Prev
Next

Punch on: Open thread 15/01/2013

The Punch Team

by The Punch Team

15 Jan 05:00am

Must Reads

The Punch is moving house - this is a caption

The Punch is moving house

385

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this? - this is a caption

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

122

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming” - this is a caption

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

251

Filed under: Open Thread

109 comments

Bizarre story out of the Northern Territory.

Lachlan Nimmo. Picture: Patrina Malone

A soldier was bashed at his Darwin army base and left for two days without medical treatment. And then he got disciplined for telling the media about it.

What’s on your mind?

Comments on this post close at 8pm AEDT.

Most commented

109 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • ramases says:

      07:16am | 15/01/13

      Your comment:I can relate to that, some time ago I was in the Army and happened one night to come across a person who has set herself on fire. Now being a caring person I quickly grabbed a blanket out of the car and smothered the flames and sent the next car to phone for an ambulance, this was before mobile phones. The police came and the media and I was applauded for doing my duty but the Army in its infinite wisdom decided to charge me with having an Army issue blanket out of the barracks and destroying it. The penalty, cost of the blanket and $28.00 fine and the beginning of the end of my 12 year Army career which culminated with me threatening to blow the Commanding Officer up.

      Reply

    • Chris L says:

      10:49am | 15/01/13

      the bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy - Oscar Wilde.

    • Simon M says:

      07:45am | 15/01/13

      Although I think what happened to this soldier is deplorable and should never have happened, Those responsible need to face Justice. I think there is a lot more to this story than is being shown. I read the article by the NT news and some of the things he has said don’t add up. I think that he’ll get a slap on the wrist for talking to the media, and wont be discharged untill he’s a lot better and the investigatuion is complete. Remember all that is been shown is one side of the coin

      Reply

    • Rose says:

      09:13am | 15/01/13

      I just read the NT News report and what I got out of it is that defence plan on using the same tactics as they did against the female who was filmed having sex without her knowledge, VICTIM BLAMING.
      I hope for his sake he is discharged sooner rather than later, with appropriate compensation, as I don’t believe defence will do a damn thing to protect him. In fact I think the powers that be may well choose to make his life absolutely miserable if he is kept in there.

    • gobsmack says:

      12:52pm | 15/01/13

      You can’t handle the truth!!!

    • Simon M says:

      07:46am | 15/01/13

      Although I think what happened to this soldier is deplorable and should never have happened, Those responsible need to face Justice. I think there is a lot more to this story than is being shown. I read the article by the NT news and some of the things he has said don’t add up. I think that he’ll get a slap on the wrist for talking to the media, and wont be discharged untill he’s a lot better and the investigatuion is complete. Remember all that is been shown is one side of the coin

      Reply

    • PJ says:

      07:46am | 15/01/13

      Indigenous people policy of the Gillard Government continues to beggar belief.

      Following Benefits to Black people only, given out on plastic cards for clothing and food, and services to communities centred around inconvenient hub towns, far from ancestral lands, we now have a law and order policy thats astonishing:

      “it has emerged that more than 250 indigenous youth in northwestern NSW have been sentenced to juvenile prison terms during the past five years compared with only 12 non-Aboriginal children.” - the Australian.

      This follows Amnesty International and Community Leader Monk describing the Gillard Governments policy in Utopia as “Ethnic Cleansing” and like the ‘dark days of South Africa.’

      “Amnesty International chief Salil Shetty visited communities in Utopia on the weekend describing the plight of locals as “devastating.”
      “I’ve been to many places in bad shape in Africa, Asia and Latin America but what makes it stark here is when you remind yourself you’re actually in one of the richest countries in the world,” Mr Shetty told AAP in Utopia.”
      - Reported by the SMH.

      In conjunction with the Makaysian Concentration Camp Solution, looks like the Gillard Government isn’t one for human rights.

      Reply

    • Anubis says:

      09:04am | 15/01/13

      Do the crime, do the time

    • MattyC says:

      09:41am | 15/01/13

      PJ

      So let me get this right the Gillard government is responsible for sentencing kids in NW NSW. Of course there is no separation between the govt of the day and the courts.

      Also the Gillard government is responsible for plight of indigenous people in Australia who have only just started living in 3rd world conditions… Got it.

      Don’t play party politics here because your mob didn’t and wont have a silver bullet. This problem will take generations to fix if its even possible.

    • PJ says:

      12:19pm | 15/01/13

      THe Gillard Government new and improved Intervention and other Indigenous schemes has been highly criticised by Human Rights groups, whom the Government intentionally ignored.

      The Malaysian concentration Camp solution in a country that was cracking down on human rights, during the time it was being pushed, shows once more that the Gillard Government is bereft of a soul.

      Finally, the $150 million spent on 1600 Spin Doctors, $126 Million spent analysing Australian voters, was all done to create a single message in our press. The proposal for a Government Media Regulatory Body to control the media and the new laws on ‘taking Offence’ are all design to control what is said about the Gillard Government and impinge on freedom of speech just enough, but not too much.

      this Government isn’t really user friendly is it?

