The petulant, self-serving racket made by Hastie himself was the only thing that made me watch the cartoon. I normally manage to get by without watching them. And yes. It wasn't all about Hastie, but all of the useless, nasty pricks infesting the political class. Hastie has an ego the size of a 44 gallon drum if he thinks he is anything other than just another backbencher.

The joke in Australian politics is that a bunch of far right populists, led by a pair of political illiterates, Hanson and Joyce, calling themselves One Nation have gained traction within the broader community. Its not that these policy degenerates did anything of their own accord to boost their appeal, more a case of the jerk brigade, aka the Coalition, vacating the centre stage where sensible political debate takes place, and allowing the wack jobs from One Nation to hold sway, be it from far stage right! Can't deny that those wack jobs are in the ascendancy at the present time, but things can change in the twinkling of an eye!

The Liberal Party has been flailing about trying to find their raison d'etre ever since the overthrow of Abbott. At that time they decided that simply winning was their only purpose and so they went through a series of leaders whose only offering was that they stood a better chance of winning than the current leader.

In the end, their only offering is that they aren't Labor or, more precisely, they aren't quite Labor. In retrospect it was probably inevitable that a new entity would arise that would gather support by rejecting all the shibboleths of the two majors.

A nation that is successful economically can afford to make all sorts of mistakes over things like immigration, climate change, trans issues, etc. But a nation where power costs skyrocket because of government missteps, where real wages are in decline, where real per capita growth is in decline, where quality of life is worsening....such a nation will be open to someone who comes along and promises to overturn all the policies that have led to the present mess.

The Liberals could be that party but are too genteel to be so gauche as to reject immigration from non-compatible regions or oppose throwing money at every interest group that gets a voice on (y)our ABC. In the end they still think that just being not-quite-Labor is the path to victory and that victory is all that matters. They still think that they'll eventually stumble upon someone who'll be able to sell the not-quite-Labor message and get them back on the lucrative treasury benches which is all they crave.

One Nation has and will make many missteps. But a people who see the cliff in the distance is prepared to hand the wheel to anyone who promises to apply the brakes and turn the car around.

Hi Trumpster,

The fact is there is little difference between the two parties of government, their DNA is 90% compatible. Both parties support the status quo, supporting the established institutions that give us our economic and social outcomes. The difference lies with emphases and priorities, not radical deviation from the accepted norms. Labor in government does not bring with it radical change, it functions much the same as the Coalition within our liberal democratic society. The Australian people have accepted that political arrangement since 1901. In times of perceived crises, radical fringe groups/parties tend to gain traction, while the major parties battle to maintain control.

YOU speak of a "cliff in the distance", I assume that is a metaphor for impending social and/or economic disaster for Australia. I don't buy that as the case might be, and I don't accept that a bunch of second rate ratbags in the form of One Nation should assume control of the "car", if they did all they would achieve is to put their foot on the accelerator and steer the car off the road and into the abyss! Is that what YOU want?

"Both parties support the status quo, supporting the established institutions that give us our economic and social outcomes. The difference lies with emphases and priorities, not radical deviation from the accepted norms. "

Yes. That's what I said. When Labor's in power the Libs campaign as not-quite Labor. They claim they'll basically do the same stuff but better. When the Libs are in power the ALP campaigns as not-quite Liberal. They claim they'll basically do the same stuff but more compassionately.

And all that's OK when the economy is humming along, wages are rising, living standards are rising, the future is brightening.

But that is no longer the case. Real wages are falling. Real living standards are falling. The future is looking increasingly bleak. As the current government continues to fumble the ball, being not-quite Labor is no longer feasible or a good electoral strategy.

These people you call "a bunch of second rate ratbags" worked that out ages ago, while people like you still struggle to come to terms with the changed circumstances. These "bunch of second rate ratbags" have already overturned the consensus on immigration with both not-quite Liberal and not-quite Labor vying to cut immigration the most. And these "bunch of second rate ratbags" have overturned the consensus on multiculturalism.

As much as you don't want it to be true, these "bunch of second rate ratbags" are setting the agenda for Australian politics at the moment. The Libs and even Albo's crowd are starting to see it. I'm sure you'll catch up.... eventually.

One Nation :noise with nothing positive to ever crow about!

Hi Trumpster,

What came first. The chicken or the egg? Your Chicken Little claim that the sky is falling is not true. Australia continues to be one of the wealthiest countries in the world, enjoying a very high living standard. Its not perfect, but its not calamitous either, inflation is at 4%, interest rates went up 0.25%, oh my god, the sky is falling, no its not!

