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Showing posts from 2018

The Duttons play happy families but not for long

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By the look of it, Peter Dutton set out to stress his family man image. There he was on the beach at the Gold Coast looking like a happy dad for the Brisbane Sunday Mail. And then ... The political Peter Dutton re-emerged. PETER Dutton has spectacularly broken his silence to accuse Malcolm Turnbull of spite attacks worse than Kevin Rudd’s, and lambasted the former prime minister for running a “paralysed” government caused by his own political incompetence. From potentially winning a vote or two in his own seat to reminding voters everywhere of the divisions within the Liberal Party

Those women's magazines emerge as the real political influencers

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First New Idea  and now Women's Weekly . Move over parliamentary press gallery. Real media power is emerging. Julia, 56, headed to Canberra "a parliamentary novice" with "a lot to learn" filled with passion and excitement. But she quickly realised being heard was going to be an uphill battle, especially in a party with a slender one-seat majority. "The party room was not what I expected. I spoke up many times and particularly on programs about women I'd get the eye roll from the right-wing reactionary group." So, when those reactionaries seized control, Julia knew she couldn't stay. She was in parliament to represent the people, not tow the party line, especially when that line had shifted significantly to the right.

Is Peta Credlin for the seat of Mallee just more journalistic "piss and wind"?

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The Owl is very wary of joining in the game of predicting a House of Representatives future for television superstar Peta Credlin. He has no desire to be on the end of a La Stupenda tongue lashing like the one she previously dished out to journalists. Click HERE to watch the video

A political singalong for Andrew Broad who upset Sweet Sophia Rose

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This is what Andrew Broad said in relation to Barnaby Joyce and his affair scandal earlier this year when he called for Mr Joyce to stand down....... #auspol https://t.co/BK0CbfjZh5 — Jamieson Murphy (@jamiesonmurph) December 17, 2018 Quote from the late Billy Graham “when wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost”... telling words for the Leadership of the National Party. — Andrew Broad MP (@broad4mallee) February 21, 2018 New Idea gets in to the real news business . Married politician Andrew Broad has been caught out with a sugar baby from a “seeking arrangements” website he used to meet younger girls while he was away on work trips. While spending an evening in the company of blonde beauty Amy – who uses the online alias “Sweet Sophia Rose” and is almost 20 years his junior – the MP bragged about his “important” position in parliament, practised his official speeches and even referred to himself as “Ja

A song of the day for George

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The Owl does not understand why the Liberals are the favourites in NSW

The conventional wisdom is that the Liberals and National government will be re-elected in New South Wales. The betting markets have the coalition odds on favourite at $1.50. The Owl does not understand why. He thinks there has been an over reaction to the replacement of an Opposition Leader. He is happy to have a dollar or two on Labor at the $2,65

Liberals suffering from buyer's remorse

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Hats off to Phil Coorey of The Financial Review for using the phrase "buyer's remorse" when he spoke on radio this morning of the increasing number of Liberals who now regret helping make Scott Morrison Prime Minister.

Senator Jim Molan rallies the Liberal Party troops

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Liberal Senator Jim Molan might be smarting because he's been dumped to an unwinnable position on his party's Senate ticket but he pledges he is still loyal to the party.

Feuds in the Liberal Party go on and on and ...

The bad blood between former Prime Ministers @TurnbullMalcolm and @TonyAbbottMHR is now playing out on social media. Malcolm Turnbull has thrown his support behind an instagram page dedicated to kicking Tony Abbott out of his seat. #auspol #7News pic.twitter.com/ehCF2PdrX1 — 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) November 20, 2018

Nine's 60 Minutes tonight warrants a Scomo explanation

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13/11/2018 Scott Morrison says he's part of a religious community and his pastor and his wife would know if someone was teaching things that weren't in accordance with what the faith believes. Nine's 60 minutes tonight told us of this story involving The PM's Pentecostal Church: Hillsong church, Brian Houston, spoke in the witness box during the Royal Commission on Child Sex Abuse. He told the commission he learned of his father’s paedophilia in 1999. But in his view, it was up to the victim to report their abuser to the police pic.twitter.com/OtIuDW5BA8 https://t.co/cQI3kBMSyA — Jade Chinese (@FamilyMassageWA) November 18, 2018 Surely a Scomo explanation will soon be forthcoming. Note: The Urban dictionary definition of a Scomo:

The Scomo omen wager - Into the Abyss

In light of the Israeli embassy move impasse, the Owl’s standout Scomo tip for today is Sandown Melbourne race 3 no 7 Into The Abyss.

