Punch on: Open thread 17/01/12

acotrel says:

06:00am | 17/01/12

What ‘expenses’ ?  I thought he did his deceitful politicking for love !

jf says:

06:09am | 17/01/12

Craig Thomson is certified. He must be A-Ok then.

This naming and shaming appears to be little more than bureaucratic exercise in compliance masquerading as meaningful and rigorous transparency and disclosure.

Let the sun shine in indeed.

acotrel says:

06:54am | 17/01/12

@jf
So you’ve got Craig Yhompson tried and convicted already ?  What did the investigation reveal ?

TimB says:

07:22am | 17/01/12

“What ‘expenses’ ?  I thought he did his deceitful politicking for love ! “

Is that what Tony told you Acotrel? Feeling spurned are we? It explains a lot of your comments.

“What did the investigation reveal ? “

It revealed he used a union credit card to purchase prostitutes for himself. Now the job is to determine if this is fraud or not.

If it isn’t, then the union rules are a joke.

acotrel says:

08:35am | 17/01/12

@TimB
’ Now the job is to determine if this is fraud or not.

If it isn’t, then the union rules are a joke. ‘

It has always been a duplicitous society with two sets of rules
- OK for corporate high flyers, but not union high flyers ?
If the LNP managed to topple the government with this bullshit, do you believe the majority of voting taxpayers would just cop it sweet ?

Shane From Melbourne says:

08:46am | 17/01/12

@nossy- the same Tony Abbott that neglected to declare a loan for two years. He has a habit of doing that.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/failure-to-declare-mortgage-has-tony-abbott-under-new-loan-stress/story-e6frgczf-1225883125818

TheRealDave says:

09:07am | 17/01/12

I wonder if Craig Thompson spent nearly $600 000.00 on hookers and blow though?

$600 000.00 in 6 months…WTF!?!?!? ANd he doesn’t have to account for it?!?! WHy the hell would you want to be the Prime Minister when you can swan about on a high wage, no responsibilities, come up with no policies…in fact all you need to do is say the word ‘No’ every few hours…and still get to blow $600 000.00 of OUR money?!?!?

TimB says:

09:25am | 17/01/12

“It has always been a duplicitous society with two sets of rules
- OK for corporate high flyers, but not union high flyers ?”

Who said it was ok? By all means Acotrel, name the ‘corporate high flyer’ currently in parliament who used his corporate card on prostitutes. I promise I’ll be just as scathing in my criticism.

And yes, in a properly run company, I would bet that such misuse of expenses would be viewed as criminal. The shareholders would certainly think so.

“If the LNP managed to topple the government with this bullshit, do you believe the majority of voting taxpayers would just cop it sweet ? “

Considering the majority of voters would currently like to see the ALP shot from a cannon into the sun (closely followed by Oakeshott & Windsor), yeah, I think they’d be cool with it.

Tim says:

11:21am | 17/01/12

TimB,
do you think Union officials or corporate high flyers using their credit cards to take clients out for dinner or drinks is wrong?
how about the movies or the theatre?
a football game?

TimB says:

12:47pm | 17/01/12

Tim, the point (ostensibly) of those activities is to talk (or promote) business whilst at those events. Somehow I doubt there’s much opportunity to talk shop whilst you’re getting your bones jumped by a hooker.

Also, as you say usually the holder of the card will hosting a client.  I that know in my company , the details of all attendees must be provided whenever any such expense is incurred.

Try and charge up a ticket to your corporate card, just so you can go on your own to the football. No clients. No work colleagues. Just you. Or maybe some of your mates from the bar. See how far that gets you with the accounts guys who go through the expenses.

S.L says:

07:14am | 17/01/12

@ZSRenn I heard on the news yesterday Alaska is having it’s coldest winter in decades too.

jay-ded says:

07:21am | 17/01/12

There is no global warming.  Guvment can’t use that as it’s too cold.  It’s now Climate Change. mwahahahahaha.

TimB says:

07:25am | 17/01/12

It’s not Global Warming anymore. It’s Climate Change.

C’mon guys, didn’t you see the memo? Unless the temperature stays exactly the same, we’re all horrible people who must sacrifice ourselves to appease almighty Gaia.

