Somehow, somewhere, the protest against the Prime Minister’s arrogantly off-hand response to two rapes … one alleged, one actual … lost its way and became a self-defeating diluted hotchpotch of female grievances and of cynical political opportunism. By accident? The Magpie hardly thinks so.
Proof this week that Aaron Harper has caught the TDS virus from Mayor Jenny ‘I’ll Cut You’ Hill … a tell tale petulant performance by Harpic proves he has tested positive to Thompson Derangement Syndrome.
And while Thompson has Mayor Mullet really rattled with his outspoken views on local non-Federal matters, seems another federal MP is after her … now George Christensen, whose Dawson electorate takes in parts of southern Townsville has lumbered into the act, and goes after the mayor with … God help us … poetry. a parliamentary vid like no other … thank heavens.
An anniversary street party that the Townsville Council declined to attend … in fact, it’s declined to attend for the past year.
Cameron Dick’s travelling theatre of the absurd plays Townsville, and the Townsville Bulletin plays the fool.
Plus our regular gallery from the USA, plus a round-up of somewhat gentler larfs.
A small pause for a message from our sponsor … which The Magpie again hopes might be you. The Magpie’s Nest will be forever free, and will not risk being compromised by accepting advertising, despite several offers. Although the weekly missive is taking up more and more hours, the sometimes onerous embedded costs don’t diminish, especially as The ‘Pie has been working on a fresh new look for the Nest which is gradually taking shape. Hey, it’ll be the same ‘stale old codswallop’ to quote a former mayor, but it will look … well, prettier.
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Now ever onward
It All Started Out Like Those Ladies Who Lunch Soirees … And Sure Ended Up Like Them
ladies Who Lunch gatherings are social get togethers that begin with good intentions and the chummy solidarity of the sisterhood but after the Ladies Have Lunched and a few Chardies, a liqueur and dessert have been daintily slurped, it descends into Ladies Who Lurch and things get slurred, blurred and totally out of hand.
That is the perfect metaphor for this week’s protest marches around the country, but particularly in Canberra. This protest quickly descended into manipulated political spin. The two initial matters – the rape of Brittany Higgins, which undoubtedly happened, and the Porter imbroglio, which possibly didn’t, we’ll never know for sure – fully justified a display of angry disapproval of the way both matters were handled by authorities, the PM, ministers, and police. Pressuring for decisive action on these two matters was the laudable aim of the protestors.
Until ….
Enter the Political Clitoratti extremists. No one can seriously that there is some sort spontaneous, magical oestrogen-driven telepathic group-think among females across the country that makes them, zombie-like, take to the streets as one, seeking blood. No, The Clitoratti (let’s give them caps, just like The Mafia) know exactly how to mobilise women … and encourage them to bring their grievances onto the streets to overshadow two deadly serious issues that should have been the focal points. So, out they came, ranging from those who have suffered the fear, the damage and brutal cowardice of domestic violence to those who have been leered at by some crotch-clutching half-wit office Lothario.
So suddenly, rather than hold politicians feet to the fire to do the right thing, Australians … a majority of whom who started out totally sympathetic to the initial aims of the protestors … were suddenly asked to believe that a whole palette of broad-brush claims should also be addressed immediately, now and decisively. What self-defeating tosh.
Those who have organised this warping of the original protest should be totally ashamed of their craven political agenda, but they won’t be. All political agendas are in some part craven, but this is particularly base, using as it does two extremely serious actual – not amorphous – specific matters to mobilise a diluting, ridiculous ‘uprising’ of women against men is the most general terms. Bentley tends to agree.
Then the political tin ear that Morrison is accused of comes into play for these manipulators, by allowing that blurred focus to create a #metoobloodyeverything moment. In a twinkle of a scheming eye, it went from ‘get justice for Brittany Higgins’ and ‘get to the truth about Christian Porter’ to ‘we hate all fucking men, deep down they are all bastards’. The shining insincerity of the politicians who came out to ‘mingle’ are similarly deserving of approbation. Soon after the demo, Penny Wong took to Twitter to prove The Magpie’s point.
I’m pretty sure Brittany Higgins wasn’t lying back and thinking of pay parity while being brutally raped, or the deceased woman’s last thoughts were about the pay gap in the Australian Public Service. But these are the things that Senator Wong wants us to concentrate on.
A measured ‘first things first’ would have been a balanced approach to the demonstration, but Wong clearly allowed her personal agenda and political ambition take her over. Not bad ideas in themselves, but certainly thoughtless timing.
Great strategy, you idiots. You politically craven idiots. One could almost think that you are paid Morrison/Porter stooges. With a sweaty Albo making what he thinks are the right advantageous noises, but secretly applauding that these protests were getting out of hand, and their oh-so-predictable media coverage enabling his Labor brethern and Wong-led sisterhood deflect attention away from the several of their own Party’s deserving rapist suspects.
And how demeaning was the childish, deceitful and wilful misinterpretation of Morrison’s simple statement highlighting the strength of Australian democracy ‘because in other countries not far from here , he said, ‘ such protestors would be shot‘. Smirko is an arsesole on so many fronts that one doesn’t have to start making upon such transparently bogus claims that he was saying women should be thankful they weren’t being shot at.
The speed with which all this diluted into a political grab-bag is highly suspicious, with the introduction of all sorts of other complaints – some very valid, others simply wrong headed but all of them ‘not the time, not the place’ issues – really, FFS black deaths in custody conveniently was re-fashioned overnight to become black female deaths in custody.
So far, it’s just been a cod-kicking free-for-all, which basically says all men are power-harbouring bastards and sex pests if not outright rapists. These protests are now, regrettably, just a lot of regressive hot air from political agent provocateurs – it is disgraceful that people like Brittany Higgins has been duped into providing a publicity platform for a grab bag of non-specific broad brushed solutions for such a huge panoply of complaints. So far, it just seems to be a gender based group smear, which is greatly insulting to Ms Higgins, to Christian Porter, to the now deceased woman who made allegations against him, the vast majority of men who DON’T beat their partners or stalk, ogle or rape them (or anybody else), and above all, the greatest insult of all, the one that was inflicted on the women in the protests whose frustrations allowed them to be manipulated in such a way as to override, obscure and remove from the public consciousness the very two issues that should be dealt with so as to subsequently lead to greater stature and protection of women in Australian society.
Why not deal, with those matters SPECIFICALLY before letting them get lost in the deafening unfocussed witterings of Machiavellian secret agendas of the extreme left Clitoratti.
Care to step in to The Magpie’s mine field, comments run 24/7? If you do, be wary, you may end up sharing the Magpie’s cell in the Clitoratti’s Big House for Bad Birds.
But hey, what would the Magpie know, he just an old dinosaur, awaiting the next meteor shower. Increasingly eagerly.
To Local Matters …
They’ve done it again … or more correctly, they HAVEN’T domne it again.
The Magpie
March 17, 2021 at 2:07 pm (Edit)
Fancy a taste of the tough-questioning, uncompromising investigative reporting the Townsville Bulletin does on our behalf – because, as they keep telling us – they’re all for us.
Well, look no further than today’s (Wednesday) edition of our ‘shaper of the Townsville news agenda.
This is a lovely little bit of bias-by-emphasis reporting was aided by totally ignoring a glaringly obvious question. Because Cameron Dick decrying the delay in spending the money conveniently ignores two very relevant facts: first, the $195Million is for projects still under discussion and negotiation, and he is just trying a very old tired tactic of looking good by fruitless bullying. But even more salient is the fact that his mealy-mouthed drivel is complete hypocrisy, if you look at a brief history of the issue.
The Fed’s $195million was sitting on the table, no strings and ready to go last year for the stage 2 pipeline. But on the spurious grounds that it might affect Queensland’s GST, (later admitted they couldn’t prove it) the state grandstanded and refused the Commonwealth money, saying they’d fund the $195million stage 2 themselves, thus ensuring the hundreds of jobs that would entail. And that puffed-chest announcement was made exactly back at the same time the Fed’s money was therefore gifted to Townsville for projects to be decided by a committee led by their local MP.
So this Dick wants us to believe that Phillip Thompson and his task force are dragging their feet by not splashing the dough around with gay Labor-like abandon … YET they themselves haven’t been able to get a sole, single-purpose, already approved project – pipeline stage 2 – underway, let alone completed, in the very same timeframe?
But there’s no show without punch, so enter stage left, hat bells a jingle and pantaloons flapping, our iditor.
And immediately the turkey started to bluster.
In essence, a proven fox is requesting the key to the henhouse.
The abject, unprofessional failure of both the reporter, Caitlin Charles and Iditor Warhurst to even hint at the blatant hypocrisy here says everything we need to know … actually, already do know … about the actively damaging role this newspaper plays in the fortunes of our city.
