…and the chosen few will be selected by Department of Main Road bureaucrats, in an astounding move that appears to be effort to to cover both their inefficiency and draconian regulations. But leaders of the much-loved rainforest community that calls itself the Village In The Mist are fighting back against the fog of bureaucracy.
And while researching this story, The ‘Pie has turned up an outstanding candidate for the Arrogant Head Up Arse Award of the month.
A super hero to the rescue of an arch villain. Thompson loses the plot with a dopey Batman stunt and a utterly idiotic petition that falls flat. His desperation says he knows his disgracefully delayed judgement say is approaching. But TwoNames isn’t the only MyPlace council grifter being found out, there is a similar matter happening down in Victoria.
What do the new Liberal leader and the seventh planet from the sun have in common? Quite a lot, it turns out. A Magpie investigative exclusive.
And, what are they, all eight years old? Amerika’s lower house approves a raft of measures that is officially called “The Big Beautiful Bill Act”. But this ‘billionaires bill’ that punches down on the most vulnerable, and has been called a GOP tax scam by opponents, has a way to go before becoming law. More in weekly review of USA matters.
The Magpie’s Nest remains free of ads to maintain independence and remains free to you, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t incur on-going costs to produce. Any donation you can spare to assist in meeting Nest bills (especially at this time of year when various sizeable renewals come in) would be a great help. The donation button is at the bottom of the blog. Thanks.
The Government Refuses To Speculate On The Re-Opening Of The Mt Range Spec Road … They Basically Say They’ll Take Their Own Sweet Time
The Mt Spec Range Road, the road to the popular day-tripper and tourist spots of Crystal Creek, Paluma Village, and Hidden Valley suffered landslide damage during the heavy rains more than three months ago. It has remained closed ever since, and has been bedevilled by dumb heritage laws and a complete lack of any sense of urgency for a community suffering severe economic and amenity damage.
The first problem arose because of daft Wet Tropics Management laws (WETMA) that held up the removal of fallen trees, rocks and associated debris..These were not allowed to cleared as they had in previous storms, i.e debris from above the road being bulldozed over the side of the road into bushland below. The heritage whackos in Brisbane has decided this was ‘damaging’ heritage listed forests, but as many experienced locals have pointed out, that’s exactly what always happens with landslides elsewhere in the forest where roads were not involved – stuff goes downhill and has ever since gravity was invented. It’s not as though human rubbish was being dumped, but no, no, no, say the southern pooh-bahs. So the taxpayers have had to ante up for the huge cost of a six week program that saw the trees and much of the rubble taken down to Bambaroo by a fleet of truck. The last tree headed off six weeks ago, and the subsequent delay is now being caused by TMR moving at glacial pace getting contractors to complete the works! The TMR won’t say, but a local contractor suggested the repairs would take up to six months at the current non-urgent snail saunter of the work schedule. The damage to the local Paluma economy is immense already and mounting.
(Funnily enough and certainly no coincidence, TMR managed to fix Ollera Creek Bridge in 3 days after Albo and Premier Kid turned up when the Bruce was blocked! Apparently when the powerful take an interest, things happen quickly!)
… and even in the unlikely event it wasn’t him, he needs to get a little attention anyway, since he is on the public dollar.
If his self-penned paean of self-praise on Linkedin is anything to go by, it’s reasonable to believe that Steven got out his well-thumbed Dictionary of $10 Words to fob off the Paluma residents with his official bullshit. The reply to Paluma’s concerns reeks of the style of this complete up-himself muppet. The ‘Pie was astounded, at this bio on. Linkedin, this wasn’t humblebrag, it was inexplicable, juvenile gaucherie.
It is not often that someone has the misguided chutzpah to describe himself inter alia as ‘renowned’ , having a ‘comprehensive skill set’, plays a pivotal role (sez who?), has a unique blend of strategy, psychology and creativity (creativity? Would that be code for telling lies, Steve?) and storytelling that shines through (lies again?). Cor, what the fuck are you doing in Townsville, mate?
But gotta love that last line – no idea what adept engagement means , but need it have been said that you are ‘conscionable’? One should expect someone working in the area of government public relations to always be morally acceptable, guided by one’s conscience, and characterised by fairness and justice. And admitting openly that you’re a ‘story teller’ is an accidental but accurate admission.
Anyway, Steve, old chum, you’ve earned a special statuette from The Magpie. Enjoy.
And That Seems A Suitable Reminder To Move On To The Latest From Our Grifting Mayor.
You can almost smell the desperation. Thompson apparently enlisted a MyPlace whacko to help gather signatures for his generally-ignored petition to dismiss the TCC … he wants not just councillors but senior executives out. But he managed to make those absurd demands even sillier outside last week’s council meeting.
It’s not Troy himself, just in spirit. How this was going to add the required gravitas to a serious claim is anybody’s guess. But a talented mate thinks it was an accurate moment.
