Left-wing Age Newspaper headline:

“If Albanese wins the next election he should celebrate, then step aside”

Ultra-left nasty Nikki Sava wrote …

“Albanese succeeded brilliantly, certainly beyond his wildest imaginings and that of his friends, to become leader then prime minister. He should count his blessings, then gracefully relinquish the job.”

Bronwyn Bishop has said more than once that in all the years she has known Albanese he never showed any leadership qualities.

Even his "friends" never saw the man as a leader. They are amazed that he is the PM.

He has "lost his mojo, his judgement has deserted him ..... he should ship out before the election..." (Sava).

(Source: James Macpherson Report 6/12/24)

Albanese A Goner in 2025?

I guess that depends on which side of politics you're
on. As the old adage says - "Bias is in the eyes of
the beholder". Right-wing. Left-wing. "Nasties" like
Niki Savva? An Australian jouranlist, author, and
senior adviser to former PM John Howard and treasurer
Peter Costello.

Sue Young writes in "The Age" :

"There's no mention in Niki Savva's piece about the
stability of the Albanese team. The steady, intelligent
work by ministers to get things done".

Young goes on to point out:

"And, crucially, Albanese and his Foreign Minister have
shone on the world stage mending bridges, particularly
the China relationship which was trashed by the Opposition".

" Dutton has benefited in a cost of living crisis with a
few sharp lines".

We're asked:

"But, can you imagine going back to the (old outmoded style of
politics) to the same old climate denialism, the migration
backflip when employers are screaming for workers and the
complete vacuum of costed policies?"

I for one would prefer not to go back to those "good old
days".

Still, it will be the voters who decide.

Hopefully, the majority of Australian voters don't have a
Trump in them.

I don't think the coalition has what it takes to win on their own merits;

- But I do think that there may possibly be enough dissatisfaction with Elmer Fudds antics for the Australian people to give him his marching orders over The Voice and the MAD bill, and ID for social media.

Dutton voted in on the LNP's own merits - NO CHANCE
Albo voted out because voters are dissatisfied and want change - MAYBE

But even then there's a problem.
No one wants Dutton.

Even Frank Spencer would probably be able to muster more votes than him.
Dutton just isn't likeable or relatable in any way.
Frank Spencer would be more likeable in my book.

I think the Israel firsters are traitors,
They seem to think that putting Israel first puts Australia first
- That both go hand in hand, and it's the same story the West over.

I saw today Bibi saying Australian may no longer be considered a close ally.
Inside in celebrating. Yay!

Investment in Australia has been plummeting since 2022 (Economist Alan Moran), and it's due to government incompetence and mismanagement. Government spending and “regulatory inhibitory” actions against new projects raise costs and uncertainty for would-be investors.

Alan Moran believes that would get worse under a federal ALP government over coming years, with the Treasurer foreshadowing an “indefinite period” of deficit financing.

Even if the Albanese government is replaced in 2025, it won't be easy, because the Coalition is doing a bit of ‘me tooing’, but in a just a bit to the right way, on the Net Zero nonsense; nuclear power is its solution to a non-existent problem. Moran states that our power prices would still be twice as expensive as those available to us from new and refurbished coal plants.

The wind and solar scam is gradually being recognised as the dog it is, and nuclear will not provide an energy price that would see Australia return to what it was before the climate scam.

As the 2025 election nears, I can't help thinking of Xavier Herbert's book title, ‘Poor Fellow My Country’ when I contemplate our political class

The Old Fart trots out a bunch of far right naysayers to promote the line that under the Albanese Labor government the sky is falling. The facts tell a different story, there is nothing remarkable about the Labor government, but on balance its achievements outweigh its failures. The alternative mob, the 'Noalition Of Nongs', led by the incompetent big nong, Dud Dutton offers nothing positive to sway people to vote them back into power. Remember the farcical governments led by the Mad Monk, Turnballs and ScumO'. Now its Dud Dutton to the rescue. Pleaseeeeeeeee!

p/s The icing on the cake came when the Old Fart resorted to the opinion of one of Australia's worst ever politicians in Bronwyn Bishop, has there ever been are more incompetent dope in the Federal Parliament than Bronny?

Spud blew himself up with the nuke phenomena. lately he has been on Albo's side how good is that. The GDP is nearing the 2 trillion mark. We are doing fine. Albo was left a monumental failure of politics from 9 years of scomo. Plus no money left on the credit card. 2 successive years with budget surplus. Who would want to change.
The far right Abbott supporters how stupid can you get.
We had Jack boot john who sold everything he could to show he was good for something. Scomo couldn't even add an extra Kwh of power to the grid. Now Dutton wants to turn the country into a target. Just as well we have some civilised persons in this country to keep stability and take care of our population. The only ones that keep whingeing are fans of sky news the greatest tool of miss information ever.

Does Sky News influence the way conservatives think?
Or do conservatives influence the way Sky News thinks and presents itself?
Is Sky News really representative of conservatives or is the tail wagging the dog?

Sky News is owned by News Corp.

Rupert Murdoch: Israel’s Most Powerful Supporter
http://www.mintpressnews.com/rupert-murdoch-israel-most-powerful-weapon/287794/

Maybe Sky News should register as a foreign agent too?

I've been here for what a decade now..
For all the things I say and criticise
Do any of you think I've ever deliberately lied about anything, ever?
I argue on a basis of merit, that's all.

Tell me would you all fight for my free speech, but then deny me the right to use it?

Your right to vote is free speech.
No where is the right to regurgitate misinformation.
If you deliberately print misinformation that is liable.
An opinion is just that but must be stipulated.
Sky news has no disclaimers as to authenticity of substance.
Carriers of misinformation for further publication are as bad as the original author.
Discussions that are true are much better than discussions that only contain half truths.
misinformation and half truth's is what courts are for to untangle the truth.
This is my opinion.

Albanese A Goner in 2025?

Certainly should Be !

Hi doog,
'No where is the right to regurgitate misinformation.'

A large majority of parents lie to their kids about Santa every year.
You can find him in every shopping center.
Is Santa misinformation or disinformation.
Should we option a/ fine all parents or option b/ ban Santa Claus?
Is the government going to fine Myers and Westfield?

What about UFO documentaries on Netflix
misinfo, or disinfo?

I could go on and on...
Is some misinfo and disinfo tolerated
Or is there some special imaginary line that we're all supposed to understand?
Can you provide examples on what is ok, and what is not?

Not trying to be difficult, but it's a minefield
Just another one of those things they wish to beat people over the head with.
I just argue on merit.

Do you think this feller Santa actually climbs down a billion chimneys in a single night and has flying reindeer?
http://www.westfield.com.au/mtgravatt/news/6RJqz1pXV2b3AZdneSMxNG/westfield-santa-photography-booking

If I saw I saw bigfoot yesterday eating a kangaroo in my backyard, (that's is a lie btw - openly stated) what does it matter?

There's 25 million people in this country and none of us agrees on anything, surely all the different things different people say all can't be right at the same time.
Are we then all not all purveyors of misinfo and disinfo?

And finally since when was it against the law to lie?
I'm not under oath here...

In my private life, especially with younger people, I lie and make stuff up all the time,
For one, it's funny and everyone ends up cacking themselves laughing and for two;
I want them to learn how to smell bs so they aren't taken in by liars who really do seek to exploit them.

Hi AC,

I view democracy as the concept of people having a wide range of views and having an equal right to express those views. Autocracy is at variance from democracy in that some views are deemed appropriate and others are deemed as misinformation and disinformation.

On this forum you amply demonstrate a belief in the ethos of democracy, so well done! I think democracy a lynch pin of civilisation as it encourages argument and leads to the development of knowledge, whereas an autocratic mindset has an tendency to shut down debate, vilify people of a differing view and stagnate development. That is why autocracies tend to be corrupt and abysmal cesspits of places.

Indy,

You should know that its Labor governments that let you put your snout into the public socialists trough in the first place, no you want them gone. If the Noaltion was to tell you what they really think of you, it would be they believe you to be an undeserving parasitic failure, sucking off the taxpayer teat, by claiming aged welfare.

The firing of a Melbourne synagogue - with people in it - could easily have been the result of the Albanese government’s refusal to recognise anti-Semitism in Australia, its refusal to protect Australian Jews, and its anti-Israel stance in the UN.

The terroristst sympathisers they have allowed into Australia will become more emboldened. Unlike the Jews, they feel safe and invulnerable here, thanks to the Albanese government that has trashed Australia's relationship with a democratic country in favour of imports who hate not just Jews, but all Westerners. Albanese and has also trashed the ALP's previous good will towards Israel, leaving no doubt in Israelis' minds that Australia is no longer their friend, and won't be until Labor is thrown out for the rubbish it is.

Albanese claims that "we" call out anti-Semitism whenever it occurs. What rubbish! What empty rhetoric! That lie is an insult not just to Jews, but to all decent Australians.

Laws have been regularly broken in Australia ever since the October 7 atrocities, and the weak, pathetic little man has done nothing.

Albanese has defamed Australia and Australians.

The police review that found the illegal protestors on the SOH steps were shouting "Where's the Jews?", not "F the Jews" or "Gas the Jews", as reported around the world, was an utter disgrace. No doubt cult leader Albo's truth ministry would have endorsed the anti-Semitic gaslighting, using the report as proof and threatening anyone who dared say otherwise with fines, interrogation and detention.

Albo, Penpen and Tones have fanned the flames of hatred and division in Australia. Shame!

Albo, Penpen and Tones have fanned the flames of hatred and division in Australia. Shame!
Fester,
Thanks, saves me to reply to silly Paul !

Albanese is playing down the terrorist attack on the Melbourne synagogue with his bizarre statement, “antisemitism has been around for a long time”.

Not in Australia it hasn't - until now, under a gutless Albanese government. What a bizarre statement for our Prime Minister to make.

Albanese has history as a pro-Palestinian activist, and he and Wong criticise Israel almost daily.

Thanks to inappropriate immigration, and a gutless, enabling government, Australia is coming close to being categorised as an anti-Semitic country. Not the people: the government that broadcasts itself globally.

Jews are no longer safe in Australia.

Hi Indyvidual,

Everyone has a perspective about things and should have the freedom to express an opinion. That is what democracy is about. I have found Albo's conduct relating to this freedom as incomprehensible as it has been revolting. He got all worked up after losing the war of words in the Voice referendum, resorting to the authoritarian cry of being thwarted by "misinformation and disinformation", yet all the anti-Semitic bile and hatred from illegal protests has prompted him to do sfa.

I wish that were the extent of cult leader Albo's failure, but unfortunately the biggest threat to Australia's living standards and environment are from Albo's endorsement of the fanatical pursuit of renewable energy.

Indyvidual,

You NEVER have to reply to people who post nothing but contempt for, and abuse of, other posters; ignoring the subject in favour of personal attacks and comments. Ignoring them is the way to go. Such people are a waste of space, and not worthy of your attention.

Fester,

Albanese is the "biggest threat" to Australians, period. The more level headed in the Labor Party would be rid of him in a minute, if it wasn't for the 75% vote needed to get rid of a Labor leader.

We can thank Kevin Rudd for that. It's not quite like President Xi being declared dictator for life, but it is a serious problem in a democratic country when, somehow, a totally inappropriate person like Albanese gets the job.

I honestly don't see what difference it makes.
Let's say Albo loses the next election, then what?
We may not have Labor in charge doing dumb things, we'll have Dutton in charge doing dumb things instead, and just like Albo when the Aussie citizens get fed up with Dutton, just as many are fed up with Albo now, the baton will get passed back to Labor again.

It's just a vicious cycle of kicking the current leader out while convincing ourselves we're voting for the 'lesser evil' every time.
Rinse and repeat.

Maybe we should have an 'Annual democracy battle'.
A full televised day (or week) once a year where the two majors go at each other Labor V's LNP on policy positions, like a debate of sorts, and Aussie viewers watch live and throw their two cents in.

Put them both under the pump at the same time.

Hi AC,

We have discussed this before, you can change the hamster, but the hamster must keep the wheel turning, that's all he has to do. Our leaders have to be the "right kind of chaps, decent fellows who know their duty". Like the hamster our political class must operate in a confined system, no deviation will be tolerated from the norm is acceptable to the ruling class.

AC

I don't carry a flag for Dutton, but there are a few reasons why he would be better: relations with Israel would return to what was once normal and shared with a Labor Party not led by a left-wing extremist.

And, Dutton has pledged to knock on the head 3 offshore groups of unsightly, dangerous windmills mooted by Labor, if he is elected.

The Coalition has always managed our money better than Labor.

There are many advantages to Australians that you might not agree with, but a lot of the 18 million or so voters will.

The Albanese government has proved to be the worst Australian government ever. Even life-long Labor voters don't recognise their party now: only 32% of them gave their first preferences to it.

Former Labor minister Mike Kelly has said that the synagogue attack makes Australia “look terrible”. Former Labor MP Michael Danby says Albanese says Albanese is “all tactics and no strategy”.

For the first time ever, an Israeli PM has criticised an Australian government for rewarding terrorism in the UN.

How far the ALP has fallen under Albanese - and it has taken Australia with it.

Good economic management is not about a simple question
of averages. It is about how governments respond to
events beyond their control. Such as global financial crisis,
pandemics, fires and floods.

But again it is all in the eye pf the beholder. However, it is
incorrect to suggest that taxes are always lower under
Coalition governments. The two hghest taxing governments in the
past half century have both been Coalition governments. It is
clear that the Coalition can't claim the title of being a
better economic manager.

Do any of us really want to go back to the old outmoded
politics and tactics of the past where instead of consultation,
and working toegther, we go back to the same old - divisions,
attacks, denials, aggression, blockages, as the norm?

Be careful what you wish for. And more importantly - how you
vote and the type of country and society you want to live in.
Look at America. Do we want that socrt of division and
hatred here?

We may may disagree on Israel, but I genuinely prefer a more conservative approach to things rather than the progressive side.
I'm just not really religious, more ethical.

It used to be just left and right, now it's far left and far right.
Democracy itself almost feels like a recipe for polarisation.
I feel like both sides often take things way too far.
I wish we could just find some sensitive middle ground on things.

Debates between far left and far right poison this middle ground.
Nutters on the one side and nutters on the other.

You all have every right to vote in a manner that you believe is the right path, as we all do, I don't object to that.

You can all criticise or object to my opinions and positions on things this is fine, some may think I create an unhealthy debate, and often I am harsh on other peoples positions, but nothing I say is ever without reason or merit.

As for Israel, well I'm not an Israel-firster, more of an Australia-firster.
And although many would disagree, I'm not entirely anti-semitic, I'm just not pro-semitic, and I feel like there's this kind of unwritten rule, that if you are not pro-semitic, then by default you are anti-semitic.

My arguments have always been in line with a 'War on stupid';
- Not necessarily stupid people, but more stupid ideas.
When people double down on backing said stupid ideas then I tend to think:
'Why the hell are all these people thinking'

A lot of the world is not exactly what it seems to be, and I don't hide from pointing it out.

I'm not out to change the world, just having an opinion.

Seven consecutive quarters of negative per capita gdp growth, the worst since records began in 1973. Albo hasn't led the worst government of a generation. He has led the worst government of a lifetime.

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/media-releases/australians-are-deep-in-recession-record-seventh-consecutive-quarter-of-per-capita-gdp-decline

A legacy so awful it's unspinnable, and for the Albo cult's propaganda department that is saying something.

'I honestly don't see what difference it makes.
Let's say Albo loses the next election, then what?
We may not have Labor in charge doing dumb things, we'll have Dutton in charge doing dumb things instead, and just like Albo when the Aussie citizens get fed up with Dutton, just as many are fed up with Albo now, the baton will get passed back to Labor again.

It's just a vicious cycle of kicking the current leader out while convincing ourselves we're voting for the 'lesser evil' every time.
Rinse and repeat.'

That sums up how I have always felt about Aus politics. The thing is I think people vastly overestimate the influence the government really has.