A Harping Harper Is Really Soiling His Ku Fu Panda Y-Fronts Over Phil Thompson
The proof that the member for Herbert has got Harper into a state of panic came during the week when he went right off his cruet at a public event. The occasion was the (poorly attended) Legal affairs & Safety Committee re Youth Justice Townsville hearing. The ‘Pie’s informant was there.
“Aaron Harper sat in on the committee. Of all of the committee members he was the ONLY one who took an inquisitorial approach to the witnesses appearing before the committee. Usually in the form of questions to the witnesses about this or that piece of legislation, or wonderful government sponsored community programs in an attempt to show up the witnesses as ignorant. He seemed defensive.
At the end of witnesses appearing, Harper was given permission to address the committee. The usual stuff, “I’m a member of this community too etc etc etc.” THEN he attacks Phillip Thompson for not doing anything about crime in Townsville. Committee members and attendees alike were looking at each other in disbelief. When a committee member tried to remind Harper that everything discussed at the hearing was a State matter, Harper raised his voice somewhat to talk over that committee member.
The chairman had to call for order twice stating, “Up until now things have been orderly.” He actually had to say it twice.
Aaron Harper is a clown and a disgrace. Further, Aaron Harper does not know that he is a clown and a disgrace.”
And Now Another Federal Member Waddles On To The Scene To Have A Swipe At Mayor Mullet.
Poetry and parliament have occasionally had an unhappy coexistence, ever since an secretly tumescent Robert Menzies curled all our toes with his love poem to his new Queen ‘ I did but see her passing by …’ waffle grovel.
That uneasy relationship returned to the halls of Parliament just recently through the less effusive efforts of George Christensen the federal member for Dawson, a seat that covers parts of southern Townsville. And it just so happens that that area of Townsville was subject to a council shit storm recently … a literal shit storm. Sewage started coming mixing with rainwater and flooding back gardens in Wulguru. Some residents, unsurprised at not getting a satisfactory council response to a very dangerous health hazard, contacted Christiansen to note the matter.
Now George is known for his originality with words, especially when it comes to travel entitlements and expense claims while constantly popping up to Philippines to visit his Manila Mama (no, not his mum FFS), but no one suspected his creative talent with the pen stretched to poetry. So we were somewhat bemused when we came across this, witnessed by an embarrassedly amused Phil Thompson in the background.
Well, he made his point, one supposes, and Mayor Mullet will be thrilled to finally be recognised by someone in Canberra.
But poetry as your creative art, George? Stick to expense claims, mate.
But The Mayor Would’ve Been Suitably Serenaded At One Townsville Street Party, But She Was A No Show.
In March last year, a storm inlet collapsed in the Kulgun Crescent in Kirwan. The Townsville Council was duly notified, and with amazing speed, they turned up to attend to the matter. Repair it? Don’t be silly; they just put some webbing and bollards around it, and went away. And stayed away. Some months later, when it was brought their attention that the repairs still had not been done and the webbing was sagging and torn, again like a flash they were on the scene … and replaced the webbing, before shuffling off again.
As there were still no repairs this month, it was time celebrate this milestone, which is exactly what a some locals did. How Townsville – a pipe party for a pothole turning one.
The ‘Pie is told the mayor would’ve attended, but couldn’t, because her clown suit was with the dry cleaners.
The Astonisher Gets It Right – But Doesn’t Know It
What a perfect metaphor for Townsville. Unintended brilliance on The Astonisher’s front page … council at the top, ratepayers on the bottom.
Some Questions That No One Seems To Want To Ask
1. Where is that Mad Cow tape of Les Walker getting decked? It’s well past the allowable release date, and an email to the police weeks ago, but so far no response. Given the justified hullaballoo at the moment about sexual harassment and worse by public figures, surely we deserve to know what Goofball did to deserve such a well weighted whack. Surely the local Clitoratti should be clucking about this one, no?
2. When will the Dudley Do Nothings (TEL to you) announce a new permanent CEO? How’s the hunt going? The position has been filled by someone – maybe te office boy – acting in the role. Which, as it happens, is in fact a key requirement of the job … acting like you’re doing something.
3. Will the Townsville Council agree to release a break-down of constructions costs for the handkerchief park and sun shelters on Castle Hill that cost an unbelievable … and no one does believe it … total of almost $4million? If not, is it OK if we strongly suspect some sort of rort? Oh, sorry, what’s that, commercial in confidence? Oh righto, forget it. Commercial in Connivance then.
4. Will the mayor explain to the ratepayers exactly why she is promoting the Landsdown precinct over the far more accessible, sensible and environmentally State Development Area next to the port?
5. And when the Townsville Bulletin published the Cameron Dick ‘show me the money story’, and the online version attracted dozens of adverse comments about the state’s number one Dick, why were those comments deleted within hours? Unfortunately for the paper, they are unable to deny the deletion, because someone was smart enough to take a screen shot.
| Astonished |
Submitted on 2021/03/17 at 5:50 pm
OMG. Now I’m really astonished. “Pending Deleted I’m now betting the story will reappear tomorrow with the comments above replaced with some supporting the Dick’s demands. |
6. When is the Astonisher going to get people who understand basic English grammar? This is another Townsville Bulletin question left dangling. Can you please tell us why JCU Professor Zoltan Sarnyai fell out of vogue? What did he do, is there a juicy bit of gossip you’re not sharing? or did he just slide out out of a glossy fashion magazine?
And this one.
‘… nearly bashed an officer to death’? What, he nearly did but changed his mind? Or do you mean ‘bashed an officer nearly to death’?
Hope no one’s hanging by the left one waiting for answers to any or all of these little mysteries of Townsville life.
Our Weekly US Gallery
Some believe B is for Biden and B is for Boring, but for so many Americans … and others … B is for Beaut – what a relief!! Some problems have been quietly solved and others remain, but there seems a calmness about the place. Well, for some.
Of Course The Royals Still Get Some Attention
This one had the ‘Pie almost incapacitated with cackling for a whole day.
And an American explains the mystery of Prince Charles’ wardrobe.
COWBOYS media releaseAnd In This Maelstrom Of Modern Life, Let’s End With Some Gentle Humour
And Finally, News That Will Be A Great Relief To Some.
‘… limited’? Surely not for want of volunteers?
………..
That’s it for the week, hop into the comments area and have your say, all points of view except pointless abuse are welcome.
‘And that demon donation button is below.
Time to retire gracefully, Magpie. This week’s column is just a string of complaints and hatred (mostly against women) without even a modicum of wit or intelligence.
Used to enjoy your weekly observations, but it’s just peevish and nasty witterings now. Please fly off gracefully into the sunset.
Don’t like it, don’t read it.
Contributor my arse, bet you haven’t paid a cent to have your whinge, you freeloading fucking parasite.
Hey there Contributor, thing is, the blog and The Pie welcome pretty much all and sundry to have a say. You’ve had your say, I don’t agree with it, so now I suggest you just pluck off! Thank you.
Let’s not get too worked up, Contributor is one of those who prefers not to converse, just close down. Can’t stand other points of view, which could be characterised as being ‘peevish and nasty’.
‘Pie, I know several of your contributors are members of the Legal Profession, however I am not. Just what “nearly a millennia of jurisprudence going back to the British times” is being thrown out the window, and how and by whom? Thanks in anticipation.
The ‘Pie can’t answer for Dave who said that, but to hazard a guess, he was referring to the axiom of the ‘presumption of innocence until proved guilty’ in relation to the allegation against Christian Porter, which cannot be proven in a court of law. That’s a barney you can have with him if you want.
So a nearly a millennia of jurisprudence going back to the British times can be thrown out the window because the ends justifies the means? Personally I have some serious misgivings about how this is being handled.
What end justifies what means? Don’t think ‘justifying’ in the legal sense comes into this.
Contributor, your moniker is a contradiction of terms !
Agree with your “ March for Justice “ comments Pie because legislation , law , policing and support are State Government responsibilities . Where is the proposed legislation to improve AVO support , anyone assaulted against their will , support for individuals ? . Politicians are quick to attend protests for photo opportunities but slow to enact policy / legislation to support the victims .
I was struck over the weekend by the number of female politicians who (probably rightly) pointed out the horrible treatment they received in their younger lives.
But why, now that they are in positions of power, has the indignation escaped them? They have the power to make sweeping change, but seem content with sweeping the bad behaviour of others under the carpets of various parliament houses and government agencies.
If they truly cared they would do something, not just jump on the “MeToo” wagon.
Hit the nail on the head again Pie, Townsville has for decades continually inserted disgraceful clowns into all levels of Government and public office positions, Harper is an exceptional example of a contemporary disgraceful clown. These grubs have become like a virus amongst us these days, a mutating virus more dangerous than COVID in some ways.
Took my grandkids to the Cowboys game last night and got the impression that they are trying to get a listing in the Guinness Book Of Records.
