an ill-informed voting Australian community.
Whatever it turns out to be, it better not be historian Keith Windshuttle’s ominous warning in a recent article in Quadrant. If this were to be admitted as a goal, the NO vote would be overwhelming.
https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/aborigines/2022/08/how-to-give-away-half-a-continent/
The Voice would be no more than a body akin to the Productivity Commission, Law Reform Commission or Human Rights Commission. Each provides advice to Parliament on matters within its purview and Parliament is free to disregard it.
Well, why haven’t they said so? And BTW, how do you know this, and apparently no one else does?
And why is The Magpie, among others making inquiries as to substance, being called a racist and a redneck for asking for details?
But if you’re right Steve, it sounds like more beads and blankets maneuvering, with very little addressing what the indigenous lobby wants. Which is kinda insulting to them.
I know it because it’s been reported for years every time the issue comes up, and because the proposed referendum question explicitly says it:
There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to Parliament and the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
I presume the reason that people would be called racist is because politicians and opinion columnists professing not to know these things would have to be wilfully ignorant or disingenuous at this point?
Speaking of which, far from being “very little addressing what the indigenous lobby wants” this is exactly what the Indigenous “lobby” wants. There was a lengthy consultation process culminating in the national convention at Uluru and the Statement from the Heart explicitly calling for it!
Sorry, thought the wording of the referendum question was to be debated. Didn’t Albanese say exactly that, saying that question was what he suggested but there would need to be more discussion?
And of course it is utter nonsense – and you know it Steve – that what is encompassed in that question is what the indigenous lobby wants. or. haven’t you been listening?
Love to get your comment on the Windshuttle Quadrant article, it’s only a minute or twos read.
It is draft wording subject to debate but it’s not going to change much because a) it seems to encompass the “Voice” request of the Statement from the Heart, and b) it’s innocuous enough to pass as it stands
There is a small faction unhappy with this proposal, Lidia Thorpe is one, but due to the extensive consultation that took place they can clearly be shown to be non-representative.
Windschuttle seems to be conflating exclusive and non-exclusive title to reach his total of Indigenous-owned land. He gives no evidence of who is supposedly demanding this land become separate states supported by the taxpayer. He then uses this invented issue to muddy the waters around the referendum, which is completely unrelated to land.
https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/aborigines/2022/08/how-to-give-away-half-a-continent/
That is the most unsurprising reply comment we’ve ever received.
But there remains the unchallengeable right of the Australian electorate to know what, in practical terms, will be included in the final detail of any voice. It’s all very well for us to trot off the polling booth, virtue signalling halos at a jaunty angle, and vote ‘yes’, only to find that a successful yes vote suddenly becomes a mandate for all sorts of details agreed to ex post facto included in the broad ‘yes’ framework with which a majority of Australians may have disagreed had those details been known before the referendum. There are many a wrinkle in your ingenuous ‘only a consultative body whose recommendations can be ignored’ … but even if you’re right, and that’s all there is to it, mischief makers in the aboriginal industry will exploit any rejection of any proposals as ‘divisive’ and we’re right back where we started.
And perhaps extreme, but the thrust of the admirable and forensic Keith Windshuttle’s hypothesis you can ignore at your peril … well, not yours, obviously, such a change would no doubt suit you, one feels you’re already measuring yourself up for King Billy Cokebottle’s crown.
Windschuttle can hardly be described admirable and forensic if he’s weaving a scare campaign out of whole cloth. He blatantly lied about the amount of land transferred to Indigenous ownership, the demands for some kind of succession, that taxpayers would fund these new micro states and that the referendum was in any way related to land rights.
The Voice will be subordinate to parliament and will have no power other than moral suasion. In the unlikely event that it was given some objectionable feature, that could simply be legislated away with the next change of government.
You yourself said you agreed with Chris Kenny on having a legislated body, which would be subject to the same risks in its construction. The only thing that constitutional change brings is that the Voice couldn’t be legislated wholly out of existence.
Let us hope you right, but it still doesn’t answer my admittedly indignant and outraged question: why does wanting to know in plain language what the planned voice amendment will mean in practical terms to the electorate, somehow make me a redneck racist? And think most readers here would like to hear it from someone a little closer to the process than your partisan and somewhat naive view of how these things work.