Before we hang someone for what happened to the synagogue shouldn't we find the perpetrator's first.
The job has already been handed over to the anti terror dept; I am not sure what precisely albo can do about anything until we get some meat on the bones first. Rush in and destroy someone to find out they had nothing to do with it at all, then albo would be in trouble.
All the inuendo in the world is just wishful thinking until something concrete has been found. Leave it to the persons trained to do such things. What do you think Dutton would do linch first and then worry about it later.

Hi doog,

The man for the job! Straight Shooter Pete of course, he was an officer in the Queensland Police Force. In a meteoric rise in the ranks Pete went from Constable Pete, writing parking tickets, to Senior Constable Pete in just 10 years! Unfortunately Pete's career was cut short when according to reliable sources, Pete was doing the stations late nigh Macca's run when he rolled the squad car. Pete then tried to sue the Queensland government for $125,000 for all the pain and suffering he caused. Fortunately, Daddy Dutton had a lucrative building business, and employed Pete in a top job with the family firm, since no one else would. Maybe a struggling worker with a family was sacked to make way for Pete, who knows!

"The thing is I think people vastly overestimate the influence the government really has."

What about Sri Lanka? It sounds like something you'd learn in Venezuela or at the Robert Mugabe University. If Bowen keeps on with his wind and solar lunacy you will fast realise how wrong that statement is.

Its been almost a century since Australia threw out a first term government and that was over a minor kerfuffle called the Great Depression. Even though the comically bad Whitlam Government only lasted 3 years, that was still a two term government.

So the probability (there you go Banjo!!) of us turfing out a first term government this time is low to nil. While Albanese has been about as ineffectual as was expected, Chalmers has been a major disappointment.

Nonetheless, there is nothing in what the Dutton opposition is saying that suggests that they know what do do about the current economic malaise. Actually everyone knows what to do but there's nothing to suggest that either side is prepared to make the hard decisions required to address the economic problems or even to tell the electorate what those hard decisions might look like.

This is all as I forecast back in May of 2022 (http://tiny.cc/0pozzz) when I said that the problems wouldn't be addressed, that even though they were caused by failures of government prior to the election, the present government would eventually get the blame.

It is basically unfair to blame the current government for failures and decisions made during the WuFlu debacle, but it is fair to blame them for not doing the hard yards required to address these problems.

The government's plan seems to be to sit tight, try to garner votes from populist things like the social media ban and hope to hell something will come along to save their bacon. Unfortunately that's the Liberal's policy as well.

Nations get the government they deserve. Whoever wins next year, we can be assured we deserve it. Things will need to get much worse before the electorate is prepared to hear the bad news about what needs to happen, and it'll be even longer before we have a party on either side prepared to deliver that bad news.

The only certainty is that things will get worse.

By all means lets bring back the "good old days" of
climate denial, backflips on migration, more cuts, and
uncosted policies, and much more.

Then see what we've got.

Hi Houellebecq,
Welcome back to the forum.

Thanks anti,

' If Bowen keeps on with his wind and solar lunacy you will fast realise how wrong that statement is.'

As if.
There's nothing he can really achieve without the people who really run the country doing something about it. The managerial arm of the country is pretty impotent.

"There's nothing he can really achieve without the people who really run the country doing something about it."

Really? Like the Elders of Zion secretly pushing the levers? People who have endured communism and seen it replaced with democracy might have a different view. Personally I like Holland. People there are endlessly complaining about things, but they enjoy a good outcome for it. Truly a grass roots democracy.

I think the real reason for Labor's failure is the rejection of its grass roots heritage for an autocratic mindset. Albo and Bowen have that mindset in spades.

A couple of giggles:

When the Daily Telegraph discovered that foreign brothel keepers were on Albanese's Core Skills Occupation List for immigrants, Tony Burke agreed to remove them.

When 40 economists were asked for advice on Australia's economy, Professor Richard Holden of the University of NSW said, “Pray”.

You really terrified of autocrats Fester? lolzz

And any reds under the bed have long been exterminated. What century are you from? Greed is Good!

It could be said that Albanese has been moving Australia away from democracy to what is called PATHOCRACY, which refers to pathological governments that turn against their own people. Soviet Russia was a good example of a pathocracy, as is Communist China now.

No, more flabbergasted by your utter lack of understanding of the development of civilisation over the past few millennia. You might as well argue that we are doomed no matter what we do because the demons have a set on us. I guess that your great achievement is to give them another name.

Autocracy survives in many parts of the world and actively promotes the idea of western democracy as a decadent system headed for failure. In reality, the only risk is in abandoning the foundations that made the system a strong one, like replacing conservative bureaucrats with political activists, tearing down a reliable grid producing cheap energy to found our prosperity and replacing it with dysfunctional wind and solar that will leave the nation destitute and in chaos.

More bad news for Albanese.

An Accent poll shows that, if an election had been held yesterday, the Coalition would have had an 82% chance of forming a majority government. Labor would have 0% chance of forming a majority government.

Seat predictions;

Coalition 64
Labor 59
Greens 4
Other 9
Too close to call 14

Hi ttbn,
I told you I didn't think Dutton had what it takes on his own merits to get over the line.
Except maybe on the economic front, LNP were usually always better with the purse-strings.
It must be that people really want Albo out.
- Punish him for mass immigration, the Voice, MAD, and social media laws... etc.
Dutton maybe then looks like 'the lesser evil'?

Dutton is the lesser of two evils, and Albanese definitely must be punished for his authoritarianism.

AC

The fact is - neither the Coalition nor Labor are fit for purpose. We don't have a lot of choice.

I haven't voted for either party for years. But, while 70% of Australians gave their first preferences to the Coalition and Labor - as they did at the last election, despite the claim that voters were sick of the two - nothing is going to change. We will be stuck with Leftist parties sharing the job.

Australian voters really can't complain while that are complicit in the cause of their problems. Maybe they enjoy being treated like shite. Who knows. I don't care much anymore.

" the Coalition would have had an 82% chance of forming a majority government"

That's not at all what the poll, such as it is, says.

Its says the LNP has an 82% chance of being the biggest party in parliament but only 2% chance of being in a majority.

As such the ALP-Green alliance along, perhaps, with the odd teal would be most likely to form a minority government.

Note that the poll uses a new method to make its guesses and those new methods are as yet untested against reality. So take it with piles of salt.

We've seen what happens when the Greens get into government when St Julia was forced to treat with them. It wasn't good and adding a couple of teals wouldn't make it better. But that is the current scenario.

We see in Europe that as nations start to unravel politically, people fracture their support and the nation ends up with multiple, unmanageable coalitions of parties united in nothing other than their desire for power and hatred of the other side.

The Westminster system tends to reduce the risks of that but not entirely. A hung parliament and a minority government trying ot reconcile differing agendas and different thirsts for power isn't what the nation needs right now. But its increasingly likely its what we'll get.

Just on polls and predictions, its generally agreed that governments pick up around 2% during the run-up to elections. So a government 2% behind in the polls is usually in pretty good shape to hang on. As the electorate, desperate for answers, radicalises, this might change.

But Albo remains the favourite in my view to hang on as PM - at least until the ALP decide that they need a new face to save their backsides.

Let's look at what the Albanese government has done
in just a couple of years. Lets look at what it's done
to help with wages, climate change, housing, child-care,
aged care, social welfare, trade relations with China,
and much more on the global stage.

Do we want to be controlled by large corporations, and the
fossil-fuel industry, and other vested interests?

As we can see from news reports Dutton, and the Coalition, and
the Murdoch Press would like to extend fossil fuels for
another twenty years. Dutton's pushing with slogans like -
"It's time for a change"as an excuse to oust Labor - is
nothing new - but what he and his team want is retrograde.
They all seem to be a mimic of the "big stupid" that's going
down in the US.

We should not want it here.

Demons are alive and well panic mode has set in. Authoritarianism, communism, autocratic, That is a wicked state of mind to carry around.

Like Duttons nukes he has sunk his ambitions to new lows. What chance of that ever getting a starter. It can not be even costed. The only experts they have come up with is worn out cronies from lucas heights. Not exactly a system capable of putting any sort of generation into the grid. That is the extent of far right politics.

Albanese has increased wages without a corresponding increase in growth, causing the main employers, small business, to fail in droves. We have had 7 quarters in a per capita recession. Electricity prices have surged, thanks to his climate change obsession. The MSM has been very quiet about those things.

There is not enough housing because of unprecedented mass immigration. Rents are sky high.

There is already talk about power blackouts before summer hits.

Albanese has been a huge embarrassment at home and abroad, Israel; and China of course, cavorting like demented, grinning monkey around the Communist dictator, whose face clearly shows his contempt for the little sycophant.

In his authoritarian Big Brother mode, he has made a fool of himself with the Voice, the M.A.D Bill, and he is completely up a wattle with censoring under 16s, sometime next year, maybe, without a clue how it can be policed.

His ‘we've got your back’ slogan is hollow, and getting the contempt it deserves from Australians who know that the only thing Albanese has done to their backs is put knives in them for his entire time in office.

To sum up, Albanese has been:

Weak when it comes to dealing with his ministers
Unable to answer questions
Hopeless on foreign affairs
Hopeless with the economy: even more so than other Labor PMs
Hopeless on defence
Gutless on China
Lazy
Unqualified for the job
Anti-Semitic, Pro-Palestine
Divisive
In denial of the Voice rejection
Woke as all get out
Not interested in Sec. 44 of the Constitution (Sen. Payman)
Too scared to recall Rudd who regularly bagged the President elect
Trashed traditional bipartisan support for Israel
Supports gender-bending

But , hey. If that's the sort of bloke you admire, and you can live with it, vote Labor. It's a free country now, but who knows what it will be like if Albanese gets another go.

"Let's look at what the Albanese government has done"

I have been. That's why they are a failure.

Worst GDP for decades.
Inflation still uncontrolled.
Dollar in decline.
Real per capita GDP falling for the past 7 quarters.
Interest rates high because of failing government policy
Zero productivity growth
Rampant immigration.
Deficit of housing and no likelihood of it being fixed this decade.

A total failure of a government.

And an opposition with no policies to address any the above.

Deep do-do.

But the usual flying-monkeys will swoon over the net zero fantasy targets.

Hi doog,

Many years ago I listened to Peter Garrett speak, long before he became a pollie. Supposedly a "meet the people", yet a completely staged event. I've since come to the realisation that the Albo cult is a slick marketing operation run by political activists rather than the grassroots organisation it claims to be.

Like the Democrats in the US, throwing any critics in the right wing nut job basket is probably overplaying things a bit. I guess things get very stressful trying to sell the Albo image. Attacking the character of the plebs is never a good plan in a democracy.

Hi AC,

The most successfully economic policy of the Coalition is their big lie, that they are "Better Economic Managers Than Labor". There is no evidence to support that claim, certainly not from the Howard years, or anything in the almost 10 years recently of Coalition government. 90% of the federal budget spending is predetermined outlays on social welfare, defence, health, education etc. The "Big Announcements" are around discretionary spending. You would find government wast (program failures) are about equal for both side, revenue raising is also about equal for both. The truth is when it comes to finance both sides are about equal.

Recently the expenditure during the pandemic could be described as extremely wasteful but unavoidably necessary.

One just has to look at the character of those who praise Labor & all is clear why the Nation is derailing slowly but surely !
Symbiosis wins over Parasitism any day & no-one can disprove that fact ! The Conservatives have a proven greater leaning towards symbiosis than the progressives !

What does Dutton stand for besides nukes. Where is his track record. Dutton has gone back to saying putting nukes in the existing coal fired plants, they push out 1 GwH of electricity. That is equivalent as a full scale nuke plant. His idea is to fire them with small scale nukes which do not exist yet let alone one that has proven itself over time. All of this by 2035. That is spud’s say so.
There is an inquiry into nukes and that will kill off Dutton and his non ideas and that is all he stands for. How many of his tribe are against putting their future on nukes.
Australia’s GDP is nearing 2 trillion. That is very good going seeing the world is in a financial slump.
Howard, Abbott, Scomo, Dutton, what a line up. Howard sold off everything, Abbott desecrated NBN, Scomo did nothing not even one kwh into the grid, Dutton want’s to turn us into a target.

Hi Paul,
I decided that those who act for the benefit of foreign nations shouldn't even be on the ballot.
I'll preference Labor before I preference the LNP, that's even if I vote at all, I may just take the fine.
I'm not sure I can support either of these parties in good conscience.
I'm fed up with our 'democracy', all we seem to do is serve the U.S. and Israel, not the best interests of the Australian people.

Every single party is filled with ratbags.

"90% of the federal budget spending is predetermined outlays on social welfare, defence, health, education etc"

There are two types of statistics...those you look up and those you make up. Paul's 90% figure is the latter.

Totalling up spending on welfare, defence, health and education gets you to around 70% of the budget. The rest is discretionary. But even within those four areas, its monumentally naive to think savings aren't possible.

People assume that the welfare spending is locked in and unassailable. We can't cut pensions etc. And that's true. But that doesn't mean that efficiencies aren't everywhere to be found and therefore that savings are everywhere to be found.

Over the past few years, as my parents and in-laws ailed, I had quite a bit of interaction with government agencies in welfare and health. The level of inefficiency and waste in delivering services is shocking. There are good people in the front lines. There are good people in the back rooms. But there is a massive weight of bureaucracy overriding all of that which makes efficiency in delivering services virtually impossible. Education also. Almost all the increase in education spending over the past two decades has gone on administration. Not more teachers. Not more schools. Not better outcomes. But massively more bureaucracy.

That's where a truly liberal government would find the savings to save the nation. But we don't have any political party capable of addressing those problems.

Is John Howard too old to bring back?

Albanese always fails in things that matter. His 'govern for all Australians' is just another of his lies. Jewish Australians don't figure. The synagogue terrorist/hate crime hasn't made any impression on him. His disinterested, monotone response was obvious.

Talking about the Prime Minister's response to the
firebombing of the Melbourne synagogue?

The incident has not officially been designated as
a terror incident. However, the PM made it quite clear
that his personal view was that it was an act of terrorism.

He explained that the Victorian Police would meet
with their federal counterparts on Monday where they are
expected to come to a decision.

It helps that the Prime Minister is a details man and is
much better than the alternative. He's a good manager with
a good team that reports to him. He knows they're
competent and he lets them get on with the job.

His government has achieved more in their time in office
than the previous Coalition achieved
under multiple Prime Minsters.

The latest update from police is an act of terrorism has not yet been confirmed.
As this is not a federal matter everything that is possible at this time is being done by vic government and police. Until perpetrators have been apprehended we will not be making any conclusions

Since the weekend, the incident will now be treated as a terrorist attack, and the investigation has been turned over to the Joint Terrorism Investigation Team, involving ASIO and the AFP, along with other federal organisations. Perhaps the Albanese-loving halfwits might stop pissing about with what to call the anti-Semitic atrocity, and take the bind Australia now finds itself in seriously. Time to grow up.

"His government has achieved more in their time in office than the previous Coalition achieved under multiple Prime Minsters."

Perhaps you're right....

Worst GDP for decades.
Inflation still uncontrolled.
Dollar in decline.
Real per capita GDP falling for the past 7 quarters.
Interest rates high because of failing government policy
Zero productivity growth
Rampant immigration.
Deficit of housing and no likelihood of it being fixed this decade.

Although I'm not sure 'achieved' is the correct word here!!

The ABS has revealed that the Australian economy is in its worst state since 1990.

Thanks a bunch Albo and Jimbo.

Big Government is now 28% of the economy. The engine room of the economy, the private sector, is “gasping for air”.

96,000 hospitality jobs have been lost. 26,000 lost in wholesale trading. 6,000 in manufacturing.

The public service (produces nothing at taxpayer expense) has boomed.

1300 business insolvencies this year. 23,000 companies are in administration - a 9% increase from 2023.

In Victoria, a farmer has to comply with 90 state regulations and 37 state ones.

The private sector is being stifled by Big Government.

Thanks Albo and Jimbo: you done soooo much - to root Australia for the foreseeable future.

Where did you get that wording from. As of 2 pm the police have 3 suspects and they say it is pointing to a terrorist attack, but still unconfirmed until more details are checked out. What ever the outcome it's a find in the right direction. No word on if these individuals acted alone or not.