I paid more than $20 for 2 cans of beer and a mind-boggling $6.15 for a tiny box of potato chips/fries (see photo alongside a small bottle of water for size comparison).
That’s got to be a world record.
Wasn’t game to ask how must the burgers cost.
The basic problem is that Pachyderms cost a fortune to keep, especial the albino ones, and somehow the $$s have to be raised. Seems to me who has an aversion to albino Ps and won’t venture near them that it’s fair enough that those who do should contribute to their upkeep by a modest surcharge on snacks.
You have an interesting take on ‘modest’, Mike.
But it was ever thus, when you’ve got a captive audience, screw ‘em.
Actually, anybody, what does a hamburger cost at Total Tools stadium?
To buy a burger you need to hand over your car keys.
You’d have to be that drunk to buy at that price?
While I agree that the matter of Brittney Higgins rape, and the rape allegations against Christian Porter must be addressed as a priority. I understand why there’s so much anger amongst your so called Clittorati. Crimes such as rape, and sexual assault are crimes of power. While not all men commit them, other men cover them up and yet other men look away. Ignoring the behaviour is condoning it.
Politics of all persuasions is dominated by men and is considered a career of power. Attracting those people who, despite our ideals, use and abuse this power. It’s a well paid gig and with a bit of manoeuvring, legislation can be made to help out some mates. Grant funding can be allocated to people who might fund us. And groups who would never vote for us, perhaps women, indigenous groups, environmental groups, might miss out on funding and beneficial legislation. And again, not all of these people use and abuse. Some cover up for others and some look away.
So I get the anger and frustration. In fact I did see an interview with Leigh Sales this week that summed up what she was seeing quite well. And the Brittney Higgins, Christian Porter matters have really just brought it all to a head.
There’s a link to the Leigh Sales article here
https://centralnews.com.au/2021/03/17/leigh-sales-asks-why-powerful-who-abuse-trust-keep-getting-away-with-it/
The Magpie’s use of the term clitoratti (fair enough since the gals use the terms ‘sausage fest’ and ‘big swinging dicks’ etc) refers only to the manipulative, political party-affiliated driven sector of the womens movement. All the rest are … well, they’re women, with genuine social and personal concerns.
Then Magpie you should know that like all protests, amongst the women marching in the march4justice were women who had never marched before. Some who had been raped, assaulted and abused. Some who just didn’t want this culture to continue because they had daughters and granddaughters. Some brought their sons.
Although I get that this is a man hate thing and a political weapon for some. For many, this is an issue that transcends political affiliations and goes to the core of our society.
Why, when someone has power or control over another, do we feel the need to take advantage of that person or persons? It’s unfortunate that men are mostly holders of that power in our society. And it’s even more unfortunate that as a society we accept that this is so.
Well, as to the last bit, we don’t, actually, not any more.
As to your other points, please refer to The Magpie’s reply to commenter Sue.
Could you be a bit more specific about which bit are we not any more?
Your last line.
The fact that a small percentage of the population protested, shows that only a small percentage of the population will no longer accept people in positions of power or control can taking advantage of others. Like it or not, the issues being protested about are about power and control. Only 28% of directors, 18% of CEOs and 32.5% of key management are women. So mostly those in positions of power and control are men.
Despite those protesting, the majority of us are happy to sit back, watch it on TV, read the papers or read someone else’s opinion piece about how those fools got their priorities all arsed up. And get riled up about how it’s a politically motivated lefty greeny scheme, (there might even be a few lezzos or commies in there) and we nod and think about ourselves.
Because for most of us, these matters don’t affect us personally, we’d rather not stick our neck out. We’d rather not rock the boat. We might briefly think about what our mothers or wives and daughters or our granddaughters have to deal with in their lives. But we do know from our experience that someone in power will make life difficult for us if we do. So we accept that it is what it is and we make excuses for our choices.
Faulty reasoning there, especially in the opening line, which completely ignores the multitudes that saw and agreed with the protesters – on TV and heard them on radio. And while many in the womens’ movement would decry the low stats you quote, you ignore fail to crucially say from what base the statistics started from and when. Those figures, while the gals would say not nearly enough, may well represent significant progress towards the their ideal of parity.
if you’re suggesting The ‘Pie is ‘getting riled up’ about the possibility of political motivation outside and beyond the benefit of women, what is your point? Should not feasible possibilities be aired?
And just another thought: perhaps it would be far more progressive if we thought not more about the lot of our mothers, wives and daughters and what they have to deal with, but rather think more about what our fathers, husbands and sons should be learning about their own thinking. That would be a much better place to start.
The stats came from WGEA
https://www.wgea.gov.au/publications/gender-workplace-statistics-at-a-glance-2020
And while I don’t believe my reasoning is flawed, I do agree the attitude of our fathers, husbands, sons and grandsons needs to change.
Interesting Read about councils rorting the NDRRA
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/roads-to-ruin-serious-questions-about-billions-spent-on-recovery-in-queensland-20210318-p57bzl.html?fbclid=IwAR1s476cpfWcdIZdZgAqO4FeUuTvviDfByDf45SW7ksnkguowp0k_Q5Ot_Q
Senator Malcolm Roberts has highlighted exactly this in a largely ignored speech to the senate several months, and reprinted in full in this blog. But never fear, that ferocious, incorruptible watchdog, the LGAQ will be all over this – if they aren’t already.
The rorting of the NDRRA has been going on for years and it’s a yearly joke in some council areas that councils need a disaster of some type and be to declared a disaster area so that they can claim disaster funds to do work that their budgets can not afford. The other issues that this article raises are:
> Why doesn’t the Queensland Reconstruction Authority publically publish a list of works funded together with the amount provided for each job on their Website to increase the transparency and accountability of this process
> Why aren’t qualified officer’s or delegates of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority on the ground inspecting the approved funded works being carried out and completed to the relevant construction standards.
> What is the extent of financial reporting and evidence of completion of each individual funded project that recipient councils are required to submit to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
Normally I agree with you. On many, many topics. But your reaction to the women’s protests marches is exactly what women are angry about. When did I miss the bit about these women hating ‘all men’? When and where was that said? What I heard was women calling out disgusting behaviour perpetrated by men. Mostly by men with power. If you can’t understand or comprehend that then you are a paid up member of the ‘what about me’ brigade. Many of the women marching have loving male fathers, brothers, partners and sons. None of us hate ‘all men’. None of us are saying that. What we are saying is that ‘some’ men sometimes get it horribly wrong in the way they communicate or act with women and some are actual rapists and violent killers. And we are calling these men out! Please rethink or listen to the actual words of Brittany and other women. Listen closely to the women in your life too.
Like politics, protests are as much about perception as reality. Many of the signs and placards carried a group message for men (‘Rapists should be hung’ was an unfortunate grammatical error in one, others were group-based (‘men’) rather than specific nouns or modifiers like ‘some’). And The ‘Pie, being more politically motivated than socially (a sin perhaps but there it is) expressed an opinion in the blog about the blurring of the two major issues which urgently need addressing by what he believes was politically motivated organisational moves. And perhaps inadequately, but didn’t I make my stand quite clear on misogamy and sexual harassment? In all, Sue, I was talking about method, not motivation. Your points would’ve been completely valid if you had not misunderstood that.
Yes Sue, we should listen to women more, like the many lesbians who are in violent relationships, who is listening to them, and women in the workplace who have to cop unwanted advances from other women in the office, and what about the teenage girls who are sold off by their mothers to 30 or 40 year old men because that is their culture or religion, who is protesting for them, no one, where were the signs depicting their plight at the march, no where to be seen.
Police data from 18/19 shows 97% of sexual offenders are men. You are clutching at straws. And maybe parts of your own anatomy.
Is wanking by yourself counted as a sexual offence?
Only if you do it publicly.
Then all Australian parliaments are peopled wall to wall with repeat sex offenders.
Horse shit ducks nuts, you are driveling shit, as someone married to a cop I can tell you violence amongst the lesbian population is as high as any other group, and I see you chose to ignore the plight of young women sold off by their mothers, like most of the fucking hypocrites at that rally you just choose the targets that suit your narrative, you’re a disgrace.
And the lesbian population is approximately 3% of Australians. But yes, there is DV in some lesbian relationships. Unfortunately men account for 5 in 6 DV offenders. Ask your wife how many men get hauled in for DV.
I am sure Wacky Wong will be demanding the Transport Workers Union, Electrical Trades Union and CFMEU have no gender pays gaps. Oh that’s right they have all males in leadership roles.
Albo, Wong & labor = zero creditability – if they were serious they would prove what is possible by fixing their backyard first.
Pie, your comments re the women’s March4Justice in Canberra (there were a number of other simultaneous events around the country) were way off the mark. At least you have cynically outed yourself as being a dinosaur. So we know clearly where you stand on this issue. Maybe it’s not too late for you.