The immigration correction was inevitable post Covid, both governing parties in office, would have initiated a decline. That had little to do with the ravings of that bunch of second rate ratbags, calling themselves One Nation. true, their ravings might have sped up the process, but it was the sole catalyst that brought on the correction.

Okay, if I'm wrong, and as YOU claim "the future is looking increasingly bleak" What is to be done, who will save the sinking ship? YOUR OPINION.

Don't be so dramatic Paul. No one said the sky is falling. That's just you trying to find a way to exonerate the government you support.

But inflation is too high. Living standards are stagnant. Cost of living is rising. Hopes for the future declining. Even the government you support is fretting about the problems it faces now and into the future, even as it thrashes around trying to find someone to blame.

Whether the sky is falling or not is beside the point. Clearly a large and growing number of the electorate feels that the current majors aren't doing what is necessary to solve their problems even if they (the majors) were interested in solving their problems which a growing number also seem to doubt.

And they are thronging to One Nation who has policies that do address those issues. The majors are finally waking up to that but they are so locked into their ancestorial memes that they merely mouth platitudes about solving this or that problem that One Nation is highlighting while doing sweet bugger all to fix it. They now mouth assertions that they will address immigration following decades of ignoring community concerns and that is solely due to One Nation overthrowing the consensus (or conspiracy of silence) between the majors. They now pretend they'll do something about it, sometime, somehow...no trust us we will!!

Japan just showed how to fix the issue by making a whole new set of immigration rules....

Much stricter permanent residency (PR) requirements

*Applicants must continuously earn an annual household income above the average for Japanese households of comparable size

*Japanese language proficiency is now required

*Understanding of Japanese rules, customs, and systems is evaluated.

*Projected pension benefits must be equivalent to those of someone who has paid into the Employees’ Pension Insurance for 30 years

*The government emphasises that PR holders must live independently and not become a public burden.

An Australian government bold enough to implement similar rules would solve the immigration problem we now have in a thrice.

Hi Trumpster,

Japan is not, and has not been an immigrant country, it has a migrant population of less than 3.5%. So what flood of migrants are they trying to stop? With a population of over 122 million, about 5 times Australia's Japan has a net migration of less than 140,000, half of Australia's. Their largest city Tokyo has a metropolitan population of 36 million, greater Sydney 5.6 million. You are comparing chalk with cheese.

BTW Japan has the lowest hourly labour productivity in the G7—ranking 29th out of 38 OECD nations—despite famous cultural commitments to hard work and long hours. Inefficient and heavily indebted companies are often kept afloat through government support, foreign investment is critically low. The country is heavily bureaucratic, with a reliance on poorly trained low paid workers in many small to medium size industries. It has an overwhelmingly ageing population with a very low birth rate. The Japanese yen has been losing significant value over several decades. Recently the Japanese central bank raised interest rates after years of stagnation. YES lets model ourselves on Japan, what's your second choice, Australia model itself on Ethiopia?

"And they are thronging to One Nation who has policies that do address those issues." Don't make me laugh, what policies! BTW, One Nation had their Victorian State election campaign launch on the weekend, with the regular collection of Neo-Nazi's in attendance, sitting in the front row. WERE YOU THERE?

Hi Again Trumpster,

Where are YOU coming from? In one post YOU claim that "The future is looking increasingly bleak."..."the cliff in the distance", then YOU say; "Don't be so dramatic Paul. No one said the sky is falling" What's worse have the sky fall on your head, or drive over a cliff. BTW, under Capitalism there is always a "cliff in the distance, and the sky is falling" it operates on fear. As for "real wages are falling", a direct result of Coalition economic policy whilst in government. Inflation is predominantly driven by world events, not the least by the crazy policies of Daffy Donald in the Trump House, with his never ending war and ridiculous tariffs.

I realise that not only are YOU a Trumpster, YOU are also a closet Hansonite. Understandable with your sycophantic support of Crazy Donald, YOU would support Crazy Pauline. Do YOU agree with the One Nation policy in Victory that if they win government in November they will imprison both former state premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan, (and who else). What next, The firing quad for dissenters? THESE PEOPLE ARE DANGEROUS!

Hi $15T,

Yes, if you run off to your favourite SI-bot you can find all sorts of problems in every country on the planet. And that's what you've done with the Japan trope.

But the fact is that they have (now) an immigration policy that we would do well to follow if only our major parties would follow the caving in to One Nation with actual action.

"The future is looking increasingly bleak."..." isn't the same as "the sky is falling". That's just you trying to over-egg the pudding. A sensible approach was never your go.

"As for "real wages are falling", a direct result of Coalition economic policy whilst in government". Yes, as I said earlier, the ALP are madly scratching around trying to find someone else, ANYONE else, to blame for their failures. But even they've given up on blaming the previous government. Don't worry....you'll catch up or catch on.