You too can be like Scomo by following his exclusive training manual

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Reader Approved Since becoming Prime Minister Scott Morrison has shown a rare mastery of one of the essential skills of politics. After his mighty effort on the Foodbank funding cuts, the Owl thought others might benefit from Scomo's training manual How to do a backflip In this Article: Article Summary Preparing for the Backflip Mastering the Takeoff Perfecting the Tuck Sticking the Landing Community Q&A Also known as a back tuck, a somi, or a salto, a back flip is one of the most impressive and easily recognizable skills in gymnastics. With this move, your body makes a 360 degree rotation, beginning in a standing position and landing in a standing position. Whether you're looking to become a gymnast or just want to impress your friends with your cool new skill, you can get the hang of flipping backwards—if you're willing to invest some time and effort.

Will Clive Palmer's money talk?

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The United Australia Party is not really on the agenda of the political pundits. This reincarnation of businessman Clive Palmer's ambitions to have a say in how Australia is run passes largely without comment. Apparently it is seen as something of a joke and therefore irrelevant. In the media section of the Oz today there are details of an advertising campaign by the UAP that suggest Mr Palmer should again be treated seriously. If money does count in politics then perhaps this effort should be treated seriously.

Why was he sacked? Turnbull tells Liberals to answer that unanswerable question

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Grattan on Friday:  Michelle Grattan , University of Canberra Malcolm Turnbull has delivered a hefty blow to the struggling Morrison government by refocusing attention on the one question it has desperately tried to smother. That is: why was he sacked? When he appeared on Thursday’s Q&A special, Turnbull was on a dual mission. His neat blue jacket told the story. There would be no reversion to the pre-prime ministerial free-wheeler dressed in leather. He was there to hold his executioners to account, to ensure they have no escape, from him or from the public. And he was primed to defend his record, to write the history of his three years in office as a story of accomplishment and success. He wants to be defined by what he did, rather than by how badly things ended. Essentially he presented himself simultaneously as the victim and the victor. The opening question was predictable but central: “Why aren’t you still prime minister?” Turnbull’s reply was reh

The Scomo show brings back fond memories of "On the Buses" as it saturates screens near you

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We have a winner! Lucien Ey takes the Owl's political singalong to a new level

In a post earlier today the Owl ventured the opinion that we are in for our lengthiest election campaign ever because Prime Minister Scott Morrison has his bus at the ready and is off and driving. Tweeter Lucien Ey has thoughtfully supplied suitable musical accompaniment. And here's the soundtrack: https://t.co/RgzlTBbAlz — Lucien Ey (@PollHereford) November 4, 2018

Scott Morrison is giving us our lengthiest election campaign ever

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I fear we are in for our lengthiest election campaign ever. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has his bus at the ready and is off and driving. And the flow of You Tube videos is reaching epidemic proportions. $200 million to secure Townsville’s water future. We’re backing Queenslanders and there’s more to come. I’m listening, I’m hearing and we’re getting on with it. See you on the road! 🚌 pic.twitter.com/oSQb9ZAPIG — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) November 4, 2018 ICYMI: Here's what our Government is doing to honour our nation's veterans. pic.twitter.com/GnrZ02NQCi — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) October 31, 2018 More investment. More tourism. More jobs. Our Geelong City Deal will be a game changer. pic.twitter.com/BCSX4kiGR5 — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) October 29, 2018 You asked about how we're getting electricity prices down. Here's my answer. pic.twitter.com/LFrxFLcLpR — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) October 23, 2018 The

