The ‘Pie casts a punter’s eye over at the front-runners and also-rans in this race for to be first to finish promised Townsville projects projects.
Going Batty in Airlie … our old mate Phil has girded the Batty loins for electoral war, after exposing considerable WRC short comings, he’s now running for mayor.
In the coming week, we will know if the WA Government had a complete woke stroke, when the case of a land owner versus mythical snake comes to court. Haul on your gumboots to wade through the utter bullshit.
The Bulletin’s story classification goes all weird … sorry, that should be ‘stays all weird’.
Do you know what Townsville’s population is currently? Seems it’s a multiple choice answer. One thing’s for sure … we haven’t hit the 200k mark yet, despite a claim that we have.
The Magpie has a couple thoughts about Taylor Swift … and no, neither of them are what you leering, naughty-minded folks are yuk-yuking about. We feature a fascinating interview the gal, puppy fat and all, when she revealed her ambitions – 19 years ago … and she was absolutely spot-on. And The ‘Pie knows one of th secrets of her success.
It’s a bumper effort this week, not made easier by the constant distraction of meeting bills and trimming costs involved in the production of The Nest. Your assistance through a donation would be a great help, the necessary button to click is at the end of the blog. Thank you.
The Homicidal Bastard Award Of The Week Goes To …
Gladys Putin. Of course, the Trump-backing Australian newspaper declined to draw the bleedin’ and undeniable obvious that Putin’s main political rival was murdered, indeed assassinated. The Oz, aware that Trump is Putin’s bitch, played it with a disgusting straight face, that Navalny had been ‘unwell’ and then suddenly dropped dead. As one does … in Russia anyway.
Apparently, Siberia didn’t have a building with a window high enough for Navalny to accidentally tumble out of. Even if the cretinous Australian wasn’t too fussed, world leaders have been outraged, and many words will be said, but the event brought out the brilliant best in Bentley, whose penmanship and sharp wit sums it up so succinctly using a just three letters
Back In The ‘Ville, The Magpie Opens Book On The Development Derby
With a new entrant into the field, it’s was time to talk starting odds in this long distance race of projects promised for this poor old town. It’s not just a question of who will finish first, in many cases it’s also odds about who will actually start. The new entrant is a surprise entry, no doubt attracted by the generous government prize money on offer.
The Card:
Float is a rising two-year-old by Bobbed Up out of Nowhere.
Owners are Flinders Street Wharves/ Andrew Hooper Nguyen. Sire Bobbed Up has many offspring appear suddenly when government prize money is on offer. Doubt has been cast on Float’s yearling sale price of $30million, which some say is over the odds because of government money urging the price higher than observers think is credible. A promised start later this year is dependent on Queensland Government money, so some punters are just watching the late market at this stage. Odds on starting this year: 25/1.
Concert Hall is by now a rising eight year old by Bureaucratic Bungling out of Mayoral Madness. (The dam, herself a daughter of Egotistical Nitwit has only ever won minor races). Ownership has been subject to speculation but it’s generally agreed it is a joint venture between Qld Taxpayers and Townsville Ratepayers, although a Canberra stable is expected to get involved. Concert Hall’s form when occasionally taken out for a gallop (usually around LG election time) has been unimpressive and sometimes, the track work jockey has been confused about which direction to take or where the eventual finishing post will be. Astute observers believe Concert Hall is too small to be an effective, and should be transferred to the TPAC stable as part of more integrated string of starters. Opening odds on anything happening in the next four years – particularly getting the right configuration for the horse, … are 33/1.
Double Cross Hotel, now a reportedly gelded seven year old, is by Flim Flam Man out of Hoodwink. This ageing hack, previously known variously as Double Tree and Hilton Garden Inn has consistently refused to load in the starting gates, despite owners frequent assurances that it’s constant baulking no longer a problem. Its value has been downgraded at least twice by the market, and it starting, let alone finishing, have punters preferring more stable investments, like Bitcoin, or troubled Nigerian princesses with gold transfer problems. Odds of anything happening currently 200/1.
North Rail Yards is a 10 year old sway back by Gullible out of Stupidity. Industry insiders believe owners Jenny Hill and The Townsville City Council disregarded North Rail Yards well known history requiring expensive veterinary attention before it could given a start. Odds of anything happening in the next four years: 500/1
The Hive is a potential stakes winner by Shyster out of Blow-in Bullshitter. Current owners make outlandish claims about The Hive’s Group 1 future performances, but the industry believes the owners motives and background are highly suspect. The question most asked is are they just getting The Hive’s paperwork and racing approvals in place before they on-selling it, without actually entering it in anything themselves. Odds of anything happening while in the current stable. Name your price.
Strand Lagoon by Adani Airstrip out of Castle Hill Cafe. Scratched. Like its sire and dam, was quietly taken out the back of the stables and shot.
He Talked The Talk And Now He’s Going Walk The Walk
Not a bloke to mess with … Phil Batty, mayoral candidate for the Whitsunday Regional Council.
Nest regular commenter, Airlie Beach’s Phil Batty, whose dogged and largely successful campaign exposing blatant rule breaches and a cover-up by the Whitsunday Regional Council, has nominated for the WRC mayoralty.
Last time out, Phil, a retired executive of a national hospitality corporation, and relatively new to the area (he moved down from Townsville) ran primarily on a single issue, opposing a high rise development at Airlie Beach. Not surprisingly he got hammered at the polls. He knew he probably would, but during the campaign, he noted that one candidate, veteran gravy trainer Mike Brunker, had blatantly flouted campaign rules. Phil brought this to attention of the authorities and thus began a four year wrestle with bureaucracy and council incompetence that grew like topsy. Brunker, and also the current mayor Julie Hall, have decided not to run again and while the retirement cannot be wholly related to Phil’s campaign, his blue with the council and other involved authorities has been largely vindicated.
But the depth of the incompetency and chicanery has persuaded Mike that he should follow up his persistency with his candidacy, to offer voters a choice for change in the way the WRC is run. He is one of a field of four.
This time around Phil has a higher profile … among other things he was elected and is (or was) president of the Proserpine Golf Club. His message is clear in his campaign catch phrase “If I say it , I’ll do it.’
The ‘Pie is certain that he will.
Oh, For Fuck’s Fucking Sake … The Insulting Insanity Of WA’s Woke Brigade
Talk about putting the ‘mental’ into environmental!!
This Tuesday will see a matter finally come to court that, despite being trivial and inane, could have far reaching financial and social implications for Western Australia’s rural industries. The outcome could end up being counted in the millions of dollars. It all started more than a year ago, when a bloke built a small bridge over the creek on his property.
