We can turn back the clock. At Easter we turned the time back to keep up with daylight-saving. We can also revert to a time when Australia was not the shameful mess it is today. We can overcome Albanese's ultra-left perversion of Australia. Getting rid of him is just the start. People have to be taught what a great country Australia used to be, and how it can be that way again - while there are still enough people left who remember the good times. Time is running out.

Talking of question time. Note that Albanese, when addressing questions, never looks at the Opposition: he looks at his own mob, or vaguely in the direction of the Speaker. The shiftiness of a born liar. Can't look his questioners in the eye.

Good on you John Mikkelsen.

No, we can't turn back time to the "good old days" as the author seems to believe as he looks through the lenses of his "rose coloured glasses". What we can do is learn from the past, react to the present, and plan for the future.

Yea indeed plan for the future by dumping dumb Albo, Bowen, Burke, Wong and co from a great height and cancel our irrational dependency on overseas fuel imports for starters.

Hi Mikko2,

You say; "(dump) dumb Albo, Bowen, Burke, Wong and co from a great height" "and cancel our irrational dependency on overseas fuel imports". Who were the dumbos who shut down 4 of the 6 Australian oil refineries, shut are fertiliser production plant, and had our emergency fuel stocks kept in Texas USA. Yep, your folk hero's, the Noalition mob.

A question; Who would you like to see replace Albo, Bowen, Burke, Wong and co?

The Coalition is certainly not blameless and I never suggested they were but fortunately they are starting to see the light, thanks to Matt Canavan and Angus Taylor who are also learning from One Nation's surging popularity. (You may have noticed the article does reference The Miserable Ghost who certainly belongs to the same cohort as the Labor luminaries listed.

Hi Mikko2,

So, Taylor and Canavan are the new messiah's you would have running the country, is that the best you can suggest? If it is, then poor Australia would be in deep sh!t, with that pair in control. And who are they learning from, the women who admits she's not the sharpest tool in the shed, the Lovely Pauline.

Yeah right ...meanwhile we have Albo burning up jet fuel to obtain- wait for it- 100 million litres of fuel (maybe?) from Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia after they meet their own requirements and after they manage to maintain crude oil supplies mainly from the Middle East. And how long would 100 million litres last, I hear you ask? Well One whole day on a good day.
Then we learn that they have paid first home buyers subsidies to 48,000 non-residents, reportedly with no checks on whether they own overseas properties.
In other recent news, we learn that they have provided grants of more than $120 million to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban - (from the DFAT website): 2025-26 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]
$50.0 million
2024-25 total Australian ODA [actual]
$55.3 million
2023-24 total Australian ODA [actual]
$70.8 million.
Top that off with wasting $20 million on a dud advertising campaign telling us to conserve fuel by removing roof racks and pumping our tyres...
So yes any alternative with more than half a brain between them is looking much better by the day.

Hi Mikko2,

That's your political opinion, and you are entitled to it. What did Taylor and Canavan achieve in their years in office? Nothing. On balance I believe Labor is doing a relatively good job, and will continue to do so for some years to come, my political opinion.

You seem to have a problem with foreign aid, i don't know why. Don't confuse humanitarian aid given to UN agencies, with "Talaban money", including the cheers from the peanut gallery. An advertising campaign informing Australians on methods to save fuel is welcomed. And Albanese's Asian trip has been applauded by all sides of politics, and pundits alike, including the Noalition. Where are Taylor and Canavan when it comes to supporting Australia, don't forget it was this pair of dills that helped to close four Australian oil refineries, when they were in office. They also racked up a trillion dollars in debt and boosted inflation to over 6%. You seem to have forgotten all that. Can Australia afford these clowns a second time?

