Punch on: Open thread 29/02/2012

Ben C says:

01:45pm | 29/02/12

2:45 pm and they still haven’t fixed it.

Kerryn says:

02:33pm | 29/02/12

How embarrassing.

Ben C says:

03:48pm | 29/02/12

Groundhog Day, Daniel?

Mahhrat says:

06:49am | 29/02/12

Reddit’s usually good for this kind of thing.

The trouble with Australian management is the widely held misconception that just because someone is a good engineer/ medic/ admin/ accountant/ baker, that they would naturally be a good leader of same.  I feel this originated from the notion of apprenticeships, where you are the student learning from the master blacksmith.

Of course, management of larger groups of people is a unique and highly specialised set of skills.  Australia has this knack though - and this really describes the public service to a tee - of promoting people to the level they are no longer their most effective, yet we lack the organisational courage to admit this and reverse the decision.

Erick says:

07:28am | 29/02/12

@Mahhrat - “The trouble with Australian management is the widely held misconception that just because someone is a good engineer/ medic/ admin/ accountant/ baker, that they would naturally be a good leader of same.”

I’ve noticed this, especially in the bad old days when I worked at the ABC. Top broadcasters became top managers, thus lowering the quality of both management and broadcasting.

jay-ded says:

07:54am | 29/02/12

@Mahhrat.  Too true Mahhrat!  Government employees that are not liked or wanted or can’t do their job because they’re total morons, are moved from section to section.  Once they’ve done the rounds they then get promoted.  These promotions are not based on logic or common sense.

SimonFromLakemba says:

08:11am | 29/02/12

I think it’s a slippery slope when people can report on other people in an open forum, especially bosses who at times have to make hard decisions that aren’t popular.

On the flip-side I don’t think workers would appreciate being named by their bosses if they had an unfavourable view of them.

Tim says:

08:28am | 29/02/12

Mahhrat,
I prefer that to the alternative where we have people who are supposedly good managers but have NFI about technical matters.

You always have to explain things multiple times to them and most of the time they still don’t get it and make crappy decisions as a result.

Mahhrat says:

08:41am | 29/02/12

@Tim:  I agree with that, but at least there is a solution there - technical consultancy-style positions who have the role of informing management on the technical side of the issue.

We have that role here, and when it’s used properly is really effective.  Certainly, having technical background is a really good thing and should be an essential requirement, but by there is a great need for good management first.  After all, a feature of a good manager is their ability to listen to their people and decide based upon that.

The risk you rightly point out is more insidious when management won’t listen, which is a function of bad management, not bad advice.  I’ve known people who will fly in the face of policy, things they’ve already done, and popular advice, after listening to AND AGREEING WITH all the points raised.  Literally seen it happen.  Watched them agree with everything said for an hour, talked of adopting points of view, thanked everyone for their input and then just done what they wanted anyway.  The first time I saw it, I was literally so stunned I couldn’t actually say anything - and for me, that’s pretty rare.

Mahhrat says:

08:41am | 29/02/12

@Tim:  I agree with that, but at least there is a solution there - technical consultancy-style positions who have the role of informing management on the technical side of the issue.

We have that role here, and when it’s used properly is really effective.  Certainly, having technical background is a really good thing and should be an essential requirement, but by there is a great need for good management first.  After all, a feature of a good manager is their ability to listen to their people and decide based upon that.

The risk you rightly point out is more insidious when management won’t listen, which is a function of bad management, not bad advice.  I’ve known people who will fly in the face of policy, things they’ve already done, and popular advice, after listening to AND AGREEING WITH all the points raised.  Literally seen it happen.  Watched them agree with everything said for an hour, talked of adopting points of view, thanked everyone for their input and then just done what they wanted anyway.  The first time I saw it, I was literally so stunned I couldn’t actually say anything - and for me, that’s pretty rare.

Ian Sanderson says:

09:17am | 29/02/12

The Peter Principle - In any organisation a particular person will rise to their level of incompetence.