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      12:40pm | 15/01/13

      Fine, get rid of the benefits and just let them do their own thing.  Problem solved (from hearing about how badly we’re screwing it up, at least…and that would be the most progress that has ever been made).

    • acotrel says:

      04:19pm | 15/01/13

      @PJ
      ‘THe Gillard Government new and improved Intervention and other Indigenous schemes has been highly criticised by Human Rights groups, whom the Government intentionally ignored.’

      What was Gillard’s excuse ?  - she did n’t even have an imminent federal election to justify her cynicism.

    • Rood says:

      06:48pm | 15/01/13

      didn’t Howard do some sort of intervention in the NT?  How did that work out?
      Or do we just pretend it never happened because it does not suit the PJ agenda?

    • PJ says:

      07:47am | 15/01/13

      Indigenous people policy of the Gillard Government continues to beggar belief.

      Following Benefits to Black people only, given out on plastic cards for clothing and food, and services to communities centred around inconvenient hub towns, far from ancestral lands, we now have a law and order policy thats astonishing:

      “it has emerged that more than 250 indigenous youth in northwestern NSW have been sentenced to juvenile prison terms during the past five years compared with only 12 non-Aboriginal children.” - the Australian.

      This follows Amnesty International and Community Leader Monk describing the Gillard Governments policy in Utopia as “Ethnic Cleansing” and like the ‘dark days of South Africa.’

      “Amnesty International chief Salil Shetty visited communities in Utopia on the weekend describing the plight of locals as “devastating.”
      “I’ve been to many places in bad shape in Africa, Asia and Latin America but what makes it stark here is when you remind yourself you’re actually in one of the richest countries in the world,” Mr Shetty told AAP in Utopia.”
      - Reported by the SMH.

      In conjunction with the Makaysian Concentration Camp Solution, looks like the Gillard Government isn’t one for human rights.

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      08:54am | 15/01/13

      You might just find the plastic cards refer to welfare via plastic and it is not just indigenous people that the trial has been running with but people in the general community who have volunteered because they have self identified as having money management problems which can affect the well being of their families.
      And then as for indigenous youth in NSW, you will find that NSW has its own justice system and not one overseen by the federal government.

      Do get your facts somewhat realistic and it will help you no end in making sensible posts.

    • AdamC says:

      08:56am | 15/01/13

      I also see LNP MP Andrew Laming has been attacked by the PC thought police in response to a tweet querying whether a bunch of rioting thugs in Logan were gainfully employed. Apparently, posing such obvious questions is ‘ignorant’, ‘unhelpful’ and, of course, ‘racist’.

      This is because one group of rioters was aboriginal and the other was Pacific islander. This presumably makes them immune to criticism and unemployment.

      PJ, I am not sure how aboriginal youth conviction rates in NSW relate to Labor’s federal indigenous affairs policy.

    • Tim says:

      08:59am | 15/01/13

      Bahaha,
      are you now trying to cliam that the Gillard government is solely responsible for the Intervention and Indigenous crime rates?

    • DJ says:

      09:01am | 15/01/13

      @PJ - what would a coalition government do differently in Utopia?

    • subotic says:

      11:06am | 15/01/13

      Do you think Ms Gillard might also be behind the racially motivated attacks between Aboriginals and the Samoans on Brisbane’s south-side?

      And, more important, who should win?

      Will this de-value Kika’s property down to double-digits?

      These questions need answers….

    • James1 says:

      11:12am | 15/01/13

      The basics card is excellent welfare policy.  It forces people to spend their money on necessities.  We should not be knocking it simply because for the last several years it has been administered by an ALP government.

      Also, the idea was first thought up by the Howard Government.  It is actually a Coalition policy.  Like always PJ, you should do some basic research before commenting.

      I am similarly astonished by the reaction, Adam.  Having lived with family in Woodridge, I can say that Mr Laming was not breaking new ground by noting that most of the combatants there are likely not working.  It was not a comment on race, it was a comment on the economic and social situation of the residents of Woodridge.  Furthermore, I imagine having nothing to do all day makes these sorts of tensions far worse.  I can’t imagine the working population having the time, energy or inclination to fight in the streets every night after work.

    • PJ says:

      12:23pm | 15/01/13

      Do differently?
      in essence, no plastic cards for black people and cash for white people.

      THe Coalition intervention was all about stopping child abuse, not an opportunity to make cost savings in Community spending, that see Aboriginals driven off their ancestral lands.

    • fml says:

      02:45pm | 15/01/13

      I think it is a bit rich for a politician to be criticising others for “not doing a days work”...

    • acotrel says:

      04:24pm | 15/01/13

      @DJ
      ’ what would a coalition government do differently in Utopia? ‘

      Turn back the canoes and Toyotas .

    • acotrel says:

      04:30pm | 15/01/13

      @PJ
      ‘THe Coalition intervention was all about stopping child abuse, not an opportunity to make cost savings in Community spending, that see Aboriginals driven off their ancestral lands. ‘

      Howard didn’t send a royal commission after the child abusers in the catholic church,  Perhaps he was just dragging a rabbit out of the hat to try and win an election ?