Weatherman says:

08:09am | 17/01/12

zsrenn
Actually it’s summer in NSW.
What do you do in China, pedal a rickshaw?

Tim says:

08:12am | 17/01/12

C’mon TimB,
didn’t you get the memo?
A Bolt says the world is cooling and he’s far more experienced in the field than any climate scientists.

And you don’t need to believe climate scientists anyway because they’re all part of a global left-wing conspiracy to make you live in a cave and eat tofu.

Seanr says:

08:24am | 17/01/12

If Global Warming (sorry TimB..climate change) means reduced temperatures, dial me in!..it’s getting hot up here in the Far North

Shane From Melbourne says:

08:48am | 17/01/12

Extreme weather patterns fits the Global Warming model. Nothing to see here, move along….

S Circuit says:

08:56am | 17/01/12

As of Mon 16 June 2012 the Blue Planet will be fully Air Conditioned courtesy of GreenLabors new taxes and this will solve any variation to the temperature.Tenders have been let for Bob Browns favorite planet Uranus

Blind Freddy says:

09:20am | 17/01/12

@TimB
“It’s not Global Warming anymore. It’s Climate Change.”
That was because some idiots can’t tell the diference between weather and climate.

TimB says:

10:24am | 17/01/12

@ Tim, I wouldn’t be suprised if the Greens wanted exactly that. Look at their reaction any time someone develops an emission free power source capable of providing baseload- Namely nuclear & hydro. Jumping up and down in clueless protest. Their agenda is pretty anti-human.

I’ve said this before: If this was the Stone Age, Bob Brown would be trying to ban fire.

@ Seanr, that’s an easy poroblem to solve. Move .

@ Shane, pretty much *everything* fits the models. They’re convenient like that. I’ve got a model that predicts this week’s power ball numbers will fall between 1 and 45. I must be a freaking genius.

@ Blind Freddy, bullshit. The key difference between the terms is ‘warming’ vs the more encompassing (and thus easier to predict) ‘change’. It allows people like Shane to claim the models predict everything. It has bugger all to do with weather vs climate.

ZSRenn says:

12:58pm | 17/01/12

@weatherman Duh! Some people!

Macca says:

07:24am | 17/01/12

The missus and I are going through a wonderful week of Man-Flu (she caught it off me, so she too has Man-Flu). So haven’t really started. Although the kilos are slowly coming off anyway, as is whatever aerobic ability remained after the festive season.

jay-ded says:

08:10am | 17/01/12

Since I made no new year resolutions, I’m having no problems with anything. 

Elphaba says:

08:19am | 17/01/12

I didn’t make any.  I’m awesome just as I am.

I am curbing spending to be able to afford a few things I want to do (play the share market, travel to Africa), but other than that I abhor anything that has to do with New Years, including resolutions.

I don’t get New Years.  It has to be the most anti-climactic celebration of them all…

Ben C says:

09:53am | 17/01/12

Didn’t make one, figured that if I was going to break it anyway I shouldn’t bother in the first place. And that was also after making a resolution one year to make the next year’s resolution unbreakbable…

(My New Years message to all my friends was “Don’t make any resolutions that you can’t break”.)

John Smythe says:

09:37am | 17/01/12

Classic

Ben C says:

09:57am | 17/01/12

Haha, love it ibast.

jay-ded says:

11:12am | 17/01/12

I must still be asleep.  I only just got the joke now. 

Simonious says:

09:09am | 17/01/12

They should not be allowed to call themselves “Service” stations any longer.The only service they provide is suggesting upsells like “you can get 2 for $5”

Ben C says:

09:58am | 17/01/12

@ Simonious

And most of them don’t have car servicing facilities either.

jf says:

01:43pm | 17/01/12

There are some who still provide full service.

Most however do provide fuel at a lower cost than it would otherwise be for self-service.

You have a choice.

jay-ded says:

08:56am | 17/01/12

I don’t understand that at all.  She knew he was a smoker prior to the engagement, so why go for the “It’s either the smokes or me” routine.

I’m with you thatmosis.  Tell her to get stuffed.