In a nutshell, the bloke, Tony Maddox is being prosecuted because an indigenous heritage ‘inspector ‘ ($120 an hour minimum whether you’ve asked to be assessed or not) decided that a small bridge the landowner had built (see this updated story) would wake and upset the great serpent, and cause it to leave, causing the creek to dry up and cause environmental damage. In WA, there must be something in the water that hasn’t dried up, because this utter nonsense is taken seriously. And it being taken seriously means modern society is being taken for a ride. The biggest underminers of respect for indigenous culture are those who promote this wrong headed patronising of indigenous scammers.
Previous instances have been documented in this blog and elsewhere, where such ‘culture clashes’ are invariably solved by handing over some money. It’s never been explained how this ameliorates the situation.
We will be watching.
Quiz Time: Do You Know The Population Of Townsville?
The ‘Pie will tell you who doesn’t know – the Townsville City Council, which makes a Bulletin-sized cock-up in contradicting itself on the same media release page. The ‘Pie was prompted to check this perennial question when reading John ‘Ando’ Anderson bit on the state of Townsville in the Weekend Astonisher. It isn’t clear if Ando is quoting economist Col Dwyer or not when he writes that the city is now over 200,000. Anyway, whoever said it, no, it’s not.
Being curious for an exact figure, The ‘Pie beaked around and found this in Wiki, which he will guarantee is way out of date.
Hmm, don’t think so. But, hey, the council will know. But if they do, we’re still left to guess.
In the space of a few sentences the council contradicts itself and has the population growing from 193,601 to 196,800.
It seems the latter figure would be the latest count.
There Oughtta Be A Law Against It!!
There was a mini-emergency at the Townsville Hospital when some pipes burst and flooded parts of three floors. This excited a great deal of comment by readers ready to apportion blame, but The ‘Pie was more bemused by the Bulletin’s placement.
| The Magpie |
Submitted on 2024/02/17 at 9:44 am | In reply to Tropical Cyclone.
This does indeed appear to be a major infrastructure fail, but if you believe the Bulletin (as if!!) it’s criminal …. since the have put the story in their section labelled True Crime Australia > Police & Courts Townsville. |
The mini-debate also produced a neat bit of philosophy from reader Tropical Cyclone, who wrote:
It is a paradox of our time that those with no possibility of making decisions are held accountable by those who are, whilst those who are responsible for making decisions are never responsible for the eventual outcome.
Neat.
A Very Ordinary Woman
… and that is Taylor Swift’s greatest strength.
The Magpie is in that social cohort (approaching decrepitude) who wouldn’t know a Taylor Swift song if he heard it. And until she started triggering the MAGA crowd in America over her perceived endorsement of Joe Biden, the old bird was only vaguely aware of her (although he was beak-smacked when he noticed the Coles magazine racks carried no less than seven magazines about her … not articles in regular mags, but seven mags about nothing else but Tay Tay.)
But the vitriol of the MAGA GA GAs towards Swift, especially all the low level carry-on at the Super Bowl, was mystifying until I learnt one fact and realised another. The first is that Taylor has a social media following of 278.7 million (interesting to note that Swift herself does not follow anyone on social media … not even boyfriend footy star Travis Kelce.) So with a following like that, no wonder MAGAs went gaga at a hint that she endorsed Joe Biden – commanding those sort of numbers , if Swift came out against hamburgers, McDonalds would be triggered.BTW all those social media pics of her in an anti-trump t-shirt are all photoshopped fakes.
And trivia is always around in show biz … Taylor’s favourite number is 13, because she was born on Dec 13, had her 13th birthday on Friday 13th, and enjoyed the boyfriend’s victory at the 58th Super Bowl (5+8=13).
Here’s another number that surprised the ‘Pie … Taylor in no ingenue, she is a 34 year old woman. Serious I really thought she was probably just out of hr teenage years.
But thinking about it, The ‘Pie can see why she’s popular … it’s not her entirely music, which is inoffensive bubble gum stuff which will not endure, it is that she is ordinary, middle America, every parents’ dream teenager (even still) conventionally good looking, not a piercing in sight, no aggressive ‘up yours’ persona of a Madonna or Lady Gaga, her sexual appeal more missionary than mythical/murky. Basically, Taylor Swift has taken America, and much of the world, back to the ‘girl next door excited to be going to the prom’ image, an era we all thought had disappeared forever. And young girls and emerging woman want to be like her. And blokes like her, and get the hots for her because she’s so unthreatening (they think, anyway). She promises a bit of a restoration of the tarnished American dream. Unfortunately, that also means that she appeals because of what she’s not … in this case, she’s not a big, bouncy black gal with thunder thighs.
Looking into the Taylor Swift phenomenon, I came across this kinda charming now-historical interview from 14 years ago – christ, 14 years – where she spells out her career hopes, all of which she has achieved and then some … and you can’t begrudge her one bit she’s remained just so bloody damn nice … and ordinary.
Of course, it can only be a guess but seeing that throughout her billion dollar career, you’d reckon what you see is what you get … and millions want it.
You’d almost think this is possible.
Given The Reality, That’s Not Such A Frightening Idea
Instead of draining that swamp, Trump has created his own pool of murk, which is now threatening to engulf him. But his deluded self-image keeps him shadow boxing. Just fined over $500m for massive business fraud when a NY developer, which will totally break him financially, he manages to soldier on, despite those bone spurs that stopped him joining all those ‘suckers and losers’ who wound up in cemeteries he refused to visit. But Biden remains vulnerable, and Trump unviable, so maybe President Swift isn’t that far fetched in a country where the concept of far-fetched was dead and buried years ago.
And One For The Road
An oldie but a goldie.
…………………….
That’s the week that was, hope there was something for everyone.
The donate button is below.
Well Mr. Pie, you’ve been busy this week. Lots of tidbits contained within your humble blog. With the local election campaign heating up I am yet to see any of your empty nesters step forward for a potential Councillor role. To be honest, Mayor Hill is simply the strongest contender for the Mayoral position, and rightly so. I can only imagine the tears around the nest once she wins the mayoral race in March. Will you shed a tear also, Mr. Pie?
For the lost opportunities for Townsville, maybe. And The ‘Pie doesn’t quite understand your phrase ‘strongest contender’, given the opposition, of course she is the ‘strongest’ contender … ‘strongest’ does not mean ‘best person for the job’ – she’s just the strongest contender for the job.
The BlusterFlog is correct in that Hill is the “strongest” contender using the Vladimir Putin process. Corruption, coercion, intimidation and threats against anyone who dares not to be singing her praises have kept her in power rather than any skill or desire to serve the people. As has been proven by Fran anyone who stands up to our own little dictator is mercilessly attacked and marginalized.
Has anyone checked Fran for Polonium poisoning?
EB – and just how do you know one of us is not a contender or even an incumbent?
Timing against me this time. Not sure about putting my hand up and then saying, by the way I won’t be in Australia for half of next year.