Other white privileged males tend to play the victim when it comes to women speaking out or being “promoted to make up the numbers”. And they continue to oppress women more by their inaction than their blatant patriarchy.
You should have a look at the Kristina Keneally interview on ABC’s Insiders this morning. You and others might actually see the women (and men) who protested or simply support this movement may have a point. Kristina clearly identified the issues. They are uncomfortable to listen to as a man.
At best, I think we have all stood by and chosen to do nothing about these issues at certain times, maybe our entire lives. And women have suffered in silence for too long.
Gosh, where to start … perhaps to observe that the word ‘privileged’ and The Magpie rarely if ever have gone together in the same sentence.
The’Pie did see the Keneally interview (do you think that because someone holds a different emphasis to you that they live in a cave?). It was excellent and articulate, she always has talked a lot of clear-headed sense.
So you apparently know clearly where I stand on this issue? And just where would that be, my knee-jerking friend, care to enlighten us with your view of where we stand? On a matter of semantics, gender quotas are exactly women being ‘promoted’ (favoured) to make up the numbers, and that’s almost word for word from to many leaders of the womens movement. They believe, perhaps not incorrectly, that merit must be put aside to right a larger imbalance, but that is debatable, and anyone whose livelihood and career is threatened by such a policy has every right to disagree with the idea. Not the puerile argument ‘but I’m a bloke and she’s just a sheila’ – it gets a bit closer to the bone when someone’s ability to contribute to their family’s welfare and future is threatened – the right to protest doesn’t just belong to some identifying group – i.e. females . But saying all that, does that somehow make me some sort of whimpering victim and apologist? The Magpie has NEVER thought of himself as a victim, and as an adult, has never made anyone else feel like a victim, although circumstances may have led others to see themselves that way. Sensible comments on this topic aren’t to be stifled or censored, but discussed civilly (which you have, although in error) until brute power must be confronted.
The crux of the blog piece (God, do I have to explain it again, I really must be an inarticulate goof with no language skills at all) the Canberra march was not the time for this broad brush display of anger because it was self-defeating. Especially because when two other crucial issues should have been the sole focus were shuffled into the background. And The Magpie has every right to question whether the gatherings …particularly Canberra … were quietly organised in the background by a group with a hidden agenda, utilising the anger and frustration of Australian women for their own ulterior motives. It’s an opinion and may well be wrong, but I’m yet to be convinced of it. And unless you suddenly have some magical mandate, you can’t speak on behalf of both the participants and the ‘organisers’. My blog was a fair and critical point of view, and it was NOT borne out of any sense of being a victim. Except of course, continually feeling like a victim time and again of political skullduggery.
Keneally is a carping lunatic Pie. I’ve rarely heard her say anything positive about anything!
Failed NSW Premier, failed to get elected to the Federal House of Reps, then sneaked in the side door to a vacant Senate spot.
She made a valid point or two on Insiders today.
The same Kristina Keneally whose entire political career has been dependent on the protection of series of powerful men – Eddie Obied to boost her into the premiers job (and then suffered the largest loss in NSW history), into the senate via a man resigning, and Albo slotting her into her current shadow cabinet position to keep the numbers even.
Well, that is praise indeed …she’s learnt how to game the system beautifully. Obviously didn’t help Obeid when he ran into a spot of bother.
But you’re point in pointed … up to a point. Should she not have used powerful men to get ahead, and then maybe later shaft them if they become enlightened? Isn’t that the game plan?
Do we have another burst water main ion the way.
This leak has been on-going for a while now. Water seeping through the bitumen in the left hand turn lane from Ross River Rd inbound into Balls Lane at Mysterton.
Hopefully, the TCC will take remedial action before the water pipe bursts and repairs have to close off this very busy intersection. Ha ha, just kiddin’, as if, fat chance are Ladbroke’s odds.
At least Jenny won’t be flooding businesses this time but the soccer club in the nearby park might be having swimming lessons instead of playing soccer if a water pipeline bursts.
This water seepage has mostly stopped in the last few days but a mate commented that it might now be getting soaked up by the surrounding drying soils since Townsville hasn’t had any decent rain since mid February.
I wonder if Council will investigate the cause of this water seepage. Probably not.
But the point is, Crits, was it stopped by intervention, or something like your mate said. If the latter, it was still a leak that should be on the council’s radar. When are these bastards … the leaders who have ruined the city’s finances … realise that they cannot bury their water problems … not just can’t figuratively, but can’t, literally.
Re the (poorly attended) Legal affairs & Safety Committee re Youth Justice Townsville hearing – I would suggest that the poor attendance was not due to apathy (as channel 7 news said), but because people are sick of listening to more talk.
Re the sisters stepping out – dinosaurs didn’t die from a metoerite, they died because they did not have a marketing department
What I don’t understand is why Ms Brittney Higgins has not taken her cries of rape further (and I do believe her) and reported the crime to the Police, so the rapist can be charged? It is all out in the open, so she has nothing to hide or be embarrassed about.
thought she had and investigations are underway. Is that not correct?
Correct.
The grub us being investigated over at least one other rape. Story is that he is a narcissistic, social climbing psychopath. Which means he would be well-camouflaged in Parliament House.
Some years ago when a labor government was in power there were rape allegations made against Bill Shorten. The government said it was a matter for the police to investigate. Nothing was said by the ABC, social media and electronic and print media generally.
It is a great pity, but not suprising that Christian Porter has not been afforded the same treatment.
No-one reported the Bill Shorten allegations?
How did you find about it, then?
Well, one way would’ve been reading The Magpie’s Nest, which has detailed it at least once in it’s half dozen mentions here. It is a well documented whitewash job, and The ‘Pie believes that it played a role in Shorten’s electoral loss to be PM.
Took a drive up Castle Hill yesterday and stopped off to take a good look at the small park Townsville City Council has built at a cost of almost $4 million.
Jenny Hill has got to be kidding. It doesn’t pass the pub test, or any other test for that matter.
I also see in today’s Astonisher she is demanding the Federal Government reverse its decision to end Job Keeper payments at the end of this week.
Good luck with that Jenny.
Its called tilting at windmills.
Well, hang on, why not? Why shouldn’t a wildly successful regional mayor who runs her dazzling city with flair, elan and fiscal probity, free of any stains of corruption or self-interest, offer her wisdom to Canberra? Especially that Josh whathisname, who wouldn’t known how to skim off a Bunnings sausage sizzle to save his life.
The ‘Pie says Jenny for Canberra, Jenny for Canberra.
Or anywhere else will do.
All a build up for a tilt at a senate spot.
Jenny would soon find out that she is a very small stone in a very big pond if she made the move to federal politics.
Would hardly matter to a labor foot soldier marching under their usual banner of ‘Show Me The Money’.
Mayor Hill believes the end of Job-keeper spells economic calamity for Townsville . Instead of talking to Labor strategists she should talk to the business people who can’t fill the many jobs available in the Ville . Mayor Hill is so concerned about workers she increased rates 2 % across the City . Can anyone confirm that Council rates payment plans come with 8 % + interest price tag for those down on their luck .
Mike – It’s already 4% if you don’t pay by the due date, so another 4% for payment plan wouldn’t surprise me at all.
I visited the new look out on castle Hill a few months ago when they were still building it.
There have been calls from a few people querying the cost – that’s a natural process, people have the right to access to the breakdown on how they arrived at the final figure.
One thing to consider though is presumably large earth works have been carried out on top of a few meters shy of a mountain, digger’s, Jack hammers (?), all of the area then needs to be prepared. All the concrete gets taken up there, the huge carpark opposite also needs the same thing , then there’s the design and civil engineering sign off , it’s built by the gov so there’s arse covering they don’t want the thing collapsing. It’s the difficult location that makes it expensive. The stadium and pipeline probably had blow outs , most gov projects do.
I say let’s just be thankful they’ve created a brand new place that will be visited by tourists. The mount louisa track would have cost a fair amount as its building concrete steps up the side of a mountain. These sort of places can be enjoyed by most people and add to the tourist dollar of Townsville. Create these “free” places to visit and they stay longer – its the hallmark of all successful tourist destinations.
Ok, reasonable points (The ‘Pie read somewhere about 500 tonnes of rock had to be removed, would like to know if that’s correct) then given the widespread ‘questions’ about this project, where’s the problem with having the break-down of costs made public? How can such information come under the classification of commercial in confidence? Much of those rulings of in-confidence have to do with the tendering process itself and ‘intellectual property’ before anyone is chosen. Otherwise, we will still be entitled to think of either brown paper bags or government largesse with public monies. How about the company itself volunteering or at least agreeing to revealing a breakdown of figures, and if they are blocked from doing so by the government, then we know precisely where the responsibility lies.