The Peter Corollary - Every organisation is run by people who are incapable of doing their job properly, except for a few people who have not reached their level of incompetence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle

SimonFromLakemba says:

08:14am | 29/02/12

Unreal wasn’t it. 650odd runs and India got them in like 35 overs?

Australia will be no match for India when they get going.

Mahhrat says:

08:43am | 29/02/12

Mate my only regret was that India didn’t get to finish their overs - would have loved to see how much they’d score…we were online for a record, I think.

And in my home town!!  Shame so few Hobartians turned up, but it was cold outside and nobody would have dared predict that result.

gobsmack says:

08:46am | 29/02/12

I still think Sri Lanka deserves to play in the finals.

Knemon says:

09:35am | 29/02/12

@ gobsmack - “I still think Sri Lanka deserves to play in the finals”

I agree but who would Australia rather play? Friday’s final preliminary game between Australia and Sri Lanka could answer that!!

TimB says:

07:35am | 29/02/12

I’ll confess I had to Google this one ZSRenn- Given your location, am I correct in assuming you refer to Nixon signing the Shanghai Communiqué?

And no, I haven’t seen anything about this in the media- If I had I wouldn’t have needed to Google it

ZSRenn says:

09:26am | 29/02/12

@TimB Thanks for your honesty. For mine this was one of the most momentous occasions in my life time.

It changed the face of the world.
It changed China.
It opened up trade’
It allowed dialogue on Taiwan for the first time
it started real dialogue on reduction of nuclear weapons
It was the beginning of the end of the cold war.
It put pictures of China in our homes for the first time in 20 years

Yet as suspected the Australian press and (qualified as I haven’t seen it there also) the US press have completely ignored it.

Why?

Is Nixon so maligned, because of Watergate, that even his achievements are to be buried in history?

Was the AU press so wrapped up in the bullshit of our failed government it forgot?

Is our press so young or so shit house in their job they can’t remember such events?

Is peace a loser in newspaper sales and doesn’t even get a mention?

Finally is it because the western press is so against giving China a fair shake that they will not publish any positive news stories about it.

LINKS

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1877.html

http://www.china.org.cn/english/FR/27217.htm

nossy says:

09:47am | 29/02/12

@ZSRenn most significant event ZR - however dont forget Gough Whitlam beat Nixon into China.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/whitlam-turned-focus-on-to-asia/2005/11/10/1131578173705.html

the_pseudonym says:

12:21pm | 29/02/12

Was the Whitlam government putting out an financial SOS there as well?

John F says:

07:33am | 29/02/12

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/michele-irsigler-not-guilty-of-husbands-murder/story-e6freoof-1226284260306

TheRealDave says:

09:52am | 29/02/12

I read this one yesterday and had to scratch my head over several things:

1) She burns his body because ‘she was convinced no-one would accept her abuse and self defence story’ - yet a jury of ‘her peers’ did accept her abuse and self defense story…..
2) She and her accomplices wrapped up his body and drove it out to a property and put him on a ‘pre-prepared stack of timber’ to then burn his body….‘pre-prepared’ ?? As in everythign was orgqanised between her and her accomplices well before hand…and yet somehow this is not pre-meditated??
3) She ends up shacked up with the same bloke who helped her dispose of the body and had already made the stack of timber ready to burn the body before the killing!

Ummm….Double U, Tee Eff??

This is almost as farcicle as the Sunshine Coast shiela who got away with murder last year.

John F says:

11:45am | 29/02/12

You forgot to add (the realdave) that after her 3 days as a hostage she left the house with the “intention of going to the police to report him, instead she returned to the house and shot him !
If she was treated so badly by her husband you would also sumise that he was controling of her comings and goings, how did she get the freedom to make relationships with these 2 other men ? This is just the same as the Sunshine coast woman. My own ex will tell you that I was a abuse partner (she was able to convince everyone she knows) yet I’m not ! Like the Sunshine Coast woman who poisoned, shot her husband twice and had 2 men help her dispose of the body this smells !

