Hi there ONTHEBEACH...

I totally agree with your remarks apropos Robert Menzies, and his various successors of both parties, all of whom promised to manifestly strengthen the Australian Defence Forces. They ordered some Aircraft, Ships and some infantry hardware, like a few tanks (not new, reconditioned) and some infantry weapon systems.

But by and large, pretty well all politicians, relied heavily on the ANZUS Treaty, to protect us in the event of being attacked by a foreign power. In other words, we simply couldn't adequately protect ourselves, without the military aid of the United States, doing all the heavy lifting !

ONTHEBEACH, you mention the Swiss model of prescribed, Nationalised Military Service as a way we could defend ourselves, without the need to rely on others ?

Sadly the Swiss system wouldn't work here in Australia. The Swiss are a very patriotic, unadulterated nation. Essentially comprising of four basic ethnic components. The French, the German, the Italian and the Belgian (Flemish) make up this quite tight group of Swiss nationals. All Swiss males have an expectation of completing their obligatory military service.

We in Australia are, for better or worse multi-cultural, with many differing religious groups, as well as scores of antagonistic racial coteries as sub-cultures ? In other words we're now a fragmented, splintered society, making it almost impossible to introduce anything near the Swiss model, as a means of strengthening our defence capability.

In reality, no government, no politician, in this country would ever try to introduce ANY form of military service ? As I said, we're now a true multi-cultural country, with whatever benefits that my bring ? Any obligatory military service, would not be one of those benefits, regrettably ?

Foxy & o sung wu.

Good stuff!

I particularly like "My Lady Viscountess 'Poirot', 'Esteemed Keeper of the Queen's Standards of Acceptable Behaviour'."

On twitter it's easy to change your handle so that people just adjusted their handle to imperial measure (so to speak)...was and is still quite a hoot.

SM,

It's not surprising that Tony Burke had a prepared speech. This particular rancid broth has been brewing for yonks. After Bronnie's apoplectic toss-out-about the day before - and yesterday being the last day of sitting for a while - and with her "naming" Dreyfus as she did - and with her not bothering to listen to points of order before dismissing them.....what should an Opposition do? (And even then the cranky Speaker sat there interjecting while the motion was being heard!)

Exactly what they've done.

Bloody good show!

Dear o sung wu,

Me a Grand Duchess?

No, not yet. A bit too stuffy for my taste.

But Thank You for thinking of me as being "Grand."
Even though I'm a very tactile sort of person -
and love hugs, amongst other things.

Dear Poirot,

It is a hoot. And we have to laugh.
But I think the joke's on the Australian public.

o sung wu,

Maybe you are right. You are not the only one who has mentioned those differences.

Times have changed, I can remember when there were plenty of earnest, fit young men trying to join the Reserve. Good way to pick up skills too.

The speaker of the house is corrupt with a bigger bias than a bowling ball. Fridays effort was a disgrace, another way of making headlines around the world for the wrong reasons.

Did Bishop act in naming shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfuss for calling out "Madam Speaker" because she misheard and thought he said, "Mad Dame Speaker"?

'Am I bovvered'? Not enought to check Hansard.