The Port is still actively purchasing rock, so I wonder if they investigated a potential sale of these Castle Hill earthworks to the Port to offset costs?
And wonder how much they got if they did?
Now don’t forget this my fellow water leakers – the facility is on top of the beautiful Castle Hill, it has been built with high category cyclone rated materials, and has had to be insured against vandalism and theft, plus it has ‘million dollar views’.
C’mon, $4m measly dollars. Money well spent!!
Theft? Of what?
The Mayor-In-Waiting replies.
Deputy Mayor Mark Molachino sent the following email reply to a ratepayer who queries both water quality and what the ratepayer called the ‘pint-sized’ park on Castle Hill. So finally we know.
“Understand the issue you are having with the water. We are currently having issues with Blue Green algae in the Ross dam, as are most of the NQ councils due to the summer temperature at present. We will continue to work to get this back to our pristine water. Rest assured the water is safe albeit with some odour occasionally.
The pint sized sheds did not cost 3.8 million alone. The funding was used to not only create the event space, but also to install permanent light infrastructure for the highly popular HALO event, and construct a new boardwalk-style pedestrian staircase on Walker Street connecting the hill with the CBD. We also had to remove 500 tonnes of buried concrete from the old restaurant before construction could commence.
So there was three projects that were funded from this allocation, not that this was widely reported by the media.”
‘Pie (no ‘reply’ button available), theft of oxygen mainly, going by the vacuous bullshit that is being spouted about the shed on the hill. If the federal member has contributed one dollar under the BewdyFull Cities Plan then surely he’s prepared to account for it – in fact he’s obliged to. But perhaps we have to wait for 18 months or whatever (like political donation announcements) for some actual accounting. Ho hum.
You really are silly childish bugger, Dredger. The tenders, the oversight and (presumably) the signing off on the various stages of the project as outlined in Frothy’s email, make it the council’s in-house info that has to be revealed. But keep these comm ents coming mate, it shows you’re shivering like a dog at the sound of thunder.
‘Pie, the thing is, for the thousandth time you are kicking a dead horse that does not intend to reveal its budget knickers. They don’t have to so they won’t. Whereas Phil O’Herbert could probably hand you a printed pamphlet with all the details.
A pamphlet about the size of the one your heroine arrogantly handed the federal government when she demanded $50M for her ‘babee’ Landsdown?
Besides, the horse is alive and kicking, The ‘Pie doesn’t expect any figures or explanation, but will forever offer the alternative of how the deal should be viewed.
Thanks for clearing that up Jenny, sorry, Guy.
I see Robert Darks Industry Qld website is now subscriber only, good on him, he has offered free info and stories to industry for a few years now, quite reasonable at $200 a year, I think more will go down this path.
Rob, formerly an ABC journo, has stuck with this venture through some rocky times, and deserves all the success it will now bring. He has also had the skilled input of top notch journo Belinda Humphries, a former Bully night editor.
Power on, Industry Queensland, a great success story.
And The ‘Pie must add that well lived local freelance journo Jan green did a lot of work on the publication, too. Rob is based in Brisbane, but he still keeps close ties to Townsville.
Magpie, I must agree (first time ever) with Dredger – the reply button is missing. Anyway, to answer your question of ‘steal what’? Well our friendly Townsville grubs will gladly steal anything not bolted down (and bolted down). The $4.0m viewing area has plants, garden mulch, roofing and metal support beams. The metal parts can be used to modify/repair/enhance old shitbox AU Falcons and VT Commodores, and the plants and mulch can be dried out mixed with some baccy and ganja and either smoked or sold to unsuspecting dopey German backpackers. Please don’t ask how the gardens up there are going to be watered when no water infrastructure works in the Ville.
And the ratepayers of Townsville thank you for your helpful activity suggestions for those with rings through their noses and time on their hands. (With apologies to C&W singer Lee Greenwood).
NB A reference the boomerphobes won’t get
Why is the reply button complaint coming up lately? It’s always been the case that they don’t show for the fifth? layer of comment threads.
Interesting. The ‘Pie can’t comment or take any action in this area, he is not able to reply to himself or to the blog comments.
A ‘mute’ button for ‘Steve from Belgian dip’ would be awesome!
Yes please to the mute button.
Poor snowflakes, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the comments section.
A “mute” button for Steve is silly – just add a “this announcement sponsored by ALP Walker Street” would suffice.
The fifth BG? You really need to STOP watching the dryer at the BG laundromat going round. On second thoughts just STOP.
I only stop when it stops.
The explanation from Frothy Molachino as to why a small park and two shade shelters cost just under $4 million is typical of our “don’t you worry about that” council.
Now, and only now, are we the ratepayers informed that all these other separate projects were included inn the $4 million cost of the Castle Hilll mini park. Sounds like damage control to me.
Surely we are allowed to know who the contractor was. Or is that “Commercial in Confidence”, like everything else this secretive council does with our money?
FFS Frothy, give us some credit for sorting the truth from the bullshit.
The Crime and Corruption Commission has been alerted to this scam. Waiting with hope but not much confidence that they will do their job and investiagate this sham.
Anything that goes out to Tender will have a public record so the details will be out there. Even if the Contractor(s) awarded the contract to build the the Elon Musk Space X Viewing platform on top of Castoff Hill were on local buy the value of this work (millions) requires Council to seek multiple quotes. LG Tender Box might contain some details, or Council public records and meeting Minutes may also contain some info. If I had the time I would do some investigating. Unfortunately I don’t. Otherwise give the Doona lady, Mark’s Cuppacino or the sweaty Prince a call, they might be happy to discuss details with the community. Unlikely, but it’s a possibility. Certainly our shitty and ‘captured’ local Newspapers won’t be looking into this.
Hey, bit of a hand needed. Someone (not saying who) a while back sent in a pic of the work going on for the new stairs-way to Castle Hill at the end of Walker Street. Can’t find it. Can the supplier please resend, with the original date they sent it, pls?
Scotty from marketing had a bit of a breakdown this morning – bottom lip quivering, eyes welling up, voice all shaken, it seems the pressure is getting to our god-fearing smirking PM. The idiot is presiding over a Government which has had Ministerial sex scandals in Parliament, rapes and sexual assaults in parliament, and now some grubs jacking off on to women’s desks in parliament. on I wonder if there what’s been some Troy Buswell seat sniffing going on also?
Message to Smirko – approve an external investigator to investigate. Publicly report the findings. Sack any perpetrators and culprits openly and publicly. Stop hiding behind secrecy veils and parliamentary privilege you arseclown.
You missed ‘ … and resign.’ Oh wait, who’s that lurking in the wings? Darth Dutton? All is forgiven Smirko, you’re doing just fine.
I once worked with a guy who got caught rubbing his doodle over a couple of the office girls coffee cups and water bottles. When busted, he admitted to doing it for a number of years, so my advice to anyone working in Parliament House is go buy yourself an ultraviolet lamp and run it over your cutlery and office every morning because Parlousment House is obviously filled with sick fuckers that should be locked up in an asylum.
The Magpie had deleted this comment, but changed his mind when he realised a vital question needed to asked.
Did you reprimand ‘the guy’ for his despicable and possibly dangerous actions? Did you report him for possible injury by illness to some colleagues? Was it you who ‘busted’ him? Or did you just laugh?
I’d say it was a form of sexual assault
This whole scenario graphically confirms that which we had all suspected, Parliament is full of wankers.
Report in southern media on last Saturday’s game between the Cowboys and Dragons:
“St. George Illawarra were too slick for the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville, winning 25-18 in round two action”.
Headline in today’s Townsville Bulletin:
“We can’t let sides off the hook – Granville”.
The Cowboys got thrashed 24-0 in the first round and although the scores were close last weekend, St George always looked like winning. At one stage in the second half the Cowboys had 4 sets close to the Dragons try line and still couldn’t score a try.
So, how have they been letting the opposition “off the hook”?
Well, logic would surely tell you ‘by not scoring’. You’ve more or less answered it yourself.
But hey, while we’re in this rare territory for this blog (actual games rather than business shenanigans) here’s a Magpie prediction. One of the big stories this coming season will be …. the adequacy of the Total Tools stadium pitch. It’s proved sus even in good conditions but when damp, it gets so easily chewed up, as sections of it were on Saturday – one particular patch crucially close to the goal line. It reminds you of the sandy Lang (Suncorp) Stadium debacle of a few years ago.
By contrast, one of the best games of the last few years was played in blinding rain at the new Parramatta ground when the Eels held on to triumph over the Storm. Not only was the handling of both sides phenomenal, but the pitch caused no problems at all. Quite amazing. Maybe the Total Tools groundskeeper could ask for a few hints.