Bazza says:

07:44am | 29/02/12

The public wrongly thought Rudd would win back the leadership and were prepared to give Labor a bounce. Watch the next lot of polls

TimB says:

07:45am | 29/02/12

Hey Adam, welcome back.

The prevailing thought is that the latest Newspoll might be A) a rogue, or B) a result of wishful think from Labor voters assuming Kevin would be leading.

The later Essential poll painted a far bleaker picture. But I guess we;‘ll find out for sure when the next one hits.

I honestly don’t think there’s much more Tony can do right now except keep the Liberals on course whilst the ALP slowly sinks. He can release some more detailed policy closer to the election of course ( to do so now would be counter-productive).

But for the most part he just has to sit back and let the ALP do most of the work for him.

In terms of his personal ratings though, I reckon it isn’t going to go much higher than it is whilst he remains in Opposition. The nature of the job means he needs to be antagonistic and that counts against him in the eyes of many. Any further raises will only come at the expense of Julia’s falling popularity.

But I believe that once voters get to see Tony’s performance in the PM chair, that’s when we’ll see a more clearer picture of what the electorate thinks of him- for better or worse.

old fart says:

07:50am | 29/02/12

He could do a Kevin, and then challenge himself.  he has done everything else in front of the cameras. So he could give being a leader of a party a go

subotic says:

08:09am | 29/02/12

I used to say that the Libs are on the inside what Labor is on the outside; but these days they have both blurred the line of “We Are Dicks” beyond repair.

I haven’t ever voted (choosing to exercise my constitutional rights as a conscientious objector) and really can’t see any reason to start now.

It’s not even if there’s a “choice” per se.

Australian politicians are total tossers and have lost the support of their own party and the Australian people.

Job well done, dickwads….

Mahhrat says:

08:10am | 29/02/12

Present an alternative government instead of a bobble-head doll that only goes side to side?

Tim says:

08:15am | 29/02/12

TimB,
although you’re correct is that what you really want to happen?

The Libs to slide into office on the back of a completely hopeless ALP and not on their own merits and policies?

As Lib fans like saying everytime the ALP get praise for the economy:

The Libs are currently the turd sitting at the top of the toilet bowl.

SimonFromLakemba says:

08:29am | 29/02/12

@Adam

I have been singing the same tune on here for a while now. Abbott is just unliked, when you hear him talk, explain things etc he just comes across as strange. He is the male version of Gillard. Not much of the Australian public is concerned about politics to delve deep into policy issues so all the majority see are the 30 second clips on the news which all Abbott is doing is saying ” argh incompetent Government, argh election ” same old sh*t, different day.

No one knows of the Liberal policies because they haven’t released anything, and I don’t mean the same old washed up policies that he had in 2010 that he was beaten with. His own MPs are now questioning him, since he wants this election so badly it would help to have something to vote for, except for voting against Labor.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/coalition-in-a-froth-over-milk-20120228-1u13a.html

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/liberal-calls-for-policy-debate-as-coalition-mps-clash-over-funding-priorities-20120229-1u1q6.html

In all honesty his personal opinion ratings should be in the 60s given the current Government and current leader, but he’s floundering.

The election should be interesting because he is going to have some tough issues to combat.

* Carbon Tax - How is he going to repeal it? And not a DD, he will have to explain what he intends to do.

* Mining Tax - Will he give up the extra money that its bringing in? will his overloads ( Palmer, Rinehart ) tell him what the policy should be?

* Paid Parental Scheme - A tax on Business to pay for it, thought the Libs were against tax’s? Not sure how well that is going to go down with big business

* NBN/Broadband policy - His policy is a dud and the majority want the NBN, it will get torn apart come election time

* Finance - Hockey, Robb and Joyce. How will he keep them under control? They stuffed the last election for him

The only few things he has going for him are:

* He isn’t Labor
* The Governments incompetence
* The leadership sh*t fight
* Being a part of the previous Liberal Government

SLF says:

08:35am | 29/02/12

The increase in Labor’s polling was probably more down to the fact that they were given the media oxygen over the last few weeks, which always increases recall especially if potential voters thought Krudd was coming back.