Can any of the Nest’s many readers who are law professionals see any half-decent lawyers recommending or condoning this stupidity. He’s gone way off the reservation,
Two things stand out as to where are are in this farce at the moment.
First, there is a notion that Thompson and his tinfoilers spread as widely as they can (which fortunately isn’t too far) that some sort of payout, some type of ‘here, now go away’ settlement is inevitable, and the only question is how much and from whom. But it is anything but inevitable, and if any entity challenges him to take it to court, it will be all over red rover, he can’t afford that. It is absolute bollocks that it is certain to happen – it may, but is no foregone conclusion that he would like us to believe – that is just the assumption this thieving pustule wants us to believe. There is no basis in reality for his claim that the length of the three investigations still underway indicates he will not face any charges or disciplinary action. The length of time only indicates a thorough investigation, and with this bloke, who knows what is being turned up.
But OK, what if he is not held to account for anything?
This isn’t just a fight over governance. It’s a grudge match with a cheque at the finish line.
Make no mistake: Troy Thompson’s petition isn’t a cry for community justice. It’s the logical next step in a long-running attempt to cash in on chaos. After failing to appear in hearings, having earlier cases dismissed, and losing credibility faster than a fake degree on a resume, he’s now trying to remove the last remaining adults in the room.
And who pays the bill if he succeeds in creating a democratic vacuum in Walker Street?
You do, Townsville.
Your rates. Your services. Your town. And your future.
This is not about justice.
It’s about settling scores, clearing the legal chessboard, and chasing the compo pot of gold.
So when you see Troy’s petition doing the rounds, just remember: It’s less about dismissing the council, and more about clearing a path to the ATM.
So Much For ‘If You Don’t Know History, You’re Bound To Repeat It’.
And a tragic reminder of the basic truth: the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Germany 1945
Gaza 2025
In both cases, the victims suffered simply because of their religion.
And remember, being against Israel’s heinous and inexcusable actions is not antisemitism, it is anti-Israel’s leadership.
What Has Sussan Ley And Uranus Got In Common?
Why has the ABC gone all prissy about the Libs new leader?
Ever since she’s been in politics, Sussan Ley has attracted comment on her name …, that is, the extra ‘s’ in Sussan, (inserted through a superstitious believe in numerology), resulting in joke appellations like ‘Sssnake’.
But suddenly, the woman we have known across all media as Sussan LAY has suddenly become ‘Sussan LEE on the ABC and certain other outlets. The woman herself has made contradictory claims about how to say it , endorsing both pronunciations on seperate occasions, so we’re all at ssea, sso ass to sspeak.
But if there is to be a popular winning choice here, The’Pie’s money will be on LAY. … print and online media would be outraged if there was any official statement that Ley is pronounced Lee, given that ‘lay’ is a godsend to smutty headline writers and web sweaters across the nation. As reported in last week’s blog and comments, ‘Ley Down Misère’ and ‘Ley of the Land. were headlines leading the way. That last one is almost actionable and a highly unlikely boast anyway. You can bet there’ll be plenty who will ignore LEE as an option (or, as she might decide, LEEE).
This attempt to change is a strange shift similar to previous unsuccessful and short-lived moves to promote a change to the pronunciation of the seventh planet from the sun, Uranus … some religiofacists in the US particularly and some media outlets here made half-hearted attempts to change from ‘your-anus’ to ‘U-RAN-us’. All of which, by and large, quickly got the arse.
But strangely enough, there are some similarities between Ley and Uranus – both are icy entities that are blue in colour, and both have a tilt of 82 degrees … to the right.
And So Has It Begun Yet Again?
This week, have we witnessed the start of the traditional Labor trashing of its own government and goodwill, with a first move towards self-exile to the opposition benches in 2028? Will this be the issue which will abruptly end the current honeymoon with the electorate?
There doesn’t appear to be economic ethic for this move, apart from ‘we can do it’ and ‘we need the money for other things’ . Like Thatcher said, socialism is fine until it runs out of other people’s money. Then there’s the quasi-moral question of a tax on already taxed money, wedded to a tax on unrealised gains, which has echoes of the recent Queensland round of valuations making some rates skyrocket.
But while those arguments are there to be debated, it would be best done on the basis of facts. The ‘Pie says that because already, much of the media can’t resist a scare tactic based on ‘they’re after your super’, an inevitable selective beat-up. That’s not as simple as some would make it sound, and while it’s academic to The ‘Pie, it is noted the main changes will apply to less than 4% of the population … most will be unaffected in any material way. For the present, anyway. The ‘Pie is not making an argument for or against this tax, but believes this explainer from the generally reliable and balanced New Daily should inform all debaters before they wade in.
Amerika, Home Of The Naive, Land Of The Freebie
For The ‘Pie, of all the alarming things that we are subjected to every day from the lying lunatic in Chief, for some reason, this was the most disturbing.