"Inflation is predominantly driven by world events, "
Same here. Both the RBA and Chalmers have agreed that the main cause of our inflation is local. But don't let mere facts get in the way, 15T.

Hi Trumpster,

So now there is no cliff in the distance (dropped that part in your reply), as YOU claimed, no matter how you look at it driving off a cliff is pretty serious business. The problems of Japan have been well documented over many years (I see as a devout Trumpster you now refer to AI as SI, just as Donald told YOU to). With a 3.5% migrant population, and a very low intake p.a. Japan certainly needs to toughen up its immigration policy. What evidence do YOU have that the new untested Japanese immigration policy would be ideal for Australia?

BTW Any comment on that claim of One Nations that they will lock up people they disapprove of in Victoria if they win the state election. Sounds very Nazi to me, what about YOU?

Actually, YOU may prefer the Ethiopian immigration policy for Australia to that of Japans. Ethiopia applies rule 303, we take them out and shoot them, saves all that pesky rigmarole!

hi $15T

The cliff is out there but still off in the distance. But the sky isn't currently falling.

"What evidence do YOU have that the new untested Japanese immigration policy would be ideal for Australia?"

Oh, Mr I-never-provide-evidence wants evidence.

How hard is it for you to understand that if immigration policy is tightened, numbers will fall?

I'm not from Victoria so aren't up on their parochial politics. But it seems strange that you'd be opposed to gaoling opponents given that your were gung-ho about gaoling Trump in 2021. Still it seems Andrews and Allen were likely less than pristine and if the high-biased Vic police could be persuaded to look at them (highly unlikely) then gaol would be a real possibility.

"Ethiopia applies rule 303"

You're confusing them with Breaker Morant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj8N8Nvv6y

Hi Trumpster,

Due process of law, that's what Trump was given, found guilty then I was in favour of an appropriate penalty being imposed. Unlike YOu who wanted to put on the buffalo horn outfit and paint your face red, white and blue and storm the Capitol Building with your mates Now these One Nation rednecks that YOU support, want to be in government in November and have the two ex-premiers banged up by December, don't sound like a fair trial, anyway there was no mention of a trial from the Fascists One Nation fella. YOU without evidence is supporting locking them up, claiming gaol would be a real possibility. Why?

"claiming gaol would be a real possibility. Why?"

Why would gaol be a real possibility? Well, if claims that they were corrupt are proven then gaol would be appropriate. Why is that so hard for you to understand. Oh, I forgot. Only your opponents deserve gaol.

BTW, (not that facts matter to you) but Trump was never found guilty on anything to do with J6.

Hi Trumpster,

For YOU rumour alone makes jail a real possibility, for me evidence alone makes jail a real possibility. I gather from your perspective once charged, the guilty should then be required to prove their innocence. In your view should the "guilty" do a "Rommel", it saves a messy trial.

News Flash; Rumour has it Pauline Hanson is corrupt, jail is a real possibility, put her in the cell next to Daffy Donald.

If they get charged and the charges are proven, then gaol is a real possibility. Why is that such a revelation for you?

But in the case of Hanson, gaol is a real possibility because she's upsetting the left.

Hi Trumpster,

I see YOU fail to mention the word trial, is it a dirty word with YOU? I'm in favour of a fair trial for all who have be properly accursed, unlike YOU, I support the presumption of innocence, nothing to do with rumour, until proven guilty by the evidence in a properly constituted court of law. I would never like to see a situation where the presiding judge says; "What is the rumour against the guilty, what do you have to say before I pass sentence."

"But in the case of Hanson, gaol is a real possibility because she's upsetting the left." BUT, isn't she like your folk hero Adolf, a national socialist from the left, so why would her supporters be upset with her?

Hi Trumpster,

On another point YOU make; "The cliff is out there but still off in the distance. But the sky isn't currently falling."

Given Australia is one of only ten countries with a AAA credit rating with all three major credit agencies (Don't see Japan on the list!), and has one of the lowest government debt to GDP ratios in the developed world (ours sits at about 18% of GDP, Your second favourite country Japan, has a ratio of 230%, and Donald has push Americas to 127%). Although inflation is at 4%, one percent above what is considered acceptable, its far less that the world average, and well below that of Venezuela's rate of 387%, managed by your folk hero Daffy Donald. Unemployment here sits at 4.6%, unlike Span and Finland with unemployment at over 10%. Australia rates 14th on the Quality Of Life Index, your folk hero Daffy Donald has managed to push Americans quality of life down to somewhere near that of Venezuela! All in all, Australian's, when compared to the rest of the world, are doing extremely well, thanks to a decent Labor government in Canberra, no cliff to drive off, no sky falling, and hopefully no One Nation to upset the apple cart!