40 % renewable at present with 5 years before 2030. Four million houses with roof top solar so far is taking a lot of power away from the grid and a windfall for owners. Battery back up will see people further benefit from solar.

The latest Newspoll reports Australians as feeling poorer since the Albanese regime has been in power. Albanese couldn't deliver his key promise of $275 cheaper power. Talk about disinformation!

Living standards have fallen 8.7%, thanks to Albanese's extreme Socialism.

"And that's true. But that doesn't mean that efficiencies aren't everywhere to be found and therefore that savings are everywhere to be found."
- Just might be the smartest thing I've ever heard you say mhaze.

" Just might be the smartest thing I've ever heard you say mhaze."

I don't know about that, AC. Its a pretty high bar!

Is John Howard too old to bring back?
mhaze,
No need, just get rid of Labor !

Australia is 0.8% of GDP growth away from recession. Not just the current recession per capita - the real thing.

The public service (what service?) is bloated. The private sector is shrinking.

The Treasurer is good for grand statements, nothing more.

Government spending is at a ridiculous level.

We need to get back the cheap energy we once had.

Renewables are unreliable,

Renewables have massive hidden costs.

Wind and solar are ruining the environment.

Government subsidising of unreliables is the only thing keeping them going.

The Albanese government is driving us into poverty.

Argentina, here we come.

48 hours after the synagogue fire bombing, the mobs were on the street shouting anti-Semitism.

What did Albanese do? NOTHING. He doesn't believe in the laws against inciting hatred.

A Prime Minister who refuses to uphold the laws of the land,

A Prime Minister who plays tennis amid the chaos he largely caused.

One term of Albanese has wrecked Australia. Don't give him another one. Dutton is not much chop, but he still has a bit of decency left.

If he is our next PM, Peter Dutton has said that he would address the nation in front of our national flag ONLY. He rightly says that displaying aboriginal and TI flags is divisive. We are one nation under one flag.

We're told that - "Whether or not something is terrorism
is not always easy to determine". Nor are the current
political arguments and personal attacks on the
PM and his government useful.

It's pointed out that - "holding those responsible should
be the goal and careful investigation from the outset is
the only way to achieve it".

The blaze at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea,
Melbourne took place on Friday morning. The Prime Minister
clearly gave his personal opinion that it was an act
of terror which he strongly condemned.

He behaved responsibly - and waited for an investigation
over the weekend. It has now formally been declared as a
terrorist attack.

We're told that "Things have now changed operationally to
unlocking more resources, more people with specific expertise,
more federal and state co-operation, and more agencies involved
including ASIO".

We're told that "legally it also means that those responsible
potentially face harsher penalties".

The government has allocated $25 million to safeguard people's
safety.

There's more at:

http://theconversation.com/the-melbourne-synagogue-fire-is-being-treated-as-a-terror-attack-heres-why-that-matters-245558

Everyone should listen to this great speech about Australia

Flat Out Like a Nation Sinking by Matt Barrie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHtAHw1u15g

Jewish people have been warned of the risk of antisemitic attacks if visiting Australia. That is all down to Albo, and his response to the firebombing was atrocious and gives no confidence that things will improve.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3gRL3AYDAZU

It should be noted that the current government has a
commitment to working with affected communities. The Prime
Minister has made it clear that every Australian - whatever
their race or religion should be able to feel safe and at
home in any community without prejudice and discrimination.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East as we've seen continues
to deeply affect communities across Australia.

Mr Aftab Malik has been appointed Special Envoy to combat
Islamophobia in Australia. The appointment of Mr Malik is a
crucial part of the government's strategy to ensure all
Australians feel safe and it includes and follows
extensive consultation with the community.

Mr Malik is a UN global expert on Muslim affairs.

Ms Jillian Segal was appointed several months earlier (in
July) as Special Envoy to combat Antisemitism.

The appointments are for 3 years. Mr Malik's appointment
began on 14th October.

We're told that:

"Australia's Counter Terrorism Strategy is supported by
a National Counter Terrorism Plan which sets out the ways
Australia prepares for, responds to, investigates and
recovers from, terrorist acts".

There's more at:

http://nationalsecurity.gov.au/what-australia-is-doing/a-national-approach/australias-counter-terrorism-strategies

Dutton defends Albanese for playing tennis when he should have been on the job. Probably expects Albanese or whoever replaces him to defend him when he does something silly in the future.

The political class think much better of each than they do of the people they are supposed to be working for.

They just don't get it. Politicians don't get to be like the rest of us. If they want to be, they should get out of politics and get a proper job out of public scrutiny, and where they don’t have to sacrifice the pleasures of normal life for the greater good. Going into politics and taking on the responsibilities is a serious matter, and there are sacrifices to be made.

Newspoll, apart from revealing that Australians regard Albanese as the weakest leader in decades, has published the changes in intended first preference votes now compared to the last election in 2022.

Labor 27% Down 6%
Coalition 38% Up 2%
Greens 12% No change
One Nation 7% Up 2%
Other 16% Down 2%

Looks like the Old Fart with his political bias is cooking the books;

"A national Newspoll, conducted December 2–6 from a sample of 1,258, had a 50–50 tie, a one-point gain for Labor since the previous Newspoll in early November. Primary votes were 39% Coalition (down one), 33% Labor (steady), 11% Greens (steady), 7% One Nation (up two) and 10% for all Others (down one)."

Predicting elections by news polls is risky at the
best of times as we know from past results where
winnable elections were lost.

However, I watched the news this afternoon and saw
the Prime Minister visit the Adass Israel Synagogue.
As did so many others of other faiths. Seeing such a
variety of leaders, ministers, and people in general
coming together to support a community. Seeing the
unity instead of division being displayed certainly
brought a lump to my throat. Such a blessing during
a difficult time.

It just goes to show that the majority of Australians
prefer stability and not disturbances and division.

Something that all politicians and political
leaders need to remember. Their careers may depend on it.

It took Albanese 4 days to get around attending the scene.

Apparently Albanese posted that he had met with Jillian Segal to talk about “what we are doing to make Jewish Australians safe”.

That would be …. ah, nothing. Well, nothing that Jewish Australians are actually aware of. A chat and photo opportunity with a woman we haven't heard from since she was appointed doesn't cut the mustard.

Jews have been warned not to visit Australia.

Albanese talks about ‘hatred’, and hatred towards Jews certainly abounds, helped along by some of his and his foreign minister's policies: criticism of Israel for pursuing the terrorists into Gaza who committed the October atrocities and took hostages with them; no action taken against imported and other Palestinians harassing Jews in Australia; Wong going against the advice of her own department and voting against Israel in the UN; comparing Netanyahu with Xi and Putin; Ed Husic bleating about “Islamophobia” because people have the cheek to point out Islamic racism and violence against Jews. And just a few minutes ago Albanese was heard telling everyone that Australia was a “peaceful” country. Tell the Jews that! They will be telling overseas Jews the same thing that the Simon Wiesenthal Center is: don't travel to Australia.

Albo's visit to the synagogue went down well today. All the attendees lined up to warmly thank him for ending division and hatred in Australia and making Jews feel safer here than any other place on earth (Release from cult leader Albo's Truth Ministry for dissemination to the plebs).

Make
Albo
Go
Away

Hi Fester,

With your political bias you want to pile on to Albanese over the synagogue attack in Melbourne, by unknown people. Other than some warped political motivation there seems no reason to attack the government over the incident.

Now we have Dutton trying to divide Australians over the piddling issue of flags. This is Trumpism from Dutton, and given government this bloke will use the politics of division to divide and rule.

"Now we have Dutton trying to divide Australians over the piddling issue of flags"

Its always the same story. As soon as someone wants to do something the left doesn't like they are accused of being divisive. Their arrogance goes along the lines of - you're being divisive if you don't agree with us, because we are obviously right.

Well maybe standing in front of two mutually exclusive flags is being divisive since obviously most Australians don't adhere to the Black/red/yellow thing. But the left can never imagine that they are being divisive since, in their mind, they are, by definition, right.

The way the Dutton mob carry on is Albo should have been there to put the fire out. We still do not know who to blame for this. That shemozzle yesterday was a set up. That ali bloke is a drop kick creating a mob rule like that is a very dangerous situation. Absolutely did nothing as to gaining any sympathy for the Jewish community. The Jews that were inside the church when this was taking place sounds somewhat odd.
Albo was on his way to Perth when we were made aware of a fire in Melbourne. Not that he would have been able to do anything about it. A political stitch up that created a security disaster all in the name of journalism. Hosted by sky news the go to news channel for violent ass holes to get their daily dose of news read by the one that eats chaff.
Sydney this morning a car torched and graphety painted. Police are looking for two persons aged between 15-20 years old.

The Voice was probably the beginning of the end for Albanese. The M.A.D Bill hasn't helped, either. Not to mention the $275 p.a lower electricity bills that has morphed into huge increases p.a. Since then, Albanese has embarrassed Australia on Israel, done nothing about anti-Semitism, and caused warnings to Jews not to travel to Australia.

Facts will always prove you wrong!

The Daily Telegraph's Tim Blair got it right when he described Albanese's belated visit to the burnt synagogue as “forced and unnatural”.

Footage of Albanese scuttling back to his car in fear amid hassling and unanswered questions wasn't a good look either.

A bit of bleating about his ‘claimed’ personal feelings, but no sign of any leadership.

Albanese is “little more than a gossamer-weight second guesser”.

The Prime Minister spoke well when he said:

"I make this point: this is a time when the country
should be looking for national unity, not looking
for areas of distinction and difference over every
issue".

"I would have thought that every Australian would be
horrified by what occurred last Friday".

The PM has criticised those seeking to create political
differences over the debate around Antisemitism".

"Peter Dutton's oppositiion has regularly portrayed Labor
as weak on the issue although Attorney-General - Mark
Dreyfus, who's Jewish, said the government acted swiftly
and firmly".

"Dreyfus said it was "time for national unity than a time
for some political leaders (and their supporters) looking
for divisions and differences".

With those kind of attitudes coming from the Opposition
and their supporters, these people are ensuring that the current
government will be around for a long time.

The opposition was asked what they would like to see Albo do about anti-semitism after a beat around the bush the result was a STRONGER WORDING about anti-semitism. Are they allowed to ask questions like that.

I recall a couple of years back when there were bushfires around and Morrison was holidaying in Hawaii and didn't immediately return to...well do nothing other than empathise. The left lost its collective mind (that's not all that big of a loss!!) and demanded that he bow to the demands of the clueless. The Lib supporters of course adopted the opposite view. Morrison to his eternal shame, caved.

Now we have Albo off doing other things while a synagogue burned and the right has lost its collective mind demanding that he show up to...well do nothing than empathise. His supporters of course are adopting the opposite view. Albo to his eternal shame, caved.

Explain that unity of the community thing to me again.

Each side shows, if it actually needed to be shown, that the whole thing is about politics and has very little to do with the issue and everything to do with the optics. The hypocrisy is rampant.

Leaders don't exist to be the mourners in chief. Morrison couldn't hold a hose and Albo can't lead the forensic investigation.

Meanwhile the economy careers out of control. But both sides are madly searching for something (ANYTHING) else to energise the voters, because they haven't the faintest idea what to do about the single biggest problem facing the nation.

Anyone thinking about voting Teal should be aware that the Teals are just Greens under a different name; they certainly vote with the Greens a lot:

Monique Ryan voted with the Greens 77% of the time
Zali Steggall 75% of the time
Zoe Daniel 81%
Sophie Scamps 81%
Kylea Tink 94%

The Albanese government has allowed anti-Semitism to fester for a year. All Australians should be embarrassed and ashamed by this, and deal with Albanese in obvious way in 2025.

ttbn,

If Albo was counting on the Old Fart vote, then I'd say he's in real trouble, but since you're not voting for him, and are never likely to vote Labor, then Albo's got nothing to worry about.

Suddenly Jews have become the flavour of the month with right wing reactionaries, what have they got that YOU want?

When things become political - so much misinformation
abounds. As Attorney-General - Mark Dreyfus said - the
government has responded swiftly and firmly. Yet things
are being spread that simply are not true. Still as we
know politics is a blood sport and misinformation is
part of the game.

For those really interested in sifting things out -
here is a transcript of a press conference the Prime
Minster gave from Parliament House in Canberra where
he answered journalist questions and explained how
involved he has been and is - with the Jewish
community right from the start and what has been done
for the Jewish community to keep them safe and to rebuild
what needs rebuilding and the funds and resources that
have been allocated.

Still I dare say that for some the stirring will continue
and it will never be enough.

http://pm.gov.au/press-conference-canberra-16

cont'd:

My apologies. Here's the link again:

http://pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-canberra-16

'Explain that unity of the community thing to me again.'
- Explain to me why the whole of victoria has to chip in while the premier passes around the obligatory hat for 100k?

That's not unity, its state sanctioned theft.

Don't they have insurance? and if not then they'd be fools.
They were smart enough to insure their torah scrolls with a fireproof safe.

You carry on like you just won't be satisfied unless Albo puts on a yamaka, kneels before the AIJAC and Zionist federation of Australa, takes his free trips to Israel, visits a Holocaust museum for re-education and guilt programming, passes laws that have the New Gestapo kick my front door in and cart me away due to some infraction of 'You're not allowd to say what you think' and write a blank check to every 'fearful' Jew in the country.

And for all we know it could be some Jewish person themselves who committed these acts, (plenty of form for these kinds of things) with the help of Mossad, to try and push Albo to 'vote correctly next time' at the UN.

It's merely a criminal matter, really par for the course considering how Israel are acting in the world right now, (pushback should've been anticipated) but you act like it's a nation stopping event, like the whole world needs to stop and pay attention, like Niel Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin have just stepped onto the moon.

If pushback in one form or another should have been anticipated,
Then all you are doing is trying to squeeze every last bit of juice out of the orange.

'Don't ever let a crisis go to waste'.

I'd bet stuff like this goes on in indigenous communities every night of the week, somewhere in our country.

I swear, the crap you lot try to sell is like 'One fearful Jew' should somehow should be more of a global catastrophe to the average Joe Blow than the horrible deaths of 1000 women and kids.

The idea you sell is that 1000 innocent women and kids lives are completely worthless and something that isn't worthy of mention, compared to the idea you sell that one Jews 'feelings' on any particular day is instead of paramount global significance.

It's like you sell an idea that regular people should be more concerned about these Jewish peoples lives than they even should be concerned about their own lives and families.

Straight out of an evangelicals 'The Jews are Gods chosen people' maniacal view of the world.
Well only a third of the country are Christians, so you're only making yourself look irrational preaching to a choir that doesn't even exist.
It's a sad and desperate exercise akin to blowing smoke up everyone's backsides.

Like a door to door vacuum cleaner salesman, who hasn't woken up to the fact we can all just buy them from K-mart now.

When John Howard said that “we” will decide who comes to this Country, who did he see as “we”, as he continued with a large scale immigration policy. Himself? Bureaucrats?

It certainly wasn't “we”, as in the electorate. We have never been consulted on immigration, despite polls showing that we are not really in favour of mass immigration, especially now, when things are much worse than they were in Howard's day, and record immigration is making us poorer individually; not to mention the anti-West cohort that has been allowed in through both the Coalition's and Labor’s thoughtless immigration policies.

Neither of the two rapidly-failing main parties has ever taken a population policy to an election.

Both parties appear to be completely unconcerned about the same decaying infrastructure that can't cope with hordes of new people, nor the lack of housing; they just drone on about unrealistic intentions that never seem to materialise, because we don't have the right sorts of workers, their is too much red tape, there is no profit in building apartments that nobody wants to live in. Whatever.

Then there are the vast differences among the hordes coming in - many of the differences out of whack with the values and culture of the host population. Just look at the current situation with foreign imports on the streets, getting away from hatred against Jews, when we have laws forbidding the incitement of hatred which, like the lack of infrastructure and housing, is being ignored by the Albanese government.

The multicultural immigrants are not assimilating, not encouraged to - even discouraged to - by a government that is obsessed with differences and identify politics.

