Interested in the world, lifelong learner, living on Dharawal land. Kinder, fairer Aus for all Australians with PM Albo. Reduce COVID infections.
Dec 15, 2021 • 13 tweets • 7 min read
Catching up with the #LetItRipDom presser. Brad Hazzard & Dr Chant stressing that people should wear masks indoors to protect themselves & others.
So why remove the mandate? 'Just cause Dom wants to?
Shame Dr Chant isn't prepared to be far more up front...#COVID19nsw#nswpol2/ Gather outdoors as much as possible, small groups, don't let your Christmas be messed up by getting sick.
The messages are totally contradicted by setting changes.
PS: The modelling is for 25K new cases each day by end Jan. Merry Christmas from Dom...😱 #nswpol#Omicron
Jun 20, 2021 • 15 tweets • 7 min read
1/ Emerging information on the govt's 'negotiations' with #Pfizer is alarming.
Greg Hunt has been avoiding answering questions on when discussions started but claimed official negotiations didn't begin until Dec 2020.
Listen to Dr Norman Swan & Raf Epstein. ⬇️
2/ In #qt on Thursday Greg Hunt said the govt commenced "negotiations with #Pfizer...after the end of June". He said govt decided to back #AstraZeneca instead, on the basis of medical advice. Callum Foote's article (Michael West Media 19 June) suggests this could not...
Jun 19, 2021 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
You may have seen the recent decision by Justice Bernard Murphy in the Federal Court to approve a settlement of at least $1.8billion for victims in the #robodebt class action.
Justice Murphy called the #Robodebt program a huge waste of public money. 1/2/ Justice Murphy also said the #Robodebt scheme was unlawful, "a shameful chapter" and "massive failure in public administration" of Australia's social security scheme. abc.net.au/news/2021-06-1…
Jun 17, 2021 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
This is important. We saw the role of #QAnon in what was essentially an attempt to overthrow American democracy. The FBI has classified QAnon as a domestic terror threat.
Any PM, regardless of party, with an association with a QAnon follower, is at risk in a number of ways. 1/
2/ Risks to a PM include to his/her physical safety, potential blackmail, attempts to influence national debate or policy, even if via another person. There are also potential risks that sensitive information being accessed.
If we had a Labor govt, the Coalition would be...
Jun 5, 2021 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
Peter Hartcher nails it. In the Morrison govt there's no care & no acceptance of responsibility. We know what happened in #agedcare last year. You’d think the fed govt would have put extra protections in place against any recurrence. 1/ smh.com.au/politics/feder…2/ The Morrison govt would have a plan for vaccinating residents AND workers in #agedcare homes as a priority. You'd think...but it seems only around 10% of workers in aged care homes have been vaccinated. They think...
Jun 4, 2021 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
As I could hardly make sense of the PM's presser today, I thought it might work as a children's book...
Scotty makes a word stew
Scotty had been having a bad time. It seemed nothing was going right and everyone was blaming him. Scotty didn't like this. Not one little bit! 1/2/ But Scotty knew what to do. He'd hold a presser! He'd say lots and lots of words and put on his important face.
So he came out from his office at Bubbleworld, puffed himself up as everyone watched, and started to talk...
May 11, 2021 • 7 tweets • 4 min read
If you're interested in #DomesticViolence services being appropriately funded, does the "pink" #Budget21 do the job?
Domestic violence services funding increases by $250m per year – but is then CUT by 99%, down to just $2.3m, in 2025-26. 1/ thenewdaily.com.au/finance/news-f…2/ So the govt either thinks #DomesticViolence will be non-existent by 2025 or the funding from 2021-2025 is a cynical political move.
May 10, 2021 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
Some interesting reader comments on Scott Morrison in the SMH.
"rather than showing true leadership, the PM is totally focused on gaining electoral advantage...his refusal to admit any mistakes and never apologise has become rather tiresome". 1/ smh.com.au/national/nsw/c…2/ "Many have noted Morrison’s reactive style, particularly in areas of discomfort or when challenged and his unguarded, sometimes clumsy, comments...Stubbornness and an absolute inability to admit error and to attempt to deflect blame only add fuel to the fire".
May 8, 2021 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
Remember when #ScottyWentOnAWarFooting? (No not China, that's a different war.) This was because of his govt's inability to organise the #vaccinerollout.
It was a #ScottyFromMarketing strategy to share blame with states & look like he was DOING SOMETHING. 1/2/ #ScottyFromDamageControl called for National Cabinet to meet three times a week. Oh, & call in someone from the Navy who's good with logistics. They'd do all the heavy lifting & sort out the #vaccinerollout. Here's a photo illustrating how this works.
May 7, 2021 • 20 tweets • 7 min read
Laura Tingle spot on as usual.
Media release from #ScottyTheAnnouncer on Friday:
"Government chartered repatriation flights to the Centre for National Resilience at Howard Springs for Australians returning from India will resume on May 15," 1/ abc.net.au/news/2021-05-0…2/ What is the "Centre for National Resilience"?