Simonious says:

09:15am | 17/01/12

That is some sound advice. Any women that wants to change you is not the women you want to marry. To be honest it works both ways. If you cant love a person the way they are find another to love that you dont need to change anything.

LJ Dots says:

04:55pm | 17/01/12

Alternative ultimatum: If she gives up Facebook, the deal is on.

patsy says:

10:25am | 17/01/12

I won’t be geting the app because the lord put me on this earth with so many things to achieve and at the rate I’m going I’ll NEVER die!

TChong says:

10:28am | 17/01/12

and none of rAbbotts usual defenders seem to want to comment.
Strange , indeed.

patsy says:

11:02am | 17/01/12

Speedos, surf club membership, surf wax, sunblock, tyres for the racing bike all promoting a healthy life to the electorate. It all adds up you know.

TimB says:

11:07am | 17/01/12

Missing 600K?

Methinks you didn’t understand the story.

jf says:

01:40pm | 17/01/12

Missing? Better get the police onto him as well as all those ALP members with “missing” $$. Or perhaps like Abbott they have a good reason for not yet providing details.

TimB says:

09:29am | 17/01/12

Hmm should I pay to read Albanese’s dribble?

Nah. Don’t think so.

nossy says:

09:39am | 17/01/12

@TimB heh heh its FREE Timmy - not all articles are behind the new Paywall. I subscribe now anyway at the princely sum of $2.95 per week - some excellent reads in the Aussie.

nossy says:

09:42am | 17/01/12

@TimB - apologies Tim it is a pay article - I didnt realise I was logged in - I should not have posted a Paywall article folks - apologies.

Erick says:

10:03am | 17/01/12

@TimB - Just the other day, I didn’t pay money to read Adele Horin’s drivel.

It’s a good feeling. Empowering.

Ben C says:

10:34am | 17/01/12

@ nossy

If his performance at last years ALP Conference is anything to go by, no thanks - not even if it was for free. Never before have I seen or heard anything so vitriolic, disrespectful and in denial.

(Will post links to his rant during Conference when I can find it.)

Anubis says:

10:47am | 17/01/12

Albanese - the minister of no consequence. If Albanese’s mob want to put forward decent legislative reform then Abbott would support it, but the crappy brain-fart policies they put forward deserve nothing but contempt. As for your tag of Dr No for Tones, well nossy that was discredited yesterday with the reality being shown that Tones has said no to just 13% of Joolya’s legislation.

SimonFromLakemba says:

10:51am | 17/01/12

@Ben C

“Never before have I seen or heard anything so vitriolic, disrespectful and in denial”

Never heard Howard speak in the 80s RE: Immigration and the war in the 2000s?

Twister says:

11:43am | 17/01/12

Now if only they would put the Telegraph behind a paywall or at least in the same vault you would put a virus.
.

Ben C says:

12:00pm | 17/01/12

@ SimonFromLakemba

Albanese was absolutely ripping into the Coalition, denigrating the work they did while in office, as if to wipe it from history.

That’s not to say that Johnny wasn’t vitriolic, disrespectful or in denial, but he was not on Albanese’s level.

SimonFromLakemba says:

12:20pm | 17/01/12

Id rather take a blow hard who has no real say in Government than the Prime Minister using subjective language.

Ben C says:

12:38pm | 17/01/12

@ SimonFromLakemba

Hmmm, Minister for Transport, member of Cabinet, Chief of Business in the House of Representatives (I think that’s the title).

Actually, come to think of it, you’re correct, it’s really Gillard running the show. What is it about our current political leaders standing front and centre of everything as if they are the only ones doing any work?

Speaking of subjective language, Gillard isn’t averse to using some herself, difference between her and Albo being that she is a smidgen more subtle about it.

SimonFromLakemba says:

02:06pm | 17/01/12

@BenC

No idea mate. They stand at the front when credit is to be taken, and at the back when they are putting a minister out to dry!

Tim says:

11:09am | 17/01/12

Yes,
lets make up a tax that reduces the competitiveness of our country and is overtly protectionist.

Hmmm, sounds like something those evil union bosses would suggest.

RyaN’s gone to the dark side.

RyaN says:

11:14am | 17/01/12

@Tim: Not at all Tim, how exactly with this reduce our competitiveness?
Besides that, these laws exist for physical product today, how is it that this doesn’t reduce our competitiveness?