Indeed Pie, a new hybrid grass was used on the new stadium, why the fuck they would move away from the proven turf blend they had used at Kirwan for many years is anyone’s guess. The issue comes from the turf roots not binding the soil, so you get big chunks of it scooped out, it’s a complete fuck up in my opinion, wrong grass or wrong soil mix, 18 months in it should not be doing this.
I went to a Bledisloe game at Suncorp a few years back and the surface was flat out dangerous in any area where a scrum had been packed down. This was of course a proper 16 man scrum, unlike the laughable “roll it at your team mates feet” effort that passes as a scrum in league these days. Wallabies won that night!
Maybe it’s the same guy / Gal looking after the Stadium Turf that’s looking after Cluden Park turf? They are having the same problem after they put sand on the track, and the Cluden meeting last Friday had to be transferred to Cairns, also the story is 1 horse lost a eye from the kickback of sand, and the locals aren’t very happy about it and A complaint might be going to QRIC for investigation?
Given these are the words of a politician, Michael Gunner, NT’s Chief Minister, read with caution if you are uplifted by someone who says in plain language what we have been crying out for here in Queensland.
There a couple of interesting details in here worth thinking about, including the very practical one of slapping a tracking bracelet immediately on a just-detained suspect of a crime.
Cutting Crime, Supporting Our Police, Putting Victims First
23 March 2021
The Territory Labor Government is bringing in a significant suite of new measures to cut crime, keep the community safe and put victims first.
The measures will include tougher than ever consequences for breach of bail – this means if a young person commits a serious breach while on bail, their bail will be automatically revoked and they will be taken into custody.
Police will also be given more powers to tackle youth crime through expanded options to apply Electronic Monitoring.
The package will include legislative and non-legislative measures to reduce youth crime through targeting repeat offenders in the Northern Territory.
There are practical consequences to these policies and that is why the Government will also be allocating $5 million for additional new youth remand infrastructure. This will allow for an increase of young offenders on remand.
The new measures will be developed immediately and ready for Parliament in May sittings. They are:
1) Automatic revocation of bail
Bail is a privilege not a right.
If a young person commits a serious breach of bail – their bail will be revoked and they will be taken into remand. A serious breach of bail will include re-offending while on bail, breaching certain electronic monitoring conditions and curfew, failure to attend court, and failing to complete youth diversion.
2) Expanding the list of prescribed offences
The Bail Act will be amended to expand the list of ‘prescribed offences’. This means there is NO presumption of bail given to offences such as unlawful entry, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, assault of a worker, assault of police and other serious offences.
3) Expansion of Electronic Monitoring (EM) by police
Police will now have more circumstances where they will be able to immediately place a monitoring device on a young person who is alleged to have committed a crime. For example, this means police will immediately be able to place a monitoring device on a young person who has committed a crime. Police will also be able to consider whether electronic monitoring is appropriate for use during police diversion.
4) Ability to Record Breach of Bail Antecedents
Judges will now know if and how many times a youth has breached bail to make the best sentencing decisions. It will serve exactly the same purpose as the old breach of bail policy, but significantly lessen the amount of paperwork for police.
5) Toughen the Traffic Act 1987 to hold young people accountable
This will enable young people behind the wheel of a car to be breath tested the same as adults. Recognising the importance of time when doing a breath test, amendments will be made to the Youth Justice Act to allow police (after making reasonable attempts to have a responsible adult be present) to carry out a test. (For August Sittings)
6) Amend Section 64 of the Youth Justice Act
Youth must face consequence – if a young offender fails to complete their diversion, they will have to go back before the courts and have their case reconsidered.
The amendment will also remove the issue of having courts referring young people back to Police for consideration for diversion. It will mean courts can only refer youth under this section where the youth have not previously been considered for diversion.
The Territory Labor Government is also tackling the root causes of crime across the Territory – including poor housing and alcohol abuse.
We are building more houses than ever in remote communities, and our alcohol reforms aimed at cutting alcohol related crime and antisocial behaviour and harm across the Northern Territory are working.
Other Territory Labor Government initiatives to tackle crime since 2016 include:
Clear and Immediate Consequences for Repeat Offenders: including the establishment of a community work program that will see offenders cleaning graffiti and clearing weeds and landscaping.
Targeting Ringleaders: we are introducing legislation this week that targets adults who recruit youth to commit offences – punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
Family Responsibility and Accountability: returning Family Responsibility Agreements and Orders– allowing agreements to be made and courts to order families of troubled youths to participate in family group conferencing and counselling, education or training, housing management and financial counselling or on-country programs.
Strengthening the Voice of Victims: victim/offender conferencing expanded to all regions, increased funding for financial relief of victims (such as resecuring premises and vehicles, clean-up, and security assessments).
Expansion of the Back on Track Program: increasing boot camps and on country work camps across the Territory, behavioural programs and increased training and education for at-risk youths.
Community Safety: retainment of police levels through regular recruitment programs, expansion of the School Based Policing Program, increase CCTV with a focus on suburban locations, increase CCTV monitoring.
Penalties for Property Crime: we are reviewing of penalties for all property offences including unlawful entries, unlawful use of motor vehicles
Supporting Our Police: we have put more police on the beat than ever before, and given them the best resources possible, including a record budget, more CCTV, and built new police stations.
I’ll believe all that when I see all that, in operation. “Gunna’s” track record is on a par with the Alphabet et al
Yeah, that’s why the note of caution was included.
But did Mr Gunner shed some tears when he made that statement, like Scomo did?
I am quite stunned at the Mayor’s recent comments reyhe comparable QNI closure cataclysm at the end of job keeper. My rental properties have started to secure rent increases and values going up. Why would anyone put that at such risk for a cheap political point? My property values decreased by between 30% and 40% during the Clive cluster with QNI. Nobody wants to go back to that! Is her relationship with the Federal member so poisonous that she would actively harm investor confidence to try and win an argument? That is seriously scary territory, if so.
Not one part of what you have said makes sense to me. Economics 101?
The reason they went with the new hybrid grass for the stadium is that they somehow forgot to start growing the proven turf blend in time for it to be laid before the opening of the stadium. They switched to the hybrid version because it grows quicker and could meet the deadline.
Yeah, those damn stadiums, they sneak up on you, don’t they, eh?
30 years of putting up with the unorganised tossers in this town that would not surprise me at all
I suspect that we have one or two Labor trolls posting here under numerous pseudonyms. The bile and venom against anything LNP-related is sophomoric, crude and unfunny. Give it a break you twats. Stick to policing Facebook on behalf of the glass jawed local idiots.
Guy?
No More Dredging?
Not the ECQ?
Steve from Belgian Gardens?
Surely these are the lovers of all things Labor that you speak of?
NMD, ECQ and Stevie are articulate and reasonably intelligent – if somewhat misguided. It is the “pop ups” and one shot wonders to whom I refer – see The Sook above.
You should sede the ones that DON’T get published. Actually, no you shouldn’t, so you don’t … if you get my drift.
Grumpy, just at this moment the bile and venom being expressed against anything LNP-related is mainly due to the sophomoric, crude and unfunny behaviour being revealed about identifiable LNP operatives in Canberra. Moaning about “Labor trolls” is approximately what I expect next from the PM who is demonstrably not articulate or reasonably intelligent because he’s so desperate to blame someone else for the ugly mess sitting right on his plate in front of him.
Shit, Dredges. No sooner had I said something sort of nice about you and you go off getting things arse-about again. Focus, man, focus.
Trickey Hickey.
So let’s see now.
Some weeks ago, the Tasmanian Liberal Party told Tasmanian maverick state MP Sue Hickey she would not be re-endorsed at the next state election, and she was ‘effectively sacked’ for continually siding with the opposition.
On Tuesday this week, Ms Hickey was interviewed on ABC radio, where she said an ‘unnamed high profile Liberal’ had made offensive remarks to her about Brittany Higgins at a function in Hobart on March 1.
Then today (Wednesday), Ms Hickey used the safety of parliamentary privilege to name Senator Eric Abetz as the person in question, claiming he told her at a recent function ‘as for that Higgins girl, anybody so disgustingly drunk could have slept with anybody, could have slept with one of our spies and put the security of the nation at risk.’
The media needed no prompting to put the poo fan on high.
Abetz, a senior Liberal from Tasmania and a person who would have had a major say in Hickey’s disendorsement, ‘categorically denies the allegation.’
“To suggest I’d make light of a rape allegation is horrendous. At no stage has Ms Hickey ever raised concerns with me about any of our conversations, she even had offered to buy me a coffee when we met again two weeks after our March 1 meeting.”
But Abetz’s problem is that it does sound like something say, given this buttock-clenching, unpleasant wowser’s track record.
And the tricky Ms Hickey knows it. She has neatly put Abetz in the position of having to defend totally unproven allegations of the sort the public would only too readily believe.