And Windshuttle, who did such a surgical demolition of the Marksist confabulist Henry Reynolds and other fellow travelling ‘historians’, with admirable fully notated academic rigor, has every right to put forward such an hypothesis, given his experience with the double-dealing of both politicians and indigenous leaders and their apologists. A strong refutation from a reliable source – if one can be found – will end any ‘scare campaign’, as you like to call conjecture about possible downsides. Windshuttle and his conjecture could happily rely on The Magpie’s oft used slogan for this blog: “If this comes to pass, remember you read it here first AND if it doesn’t come to pass, it’s BECAUSE. you read it here first’.
Windschuttle has every right to put forward his scare campaign hypothesis but the burden of proof lies with him to prove it, not with others to refute it. He failed to do so, and his rubbery figures and water muddying on the referendum topic damage his credibility.
Here you go:
“ “When people say they want more detail, all that tells me is that they refuse to read our report, because all the detail is there,” she said. “There’s over 500 pages of detail, and I see this demand for more detail as just a mystery of making and sowing confusion.”
So let’s get this straight, tosser … you want people whom you want to endorse a voice proposal to read a 500 page report, or otherwise, by not being willing to give up their time to do so (probably a day or two), they are redneck racists. And using the classic legal ‘bury them in paperwork’ tactic, avoid having to give a succinct half page summary of what is involved. You really have to be joking, you childish and insulting nincompoo. This is a truly juvenile attempt at bullying.
You really know nothing about any campaign of reason and persuasion – if you did, you would know, whether Windshuttle is lying or not, that yes, his argument does have to be refuted, because you are dealing with public perception.
The arrogance is staggering … as is the stupidity. It’s is stupid because this demand will simply decide those you wish to persuade to say, fuck you, too hard, too tricky and untrustworthy, and vote no.
But Pauline Hanson and Mark Latham applaud and thank you …. they won’t have to do a single thing to see this proposal turfed out.
Windschuttle can be summarily dismissed because he provides no evidence for his assertions.
The general public don’t have to read the report, but politicians and columnists who allegedly demand more detail should.
Stop being a nitwit, Steve … the report is an ambit claim, and can be … most certainly will be …. tinkered with. And Windshuttle can be as easily dismissed as can your 500 page report which says certain things that are suppositions not evidence.
You’re not doing your cause much good mate, being belligerent and smug with those you wish to persuade is the hallmark of misplaced arrogance.
Is it safe to read this again? Has Stevie gone for a lie down?
What a stream of self-serving propaganda. He is obviously either well paid for his time to spew that crap out, or is completely off his meds.
Or both.
Given that any model proposed can be tinkered with, being subject to the whims of the government of the day, there’s no version of the Voice that you’ll ever support, so further discussion is unproductive.
And if you accept that – meaning that whatever the report says, you won’t get it – then you won’t ever support it either. Unless you’re happy to have the indigenous community insulted by being thrown another meatless bone.
I’ll vote for it, you were just casting about for a reason not to. “Not enough detail!” “Too much detail!”
Well, Stevie boy, unless your willing to say that Anthony Albanese is a redneck racist, let’s hope you have a soft landing when you come down off your high horse. Seems Albo wants more detail about what’s to be involved, and isn’t just taking the word of the likes of you that a 500 page report is adequate or appropriate information for the Australian public. This story today confirms what The Magpie has been saying and you have been waffling against.
https://inqld.com.au/politics/2022/08/18/strait-talking-albanese-to-meet-with-indigenous-elders-push-voice-claim/
Key part of the news report about Albo’s trip to meet with Torres Strait leaders and hold talks on the contents of any voice proposal:
The question proposed would be: do you support an alteration to the constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice?
Mr Albanese said he wanted to be wide ranging in his discussions about what a voice to parliament would look like.
“I want to engage with Australians, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to consult with them,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Wednesday.
“Now it’s time to have those consultation mechanisms.”
Barely, feel free to post some more John Wick quotes to impress us all with your classical education, you desk calendar Diderot.
Little Stevie, what the hell are you talking about? I am told John Wicks is a movie but I haven’t seen it. Finally you have posted something so impenetrably stupid that I have no idea what you are on about. Whatever medication you took today is too much. Perhaps ask an adult for help.
You haven’t been saying anything all along, Pie, you’ve been all over the shop, and the initial model is unlikely to differ significantly from that in the report that you, supposedly a journalist seeking more detail, refuse to read.