    • Rastus says:

      04:34pm | 15/01/13

      Before people comment they should spend some time in an aboriginal community. It was scarier than working in maximum security jails! The yelling, screaming non-stop loud reggae and rap music. Children roaming the streets 24hrs a day, dogs and rubbish everywhere,  Overgrown yards and vandalism to every public amenity. Youths wearing t shirts idolizing american gang rappers(tupac etc) Card games and gambling, humbugging and threats of violence. Houses smashed and burnt. Cars wrecked everywhere. Not a stereotype, have seen the same thing in several different communities. All welfare funded. The system needs more intervention not less? There are no proud communities or first peoples culture just dysfunction and bad behavior.. Watch TV in these areas and you have ads on washing your hands and to not sleep on the road!! Get out of the coffee shops and face reality. The only cultural thing passed on is welfare dependance.

    • Trevor says:

      07:54am | 15/01/13

      Certainly a change from crocodile attacks on the public.

      Thought the poll released in the Australian by Newspoll shows a closing of the gap, and that Newspoll in December was say a misread

      The closeness of the parties is now closer that it has been this term and the fight is getting to be interesting.

      In a discussion about the IVF for both his staff member and his shadow leader of the house , the comment was made that getting personal with these details was intrusive and should have never been raised.

      There was discussion about several opposition females who are childless
      and where will it go next. My spouse stated what she thought, Maybe Julia has the right or need to remain childless, and if so surely it is her business.

      This intrusion into female politician’s private medical business really needs to stop. I know that everything is considered above board to attack a female in a way they would not attack a male.

      But something has to stop. My spouse says often these things hurt innocent people just so a cheap politicalpoint is made.

      Reply

    • Rose says:

      08:58am | 15/01/13

      If you choose to be a Federal politician, you choose to live a life split between Canberra and home. If you achieve any success and become a Minister, you spend even less time at home. Many female politicians appear to have chosen career over children and quite frankly, I can’t blame them. If they have children, they would spend an enormous amount of time away from them and that would have to hurt.They would be, in effect, having children so that someone else could raise them. Now male politicians make the same choice, the choice to leave their families for large chunks of the year, but there is a difference, This is something that has always been historically acceptable within the dad = breadwinner, mum = child raiser model that has existed for time immemorial. The problem is, that whatever a female politician decides, they will be crucified for it if it suits the other side’s political interests. Male politicians don’t suffer the same level of scrutiny on their decision to breed or not to breed, or on their standard of parenting should they decide to have children.

    • Gwen Kent says:

      10:34am | 15/01/13

      Would anybody have the nerve or right to ask any female politician about her health. This article has upset me as it is obviously where the direction is going.
      Heffernan gave it a good start several years ago. The public foray of Mrs Abbott kicked it along.But I think this has gone too far and the IVF should settle where it is and not be raised again.
      How low can we go. I did not expect this would happen or be thought of

    • tez says:

      12:04pm | 15/01/13

      A childless male poly would not consider discussing a low sperm count it would be considered his own business.

    • stephen says:

      08:11am | 15/01/13

      Soldiers should be out fighting the enemy, and not each other.
      If they are getting paid then they should be doing what they are paid for.

      Reply

    • Rose says:

      09:02am | 15/01/13

      The defence forces really need to get their house in order. What we are learning about the way things work will lead to many quality young people looking to build their careers in far less barbaric arenas.

    • AdamC says:

      10:23am | 15/01/13

      There seems something a bit NQR about the reports of this case. In any event, it seems like an opportunity to apply that caution principle about there being two sides to every story.

    • tez says:

      12:10pm | 15/01/13

      At the moment the bush fires appear to be the enemy are any of the armed forces utilised helping the volunteers?

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      12:46pm | 15/01/13

      “will lead to many quality young people looking to build their careers in far less barbaric arenas.”

      Hmm, to be honest, there’s a certain appeal to something a little less wishy-washy than the awful limp wristed hand-wringing in the rest of society.  Looks like I’d better get back to making sure I meet the fitness requirements.  I suspect a touch of violence is unlikely to dissuade people from wanting to enter the military.

    • AdamC says:

      08:29am | 15/01/13

      In light of Gillard’s larger than exepected ‘Bambi bounce’ in the Newspoll, AdamC’s early election prediction is looking ever more likely to be proven correct.

      Are any of the sportsbetting companies offering odds on the timing of the election?

      Reply

    • Tim says:

      09:33am | 15/01/13

      Why would they want an early election when they would still lose comfortably?

      I think you overestimate the ability of the Labor party to cut their losses. Unless the polls rise even more so that Labor are equal or ahead, I very much doubt they’ll go early.

    • DJ says:

      09:48am | 15/01/13

      I know preferred PM is not a major factor but I wonder how much further Abbott’s approval rating and preferred PM status can drop before the LNP get a bit twitchy? If John Hewson lost the unloseable election what would you call a LNP loss this time around(apart from highly unlikely)?

      For the record I think it is still probablt 52/53 - 48/47 but many a government has been returned in a year where they have started from this position including Howard.