Firstly ttbn – I agree - ALBANESE NEVER looks at the opposition when supposedly answering a question. He seems to invariably DEFLECT rather than answer any questions. One cannot believe one word that he says as he twists most anything that is asked of him.
I feel that he is gutless, has a problem with eyeing anyone across the chamber and not game to address the opposition who actually ask the questions. It’s as if he is looking to his side to help him all the time.
Think back to the old time politicians (Keating, Hawke, etc. who loved to face their opposition with clever words when “having a go” at their opposers. They made QT worth watching. Albanese and his ministers have no clever phrases at all.
Bowen thinks he does but he just makes a fool of himself.

Paul 1405 Australia definitely needs more like Senator Canavan, Angus Taylor and Pauline Hanson who actually CARE FOR AUSTRALIA to bring it back to a place to cherish. You know, patriots who want to keep Australia safe like it used to be. Someone who may start with the Education Department to teach students that Australia is a good country and not make kids ashamed to be an Aussie.
To be fair – you claim that Matt and Angus have achieved nothing in opposition – pray tell what did Albanese and all those dopes he has as Ministers now achieve when in opposition? Mikko2 forgot the beautiful Clare O’Neil and Andrew Giles – what ever happened to those 149 jailed illegals convicted of violent offending, kidnapping, armed robbery, sexual offenses, murder or attempted murder that they allowed to roam free anywhere in Australia? I wonder where they are now? Labor keeping Australia safe?
Labor under Albanese has been in power for over four years and yet they still continue to blame the past governments for all of their own dreadful mistakes made since being elected in 2022.
Labor has lost control of the borders and it seems they have no idea of who has come to Australia under false pretenses. It is too hard for Tony Burke to get his departmental officers to chase up all of these illegal residents. What are all these employees doing all day? There is a hell of a lot in those government offices getting highly paid – there should be an audit to see what they all do.
The average yearly number of immigrants from 2014 to 2022 was 150,262; Since Labor came to power in 2022 those three yearly figures have been 536,000; 446,000 and 434,000. And some wonder why there is NO HOUSING under Labor. Immigration ahs to be managed by some who care.
It seems you believe it is OK for NON RESIDENTS to be given Home Buyers subsidies? Again what are these public servants in that department doing with taxpayers’ money? DISGUSTING.

Paul1405 Are you serious that the ad campaign on fuel saving is welcome? What person who drives a motor vehicle of any sort would not know those simple things? This is purely a LABOR PARTY CAMPAIGN treating us all like babies.
As for Albo flying all over the place USING JET FUEL etc. to beg overseas countries for fuel? This is a sick joke – they were warned years ago (remember the late Jim Nolan?) that fuel was at dangerously low levels and needed to be increased.
Why the urgency now when it should have taken place instead of the PM organizing his wedding and private life instead of keeping his country in order.
Mikko2 is definitely writing something that I know a lot of people would he hoping for. We need people who can begin to turn Australia back to the country that was respected and loved by all who came here to become part of the Australian family - NOT TO CHANGE it to emulate from whence they came.

Hi Farnortherner,

I asked what Taylor and Canavan achieved in office, not Opposition. I expect the Opposition to question government policy, offer constructive criticism and present alternatives. I seen James Paterson in a TV interview yesterday, and he did exactly that, coming across as constrictive and worth listening to. I often agree with some of what Dave Sharma and Julian Lesser have to say, one or two others as well.

I agree that one failure of Labor's, and they are working on it, is affordable housing, which has been a growing problem over successive governments from both sides.

"It seems you believe it is OK for NON RESIDENTS to be given Home Buyers subsidies?" I correct you, that should read PERMANENT RESIDENTS. I don't agree that home subsidies should be given to non residents, which they are not.

Farnortherner, your diatribe is very One Nation, and not worth responding to. Other than to say, I believe Albanese is the preferred PM by the majority of voters, and Labor is almost certain to be returned at the next election. Then the Noalition will engage in more blood letting and back stabbing, as they have been exclusively doing since the last election.