No unionist here mate, just proudly Australian and can see the infection that is globalisation being touted as a “good” thing which in reality is nothing more than a leftist redistribution of wealth scheme.

Shane From Melbourne says:

11:33am | 17/01/12

+1 agree with RyaN

holden says:

11:49am | 17/01/12

And so you should give your thoughts away. That’s about the right value.
And what type of idiot says, “I am giving this stuff away”, and then adds, “for free”.?
Your whole childish rant is boringly flawed, RyaN boy.
Correct weight Tim.

Tim says:

11:53am | 17/01/12

Globalisation is a leftist wealth redistribution scheme?

Now I have heard it all.

Ryan, if we put in a tax like you suggest then the costs for Australian companies will go up, making us less competitive compared to countries that don’t have such restrictions. We should be using comparitive advantage and not installing protectionist policies to our economy.

Ryan, next thing you’ll be protesting at G20 meetings and trying to Occupy something.

RyaN says:

01:05pm | 17/01/12

@holden: “Your whole childish rant is boringly flawed” yes holden and you have yet to actually contribute anything other than. Your post is case and point.

RyaN says:

01:11pm | 17/01/12

@Tim: Sure costs to businesses will go up, just like costs to consumers have long since gone up due to import duties. Its the very same thing.

Must be that I have turned to the dark side Tim, I hate whaling and off-shoring of Australian jobs, must be a rabid lefty now. Better go have a good talk with myself in the mirror.

jay-ded says:

09:48am | 17/01/12

Congrats Fezzbo

Buy a good set of headphones.

nossy says:

10:00am | 17/01/12

@Fezzbo   congrats Fezzbo

RyaN says:

10:19am | 17/01/12

Congratulations! Thats awesome news.

First rule, never read those baby books.
Second rule, never ever read those stupid baby books.

If you don’t want paranoia and the stupidest ideas from academics who have never had kids then stay away from those crappy books.
You are built to be parents, feed them, love them, discipline them, teach them the way you know instinctively inside.

Ben C says:

10:46am | 17/01/12

Congratulations Fezzbo, and I second RyaN’s suggestion - do what comes naturally to you, not what some book has told you. These “parenting experts” don’t seem to understand that a one-size-fits-all approach never works with children.

patsy says:

10:57am | 17/01/12

Congrats. I’m excited for you both. May you be lucky and get a quiet baby. I couldn’t wait for mine to wake up so I could play with him. A relaxed parent means a relaxed baby. Don’t feel like you have to take every one’s advice. Trust that you know best becuase you know your baby best. Heed the advice of your mums but, no your grandmothers. My second son had colic and my nan told me to put scotch in his bottle!

Elphaba says:

11:44am | 17/01/12

Make sure you and your partner palm the bub off to a babysitter on a semi-regular basis and still have date night.  It’s very important for your relationship to have an adult night.

Congrats.

TChong says:

01:11pm | 17/01/12

best wishes for you all
have to agree with RyaN and and BenC.
all the babies books are contradictory , and mostly worthless.
Patience and complete confidence with/ for / in your partner will see yous thru any crisis

Blind Freddy says:

01:15pm | 17/01/12

Ignore RyaN, and have a read of Stephen Biddulph’s book Secret of Happy Children a must read for all new parents.

Micky G says:

02:36pm | 17/01/12

Good one Fezzbo, I raised my kids from the ages of 1 and 3 as a single father so my advice would be:-
* expose them to noises early on; vaccuum, radio, music, laughter. I vacuumed the living room while the new born baby lay and watched. She got used to the noise and got to the point where she could fall asleep in a bowling alley.
* Let other people (e.g. Grandma, Aunty) put her to bed occasionally. I babysat my toddler niece one night and she screamed until mum came home because she had never ever been put to bed by anyone else.
* Try your best to relax. Have you seen the standard of some parents out there. If they can raise kids, then your average Puncher should have no trouble.
* Encourage the baby to adjust to the world. There is no point in trying to adjust the world to keep the baby happy. Better for her to learn adapting skills early on. My brother didn’t go out to dinner for 2 years because his daughter had to be in bed at 7pm. Take the baby with you when you go out. Sometimes bed time gets delayed, but thats life.
* Laugh and take lots of photos and enjoy every minute. They grow so quickly.
Good luck mate, Im sure you’ll do fine

jay-ded says:

03:04pm | 17/01/12

I’ll add to MickyG’s good list.