Yes $15T, I'm sure with judicial use of AI you can find all sorts of countries that have worse this or that economic figures than Australia. One country with worse inflation, another with worse debt, another with worse something else. But that's entirely beside the point.

The point is that, in Australia, large numbers of people have lost faith in the majors to deliver prosperity given the worsening numbers for inflation, employment, real wages growth, read per capita GDP. And that large number are flocking to One Nation.

Now you might want to tell these people that they are fools and that they should be thankful that things aren't as bad as Venezuela or Spain or whatever other nation AI found for you. You might even want to tell them to go down on their knees in gratitude to Albo for not being as bad as Maduro. Good luck with that.

But the fact remains that One Nation is gathering adherents because they are offering hope where hope is in short supply and dredging up a few AI stats won't change that.

BTW, why is it that those who claim to be for the downtrodden are always the first to tell said downtrodden what fools they are when they don't reach the right conclusion and support the right party?

Hi Trumpster,

Other than winning a couple of minor by-elections One Nation has not actually achieved anything of note, a lot of hoo-haa but little of substance. To say; "One Nation is gathering adherents because they are offering hope where hope is in short supply", it may be a case of offering false hope. I'm very much of the opinion that One Nation, given the calibre of its leadership in Hanson and Joyce it would be unable to deliver long term for the Australian people, it may have undisclosed talent I'm not aware of, but I doubt that is the case. I would very much like to see One Nation win the Victorian State election, outright, not in coalition with the Liberals, that would be a working disaster in no time. Put them in charge, and let us see them in action when the real decisions of government have to be made, I think that would show the Australian people how incompetent and false One Nation really is.

You try and paint a grim picture of Australia saying; "worsening numbers for inflation, employment, real wages growth, read per capita GDP" We're not batting 100, but we're not out for a duck either. In the scheme of things we are doing better than the vast majority in this world. Can things be better, things can always be better, but I don't think you're going to make things better by running with a bunch of far right wack jobs! You can and should see that with Trump in America, a failing fool!

"You can and should see that with Trump in America"

Actually, the US economy is going gangbusters due to Trump.

Quick, run off to AI to beg for some obscure stat that puts the US in a bad light.

I'm not arguing that One Nation have the policies or the ability to resolve the economic mess that the previous couple of governments have created. But they do offer hope to those suffering from that mess, that things could be turned around. I agree with them that immigration is the absolutely first step in the fightback. After that I depart from their policies.

Whether they are capable of running a government is in the unknowable sphere. But you carry on as though the other leaders like Albo and Chalmers and Taylor and Wilson are seasoned professionals at running an economy. But none of them had/have an experience in such things prior to getting into power. They all are just mouth-pieces for the public service and the various think-tanks they adhere to. Hanson may not talk in the clipped tones that comes from a publicly fund university degree. But then again Albo wouldn't have the faintest idea as to how to run a fish shop.

This is from the ABC so the luvvies just know it must be true.....

"When, way back, the opposition started talking about cutting immigration, it would have thought on the basis of polling it was tapping into a vein of political gold.

But since then, Pauline Hanson has taken ownership of the mine and pretty much locked it away for One Nation.

Simon Welsh, from the Redbridge Group political consultancy, says: "The Liberals talking about migration doesn't create more Liberal voters, it creates more One Nation voters.

"Immigration offers people a simple explanation for the pressures they are feeling. When the major parties talk about it, it validates that. [Voters] then ask, who is the strongest voice on immigration? It's a massive strategic error [by the major parties],"

Hi Trumpster,

The Noalition can't out One Nation with One Nation. ""Immigration offers people a simple explanation for the pressures they are feeling." A bit like your folk hero Donald blaming all of America's ills on the Mexicans! AND that other folk hero of yours Adolf blaming all of Germany's ills on the Jews, in earlier times.

Some time back YOU claimed YOU were not a One Nation supporter, when did YOU convert

"The Noalition can't out One Nation with One Nation"

True....nor can Albo and his power-hungry band of merry-men and not so merry women.

"A bit like your folk hero Donald blaming all of America's ills on the Mexicans! "

Struth you make up some rubbish. Like I always say, facts mean nothing to you.

"Some time back YOU claimed YOU were not a One Nation supporter, when did YOU convert"

When did you stop hitting your wife!

I always said I'm not a ON supporter. Still aren't. This is going to be impossible for you to understand because its an adult attitude, but it is possible to understand and talk bout the success of a party, group or nation without necessarily supporting them.