What supposedly sane, mature government passes legislation with a childish name like that? The answer is no such government would. But the US House of Reps has OK’s this Big Beautiful kick in the head to a decent and just society. It gives tax breaks to those already rolling in it, and removes many of the social and environmental support programs to fund those tax cuts for the rich. The bill only just squeaked through the House of Reps, getting there by a single vote, 215 to 214, when many Republicans joined the Democrats in opposing what has been called a GOP tax scam. It still needs Senate approval, and there are hopes some of its more heinous social impacts might still be avoided.
That was the major topic for cartoonists late in the week, but there were plenty of other issues for them to chew on … there’s never just one thing to talk about with this mobster president.
Call Me Anything Except Late For Dinner
That hoary old joke came to mind when The Magpie was beaking around in odd corners of the web and came across an interesting fact … free speech in Australia has its limits when it comes to naming you’re newborn. Some parents deliberately decide on what is humour for them but years of schoolyard hell for their offspring, like the Peacocks in Melbourne who named their son Drew, or the Murrays who named their kid Callum. Or the Pipe family decided their son was suited to Dwayne.
Sure, some people can still indulge in that particular ‘a boy named Sue’ child abuse, but the extremes of misplaced humour, drug abuse and/or religious fanaticism have resulted in an extensive list which you are banned from burdening your children with. Dreams of undeserved aristocratic nobility are also naming no-nos on this surprisingly long list..
From Comments On The Day.
EXCLUSIVE.
THE BIG CRASH!! How could it happen? The Magpie has the inside information.
THE ‘Pie exclusively reveals the identity of the driver.
At least we now know he is a truck driver.
…..
Another week down, another $4903.84 of your money into Troy T hompson’s bank account, and the world is still here. So is The Nest, which also needs a cash injection, so if you can help out, the donate button nis below.
I do feel for Paluma residents. I get how melioidosis is still an issue in northern Australia, and there’s the NQ version of ‘electoratosis’ (a chronic condition affecting regional voters who rust onto certain political parties; in this case, NQ being a safe space for conservatives). Ongoing symptoms include the hell and horrors experienced in Paluma as above, and I also need to add that many would-be visitors also come from areas suffering from electoratosis.
Interesting list of names you cannot give your child included Lord, Jesus Christ, Bishop, Father, Messiah, but you can name him/her the all inclusive Mohammad.
https://islamicorigins.com/was-muhammad-originally-named-qutham/
I had mentioned some time ago that I had a classmate named Ivor Woodcock. But in those pre-super sensitive, politically correct (none of your bloody business mate) days he and we shared the “anomaly” like good mates.
Try that today and the bleeding hearts self righteous clique would have you hanged, drawn and quartered,
FFS Achilles, get over your persecution complex lol
I was just telling my sons Senator and Minister the other day about the Texas socialite named Ima Hogg. There is apparently no truth the the rumour that she had a sister named Ura.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ima_Hogg
The golf pro at the club I was a member of in the 70s was Richard Brayne. Very few people got to call him Dick.
Except at school, I’ll bet. Kids are cruel little buggers, they don’t miss that sort of thing.
And suppose this is the best time to mention one of my all time favs in this area.
Hollywood watchers a few decades ago were hoping Tuesday Weld would marry Fredrick March III, because that would make her ….????? Tuesday March the third.
Looks like that Steve McDonald Linked In introduction was written by AI rather than a human being.
I would suggest that Steven MacDonald has had far too much unsupervised access to the random superlative generator!
Yes agree. My LinkdIn is almost identical wording put together using AI. I simply told it that I identify as a Self-centred Dickhead and that’s what it came up with.
Don’t normally stray outside of local issues as this is primarily local issue blog but cant let that article I read that was posted last week linked by a poster about the Liberal Nat arrangement.
That article posted by an IMO what seems like a left wing academic last week and was biased apart from the two entities going their own way again in Qld, I agree.
The Liberals pretty well much run the LNP party not the other way round. What Brisbane wants is what Brisbane gets. I remember the amalgamation well and that was the biggest complaint at the time.
He completely lost me describing Canavan as far right, its all a matter of perspective Canavan maybe “far right” from someone who sits on the hard left. Personally I think the label isn’t helpful to his argument.
He doesn’t like Price obviously, on indig affair she makes sense and has skin in the game. I have a high opinion of her courage but her family have form of speaking what could be construed as “inconvenient truths.”
Also the last place we should be looking for what to do is UK or Canada or even EU. Liberal party has little difference from the ALP these days, The author seems to overlook the fact that Turnbull, Kean and others are heavily invested in the “renewable” gravy train of subsidies. Thus the continuation at the resumption of productive farm land and destruction of established forest appear contradictory to me. Destroy the planet to save it hey so long as I get rich?