Why should I? Why should anyone without a particular interest in the issue – which is far from a majority of Australians beyond wanting a feel-good hit? I – and they – are asking a simple question to wit What is the practical outcome for me in what am I being asked to vote for? That’s the equivalent of reading the terms and conditions of every single thing you sign up for on the web – and how many times do you do that? And since the entire eligible population is being asked to vote in this referendum (actually, it’s compulsory, isn’t it?), you and your folks refuse to give a simple explanation of the practical effects and the power that will be derived, in the hope that buried somewhere in the 500 pages, something will sneak through unnoticed which will allow some sort of turmoil to follow. Clarity in an brief honest statement too hard for you, Belligerent Gardens? Why should we trust any group in our society which has shown itself to untrustworthy, dishonest and irresponsible, like political parties, corporate big business, Big Pharma and the aboriginal industry. You will bloviate, prevaricate and expostulate at the ‘whities’ you blame for everything and credit with nothing, but you can’t do this one simple thing. We’ve taught you well.
You should because you’re posing as a journalist. When presented with a wealth of clear detail you refuse to even look at it because you don’t really want detail, you want an excuse.
I don’t want an excuse, I want a reason. And without having to read, as an individual, 500 pages of a report (that is such a juvenile ridiculous proposition), which by it very length, would require single-minded concentration of considerable time, and probably clarification. But as said before, you are defeating your purpose by your unmitigated arrogance, bullying and dictatorial approach … so for the moment, I’ll bet I’m not the only one saying, fuck you, sport, I’m voting NO, unless you answer my question: what’s the practical outcome for me if I vote yes?
YOU want ME to vote yes, so YOU make YOUR argument, you smellfungus pillock. Otherwise, status quo seems fine.
This “advisory body” idea has been attempted at least twice in the past. Gough brought us the National Aboriginal Conference in the early 70s. Following its unlamented demise, Hawke brought us the ATSIC, which also came to an inglorious end.
Both these organisations had the similar – almost identical – purposes and functions to the proposed voice (so far as I can ascertain – it’s all rather vague). The difference being, once enshrined in the Constitution, the Voice will be more difficult, impossible even, to kill off if it goes off the rails like its successors.
Both the NAC and ATSILS were unmitigated failures. As a young ATSILS lawyer, I stood by helplessly as I watched rampant nepotism, corruption, fraud and downright theft become just part of the way things were done in the world of Aboriginal politics. Intimidation, bullying and standover tactics were just ordinary business practice. Who can forget that thug Geoff Clark? Politicians of the time were too terrified to step in. Gerry Hand was the only one to show some guts, but in the end, he, too, wimped out.
Notwithstanding the fact that ATSIC was disbanded in disgrace by Howard 17 years ago, many of the players are still in the game. Based on my observations of the shenanigans of the current generation (TAIHC, anyone?) and the reluctance of current politicians to call them out, I have zero confidence that there shall be sufficient oversight of the Voice to prevent it becoming just another trough for the Black industry professionals and history shall just repeat itself – over and over and over again. Of course, any attempt to control the inevitable excesses and rorts shall be dismissed as white paternalism and racism.
There is a lot more information regarding, structure, voting, oversight, and accountability required before I am going to vote for it.
You bloody redneck racist, Grumpy, asking for information about your being asked to vote for. A bone pointing end is in store for you, sport.
Grumpy, when you make your observations of the shenanigans of the current generation “(TAIHC, anyone?)” I wonder if you are referring to the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS) which has had a rocky history of financial and administrative mismanagement? If so, I wonder why you hang on to the memory of this particular organisation when so many other government funded bodies, at all levels, have far worse records? For example (from ABC News 2016) “Cairns Hospital has been run into the ground after the largely Labor-appointed board blew its budget by $20 million last year, on top of a forecast deficit of almost $80 million this year,” Opposition health spokesman John-Paul Langbroek said.”
Could it be that a long association with various dysfunctional Aboriginal communities and organisations has caused you to adopt an expectation that the next one will be the same as the last? That Aboriginal governance has loose and sloppy boundaries compared to ‘white’ bureaucracies which don’t have rampant nepotism, corruption, fraud and downright theft? I guess you are entitled to your biased opinion but the revelations around the last few years of LNP government (Pork Barilaro, Gladys and her boyfriend, not to mention the latest Morrison shenanigans) would suggest that TAIHS has nothing on the big boys of Australian governance.