The Libs have been pretty smart to steer well clear of things and just let Labor self destruct and hand them bucket loads of ammunition for any future election campaigns.

Sometimes saying nothing is Tony’s best weapon. Predict that any Labor bounce will disappear fairly quickly.

gobsmack says:

08:50am | 29/02/12

Resign and join a monastery.

Adam Diver says:

09:17am | 29/02/12

Its an interesting thought none the less. I admit when he first won the leadership I was less then enthralled, but as I learnt more about him I liked him more.

People less inclined to follow politics like myself, just don’t like him outright and from personal experience it stems primarily from that RU486 (guessing) debate. He was painted as a religious conservative nut and been unable to shake that tag, although the MSM have been awfully good at perpetuating the character.

He is fit, intelligent, witty, incredibly charitable, more progressive than you would assume (I would like to see stronger conservatism), but I can’t see how he can possibly change the public mindset. As everyone knows on this site, people make up there minds quickly than look for confirmation thereafter.

Even looking at this thread, normally interesting posters such as Mahhrat provide completely stupid and baseless idiocy such as

“Present an alternative government instead of a bobble-head doll that only goes side to side?”

My personal thoughts is to present a strong conservative set of policies, winning 40% of the vote (the conservatives) and continue to point out the hopelessness of the current government winning 15% of the swinging voters. You won’t win all swinging voters and the other 30% will vote Labor even if they introduced a policy to kill your first-born. My biggest fear is for conservatives to pander to these idealogues, because they will never vote for them anyway, and policies get watered down with the politics.

iansand says:

09:21am | 29/02/12

At the moment, Abbott’s government will be similar to Fraser’s.  Fraser got there because of a huge backlash against Whitlam, and did not know what to do once he got there.  Fraser’s government was not a high point in the history of Liberal governance.

ZSRenn says:

09:52am | 29/02/12

I guess it has been a while Adam as it must be impossible to defend the worst government in Australian history and boring to try and detract from its failures by always trying to denounce TA.

Nice to see you come back with your mate Simon and try to grab at some straws. Good luck with that but the only thing that is going to stop TA being the next AU PM is the end of the world.

Labor is a laughing stock here and in the eyes of the rest of the world and it has brought Australia’s standing down with it.

More wasted money trying to get a security council seat. The world would not let us look after their spare keys let alone give us a seat of such importance after this mess.

TimB says:

02:49pm | 29/02/12

@ Tim

“Is that what you really want to happen?

The Libs to slide into office on the back of a completely hopeless ALP and not on their own merits and policies?”

Ideally it’ll be a combination of both Tim

I’m trying to understand why everyone is screaming for policy details now, when traditionally policy is generally only announced by oppositions in the direct lead-up to the election. And yes I know that with the hung parliament we could be facing an election any time- But theres still going to be at least a month of campaining in there, the same as any other election. It’s not like we’ll all have to vote tomorrow if the government suddenly falls.

In the meantime the basic policy stance- (Which we’re all aware of as SImon proves below) should suffice.

@ Simon

” I have been singing the same tune on here for a while now. Abbott is just unliked, when you hear him talk, explain things etc he just comes across as strange. He is the male version of Gillard. Not much of the Australian public is concerned about politics to delve deep into policy issues so all the majority see are the 30 second clips on the news which all Abbott is doing is saying ” argh incompetent Government, argh election ” same old sh*t, different day. “

To be fair Simon, the government gifts him those lines. He’d be stupid not to hammer home the governments woes. But you’re right in that this is basically all the goverment sees (in addition to constant sliming from the leftist elelements of the media). He can’t build much of an alternative image without specific policy details, which is not the best move at this stage of the election cycle

As I said, oppositions generally don’t release such stuff at this point in the cycle, purely because the Government will pinch the best bits, and trash the others.
In theory this (should) provide better policy outcomes for the country. But unfortunately with adversarial politics being what it is, it makes little strategic sense for an opposition to blow it’s load early from a purely strategic viewpoint. I’m not saying it’s right, and both sides are guilty of it, but it is the reality of our system unfortunately.