* Make sure the baby has a routine and stick to that routine as much as possible.  Kids need to know when and where something is going to happen. (Makes it easier to get some sleep too.)

Nurses use to tell me let the baby demand feed.  I.e. only feed the baby when it’s hungry.  I say to this “bullshit”.  You tell the child when you’re going to feed it and keep to a strict time table.  The bubs will fall into line real quick.  My 1st child was a real pain because I let him demand feed.  The twins on the other hand, had a strict routine as to when they were fed and they were the best - until they started walking!

Shane From Melbourne says:

10:07am | 17/01/12

Interesting Blog. Still comes down one of two things- the PIGS get kicked out of the Eurozone or the ECB issues Bonds. Neither seems likely.

TheRealDave says:

10:23am | 17/01/12

Queue another News Limited ‘story’ about the perils of legal gun ownership…..despite the fact that legal gun owners aren’t the ones shooting up the place and people…..

RyaN says:

10:41am | 17/01/12

@TheRealDave: The more worrying thing is the police been given powers to force people to talk. The right to remain silent is exactly that, so you don’t endanger yourself or your family nor say something to incriminate yourself for something you didn’t do.
More erosion of our rights, worse still to the largest gang in Australia who clearly cannot be trusted and often are engaged in criminal activity themselves.

TimB says:

10:55am | 17/01/12

I’ve lived in Western Sydney all my life. Bankstown. Granville.

I have yet to bear witness to a shooting or even been close enough to hear gunshots. Whils there can be no doubt that the shootings are bad and should be stopped, it’s hardly as if the entire populace is cowering every night in fear.

It may have something to do with the fact that most of the shootings, and thus the targets, are connected with criminal gangs. If you’re not associated with such things, then the risk factor of being involved in such a shooting dwindles considerably.

The impact on my life, and I suspect on that of 99.9% of my fellow residents is zero.

SammyS says:

11:46am | 17/01/12

TimB
Likes his crime the way he likes his climate change.
If I don’t notice nothing, then it ain’t happening.

Try getting out of West Sydney one day. you’d be surprised what is out there.

TimB says:

11:59am | 17/01/12

Sammy, did I say it wasn’t happening? No.

What I said was, it isn’t affecting the lives of most Western Sydney residents. Thus explaining to Bill why most people have no problems with living here.

And tell me, what exactly am I supposed to find outside of Western Sydney? I travel outside it nearly every day. Perhaps I missed whatever nebulous thing you’re referring to.

Ben C says:

12:06pm | 17/01/12

@ SammyS

You’re obviously not from Sydney. If you are, you really should know that the shootings are actually happening in and around TimB’s area.

SimonFromLakemba says:

12:24pm | 17/01/12

@Sammy

With TimB and BenC on this one.

Whats happening at the moment is feuding between a few Middle Eastern families over drugs, won’t be too long before it gets sorted out.

As TimB points out, unless you are a crook the chances of you getting hurt are very slim.

jay-ded says:

10:31am | 17/01/12

Oh good.  I could then legally pee on a tree.

Hartz says:

01:53pm | 17/01/12

Bloody oath - Just too add one more : How about we crush the rampant Political Correctness that is sweeping through society because the stinky left wing University crowd and the media think they know all of the answers… This PC bull has virtually destroyed British society and is doing the same damage in the US and we are eagerly following them down the same track…. Personal choices have consequences - I don’t care if you had a bad childhood, you raped someone… Your choice, therefore the consequence is Life in Gaol (at least…) No tree hugging left wingers giving you cuddles and defending you because you were molested as a kid… Actually we could take some of these stupid PC crowd and force them to get out and see what life is actually like outside of the inner city suburbs and see if they come back with the same opinions… Stupid people with their morally superior opinions which they inherited from some hippy on a protest line or over heard at an art gallery while they were sipping expensive champagne…

Blind Freddy says:

03:14pm | 17/01/12

@Hartz

Thanks for the laughs. Just think some people believe that rubbish.

thatmosis says:

07:15pm | 17/01/12

I think you should add conscription for everybody at the age of 18, male, female or whatever. Those that are conscentious objectors should have their benefits taken away and used as target practice.