    • Nostromo says:

      10:08am | 15/01/13

      Sadly, they can call it as late as Nov 30th I recently discovered, not August like everyone was saying.
      I’m happy to go to the polling booths at 3am this Sunday if need be, whatever it takes to get our nation out of this inexorable debt spiral into a 3rd world economy…

    • Max Redlands says:

      10:13am | 15/01/13

      Sportsbet is offering the following prices for the month in which the election will be held:

      Sep.  $1.33

      Oct   $2.50

      Aug   $5.00

      May $15.00

      March   $19.00

      April $26.00

      July $26.00

      June $26.00

      Nov. $34.00

      Feb. $101.00

      While i agree that with the bounce they might consider going early my belief is they (the ALP), despite their statements to the contrary, know they are doomed and so will hang around for as long as possible to do what they can before they are removed from the Government benches for what, i suspect, will be quite some time. In that case the Nov. date is a good value bet.

      Interesting that the odds are shorter for March than June or July suggesting the weather also has some influence. No-one wants to campaign and do photo - ops (or, indeed, line up at a polling booth) in pissing down rain.

    • Tim says:

      10:55am | 15/01/13

      Nostromo,
      I too would love to have an election this week.

      Mainly so I wouldn’t have to listen to idiots talk about things like a debt spiral or how our country is turning into a 3rd world economy any more.

    • Andrew says:

      11:13am | 15/01/13

      “Nostromo says:10:08am | 15/01/13

      “Sadly, they can call it as late as Nov 30th I recently discovered, not August like everyone was saying.
      I’m happy to go to the polling booths at 3am this Sunday if need be, whatever it takes to get our nation out of this inexorable debt spiral into a 3rd world economy…”

      Wow, imagine what it would be like if you lived in Greece, Spain, italy, Portugal, Japan etc where they have real debt problems.

      My question is how would you help us to get out of this “inexorable” debt spiral as it will be the same for the LNP, Greens, Raving Loony party or whoever takes over Government for the whils economic conditions stay as they are.

    • simonfromlakemba says:

      11:18am | 15/01/13

      @Nostromo

      3rd world economy, really?

    • Knemon says:

      11:25am | 15/01/13

      I agree with Tim…my money is on October, they wont go with September due to footy finals Etc. August is probably too early and cold.

      Interesting question DJ…no opposition leader in our history has ever won an election with such a high disapproval rating…what makes Abbott so different to buck this trend?

    • AdamC says:

      12:15pm | 15/01/13

      Tim, my theory is based around Labor wanting to avoid a May budget. At budget time, they will either have to shoot one or more of their ‘Bambi’ policies (NDIS, Gonski) or own up to ongoing deficits. I would want to avoid that if I were the Labor Party, especially given they are in striking distance now.

      DJ, I seem to recall reading Abbott’s approval rose in the latest poll? In any event, you will know a leadership change is being seriously contemplated when non-Labor aligned people start talking about it.

      Max, $15 for May seem like decent odds.

      Simon, just give Labor another term and we’ll be on the way!

      Knemon, nobody has done anything until someone does it. Then it’s been done. That is a tautology. I see no reason to doubt the poll numbers as they are, at least not the primary vote figures. Though, if anyone is arguing for a Liberal leadership spill, they will make the argument that voters are itching to vote Gillard out, but want an alternative who is anyone but Abbott.

      I am a bit torn in that respect. It would be mean to deny Abbott a second shot at Julia, but Hockey, Turmbull or even Morrison would mop the floor with Labor.  Switching leader now would really upset the Labor apple cart, provided it could be accomplished without bloodshed.

    • Tim says:

      12:53pm | 15/01/13

      Knemon,
      agree with you about October.

      “no opposition leader in our history has ever won an election with such a high disapproval rating…what makes Abbott so different to buck this trend?”

      The competition.

    • Hamish Coleman says:

      12:54pm | 15/01/13

      Knemon, probably the fact this government is so on the nose.

    • tez says:

      01:32pm | 15/01/13

      You only want an early election so as Abbott has less time to put his foot in his mouth, it’s going to be difficult keeping him from that between when ever he surfaces until September

    • Nostromo says:

      03:30pm | 15/01/13

      I see I hit a Labor nerve/brain cell or three there. Go work out what our actual debt & present rate of borrowings is, as a function of GDP, compare that & debt per capita against other nations in the shits & you can work out just how close we are to the point of no return. Then pick one of the top 3rd world countries & see just how close we are to them as well. Except they have a much smaller debt per capita because no one will lend them money any more.

      Once our mines run dry, so will the loans, the international good will & our ability to even pay the interest. Julia/Swan at $100 million a day in the red can’t be doing it wrong, ey? Basic maths will tell you how long it will take to pay back - just divide total debt my annual surplus, then…oh wait. At least we might have some hope that the next lot of crooks just might return us to an actual surplus in 2-3 years. Then another 50-100 to undo this gubment’s damage.

      The mind really boggles at you Labortrolls. And I can only hope you are just trolling - no human being who can post to an online forum something approximating the Queen’s English could be this stoopid. No really.