” Carbon Tax - How is he going to repeal it? And not a DD, he will have to explain what he intends to do.”

I’ve actually asked him this question directly myself. (On that Tele blog he participates in sometimes). I didn’t get much of an answer unfortunately. Many of us have assumed that it would be a simple case of lowering the cost of the permits to zero and phasing them out.

But worst case scenario is obviously a DD election to repeal it completely ASAP.

“Mining Tax - Will he give up the extra money that its bringing in?”

We never had the money in the first place so this is a silly question to ask IMO.  Labor could come up with a policy to tax everyone 80% of their income, you wouldn’t expect Tony to explain what he would do without *that* money if he (rightly) scrapped such a silly idea.

“* Paid Parental Scheme - A tax on Business to pay for it, thought the Libs were against tax’s? Not sure how well that is going to go down with big business”

This is a dumb idea and should be scrapped IMO. I fully back Tony’s opponents on this one. No paid parental leave, period. That goes for Labor too. Both sides should scrap their policies. At the very least scrap the baby bonus if this goes ahead. Parents have it way too easy with all the cash being thrown at them.

“* NBN/Broadband policy - His policy is a dud and the majority want the NBN, it will get torn apart come election time”

I’m not against the idea of a decent internet network. But I think Labor have chosen the most ridiculously expensive and inflexible way to go about it. Private enterprise to build the more lucrative ‘profitable’ sections (ie. capital cities etc), then the government just needs to step in to provide the remainder. I belive this was pretty close to what the Coalition was offering last time and I honestly don’t see the issue with the plan.

“* Finance - Hockey, Robb and Joyce. How will he keep them under control? They stuffed the last election for him”

Do you refer to the infamous ‘black hole’? Proven again and again to be a myth. But the $11 Billion figure makes for a nice scary headline. So it persists.

“The only few things he has going for him are:”

An extra one to add to that list- Labor’s crappy policies. 

The carbon tax being the headliner. That more than anything has killed Labor. Dimwitted moves like means testing Private Health won’t help either. The electorate isn’t happy.

PS ZSRenn, I’m pretty sure Adam counts himself in the Liberal column, I’ve *never* seen him try to defend Labor .

Ally says:

08:46am | 29/02/12

I’d have to disagree re The Artist. I was so pleased that it won. I’d managed to see six out of the nine best picture nominees and it was by far my favourite. It was funny, moving and beautifully done.

I thought George Clooney was great in The Descendents, but Jean Dujardin was just superb. He’s also well worth checking out in his OSS 117 movies.

Critic says:

09:11am | 29/02/12

The Artist was ok I guess. certainly not an Oscar winner of a picture.
Poor year for films I guess.
Descendants? What is this fascination with Clooney? He is average at best.
My favourites were Hugo followed by Moneyball.

Erick says:

09:15am | 29/02/12

@Stiffy - “Reports are comments were made on VC winner Ben Roberts-Smith of he’s probably diving down in the pool to look for his brain and that he is a ‘dud root’ (he is an IVF donor).”

This is utterly disgraceful if true.

Can anyone confirm it?

James1 says:

09:35am | 29/02/12

News.com can, Erick.

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/yumis-in-strife-over-disrespectful-comments-about-ben-roberts-smith/story-e6frfmyi-1226284734832

Zeta says:

09:38am | 29/02/12

Since Yumi Stynes dates hipster pantywaists like that freak from Regurgitator I can understand why she should wouldn’t know anything about an Australian national hero / war god like Ben Roberts-Smith.