A farewell singalong for the departed Ross Cameron

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On Tuesday night’s edition of The Outsiders on Sky News, Ross Cameron had this to say: “If you go to Disneyland in Shanghai on any typical morning of the week, you’ll see 20,000 black-haired, slanty-eyed, yellow-skinned Chinese, desperate to get into Disneyland.” Sky has sacked him over the remarks, saying the language was “totally unacceptable” and has “no place in Australian society”. With his pay television gig gone The Owl thought this song appropriate:

Grattan on Friday: Now Malcolm Turnbull is the sniper at the window

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Michelle Grattan , University of Canberra There’s a nice story about Arthur Fadden - the Country Party leader who became PM in the 1941 hung parliament amid conservative leadership turmoil - deciding not to move into the Lodge after a colleague told him he’d “scarcely have enough time to wear a track from the backdoor to the shithouse before you’ll be out”. The warning was prophetic: Fadden was dispatched in little over a month, replaced in a House of Representatives vote by Labor’s John Curtin. Scott Morrison, ensconced in Kirribilli, has already had a longer spell than Fadden, and his government appears safe in parliament, despite losing its majority. Regardless of these differences, Morrison’s likely trajectory seems as clear as that of “Artie” all those years ago. The widespread feeling that the Morrison government is doomed will only be reinforced by this week’s outbreak of hostilities between the former and current prime ministers. At one level, it’s hard to believe we’r

The Owl brings you a sneak preview of Malcolm Turnbull's appearance on Q&A next Thursday

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Malcolm Turnbull phobia is what will destroy the Liberal Party

It was most entertaining this morning listening to the 2GB screechers denouncing Malcolm Turnbull for remarks he made in Indonesia. There are people who just love hating someone and for the moment Malcolm is the number one hated one. But a tweet this morning suggest that the anger is being wrongly directed. A few facts. @ScottMorrisonMP asked me to discuss trade and the embassy issue in Bali and we had a call before I left to confirm his messages which I duly relayed to @jokowi There was a detailed paper on the issue in my official brief as well. — Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) November 1, 2018 Unless Malcolm Turnbull is telling an outrageous lie, what he said to Indonesian President Joko Widodo was what Prime Minister Scott Morrison had asked him to say on the subjects of trade and the location of the Australian embassy in Israel. Making public the "detailed paper on the issue in my official brief" would clarify matters but my guess is that it will take a le

Remembering the death of a conservative government

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When you see opinion poll data like that below in The Australian  this morning the inclination is to remember that with six months or so to an actual polling day that things can change. Five percentage points is near enough to the the normal error with so far to go and a 45% Coalition share can easily become 50%. That's the way most people would look at it but deviations can go down as well as up. If you don't think that's so go to Wikipedia and read about the Canadian election of 1993 . The governing Progressive Conservatives were polling at 36% early in September (down from the 43% with which they had won office in 1988) but at the election at the end of October the PCs managed just 16%. And the result? Down from 169 seats to 2. Just something for Coalition members in Australia to think about.

The Liberal Party base discovered

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Yesterday the Owl posted an excellent Tony Walker piece on the search for the Liberal Party's base . This morning a helpful reader claims success in that searching endeavour and has sent in a picture to prove it.

In search of the Liberal Party's base

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Tony Walker , La Trobe University John Howard was fond of referring to the Liberal Party as a “broad church”. This included its conservative “base”. But what has eluded those seeking to define this amorphous group of electors is exactly what is meant by this description. What is the base? Who are its members? Where do they reside? What are their preoccupations? Where do their preferences lie? Then there is the overarching question of exactly what the Liberal Party stands for these days. Is it a liberal party in the sense it is a centrist, socially progressive and fiscally conservative party? Read more: 'Balmain basket weavers' strike again, tearing the Liberal Party apart Is it a right-of-centre party that is socially conservative, or is it a proto-conservative party defined by a scepticism about climate change edging towards a form of denialism? What confronts Scott Morrison, the new leader , is how to reconcile these conflicting tendencies and come up wi

Revenge is a dish best eaten in Singapore

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Singalong with Scomo as he drives home from Wentworth looking for the base