    • acotrel says:

      04:38pm | 15/01/13

      @simon
      ‘@Nostromo

      3rd world economy, really
      ‘

      This guy needs a script to treat his delusion or is he just copying the deceitful misogynist who leads the LNP ?

    • EC says:

      08:50am | 15/01/13

      I believe there is more, a lot more, to this story than is being reported in the linked news article. In 16 years in the Army, I’ve seen a few fights, usually as a result of alcohol exacerbating tensions and/or a personal disagreement, but never a random bashing of a fellow soldier for the sake of it. I’m sorry that he was so viciously attacked, that should never have occurred, but I am certain that there are a considerable number of other issues involved.

      Reply

    • Philosopher says:

      11:43am | 15/01/13

      maybe he refused to show his platoon a video of him and his wife having sex? Playing with fire! He should be court-marshalled.

    • sami says:

      03:10pm | 15/01/13

      Indeed, lets blame the victim first, obviously he is somehow at fault.

    • Gregg says:

      09:01am | 15/01/13

      What happened to Private Nimmo does certainly have some questions to be answered it would seem and not just who dunnit.

      Like how did he manage to make it back to his room on the base from the carpark without being assisted or seen?

      And then one might ask whether having individual rooms in barracks as against the in past dormitory style rooms is such a good thing for certainly whilst privacy is one thing, it would not be conditioning them too well for conditions they might have to face with postings to areas of conflict.

      Reply

    • Rose says:

      10:24am | 15/01/13

      Who said he wasn’t ‘assisted’ back to his room? There’s a better than even chance that if the perpetrators were soldiers they dumped him back in his room, maybe giving them enough time to get away from scrutiny, maybe thinking he would be found and helped without them being implicated.
      The real questions are whodunnit and why does defence always seem more interested in protecting the perpetrators than helping the victim (to justice and compensation).

    • Colin says:

      09:02am | 15/01/13

      Whose with me to move to Queensland? Cheap houses! We can all move to beautiful Logan and enjoy an atmosphere only previously available to native Queenslanders (and residents of some Western Sydney suburbs).

      See the wild life, enjoy the native scenery, and feel right at home amongst the wonderful sounds and sights of traditional life…

      Reply

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      10:28am | 15/01/13

      Don’t know why Dr Laming is called upon to apologize. If anything there are some people in Logan that need to apologize for disgraceful behavior.

    • simonfromlakemba says:

      10:45am | 15/01/13

      Crime is everywhere. Look at million dollar plus Maroubra, Cronulla, Bondi etc. Walk down the street on a Saturday and get bottled.

      But Lamings tweet did make me laugh

    • subotic says:

      11:17am | 15/01/13

      I’ve got a dollar on the locals to win.

      Kika’s home re-sale value though just hit double digits. Damn shame.

      Well, that’s the south-side for ya….

    • Bec says:

      01:22pm | 15/01/13

      Simonfromlakemba: It sure is, but far less frequently in upper class suburbs. I lived on Brisbane’s southside last year and spent many a bus ride home from work figuring out if I could defend myself from a rapist with the items in my purse (Was bashed by a stranger once because I’m a “white c***”). Thankfully I’ve moved to Sydney’s north shore since then, now I don’t think twice about walking by myself at night.

    • nihonin says:

      09:19am | 15/01/13

      I just heard on the radio Kevin Rudd was PM of the country, I thought he was a caretaker PM till the real PM the Labor party wanted to actually go with (but who wouldn’t have won the 2007 election), Julia Gillard, was persuaded *cough cough* to take over.  wink

      Sorry Kevin, you were nothing more than the sacrificial lamb, required for the greater good.

      Reply

    • Nostromo says:

      09:54am | 15/01/13

      For a change of pace, what does everyone think about the Belgian twins who got the go-ahead to off themselves in the news overnight…?

      I really don’t know how to feel about it - it kinda smells like the euthanasia fast-lane to me…why not, if Texas can put in an execution fast-lane, eh…to be fair, we can’t know what they were going through, but being deaf from birth I would have thought someone would have encouraged them to learn generic sigh language or lip-reading, etc, for starters. Not that that would help with then also going blind (obviously), but perhaps they wouldn’t have felt quite so much despair if they were more integrated into society their whole lives, instead of relying almost entirely on each other. Who knows, they may have even had families by now. They weren’t in any pain or major discomfort apparently, but hey, who am I to judge the value of human life…

      One thing I do know for certain: life’s a red-headed bitch who likes to stick it in up to the hilt, like a beach umbrella, then open it up & break it off! hmmm

      Reply

    • vox says:

      11:11am | 15/01/13

      I think you are trying to put one over on us, Nostromo. I don’t think the Belgian “twins” would be allowed to “off” themselves on the evening news.
      Once I read one attempt to mislead, I tend to dismiss the whole shebang, which is what I did.
      And incidentally, your cruel comment re Christopher Pyne is also awry. He is not a redhaead! Well, not this week, anyway.

    • simonfromlakemba says:

      11:41am | 15/01/13

      You shouldn’t need permission to kill yourself. If you want to go you should be able to.