Of course, of more importance, since we are talking about a health SERVICE, is whether that organisation actually delivers on its promise. Any observations? Or can we take it that because it is an Aboriginal service it is likely a failure?
Stand back, Grumpy, hold The ‘Pie’s beer, he’s got this one.
Ahem. Now listen here, Weekend Onanist, your laughable and failed deflection defence – two wrongs make a right – is just demented partisanship, worthy of a Michaelia Cash. The wrongdoing of other bodies you mention is undisputed, but has absolutely no relevance to the issue that Grumpy was addressing when discussing indigenous responsibility and the possible dangers that lie within that troubled realm (Gawd, we’ve taught ‘em well).
And as to the – again irrelevant- examples of personal corruption you try to red herring the argument with, they are more in the individual realm, while the mismanagement of public funds by indigenous organisations are driven by a social set of values that permits and lauds one group (family, mob,tribe) preying on another rather than sharing equitably. And doing it with public funds. That’s not racist, that’s a proven fact. We’re all rotten in our own way, just in different ways, but that shouldn’t be the yardstick of example we are asked to sanction in a referendum. So we come full circle again, and ask the simple question every one is ducking and weaving around: what in practical terms for the average Aussie will a yes vote entail?
Sorry Magpie, wrong deflection, just me responding to Grumpy’s gratuitous bagging of TAIHS – if indeed that’s what he meant by “TAIHC”. I’m all for a thorough interrogation of the Voice referendum.
What was gratuitous about pointing out the criminality of many of the executives of the indigenous health service in Townsville?
How about the Queensland Government show some initiative and remove state sponsored racism like segregated aboriginal “reserves” under cute names like aboriginal land council. No other communities see the government come in and ban alcohol or childishly treat people in condescending ways by forcing them to use swipe cards to activity electricity supply to their houses. Black fellas are so happy smart white fellas in Brisbane are looking after their interests.
Jeez, your good, Sabbath. Picked up on my error with the acronym. But you missed another opportunity to shame me by overlooking my error when I wrote ATSILS instead of ATSIC.
No need to add further to what The Magpie has already said.
Perhaps other than to say that your rejoinder made no fucking sense at all.
Magpie, what was “gratuitous” of Grumpy is that he provides no evidence whatsoever that the “current generation” of TAIHS management he specifically identified is involved with “rampant nepotism, corruption, fraud and downright theft”. Maybe they did once, about the same time that Cairns hospital was miles worse. But these days TAIHS seems to have a clean nose whereas every level of government seems to be bleeding fraud and corruption, criminal or otherwise.
‘seems to have its nose clean’? Third time lucky you reckon, but where’s your proof of that …. because the tough investigative team from the local media and the Bulletin haven’t reported any more rorting? The majority (exceptions stick out like prawns eyes) current crop of journos around town wouldn’t know if a #6 tram was up them, even if it rang the bell. Besides, ‘current generation’ would cover the last two rorting periods, so it doesn’t seem unreasonable to have an eyebrow raised, does it?
Admittedly, the Bulletin has a very good record on the recurring TAIHS embezzlements – the paper’s management is brave enough to go after them because the indigenous industry generally doesn’t spend much on advertising.
And your ‘whataboutism’ regarding other fraud and corruption is irrelevant to the conversation about the voice issue.
Sabbath Tosser. Perhaps you should ask Stephen Hagan about the current condition of the TAIHS.
Almost choked on my red wine last night when Jenny Hill, on 7 News, called for more action against feral scooter riders. Apparently Jenny is concerned about the number of people who are suffering serious injuries while riding scooters without wearing a helmet and/or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Strewth Jenny, who woulda thought.
And who approved these scooters for use in Townsville and on Maggie Island?
Might be a good idea to think things through in future before adding danger to our roads and footpaths.
Hope no brown paper bags were involved in the approval process.
Unbelievable that Morrison secretly had himself sworn in to other ministries so that he could have ultimate control over the portfolios if he wanted to. What an egotistical and conceited asswipe. He is a poisonous and out of control individual. No wonder he is always smirking as he really enjoys the love he has for himself. The man is a disaster and presided over the moser secretive and dodgy government this nation has had to endure. Parasite.
Our answer to Trump, but trying to game our system to become an equivalent Commanader in Chief.
Lethbridge in the Courier had a nice take on him.
Pie, I think you’ve uncovered AnAl’s game plan, to paint ScoMo as Trump.
