September 2012
With one nasty comment to a bunch of giggling Young Liberal university students, broadcaster Alan Jones crushed the myth that he is a respected commentator on whom politicians must rely for survival.
Despite many rushing for the position, Mr Jones now has a firm grip on the job of his own worst enemy, following his assertion that Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s father died of shame for his “lying” daughter.
This remark, cruel by any measure but particularly so given Mr Jones’ fond memory of his own father, was intended to cause as much pain as possible to its absent target.
Continue reading "Put your hand up if you’re an offensive bastard" »
Bob Carr is a keen diarist. He kept a lively and detailed diary during his time in NSW politics, including his years as Premier.
Extracts from it provided the basis for a revealing biography described by one reviewer as “a grand disrobing”.
As Foreign Minister, Carr is believed still to jot down every day a record of his personal thoughts on events and discussions he is involved in.
Continue reading "A debate about Labor that’s actually worth having" »
Latest 2 of 74 comments
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DOB says:
Craig2, Keating is the reason why you are enjoying an economy thats not dead like it is in Europe. Youre either just reaching puberty or your brain has been switched off for quite some time.. Read more »
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Alfie says:
Labor party navel gazing has nothing to do with the broad ‘political debate’. Their problem, not mine. Read more »
Most of us are a better version of ourselves on holiday. We dress better, eat better, cook better, sleep better, do more exercise and pay better attention to our loved ones. There’s always time to make the bed, recycle the garbage, invite friends around for dinner and have long phone conversations.
Lucky people spend their holidays in ideal environments; swanning around in kaftans by the beach or rugging up and hitting the ski fields, inhaling fresh country air or taking in the sites of somewhere exotic. No wonder holidays feel like the version of life that we wish we had, surrounded by the things and people and activities we love best.
Latest 2 of 6 comments
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nihonin says:
I like people who have a problem with first world problems. Read more »
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d&s says:
Oh for crying out loud. Drop the “first world problems” crap. I am sick to death of reading a blog and some dropkick leftie tosser writes in blabbing on about “first world problem blah blah blah”. Alex - you don’t want to read about first world problems - then go… Read more »
In June 2010, Prime Minister Julia Gillard famously said: “Australia should not hurtle down the track towards a big population.” She was distancing herself from her predecessor Kevin Rudd who had famously said on ABC TVs 7.30 Report that he believed in a “Big Australia”, of 36 million by 2050.
Ms Gillard then indicated she would be putting the brakes on immigration. “We need to stop, take a breath and develop policies for a sustainable Australia.” Bravo Julia, we said at the time.
Figures just released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) tor the year ending March 2012, however, suggest that we are indeed hurtling down the track to a Big Australia.
Continue reading "We’re hurtling down the track to a Big Australia" »
Latest 2 of 36 comments
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Nev Norton says:
I wouldn’t worry to much about a high population, food is the natural constraint, and one that I didn’t see mentioned in any other posts. That could be because we take our food supply for granted. Australia will suffer food shortages in the future, nothing surer. In the next twenty… Read more »
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off centre says:
Agreed. This needs to be a national topic of debate! Read more »
Anonymous says:
My friend has just sent out invitations for her December wedding but it only has my name on it. I’ve been in an on-again, off-again kind of relationship for the past six months but would really like to bring my partner. Is it OK for me to ring and ask my friend if she’ll extend the invitation to two? And what do I do if she says no?
Continue reading "Friday dilemma: A wedding invitation just for one" »
Latest 2 of 79 comments
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Cath says:
GET THAT APOSTROPHE OUT OF DILEMMAS AT ONCE. SHAME ON YOU PUNCH TEAM. And you might not even be going out with the on-again off-again by December. Just go by yourself. Read more »
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iansand says:
fairs - when you get married and have to juggle the expectations of all sides and family and friends’ expectations (cousin Little Cat A will be expecting to come, which means we have to ask cousins Little Cats B, C and K)) when the venue only has room for 68… Read more »
In February, 2007, then-Prime Minister John Howard lashed out at the “new-age fads” infecting the school system. In 2006, then-Education Minister Julie Bishop had a crack at education bureaucrats distorting curriculums with “Chairman Mao” type ideologies.