Townsville Council caretaker mode . Council is prohibited from distributing election materials . I suppose that doesn’t exclude Townsville Bulletin , its editor or Council sponsored entities . Mayor Hill announced at the draw of placement ballot box ”
we have one month to come up with fresh ideas ” . Team Hill should be focusing on supporting the residents of their divisions which is what they are supposed to do . Highest rates in Queensland and one of the highest Council debts . Don’t recall Council mentioning ” cost of living ” pressures on ratepayers at any Council meeting . If they did I doubt they would have added 109 extra jobs for ratepayers to have to fund last year .
Crikey Magpie (‘$30m floating bar will whet tourist’s appetite’), surely it’s going to need more than one tourist to be a financial success.
I may have not said enough in my previous comment. Unfortunately checking the pipes is near impossible. This is straight from the engineering staff I know, the split happened on an overlapping join ( not sure what that is ) and as I said it could have happened anytime. Could have happened 10 minutes after it was installed I mean but the staff told me also that it could more likely been an install error. Still very bad to happen no matter when. I’m defending the workers having to deal with this not the politicians. I still stand by the place needs a very big clean out.
Clean out from the top down to and including directors and facilities engineer. Need an engineer that has experience in managing an engineering department. Not a full time public servant, real world experience.
Well, hang on, what do you know about the current engineering boss? In fairness, this incident can’t be sheeted home to him.
Well I know quite a lot about the facility engineer. Also how this problem came about. More to come. It won’t stop while the same people remain in charge
Somewhat off topic but has anyone purchased a new car recently? If so, you might want to read the article linked below. You will learn that through ‘smart’ technology the car company is gathering vast amounts of data about you and passengers, including sexual orientation and activities in the car, then selling said data to third parties. This you expect with a Woolies card, but not your car. Sounds too fantastic to be true? Please read on…….
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2023/10/09/your-car-is-watching-you–the-implications-are-profound-and-imme.html%23:~:text%3DOur%2520cars%2520can%2520also%2520track,sexual%2520orientation%252C%2520and%2520personality%2520traits.&ved=2ahUKEwiu3vTE07OEAxUVV2wGHc3DB_EQFnoECBoQBQ&usg=AOvVaw32_B9SKX-P7FmrsSEDyoEn
Interesting but not really surprising article. Makes The ‘Pie happy that he drives a 1967 Corolla with a broken tape deck (remember them?) and a few little dings in the bodywork which is a dead giveaway to his financial status. The air conditioning is operated by winding handles on all doors – anti-clockwise for on, clockwise for off.
With Fran gone from the mayoral race, Dictator Jenny appears to be a certainty, foisting another 4 years of waste (you all know the list) and secrecy (commercial-in-confidence) on our city.
Her re-election will have little impact on me personally, but I’m concerned about the enormity of the debt my grandkids will have to pay off in the future.
Estimates of around $600 million have been mentioned in this blog, but to find out just what the current debt is I sent an email to council CEO Prins Ralston asking the question.
Received a reply almost immediately, but no mention of the debt.
Apparently, because of the recent cyclone, council is very busy and it might take some time to answer. Strewth, are the Walker Street number crunchers really out picking up rubbish?
I get the feeling that if I ever do get an answer it will be after the local government election.
I also sent an email to Scott Stewart asking for information on the $30 million (in comparison Ardo Hotel cost of $60 million) Ross Creek floating bar and restaurant.
Mr Stewart has stated that he met with the developers several times, so I figured he would be across all the details, particularly when millions of taxpayer funds are being handed out.
Apparently that has been forwarded to Brisbane for action.
Sigh!
Doug, I wonder it Bazza is lurking around just in case the current developer trips up. After all he has Monsoons beside the creek and the walkway to nowhere.
Ala,
Bazza should run for Mayor,The Mullet would fucking shit herself.
Heh heh heh so would The Magpie.
Pie,
Cracker of a reply!
Comment of the week so far I reckon…..
Mundingburra,
His Radiance can be his campaign director.
Regarding this bullshit about the rainbow serpent, which is bloody serious for that poor bastard in WA, this bloke sums is up very well IMO.
One interesting point made, among many, is that this illogical out of balance action does nothing to ingratiate Aboriginal Australia to the wider majority community, quite the opposite in fact.
https://youtu.be/rs823CQJBdw?si=tAclzexcjm0gUeKv
The video states the case, but fairly mildly, it seems. It’s error is comparing religions/spiritual beliefs … that’s like comparing say the relative merits of serial killers (Geoffrey Dahmer never used salt while cooking, and Fred West was kind to dogs.) It’s all superstitious barbarism aimed at power over others’ lives.
And money.
Gee Jenny was in the mall this morning at the markets and boy she looked like she was on her last legs, maybe she had eaten or DRANK something that didn’t agree with her, looked like she seen a Ghost?
Madam Mullet was at the Fire game this afternoon and she was on the soft drinks. she and Harpic were swanning about the $115 per head, per game area. Both left at half time, which is when they probably saw the writing on the wall for the eventual drubbing the Fire received.
Wonder who paid for the tickets bet it wasn’t Hill and Harpic but the poor bloody ratepayer.
Don’t overthink this sort of thing … freebies for local pollies, granted by managements wanting to look good and with no money changing hands, is common practice. There’s plenty of material to use to go after The Mullet and twice as much to nail Harpic’s flabby arse to the mast without making silly claims that are so easily refuted.
As previously posted, after being away from Townsville’ for past 8 years, I’ve been disappointed to see the lack of progress ( read decay), of the city centre. Went for a walk this morning during the Cotters Market. I saw empty shop after shop with for lease signs. I did also observe Major Hill and Cr Greevy on the corner chatting with a passerby They shouldn’t have gone to trouble of putting up brand name shade structure. If they needed cover from the elements they only needed to take their pick.
What?!?
Magpie, Maybe its been a while since you walked down Flinders Street. Jenny could pick dozens of empty shops or at least a stack with cover in front of them, sheltering from the Townsville elements. I used to work in the old Mall 30 years ago and it was full of shops and people. It is an absolute toilet show now as I have changed jobs and walk Flinders Street most work days, recently. Drunks asleep on the walking paths, dodging the vomit and had an attempt on me to pickpocket my wallet last Friday. Fault lays clearly at previous councils, however this current one takes the cake. Everyone in Townsville knows what the problem with the city center is, however in this woke society we live in, means you cannot point fingers. Same problem 30 even 40 years ago, yet nothing done. Hill is likely to get in, if these three silent state mice somehow manage to get in, as well, sadly after 50 years I am out of here. Enough is enough. To quote Fran (Sadly not running), this town is burning to the ground, and I will be gone as a lot of people I know have previously done.
Thanks Annandale Dave, summed it up perfectly.
The problem with the city centre is it’s nowhere near the centre
Start removing the parking meters from the CBD and remove all time limits.
Then staff park in the prime spots all day.
Yup, that’s been the problem al along.