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Bringing back Johnny to save Wentworth

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Some words of wisdom from country women about Barnaby Joyce

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The Owl particularly notes the contribution to this Twitter exchange by Pip Courtney. Anyone who watches her contributions to ABC television on Sundays will know why the Owl considers her to be one of Australia's best and balanced journalists Memo to Nats from rural women: 1. We got the vote in 1902. 2. Find your moral compass. 3. You told us to 'put up or shut up'. We put up. 4. The past is a place you don't want to go. Regenerate. Do it NOW @M_McCormackMP @gabriellechan @senbmckenzie @D_LittleproudMP @AgChatOZ — Sue Middleton (@Middleton_Says) October 17, 2018 This is what I’m talking about re mooted return to Barnaby as leader. Seriously well connected rural women telling Nats to look forward + not back. Rural women don’t enter the political debate lightly as it is hard to push against culture but it is happening cos they’re cranky. https://t.co/r67fxJNhR4 — Gabrielle Chan (@gabriellechan) October 18, 2018 Rural women have been in Canberra all wee

A theme song for PM Scomo

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Goodness me the man was still talking this evening. Talking to Alan Jones no less. PM Scomo is proving to be a political motor mouth. The Owl reckons a theme song is necessary.
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Surely the voters of Wentworth will not be influenced by the suggestion from that seasoned marketer Scomo PM and his offsider Dave “The Charmer” Sharma that Australia might move its Israel embassy to Jerusalem. The trade threat from Indonesia aside, not one Australian authority - be it trade, foreign affairs or national security - will ever endorse the move, leaving scomo after the Wentworth race in a very much “where the bloody hell are you” space and members of Australia’s formidable Jewish community feeling they have been gamed. Moving Australia's embassy to Jerusalem a 'fatal mistake' Middle Eastern envoys warn, as fall out from the putative Israel shift continues https://t.co/cvb1pQdwUh #auspol — Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) October 16, 2018

The Cormanator has no clothes

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He once was the Belgian migrant golden boy of the Liberal Party. "Mathias Cormann has an unchallenged reputation as the Mr Dependable of the Turnbull government. - Norman Abjorensen 3 July 2018 "Cormann's political star is shining brighter than ever. ... Cormann has had a political run few can match, a truly magnificent career." - Jo Spagnolo 24 June 2018 "... a significant new figure has arrived on the national political stage." -  Jeff Kitney 2 May 2014 "Mathias Cormann’s 'pragmatic' negotiating style has won over key Senate crossbenchers as he takes the lead in brokering deals on the government’s economic agenda." - Rosie Lewis 4 April 2017 "His capacity to dissect issues is phenomenal. That's why I enjoy Mathias' company so much. He can sit down and he can literally dissect issues and look at them in a very very reasoned manner and come up with a value judgement, which is extraordinary." - Former WA Education Minist

Religion to divide Liberals in a sad way

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View from The Hill: Discrimination debate will distress many gay school students Michelle Grattan , University of Canberra `The leak of part of the Ruddock report on religious freedom has come at a very bad time in the government’s battle to hold the crucial seat of Wentworth on October 20. But there are other, more serious concerns than the byelection in the debate that’s been opened. Fairfax Media on Wednesday reported that religious schools would be guaranteed the right – under specified conditions - to decline to enrol gay students, in changes to anti-discrimination legislation recommended by the inquiry. Wentworth had a very high vote for same-sex marriage in the plebiscite – almost 81% in favour compared with less than 58% for NSW as a whole. And the main threat to the Liberals’ grip on the seat is from Kerryn Phelps, a prominent (and gay) figure in the marriage equality campaign. No wonder Liberal candidate Dave Sharma was quick to say he would be “opposed to any new m

Penfolds told to put a proper cork in it.