So bad is the Albanese government and its lack of concern about Islamic (and other) anti-Semitism, that international organisations are putting out do-not-travel-to bulletins regarding our country. Albanese makes statements, but does absolutely nothing. He is interested in getting votes from 800,000 Muslims, and uninterested in 100,000 Jews, who actually have the same values and beliefs of mainstream Australians. Albanese's favours foreigners over locals.

Albanese's indiscriminate mass immigration is typical of a dictator replacing a population for one he can control better, and which will vote for him out of gratitude for bringing them in, and turning a blind eye to their often destructive behaviours and cultures.

Albanese will be gone when anarchy finally, but inevitably, replaces our already rotting social cohesion.

The Ethics Centre asks the question:

"Irael of Palestine: Do you have to pick a side?"

We're told that:

"Picking a side can shrink our view, making us see the
world through that sides ethical lens and dismissing
other possible valid perspectives".

As the Prime Minister told us - he didn't know of any
Australian who would not condemn acts of terrorism.
I tnink that's something on which we can all agree.
No matter which side perpetrates them.

There's more at:

http://ethics.org.au/israel-or-palestine-do-you-have-to-pick-a-side/

It is reported that Austria is planning to deport Syrian refugees now that Assad has been kicked out. Assad was the reason they were given asylum.

Many European countries have suspended asylum applications from Syrians for the same reason.

Australia took in 12,000 Syrians in 2015. Will Australia deport them? Will pigs fly?

The international understanding is that people cease to be regarded as refugees once the reason for their status no longer exists. However, as with all things, Australia is not on the same track as similar countries, preferring to be “virtuous” and easily bluffed by aliens, to the detriment of locals.

"To the detriment of the locals?"

Australia's immigration policies have changed over time.
From the restrictive " White Australia Policy" to a
more multicultural approach. The Racial Discrimination Act
of 1975 made it illegal to discriminate against migrants
based on race, colour, descent, or ethnic origin.

The government adopted a policy of integration and
multiculturalism which celebrated cultural diversity and
pluralism.

Australians had become diverse and were no longer required
to be "British".

Australia has become culturally richer and more diverse
as a result. Australia recognized what it was becoming as
a nation.

Things will continue to change. Change is something that
is certain to continue.

The cry today is - "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!"

cont'd ...

As Ben Pobjie writes:

"Australians come in all shapes and sizes and from
all backgrounds."

"Some come from the city, some from the country. They
come from every state and often from different countries,
driven by the indefinable urge that tells so many of the
world's people "I simply must go to a better country".

We've had Australians contributing to the arts, sports,
science, politics, warfare, business, and humanitarianism.
Should we sih to learn how to better serve our nation?

All we need to do is look at the Australians (a mixed lot)
who have contributed and devoted their lives in making
this country great for us all. And, as said earlier - they
come in all shapes and sizes and ethnic backgrounds.

We salute them as said earlier - with the joyous cry of -
"Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!"

A far right Nazi in Brisbane has been charged with antisemitic behavior. This follows on from another Neo-Nazi also in Brisbane being charged with making online threats towards a Jewish community centre in Victoria.

Hi Paul,

Nazis in Brisbane? Like these guys?

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/O5D3Mc57N4DbUcz3NTY1/lebanon's-hezbollah-supporters-hold-placard-bearing-nazi-1500w-835216e.jpg

And there was this fellow in Sydney:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/this-man-is-no-neo-nazi-high-profile-restaurateur-sentenced-over-swastika-sign-20241210-p5kx50.html

I don't know whether other members of the protest march challenged him about his displaying a swastika.

Have they identified the offenders in Brisbane yet?

As he said he would, Dutton has announced his nuclear plan costs, which turn out to be a quarter of a trillion dollars less than Labor’s unreliables mess.

Still $331 billion,though. If it were not for the carbon dioxide scam, we wouldn't be seeing these mind-boggling figures, and we would still have the cheapest power in the world generated by coal and gas.

As we look back on the unbelievable mistakes of past generations, so will our descendants look back at us with horror.

The current Prime Minister went to the 2022 election
with a "new politics" agenda. A collaborative style
agenda that sought to bring all Australians including
business, labour, Indigenous and non-Indigenous
together. His strategy was harder to implement in
government.

We keep hearing about Labor's lacklustre performance.
The old Coalition politics of culture wars and
denouncing Labor's economic and other policies are
still very much with us.

The housing affordability and supply crisis and other
problems long predates the Albanese government and Labor's
attempts to address the problems are currently being
stymied by the Opposition once again sandwiching Labor.

Once again from the look of things politics appears to be
a devisive terrain that Labor is finding challenging and
not easy to negotiate.

However, the government argues that it has been providing
extensive cost of living relief in the form of taxcuts,
energy bill relief, rental assistance, wage increases,
cheaper medicines, and reduced child care .

The problem is that such government measures are
continually undercut by inflation, price increases,
high interest rates, and the housing affordability and
supply crisis.

The government should not be blamed for things that are
beyond its control.

As for what we leave for our future generations?

Hopefully it will be a united, fear-free and hate-free,
hard-working nation.

As Ben Pobjie writes:

"We need to learn from Weary Dunlop and Caroline Chisholm
and Vincent Lingiari and all their historical kin, so
that we can become the Australians we aspire to be, and
more importantly create the Australia we aspire to live in".

"But even while we do, let's remember the words of a
great Australian - there's never been a more exciting time
to be Australian - than right now".

Hi Foxy,

"The government should not be blamed for things that are
beyond its control."

Do you see the contradiction? The RBA Governor has called on the government to reign in its spending as she sees it as a driver of inflation, yet you praise the government for a range of measures that entail increased expenditure, yet you absolve the government of responsibility for the consequences.

Hi ttbn,

Fortunately Australia is a democracy, and the majority of Australians, rightly or wrongly, want low carbon energy. Personally, I agree with you that coal fired generation is the best option, but were it a choice of nuclear vs wind and solar, I'd choose what works.

Hi Fester,

I don't absolve anyone.

I try to explain.

Things need to be looked at in context. Not just from
one perspective. I'm sure you'll agree.

Fester,

Yes. 59% seem to want it, 66% in the inner cities, where they don’t know where their food comes from,

I believe these figures expose people who only use the main stream media for information. I also wonder if the word 'carbon' (dirty black stuff) misleads them. We are talking about carbon dioxide, not carbon, but 'carbon' is used by the confidence tricksters because it sounds worse than carbon dioxide, of which we humans emit 4% globally - the 97% occurs naturally.

Just as Professor Ian Plimer can not get anyone to prove to him that CO2 is the cause of global warming, nor can anyone answer the question: 'why is the human-cause 4% a problem, while the 97% is not'.

No answers, no sense. It is all woke ideology which will have to run its course - ruining the economy and the environment with unsightly windmills and panels, and the loss of trees to accommodate the monstrosities, until the West collapses in a heap.

Fester

I don't how far electricity bills had risen when people said that they approved of getting rid of fossil fuels, but prices are going to keep rising.

I wonder what people will think when the government runs out of other people's money to subsidise renewables, subsidise the actual household bills, and hand out cost-of-living payments periodically.

The old FOSSIL doesn't know how much his FUEL bill has risen since whatever. The problem there is "The lights are on but nobodies home!" Up goes the bill.

We're told that the report "A plan to Repower Australia"
shows getting pollution out of our entire energy system by
2050 means Australia gets a $800 billion slice of the
global renewables investment, and all the jobs that come
with it.

We're told that between now and 2050 moving to clean energy
and increasung energy efficiency will result in fuel cost
savings that cover 110% of the cost of this shift.

Our investment in fuel-free electricity would start paying
itself off in lower prices as early as 2025 and by 2040 at
the latest. Australia would save on average:

+ $ 9 billion a year on power sector fuel costs.

+ $ 11 billion a year on transport fuel costs.

There's more at:

http://ecnt.org.au/repowerfaq_afford

Foxy 'opined': "A collaborative style agenda that sought to bring all Australians including business, labour, Indigenous and non-Indigenous
together."

Foxy, much of what you wrote was lifted holus-bolus from an article on The Conversation by a gender studies academic (gender studies - seriously!). It didn't convince when I read it there and it became even less persuasive with your cherry-picking its main themes.

Its very true that the current government shouldn't be blamed for what is beyond their control. When I predicted this would happen back in May 2022 (http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=9813#333463) I said then that the government, whoever they were would be blamed for lack of progress on cost of living issues, inflation and interest rates when it was not all their fault.

But that doesn't mean this government shouldn't be blamed and penalised for the things it did do and the things it didn't do that might have alleviated the current disastrous economic situation.

Government spending remains too high. But the government has continued to spend recklessly and that is worsening that inflationary cycle. Tax cuts are the worst possible things to do when there is already too much money chasing to few goods.

/cont

/cont

The fools sought to alleviate cost of living problems and buy off voters for the ALP's lies about reducing electricity prices by just giving away money. This did reduce headline inflation but not core inflation and therefore had no effect on interest rates. But it was all smoke and mirrors. Its like giving the whole nation a supply of Ozempic and then declaring that you've solved the obesity crisis.

Housing is the same. The housing crisis is caused by too many people. But the government pretends the immigration rate is out of their control!! Even someone like Foxy knows that's rubbish although she'd never admit it.

Both sides know what to do to solve these problems. Both sides know that telling the electorate what needs to be done is electoral suicide. So both sides pretend to have plans which are all just window dressing while they just hope the international economy will save us. (Trump saving the ALP government - wouldn't that be delicious).

I still think Albo will limp over the line but in coalition with the maniacs from the Greens and the odd teal (aren't they all odd?). But the notion that he's just a victim of circumstances and is battling mightily to overcome it, is rubbish. They've been an utter failure and unfortunately their failures will continue into the decade

We're told that:

"Wages are growing, inflation is falling, and more than
a million jobs have been created under the Albanese
Government".

"More jobs are being created in Australia with job numbers
continuing to grow according to the latest "Labour Force
Survey Data", released by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics".

We're told that:

"This is the highest level of job creation in a single
parliamentary term for any Australian Government of any
political persuasion".

The voters will decide as to what kind of leadership they
want in this country. Slogans and outmoded politics
appeal to some. While swift, and firm actions are preferred
by others.

People will show their choice come election day.

Hi Foxy,

I'm not questioning your integrity or enthusiasm. I'm just pointing out that it's somewhat contradictory to laud numerous policies which have increased expenditure, so increasing inflation, and then claim that inflation is beyond the governments control. Similarly, your lauding of Albo's efforts to make Jewish people feel safe in Australia is contradictory in light of criticism by numerous Jewish organisations, Benjamin Netanyahu, and most recently by David Mencer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUcvFOrRWWw

ttbn,

I just hope all the hype and bs with wind and solar ends soon. Even the small scale pumped hydro at Walpole is taking some time for commissioning. Maybe they need battery storage or diesel generators as well?

https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/pumped-hydro-project-awaits-grid-connection-to-power-walpole-during-blackouts/ar-AA1v2XTR

Hi Foxy,

>>We're told that:

"This is the highest level of job creation in a single
parliamentary term for any Australian Government of any
political persuasion".<<

By who exactly?
- Would I be wrong to think those high employment numbers would go hand in hand with the high immigration numbers?

Hi Fester,

There are two ways a government can tackle a recession. One which Labor is trying, whereby government increases spending in the public sector to lessen the impact of the recession on ordinary people, generally by maintaining employment through public investment. The other which the Coalition seems to favour is whereby government cuts expenditure and does little to stimulate economic recovery, but hopes the free market will take over and the recession will end itself.

The classic example is "The Great Depression" of the 1930's. Following the collapse on Wall St, the worlds economy went into free fall, and governments did exactly what the Coalition advocates today for Australia, they took a "tighten your belts, and ride out the storm" approach. Unfortunate things didn't recover and the world economy plunged deeper into depression. It was Roosevelt in America who introduced his "New Deal" policy of increasing government spending, which ultimately helped to stimulate the American economy, and eventually the world economy. Labor is basically the "New Deal" and the Coalition is the "Tighten Your Belts" mob. I know which approach I support.

Hi Paul,

How can anybody support a political party who only has
negativity and attacks to offer? Did you read about
Peter Dutton's aim of not reconising the Indigenous
flag if he becomes PM?

Is this the kind of leader we want as PM?

If Labor is returned with Green preferences, the Greens will expect to get their ‘Dynastic Wealth Transfer Tax’ through. An inheritance tax, which would hit everyone, not just the “rich “. It is like the farm tax in the UK, but applying to everyone.

Put Labor second to last. Greens last.

"While some other countries, such as New Zealand, do have flags that represent their Indigenous peoples, they are not typically displayed in government press conferences or announcements in the same way as they are in Australia".

And that comes straight from that 'flag' of the ultra-Left, The Guardian.

The displaying of a flag invented 50 years ago representing one race of people is a divisive and as race-baiting as it gets.

I'm no fan of Peter Dutton, but good on him, in this case, for his positive contribution to uniting all Australians, rather than continuing with the identity politics of the ultra-Left.

Hi Foxy,

The hard liners in the Noalition along with their extremist mates from right wing fringe parties like One Nation have successfully used a "scare and divide" policy. First they create a bogeyman mentality, real or imaginary, externally its people "not like YOU", Muslims, Chinese, etc, and of course they have their internal bogeyman as well, could be aboriginals, gays, leftist's, Muslims even Jews, people "not like YOU". They always paints these people as dangerous to the good citizens and their well being, they preach that sinister forces are at work propagating these treats, and they have to be dealt with, and only they have the necessaries to protect YOU from such evil. Dutton is just playing that tune.

Dear Paul,

It's strange that if Dutton is so pro-Australia as he
claims and therefore won't recognise the Indigenous
Flag - how come he recorgnises our current flag with
the Union Jack on It? Shouldn't we have our own flag
in that case?

Foxy writes: "We're told that:..."

Followed by some plagiarising of some partisan ALP acolyte who tells her what she wants to hear. So for example, we get ,second-hand, from Foxy some gender studies professor explaining economics to the masses!!

So, no Foxy, we AREN'T told. You're told and anxiously, rapidly fall for it as you always do. But most of us recognise spin and discount it as such. For example, its spin to say that the massive increase in employment is a government success. Firstly, its all about statistics since most of the increase was a mere return to normal after the WuFlu debacle. Only government would seek praise for 'creating' the jobs that it had previously destroyed. Secondly almost all of those jobs are public sector jobs paid for by the taxpayer which is why the government can't get its spending under control. Borrowing from tomorrow to buy jobs (and praise) for today is not a long term strategy but very much in keeping with ALP thinking.

Its all very well to find gender studies academics to explain why inflation, interest rates and negative GDP should be ignored because...well just because. But that's not the real world.

"According to Foodbank Australia's 2024 Hunger Report, around 3.4 million households experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months."

3.4 million out of around 11 million households suffering food insecurity. "We are told!!"

"charities were seeing demand for food relief outstrip supply as hunger was no longer an issue affecting low-income earners.
..."We know one in five households on a median income of more than $95,000 per annum, are now food insecure." We are told!!

The ALP long ago abandoned the working class and is now a party of the chardonnay socialist like Foxy. They pretend to worry about the poor but all their policies ignore the plight of the actual poor. It will come home to roost.

Hi mhaze,
Maybe one in 5 household's only form of income is government payments?
People on the unemployment, disability, elderly, single mums?
They can't afford a steak.

Hi Paul,

Higher electricity prices are already taking a toll, and the environmental red tape is greatly constraining revenue generating development. Very ironic as at the same time vast tracts of farmland and natural heritage are being destroyed with almost no environmental control. Even Bob Brown is trying to stop the madness.

You can be filled with kindness and good intentions, but if you destroy the economy and environment your legacy will be destitution and chaos.

Hi Foxy,

Australia is a democracy, so if you want to change things you can via the democratic process, just as Albo used the democratic process to try and create apartheid, kill free speech, destroy farmland and the environment, hinder business and mining development, build a dysfunctional and expensive electricity grid, create a divided society, and prompt international criticism for making Jewish people unsafe here. If that were what the flag meant to me then I'd want it gone too.