Maggie, nice write-up regarding Phil Batty. We need him here in Townsville! On his bio (link below) he briefly outlines a 100 day plan for if he is elected. That is a typical C-suite approach but it’s a good one nonetheless. Our Mayor hasn’t outlined any tangible or realistic plans, hasn’t addressed how she will reduce Townsville’s growing debt, and she hasn’t outlined any new policies. Phil is also an experienced businessman with domestic and international experience so he brings something solid to the table. Hill’s experience is sucking off the ratepayer teat, doing sweetheart deals for the LGA, and bullying existing business people and potential new ones while overseeing a massive Council debt. She is a waste of oxygen.
https://www.mackayandwhitsundaylife.com/article/philip-batty-mayoral-candidate
‘HOLD HILL TO ACCOUNT IN 24’
Heir Herring, I am flattered thank you but that article in the paper was not a bio but answers to 4 specific questions asked by the paper with a very tight deadline for me too. Never the less it starts to let people know something about me but the real plans will be public in just a matter of days plus access to the more comprehensive bio and information about me as a candidate.
If I get the peoples vote then they can be confident of one thing at least, I will fight for the benefit of the region and every person who chooses to live here for as long as I sit in the chair. And to cross all the t’s and dot the i’s I should say that this post has been authorised by Philip Batty.
The Magpie trusts, in the interest of a stark contrast between two close local government areas, that your manifesto will make it into the Nest contemporaneously. This request has been authorised by The Magpie.
“HOLD HILL TO ACCOUNT IN 24“
Jeez, maybe let it drop quietly instead of advertising your impotence.
“SHOW HILL THE GATE IN 28″
Bid Hill adieu in ‘32!
Jenny Hill WILL NOT run again in ’28 … you can take that to the bank from The Magpie’s deep throat. In fact, the odds are shortening that she’ll go a year or maybe two before stepping down.
Taylor Swifts music is utter crap. I don’t rate her one little bit. Allegedly she has also done a deal with the Devil and there are themes of witchcraft in her music and stage show. That explains her fame and fortune. Not so innocent after all.
As you are not sane after all.
Not so Swift, we are honored to have to have you; a one in 278.7 million enlightening us, with such an elegant appraisal.
Tut-tut-tut, Heel, mocking the afflicted is low sport …. but gawd, it’s fun, ain’t it?
Some of these independent candidates seem more nut jobby than anyone currently elected anywhere. .. Looking at A Sheret (Div 3) and K Price (Div 4). Don’t get me started on this Change group, just another bunch of Labor. Oh well, the year of the Hill and she’ll probably get seat 2 & 10 as well now
Loose change, ya reckin? heh heh heh
We’re doomed Pie, doomed. Rumour has it though they are very worried about seat 10. Independent Brady Ellis is a member of the LNP and Jenny is worried with the sight of blue.
One would hope in that case that Mr Ellis will continue the fine example set by the former Division 10 councillor … not that Fran was or is affiliated with any political party.
Anyone who accuses the Magpie blogers of being Jenny Hill haters should read the comments on council stories on the Astonisher website. For a start have a look at today’s story about Hill promising to be “more open than ever” if re-elected.
The Commercial-In-Confidence Queen also promised to be more transparent before the last election. How did that go Jenny?
The real kicker in that story is the drivel about reducing interest payments while not discussing the dropping interest rates over the same period. Young Jennifer also deftly sidesteps the question of the total debt her council has amassed over that period. Transparent my ass, and both the Mayor and my ass are full of shit.
Well, ummm, yes … bit obvious, you’d think.
Poor bugger took a battering, but ambo’s said his tempura was OK.
Few days late. Flours were supposed to be delivered on Valentine’s Day. Having said that, I hope he’s all white.
How to piss off 298 other parents.
Two questions: what criteria do the judges use? And why is this crap on the front page? Bulletin iditor Gas Carvey sorely needs a drivelecomy.
Christ, looking at that pic, that child is obviously adopted?
The ‘Pie thought Jim’s Mowing Service might be somewhere in the picture.
That kids head has clearly been in a vice !
Madam Mullet has obviously been reading the polls, as well as The Magpie’s Nest. But the paper calling it a ‘bold pledge’ is (inadvertently) admitting to her Hermit Kingdom secrecy under the unethical use of Commercial in Confidence provisions. The careful insertion of the thigh-slapping ‘than ever’ is a hoot. And you can take it to the bank this will be among the first promises to be broken.
Token words from a serial bullshitter. There won’t be any transparency when it comes to serious matters. TCC’s systemic and growing abuse of using Commercial in Confidence provisions in local matters is almost legendary. Frau Hill is just tickling the ears of the few who are listening.
Has mayor mullet just admitted her team has not been transparent..
Yes.
International tweet of the day.
The ‘Pie can’t get too worked up about a few reffos arriving in remote WA, and the old bird has sighed as the predictable and opposing points of view seep across the pages and screens of our media landscape. But while The Australian gives prominence to Dutton the Mutton’s scare campaign that this landing will encourage people smugglers, is the The Australian cynically aiding and abetting an attempt to make it come true?
It doesn’t take much imagination to see the peple smugglers already making sales posters out of pix like that … ‘Australia’s Warm Welcome For Refugees’ and other variations.
There will be plenty of woke bleeding hearts who will disagree with The Magpie, but the fact remains that these people have committed an offence against Australian law, and are therefore subject to criminal sanctions. So, as callous as it may seem after a hard journey, these blokes (who all seem to have left the little woman at home to look after the kids) should be seen in handcuffs behind a fence or bars, and in (for photographic purposes only) uncomfortable surroundings.
Unauthorised entry into Australia is an offence until proved otherwise under refugee protocols … and those who commit this offence should be treated as criminal aliens until deemed to be otherwise. Anything that makes us look like open-border humanitarians isn’t only dangerous – it’s untrue.
I loved the rhetorical question on Sky News about the arrival of the illegals in WA – were they given a Welcome to Country ceremony?
Now that is funny on any and all levels. And how much were they charged for same?
And The ‘Pie was impressed wth the dignity and attitude of the local indigenous leader, when he told how his non-judgemental people welcomed and fed and in some cases clothed the new arrivals. The boat men were simply seen as arrivals that needed a little help and hospitality.
Pie; if you could vote in every division who would you be voting for?
Christ!!! How’d you find out I vote in every division?
I don’t thing JC is running in each division, but wish he was
Well, hello Cobblers, long time no see.
Now Giggles and his other halfwits want to re- name the Magnetic Island National Park to Yunbenun National Park in acknowledgement to the Traditional Owners.
Interesting there was never any Native Title Tribunal judgement over Magnetic Island. But the State Govt stepped in and said it was the right thing to do.
But who cares about history – let’s just keep rewriting it!
So do the residents of Magnetic Island and Townsville really get a say on this re-naming or will the Wokes down south have the final say?
Here on the island we have people and green groups stating Magnetic Island is World Heritage Listed, which it is because it is within the WHGBR, but not in its own right. Confusing people it has the same World Heritage status as Machu Pichu, but lets not let the truth get in the way of good story.