    • Simon says:

      12:20pm | 15/01/13

      Don’t ask permission - just do it and seek forgiveness later…. raspberry

    • TimB says:

      01:18pm | 15/01/13

      ‘I think you are trying to put one over on us, Nostromo. I don’t think the Belgian “twins” would be allowed to “off” themselves on the evening news.
      Once I read one attempt to mislead, I tend to dismiss the whole shebang, which is what I did.’

      Er Vox, he clearly meant the story about the twins that was shown on the news last night. Not that they literally killed themselves *on tv*

      You either knew that and were looking for a cheap way to have a go at someone who clearly disagrees with you politically, or you simply have a limited ability to understand what people write.

      It’s an even money bet as to which applies here IMO.

    • Nostromo says:

      03:39pm | 15/01/13

      LOL @Vox! smile

      @TimB ... *whooooosh*!!! ;-p

    • Colin says:

      11:33am | 15/01/13

      @ Nostromo

      Your last paragraph was the most disgusting, uncalled for piece of filth I have ever had the displeasure of reading on a public blog.

      You should be ashamed of yourself.

      Reply

    • subotic says:

      12:21pm | 15/01/13

      Likewise. On all counts…..

    • Colin says:

      01:27pm | 15/01/13

      @ subotic

      “Likewise. On all counts….”

      Yes, that’s right Subotic, someone can say the most vile and reprehensible and disgusting things alluding to all sorts of filthy sexual innuendo, and all you can do is have a go at me…

      Clap. Clap. Clap.

      Well done.

    • Bdwag says:

      01:44pm | 15/01/13

      Chill out mate.

    • tez says:

      01:49pm | 15/01/13

      As Well

    • Colin says:

      02:57pm | 15/01/13

      @ Bdwag

      “Chill out mate.”

      No, I won’t “chill out”; what Nostromo said was completely disgusting and anyone who sits idly by and lets that sort of thing pass on a public, open forum is just allowing pinheads like that free reign…

      After all, I say something controversial and people jump all over me. “Nostromo” says probably the most objectionable, opprobrious, denigrating, distasteful thing that he can say, and you say that people should ignore it..!

    • subotic takes a bow says:

      03:24pm | 15/01/13

      I try daaaaahling, Lord knows I try!

    • Mouse says:

      03:29pm | 15/01/13

      I could be wrong Colin, but I think subotic was agreeing with everything you said.  That’s how I read it anyway..  :o)

    • Nostromo says:

      03:45pm | 15/01/13

      Cheers Colin, it was just a closing metaphor (or a simile?) after all…or do you prefer a cabaret act?
      But thanks for making me look up ‘opprobrious’ - never been called THAT before! <BFG>

    • St. Michael says:

      03:49pm | 15/01/13

      “After all, I say something controversial and people jump all over me.”

      Yes, that’s because you’re trolling, Colin.

    • Colin says:

      04:31pm | 15/01/13

      @ Mouse

      “I could be wrong Colin, but I think subotic was agreeing with everything you said.  That’s how I read it anyway..  :o)”

      No, sorry Mouse; everything that Subotic ever posts in response to me is ALWAYS against what I say. Reasonable or not.

    • AJ in Perth says:

      04:44pm | 15/01/13

      Colin

      If it is really that important, send one of the Torys an e-mail, if they agree, it will be removed and Nostromo will also receive a rebuke, if a valid e-mail was provided.  You can find their contact details on the “About us” tab I think.

    • Colin says:

      04:58pm | 15/01/13

      @ AJ in Perth

      OK, thanks for the advice AJ.

      Though I am a little puzzled about why no-one else seems to think that grossly inappropriate sexual innuendo denigrating a woman like that…Are people really becoming so inured to violence of language and deed..?

    • vox says:

      12:19pm | 15/01/13

      In reply to Trevor’s comment earlier, (and to others), I think that the polarisation on Gillard’s choice to not have children, the “barren woman” sleaze promulgated by the Opposition, is probably a low-point in Australian politics.
      Perhaps Abbott’s chief advisor in matters moral, Bishop Pell, may have come under scrutiny by those same sleaze-artists for his decision to remain childless.
      And Abbott took a vow of chastity and abstinence, which, when circumstances changed he quickly reneged on. Apparently, for supporters of this strange person that’s okay. But also apparently, when circumstances changed for Gillard re the “carbon tax”, such is not the case. For her, according to the hypocritical LNP, a vow is a vow is a vow. For Abbott, not so much.
      Let’s find an LNP member who has no children, and call him/her “barren. Nah, that would not be right. That would be the ultimate of sleaze.
      My old Dad used to tell me that the best revenge is not to be like them. Right on,mate!

      Reply

    • nihonin says:

      01:39pm | 15/01/13

      Thank God then most people aren’t like you.

    • Gwen says:

      01:47pm | 15/01/13

      I am ashamed that the Liberal political lobby thought this a good idea and let it through. Surely Julie Bishop was not advised to put forward her ideas.
      But is this a case of Abbott doing what he opposed before. After all she is over 40 and he totally opposed against that all through.
      Perhaps Mrs Pyne was given approval because she was in the family, when the person in the street was also opposed.
      I have seen no speeches by Abbott formalizing his change of attitude.
      I will change my mind only when a n earlier speech was made or support given to a motion in the house.