The Australian at the time reported: “John Howard has accused public schools of allowing “incomprehensible sludge” to infect the curriculum and declared that the need for a national system was a “no brainer”.”
More than five years later, with a national curriculum on the boil, and he’s no happier, declaring the draft national history curriculum “unbalanced… and in some cases quite bizarre.”
Continue reading "It’s all just a little bit of history wars repeating…" »
Latest 2 of 73 comments
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Angus McGee says:
@Rickster. Deaf, dumb or stupid? Read more »
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Luigi says:
Johnny, effing retire. You were a loser in power and a loser now. Sip G&T’s by the pool and bring along your good mate Peter Costello and recall the failed years where you were lucky, not smart.. Read more »
Most of us didn’t know Jill Meagher; now we never will. Her story and its tragic ending have stunned the whole country.
As Lucy wrote, it’s the uncomfortable thought that this could have happened to anyone that somehow makes this more personal.
Police found her body early this morning, and a man has been charged with her rape and murder. All the details are here, at news.com.au.
Continue reading "Our thoughts are with Jill Meagher’s family" »
Latest 2 of 41 comments
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Tory Shepherd says:
Hey Punchers; sorry, but we’re going to have to close comments on this post now. It’s just too risky with people wanting to discuss the case. Thanks everyone for the kind wishes to Jill’s family. Read more »
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Shane* says:
Be proud you live in a country where this still dominates headlines, talk-back, social media and mobilises an entire police force. Be proud that we all felt this loss so deeply. Be proud that we still feel pain despite all the junk happening in the world. Be proud that meaningless… Read more »
It is no secret that former Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner and current Prime Minister Julia Gillard are not close.
Tanner of course, announced he was quitting politics on the very day Ms Gillard became prime minister.
If that gesture rubbed some the wrong way, it was nothing compared to the abrasions caused by his new book.
Continue reading "Roll up, roll up, for a peek inside the Labor circus" »
Latest 2 of 77 comments
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Swamp Thing says:
Must be time for that nutcase emmerson to give us another tune…. How about this for a reform: mandatory psychological testing for all aspirants for public office, +regular mental health checks for all elected officials. Never happen will it? Any ideas why they can’t be held to the same medical… Read more »
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emel says:
Ihp : young people you encounter? jesus wept. just because you can see no value in faster communication speeds does not really matter. I just hope you are not behind the wheel of any business or organisation that expects to remain viable in the future. thanks for the lecture on… Read more »
Make no mistake, I really admire my colleagues but there’s no way I’d trust them with my life in the wilds of the Kimberley. But it sure is fun watching other people try.
Cue Do or Die, the newish ABC2 series that documents the adventures of office workers thrown into an outdoor survival adventure. Forget drab hotel rooms, endless trays of muffins and a couple of nights getting riotously drunk with your colleagues. This is Bear Grylls for pen pushers; people who’d normally consider replacing the photocopier toner a challenge.
It’s enthralling viewing. Mostly because you’re not the one being put through your paces, and it’s unlikely you’ll ever have to work with these people.
Continue reading "You’ll never send me to the Kimberley for teambuilding" »
Latest 2 of 25 comments
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Gordon says:
sub truthtest If (is on TV) = Yes, Then Truth = No Else gosub PlanB Read more »
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Utopia Boy says:
Lucy, A good article. A good office junior, if truly the “natural” leader, would have made sure the boss thought it was him who had all the answers. Then we’d know if John was a real future CEO. Office politics never ends at the end of the working day. Without… Read more »
When actor Clint Eastwood spent a crucial prime-time slot at Republican National Convention berating a wooden chair he pretended Barack Obama was sitting in, there wasn’t a whole lot of need for the Obama presidential campaign to fire back.
It was ridiculous enough. But fire back they did - in a brutally effective fashion.
With an online meme.
Continue reading "Memes: The next big thing have finally gone BIG" »
Latest 2 of 46 comments
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Swamp Thing says:
Lets just have live coverage of convicted criminals fighting to the death with sharp objects. Compelling viewing…. I would totally go for the collecters ed on blu-ray. Read more »
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pussed off in grafton says:
There’s a cat that roams around my building and it never does anything clever, funny or even stupid. Loser! What’s a meme again? Read more »
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