It is compounded by the idiots at the Bulletin who state Magnetic Island is a National Park.
I personally like all of the First Nations names that are now being used at traditional locations. It’s all very exciting! Obviously the whities that frequent your blog would disagree, but oh well, too bad so sad. Wait until the continent of Australia is renamed!!
The ‘Pie doesn’t hav too much of a problem, but strenuously objects to the lack of a dual-name period so we could used to the changes. The arrogant airlines and the arrogant ABC are the main offenders.
Good idea about dual names to phase things in … eg over the course of ten years.
1. Fraser Island
2. Fraser Island/K’gari
3. K’gari/Fraser Island
4. K’gari
Exactly.
I didn’t know that they had apostrophes 60,000 years ago, also K’gari means to shit in Italian.
Yep like shopping centres…
Nathan Plaza
Stockland Nathan Plaza
Stockland Townsville
Stockland
Crime Central
Old Trademan – there were no written languages at all 60,000 years ago. That doesn’t mean that we can’t use Latin characters and punctuation to represent the sounds made in Indigenous languages. Or any language in the world. We transliterate the Chinese word 北京 as Beijing, why would you have a problem with transliterating an Indigenous word as K’gari?
Triple C – Rename Australia to what exactly? Which one of the two hundred odd tribal nation/country names would you suggest be used without upsetting every member of every other nation.
Don’t waste time on this … it will never happen.
Maybe rename Oz, Coober Pedy? first word describing who built Oz into a nation and the second word a description of what it was pre Cap’n Cook.
OK. The ‘Pie will bite – what the fuck is that all about?
National Geographic
https://www.nationalgeographic.com › article › coober-p…
30 Sept 2016 — (The name Coober Pedy is an anglicized version of the Aboriginal words kupa-piti, commonly assumed to mean “white man in a hole.”) Among …
Of course we all knew that.
Well at least Brisbane will be called Meangin.
OT, Sounds like someone got a knock back all those years ago.
Miscreants? FMD. The Government used to relocate indigenous folk from their land and ship them by rail to Townsville and then on to Palm. This went on up to the 1960s. After WW1, land grants were given to soldiers around Boulia way. This was land the indigenous people lived on for thousands of years. They were rounded up and shipped off. The only miscreants were the Governments of the day, ably supported by the police, churches and others.
So it would still be Magnetic Island, but Yunbenun National Park on Magnetic Island. Can’t see a problem with that but if they’re going to give it an Indigenous name they should employ some Indigenous rangers.
Bullshit, Steve of Belgian Gardens, then became Steve, Guarambilla who was prolific on here and still is the astonisher‘S favourite TTE may give you some ideas . Commonly called Steve of Town Common,.
“You-an-yamum”? sounds like a holiday destination
Right next to You-an-yapa.
On the general subject, a genuine question: one would’ve reasonably assumed that first cab off the rank for renaming would be Palm Island, but it never seems to be mentioned. Is this because it was uninhabited until it was used as dumping ground for miscreants from other tribes across Queensland? Real question.
From Wikipedia. At the 2016 census, Palm Island had 2,455 residents, of whom 74.5% identify as Australian Aboriginal and 12.8% identify as Torres Strait Islander.[61]
The Indigenous population generally identify with either the Bwgcolman (descendants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people removed to Palm Island from throughout Queensland by the authorities), or Manbarra (original inhabitants) people.[10][3][13] As of 2007, the community consisted of approximately 42 Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander clan or family groups.[62][63]
40 tribes displaced to Palm – https://www.palmcouncil.qld.gov.au/history-palm-island
If the government was serious about treating people equally we should ask the question why are Alcohol restrictions in Queensland communities only in indigenous communities, or is this an acceptable race based government policy?
It is not as unbalanced as it sounds.
Indigenous people start behind the 8-ball on many fronts, particularly health and employment in the communities where they choose to live – for whatever reason, cultural or otherwise. Many of these communities saw the ravages of alcohol cutting a swathe through the disillusioned, disheartened and disaffected, and governments throwing money indiscriminately at such issues without actually looking to the root cause has been a massive mistake by all governments over decades. Successive policies have not only failed to seek greater understanding of the situation, and have also fostered corruption within the indigenous tribal mindset (families, they call it). Bureaucracy was trying to wish them ‘white’ which was never going to work. So many communities themselves asked for a legal change … yes, they asked for it … to allow indigenous communities to vote on alcohol bans. And so it was indigenous councils themselves that brought in the measure, and as a result, many left their communities and headed for places like Cairns, Townsville and Mackay, where a deeper sense of loss added to their susceptibility to booze. Thus, in the voluntarily displaced groups, there was also all the loss of any sense of responsibility … particularly as parents. All that has contributed to where we find ourselves now landed us.
There’s no simple fix, and any thoughtful person is now dismayed that we are now seeing extremes on both sides of the arguments making any solution ever more distant.
Interesting trivia note: there has been a white community equivalent of an alcohol ban by a council … the suburb of Box Hill was ‘dry’ with no pubs approved for decades, based more on religious wowserism than social concerns. Not sure, but think that changed back a few years ago … someone will no doubt let us know.
Yawn…..fucking….yawn. Why do you post war and peace comments Magpie? You are so lame.
Another satisfied constant reader. Your lips tired from so much reading?
Thanks, Pie. The connection between education, poverty, and crime is indisputable. In all races. Lets get over it. Penalise parents for not ensuring their kids are at school. Gaol miscreants without the privileges they now enjoy, unless they earn them , but teach them a skill with which to break the poverty cycle. Punish insolence. Reward effort.
Aren’t there already sanctions in place for chronic truancy that involve parents? Not fines perhaps (which would only further exacerbate an already dysfunctional family’s situation) but the removal of the child. And we’ve all sen how that works.
We’re on the same page, it seems.
Yes, the same page where all the old white males come to whinge and bleat about TCC. Give it a rest and get a life you old fossils.
How sad do you have to be to read the Nest comments when you hate it so much. But what an elegant detailed analysis of an issue … oh, wait, what issue? Oh right, you were just seeking some emotional release off after a fistful of Coles Homebrand olive oil failed to spark your imagination sufficiently for your other equally hopeless pastime.
Do the old fossils pay your handouts?
Prickster, every few years the men in the dry communities campaign for the reintroduction of alcohol. However, the men ruefully admit that the women shout louder.
During the RCIADIC in the 80s, when the grog abundantly ran on Palm Is, it the place had the reputation of the most dangerous place on earth, outside a war zone.
On name changes are the Germans forgiven and will we rename Belgian Gardens back to its pre 1914 name of German Gardens? Or is that going to have a cultural representation on what some long forgotten Aboriginal name might be for this part of Town. I don’t mind changing the hundreds of six mile creeks around the place but not all places need Aboriginal name tags to explain culture and history.