The whole conflated hyperbolic saga is ruse. The only thing ScoMo achieved was a government decision Adam Bandt would be proud of – stopping a gas project.
What are we not looking at or talking about while this charade churns on…….?
The multi-ministerial gambit was a way Scomo thought he could invest in himself Presidential-style powers. We are only now learning the full extent of the bullet we have dodged.
Does anyone know if he would receive additional salary for these positions?
I’m going to be honest Magpie, that photo of Lambie eating that Dagwood Dog got me very very excited.
Then honesty is not always the best policy.
Fair suck of the Sav?
The Nest’s old mate The Wulguru Wonder has pointed out that the Daily Astonisher’s Caitlin Charles apparently doesn’t know the difference between up and down. Or in this case, ‘raise’ and ‘lower’.
You’d soon learn the difference if your pay was lowered for every error you made like this.
But bad enough when the headline disagrees with the opening sentence … really lazy stuff, but far worse is the wilful ignorance of simple words. In this case, it is QUASH, not SQUASH. It’s a difference you’d better bone up on Ms Charles, in case you ever have to do any legal reporting … or in fact, as here, political reporting.
quash
verb
1. reject as invalid, especially by legal procedure.
“his conviction was quashed on appeal”
Similar:
Opposite:
validate
o put an end to; suppress.
“a hospital executive quashed rumours that nursing staff will lose jobs”
squash
verb
1.
crush or squeeze (something) with force so that it becomes flat, soft, or out of shape.
“wash and squash the cans before depositing them”
Similar:
2.
suppress or subdue (a feeling or action).
“the mournful sound did nothing to squash her high spirits”
noun
1.
a state of being squeezed or forced into a small or restricted space.
“it was a bit of a squash but he didn’t seem to mind”
Squash is also a vegetable, so iditor Craig Herbert will feel an affinity for the word.
And the real shame is that the remainder of the story seems balanced good reporting, but why should we give you the benefit of the doubt when we can’t trust you and the paper to get the simple things right?
Its hard to be at peace when reading such a piece particularly for standard bearers of standards.
One could despair and must quash the tendency to tender all hope in the hope that bearers of standards may rise to raise lowered standards that are lowering further.
Whilst inclined one cannot surrender to the decline .. or maybe one should .. taking ones squash bat and ball and take leave to leave and go home quashing any thoughts of resistance to righting the wrongs of writing right
think one migh astonishingly qualify for a job with the Astonisher ? .. now that would be astonishing
And this is only in the world of literature .. just about every discipline has and continues to suffer lowering of standards .. and even arnotts biscuits are just not the same .. desperately despairing ..
Quite so.
But Saos and Scotch Fingers remain the same. But Jaffas seem to have disappeared.
The wife reckons she needs to take me to lunch more often .. and agrees cannot find a jaffa anywhere .. not the same at the pictures anymore
Not since they covered the bare boards and lino of the aisles with carpet … that ended the Saturday arvo sport of rolling jaffas down the aisles when the movie got boring.
But hey, nice surprise to discover the other day that Minties are still with us, and still as delightfully chewy.
Very interesting stuff regarding a state government corporation – the Gladstone ports corporation. All executive positions beneath the CEO have been spilled and the GPC is cleaning house. This comes after multiple CEO issues and replacement of several CEO’s, plus a swag of Board Director issues. I wonder how the TCC CEO, Ponce Ralston will feel about so many people issues at the Port that he is a director of? Sounds like Labor has stacked the Port with imbeciles, duds and fuckwits and the roosters have come home to roost!
YES!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-18/qld-record-gambling-losses-calls-to-remove-pokies-in-pubs-clubs/101337424
On every single social level imaginable – social disengagement, addiction, poverty, flow-ons to DV – allowing pokies into pubs was one of the single most cynical and damaging social disasters in Australia. All fuelled by government greed. Not so much clubs, because the profits can be returned to the public in various transparent ways, but strict regulation required.
A group I am involved with regularly do the charity raffle at the Cowboys Club. Rarely does anyone in the pokies lounge look up from their machine to buy tickets, and when they do, it is $5 worth. People in the bistro and restaurant areas are much more generous.
Agree 100% Pie ! Contributed towards the death of pub bands too !