Our Indigenous People were here ahead of British
colonisation. They're entitled to have their own
flag recognised.

All ethnic groups have their own flags. Sports clubs
have their own flags. Army, navy, et cetera all have their
own flags. Councils have their own flags. And the lists go on.
Even foreign embassies have their own flags.

To not recognise our Indigenous People's flag is disrespectful
and divisive. But then Mr Dutton walked out on the apology to
the Indigenous People. Which he later regretted. Perhaps he
shall change his mind yet again if he realises that his
career may depend on a change of heart. He is afterall an
ambitious man. Although lacking in principles so I won't hold
my breath.

Talking about facts?

One can only cite from reputable sources like the
Australian Bureau of Statistics. This may be hard for
avid supporters of Donald Trump and Peter Dutton to
grasp. They'll try to divert discussions to lewd suggestions
about donkeys. Proclaiming the brilliance of Benjamin
Netanyahu, accusations of AntiSemitism will abound.

They will undoubtedly see things through a different lens.
Facts will always prove them wrong.

Hi Fester,

As a rusted on Coalition supporter, there's not much point debating you on political issues with your obvious bias against the Labor government. Your alarmist points do not gel with the reality. Economically Labor has done a reasonably good job. Certainly better than what was achieved with almost 10 years of Coalition economics. Really do you want more Australians suffering under a Coalitions "tighten your belt" policy or are you willing to accept some negatives, higher interest rates for longer, some inflationary pain, some debt increase, but generally more protection and a softer landing for the majority. What's it to be?

Hi Paul,

We all have a view of the world. That view is opinion, not bias. Bias implies a deliberate distortion of fact. I have no doubt that you believe the factual accuracy of your opinions, and I am open to changing my opinions if the facts supporting them is shown to be incorrect. As I've said, I think the fact that people have differing opinions a great thing, responsible for the development of knowledge and underpinning democracy, although I'd guess the original content to be well below 1%, not the 5% your friend suggested.

Hi Foxy,

Maybe you could get in a time machine, go back to 1788 and take the Brits to the International Court of Justice. Likewise you could go back thousands of years further and take past migratory waves of people to the Australian continent to the International Court. I could even go back to 1066 and take William of Normandy to the International Court, or go back further and likewise stop the Vikings or Romans. Too bad for me that my existence should cease were any of those invaders in my bloodline.

Australians rejected apartheid by bloodline by a democratic process. To argue that such division should be upheld because it is the natural order of things is authoritarian and undemocratic. The flag of a local footy club could fly alongside the Australian flag if it were the will of the majority of voters. That's democracy. Who voted for the indigenous flag to fly alongside the Australian flag, or wtc/aoc for that matter?

Hi Fester,

I think we live in the best country in the world.

Australia is a process of revelation of unveiling to
the world the surprising facts abouy ourselves that
nobody knew.

To me flying our Indigenous flag shows our recognition of
our Frst Nations people. It provides unity and a commitment
towards reconciliation. More importantly, it gives the
Indigenous people a connection to their culture, heritage and
pride.

I think that's important for all of us.

I understand your difference of opinion. You're not alone in this.
After all so many Australians voted against The Voice.
We'll have to wait and see what the future holds.

"Talking about facts? One can only cite from reputable sources like the
Australian Bureau of Statistics"

Citing facts is one thing and any fool can dig up some facts.

Citing relevant facts is much more difficult and a feat Foxy has yet to master.

Its a fact that the current government has spent the future to keep the jobless number down in the lead up to an election. But that is irrelevant to a family lining up for a charity food parcel due to policies of the government and its a fact that there are a lot more such people due to the government's policies.

See the difference? Probably not. But they're only the discarded working class. Much more important to swoon over a fabricated flag.

mhaze,

you're so predictable.

Next you'll be telling us it's all the fault of
AntiSemites.

There was no aboriginal flag when the British landed in Australia. The idea would have been beyond their understanding.

When aborigines saw the British flag raised in 1788, I'll bet they didn't say, “Wow. We must get one of those for ourselves”. It was 183 years after that before someone with nothing better to do thought it would be a good idea to have an aboriginal flag, and only 29 years ago that Paul Keating decided that it would be a good idea to make it official.

Since then, the aboriginal flag has been a symbol of division and official racism.

While it probably could have been a harmless indulgence if Keating had not made it his business to make it official, it should never have been flown anywhere near our national flag, under which all Australians of all races and creeds live.

I agree with Peter Dutton’s attitude; it could restore dignity to our national flag, and go some way towards the beginning of a solidarity that Australia has been lacking due to identity politics.

http://artark.com.au/blogs/news/the-aboriginal-flag

Talking about flags?

We should remember that there wasn't an Australian flag
when the British landed in Australia and for decades the
Australian flag was British - the Union Jack.
It still has the Union Jack on it.

"Next you'll be telling us it's all the fault of AntiSemites."

No I've already explained its the fault of the chardonnay socialists such as yourself and the power-at-all-costs politicians that inhabit the major parties and aren't up to the job of telling the electorate the actual truth about our situation.

It can't be the fault of the antisemites because they are completely clueless on almost all matters

See Foxy,

The Trumpster has to have a poke "chardonnay socialists". We all know he has the real guts, he's there in the vanguard fighting the good fight for the rights of the proletariat, as only a true Donaldite can. How does he do it, he in his anonymous way gets on this little forum and calls you a "chardonnay socialists"! That's show'em ah! Trumpy!

Well Paul, you really don't know what other activities I might be involved in to help the truly disadvantaged, the people abandoned by the people you support. But if it helps you to think that we are all like you, then not much I can do about that.

But I note that none of the ALP acolytes here even try to deny that their gurus exist to further the fortunes of the credentialed middle class while just assuming the workers will do as they're told. It's the same thinking that the Democrats had in the US - that the working class would always vote for them because they always did what they were told.

Then along came Trump....

Trumpster, happy seasoning,

I certainly hope if you have the means, that you are involved in activities in ways to help the truly disadvantaged. There are many and varied ways that help can be given to people in need.

Not sure how Trump fits into the Australian picture, can you enlighten me on that score? I know your man Donald is working on the Haitians eating the dogs and cats problem, but me thinks he's going to inflict a whole lot of economic and social pain just to help the working class, things like high inflation, high unemployment, low wages, increased crime etc. Now that's where you and all the other Trumpsters come in, Donald creates all these disadvantaged people, and you come in to help them out. Win win all round.

Dear Paul,

It appears that mhaze doesn't like our opinion of him.

He can always improve.

As for Trump?

He's racist, he's homophobic, he's xenophobic, and he's sexist,
He's the perfect Republican candidate. Dutton's learning to
imitate hoping for the same results. Unfortunately for Dutton,
the only flair is in his nostrils.

"But I note that none of the ALP acolytes here even try to deny that their gurus exist to further the fortunes of the credentialed middle class '

When you can't argue the facts, go for the ad hominem.
"He's racist, he's homophobic, he's xenophobic, and he's sexist,"

Happy Days Trumpster.

"ALP acolytes" when they turn up I hope they enlighten you, just as the Donald has done. I realize you were following aimlessly a whole bunch of messiahs, Addy, Benny, Pol, The Chairman, Billy Graham, etc etc and of course etc. Well, that was until the one true messiah turned up and entered your life in the form of 'The Donald'. Unfortunately 'The Donald' is in America unless you are what I suspect, a good ol'e boy from Alabama, Donald is far too busy with more pressing problems than Australia, like all those Haitians eating the dogs and cats. Do you have anyone in mind in Australia in the mould of 'The Donald' could it be Fat Clive, The Lovely Pauline even The Mad Katter, pray tell gives us a name, so we to may kneel at the feet of a true savour, just as you have done.

Family First, who will be running Senate candidates in NSW SA QLD and VIC; in NSW QLD and VIC, 50 candidates in lower house seats, 30 candidates, and 41 candidates respectively - giving conservative voters (Easterners at least) more choice - has canned the Albanese government’s betrayal of Australian values at the United Nations.

“Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong have embarrassed Australia”. Australia's votes against Israel in the UN have been praised by groups that support terrorism, damaging Australia's Jewish community, our principles, and Israel itself. Labor’s actions fuel anti-Semitism and empower extremists.

Australia is “sending a powerful message to Israel”, said Izzat Salah Abdulhadi, of the Palestinian General Delegation, after the Albanese government voted for a ceasefire resolution.

Shameful! Anti-Semitic!

What I find most hilarious about this is the all-or-nothing attitude of people like Paul and Foxy. True authoritarians in spirit and soul.

In the main I've written here in support of the ALP. I've written that I think they'll win the next election. I've written that most of the problems with the nation are not of their making. I've written that their opposition is just as or more culpable and have just as few ideas as to how to resolve the problems.

But I've also criticised their beloved Albo for the things he HASN'T done and the fact that the problems were exacerbated by his non-actions. And I've criticised them for selling out the constituency they claim to support while also pointing out that their oppistion are no better in this regard.

So while being mostly supportive of the ALP I haven't been FULLY supportive. And that's too much for the ALP flying monkeys. Either you fully, absolutely, obsequently support anything and everything the ALP/Albo do or you're a mortal enemy in the authoritarian minds of people like Foxy and Paul.

Of course we all know these type of people. They think they are completely informed and completely on the side of good. Therefore if you demur one iota from their thinking, you aren't just wrong, but evil.

So sad! I had such high hopes for Foxy

Hi Foxy, "Our Indigenous People were here ahead of British colonisation. They're entitled to have their own flag recognised."

I think the indigenous are entitled to their own flag, but I also think it is divisive, and I most certainly think Albo's attempts to fix the problem did more harm than good.

We came here, we killed them, we caused conflict.
We put them into a position where they needed to identify themselves as seperate to the rest of us by the way we acted ourselves.

Accept it, live with it.

To solve the problems, I support Foxy's point regarding the Union Jack.
We're not a colony anymore, and there's no self dignity in being a vassal state, get rid of it.
Secondly if you want unity change the Australian flag to one that incorporates both our existing flag (minus the Union Jack) and the indigenous flag.

Then we recognise the issues at hand and we put ourselves in a position where unity can be possible, and we stop the internal conflict in our country.

Unity is not possible with Australian indigenous peoples so long as the current flag flies, as it's a symbol of their oppression.

Hi ttbn,
Screw Family First, they should call themselves Israel First.

What the hell is with this loyalty to Israel?
Can anyone explain it to me?

Israel's fight is civilisation's fight, Netanyahu tells Congress
http://www.familyfirstparty.org.au/israel_s_fight_is_civilization_s_fight_netanyahu_tells_congress

You lot seem to think Israel first = Australia First
We're not a country of Christians and Jews.
Christians and Jews represent less that 45% of the population.
Together they're a minority, you can't win the country based on a solely Christian / Jew platform, the only way this policy wins, is when Labor messes up and gifts you the lesser evil voting choice.

They can only win if the build their Israel first platform around other policies and issues.

And it's not right to have foreign influence embed itself into one of the two major parties.

Is it antisemitic to say no to Israel first?
Israel first means Australia second.

My position Australia first, second and third, and everybody else equal last, this is not anti-semitic.
It means no foreign power enjoys privileged status.
Make no treaties with any foreign powers except trade.
Unity in self sufficiency, which is the only unifying policy that is not built around woke garbage.
And what are we, if we are incapable of fending for ourselves?
We may as well all be on the international dole, relying on foreigners means being incapable of looking after ourselves.

Beyond this, prosperity is connected to energy.
And we need a shitload of it if we are to make ourselves competitive in the world again.
The only choice is nuclear, and we should want the biggest and best in the southern hemisphere, anything less is a band-aid.

Australia is “sending a powerful message to Israel”, said Izzat Salah Abdulhadi, of the Palestinian General Delegation, after the Albanese government voted for a ceasefire resolution.

Stop listening to Netanyahu's bullcrap trying to conflate the issue that 'Not supporting Israel = Supporting and empowering the terrorists'.

We shouldn't support either side.
We should support Australia first second and third.
But we should also stand up for human rights issues.
Respect, decency and dignity for all peoples, but not promote liberal intervention.

WOULD YOU STUPID CO-OPTED CHRISTIANS JUST ONCE LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS FEKKIN TAUGHT YOU?

“Whoever does unto the least of these does unto me” is a phrase from the Bible, Matthew 25:40:

That means if you turn ablind eye to the suffering of innocent Palestinian women and kids, then you are also turning a blind eye to the suffering of Jesus on the damed cross.
It means that as you have a don't care attitude to the killing of innocents being bombed and give that your silent consent, it's as if the Jews were dropping bombs on Jesus himself and you are turning a bling eye to it and are giving it your silent consent.

THIS MEANS YOU ARE NOT A TRUE CHRISTIAN.

As long as you stand in support of Israel, I stand opposed to you.

Hi AC,

The Aboriginal flag represents the Aboriginal people
of Australia and their unique and ancient culture
while the Australian national flag represents all
Australians and their common interests and beliefs.

I can't understand why both can't be recognised.

______________________________________________________________________

I've just learned of the death of Kevin Andrews, who died
on Friday 13th December aged 69, after his battle with
cancer for a year.

My deepest condolences go out to his wife Margie, and family.

Kevin Andrews served as cabinet minister in the Howard and
Abbott governments as a MP from 1991 to 2022 representing the
Victorian seat of Menzies.

My electorate.

Menzies was known for his social conservatism.

Menzies remained in parliament as a backbencher until his
retirement at the 2022 election having earlier been defeated for Liberal preselection by Keith Wolahan.

There's more at:

http://sbs.com.au/news/article/man-of-conviction-tributes-flow-after-death-of-former-liberal-minister-kevin-andrews/340ytb8vw

"Eternal Rest Grant to him, O Lord
And Let Perpetual Light Shine On him
May he Rest In Peace
Amen".

The Aussie flag is a symbol of oppression to indigenous people, and rightly so.
And the indigenous flag is a symbol of divisiveness to the rest of us, and rightly so.

Fix the problem, or accept the problem and all that goes with it.

The ABC's own report advises the weekly reach of ABC TV news and current affairs was down another 4% in 2024; and in the major cities, its radio reach fell 4.1% from last year.

If the Coalition wants to take the reins next year, the ABC is something Dutton needs to start talking about, and deciding what to do with it. It's been on the public teat for too long, and its employees are nothing more than extreme Left activists, and the new boss showed himself up as an absolute idiot recently.

The ‘most trusted news source’ babble has always been a lie: but now it is absurd

My apologies. Here's the link again:

http://sbs.com.au/news/article/man-of-conviction-tributes-flow-after-death-of-former-liberal-minister-kevin-andrews/34oytb8vw

Hi AC,

Here's the link again which I cited earlier on
page 23 of this discussion. It explains the
Aboriginal flag:

http://artark.com.au/blogs/news/the-aboriginal-flag

"I've just learned of the death of Kevin Andrews, who died
on Friday 13th December aged 69, after his battle with
cancer for a year."

They've just come out with some study results that seed oils are causing cancer, but the conspiracy theorists have been saying for years that it's caused by 'processed frankenfoods' they weren't exactly wrong.

This means fast food is officially cancerous as they all use canola oil.
Better to stick with olive or vegetable oil, than seed oils.
Also be careful of Bovaer, it's a feed additive meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (cow farts) in line with Climate change policy, but it's going to shorten our lives and enrich big pharma.

Don't buy you meat from coles or woolies, and stick with Norco milk if its available where you are.

And since I'm being a little conspiratorial...
I'll let you in on a secret.

This guy caused COVID.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Jahrling

"They've just come out with some study results that seed oils are causing cancer"

OTOH

"However, when the World Cancer Research Fund reviewed the latest scientific evidence on fats, oils and cancer risk, it concluded that there was no evidence that eating vegetable and seed oils in moderation increased the risk of cancer. In fact a small amount of these types of fats help our bodies absorb some vitamins."

But AC read it on the www and in his world that makes it true.

I'd wager there are very few foods that we eat that haven't been linked to cancer. But look for words like possibly, maybe, could, more research needed, indicates. ie there are almost no studies showing this or that food is proven to cause cancer. But the anxiously gullible mobs will eat (!) it up.