Is that highway bridge south of Home Hill still named Yellow Gin Creek? Seems someone was getting double bang for their racist buck.
How long will it before a DEMAND is made to rename James Cook University ???.
Already called “Me-beg-u something”
https://www.jcu.edu.au/news/releases/2020/december/jcus-townsville-campus-indigenous-name-unveiled
To Jame Cook Unibersity?
The Best Of Townsville polls in the Astonisher are indeed a joke, but some of the winners are taking them seriously.
For example, a local gym is advertising on billboards around town that it’s “Townsville’s Best Gym” and even sourcing the award to the “Townsville Bulletin”, thinking that will add some impetus or credibility.
But the Bully polls are rigged. Only Townsville Bulletin subscribers can vote, ruling out around 70% of the local population, and the result is skewed by families, friends, and sometimes club members voting for their “choice”.
Not sure whether you can vote more than once in each poll, but given the lack of ethics at the paper these days I wouldn’t be surprised.
On top of that I’m pissed off because I’ve suggested they run a Best Tradie’s Bum crack poll for months and for some reason they keep ignoring me.
Only in Townsville, where our mayor urges Melbournians to dump their AFL allegiances and move to Townsville by suggesting they “Friggin get off your arses”.
What a bummer.
The islands in the Palm Island group have been already named, Fantome/Eumilli, Curacoa/Noogoo, Pelorus/Yanooa, they would not dare change the name of Palm Is as the 40 tribes could start WW 4, WW 3 has already started.
I heard an interview today on NSW radio and the interviewee was Senator Matt Canavan. Apparently the rural senate committee conducting the cost of living hearing was in Gladstone today. Interesting how they chose Gladstone rather than Townsville, or have they already been to Townsville and I missed it? Anyway, apparently Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett was very articulate and straight forward about cost of living impacts on Council operations, the community and businesses. Is he a ‘Mayor that cares’? Perhaps so. Our useless bogan Mayor wouldn’t understand the cost of living issues if they slapped her in her purple doona. She doesn’t have any concept about the issues that 99% of the locals are enduring, and even if she did understand it she couldn’t give two shits. What counts the most to her is what benefits she can gain for herself. Of course next to her own needs being number one comes her beloved LGAQ in second place.
If the Qld Police Commissioner decides to go and Labor again uses a consulting firm to try to find a replacement, you can bet that firm or its subsidiaries will have been a donor in Qld or another state like last time. Though when that was exposed , the process of getting a clean skin from the UK with no Australian or Qld baggage or links to the QPU was stopped and she was appointed.
The Police Commissioner claimed in an article this morning on the ABC that crime levels had dropped in Townsville. What the fuck? Has she been eating magic mushrooms? She is overrated, out of touch, and stuck up the police minsters ass. She was only appointed because she ticked the ‘female’ box under Palletchooks never ending drive to hire more females and less males. A pair of tits won her the job. She doesn’t have the respect or the confid nce of serving officers. It’s time for her to piss off back to the fire fighters where she previously worked.
Hello Officer! She announced she is resigning in March. Her term runs out in July.
How fucking good is that!! Palletjack resigned, and now footstool Katarina bows out. You beauty! Hope she doesn’t bang the door on the way out.
Thank heavens the Douglas Shire has an independent media outlet to ask the hard questions about accountability, transparency, decision making by Council and staff and the independence of reporting on Council activities by media.
Townsville residents should by asking the same questions to Jenny and her idiot Councillors.
Let’s hope that we vote in a Council of independent Councillors who have the guts to ask the questions to ensure good governance after the election.
https://www.newsport.com.au/2023/december/the-editors-take-newsports-quest-to-ensure-transparency-and-accountability-from-douglas-shire-council
Many Townsville residents ARE asking such questions, even directly to the council, but in the absence of any sensible and straight answers, those questions are constantly also asked in the Astonisher texts, on FB, Twitter and here in Nest comments. And like the Cairns site, to quote it, we get the same answers – ‘crickets’. The ‘Pie had a not-s-merry chuckle at Jenny’s ingenuous campaign gurgle ‘(I will) be more transparent than eve (next term).’ In accepted English, this is an admission that she previously has not been as transparent as she could have and should have been. But you can bet th CinC scam will continue when things get tricky.
The only way anything will ever be exposed regarding the buried corruption of the TCC leadership will be if someone forensic expertise looks closely, gathers evidence and then takes it to the authorities … all with the possibility of delays and eventual dismissal in an incomprehensible word salad by a now totally compromised complaints framework.
Phil Batty and his battle with crooked bureaucracy in the Whitsunday Shire Council has shown how it can be done.
TCC is under the umbrella of State Labor protection racket. The key to removing Hill and most of her acolytes is to get The Kid in power. Unfortunately these two elections are held in the wrong order.
Hill is hopeless under pressure. If we can get The Kid up in September and Phil having to go to the polls early 2025, we could be entertained by the LNP/Lib blow-torch pointed at the failings of local govt.
Michael Edmonds has thrown his hat into the ring for Division 9. He has promised to ‘drain the swamp’.
Michael old mate, the TCC swamp is very very full. You will have to traverse many hidden obstacles, amoebas, and parasites which all oscillate around an host, an evil two-headed Mullet.. Mate, safety first.
It’s been a big week for useless idiots resigning – Woolworths boss, QlD police commissioner, Virgin Australia CEO. All of them tapping out and taking their loot with them. Good riddance to the theee of you. Useless fucks.
All of them are gutless turds, running away from the heat in the kitchen. Same thing with Alan Joyce last year, the gutless c#nt resigned early and then went overseas for 2 months so that he could avoid appearing before a senate committee in Australia These people are pathetic and weak.
Well, hang on, you can’t have it both ways, we all wanted all the departees to … well, to depart before they did more damage. And The ‘Pie will hazard a guess that unless they all had not got a tap on the shoulder,(if you include the sledge hammer media taps) they’d still be in place. Not that you’re wrong about them be less than courageous in teir general performances.
Oops Harvard Business Review looks like it just ripped the fork out of the nightie of the renewable energy zealots warning to look beyond short-term clean energy gains and to be careful not to replace one form of environmental degradation with another.
https://hbr.org/2024/02/the-long-term-costs-of-wind-turbines
There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly hazardous to anyone’s nighties in that article.
The reduction in fossil fuels is one aspect of the ‘new’ world that dipshits like Chris Bowen are leading us to. Nobody is accounting for the cost of new technology and industry’s that will supply us with green energy. The cost of infrastructure is going to be enormous. If you don’t like your power bills now, then you are really going to hate them as they keep increasing over the next few years, which they will. Meanwhile, India, China, and Indonesia are building new coal fired power stations weekly.
Incidentally, the word on the street is that we will go to an early federal election, possibly as early as December. Mr Magoo and his team of miscreants have fucked up the electricity pricing, First Nations referendum, and now the illegal boats that are arriving. Tick tock….