Townsville people voted in 2 independent Councillors as part of the democratic process . How many complaints to the Office of Independent Assessor have our 2 independent Councillors had against them for asking questions on Councils Operations . Councillor O’Callaghan asked that there should be updates on any Council projects over $10 mil which then results in the Mayor acknowledging that Council has failed to complete a number of large projects . Team Hill hold the majority in Council so where is the accountability ? .
I hear that Mayor Mullet has been caught out badly on this issue, judged to be actually lying. But we’ll know more details when she comes out and explains the ‘mistake’ and apologises. Won’t we?
We never apologise. We never look back. We take no prisoners – the corporate mission statement for TCC.
Now now engineer, the corporate mission statement isn’t that advanced. I’m pretty sure it’s something simple. For councillors it’s “All Hail the great and wonderous Jenny”. And for the administration it’s “All Hail the All knowing and powerful Stacey” because since the little Prins is never there she really runs the show.
Steve BG, you need to get down to my laundromat pronto and calm down with some washer and dryer staring routine! Some of the stuff you are writing is bordering on hysterical and we’re concerned for you!
FACT – Not many folks will vote yes in a referendum when they are not informed about WHAT IT MEANS/ENTAILS!
Hope to see you soon. Ma
Now here’s a challenge – Randy Rainbow has done it for America, so it’s time for someone to step up and do the same for Australia …. surely Sammy J is already on the job, but it’ll have to be as good as this one from Mr Rainbow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdSZRkeQfnk
Silly old Magpie. Bit slow on the uptake, but Sammy J wasn’t.
https://twitter.com/sammyjcomedian
Hey Jenny Hill any chance of an update on your pet project, Landsdown?
Like how many companies have actually signed up (as opposed to “expressing interest”.
And what’s the latest on that battery factory? You know, the one taxpayers donated $3 million to allow the proponents to do a “pre-feasibility study”. Any chance of making a copy of that “pre-feasibility study” available so taxpayers can judge whether they have been robbed or not?
If you don’t answer these questions now, be assured that you will be asked them again in the leadup to the next election.
Regular Reader, it’s not unreasonable to ask for these assurances, particularly about Queensland taxpayer monies apparently devoted to the Lansdown project. If the mayor ever gets on the case she might like to further advise on the $4m of ratepayer money apparently revealed by federal minister Fletcher in a media release last September:
“The Morrison Government has today announced funding for three new projects to be funded as part of the Townsville City Deal.
The investment includes:
$12 million for enabling infrastructure to support the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct – Northern Australia’s first environmentally sustainable, advanced manufacturing, processing and technology estate powered by locally generated renewable energy. This is in addition to a $12 million commitment from the Queensland Government and $4 million from the Townsville City Council . . . ”
The battery factory is another story. The Australian company Magnis is building a so-called megafactory at Endicott in New York state and seems to be making progress if its stock market reports are any guide. Supposedly, when that $150m (so far) show is properly on the road Magnis will turn its attention to Townsville. Oxygen seems to be scarce in the area though.
It i highly unlikely that Magnis will ever happen in Townsville, at least in the much ballyhooed original bit of snake oil Mayor Mullet so eagerly bought. You’ll recall that Poullas backtracked, and the last we heard from this shyster was that we might get a warehouse to repackage the American product, which is supposed to be manufactured soon, when ‘quality testing’ is completed at the Endicott plant in New York. Even the snail’s pace of the American operation over a long period of time should make one wary, but in all the gleeful news that the NY plant is up and running and Magnis’s bright future not one single word about Townsville and Lansdown. The comment in all the joyous media releases is that the really strong market for the lithium batteries in America.
Here’s how Poullas told the story a few days ago.
https://smallcaps.com.au/magnis-energy-technologies-producing-batteries-without-nickel-cobalt-new-york-plant/
Dear ‘Pie,
Today I had cause to purchase a copy of the Townsville Bulletin. I found that it met all of my needs, and that the malcontents that endlessly complain about the Bulletin on your blog are probably purchasing it for the wrong reasons.
I can authoritatively tell you that any of the endless full page adds will ignite the BBQ just as well as a page of well written, hard hitting, investigative journalism.
Kind regards,
One trusts you bought your BBQ from Hardly Normals?
So Magpie did Whitlam and Barnard have 27 portfolios between them
( Reference is Neal’s claim in Friday’s Bulletin letters)
If True
How come no refence to this in the media?
Short answer is don’t know, but if so, the issue would be was it secret.