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James Halliday is the man the Owl turns to when it comes to expensive wines that he normally cannot afford but likes to keep informed about. The column in The Weekend Australian is a must read. Yesterday there was a little disappointment. The expected Halliday verdict on the just released 2014 Grange was reduced to this: "The 2014 Grange (97 points, drink to 2044, $900) has been done no service by its cork closure. My quarrel with corks in red wines isn’t the risk of TCA (the mouldy smell), nor oxidation. It’s a purely mechanical issue: Grange is capable of living far longer than 30 years, but its FAQ (fair average quality) corks give no promise of doing so." And that was that before he went on to give notes on three other wines from the Penfolds collection.

Helping the Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert with his counting

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The Owl was not so much worried today by the need Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert felt to take a selfie so he could prove to his old flatmate Scomo that he'd actually been on television. It was what he said when he realised he was live to air that was the greater concern. This custodian of the nation's finances underquoted the amount of money Australia owes by hundreds of billions of dollars. Like most children Mr Robert needs more tuition in his arithmetic.

Singalong with ABC Chairman Justin “home alone” Milne as he contemplates accusations of his call in writing to sack Emma Alberici

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Scomo should drive his big rig while listening to Slim Dusty

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An appropriate song for Barnaby Joyce after tonight's 7.30

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Singalong with PM Scomo as he pulls off another planet shaking "Raise Your Hand" stunt in the House of Representatives

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PM Scott Morrison reprises the hands up exercise from last week, I wonder if they will be putting this to Fatman Scoop #WhoF *@kTonight @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive https://t.co/kPg3EtR5He pic.twitter.com/ze6zW7WS9Q — Mikearoo (@mpbowers) September 18, 2018 With the House of Representatives now resembling a kindergarten this seems the appropriate musical accompaniment.

An impressive start by Dr Kerryn Phelps

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In announcing this morning that she will contest the Wentworth by-election Dr Kerryn Phelps sounded just like a liberal independent should. There could not be a better message for these times than this one: “I don’t take this step lightly as I know the pressure of today’s politics but the people of Wentworth are crying out for an authentic voice who will stand up to the major parties and rise above the bitterness and backstabbing that has taken over Canberra."  The Sydney Morning Herald website reports how Dr Phelps contrasted her position with that of the recently retired Malcolm Turnbull. Wentworth voters “knew Malcolm Turnbull supported action on climate change, they knew he supported action on marriage equality, they knew he supported a republic,” she said. “And yet he was not able to advance that agenda...because he was restricted by the hard right of his party.”

Weekend music for those in "team Scomo"

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The Owl can report that full time talk (for NRL followers) and three quarter time chatter (for AFL fanciers) at his club tonight featured the Prime Ministerial attitude to music. Having abandoned and deleting his ex bestie Fat Boy Scoop this morning, declaring his love for Tina Arena, and then declaring that anyone who dislikes Fatboy “a narc”, Scomo has left those in “team Scomo” looking for guidance. Perhaps a quiet weekend catching up with the Seekers greatest hits might be in order.

And for his next trick we give you Scomo channeling the Planetseekers

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Stop playing, keep it moving

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PM Scomo may well be singing along with his now deleted ex besty, hip hopper Fatboy Scoop, when he sees the latest election betting markets. Labor $1.30 Coalition $3.20 “Who fuckin’ tonight.    Who fuckin tonight, uh oh,     Stop playing, keep it moving,      Stop playing, keep it moving”.

A week of Liberal Party Mayhem

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Grattan on Friday: Wentworth preselectors' rebuff to Morrison caps week of mayhem Wentworth candidate Dave Sharna Michelle Grattan , University of Canberra In the early hours of Friday morning, the Liberal preselectors of Wentworth delivered their new prime minister a humiliating public slapdown. In selecting Dave Sharma, 42, former Australian ambassador to Israel and now a partner in an accountancy firm, as the candidate for the October 20 byelection, the preselectors have on all accounts chosen the best candidate. But Scott Morrison had made it known he wanted a woman, a preference that’s been embarrassingly rejected. Katherine O'Regan, who was supposed to come out the winner, ran fifth. Moreover, on Thursday it was learned that John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull were both encouraging Sharma to stay in the contest. So the two former prime ministers managed to do over the current prime minister. The Wentworth Liberals, whose local member and PM was cut down, h