But ah ha, our gal on a mission has evidence. Hickey says she can produce ‘many’ witnesses she spoke to later about the Abetz’s supposed private conversation with her. Later, eh?
It would seem that Ms Hickey has apparently never heard of the rules regarding hearsay evidence, but she will need to be a quick study if she ever has the honesty and courage of her convictions to make her claims outside the cowardly protection of the parliamentary chamber. It would interesting to ask why did she sit on this for three weeks before reporting it, if it made her, in her own words’feel sick?. It’s not as though she is a victim with anything to lose.
With a straight face and clearly bent intent, she called for the Liberal Party (you know, the Party she has been kicked out of for continually siding with the opposition in parliament) and those in positions to pre-select senators for election tickets, to “not reward poor behaviour”.
Nor should they or the over-eager media, reward cheap, transparent revenge attacks that cannot be proven.
And yet again, Brittany Higgins is the political football. Disgusting all round.
I’d believe Hickey before I’d believe Abetz. Apparently so does the Tasmanian Premier.
Tasmanian Premier calls on PM to ‘consider’ accusation Eric Abetz ‘slut-shamed’ Brittany Higgins
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-24/mp-accuses-senator-eric-abetz-of-slut-shaming-brittany-higgins/100016180
And The ‘Pie actually believes you, Duck Nuts, are a paedophile who mutilates young children in sadistic rituals. The ‘Pie has spoken to many people about you, after you confessed your sins to the old bird, so that is the proof you cannot deny. Shame, shame , shame. Sue if you will, but the claims will be repeated if The ‘Pie 1. ever gets to parliament, and 2. ever finds out you the fuck you are.
Or perhaps a more considered reply would be that it hardly matters who you, or the Tasmanian premier, believes. Are we to throw all the rules because proof is not available, but someone ‘looks good for it’? You don’t like Abetz,(neither does The ‘Pie, he’s a bible-bashing arsesole) but how would you KNOW what he said? The ‘Pie speaks against Hickey on the basis of the total lack of evidence. not because he likes Abetz (you’d have to be jesting). Or that The ‘Pie is a member of the Liberal Party (that’ll be the day p- never has yet). Comments like yours prolong and intensify one of the more serious offshoots of cancel culture, the false ‘form guide’, which has also been applied to Porter. The danger of the media and web taking over the functions of the law should be opposed at all junctures.
Neither you or I know anything of value about either matter, and The ‘Pie will be taking that in account with any other comments coming in from anyone else on this broad issue.
Haha! I preferred your first answer.
However, I did add an article clarifying that the Tasmanian Premier also backs Hickey. Odd, I know. But there you go.
I’m not a fan of Porter, but I was aware of his political dealings before I was aware of his extra curricular habits. However it is right that he is investigated. As the highest legal representative in the country he should uphold at least some basic standards.
And you are right about Abetz being a bible- bashing arsehole. (Interesting visual). He also has a history of making poorly thought out, badly researched and offensive comments. Therefore, it’s not unimaginable that he would have said these things.
All of which, as previously said, proves absolutely nothing. It is opinion only. You must know by now that The Magpie’s primary interest is always the law and procedural fairness.
True. We shall await the outcome of both.
And it looks like the failed furniture salesman has found himself in the news again for all the wrong reasons.
Readers can see the Les Walker video for free, i.e.
https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/queensland/les-walker-mp-pub-altercation/video/7a8e79187cbe3a086aa57f474469818f
To my mind, Les has a long way to go before he can earn the title of “Biffo”.
Thanks, Dorfus. The Magpie clicked successfully on the video but maybe that is because he is a subscriber to the Bulletin/Courier. Not sure if none subscribers will be able to view it. Let us know.
Certainly makes Walker appear to be the aggressor, although that does not excuse the ‘one punch’ outcome, especially since he was surrounded by hostiles. Thought the later parts of the video were just as interesting; as Walker was being anxiously examined on the deck and then groggily raised to his feet, a couple of knuckle dragging dick wits were doing a juvenile ‘victory’ dance – not that they were necessarily involved, but nothing like a bit of mindless violence to make a neanderthal get a hard on.
I’m not a message bank walker fan, but the video to me looked like Les was provoked. Didn’t the first guy come over out of the blue and poke him in the neck?
No excuse for a man of whom the utmost probity is expected. All like kids in a playground sand throwing contest.
True Mr Magpie, very true.
i expect the Astonisher will have an influx of visitors on their digital site as they have the CCTV footage of Les Walkers Mad Cow altercation you can watch . Also Greens Senator Larissa Waters has apologised for posting that Peter Dutton was a rape apologist on Twitter . Waters stated her comments had no basis , were defamatory , and false . It took Duttons legal letter to get Waters to act .
She is a wittering lightweight. i.e. Green.
The greens are the new donkey vote, if you don’t know who to vote for, vote green.
I think the greens used to be concerned with the environment but sadly have been taken over by bad actors pushing questionable agendas. The greens are used as a proxy vote for Labor ( who in turn have been taken over by bad actors).
I suppose you could say Labor used to concern itself with working class issues years ago – not anymore. Any political party becomes vulnerable to “entryism” and pretty soon your political party becomes a grab bag for whatever lunacy buys votes to WIN , throwing everyone else under the bus.
The best thing you can do is vote for the personality best to fulfil the role, political parties have lost their way.
Got my wish, Senator Reynolds moved from Defence – good move.
Dutton will do a great job. Love him or loath him, he gets things done.
Excellent job creation move … all those tradies digging and outfitting fall-out shelters now Darth Dutton is in charge of defence.
So Peta Credlin has come come forward claiming to have knowledge of gay orgies during parliament sitting time. Seems like our unaccountable dishonourable taxpayer funded grubby Pollies have been enjoying their jobs in Wonderland, Canberra. I hope Chris Pyne isn’t implicated. Straight family man that he is.
Wonder if she will discuss such ‘outrageous’ behaviour by closet queens with Alana Jones.
I’ll have you know that I was just lifting my shirt to tuck it in, it just took a while.
So according to Peta, the parliamentary staff are all sex crazed pooftas. And she knows who they are. That all sounds a bit threatening. But I’m not sure who she’s threatening. Is she threatening to out the alleged pooftas? Or not out them, so the homophopic LNP Ministry have to avoid all the blokes?
The CCTV footage of Les “Messageblank” Walker getting knocked out with one punch at the Mad Cow has been released and can be viewed on the Astonisher’s website (if you are a subscriber).
No evidence of any sexual assault, but who knows what went on prior to the start of the video footage.
Anyway, Laughable Les STILL can’t remember what happened.
Given his memory problems should he still be representing us in State Parliament? What if he forgets what Anna told him and votes the wrong way? What if he mistakes a nightclub for parliament?
Bet he doesn’t forget to pick up his pay.
ABC News site cost free.
What a cupcake. He definitely stirred things up and was the provocateur. But all it took was one little hit an old Massagewank hit the ground like a cheap deck of cards. Very very amusing. Makes you wonder what the next political instalment will be? We’ve got pollies getting clobbered while drunk in pubs, Pollies staff members tossing off onto other staff members desks, what else is in store??
Walker has to resign. He could no longer “pretend” to be an MP.
Byelection looms!
A valiant attempt at humour, Flutterby.
No courage needed for that statement Mr. Pie.
His resignation should be a laydown misere!
Agree, but sadly, the reality the misery remains ours, even after his laydown he remains.
A distressing fraud matter came up in the Townsville Magistrates Court today (Thursday) when a woman, Natalie Ann Embregts, 66, faced several charges relating to taking and using for her own purposes tens of thousands of dollars – possibly hundreds of thousands – from the substantial superannuation fund of a close relative who is a special needs person. Ms Embergts held enduring power of attorney over the relative’s assets, and The Magpie understands while a sum of $166,000 is alleged to have been misused since 2017, ultimately more than $600,000 may be involved. Police allege the fraud had been happening from 2008 until last year.
In April, 2019, the relative, who suffers dementia and cognitive ability, was found wandering the streets suffering malnutrition. After a spell in hospital, the relative has returned to much better health and now lives in an aged care facility.
Last year, Ms Embregts is who is a registered nurse, had her power of attorney revoked by QCAT
after the Public Guardian had found that financial and health matters in which she was involved amounted to elder abuse.
The magistrate listed the matter for a committal hearing on April 22, when the charges is expected to be sent to the District Court for trial/or plea in the District Court.
Sherif, on examination, you have been informed of facts which are in the public domain, something it is almost certain you are unfamiliar with. Demonstrate where The Magpie has indicated what you say, and your comment will be published.
Cairns Post announces a new police precinct to be built for $3.2Million, the same amount that Townsville spent on a shed at the top of Castle Hill.
Speaks volumes eh?
Magpie, the council would like people to comment on their plan for 2021-2026.