Don't worry Far Northerner, Paul 1405 is as delusional as his Labor heroes who are hell bent on wrecking our economy and way of life. Here is what AI says about the first home owner scheme - AI Overview
"Yes, first home buyer subsidies and support schemes in Australia have been extended to non-citizens—specifically permanent residents and, in some cases, certain temporary visa holders—provided they meet specific criteria.
Following an expansion in July 2023, data shows that over 48,000 non-citizen permanent residents have used the 5% Deposit Scheme (now known as the Home Guarantee Scheme) to buy homes, according to Housing Australia and media reports....
Overseas Property Ownership: Migrants (permanent residents) can access these schemes even if they own property overseas, as the eligibility often stipulates only that they have not owned property in Australia previously. "
Just another hopeless blunder by a clueless Labor socialist government. And they are the ones who have run our national debt to a trillion dollars, with worse to come.

Meanwhile a contact sent me this relevant information which clearly shows most of the closures and job losses have occurred under Labor's watch and it's irrational commitment to the fabled "net zero" regardless of the economic damage in its wake:
“Since 2020, Australia has lost a substantial portion of its remaining emissions-intensive industrial base;The pattern is the predictable outcome of the world’s highest industrial energy costs, an increasingly hostile regulatory environment, and a carbon compliance framework that makes new investment commercially indefensible. 



BP Kwinana Refinery — oil refining ceased 2020–21, converted to import terminal, approximately 600 jobs. 
. ExxonMobil Altona Refinery — oil refining ceased February 2021, approximately 350 jobs. 
.
Incitec Pivot Gibson Island Ammonia Plant — manufacturing ceased December 2022, approximately 170 jobs; 
Australia now imports the urea Gibson Island produced, from the Middle East. 
.
Qenos Altona and Botany Petrochemical Plants — shutdown 2024–25, approximately 700 jobs; Australia is now mostly import-dependent for plastic resins.
.
Indorama Botany Chemical Plant — decommissioned 2024, approximately 110 jobs. 
.
BHP Nickel West — smelter, refinery, and mines into care and maintenance 2024, approximately 3,300 jobs.
.
Incitec Pivot Geelong Fertiliser Plant — closed November 2024, shift to imports. 
.
Oceania Glass Dandenong — closed after administration February 2025, approximately 150 jobs; Australia now imports all its flat architectural glass. 
.
Alcoa Kwinana Alumina Refinery — permanent closure September 2025, approximately 1,050 jobs. 



The aggregate exceeds 7,000 direct jobs and many thousands more in supply chains and regional communities. 


The common thread: high energy costs, regulatory burden, and an investment environment that makes capital flight the rational commercial decision.

Thanks Mikko. We are being run by a bunch of incompetent political activist nutters. How many of the operations might have remained viable under a different regulatory system and how many more operations might have come on line? Total madness.

Hi Mikko2,

Your contact information, in a workforce of 15 million the 7,000 referred to represents less than 0.05% of the total. I note this contact counts jobs losses "under Labor's watch" prior to Labor taking office 22nd May 2022 eg BP Kwinana Refinery — oil refining ceased 2020–21, converted to import terminal, approximately 600 jobs. ExxonMobil Altona Refinery — oil refining ceased February 2021, approximately 350 jobs.

There is no reference to jobs created since Labor came to office, 1.2 million in fact, or our low unemployment rate of 4.3%

Do you know Australia was once a leading producer of hats, not no more, unfortunately that thriving industry basically went bust! I don't know why, it probably contributed hundreds to the unemployment scrap heap, with the last major manufacture closing pre war. Oh, if we could only return to the "good old days" of SPATS and STRAW HATS, and those golden years from the 1800's to the 1940's.

Been thinking more about this article and oh dear, Paul 1405.
It’s people such as you who worry me for believing LABOR DIATRIBE and lies without checking just what is correct.
Unfortunately most voters live in cities and probably never check anything and think Albanese, Chalmers, Bowen, et al tell the truth.
I heard the correct news that 48,000 NON-CITIZEN PERMANENT RESIDENTS HAVE USED THE 5% Deposit Scheme or Home guarantee Scheme. It was expanded in 2023 courtesy of this could-not-care-less-how-they-spend-our-money useless Labor mob. Yet Australian born and bred residents cannot seem to get that same allowance so easily. Apparently these non-residents only have to state that they have not owned property IN AUSTRALIA previously. Do they own property overseas? I wonder what young public service person ever checks?
So yes – I definitely agree that Australia needs to turn back time to a much nicer and happier country before Albanese got the keys to the lodge.
PS – I do not belong to ANY PARTY but if you wish to align me with One Nation, it surely doesn’t upset me.