That defies any logic The ‘Pie has ever come across in the political sphere. Governments in trouble don’t go to the polls, they cling on for dear life to the usually bitter end … even this drongo government isn’t stupid enough to think a single poll-boosting win with their new tax cuts will carry them past those fuck-ups you mention.
And here’s an anecdotal instance on future electricity bills … a neighbour in an old Queenslander installed roof-top solar a few years ago, and says he hasn’t paid a cent in power bills virtually since the installation … in fact, he gets an annual kick in the wallet from Ergon ($1500 if memory serves) for the power fed into the grid.The cost of the subsidised panel installation has long been paid off.
Now certainly this could eventually become a sort of energy Ponzi scheme, with the last ones in holding the bag, except for one thing …. batteries. Home storage batteries are the final piece of the household budgetary puzzle. And the price/benefit technology is just around the corner.
And that is the point where coal power is taken out of the equation for residential use and a select few fossil fuel plants operate exclusively for industry if the wind don’t blow enough. The excss power into the grid from home solar will be used for … ta da … electric cars.
Traditionally federal Labor has gone to the polls earlier rather than later. Some of our more politically astute friends might be able to verify this. If you look at the outcome of the First Nations referendum you see plenty evidence that team Albo aren’t reading the room. So why wouldn’t they get the timing of a federal election wrong, they are fucking up everything else. Labor is a train wreck and the longer they are in power, the deeper the shit level that they are burying themselves in. But what’s the solution- potato head Dutton? The scenery isn’t pretty.
As for green energy, people might be getting free electricity thanks to solar panels, but the rising cost of electricity prices is hitting businesses large and small and they are, and will continue to hit the small guy in the hip pocket to cover those costs.
Good to see you calling for someone more politically astute to weigh in, because you and the Magpie certainly aren’t. Newspoll has Labor ahead 52-48 so an election held now would probably replicate the results from 2022. They’re neither in trouble (Magpie) nor fucking up (Prince), that’s your perception unsupported by the evidence.
Not too good at the old English are you, sweetie? You clearly do not understand that if, for instance, The ‘Pie says Labor is in trouble, and you say they are not, that is the individual perception on both sides and is an opinion because there is NO empirical evidence which supports either view.
I found this list and only 2 of the last 10 elections were under 2 years and 300 days after the last one:
2010 – 2 years 270 days Gillard
1998 – 2 years 215 days Howard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Australian_federal_parliaments
So I don’t think you can say that either side traditionally goes early unless you dig up ancient history.
Newspoll has Labor ahead 52-48 so an election held now would probably replicate the results from 2022.
That’s evidence!
For the sake of your own dignity, even under a disguise, you should lay off this lame silly campaigning. That poll is anything BUT evidence – in fact, one reckons you’d be the only goof to ever describe fluid polling data as evidence of anything except a moment frozen in time for a selected number of people. But if you insist, that result, if you care to look back at preceding ones, was the bump from the tax cuts alteration (well deserved, The ‘Pie says) but you of all people cannot discount Labor’s historic and traditional genius at self immolation (plenty of evidence of that if you care to look).
There are several issues simmering along in the background- energy prices, the too-much-too-soon environmental overkill, and cost of living measures (or non-measures as it may turn out), Middle East foreign policy barracking – and it is your forlorn hope that the electorate will, if not forget, forgive the Albanese attempt at railroading the country on the Voice with outright lies and obfuscation – check out the evidence on that … it’s called the referendum result.
And PS fyi, an election isn’t about to be held now, but gosh, how can one say that, there is no such EVIDENCE that one won’t be. Muppet.
But you may calm your fevered breast in the knowledge that Labor’s greatest electoral weapon remains Dutton, Peter Esq …. and your greatest panic will be if the Coalition ever comes to its senses and replaces him with sure-fire winner Dog, Drovers Esq.
The fact that polling data is fluid is irrelevant. At this moment in time, the government is not in trouble, as the evidence shows. Your perception or mine of various issues is also irrelevant.
Seems you have trouble with time, too … tricky concept, I know, but try harder. The poll you quote was taken before that boat load of blokes from Ceylon of Pakiland or wherever enjoyed a welcome to country in WA. You see, mate, ‘this moment in time’ never is that – the data is out of date with polls because they are never same day or week, there is an unavoidable lag, which tends to make the fluidity relevant to the thinking man … oh, sorry, didn’t mean to make merry jest with you.
Perhaps we could agree that polls are pointless anyway, and serve no purpose beyond being tools for partisan politics/social issues/media players/dentists in toothpaste ads. Surely no one is convinced of an argument based the outcome of a poll?
You’d use a coal fired powerstation/s or perhaps a kerosene powered unit to help set system frequency, ( the gas powered stations are actually just large jet engines that use kerosene not “gas”.) Gas power stations have a much smaller footprint and are much cleaner than coal, they inject water into the flame to bring down the temp so nitrogen oxides are less likely to form. It could take minutes to start these jet engines. Typically they use them for peak loads on the system.
By rights coal has a a higher efficiency than other fossil fuel powerstations because it runs the superheated steam through a turbine a second time. Coal powerstations are typically much larger will need more staff and have higher maintenance costs – it can take days to bring a coal fired PS on line and there’s more to go wrong ( high pressure steam, high pressure air carrying ash, fires breaking out in the coal bunkers etc). Coal is Typically used as “baseload” ie it runs 24/7
Good balanced information, thanks.
Kerosene? WTF?
Wikipedia says A gas-fired power plant, sometimes referred to as gas-fired power station, natural gas power plant, or methane gas power plant, is a thermal power station that burns natural gas to generate electricity. Gas-fired power plants generate almost a quarter of world electricity and are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Wow! amazing, boffins have “discovered’ why my generation can read, write and do sums without a calculator.
Rote tadahhhh
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnation%2Frote-learning-adds-up-to-success-says-cis-report%2Fnews-story%2F5582f7456287e7912757b4517a515d0e&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=LOW-Segment-2-SCORE&V21spcbehaviour=append
The queen bee flew the hive and now the daughters are moving out too, first the useless police commissioner Katarina Carroll and now the Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/queenslands-attorneygeneral-will-not-recontest-the-october-state-election/news-story/1cc46189803ea578fc792acb732e337c
How, the mighty have fallen! Or are they earmarked for some Olympics “gold”?
The rats abandoning the sinking ship o Labor.
Problem is that they don’t drown, they simply climb aboard another ship and con-vince the gullible ships crew that they are benign!
Where’s the “Dud Cheque” Mr. Pie?
Hope you didn’t frighten him away!
The minister for bad teeth, Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath, is to quit politics at the end of the year. A nice little golden parachute then no doubt a cushy job back in industry. No loss. Dont bang the door on your way out.
No Lansdown? That’s a shame.