I look forward to your comments on this visionary statement:
https://haveyoursay.townsville.qld.gov.au/67656/widgets/331313/documents/198039
This entire document is meaningless buzz-word gibberish. That in itself is evidence of the emptiness of real vision in that it can’t even use everyday English to expound where this mayor wants us to go (forget ‘council’, this belongs entirely the mayor and former Nous consultant and now our CEO). This is the sort of glossary cheer leading skim-summary so beloved of this mayor, and called out by Phillip Thompson when a similarly vacuous piece of flummery was presented as a detailed submission. for Lansdown funding.
In short, this document spells out precisely what is wrong with this city’s leadership. And our future.
And yes, more in this weekend’s blog … actual examples why this is insulting bullshit.
Is page 6 a picture of the sewerage treatment plant?
Yep. Mt St John..the photo fits nicely with goal 2 which is on page 6: “A circular economy that advances business and moves towards zero waste.”
Not only does the photo depict circular sewage treatment ponds. A sewage plant depicts a circular economy, turning sewage into effluent.
Heh heh heh …liked it.
This pamphlet was a waste of time downloading. Council is an embarrassment. I note the photo of Prins grinning like the cat who got the bird. I can only assume this is because he knows he has successfully fucked us all over and he knows that as a city we are too stupid to do anything about it.
So many questions abound … zero landfill by 2030? How’s that supposed be achieved?
And The ‘Pie is happy to provide some buzz-word translation to demonstrate the emptiness and the insult of this waste of money.
For instance, try this:
• Growing the city through world leading
placemaking that provides a national
and international platform.
Translation: This is impossible to translate into understandable language, because it actually means NOTHING.
• World class liveability through excellent
open spaces which promote, protect
and encourage utilisation of our natural
environment and heritage.
Translation: Nice Parks
• Growing the opportunities to participate
in sport and support sporting excellence.
Translation: Nice playing fields
• Developing home-grown entertainment
and an arts culture supported by world
class visual and performing arts facilities.
Translation: We’ve pulled the wool over the city’s eyes with this one for so long, and missed so many perfect opportunities previously, why not give it another gallop, they’ll swallow it again. ‘World Class means ‘maybe as good as Cairns’.
… and not wanting to turd on your journalism style, but “ Growing the opportunities to participate
in sport and support sporting excellence.”
translation” means “look at the Cowboys centre of mediocrity”
“ A city that connects you to what you need at the time you choose” unless you want to connect to Council after 5pm or on weekends.
I have read some turgid turds from this place, but this is a whole new level of crap. It’s like it bubbled up out of the ground in Wulguru.
T(b)CE, To quote a contestant on Married at First Sight. “You can’t polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter”.
The orange ejit may be gone, but the stench surrounding him and the great election “fraud” continues.
Sidney Powell, the chief instigator and repeater of the rigged Dominion voting machine claim, was rightly sued by the makers of Dominion. As her defense to the lawsuit, she is now claiming that “reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact”.
I guess she is actually saying that millions of the Ejit’s followers are dumb schmucks! Who would have guessed?
Firstly, a 5 year plan that fills up only 8 pages???? That’s right – a 12 page document with 4 of those pages containing nothing but pictures or are blank. 8 piddly pages containing a few wank words, some smiling TCC muppets and the remainder being bullshit. I can’t even begin to comment on this lazy, pathetic slap together (or cut and pasted from another hack Council) load of shit.I would like to know the following;
a) Who cobbled this shit together? A TCC employee or a consultant. And if it was a Consultant, how much did this crap cost us? Show us the dollar value.
b) Are all the Councillors in agreement with this release? Did they all vote ‘yes’ to this horrendous document? If you all did, well you are all dickheads like the Mayor and CEO. Shame on you all. Unbefuckinglievable.
It was designed so prize dunce Molachino could understand what it was about, he was also given crayons and butcher paper to draw pictures about some things he might like to see happen in Townsville.
The TCC 5 years plan is a joke with contradictions starting at page 1 to page 2 that states “This corporate plan covers the period from July 2021 to June 2022……”
I think the original release date was planned for April 1st and they fucked that up too.
TCC’s Planning Division are filled with vacuous troglodytes.
The council’s five-year plan?
TCC again becomes BBB…
Bullshit Baffles Brains!!
Jenny Hill’s ‘promise’
Jenny Hill’s reality
Pie, that is brilliant!! Absolutely spot on mate.
I’ll put this out there – I’ll be surprised if Mullet doesn’t announce resignation by 30 JUNE. She’s been very low profile and I don’t think she cares for the job anymore.
LR,
Why?
The Mullet, since the 1990s, has had a single focus to gain, maintain, and exercise power.
Labor power brokers are confident she will beat the dangerous driving causing death charge.
What has changed to stop the Mullet from using Townsville as her personal play thing?
Kelso, on what basis do you make the claim about Labor power-brokers? I’m curious………
It was reported in this blog about two weeks ago or thereabouts. I’ll go back and try to find it.
Sorry Ibp, cannot find it, have gone back to January and my brain is now mush.
As I recall I recounted to the ‘Pie a conversation with a bloke who was dead sure the Mullet would be found not guilty give things not reported in the press. (It may have been by email now that I think of it.)
I think the ‘Pie came back that his sources report that Brisbane ALP higher-ups were confident that the Mullet would not be convicted.
‘Pie, can you help out here?
Yup confirm your recollection. Also a belief by local ALP back room bears. Be interesting to see how.
Car incident aside, I don’t think majority of ALP power brokers all that keen on her anymore.
She’s been after a spot on the senate ticket for years.
‘Pie, just reading your missive again (I know, WTF) I came across this little bit about the women who marched and their speakers:
“Why not deal, with those matters SPECIFICALLY before letting them get lost in the deafening unfocussed witterings of Machiavellian secret agendas of the extreme left Clitoratti.”
Now that a week has gone by and the PM has done nothing whatsoever with the issues around Brittany Higgins and Christian Porter and been saddled with a further number of curly ones by other male party members who seem only able to keep their hands on themselves, perhaps the clitoratti were on the right track after all. Morrison is very keen to wish all his troubles away. I suspect that a big portion of the Australian electorate are quite happy that the marching women, the ABC and various other media are not going to let it go and for the “witterings” to continue.
The ‘Pie’s point of view was entirely about the most effective strategy to move things forward on Higgins and Porter. Still think it would’ve been smarter to stay tightly focussed on that, all the other shit would’ve emerged anyway as a natural consequence. And equal pay, quotas and the like could have been held in the wings, waiting for the right timing to lob. And wanking staffers leaving nothing off the table, disgusting as it is, are not in the same league as rape.
And of course our tabloid electorate are happy for it all to continue, but one wonders if they have considered if this is the best way to achieve their various goals.
You may well be correct, but we’re yet to see.
FFS Plucker, you know better than that.
Yes Pie I do. Apology. It’s been a very big week and I’m letting off steam (but I promise not to do it on an office table)!
It’s steam? See a doctor … or Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.
We are sending Medics and medicine to PNG, which is very proper and neighborly, Maybe PNG could sell or donate some of the 40 X $350,000 Maserati’s that they were able to afford to show off a couple of years ago.
They also got 22 ambulances donated by Japan and 9 Fire engines from China.
Christ!!! They’d give Jenny a run for ther money in the begging bowl stakes.
See our three Labor drones are calling on ScoMo not to end the Job Keeper payments – just three days before the handouts end.
I can see it now, ScoMo gets the “call” late on Friday from three Townsville blokes he has never heard of, so he calls his cabinet together on Saturday to discuss whether Job Keeper should be extended in Townsville to save its tourism industry.
Stewart, Walker and Harper should be down in Melbourne at the moment appearing in the Comedy Festival.
No. They’re now beyond a joke. Seriously.
I feel at home and comforted on this blog and know I’m amongst fellow dingers with some of the comments and claims on here.
Thank you for your support everyone.
Keep up that wrassle with reality, Ding, the Magpie Mafiosi is here to help.
China has confirmed that the extortionate tariff on Australian wines for 5 years, maybe its time to reciprocate when these spendthrifts want to purchase property/ land/businesses et al in Oz.
The intended purchasers are loaded with cash, ergo they must be members of the ruling elite. Which means that we will be reaching the people who can get the ear of Mr. Xi.
Worth noting that they are buying up vast amounts of property in The Philippines’ major cities. Then they are rented to Chinese only. Manila is more like Shanghai.
At the airport large numbers of Chinese including whole families each pay PHP10K (AU$200) for hassle free entry. When I worked there, every day about 20 new staff members appeared often in duplicated positions.
Another case of the ‘rich and famous’, well distanced from the real world, fucking-up their children’s minds by giving them bullshit names. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-27/bindi-irwin-grace-warrior-irwin-powell-daughter/100033162
Not as bad as the Melbourne Peacock family, who named their son Drew.