Anyway the Liberals seemed to have abandoned their early principles of small government, pro small business and individual rights. IMO that is part of the problem, they aren’t an alternative. Also the stench of the NSW corruption again who control the party, Manildra or Sydney Water anyone?
I look forward to if this spawns any comments and try to look in during my busy week (Sorry I don’t ignore replies just don’t have time to draft a considered counter to mostly) but IMO both parties epitomise the antithesis of Menzies “Forgotten Australians” speech in 1942.
If you lined up every mp in a line from the most right wing to the most left wing, where do you think Matt Canavan would be?
Wherever he is, he’ll be in a hi-vis vest.
With black eyeshadow dusted onto his face to look like coal.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-25/how-to-get-involved-with-reconciliation-week-2025/105325034
I’m getting involved. I am leaving all my windows and doors open so the snots can express themselves in a culturally sensitive way.
NOW
Let’s end the bullshit! First check out the photo of one Catherine Coysh. Done that, good, I will proceed.
I will put it this way, a glass of water with a drop of chardonnay is a glass of water. It is not a glass of chardonnay, no matter how much that glass of water wants to be chardonnay.
Time to call out pale skinned blue eyed people like Catherine Coysh as being artificial aborigines. You are European with perhaps a drop of aborigine. That makes you European.
Enough of the bullshit girlie!
Love your work Pie.
Government would save a fortune if it weeded out all the fakes.
My Ancestry came back as a touch of African and I’m glad as it shows I’m a human being, despite the possible touch of Neanderthal.
True story.
Those who left Africa, travelled north and mixed it with the Neanderthals went on to develop a sense of curiosity and inquiry that lead to progress and development.
Those who remained in Africa or the descendants of those who left and travelled East, not encountering Neanderthals therefore no interbreeding, developed no such sense of curiosity or inquiry, made little to no progress, and these days still live in third world conditions.
We with European forebears must appreciate it is our Neanderthal genes that have made us who we are today and the more comfortable life we enjoy.
A true story, eh? Were you there?
If you don’t call that out they will fry you. Go to the Australian Museum site and look up homo sapiens species and human migration. That fucking simple https://australian.museum/learn/science/human-evolution/when-and-where-did-our-species-originate/
Robin Williams, ABC Science Show on ABC RN. Some time back now. Pie I am not smart enough, or disingenuous enough to make this up. There is no Neanderthal DNA in Australian Aborigines or Papua New guinea folk. The program went on to explore Neanderthal DNA in asian and native folk in the American continent north and south. The program was about human migration in ancient times and the different outcomes for different groups.
Hang shit on me if you will, but it is just science.
The’Pie ‘hanging of shit on you’ would not have necessary if … as The ‘Pie keeps imploring commenters … you had named your source in the first place.
In this case, you have a good source, but you’ve been around comments long enough Jacko to know top-of-the-addled-head statements are rife around here.
This is a good example of the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy.
Really?
From Britannica:
Studies indicate that Aboriginal Australians possess some Neanderthal DNA. This suggests that interbreeding occurred between Neanderthals and the ancestors of modern Aboriginal Australians before they migrated to Australia. The amount of Neanderthal DNA in Aboriginal Australians is generally similar to that found in other non-African populations.
So Mad Jack doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Surprising!
That fool Twonames is posting approximately 1 negative anti-TCC article per day on his Facebook account. I guess he doesn’t have a life so his goal is to keep attacking until (in his mind) an administrator is appointed. I’m praying that the state rolls him AND takes legal action against him. It’s time to crush this gnat.
It seems twonames has had his petition approved with the QLD Government, clerk of parliament. It’ll be interesting to see what comes of it now. He will be first dismissed, I think others may fall too looking at the numbers go up. 75 in an hour.
What do you mean ‘it seems’? What’s the source? Not doubting, just asking – always worth it when this arsesole’s involved. Anyway, thought you had to have 5000 signatures for it to be accepted by Qld Parliament. So it will certainly need to be doing a hell of a lot better that his change.org sack the council petition, which hasn’t even managed to limp mover 1000 after a week of stunt and fulminating … 929 at the time of writing.
Tick tick tick, Troy.
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details?id=4245
Thanks. Crikey, 174 signers. Wonder how many are from Townsville.
So perhaps the 5000 signatures applies to whether the petition can go forward after the cut-off date. Maybe its 10,000.