TheRealDave says:

10:07am | 29/02/12

Confirmed - all over the press right now

George, I used to respect you as a quality journo - the ‘last of your kind’ so to speak. Not any more George. A lifetime of work and respect - gone. Just like that. All because of an atrocioulsy stupid comment. My little brother is currently serving in Afghanistan - his 4th Infantry combat deployment and 2nd theatre of war. He and his missus are just like many other Australian couples - they’d love to have kids. And like plenty of other couples they are having great difficulty doing this. So far he has been able to save the money from previous overseas combat deployments in the past 7 years to go through the IVF process. Sadly after 5 or 6 goes they are still trying. So George, to you I say a sincere heartfelt ‘Fuck You’ on behalf of every single - not only Digger, but Aussie bloke who is doing everything he can to realise the dream of one day becoming a father.

Its sad how one stupid comment can trash a blokes integrity forever isn’t it George?? Because people will not forget, or forgive, this George.

To that other imbecile who’s name I can’t even be bothered looking up - if only you had an ounce of the intelligence, guts and hard work ethic of Cpl Roberts-Smith you might realise what a complete moron you truly are. I sincerly hope channel 10 fires your arse and you go back to whatever gutter you crawled out of. Being a ‘TV Presenter’ obviously requires your vastly superior intellect I take it??

Aitch B says:

10:15am | 29/02/12

@Erick

It’s true…. I heard the sound clip this morning.

An absolute bloody disgrace!! The chick who said it should be sacked - no apologies, no questions asked… just sacked!!

Aitch B says:

11:30am | 29/02/12

Oops!!

I thought it was Stynes that said the ‘dud root’ bit.

Whoever…. it was shameful.

Erick says:

12:10pm | 29/02/12

Well, that is indeed disgusting.

If Ben Roberts-Smith is in the SAS, he is probably far more intelligent than anyone on “The Circle”. They don’t accept dummies - unlike Channel TEN.

Bev says:

12:22pm | 29/02/12

How soon will feminists leap to her defence claiming she is being picked on by mysogonistic bullies because she is a woman?

Mark G says:

12:32pm | 29/02/12

I would actually suggest that the Circle stop making comments about people who they know nothing about. Perhaps they should invite him to the panel and see how unintelligent he is but I guess that he would probably raise the average intelligence of the circle too high for it to be a successful show on Chanel Ten.

the_pseudonym says:

12:33pm | 29/02/12

If we’re ever invaded, we know who the likes of George and flapping mouths, would expect to protect them.  He has more values in his excrement, than all the hosts on that womens magazine show, Channel 10 should not just remove the hosts, pull the plug on the show instead.

neo says:

12:39pm | 29/02/12

Negus sucks lol.

jay-ded says:

01:14pm | 29/02/12

That was utterly disgraceful.  Both of them should lose their jobs for that. Negus for stating that Ben was a dud root and Stynes for stating that he was diving down to the bottom of the pool to find his brain. 

The only thing they have proved is who the real *duds* are.

Slothy says:

01:41pm | 29/02/12

I agree that the comments were insensitive and hurtful and all involved should be ashamed of themselves. The idea that a man who struggles to have kids is somehow less of a man is just as offensive as the idea that a woman is not really a woman until she bears children.

Because you all seem to understand how inappropriate and disrespecful comments like these are, I assume you were all calling for the heads of Ricky Nixon and Dermott Brereton last week when they were suggesting that a female journalist dared to use facts in her article about Nixon because she couldn’t get a root.

AdamC says:

09:22am | 29/02/12

That evil Fairfax empire stirring up trouble again ...

Knemon says:

09:26am | 29/02/12

@ SimonFromLakemba - This is only the start, as we creep closer to an election we will see more of this back-room brawling from within the Liberal party.

“But Mr Abbott said he was ‘‘welded’’ to the $2.7 billion per year scheme, to be funded by a levy on big business”

I love how the Liberals call a tax “a levy” Howard used to do the same thing, the Howard government introduced six levies in 11 years, for causes such as East Timor, the gun buyback scheme and the collapse of Ansett, all the while he refused to call them taxes, talk about semantics.