Hi Farnorthner,

You are either very confused, or deliberately move the goal posts when corrected. Your question was as follows;

It seems you (Paul) believe it is OK for NON RESIDENTS to be given Home Buyers subsidies?

I answered that was not the case, and NON RESIDENTS were not given 'Home Buyers Subsidies. You were asking about NON RESIDENTS, that changed to; "NON-CITIZEN PERMANENT RESIDENTS HAVE USED THE 5% Deposit Scheme or Home guarantee Scheme." Are you confused or a goal post mover?

BTW, I would not give NON RESIDENTS living in, say Iceland, a crack at the Australian Home Buyers subsidies scheme. Guess what, the Labor Government agree with me on that score.

Thanks Farnortherner and Mikko2- great comments.

Meanwhile here's another perfect example of "crazy" under Labor. Albo has just returned from a begging trip which scored ONE days worth of fuel from some near Asian neighbours in exchange for our LNG while meanwhile we are still planning to IMPORT LNG:
AI Overview
Yes, Australia is actively planning to import Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), with several projects underway to commence imports by 2026–2029 to address predicted shortages on the east coast. Despite being a major global exporter, dwindling domestic supply in southern states has necessitated these import plans.
Reuters

Key Details on Australia's LNG Import Plans:
Projects Underway: Several projects are in progress, including the Port Kembla terminal in NSW and a proposed terminal in Victoria, aiming to address potential energy security risks.
Target Date: Initial imports are targeted to begin around 2026–2027, with major projects like the Vopak project aiming for 2029 operations.
Reasons for Imports: Supply shortages for gas-powered electricity generation, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales, are driving the need for imports to "keep the lights on".
Infrastructure: Infrastructure companies like Jemena are upgrading pipelines to transport imported gas from terminals, such as Andrew Forrest’s Port Kembla project, to demand centers.

Far Northerner Paul 1405 is a great one to accuse you of moving goal posts, while he makes false claims such as our national debt reached $1trillion under the Coalition, which is BS as usual - it is the current level under Labor: "By early 2026, gross debt is projected to hit
$1 trillion (roughly 34% of GDP), although government figures suggest gross debt was
$889.8 billion at the end of 2022–23."
And that was after the covid panic years when Labor wanted the Coalition to continue generous handouts and moaned when they were cut.

"When the Liberal-National Coalition came to office in September 2013, Australia's net debt was approximately $174.6 billion.Australia's gross government debt rose from roughly $542 billion in 2018-19 to over $895 billion by early 2022, reaching approximately $1 trillion around the time of the 2022 federal election."

When the Noalition got booted, Australia's debt was $1 trillion! What's a few billion between friends when you have irresponsible drunken sailors like Morrison and Frydenberg splashing the cash. That pair couldn't get the cash to the Big End Of Town fast enough. Who can forget the $22 million given to the very profitable Harvey Norman which reported a record 75.1% increase in profit after tax to $841.41 million for the 2020-21 financial year. Big bonuses were paid to company executives and rich shareholders.

The Albanese Labor government has reduced projected debt levels by recording BACK-TO-BACK BUDGET SURPLUSES, resulting in roughly $200 billion less debt compared to forecasts inherited from the Coalition in 2022. The Coalition in government from 2013 to 2022 FAILED TO DELIVER ONE BUDGET SURPLUS. In fact in the 2020/21 financial year the pair of drunken sailors manged to deliver an all time RECORD BUDGET DEFICIT of $213 billion! The Big End Of Town was certainly rewarded in that year!