SimonFromLakemba says:

10:55am | 17/01/12

But the rights fan boy Bolt thinks the Policemen have no rights etc. Apparently if they have a beard they cant do their job.

Its more to do with displaying a professional image. Wonder if they will bring in height regulations and weights restrictions now?

=.=

TimB says:

11:04am | 17/01/12

“Mattingly! I thought I told you to trim those sideburns”

http://wiffle.reinovate.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/03334-010-0110005-02497.jpg

RyaN says:

11:44am | 17/01/12

I agree with SimonFromLakemba on this, this is an excercise in trying to restore the faith of the public in the police service. There have been an untold number of police have drawn recent publicity for everything from beating up their wives, rape, shooting at a full car carrying a pregnant woman, lighting bushfires, illegal supply of firearms, illegal supply of drugs, the list is quite long.

As far as Victoria Police are concerned, I would say they are in damage control after this was revealed: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/police-crimes-revealed-in-foi/story-fn7x8me2-1226051808452

jay-ded says:

11:45am | 17/01/12

Wonder what would happen if the copper was bald?

“I’m sorry Sir, your bald head does not display a professional image.  You will have to buy a wig.”

AFR says:

12:42pm | 17/01/12

So, the public will amazingly start respecting the Police for their professionalism courtesy of Gilette. Did anybody stop to think how ridiculous that is?

RyaN says:

01:18pm | 17/01/12

@AFR: I think its a start, a run down dump of a house looks a lot better if it gets a lick of paint. The fact that it’s still a run down dump doesn’t appear to matter.

RyaN says:

12:05pm | 17/01/12

Maybe you will get lucky and they pulling another one of these publicity stunts. http://exchange.telstra.com.au/2011/04/11/telstra-ceo-and-leadership-team-take-customer-calls/

Either that or just email him at (and this is a total guess but worth a shot) David.Thodey@telstra.com.au

Jamin says:

03:05pm | 17/01/12

Tell them you will take your complaint to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.  I did that at the start of last year to Telstra and they repaid me all I asked for as quick as they could. 

Also the people I spoke to in the Telstra complaints department were always Australian based, so keep trying them.

thatmosis says:

07:38pm | 17/01/12

I always ask the name of the person I am speaking to and ask them to spell it. When they ask why I tell them that I wouldnt want to get their name wrong when I complain that whatever I am calling about doesnt happen. Its amazing how quickly you either get to speak to a real Australian or get whatever you are ringing about fixed immediately, works a treat and scares the shit out of the call centre people.

Erick says:

12:54pm | 17/01/12

While we’re at it, I’d like to see Tory’s evidence for this claim, specifically the last sentence:

“Men’s outcomes in some areas really are poor. Male suicide rates are three to four times higher, their life expectancy is lower. Girls often out-perform boys at school. Males are more likely to be incarcerated, more likely to be addicted.

“But these genuine issues are not the ones that concern the new breed of men’s activists.”

It would also be helpful if she named the people she was talking about (Internet handles will do), just so we know to whom these statements are meant to apply.

Ben C says:

03:33pm | 17/01/12

@ jay-ded

The silence from fairs is ominous. I hope that if she did get the job, she didn’t have to start it today.

nossy says:

05:08pm | 17/01/12

Looks like no one has heard from fairs - well we shall take the silence as good news rather than bad - I think she dearly wants a more rewarding job.

nihonin says:

04:10pm | 17/01/12

So plenty more laughs coming our way nossy, happy to read, you are in good health.

Fezzbo says:

04:19pm | 17/01/12

Glad to hear you’re well nossy. No problem, no finger. Small problem, small finger. Big problem…?

Ben C says:

04:33pm | 17/01/12

Good advice nossy, us men definitely should get ourselves checked out more often. Good to see that you managed to throw Tony Abbott into the mix as well, albeit in admiration of his fitness