A “big new levy” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as “a big new tax”.

Hopefully, now that the ALP have some clean air, and the monkey’s finally off Julia’s back, we may now see more reporting as in the article you linked to. Seeing that the Liberals (and the Nationals) want another election *now*, no doubt they will be able to produce their policies at will; I very much doubt it though, but I do look forward to it!

old fart says:

09:34am | 29/02/12

and yet if the alp bring in a flood levy the libs immediately call it a tax

Knemon says:

10:27am | 29/02/12

@ old fart – Hypocrisy comes to mind.

I probably should have said “clear” air and not “clean” air, a Freudian slip perhaps? As come the 1st July the air will slowly become cleaner and clearer!!

SimonFromLakemba says:

10:45am | 29/02/12

HAHA oh AdamC

I do notice one difference, these sources were named, something News Ltd fails to do my friend

@Knemon

Agree my friend.

AdamC says:

11:29am | 29/02/12

Simon, are you suggesting that Coalition MPs are more honest and up-front than Labor ones? Say it aint so!

SimonFromLakemba says:

12:10pm | 29/02/12

Potentially.

Very rare if you find me saying many positive things about this bunch.

But thanks for agreeing in silence about News Ltd

Crassus says:

12:37pm | 29/02/12

it’s a media beat up, there is nothing happening, all the Labor fanboi’s and girls, should realise, we have a strong, steady and united opposition.  No matter what you, your government or left leaning papers say, the Liberals are a cohesive group…................where have I heard that kind of stuff before?

TheRealDave says:

01:02pm | 29/02/12

No! Labor’s best chance is the Libs keeping the rAbbott onboard. They don’t have a hope with a half credible Lib leader. Keep him right where he is please!

AdamC says:

03:03pm | 29/02/12

Simon, but it wasn’t just News Limited journos being briefed by Rudd’s backers, was it? They all were. And they will be again, if Gillard’s poll numbers don’t improve. Then there will be another fantastical News Limited beat up ... which magically becomes a challenge.

Lil Abner says:

09:03am | 29/02/12

Sadie Hawkins day it is,
Run Tim Run.

stephen says:

09:01pm | 29/02/12

Acotrel is hiding from his missus just in case she wants another kiss, so why don’t you two get together and get married ... and the girls can write up a comedy starring Timbo and Alco, who hid from their wives and now hide from each other ; it’s called The Oddest Couple.

gobsmack says:

09:39am | 29/02/12

They need them for blood sacrifices as Bob Brown’s pact with Satan demands.

Mark G says:

11:48am | 29/02/12

“The lefties want your children.”

Yes because that is their key recruiting ground. Their policies make more sense to young people because young people are easy to motivate towards a crusade and rarely understand the true ramifications of policies mostly because their life experiences have not yet lead them to understand the link between cause and effect. For example axing coal fired power station and replacing them with renewables will increase the amount you pay for energy (at least in the short term) and thats not just the energy companies profiteering. Stopping manufacturing jobs going overseas in industries that are not profitable in Australia will mean that the prices of consumer goods will go up…….

TChong says:

01:18pm | 29/02/12

Mark G
re the younguns lack of life experience etc
“easily motivated towardsa crusade , rarely understand ramifications,  ...cause and effect….”
PRECISELY why militarys, world wide, since societies began, have used the same younguns to man the trenches.
Seems those with a variety of agendas prey on the young ones.

fairsfair says:

09:37am | 29/02/12

Naw thanks Noss!

I love the Punch and the Punchers - always will.

So excited to be rid of this job and these suffocating people and embarking on a new chapter in my life. I am about to do my handover, have my exit interview and then perhaps they will allow me to go at lunchtime as I really have nothing left to occupy me.

I’ll miss you too Nossy and I’ll hit you up for your spare room next time I’m on the GC

TChong says:

10:27am | 29/02/12

FF
Good luck to you.
may your god watch over you, and bring you and your loved ones happiness and health.