Yes Paul, and all the extra money in government revenue came from fossil fuel with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Didn't take Magoo long to piss it all up against a wall and then some. Now Magoo is Mr White trash visiting his Asian cousins with a jerry can while Blackout is telling us there is no fuel crisis. And some in the climate apocalypse religion here are happy with the fuel/fertiliser crisis as it might help along the "transition". What, $20 billion a year given in handouts each year to con artist wind and solar grifters while a bunch of raving loonies try their hardest to stop any activity in this nation that would be of benefit.

The reason we don't have heaps of cheap energy and the massive economic benefits associated with it is not, as Magoo claims, because they are not economic, but because the high priests of the climate apocalypse are preventing it.

Hi Fester,

"The fossil fuel industry is heavily subsidised globally, with International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates reaching $7 trillion in 2022, covering explicit (direct financial) and implicit (undercharging for environmental costs) support. These subsidies, which include tax breaks and fuel tax credits, encourage continued reliance on coal, oil, and gas."
"The Australian fossil fuel industry receives significant subsidies, estimated at $14.5 billion to $16.3 billion annually (2023–2026), through federal and state government measures. The largest component is the federal Fuel Tax Credit Scheme."

"All the extra money in government revenue came from fossil fuel" That is simply not true. The government did receive a windfall from high resource prices, so maybe we should thank China.

"The Howard government (1996–2007) oversaw the expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Japan, setting up long-term contracts that critics argue allowed foreign companies to export Australian gas with little to no royalties or taxes. While not literally giving gas away, these deals have been described as selling it for a "pittance".

Do you support the Proposed 25% tax/levy on LNG exports as a "fair share levy" to address skyrocketing costs for domestic customers while ensuring a higher return on natural resources?

Just like Albo and co, the repetitive Labor troll continually bends the truth with claims such as the national debt was $1 trillion when Labor came to power in 2022, Here are the facts (again) and as stated earlier, Labor winged when the Coalition cut it's covid recovery handouts. Facts matter, not parroting Labor lies. The debt has hit $1 trillion this year under Labor and with rising inflation and interest rates things will only get worse.

AI Overview
The Albanese Labor Government was sworn in on 23 May 2022, following the federal election on 21 May 2022.
Wikipedia
At the time Labor came to power (May 2022), the figures for Australian Government debt were:
Gross Debt: Approximately $888 billion to $895 billion.
Net Debt: Approximately $517 billion.
Parliament of Australia
Parliament of Australia
+3
By the end of the 2022–23 financial year, gross debt was $889.8 billion and net debt was $491.0 billion. While Labor often referred to inheriting a "trillion dollars of debt" regarding Liberal policies, official figures at the time of the election handover in mid-2022 showed gross debt was below that mark, though forecasted to rise.
Parliament of Australia

+2

Hi Fester this again exposes the BS sprouted by you know who - Labor in charge at Federal and State level when this happened and now we are looking at buying back LNG from countries we have exported it to. Labor couldn't run a chook raffle at a school fete:
AI Overview
The approval for LNG exports from Gladstone (GLNG, QCLNG, and APLNG) that linked domestic prices to higher international netback prices was driven by both the Federal Labor Government (under Rudd/Gillard) and the Queensland Government around 2010–2011.
Wikipedia
+1
Key Approvals: In 2010, the federal government under Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave conditional environmental approvals to major coal seam gas projects on Curtis Island, Gladstone.
Key Personnel: Then-Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh were central in championing the development of these projects, promising significant economic benefits and regional development.
Context: The approvals occurred without a domestic gas reservation policy in place, allowing producers to contract most of their gas for export. This has led to higher domestic gas prices, often exceeding what Australian industrial users can afford, as producers prioritised international contracts.
www.santos.com

+5

Hi Paul,

There has been no lack of awareness of the approaching fossil fuel shortages nor lack of time to address them. The problem has been dealing with government and bureaucrats who might as well be members of Just Stop Oil.