Its all about statistics and the search for grants. Get a bunch of people, find that those with the cancer were more likely to eat some product or other and declare the case proven - at least until the next grant is due.

BTW do you know that eating bitter chocolate helps you to lose weight?
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-the-chocolate-diet-hoax-fooled-millions/

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

Another thing that Dutton needs to do prior to the election, is cut out the politics surrounding the climate change scam. Stop the scam altogether by opting out of Net Zero and the Paris agreement; forget nuclear and promise to get back to the cheap, reliable fossil fuels we are blessed with; and listen to/consult with people who are not politically motivated, and actually know what they are talking about.

“We’ve done a lot of damage to real climate science by the demonisation of carbon dioxide.”(Professor Will Happer, American physicist and adviser to George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump).

Happer points out that there are natural cycles of warming and cooling that have been ignored “by this manic focus on CO²”.

People who say that the ‘science is settled’ on climate change don't don't really know how science works, according to the Professor. The science is “never settled”. When you hear that it is, you know that “politics has taken over”. Science is ‘settled’ by politicians.

Climate Modelling is not reliable. It is an unbelievably complicated system. The atmosphere and the oceans are “notorious for being hard to predict”.

All of the “absurd” computer models don’t mean anything; they will give whatever result a sponsor wants.

Historical records are ignored, when they should be looked at with regard to times when the temperatures and carbon dioxide levels varied from those now.

Professor Happer explains this by saying that some scientists are not honest; and they are worried about next year's funding; and if there is no “climate crisis” there will be no funding.

Like an increasing number of laypeople, Happer refers to climate alarmism as a scam, with much of the data being “doctored”, and the past “keeps changing” (disinformation on past temperatures and conditions). Politics "changes the past"

(Steve Tripp 'Science is settled by politicians’)

Talking about bitter chocolate and weight loss?

Bitter (dark) chocolate is high in calories and many varities contain
added sugars. You can:

1) Choose bitter (dark) chocolate with at least 70% cocoa.

2) Limit your intake to 1-2 squares (10-20g) per day.

3) Avoid aptions with sugars, artificial flavouring or
additives.

It's important to eat chocolate in moderation and consider
the overall balance of calories in your diet.

Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is kidding himself that the upcoming federal election will be a "referendum on nuclear energy".

What a Wally! What might or might not occur in the future pales in to insignificance against all the things that the Albanese government has already done, and continues to do, to Australia and Australians.

'Its all about statistics and the search for grants.'
Maybe ignoring something without absolute proof is itself about protecting profits.
Just like saying Israel isn't bombing hospitals is about protecting Israel from criticism.

Remember how you made a big fuss about Israel didn't bomb that hospital Hamas did it.
- Well they've bombed every hospital standing in Gaza now, what your bs excuse now, 'Hamas blew them all up'?

And now that the truths out what do you do?
- Do you say well bombing hospitals is wrong? No.
Or do you only say it's wrong when you could blame Hamas, and perfectly fine if Israel does it?
Then blame everyone else for being 'antisemitic' instead now?

Pathetic.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ultraprocessed-foods-high-in-seed-oils-could-be-fueling-colon-cancer-risk/
You could make a fuss about it mhaze, but what is a fact is that SOMETHING is causing increased rates of cancer.
Your naysayer attitude avoids those facts and it deters people from making better decisions with their health.
You seem to be happy for others to play Russian Roulette with health to the benefit of Big Pharma, which makes you someone just as willing to see harm done as the actual thing causing it.

Didn't your mum ever tell you 'prevention is better than a cure'

We expect our governments to do so much for us. Yet many
will go on and complain about the "Nanny State" or attack
a political party we don't support often for the wrong
reasons and unjustly. Something many of us have been
guilty of at various times.
A person's sense of what they expect from a government
is often shaped by
how capable they are of changing their life.

Many of us often don't value our politicians or our public service.
Yet these people have often risen to the challenges.

Government is rarely seen as a force for good. It's usually seen
as badly run, ill-defind, playthings of politicians. Many are
dismissive and cynical about why people enter politics.

But where would we be without accessible hospital
services, good local schools, childcare, aged care, public
transport, and so much more?

Of course there are valid criticisms. But these can only be
assessed by government's actions not culture wars and political
ad hominem attacks. Reading some political memoirs can help
and be very revealing.

Gotta give it to the old fella, Family First indeed, we had a FF candidate in our state seat here in Queensland in October, of the 5 candidates the fool ran last with lest than 2% of the primary vote. Maybe the voters heard the bloke had been chasing a local woman around the neighbourhood while the good wife was home getting his dinner ready. Family values from a hypocrite.

Albanese is a “dithering incompetent”, even with 16 personal advisers.

Dutton can't make a decision until “he has the results from at least four focus groups and the backing of the Party Room”. (Ron Pike)

Its a marketing campaign where facts don't matter ttbn, and it's reaching its inevitable conclusion. The way they are fig jam campaigning reminds me of the way John Daysh was engaging in discussions here a while back. I think that Labor has toned down the antagonism since losing the Voice, and probably learned more from the Trump win, but the Greens seem to be as bsc as ever. Won't be long to see how the strategies work for them.

There's never been a more exciting time to be
Australian - than right now. So says Ben Pobjie.

He tells us that:

" It is only by looking at where we have been that we
can understand who we are, what we stand for, and
why at times nothing seems to work".


Ben Pobjie points out - we're a young nation that
"has spent many years seeking its place in the world
and almost as many years not liking what it has found".

I strongly recommend reading Pobjie's book - "Error
Australis" The reality recap of Australian history.

"Savage, provocative, hilarious, deeply depressing
and brilliant - should be required reading for
secondary students".
NONI HAZELHURST.

"Remember how you made a big fuss about Israel didn't bomb that hospital Hamas did it."

Well of course I never said that. I did say that a rocket Hamas fired had failed and fallen on the hospital. Video proved it. Investigations proved it. Most news organisations finally came around to acknowldeging it. Struth, even the manically anti-Israel UN acknowledged it. Only fact adverse bozos like AC still hold out.

So since I didn't say what you claimed, the rest of your post is clearly rubbish.

"We expect our governments to do so much for us. Yet many
will go on and complain about the "Nanny State".....

But where would we be without accessible hospital
services, good local schools, childcare, aged care, public
transport, and so much more?"

Every one of those things, absolutely every one, can and are provided by non-government entities. There are private hospitals. Private schools. Childcare used to be handled by non-working women and/or retired grannies. The aged used to be handled by the family.

Over the past century government has inserted itself into all those areas and not in a good way. They increase taxes to pay for it, screw it up and then demand more taxes to fix the screw-up.

There is absolutely no reason government ought to be involved in any of those things. All would be cheaper and better provided if government got out of the way.

That's why we complain about the nanny state

Mhaze,

Well said. But I don't see why you waste your time trying to put idiots on the right track: they just come back with the same ignorant, ideological rubbish again, and again, and ........

mhaze,

Thank you for sharing your opinion with us.
Personally, I was raised in a family that
did not rely on government to pay for things.
We were raised to be self-reliant. And to this
day we still are.

However, I was talking about those whose expectations
are different for a variety of resons and who do rely on
governments.

I appreciate your comments. Even though as we can see - your
comments have once again drawn the predictable ad-hominem
personal attacks from our resident "positive" poster.

Which of-course is not your fault.

In the UK, it has been found that puberty blockers pose an “unacceptable safety risk”. The unnatural medication has been banned for anyone under 18 years of age. Albanese prefers to “save” children under 16 years old from words and ideas he objects to.

Extreme gender ideology continues. The Albanese government continues to allow children as young as 14 to be prescribed these drugs; while in August this year, a Victorian court ordered they be prescribed to a child of 12.

Attempts to refer the matter of puberty blockers to a parliamentary enquiry have been blocked 5 times by Labor, Greens and some Coalition members.

Vote carefully.

The Murdoch Children's Research Institute writes:

" Puberty blockers in Australia are accessed by
transgender adolescents as part of a comprehensive
team based approach to gender affirming cases. This
empasises holistic individualised care which
considers the young person's care which considers
the young person's stage of puberty while balancing
potential benefits and risks".

There's more at:

http://mcri.edu.au/news/insights-and-opinions/what-are-puberty-blockers#:

Vote carefully?

More importantly - Get the facts. The constant manipulation
and constructed fallacies of the facts may hinder us
from understanding can do tremendous harm.

Definitely vote carefully, but get the facts first.

Makes little difference who wins or loses.

It makes a big difference who wins or loses.

A huge difference.

"Crikey" has announced the "Politician of the Year".

They say:

"You may not like him, but there's no denying how
brutally effective as opposition leader Peter Dutton
has been in 2024, ruthlessly wielding
power and ideologically shifting his party".

Then there's much afoot for the ABC with a new managing director
and funding announcement to be made. And much, much more.

Yes, who wins or loses will make a big difference.

I agree Foxy. It is astonishing that people are of a mindset that they are always badly governed and that things will inevitably get worse. Equally perplexing to me are comments like those of mhaze along the lines of "They know what needs to be done but they don't do it.". Why?

There must have been a few good decisions made along the way.

Hi Fester,

With hindsight I have to say, all governments make good and bad decisions. Its only the cynical one eyed supporter that would claim a government not of their persuasion only makes bad decisions. I generally believe Labor governments do more for people than conservative which tend to do more for business, but both do for good for people and business.

BTW, I know several politicians on a first name basis, federal, state and local, from across the political divide, and I don't know one who is not trying to do good for the community at large. Merry Christmas.

Dear Fester and Paul,

I've also over the years have known politicians on a
first name basis from both political parties. And have
even been invited to private events. When you get to know
them as people it makes a big difference.

I've been impressed with so many of them. I guess there's
good and bad in each profession. But I try to remember that
people often can surprise us - and certainly not always in
a bad way.

I'm told that Biden has given Presidential pardons to over 9000 people so far.

"your comments have once again drawn the predictable ad-hominem
personal attacks from our resident "positive" poster."

I wouldn't be complaining about ad hominem attacks if I were you Foxy...."He's racist, he's homophobic, he's xenophobic, and he's sexist,"

Glass houses and all that.

"Which of-course is not your fault."
Very true. Indeed I'm faultless.</grin>

"Definitely vote carefully, but get the facts first."

Getting the facts is important. But discerning which facts are important and actionable is vastly more imprtant and difficult.

Its important to know that the government avoided a recession in Australia this year. Its vastly more important to know that that didn't mean much to those who suffered a decrease in their standard of living because of a per capita recession. Understanding the difference and relative importance of those two facts is what matters.

mhaze,

You did not give my entire quote:

"He's racist, he's homophobic, he's xenophobic and he's sexist..."

You left out:

"He's the perfect Republican candidate".

That comment was not directed at any poster on the forum.

Getting and presenting the full facts is important.

And which ones are important is an individual choice.
Especially in an attempt to present a certain point of view.

Hi Foxy & Fester,

Foxy: "It makes a big difference who wins or loses."
- My comment wasn't meant to come across as specifically being ignorant.

It was more in line with Pauls comment:
"With hindsight I have to say, all governments make good and bad decisions."

- I feel like both sides have positive and negative aspects.
I feel like too much time and money is wasted with fools in disagreement, and getting nowhere.

Feels like this:

Talking Heads - Road to Nowhere
http://youtu.be/LQiOA7euaYA

Oh, and I took a look at the Crikey article...

And Crikey’s politician of the year for 2024 is…
http://www.crikey.com.au/2024/12/17/peter-dutton-2024-politician-of-the-year/

"Peter Dutton is a devastatingly effective opposition leader. Sure, he has no credible policies, his political persona is one steeped in racism and hatred, and his primary business model is about fostering division and grievance. But that has left him with, according to the estimable William Bowe’s BludgerTrack poll compilation, a big primary vote lead over Labor, a small two-party preferred edge, and the momentum strongly in the Coalition’s favour."

"Sure, he has no credible policies, his political persona is one steeped in racism and hatred, and his primary business model is about fostering division and grievance."

- My neighbour has a cat named 'Misty'.
She has no credible policies, she is racist against 'dogs', and when it's her girly time, she meows non-stop for days and creates division and grievance.

If this is what it takes to win, - then I choose the cat.
And if this is what we base a winner on then I grieve for this country.

Dutton makes you depressed just looking at him.
He doesn't even have to open his mouth to say something stupid, like Albo does.

Hi AC,

I appreciate your honesty and sharing your opinions.

You always manage to enlighten and give us new perspectives.

Thank you.

Hi Paul,

With the care and kindness I often read of you showing others it is no surprise that you are so passionate about your politics as well.

Best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2025.

Cheers

Hi AC,

I remember Neville Wran saying how little he felt he had achieved from his life in politics, hence my peanut gallery description of the forum. Forming opinions and arguing about the world is a good thing, and you make as much effort in that respect as anyone here.

Hi Foxy,

Likewise you are a passionate contributor here and inspire much discussion of the world.

Merry Christmas

Dear Fester,

I always read your postings and you make me think. We may
not always agree but you're certainly a valued contributor
and a very kind man and educator. Love, Joy, Good Health, Peace and Happiness to you and yours.

A big hug.

I consider Peter Dutton as much better than many of the Liberal leaders we've had recently. But I haven't seen much footage. Some like to attack him, but don't explain why they attack him.

There were a couple of incidents that I remember being concerned about- but they could be due to the Teal effect.

I give him credit for opening up the immigration debate after 40 or so years of the uni-party conspiracy of silence, to replace the Australian public. That alone says that Dutton is more on the side of the Australian people than leaders on both sides of politics.

I wish Peter Dutton and his family well at Christmas.

I think that the Woke Marxist's and their Academic masters are the biggest racist's because they want to replace the planets local people with "Nihilist Man" or rather "Nihilistic Culture-less Ethnic-less Hermaphrodites".

I hope at Christmas time leaders think more about the stability and survival of western culture and preventing Anglophobia in the world.

Personally I will pray for the three girls from Southport, as well as their families, friends, teachers, communities.

Talking about Peter Dutton as Prime Minister?

I'm sure that the man must have some redeeming
features. Politicians are not either all good
or all bad. We need to look at them in terms of
intelligence, education, experience, and
leadership qualities.

In terms of their honesty. Do they give
large contracts to friends. What they are for, and
what they oppose. Their attempts
to unite or dividie the country. Do they do that for
ideological reasons or for political advantage.
Has their term in office shown achieved good results,
or has it shown how bereft of ideas and policies
they and their team really are.

Do they relentlessly play negatively to their base.
Do they indulge in fantasy policies that have no
bearing on any of the many issues now causing
problems for the country.

Wrong answers to these questions is normally
not the way to win elections. Still predicting
election wins is risky at the best of times.

We have America as a good example.

Talking about Anglophobia or anti-English sentiment?

Yes, it does exist as we all saw here in Australia
with the recent visit of King Charles where an
Indigenous person (Lidia Thorpe) vented her feelings.

Anglophobia exists in many countries around the
world due to historical events, suspicions of British
meddling, and perceptions of British imperialism.

Stereotypes of English immigrants as complainers have
contributed to anti-English sentiment in countries like
Australia and New Zealand.

AntiEnglish sentiment also exists in France, Ireland,
Russia, India, Argentina.

Anglophobia was a significant part of American culture in
the 19th century and re-emerged in political discourse in
1918. The Irish diaspora in the United States has also
been known for its anti-English stance.

Countries have their Anti-phobias for various reasons.
There are anti-English, anti-Indigenous, anti-Semites,
anti-Muslims, and so many other anti.

Living with other cultures side by side is complicated.

We can't as I've said earlier pretend our cultures and
differences don't matter. We can't gloss over differences
and pretend they don't exist wishing we could all be
alike and we can't pretend biases and discrimination
does not exist.

Our world is becoming increasingly diverse and we have to learn
how to live in it in peace side by side. That's easier to say
than do. It's often difficult to remember that everyone has an
important viewpoint and role to play. That we need people to
work together and be included in decision making processes for
things to work and we need to recognise that cultural
division does not go hand in hand with a just and equitable
society.