If this is the official petition, then what of the previous change.org and paper petitions? He had his “numerous volunteers” (simps) scurrying around collecting signatures for a week to gather a whopping 1000 signatures? He
is saying the sponsored petition is “preferred” and the previous names and comments have been “passed on” (to be tossed in the bin?). Whether previous signatures will be added, is a question he avoids answering. He does request that people re-sign which is kind of telling. After all, who the fuck in Brisbane is going to collate this mess and add-in and cross-check the earlier petitions? To my weary mind, either the previous signatures will be added to the official petition by some poor schlub in Brisbane, or the deluded will all need to re-sign the official sponsored version. I dont know how these things work but it would seem, neither do his followers and he is not answering their direct questions. Has he gone off half-cocked on his feverish campaign last week with petitions that are now invalid? Another monumental fuck-up he won’t cop to? Still, the only harm done is the time and dignity wasted for his simps who ran around town on his behalf last week while he sat on his arse on Mums La-Z-Boy drinking Nescafe Blend and eating Arnotts. Can the petitions be merged? If so, why is he suggesting that people re-sign?
Like most things Thompson, a clusterfuck driven by greed and spite.
Back to the issue of Council providing building to various groups on peppercorn leases for $1 if asked for. Came across this information on this issue and the Burnside Council is looking at reviewing their policy and charging community groups more realistic fees. It seems unrealistic when groups like Dance North occupy CBD buildings on a peppercorn lease and yet this space could be earning Townsville ratepayers a much higher return.
I wonder how many other arrangements like this are in place across the city.
https://www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Latest-News/Homepage-Latest-News/Media-Response-Community-Facilities-Policy
Dance North would almost certainly not exist … at least not in Townsville …. if it were not for such support. are you suggesting their contribution to the arts scene both here and on the occaional tour, are of no value to the city?
The arts are like that , no one misses them until their gone.
C.
Let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Sure, there maybe some organisations that could pay more, and some some with peppercorn rent is the TCC providing a community service, in this the performing arts, a vital community activity.
On that note, has this Post Mullet council shown any interest in the most worthy and overdue Townsville Performing Arts Centre?
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://tpac.net.au/&ved=2ahUKEwj6tuitxL-NAxUDk1YBHUCSKxsQFnoECFQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2g–09ZsOph0H6kGHhPjaD
Yeah, but yeah mate. If it’s not footy mate, it’s not Culcha. It’s not hard mate. That’s why TCC gives a subsidy to a million $ operation like the Cowboys.
Did you know the Cowboys charge charities big $$s to have their players show up and give “support” to these non-profit organisations?
It’s all about money.
Think we’d like to have some concrete proof of that claim about the Cowboys demanding appearance money for charities.
Until you do, The Magpie doesn’t believe it.
What next, Claudia Brumme-Smith demanding a speaker’s fee?
Yeah citation needed there, Jeffrey.
Maybe we can revisit this issue when the CBD isn’t full of empty shopfronts.
Maybe if there was parking in the city that wouldn’t be an issue, but someone sold the multi-storey carpark to Peter Honeycombe to turn it into dodgy units.
The Full Bench of The Federal Court of Australia decision dismissing an appeal by War Criminal Ben Roberts Smith – Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (Appeal) [2025] FCAFC 67 In the judgement are links to the previous case and cases cited too https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/full/2025/2025fcafc0067
The Court published all documents relating to the case in the public interest on this page https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/news-and-events/31-march-2025#content
And Scroll down the alphabetical list for the other related decisions and orders https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/digital-law-library/judgments/latest/last-thirty-days
Nice variety of stories this week Pie, well done.
The mentally deficient Mayor proved this week that he has truly lost his marbles when he seconded a fellow tinfoiler to sit outside TCC in a Batman suit. The only persons who would approve of such fuckwittery are Twonames himself, and Aaron Harpic, who also likes dressing up as the caped crusader. An absolute embarrassment to the good people of Townsville. Residents and business alike must feel ashamed that Twonames is associated with TCC. His antisocial and destructive actions are making him dig his own grave. I can’t wait for him to be finally shut down, it can’t come quick enough. I’m sure Jenny Hill is sitting by eating popcorn and enjoying the show.
Are these new cartoons AI generated? That’s the only reason I could think of why the artist would be anonymous. This blog used to have real cartoons by a talented human artist.
Lots of folks on this site like to remain anonymous, for a variety of reasons. The main one is probably denigration by association heh heh heh.
And no argument about the retired Bentley, The Magpie was lucky he was a friend of the Nest for so long.
But yes, there ius a bit of experimenting going on.
I’ve always been partial myself to a bit of experimenting. Love your blog Magpie.
That list of forbidden names is interesting. However, it must be a recent thing. A Licensee of Corones Hotel in Charleville during the mid 80s was a codger named Robert Anzac Bishop. I recall a young mum in Kuranda in the early 90s who tried to register the father of her new- born baby as Bob Marley and took the Registrar of BDM to court when he refused to do so. It turns out that Mum had never left Cairns, let alone Australia and there was no evidence that Bob ever came to Cairns. And there was the inconvenient fact that Bob had died over a decade previously.
G,
You have taken me back to a time when I was magnificent in most things.
Helicopter operations at the time saw me and my crew staying at Corones Hotel. Many a night the world’s problems were solved by us, with lots of port and green ginger wine, around the fireplace to the side and at the bottom of the grand staircase. The problem was the world was not listening.