Hi Mikko,

I can't fathom the mentality of people that think they will save the world from a global warming apocalypse by destroying a nation emitting about a percent of CO2, especially when all our carbon intensive industry has been going to nations that do the job with coal fired power. All I see is the wanton destruction of farmland and natural heritage and the massive subsidies and handouts given to wind and solar con artists. Nations observing Australia's wind and solar disaster will hopefully see a parallel with Sri Lanka's banning of inorganic fertilisers and avoid a similar fate.

It's time to ditch the grifters!

Hi Fester this again exposes the BS sprouted by you know who - Labor in charge at Federal and State level when this happened and now we are looking at buying back LNG from countries we have exported it to. Labor couldn't run a chook raffle at a school fete:
AI Overview
The approval for LNG exports from Gladstone (GLNG, QCLNG, and APLNG) that linked domestic prices to higher international netback prices was driven by both the Federal Labor Government (under Rudd/Gillard) and the Queensland Government around 2010–2011.
Wikipedia
+1
Key Approvals: In 2010, the federal government under Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave conditional environmental approvals to major coal seam gas projects on Curtis Island, Gladstone.
Key Personnel: Then-Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh were central in championing the development of these projects, promising significant economic benefits and regional development.
Context: The approvals occurred without a domestic gas reservation policy in place, allowing producers to contract most of their gas for export. This has led to higher domestic gas prices, often exceeding what Australian industrial users can afford, as producers prioritised international contracts.
www.santos.com

+5

Meanwhile, An excellent presentation The Green Dream by journalist Liam Bartlett showing the horrors of cobalt and copper mining by Chinese companies in Africa and what is happening here in Australia, which has even got life long greenies like Bob Brown and Steve Nowakoski up in arms., as well as our farming communities. It was broadcast last night and we just watched it on 7 Plus which everyone should be able to access. It included the confrontation with our hopeless Climate Change and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen. This link might also work .
https://7plus.com.au/7news-spotlight

Thanks Mikko,

Steve Nowakowski is a major figure in exposing the environmental harm from wind turbines.

If there was a supportive regulatory system there would be plenty of supply and no need for finger pointing.

The lunatics are running the asylum.

Chris Kenny did a review of Seven's program on Sky.

https://youtu.be/kDsy37ECqSY?si=WmOTajedd1SkyJ27

Hi Mikko2,

Are you proud of the fact the Coalition left Labor with $895 billion (your figure) in debt, with billions more coming down the pipeline for future generations to pay. The Coalition were spending like drunken sailors out of control. $22 million for the mega rich Harvey Norman, one example among the many from the Big End Of Town who profited from the Coalitions generosity. QANTAS $2.7 billion, never to be repaid!
Before they were booted from office the Coalition had forecast billions more in future deficits to burden the taxpayer with. They planned another big cash grab for their mega rich mates, billions for Gina Rinehart . Thankfully Labor was able to deliver budget surpluses and pay down Coalition debt by $200 billion.

BTW, Australia is still paying for Howard's incompetence with his natural gas deal to Japan, 20 years later!

Claim- "the Coalition left Labor with $895 billion (your figure) in debt"

According to brief AI check (remember this was during Covid where many were unemployed due to lockdowns by state governments)-

Short answer: The claim is misleading.

Facts:

When Labor took office in May 2022 gross Commonwealth debt was about A$888 billion and net debt about A$517 billion — not exactly $895 billion. ABC Australia
A sizable portion of that debt (about A$218 billion of gross debt, or ~25%) was inherited from the previous Labor governments; on a net-debt basis roughly A$161 billion (31%) came from Labor — so it’s incorrect to attribute nearly all of the debt solely to the Coalition. ABC Australia

Thank you Canem but facts won't convince a dedicated Labor troll. All other comments here recognise what a hopeless mob we have at the helm now thanks to a crazy preferential voting system which rewards a party with only about one third of the primary vote. No doubt that will be even lower by the time the next election is due, judging by recent polls, and by then we should also be seeing the results of their obsession with net zero on ever-higher power prices, frequent blackouts and continuing erratic, expensive fuel supplies unless we follow the logical mantra of dig baby dig and drill baby drill!!