    • TimB says:

      02:37pm | 15/01/13

      ‘And Abbott took a vow of chastity and abstinence, which, when circumstances changed he quickly reneged on. Apparently, for supporters of this strange person that’s okay. But also apparently, when circumstances changed for Gillard re the “carbon tax”, such is not the case. For her, according to the hypocritical LNP, a vow is a vow is a vow. For Abbott, not so much.’

      The smarter people among us are capable of understanding the difference between a personal choice that only affects themselves (or immediate family) as opposed to a policy choice that affects the entire nation.

      It’s easy to see you aren’t included in that group.

      PS. I don’t give a flying toss about Gillard’s marital status, lack of offspring, gender, religious choices (or lack thereof).

      You on the other hand have repeatedly shown yourself to have a bugbear about Abbott being Catholic….

    • vox says:

      03:00pm | 15/01/13

      Has anyone else been able to recognise Nihonin’s brilliant, but semi-concealed yet cutting wit?  Although he is obviously over-qualified for posting here, he still gives us the benefit of his expertise, his grasp of the language, and his abundance of awareness of things political.
      Did you all take note of his reply to me earlier? He said, “Thank God then most people are not like you”.
      This must be the most intelligent ‘put-down’ in the history of the “Punch”.
      I’m devastated! What repartee!
      What a strange bloke he is. Do please note however, that he never argued about Abbott being the hypocritical sleaze artist, nor did he disagree with the fact of my claiming that his “barren” mate, the man in a dress George Pell, was his chief propaganda adviser.
      Not a lot of substance really, Nihonin.
      And TimB, you know damn well that the comment you made about “what I knew” was BS. I commented on what Nostromo wrote. He clearly, (to use your indicator), said that they were going to “off themselves” in the News tonight. And Timmy, a person cannot “literally” kill themself. Please pick up your game, you are sounding like PJ the Numbers Man, or Nostromo himself, and that way lies madness!

    • AdamC says:

      03:53pm | 15/01/13

      Vox, I hear the ABC has a pretty good current affairs blog called the Drum. I am sure the posters there will appreciate your highly original, non-nutty political insights, as well as your refreshing economy with the the Enter key.

      We just don’t deserve you ...

    • nihonin says:

      05:19pm | 15/01/13

      vox,. you are the epitome, of not a lot substance.

      Keep firing away though, the only one who’ll end up looking like a fool, will be you.

    • Michael says:

      05:43pm | 15/01/13

      Nihonin, end up? depends where you draw the line, a person states that they will stump up evidence of a crime by X time on X day or they will never post again and then doesn’t follow through, crosses the line they drew in the sand and then wants an extension? lol

    • nihonin says:

      06:20pm | 15/01/13

      What are you referring to a Michael?

    • St. Michael says:

      12:48pm | 15/01/13

      @ LJ Dots - who may or may not wind up reading this, it’s a point s/he asked about yesterday, i.e. why you wouldn’t have a teacher on a jury, and I wanted to answer it:

      Basically, criminal lawyers (prosecution and defence) all have what probably come down to superstitious beliefs about the “right” sort of person you want on a jury.  (In most jurisdictions a lawyer has the right to challenge X number of people who present to go onto a jury, and those people are then discharged from jury service.  Lawyers get a copy of the jury pool ahead of the trial which includes a name, address and occupation and nothing else.  Prosecution lawyers usually get a list that includes whether the person has a serious criminal record as well.)

      Anyway, it was a popular belief in my former life that you should never let a teacher on a jury if you were defending, because they always wind up as the foreman/woman of the jury, control it, and they always seem to convict the accused.  Rationales for that odd phenomenon range from political (‘teachers are all conservatives, you know’) to pop psychology (‘they know how to control small groups of squabbling people’).  Nobody really knows the truth one way or the other because juries don’t give reasons and you’d be heading for life outside law if you ever tried to find out what a jury was thinking or tamper with a jury.  There was one study conducted in WA which suggested that the more trials jurors sit on, the more they tend to convict, but that’s about all you could get from it.

      There’s plenty of other pet theories too.  Personally, I liked having uni or TAFE students on juries, mainly because they’re young, they think, and they won’t just go along with what a prosecutor says.  But I also heard contrary beliefs that students just didn’t give a damn and would go along with whatever anyone else was thinking.  I even heard stories that if a juror wore red to court, they’d wind up as foreman and would convict or be partisan against the accused because they were thought to be aggressive.

      As I say, it’s all tea-leaf reading, and about as effective I would guess.  There are jury consultants in the US, but that’s a much, much different system of jury picking.

      Of course, if you really wanted to get out of jury service, all you had to do was what one guy I saw (I wasn’t defending at the time) did: an Aboriginal accused was on trial, and the prospective juror asked the judge to be excused.  “On what grounds?” asked the judge.  “On the grounds that I am a racist,” said the bloke.  Needless to say he didn’t get to serve.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      01:23pm | 15/01/13

      Homer: Now, what were we talking about, boy?
      Bart: Uhhhh… we were talking about the time you beat jury duty.
      Homer: Oh, yeah. The trick is to say you’re prejudiced against all races.