One of the Christmas gifts that I've received from
my grandchildren this year is " Don't Look Back,
You'll Trip Over". Michael Caine's - "My Guide
To Life".

I'm really looking forward to reading it and finding
out what makes him tick, what makes he get up in the
morning in his nineties, and whether he'll ever
retire. The answer to that one comes as "No" .

Caine writes that:

"Over a long life, I've learned and had the opportunity
to reflect. I've seen a new generation grow up,
among them my own grandchildren, facing the world
with all the challenges and problems. I hope they'll find
"Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over" helps them to be
optimistic - and shows that anyone can blow the bloody
doors off".

I'm looking forward to a great read.

The decision will be based on do Australians want to keep Australia or do they want to keep Albo ?

The election decisions won't be based on fear and division.

Australians want to hear something positive.

The opposition needs to say something positive instead
of focusing on the fear of:

Brown people, The Voice, wind turbines, surpluses,
Gaza refugees, et cetera.

The more popular Albo becomes the more the opposition
will oppose him to their own detriment.

Brown people, The Voice, wind turbines, surpluses,
Gaza refugees, et cetera.

Foxy,
You forgot the useless white people & the drug abusers, the useless Left generally made up of ex Uni students, the work shirkers who tattoo themselves into being unemployable etc.
No, real Australians of every ethnicity want to give Labor the boot. It's only those who always had a cushy number in some Public Service Department who don't want to change the status quo.

I can only speak from my own experiences,
education, and values. I've found that in life
people can and do surprise us and we have to
allow for individual differences. One size does
not fit all. And, sweeping generalisations aren't
helpful but simplistic.

sweeping generalisations
Foxy,
The situation regarding revenue makers & revenue takers has long passed the point of generalisation & is now at tipping point.
It can either be a political tipping or heaven forbid, a societal (collapse) tipping !
Removing Labor from office is the least damaging way to avoid a very serious threat to Australian society !

Indy,

How about if the Federal Government cuts out Aged Welfare, and saves the taxpayer $44 billion, from these old non productive's. Like an old car, once its past its use by date, and can't run no more, you don't keep pouring money into it, you take it to the wreckers and its chopped up for parts an scrap! Metaphorically we need to chop up these non productive old farts for scrap! Well once we introduce a Seniors National Service it will be self supporting, no more of a burden on the taxpayer. ARE YOU A SUPPORTER!

Indyvidual,

You might enjoy this:

http://echo.net.au/2024/07/can-peter-dutton-win-the-next-election/

If you want to see how far off the track the Labour and indeed the Liberal governments have got read this Clintel document on global
warming.
Clintel is an organisation of atmospheric and other most significant scientists.
They accuse the global warming movement of being locked onto government
funding and no other employment is possible.
Read it to understand what is going on.
They state firmly their beleif that we are not in global warming but in
a long ice age.
At first I boggled at that until I read that as there is ice at the poles then it is an ice age.
Watch it then come back and discuss it. 1 hout 20 minutes needed.

https://climatethemovie.net/

It’s hard to believe that neither the Victorian Police, nor ASIO, nor the Australian Federal Police have come up with nothing on the synagogue attack after a month.

In the first week of the terrorist attack we were told police were hunting three suspects and had made what they called “significant progress”. Since then? Nothing. Waiting for people to forget about it, perhaps. Anything is possible in anti-Semitic Australia.

In the meantime, Julian Hill, Labor backbencher, has been appointed to liaise with synagogue leaders on funding to repair the damage.

The same Jillian Hill who said that the October 7 atrocity had to be contextualised: jabbering about “complexity” and “history”, and this is a “75 year conflict”.

Hill also said that Israel was “hell bent on imposing an apartheid state” on the Middle East.

The Jews should feel oh so comfortable with Mr. Hill. They might ask why he has called for a Palestinian state while Hamas is still holding Jewish hostages.

Just a thought ...

We have too many politicians ...

When they need advice they go to the experts which costs the taxpayer a fortune.

Instead why don't we have a meritocracy and employ the experts themselves ... the most experienced in Housing, Health, Education etc.

When Albo got in I was delighted ... however, increasingly dismayed.

As for Wong!

Hi WhiteMouse,

But look at the alternative?

We can see an increase in verbal abuse online.
With a new year approaching we need to take a
closer look around us. We need a new narrative,
especially regarding the conflict in the Middle
East.

A new narrative is needed one which seeks dialogue
and compromise between the two sides.

Hi Foxy,

"We need a new narrative,
especially regarding the conflict in the Middle
East."

Do you mean like Assad killing half a million of his citizens, then being welcomed back into the fold of Arab nations? At least he returned the French gong, but I don't remember people protesting here about it, screaming hatred, burning down synagogues and such like.

The problem is hatred Foxy, and identity politics doesn't help. I think we need to accept that people have a wide range of views and recognise that "misinformation and disinformation" is a concept developed by authoritarian regimes to quell dissent. Painting people as being good or bad for the sake of having an opinion about one thing or another seems a bit tribal.

welcomed back into the fold of Arab nations?
Fester,
Notice how they don't do that with the Gaza mob ?

Fester, I can appreciate the wide range views you mentioned however, I can not get myself ignore the moral & competence decline since Albanese's Labor took the reigns !
Of course those with cushy responsibility-free bureaucrat positions & salaries can't see that but the working class does & feels it ! Being outnumbered by the former makes it worse !

Hi Indivydual,

I think you make a big contribution to discussions here but I think it a shame that so many discussions degenerate to the exchange of personal insults. Ideas should be the focus here, not the motivation or character of the people making them. I believe that such a view follows from the idea that civilisation develops from a free discussion of ideas by anyone interested enough to take part. I believe that the stifling of free speech to be a significant reason of the failure of many authoritarian regimes.

The consolation to take from the current government is its failure to curtail free speech and equality, that despite significant damage being done to energy supply, the environment and resource development, as well as reckless control of expenditure and immigration.

Hi Fester,

Things certainly are difficult at the moment.

There are so many false narratives being advanced
by our mainstream media. And failed fact-checks
don't help. With a coming federal election this
year Australians can expect even more of the same.

When political party's purposefully foster
division within Australian society. When they
promote misleading media content, make false
accusations, stir up moral outrage
wherever they can regardless of whether they
are dealing with genuine issues and with no care
of who it damages along the way.

Whether it's gender, race, religion, sexual
orientation, place of birth, wealth, or lack of it,
Indigenous issues, imigration.
When a party is eager to weaponise issues to
appeal to the worst in human nature to try to garner
a few votes. When unity, forward planning, and
addressing community needs and good governance seem
to mean nothing and politicians are willing to sink
so low.

We need things to change.

It is time for voters to make their voices heard and to
clean out the government benches.

On a more positive side of things.

I watched the TV program "Travel Guides", last night.
It was on my city - Melbourne. A great program and
brought in the New Year on a positive note.

Yes, there are problems. But there's also so much
to be grateful for. The same goes with this country
of ours. We may muddle through at times - but we
usually get it right in the end.

Happy New Year to one and all!

That is a good sentiment, Foxy. There will always be problems and challenges, but they can only be solved by people being aware and thinking about them. Discussion is the key.

We live in a great nation, and that is compelling reason for optimism. When everyone agrees I think that we will all be doomed.

A Happy 2025 to you too Foxy.

Hi Fester,

No culture or way of life even one as strong and good
as Australia's is set in stone. Countries are
constantly adapting to a changing world and changing
demographics. Adaptations can be positive or
destructive. We can't take it for granted.
We must stand up for it.

As you pointed out - there will always be problems and
challenges and they can only be solved by people
being aware, and trying to overcome them, as well
as having a vision and plan for the future.

We shouldn't judge a nation at the worst of its history
but by how it overcomes that history.

Discussion is key. As is forward planning and good governance.

Happy New Year To All Who Are True.

Well said Fester, "but they can only be solved by people being aware and thinking about them." That is what we call activism. There are times for conservatism and there are times for activism. Most people are concerned about "self" and give little thought to issues which don't greatly concern themselves.

Dear Paul,

I bought one of my grand-children a boxed set
of the "Winnie The Pooh collection".

There's so many lovely quotes worth remembering:

1) A hug is always the right size.

2) Some people care too much. I think it's
called love.

3) What day is it?
It's today.
My favourite day.

4) It's more fun to talk with someone
who doesn't use long, difficult words but
rather short easy words like - "What about lunch?"

5) The things that make me different are the things
that make me, me.

6) If the person you are talking to doesn't
appear to be listening, be patient, it may
simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in
his ear.

7) I don't feel very much like me today.
Could you bring me some tea and honey until I do?

8) I wonder how many wishes a star can give?

Feelings as we can see are sometimes stored in a
different place to facts.

A reminder: in 2013, Tony Abbott, supported by the Greens, set a debt ceiling of $300 billion for the federal government. Now, the debt has reached $900 billion, and is forecast to reach $ 1 trillion this year.

Added to that is the secretive “off- budget” debt, with all the risks and interest repayments of the upfront debt, which is currently expected to be $87.1 billion over the next 4 years. Off-budget borrowing/spending is not subject to the same scrutiny as the real budget, and it is most undemocratic. But what does the socialist monster Albanese care about democracy? Just look at how the monster intends to change the investment mandate on the Future Fund to meet his own political needs, not commercial returns.

“Australia is a modern, trade-dependent economy, yet it is moving toward a hyper-regulated future that discourages investment and innovation”. (John Lloyd, ‘Workplace follies’ Spectator, 2/1/25). All down to the Albanese government’s “interventionist workplace relations legislation”; its support and encouragement of the outdated union movement that only 13% of the workforce belong to. It's a thankyou to the union bosses who helped Albanese to get over the line in 2022.

The result?

. It cost Woolworths $140 million dollars and empty shelves
. It nearly shut down Sydney’s rail network
. It has increased shipping costs
. It has affected casual work favoured by many workers
. It has given new, dictatorial rights to union officials
. It has strengthened union rights at the expense of employers, employees and the economy
. It cost 86% more to ship from Melbourne to Brisbane than from Melbourne to China
. It has stifled productivity
. It has stifled investment
. It has caused a decline in living standards
. It has emboldened the ACTU to try for 41 changes to the Fair Work
Act
. It has destroyed the balance of rights between employers and employees.

Talking about monsters?

In a way, it's convenient to know that there are
monsters out there, because you have somebody to
blame when you think things go wrong.

But let's not forget there are angels out there
as well who help and save us.

We are all someone's angel or someone's monster.

Our Prime Minister regarding the Future Fund is
definitely not a monster.

Australia's Future Fund to invest in
housing, infrastructure and energy transition under
a new mandate which will be updated for the first
time in 15 years,

Explanations are given at the following:

http://theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/21/australia-future-fund-sovereign-wealth-changes-housing-infrstructure-energy

Don't you wish your wallet came with refills?

Kudos ttbn

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget
that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live by them.
(John F. Kennedy).

Unfortunately, there are those who attack workers for seeking justice, yet themselves, as total non-productive's, suck off the same workers taxation teat, living comfortably in their million dollar mansions, thanks to the generous aged welfare. Ask, how much of the 21% welfare increase since Labor came to power has been retuned to the taxpayer, Answer, ZERO!

Paul1405,
The increases are paid back in double in the cost of living increases moments after !
Odd that you never mention the taxes we provided for the pensioners when today's pensioners were young Taxpayers !
You get your Super topped up by other taxpayers also ! I suppose the term symbiosis goes right over your head !

Indy,

If you actually worked and paid tax, highly unlikely since you said Gough terminated your public service employment in 72, that money was spent by the government of the day, then and there. The fact is you didn't plan, for what ever reason, for your old age. Many on aged welfare today simply pissed their money away in their working life, and now stick their hand out wanting aged welfare. I see them down at God's Waiting Room on a week day playing pokies and knocking back schooners with taxpayer money! A Seniors National Service is what's needed for the old folks who failed to support themselves, is that YOU? A SNS will save the taxpayer $44 billion a year. Are you up for it?

CM

I find it hard to believe that Australians will give the Albanese government another chance given their truly awful performance. Albanese has not got a thing right, hasn't got a clue. Lies and incompetence all the way.

ttbn-

Gustav Le Bon said that the workers always seek safety and find slavery whereas the rich seek opportunity. That's why Trump asked the US do they feel better off than during Trump's previous government. In other words do the people believe that Biden has lived up to the duty of his office in making things better for the electorate. They voted and Trump was voted in, in spite of the predictions of the media class.

It appears that the media class has long since lost touch with the electorate.

A bit of trivia about the the trivial Blackout Bowen: in a huff, he has taken his bat and ball and left X.

Quote of the day:

“In reality, Labor is a socialist government which, deep down, shares the Greens’ anti-West, woke agenda but leaves it to the Greens to push more extreme policies. The Greens are the guerrillas of the culture wars whose mission is to restrict freedoms and incite class envy”. (Maurice Newman, ex-Chairman of the ABC; Chairman ASX; Chancellor, Macquarie University, and businessman)

Unfortunately, but accurately, Mr. Newman also says: “ ….. the Australian electorate seems ready for change but, too often, finds Liberal and Labor indistinguishable”.

Penny Wong gave a speech in the Senate:

" When the Albanese government came into office -
"inflation was higher and rising. It was higher
and rising. And now it's lower and falling. The point is,
inflation was 6.1% at the time of the election and now
it's 2.8%. It's less than half of what the government
inherited and about a third of its peak."

"Inflation remains a challenge but the government is
working hard to deliver a cost of living relief while
bringing inflation down".

And that is despite Peter Dutton opposing everything.
Pointing to their own record does not do them any
favours.

As Penny Wong points out - "Australians should be confident
and work together to deliver for all Australians.
They should be confident in their ability to deliver on
our interests for all Australians. And the government
is leading the way".

Opposing and criticising does not achieve any positive results.
Australians need to realize that voting for negativity
is to their own detriment.

It's time to clean out certain government benches.

Talking about quotes of the day?

Many believe in "carpe diem" or "seize the day".

Dame Judi Dench prefers instead of "Seize the day",
"Savour the day". It's less aggressive.

I tend to agree.
"

CM

Look at the Albanese/Chalmers economy.

Australia is performing abominably. Our 7 consecutive quarters of negative growth per capita puts us among the worst in the OECD. The Leftist magazine, the Economist’, in 2024 could not list Australia in the top 20 of economic performance.

On jobs, the world's worst Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, bangs on about jobs created, but neglects to mention that most of them are in the non-productive public sector, paid for by taxpayers, directly and indirectly.

Jimbo also has the outrageous plan to misuse the Future Funder to favour the government’s pet projects: housing, infrastructure and renewable energy. That is: use taxpayer money to invest in stuff that will give very little, if any, return on investment. A shocking example of the government picking losers.

Albanese, in government, has presented us with the best warning yet of the new communism that people like him are no longer even trying to hide. A recent TV documentary on Cuba presented a glimpse of where we will end up if Albanese’s version of Labor is not removed this year. Like Albanese, Casto ignored the might of America, and Cubans continue to suffer after 60 years. Canada and Mexico have already heeded Trump's threat of high tariffs for their assaults in Western values. He could do the same to us - or for us, as many disillusioned Australians under the Albanese regime would think. Everywhere Western country but Australia, is turning around the woke, ant-Western, new communism still favoured by Fidel Albanese.

They got less than a third of the primary vote in 2022. Stats indicate that their partners in crime, the Greens, are falling out of favour, even with the young. Everyone is affected by all the government's efforts that have seen the cost of living skyrocket. If almost two years of the Albanese example of governance isn't enough for a landslide against him, it's Cuba for us.

I'm hopeful that Australians will do the sensible thing; despite the raging here of a couple of self-appointed spokesmorons for new communism, the ABC and the Guardian.

CM

Dutton, the lesser of two evils, has to undertake to slash immigration and visa/work-seeking foreign “students”: things favoured only by Big Business. Dutton owes nothing to Big Business.

Dutton is no Trump (some we really need) but he will be a big improvement on the current rubbish.