Answer: a quarantine centre (Howard Springs)
Yep, the Minister for Announcements &🐂💩, #ScottyFromMarketing, had a "jazzy name" for it. Always the most important thing in a pandemic & you've stuffed up.
May 7, 2021 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
I'm looking at the Senate COVID committee recording. DFAT does not appear to have a means to determine how many of the Australians stuck in India are children who travelled to India with relatives other than their parents.1/ #auspol2/ Some children have been in India, while their parents are in Australia, for 18 months. Some of these children are very young (around 5). They are not allowed to travel on Qantas repatriation flights as unaccompanied minors, so these very young children cannot return home.
May 3, 2021 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
As well as the very ugly hallmarks of the Morrison govt, another one sticks out to me: complacency. 'She'll be right'. From the start of the COVID19 pandemic, there has been complacency, which thankfully, premiers & chief ministers haven't shared. 1/2/ Complacency that COVID would be a faint memory in six months & life would be completely normal. Complacency, despite advice to the contrary, that expanding current fed quarantine facilities & building new ones, wouldn't be required.
May 2, 2021 • 13 tweets • 4 min read
India Sports Club president Raj Natarajan, who formed the club in Sydney 19 years ago, said bringing cricket stars home while thousands of Australians were unable to return would not be well received by the Indian-Australian community. 1/ smh.com.au/sport/cricket/…2/ Australians involved in the IPL- 11 coaches, including Ricky Pointing, support staff, commentators & umpires - chose to stay in India. Cricket Australia is considering facilitating a charter flight to bring them home.
Mar 27, 2021 • 13 tweets • 4 min read
Now to some great insights from @murpharoo. I thought she hit the nail on the head with this piece.
Scott Morrison did a lot of making things worse this week, although he was trying to make things better. 1/ theguardian.com/australia-news…2/ Katharine Murphy shares an insight about Morrison: he "speaks almost exclusively to one cohort of voters: men at risk of voting Labor". If you are a male swinging voter, you probably don't notice this but the rest of us might feel excluded.
Mar 27, 2021 • 15 tweets • 4 min read
I'm starting afresh after getting too far ahead of myself this morning & mixing up the great writings of @latingle and @murpharoo, for which I sincerely apologise! First to Laura Tingle's astute article. 1/2/ On Thursday morning the PM apparently achieved some clarity on the full extent of the political chaos overwhelming him. Apparently the media had failed to complain to the PM's chief of staff about PMO staff "backgrounding" Brittany Higgins' partner. 2/
Mar 25, 2021 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Tracey Grimshaw asked Scott Morrison why he didn't reach out to Brittany Higgins after she spoke out publicly. He said it was "daunting".
Doesn't get that speaking out publicly about what happened would have been more than daunting for Brittany Higgins.
It's always about him.
Still refers to Ms Higgins as "Brittany", although he doesn't know her, hasn't spoken to her. Overly familiar. Morrison is #ToneDeaf, with the EQ of a gnat.
Mar 24, 2021 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
Where to start? 🤦♀️
Morrison's standing has been internally diminished?
No doubt but how slow are members to only just be waking up?
And what of his 'standing' externally? 1/
2/ Slow on the uptake but apparently members of his govt have FINALLY drawn the link between Morrison's mishandling of the Black Summer bushfires & the past month's allegations of rape, harassment & sexism.
Wow.
Mar 24, 2021 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Der Spiegel: Scott Morrison in 'dire straits' and the Australian government is sinking into a scandalous swamp. Berliner-Zeitung, Le Monde, Le Figaro, the Washington Post, Bloomberg...1/ theguardian.com/australia-news…2/ The Washington Post focused on Morrison’s “disastrous” press conference on Tuesday, with the headline, “Facing fury over sex scandals, Australia’s leader fights tears – then retaliates in outburst at reporter”.
Jan 23, 2021 • 9 tweets • 7 min read
1/ Without wanting to be unkind, it's evident from looking at Scott Morrison that he's prefers to be a spectator of sport rather than a participant.
When he ran for Cook, he developed a character. A rugby league loving, everyday bloke, a daggy dad. #auspol#AustraliaDay2/ Morrison hadn't followed league but he learnt about it. He became the Sharkies number 1 ticket holder, wore his scarf, waved it, & drank beers.
This character, eventually named ScoMo, was used to gain a following & send political messages. #ScottyFromMarketing was astute.
Jan 22, 2021 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
1/ Recipients are made ACs “for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or humanity at large”.
a. Can anyone explain how being accomplished at hitting a tennis ball competitively (having already been recognised for this) ticks this box?
2/ b. I have tried researching, to found out what Margaret Court, in her life beyond hitting tennis balls very well), has given the "highest degree in service to Australia or humanity at large".
I haven't found anything that ticks this box.
Am I a not-very-good researcher?