Exciting was the dog fights. Can’t remember exactly where but just around the corner from Corones.
There was constnation when an outsider with his new breed of dog was decimating the locals.
Ugly and bloody.
Things came to a head when the outsider had to explain that before the tail was docked from his Long Nosed Ridgedback Setter it might have been called a salt water crocodile.
Just saw on the news that DoD are sending just 70 military personnel down south to assist with the horrendous floods over half of NSW and a chunk of Victoria.
They might like to take a look in TSV’s back yard on the road up to Charlies Trousers and send down those ready to assemble bridges that were foist upon us by the U.S. about 20 years ago.
Along with the mothballed “Ducks” that can pick up many times more than the pleasure boats currently being used.
Plenty of space in some of the idle choppers too.
Also good chance for the lads to get some real usage training of all that stuff sitting idly when there is a real need at home.
Unfortunate timing with an enormous military exercise on. I’m sure DoD is doing what it can to help.
Interesting viewpoint Minnie, I would have thought that this was a golden opportunity to change tack due to new circumstances.
Or is war now done by the book? If so, doesn’t say much for the top brass!
Maybe the brass can send a commiseration note? something like “thoughts and prayers” BS!
Heel, I agree with you that 70 troops appears to be SFA when you consider that Townsville houses several thousand personnel.
Not sure re the helos though, except for some heavy lifters there’s a distinct lack of aircraft until the Blackhawks become fully operational.
But as someone else points out, there is a major military exercise underway which would make large-scale deployment very difficult.
Absolutely !
From my view point “War games” as they used to be called should use this event to redirect and remobilise the troops just as you may HAVE TO in real combat scenarios.
Its not as if these floods have just happened over night, they’ve been at catastrophic level for several weeks now.
Re Jatz’ comment, yes its true that we have a shortage of choppers up here, but the Air Force has its bases down there somewhere. Amberly and Williamstown are right in the region.
A,
A couple of things.
A War Game is a Formation level, (Brigade, Division) HQ activity conducted at desk top level. All HQ elements are present in the room/theatre. The scenario is put. The Intelligence Cell plays the part of the enemy. The Commander directs courses of action, units commit resources, and the whole thing is examined, in real time by analysts from Defence Science and Technology Organisation. They inform the Commander of the likely outcome of each action in the War Game. This in turn informs the Commander of his military capabilities and options.
Field Exercises are just that and are called War Games by igoranrt journalists trying to be little the Exercise.
It is the War Game that informs the conduct of the Exercise, or a Military Operation (Offensive or Peacekeeping etc)
And while we are here a very small correction for J. Rotten.
DACC. Defence Assistance to the Civilian Community, a Military Band playing at a local fair, etc.
DACA. Defence Assistance to the Civil Authorities. A Sqn of Snappers assigned to flood relief under the coordination of the State or Local Government.
Otherwise everybody, you are all doing very well.
The RAAF have not operated helicopters since 1989, I think.
You would be surprised at how much can be achieved by 70 uniformed officers and equipment. Way better than some fuckhead politicians in a clean hi-vis vest.
Gunny, Sarge try 118 uniformed soldiers and a dubious uniformed officer in August 1966 as a good example.
SGH
These tossers have no idea about DACC and how it works.
The current exercise has nothing to do with deploying any of those troops south.
The logistics make all but impossible to achieve.
As for Achilles he is a class A moron who military knowledge is zero. Bit like his IQ.
Name ONE conflict Australia has won since Malaysia in the 1950s
For fuck sake, Guy don’t encourage him. Anyway, the general foaming and abusive tendencies of Mr Rotten’s comments means it is unlikely he will give a reply The ‘Pie is willing to publish. Have just a dozen or so to delete heaven today.
He is a deeply scarred person.
This is good news, although in typical Courier fashion, the paper offers a scareum and misleading headline instead of playing up the obviously positive aspect.
But the move a bit of an eye-popper in terms of traditional political poses, coming as it does from a rightwing political party normally up to its ankles in the corporate colon.
Instead of weak-kneed government kissing the heavily subsidised Big Business ring, and riding roughshod over local views, the LNP is making it clear regional Queenslanders must be part of a genuine consultation process when massive and inevitably visually scarring projects are proposed for their area.
Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie underlined the community’s right to have a say by ‘unpausing’ three other stalled renewable projects that had followed the process correctly and so has given them the green light.
“I have ‘unpaused’ those three now because the community journey consultants are satisfied that the developers and the companies did the right thing by the community and took the community on a journey,” he said.
“All we’ve done, or we’re asking them through our new legislation, is you’ve got to take the community on a journey.”
But a Magpie memo to Bleijie’s spin doctor, who has obviously pounced on a fashionable modern buzz phrase to promote this change in legislation.