I think Woke/ Marxist's/ Academics mean something different when they say "sieze the day" in the sense that if they can stop everything working ie. seize the machinery of the economy- it will create scarcity and desperation- and the electorate will be forced to do as they say.

ttbn-

Yes the Labor Party's attempt to reduce the independence of the Futures Fund is very concerning- they are playing chicken with the future. The government aren't really in a position to be picking winners or losers here- that's why it's supposed to be independent. I suppose that they will be using the courts in political action next- wait they've already done that.

One reason the Greens did ok at some recent elections is because they changed their focus to demographic issues, such as housing for under 35's, student loans for under 25's, but talk is not the same as action on the fundamental problem. Marxist's like the Greens believe that redistribution is the solution, others believe in growing the pie.

Dutton has a difficult job- but I have to admire his courage in ending the 50 year conspiracy of silence over immigration between the Lanor and Liberal Parties that Bob Hawke apparently referred to in his 1984 memoires- that was an act of betrayal of those of Australian ancestry and of Britain itself.

I think that whatever happens Dutton needs to at least promote debate on immigration. There are a lot of vested interests here that will be fighting to crush the Australian people under the multicultural grinding wheel.

Multiculturalism isn't good for any culture in the end except for nihilistic Marxism- but some cultures think they can get temporary advantage of their perceived enemies in the short term- without realising that they are making a very powerful and aggressive foe stronger.

Even nihilistic Marxism is self destroying.

I've just come across an interesting article about
Peter Dutton by Belinda Jones. She gives 65 reasons why
Dutton is unfit to be Prime Minister.

She's probably one of those "Marxists" some are talking
about here. Whatever that means.

So be aware of her underlying motives. These people can't
be trusted. I read on at my peril.

Peter Dutton has said that he will not stand in front of
an Aboriginal flag if he ever becomes PM. I don't think
he needs to worry about that.

Dutton is no stranger to controversy. Belinda Jones
tells us - "his offensive pattern of behaviour continues
to darken his political career".

"Dutton has regularly graced front pages due to
offensive comments, uttered falsehoods, hypocrisy, misogynistic
remarks, wilfully inflammatory statements, lacking
evidence, fending scandals, ministerial interventions
and other faux pas like being linked to shady deals or
shady people. And of course there's sheer incompetence".

Jones says that "Often Dutton has claimed he was misunderstood".
Sound familiar? No wonder Trump supporters like him.

"Or that he's taken out of context. Gas lighting the nation
into believing it's us who are getting him wrong - which
could be conceivable if such incidents only happened
occasionally over the year".

" However, in this case it's not a one off. It's a pattern
of behaviour that has been the watermark of his political career".

There's more at:

http://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/65-reasons-why-dutton-is-unfit-to-be-pm,18924

Now wait for the ad hominem attacks
from people who know both me and Belinda Jones so well.

More from the web:

"Most Trump and Dutton supporters are fundamentality
sociopathic. They have cultist mentalities. They
are creatures of belief not rationality or
empirical fact, rather like fundamentalist
religionists.".

"If the leaders they admire say something then it is true.
Absolutely, always, in all ways. It doesn't matter
to them that their leaders
lie because they don't believe that they lie to them".

"That's how they can claim to be in the case of
Dutton - "true blue" or in the case
of Trump - "American patriots"
and defenders of their nation.

Something to think about.

Talking about "Carpe Diem", or " Seize The Day?"

I brought this up because I saw Dame Judi Dench
on the January 2025 cover of the Australian
Women's Weekly. In an interview Dame Dench
talked about the tattoo she got on her wrist for
her 81st Birthday. She explained that:

"I love it, I have it on my wrist. "Carpe Diem".
People say, I know what that means. It means
"seize the day". But it's not. I learnt this just
a few weeks ago, listening to the radio. It's
much more than seize the day. It's "savour the
day". Isn't that nicer? Savour is to, you know,
to really enjoy. Seize - there is something a bit
rough about that. Savour is much better.
"Savour the day".

I agreed with that. And thought it a nice thing
to say - for a New Year.

And instead, Once again over these innocent remarks
"Woke Marxism" was brought into the conversation.

Weird people on this forum?

Certainly are! It seems that
We can't have any conversations without
"Woke Marxism" finding its way in.

Hard to fathom.

Seize the day- like a Soviet Supermarket!

The Russians had to quickly learn to seize the day
under the Soviet regime in order to survive.

Don't forget to mention how many had a Dacha and how
many had a car to get to one.

Soviet joke:

A man walks into a supermarket. He asks a clerk:

"You don't have any meat?"

The clerk replies:

"No, here we don't have any fish. The market that doesn't
have any meat is across the street".

https://upjoke.com/soviet-jokes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_political_jokes

http://meetrussiaonline.com/dacha-as-part-of-the-russian-philosophy-of-life/

"The first dachas appeared in Russia under Peter the Great who bestowed the estates around St.-Petersburg to his people for good service to the state. The main condition for such a gift was the ennoblement of the land on which the gifted house was located. Linguistic researchers have studied the etymology of the word “dacha” which is derived from the verb &#1076;&#1072;&#1074;&#1072;&#769;&#1090;&#1100; (to give). This makes dacha not just a house but an expensive gift and symbol of distinction. For a long time, dacha remained the privilege of aristocrats and civil servants."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacha

"The seniormost Soviet leaders all had their own dachas, and Joseph Stalin's favourite was in Gagra, Abkhazia."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great

The history of dachas in Russia is an interesting subject.
The following is worth a read:

http://designboom.com/architecture/imperial-villas-humble-sheds-dacha-book-fairytale-wooden-world-fyodor-savintsev-09-06-2123/

My apologies. Here's the link again:

http://designboom.com/architecture/imperial-villas-humble-sheds-dacha-book-fairytale-wooden-world-fyodor-savintsev-09-06-2023/

Russia has an estimated 60 million dachas. A recent law has
simplified the types of dachas that can be registered making it
easier to register their dachas as permanent residences.

During the Soviet era dachas were given to the people and
became extremely popular in the 1980s, regulations were lifted
and dachas became more populat with an estimated half of
all Russian families owning one.

To return, albeit momentarily, to Albo ... the cost of living, housing, etc. etc.

And ...

Vile antisemitic behavior raging on our streets.

A terrorist attack on a Synagogue. How is that investigation going?

A journalist stated that these attacks were not by home-grown members of society, but from arrivals from overseas. Of course, we do not know.

However, it appears that Albo's hand is not on the helm ... or he is extremely incompetent.

Deploring 45,000 dead in Gaza, mostly women and children, is called antisemitic by those of the lunatic extreme. Not one word of condemnation for the wanted Zionist war criminal Netanyahu.

"A journalist stated that these attacks were not by home-grown members of society, but from arrivals from overseas" AND he would know!

Paul,

Very little comment about Israel.

Much antisemitism, however. There is a difference.

WM,

Daily attacks killing scores of innocent people, using the so called excuse of "targeting Hamas fighters" is wearing very thin, and the majority of the world including America, no longer believe it. Australia is in the overwhelming majority of world opinion. A bit rich that the war criminal and child killed Netanyahu wants to call out Australia as antisemitic. Seem a sizable number of Israelis are also antisemitic, condemning their own governments genocide in Gaza.

It's not antisemitism to criticise Israel's actions.
The PM and his foreign minister have always made
their positions quite clear. They rightly are not
taking sides and are wanting a ceasefire and
for both sides to come to a solution to this
conflict. So many innocent people are suffering.
Enough. This cannot continue.

A cancer can't be cured by just removing a few cells !

Paul and Foxy,

Wong has bleated about a two-state solution. She should know the history ... this has been offered five time in the past and each time rejected by Palestinians.

It seems that many blame Israel ... telling them to lay down their arms.No urging of Hamas to do so.

Hamas are Islamist, fundamentalists. They do not have a Western moral belief system. They believe that every Palestinian killed is a martyr ... and why deprive them of that. They treat their women appallingly.

They are not interested in a Palestinian state, but the destruction of non-Islamic Israel ... They would be of any non-Islamic society ... country.

Paul and Foxy,

Do you think Israel should be desert the hostages. I personally think that it would be immoral to do so, but know that others, perhaps yourselves might think that for the sake of peace, it would be practical to do so.

Israel can't be blamed for the ongoing conflict. They are fighting not just for the hostages, but survival.

If Hamas released the hostages and laid down its arms, there would be peace. Is that so very hard?

Paul and Foxy,

Wong has bleated about a two-state solution. She should know the history ... this has been offered five time in the past and each time rejected by Palestinians.

It seems that many blame Israel ... telling them to lay down their arms.No urging of Hamas to do so.

Hamas are Islamist, fundamentalists. They do not have a Western moral belief system. They believe that every Palestinian killed is a martyr ... and why deprive them of that. They treat their women appallingly.

They are not interested in a Palestinian state, but the destruction of non-Islamic Israel ... They would be of any non-Islamic society ... country.

Paul and Foxy,

Do you think Israel should desert the hostages. I personally think that it would be immoral to do so, but know that others, perhaps yourselves might think that for the sake of peace, it would be practical to do so.

Israel can't be blamed for the ongoing conflict. They are fighting not just for the hostages, but survival.

If Hamas released the hostages and laid down its arms, there would be peace. Is that so very hard?

Foxy,

You continue to state that you do your research.

If your interest is Israel/Palestinians you would surely study primary sources in both Hebrew and Arabic.

I doubt if you read either languages.

However, the Hamas Charter has been translated into English and I suggest that you make yourself familiar with this document. It will be enlightening to you.

Hi WhiteMouse,

I strongly recommend that you try to get hold of the
book by Israeli historian, Prof. Ilan Pappe, "Ten
Myths About Israel".

It might help.

"Colonized people , even under the UN Charter,
have a right to struggle for their liberation, even with
an army, and the successful ending to such a struggle
lies in the creation of a democratic state that includes
all of its inhabitants".

We need to set th record straight and not
provide an immunity shield for the present
inhumane regime. By setting the record straight it might
have an impact on the chances for peace and reconciliation.

WhiteMouse,

I have done my research.
From - journalists, historians, writers,
people who live in Israel, family who has visited Israel,
and spoke about the treatment of the Palestinians.

People like Antony Loewenstein, Miriam Margolyes,
Ilan Pappe, to name just a few. There's many more.
I have also fully covered this topic on this forum.
And cited my sources.

I don't need to read Hebrew or Arabic.
I prefer objective sources. These Works are available
in English.

And they have been very distressing.

This conflict cannot continue. And Israel cannot have
a blank cheque and not be called to account. The tragedy of
the Palestinians is also the tragedy of the Jews. They
have turned from a compassionate people into being the abusers.

Foxy,

Read the Hamas Charter.

Regarding Pape, I have read him and numerous other works.

There is a saying: "Two Jews, three opinions."

You need to read more widely ... not just those works that confirm you bias.

Also, I have done a check of HRW comments, and so many (at least 12) at this stage of checking are lacking context ... extremely irresponsible and present a false narrative. If you want I can demonstrate this for you. But with your research skills I am sure you are able to determine this for yourself.

Years ago, I was a member of Amnesty. However noticing the cherry-picking they applied, resigned, as did many other members.

But read the Hamas Charter. Start from there.

With inflation low at 2.3%, was 6.1% when the Noalition got the boot. A couple of budget surpluses, compared to the Noalitions trillion dollars of debt they left behind. Low unemployment, wage growth, stagnant wages under the Noalition, and a interest rate cut looking more than likely. Albo might have better than an even money chance in 2025.

Hi WhiteMouse,

Visit Israel and see for yourself how the Palestinians
are treated.

Miriam Margolyes writes:

"When I visited Palestine, I saw for myself the contempt
and cruelty with which Israelis treated Palestinians. I met
both Palestinians and Israeli people and listened to their
personal stories. I saw the destruction of the hospitals that
the Israelis had bombed. Isaw incredible overcrowding. I saw
the filth and stench in the streets of Hebron. I saw the nets
that the Arabs have to put up to protect themselves from the
settlers who shower them with muck and rubbish. It was a
searing experience that really shook me up".

"The Palestinian people were not being treated in a humane
way. They told me how their lives have been disrupted,
made miserable, how they have been humiliated, arrested, and
most poignant of all, how their daily lives are being
sqeezed and destroyed and since they they never see Israelis
to talk to, they feel a hatred of them".

"I'm not surprised. I would if I were treated the same way.
I am a Jew. I have the full right of return. No Palestinian
does. The Israelis feel they can carry through things
without any reference to international law. What they are
doing is illegal. But few are taking any notice".

Foxy,

Palestinians serve in the Knesset (parliament) in Israel; serve in embassy positions representing Israel. They do not have to serve in the armed services if they do not wish to.

If Palestinians did not like living in Israel, they would leave.
Didn't your family desert your mother country.

The numbers of deaths in Gaza are supplied by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, run by Hamas. The figures include natural deaths. Do you really believe Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation? Have you not heard of "Taqiyya"?

Facts:

The Palestinian Armed Group is actually Hamas.

Israel always sends text messages, phone calls and pamphlets before attacking an area.

Independent estimates state that 50% of Gazan fatalities are Hamas combatants embedded within civilians.

Hamas use hospitals, kindergartens, apartment blocks to store weapons.

Hamas have shown themselves digging up water pipes to make weapons.

Foxy,

Do you believe that Israel should abandon the hostages?

If Hamas released the Hostages and laid down their arms, peace would ensue.

Is that so hard for you to understand?

Perhaps you are a Hamas sympathizer.

Foxy,

I imagine that you have had nothing more stressful in your life than losing your car keys. You have absolutely no idea what living within a society threatened by terrorism is like.

I do.

I lived for ten years in Malaysia during the Emergency, when Communist terrorists were trying to take over the country. Friends were killed. I witnessed horrors no one should. As a young teenager I learned to use weapons including hand-grenades.

As in all conflicts, innocents were killed. This is the nature of war. Look at Dresden ... Hiroshima ... any theatre of conflict.

Israel is fighting for its survival. Read the Hamas Charter.

Increasingly, I feel that you are plain antisemitic, and it is personal.

Hi WM,

I sympathize with the innocent, the dead and the injured, those who have lost love ones, those rendered homeless and hungry in what is a terrible war. I believe Foxy is of the same mind. 1205 innocent Israelis died October 7th 2023, others have died since, in what was a terrible atrocity committed that day by Palestinians, saying that, does that make us Anti-Palestinian? Many thousands of innocent Palestinians have died since, in what are terrible atrocities committed by Israelis, does that make us Anti-Semitic? The answer to both questions is NO!

Should we simply turn a blind eye to all those innocent deaths. You say the Israelis have not killed 45,000 Palestinians, what is your acceptable number?

White Mouse,

First of all my family did not desert their mother country.
They fled from persecution. They lost family members who
were either brutally murdered or were sent to gulags and
concentration camps.

You have no idea what they went through.

I have no further wish to continue this conversation with
you. Enough to say that I stand by my posting record on
this forum regarding the Middle-East conflict. I've made
it quite clear that I do not support Hamas or any terrorist
organisation

Paul,

If only wars could be fought without harming the innocent.

Israel has not invaded Gaza. Their fight is not with the Palestinians of Gaza. If it was, the Palestinians there would be no more. The conflict is with Hamas, and Hamas alone.

Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of Israel. Firing rockets daily into Israeli territory.

They have no interest in the people of Gaza, who are just fodder to their aims. The embed themselves amongst them and use them as shields. Indeed Palestinian deaths have proven useful to Hamas' propaganda.

Hamas are Iranian proxies. Muslim countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia refuse Palestinian refugees, fearing Hamas butchers among them.

Israel, a tiny state less than a third the size of Tasmania - indeed we have cattle stations larger - has every right to fight for its survival. Don't you agree?

Cynically, Hamas welcome any Palestinian death.

If Hamas released the hostages and laid down their arms there would be peace. Why haven't those so concerned with Palestinian deaths demanded this? Is it antisemitism.

Importantly, why are there no Peace Keepers in Gaza? Surely this is the solution now.

Many apologies, Paul.

Israelis are indeed in Gaza. An appalling mistake on my part.