    • LJ Dots says:

      02:07pm | 15/01/13

      Got it. Thanks for the follow up St Michael, cheers.

    • pa_kelvin says:

      02:50pm | 15/01/13

      Phhhttt! Bunch of kids. What would they know…. smile

    • Mouse says:

      03:45pm | 15/01/13

      nihonin, the science ISN’T in! Don’t believe a word they say and live with the belief that it is in fact true that you can see a a kaleidoscope of stars when you pop into hyperspace. All you have to do is believe nihonin, just believe!!  lol ;o)

      Hey pa_k, seems that someone is not keen on me talking to you any more! The last half dozen posts I have sent you haven’t got through!  Anyhoo, hope all is well with you and ma_k. I have to put my travels back, gotta have more tests, so tell ma_k maybe not until March now, hopefully! I am at the point where I have probably had enough treatment and will just carry on without any more. We’ll see what these next results say, never know, they may be good!  Have a good one!  lol :o)

    • pa_kelvin says:

      04:33pm | 15/01/13

      Hi Mouse…. I know the feeling of missing posts..
      More bone scans and CT for me early Feb… can hardly wait…not
      Good luck with the tests, alls well… smile smile

    • nihonin says:

      04:40pm | 15/01/13

      lol @ Mouse, now i feel better, I was going to go into denial.  wink

    • Betty K says:

      01:55pm | 15/01/13

      What a laugh if it was not so childish.
      Todays editorial in the Heraldsun was anti Gillard and not too subtle.
      Today the Newspoll paid for by the Murdoch press ,released the greatly improved polls showing the previous poll was a oncer and incorrect.
      The gap between Labor and the Opposition is now the narrowest since last election.
      Congratulations Australian.It was fully reported.
      BUT the Heraldsun who ran the anti Gillard attack has not mentioned it at all.
      OMG they make themselves so obvious

      Reply

    • Mouse says:

      04:17pm | 15/01/13

      no tonic for me pa_k, brown lime and soda over lotsa ice will do nicely thanks!  *hic*  xo)

      ps, I read that and thought it was great, I wonder if it works for cats as well….........  oh Spiiiiiike, come to Mummy little man…....  :oD

    • AJ in Perth says:

      04:38pm | 15/01/13

      Phhhttt!  As if one needs an excuse ... :o)

    • Mouse says:

      05:13pm | 15/01/13

      AJ, you Perth guys have to be trained!! lol Apparently you aren’t familiar with brown lime over there…. hehehe, I had to explain to a lovely young barmaid what “brown” lime was. It seems that you don’t differentiate between green and brown lime, so imagine my mirth (?) when I ordered my drink and it was a lovely shade of green!!  We call them Green Frogs over here (lemonade instead of soda though)  We had a bit of a giggle over it though, the barmaid learnt a couple of new drinks and I had perfect mixtures for the rest of the night!!  Doncha just love it!!  LOL :oD

    • sunny says:

      05:18pm | 15/01/13

      It’s usually the reverse for me - I don’t start drinking the radiator fluid until I run out of vodka.

    • Mouse says:

      05:37pm | 15/01/13

      sunny, I would have expected nothing less!!  lol ;o)

    • TheRealDave says:

      04:23pm | 15/01/13

      I agree with previous posters - something not quite right about Pte Nimmo’s version of events here…..especially considering his room would be the first place they’d check to see if he was around….

      Reply

    • nihonin says:

      05:43pm | 15/01/13

      Maybe I should take up smokin’ again!!  lol :o)

      Guess ya gotta suck on something wink

      Bazinga, if this one gets through.

    • Chris L says:

      05:45pm | 15/01/13

      So sex actually is bad for you! My girlfriend has been right all these years!

      Mind you, I think I’d prefer to die young and happy.

    • Achmed says:

      06:52pm | 15/01/13

      I would like to thank Punch and the Team for continuing to have the forums where people can express their views and debate issues. 

      So mnay have closed down or extremely limitied their “opinion” columns via the ‘net that there are few places where people can express themselves.
      I don’t agree with what everyone states and get frustrated when they use the forum to promote mis-truths or misinformation.  But that’s why we have computers, people can research and should and not blindly acept what is said is the absolute truth.

      Again thankyou.  I

      Reply
 
Sorry, comments are now closed for this article.

Facebook Recommendations

Read all about it

Punch live

Up to the minute Twitter chatter

See all tweets

Recent posts

The latest and greatest

The Punch is moving house

by The Punch Team

385

The Punch is moving house

Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

by Hannah Harborow

122

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

by Sarrah Le Marquand

251

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…

Nosebleed Section

choice ringside rantings

From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go

Tim says:

They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]

From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go

Kel says:

If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]

Light weight

Gentle jabs to the ribs

Superman needs saving

Superman needs saving

Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more

28 comments

Newsletter

Read all about it

Sign up to the free News.com.au newsletter