Buddy, the term ’take them (local community representatives) on a journey’ is way to close to the more traditional phrase common when it comes to politics of ‘taking them for a ride’.
Mal, there comes a time when us oldies need to move (slightly) sideways and leave the youngsters to create their own language, push their political correctness focus, and go through their early years as hard nosed green and red socialists. We should know that the future of our world is in the capable hands of these younger generations. Believe what they say when they tell us the world will be a better place after we are gone and they are living in an AI environment whilst chewing on soylent green.
Oldies? As the saying has it, ‘old’ is always ten years more than your current age.
Malcolm Muggeridge put it succinctly “If your not a Communist by the age of 18 you don’t have a heart; If you havn’t resigned by the time you’re 21 you haven’t got a brain”.
A much quoted quote, sometimes attributed to Churchill, who no doubt said it at some stage, but himself was quoting Georges Clemenceau
“Any man who is not a socialist at age 20 has no heart. Any man who is still a socialist at age 40 has no head.”
Bennet Cerf once reported Clemenceau’s response to a visitor’s alarm about his son being a communist:
‘If he had not become a Communist at 22, I would have disowned him. If he is still a Communist at 30, I will do it then.’
Maybe we could update that and replace ‘Communist’ with ‘Green’.
…rightwing political party normally up to its ankles in the corporate colon. Meaning the LNP.
That the same as a left wing party, that is always up to the ankles in the union corporate colon.
You agreeing with The Magpie? You should be ashamed of yourself.
And it’s long been suspected, Johnny Rotten, that you are a member of Townsville’s CCP and MyPlace. You are a busy boy.
I am neither you idiot.
However I suspect you are a member of the head up your arse committee that monitors Troy Thompsons Facebook page. I certainly don’t.
Now now Johnny, hush. Don’t be like that. Here, let me loosen up that tight tinfoil for you. Poor baby.
The Magpie is so proud to run such a sophisticated and mature comments section.
Yes you are correct.
I certainly do bring about a sophisticated, nuanced and enhanced maturity to your blog.
You should appreciate me more, instead of, you and your immature followers engaging in childish name calling.
By the way. beware of the control C and V functions.
As for that idiot sid vicious, I am certainly not paranoid and nor do I engage in conspiracy theories unlike the Troy Thompson committee members here.
For once, he ‘Pie will engage with, and answer each point you make.
Yes you are correct.
Of course, that is a given.
I certainly do bring about a sophisticated, nuanced and enhanced maturity to your blog.
Well, in those JR comments that are published … trashed ratio running at about 40 to 1.
You should appreciate me more, instead of, you and your immature followers engaging in childish name calling.
Have you recently checked some of your more kindergarten-like slurs against The Magpie … and then wonder why it’s a 40 to 1 ratio? And The ‘Pie doesn’t have ‘followers, he has interested and informed readers … and a few others like yourself. Broad church around here, cobber.
By the way. beware of the control C and V functions.
The one you should be beware of is the delete button.
As for that idiot sid vicious, I am certainly not paranoid and nor do I engage in conspiracy theories unlike the Troy Thompson committee members here.
The Magpie allows a limited number of comments from Thomson or Thompson MpPlace pants to gurgle away, on the grounds of confirming what those goofy whangdoodles are up to. Amusing mostly.
Forgot the bulletin for a while, most of us have.
Where are the other media? Who are the radio hosts doing the hard work, keeping everyone accountable?
And same with TV
Johnny Rotten sounds a lot like Elusive Butterfly. I agree with others when they say that Johnny Rotten wears tinfoil, definitely the truth.
Or maybe we are all just Pretty Vacant
Johnny Rotten, you mentioned in one of your comments ‘c and v’. Is that your secret code describing yourself? C stands for cooker and v stands for vindictive.
I like this game Magpie, please let Johnny continue with his silly comments.
It’s fast approaching mocking the afflicted. We’ll see.
Don’t hold your breath too long Paluma residents, 18 months after Cyclone Jasper, repairs to Far North Queensland roads finally start.
Must admit that these road works are quite extensive and would involve extensive planning. They are in addition to emergency roadworks undertaken immediately after Jasper to get these roads open
https://www.newsport.com.au/2025/may/roadworks-starting-on-mossman-daintree-and-mossman-mt-molloy-roads-and-ramping-up-on-captain-cook
Thank you, Guy, for the small but vital part you played in getting Gerard Rennick booted from the senate!
An election result worth celebrating!
I just saw someone needing help, I liked the ideas of being financially responsible, creating a sustainable civilisation. Given that the labor party has imported its much needed electoral margins to win the election – the future is labor. No stopping it now, I think Australia had a great future.
Sussan Ley has had second thoughts.
The former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce was clearly pissed off with being sent to the back benches, and the Coalition leadership was concerned he might cause further internal disruption.
So in a move to avoid further internal turmoil, Sussan Ley has offered the exiled Barnaby the newly created Ministry For Footpaths.