“Vecco has also secured a 3.2-hectare site at Cleveland Bay Industrial Park (CBIP), in the Townsville State Development Area, for a commercial vanadium flow battery production facility which is currently in the detailed design phase.”
https://reneweconomy.com.au/townsville-to-be-home-of-vanadium-flow-battery-manufacturing/
So, no likelihood of anything substantial in the foreseeable future. Ho, hum.
And there boys and girls is the heart of the fucking problem!
This morning on ABC RN is Mayor Mulett objecting to relocating thieving snots to the bush being voluntarily not compulsory.
( I agree with the Mulett and will wash my mouth out with soap later. )
THEN on comes the serial blacktivist Gracelyn Smallwood.
“This is all so racist. All children steal.” She says or something like that.
FFS, “All children steal?” That says a lot about her ‘mob’ but not about the other 97% of Australian society.
There is no such thing as Aboriginal leadership, that seeks and accepts responsibility, as exemplified by Gracelyn bloody Smallwood!
And a post script to Gracelyn, you are bitter that the British arrived when they did. How do you think you you would have done in the Aboriginal phayolothic society pre 1788? Gracelyn, at your age I expect you are on a range of life style preserving pharmacy medications. Are you still ungrateful that Jimmy Cook (one of the world’s greatest navigators) came sailing up the coast when he did? Back then you might have had a whitch doctor, but not a scientifically trained pharmacist.
And don’t forget that Captain Cook managed to sail to Australia and circumnaviagete this great land without being harassed by any mythical sea serpents.
Captain Cook never circumnavigated Australia.
That’s why he missed the mythical sea serpents
The inhabitants of Hawaii honored Cap’n Cook with the discovery and broadcast of their location by serving him up as the main course at a hungi.
Matthew Flinders circumnavigated, mapped and named this country Australia in 1803. Aboard his ship was was his cat named Trim, who Matthew Flinders wrote a book about the remarkable feline.
Seems Trim had a paw in naming this great country, there is even a statue of Trim in Macquarie Street Sydney.
Neither Flinders or Trim were taken by a mythical serpent on the voyage, according to Flinders his Cat, yes a black & white Moggie was the one who had Mythical Powers.
And Trim also get history’s nod as among the first devastating feral pests imported with the Poms. But then, they dd introduce horses, the lack of which was one of many of the factors retarding the progress of the locals. The wheel would’ve been handy too.
When you and Bruce get over your circumnaviagetion of Australian history have a look at this:
https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-neither-a-monster-nor-a-saint-sir-samuel-griffith-queenslands-violent-frontier-and-the-rigours-of-truth-telling-222262
Good article. One of the most relevant passages would be :
As historians, we are thus more in the business of producing explanation than in issuing clarion calls for action, doling out blame or pursuing the singular advocacy of a pressing cause. We do know that the past’s “other countries” once had definite and ascertainable structures that both constrained and enabled human beliefs, actions and agency. So, we try to seek these out and explain them in the present. But we cannot re-enter and relive them, and thus fully know them.
It would be fair to say the ‘truth’ about the brutality and injustice of early and even relatively recent Australia is more believably be put forward by non-partisan trained historians with no covert political agendas(which scratches Henry Reynolds at the starting gate, and on the other hand, anything written by the IPA).
Those ‘clarion calls’ will inevitably comes from both sides of the political sphere, driven by their on ideology about how our history, both shameful and heroic, should affect the present Australian society. Opportunists will abound. And the sad thing is when historians do their best to explain the past, there will be those who will try to re-interpret what reliable researchers have concluded through their rigorous academic discipline, and create their own, ultimately irrelevant arguments for massve societal change. Which ain’t gunna happen.
Labor trolls trying to discredit the Magpies nest Council incompetence just keeps on coming . Bushland Beach $2.8 mil drainage naturalisation project only 50 % completed which was disclosed Council meeting and looks like a disaster so how much will it cost to fix ? . Let’s not forget Council CEO employed an extra 109 staff last year and they can’t run a $2.8 mil project . As Mayor Hill says Team Hill will be transparent so whats the update with Drive it NQ Council road access to the facility ? .
https://www.facebook.com/61556729603506/posts/122097809834224320/?
Oh, if only you …. ah, forget it.
Liam “Scooter” Mooney has dropped himself right in the stuff that stinks with his latest effort – abusing a local citizen for not accepting his election propaganda and telling him to get off his property.
His dad must be very proud.
Meanwhile Mayor Jenny Hill refuses to castigate her puppet and leaves any punishment to higher authorities.
Coming from a community leader who tells people to “friggin get off your arse”, I suppose it’s only to be expected.
Only in Townsville!
Engaged with Mooney regarding a problem I had with my property.
He was very sympathetic and promised to get back to me.
Never did!
And I was not surprised!
Too hard basket?
Exclusive Butterflog, of course you ‘engaged’ him. You are a Labor loving shonk. I’m sure there are many Councillors who you have engaged in with cold hard cash for favours.
That’s just silly. And totally unfounded.
Doug, Which comes to mind: “Better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt”
It would b nice if instead of just abuse, you put a point of view to back it up. Nothing wrong wt comment except lack of argument.
That seems to be Liam’s problem all the time. Rather than just walk away after thanking the resident he kept pushing because it is his God (well perhaps Daddy) given right to always be right and do anything he wants. He is a lightweight and a loser as well as a liability.
At least Mooney the Younger is out there door knocking. Our councillor was invisible for the entire time he was in office and his want to be replacement on Team Hill hasn’t been seen or heard of either.
WM, if you are/were in Haystacks div, it was a bloody shame we lost him. He was often out and about the area on his pushbike and I recall 2 visits from him when he was campaigning. One was a bloody hot day, sweat pouring off him but he was still out there doorknocking. Twice I emailed him about issues and received acknowledgements and soon after a reply. They could all learn a lot from him but I guess if you are on the “Team” and your leader is a well practiced manipulative political animal, you assume you are a shoe in without effort. A lively council chamber would make for a healthy community.
The Astonisher is becoming so predictable.
Some of the stories on the paper’s website are months old, but the yarn on “Scooter” Mooney making an utter fool of himself has disappeared in less than 24 hours.
Did the Bully’s Most Influential Advertiser, Jenny Hill, give them a call.
And that “council spokesperson” still gets quoted whenever Jenny doesn’t want to take ownership of negative council stories.
What a cosy relationship.
Yes indeed it is a very cosy relationship. The newspaper just loves TCC’s corporate account. Therefore they will never post a truthful article about TCC that is negative. The paper has been bought off and is too scared of losing revenue form TCC.
Not just the TCC … read any adverse stories about Harvey Norman or the Good Guys? We don’t know if there are any averse stories about them, but we’ll never know from this sold-arse mob.
Doug, Even Friday’s ‘iditorial’ it took the writer until the second last paragraph to admit that ‘scooter’ was also in the wrong albeit the large percentage of the blame for the incident was put on the ratepayer.