Barnaby is yet to accept, telling journalists “As I always do with big decisions, ‘I’ll sleep on it.’
Sussan Ley has had second thoughts?
No she has not you ignorant arsehole.
Littleproud had second thoughts. He is the one to take the National Party nominations to the Liberal leader for cabinet consideration as part of the negotiating to form the Coalition.
Secondly. As far as I can find out, Joyce has never been done for DUI.
It seems your humour bypass operation was a complete success, but you still suffer severely from MDS … Magpie Derangement Syndrome.
To the addled point that the Magpie never mentioned DUI, and why would he? Barnaby’s unscheduled rest time did not involve driving … more WUI … walking (unsuccessfully) under the influence.
The Townsville Bulletin manages to spell “nanna” wrong on the front page today, a new low.
Googled:
Both “nana” and “nanna” are commonly used nicknames for grandmother, especially in Australia and Britain. “Nanna” is also used in other parts of the world, including in Scottish Gaelic. In some cases, “nanna” may be a shortening of “nanny,” which was originally a term for a child’s nurse. Ultimately, the choice between “nana” and “nanna” is a matter of personal preference or regional/cultural convention.
They use “Nanna”, including in quotes from the family, in the story itself.
The Macquarie dictionary lists nanna as the primary variant.
Nan = grandmother
Nanna = grandmother
Nana = banana
It is clearly an either/or choice.
End of thread.
Another blunder today talking about Phil Thompson’s “‘Lil Girl”. What letter could the apostrophe be standing in place of?
Nothing. Yes, an error, with the technical answer to your question being the letters ‘tt’ in the word little. ‘Li’l’ has always been accepted contraction of ‘little’, as in the popular old comic strop, ‘Li’l Abner’, a Magpie favourite until it ended in 1977 – probably had more to do with Daisy Mae than her yokel love interest.
(Readers please note – especially you Achilles: some jokes are best left implied. Thank you.)
It has always been a popular contraction in the black music world, for some reason, from the blues to the current grammar killers of what now passes for music.
Your nota has been suitably bene’d!
I have noticed that Troy Thompson has gone quiet over the past two days, have the Magpies Nest police scared him into submission?
You have gone to the ‘trouble to notice’?
Oh dear, Little Johnny, are you sharing the affliction you accuse the Magpie and Nest readers of … obsession with Thompson?
Have heard in the last half hour that Thompson has been spotted at a local doctors, with informant saying ‘he looks like death. I think it’s getting to him’.
Awww, thoughts and prayers. But all his own greedy doing.
If what they say is true Magpie, perhaps all of his lies, embellishments, and fantasy’s have worn Troy down? Maybe he is exhausted from all the endless hours that he puts in to harassing and bullying TCC on his Facebook page? Or maybe he is now feeling stressed from a strong legal response being taken against him for his endless digs and jibes at TCC employees, namely the CEO and Councillors? Either way, fuck him. It’s all his own doing and karma can be a real bitch.
Or it is part of his larger plot.
“Look what the evil TCC has done to me with their relentless persecution of me. The unbearable stress has given me mental ill health and I look like death warmed up. It is all their fault and I want more compensation. “
More important issues than the failed Thompson who a few of us are tired of
hearing about , he is GONE. Measure the waste $s vs the previous clowns. Will not be too long [I hope ] until someone has some balls to investigate the damage done to Townsville , mega $ waste re Townsville Enterprise, and all the other wasted $s from the past councillors/mayors. love to see what administration will reveal……only a matter of time. PS want to visit Maggie Island…See the roads, the state of irrigation/gardens/ creeks/roads etc maintenance.
You will be hearing about him on this blog until he really is gone from the scene. You see, people like Thompson – who is yet to face any decision from the current three investigations underway, and will not be gone until then – all have the same MO: pretend its all over and his plotted payout is a foregone conclusion, so let’s stop talking about him. Just what he wants right now.
And it is always amusing when those accusing The ‘Pie of having some sort of obsession about this disgusting individual are themselves displaying an obsession with the Magpie’s insistence on staying on his case … that case being his continued attempts to further damage this city more than he already has.
There has been some complete weirdos around here, like Elusive Butterfly, Guy, Gunney Highway, and numerous Troy Thompson imposters. But Johnny Rotten wins the “biggest fuckwit” award for his most recent ramblings.
You just don’t know what juvenile foaming ranting of his doesn’t get published. The ‘Pie whacks in the occasional one that attempts an approach to sanity. Just for fun.
BTW Mr. Pie…am currently in Reims, checking out that horrible stuff called French Champagne!
My compliments to the widow.
I am happy with Bushmans Champagne, metho and Alka Seltzer.
EB, you are correct that French Champagne is horrible stuff. Slip over to the Veneto and Trieste regions of Italy for fabulous prosecco instead.