Knemon says:

10:44am | 29/02/12

@ fairsfair - Best wishes and I sincerely hope it all works out for you.

TimB says:

11:30am | 29/02/12

Good luck with everything Fairs!

Try to drop in from time to time if you get the chance

ausspud says:

11:30am | 29/02/12

All the best toot’s   wishing you nothing but the best for the future.
(although my stalking shall continue)

fairsfair says:

12:35pm | 29/02/12

Well, you are stuck with me until 5:00pm kids. My exit interview has been pushed back to 4:00pm - good stuff as my comments have now grown to four pages.

Thanks guys. I seriously think my life will be different without the Punch (how dumb does that sound!). I am looking forward to being a better worker and going home feeling proud of my days output. That is something I have missed since 2010. My sh*thouse work life is what forced me to annoy you all to such an extent in the first place - I am confident that I won’t have time to think about anything other than work in my new job and that will be a really good thing.

@ausspud - I wouldn’t have it any other way I may have planned my wedding to Townsville future husband… but I will always carry the image of our little aussfairs. They’d be some good looking kids

Ben C says:

02:01pm | 29/02/12

We’ll miss you fairs, let’s hope that the job is good enough for you to complete work ahead of schedule, allowing you time to visit us remining here on the Punch.

nihonin says:

03:48pm | 29/02/12

All the best for the future FF, won’t be the same without you.  Cheers.

nihonin says:

11:20am | 29/02/12

nossy, Internode seem to have good pricing for the NBN, better than Telstra, if and when it ever makes it to town.

nossy says:

12:14pm | 29/02/12

@nihonin thanks nihonin shall check them out. Ghastly business this NBN - just dont like it at all! Now what version of Linux do you use - I use Ubuntu.

TheRealDave says:

12:59pm | 29/02/12

Internode prices have always been more expensive than the pack. Check out iiNets pricing for a better idea of what you will be looking at paying for the NBN….I’m eyeing off the $99.95 a month for 100/40 and 500/500 of data….and wiping away the drool running off my chin.

Telstras pricing is a complete joke - much like their 3 page NBN proposal. This is what ‘Private Enterprise’ gives you. Forcing you to take a copper connection for voice when the NBN Fibre will do it. Forcing you to take a HFC cable when the NBN Fibre can do it all easily. Not allowing the full pay tv package unless HFC already goes past your house!

Yes, ‘Private Enterprise’ can do it - they jsut don’t want to or want to milk as much profit for minimal service as they can. As they always have.

fairsfair says:

12:26pm | 29/02/12

I am shocked by those comments. I must admit, I didn’t find the Sunday Night interview endearing in anyway - but those comments are just unacceptable.

To call his “manhood” into question because he and his wife underwent IVF to have their twins is just unbelievable. Then, to state the he is brainless becuase he is buff and tattooed?

I honestly don’t believe it.

Negus and Stynes shoudl be ashamed of themselves and I hope the public takes them down. I think it a bit different to Sandilands - even he is not stupid enough to bag a VC recipient.

Crassus says:

01:49pm | 29/02/12

Agree, I had a post and a link not published regarding the same story.  Are we now censored, due to stories and links we post.  So what if they are a minority within a minority, the point proves sexuality doesn’t mean you’re above any body else where it comes to your peccadilloes.

Will this be published or not, Ed?

Knemon says:

02:24pm | 29/02/12

Why’s that M?

SimonFromLakemba says:

02:47pm | 29/02/12

Wont happen!

Fairfax have been trying to being it down with dooms day predictions.

It might drop by about 10% as it did the first time, but it wont collapse.

M says:

03:01pm | 29/02/12

Because I can’t afford to enter the market at the current prices and so I can get a great deal on property and not pay half a million bucks for a shoebox appartment in the inner city. Duh.

M says:

03:10pm | 29/02/12

I’d say fairfax has been trying to prop up the market, not talk it down simon.

As for comments that it won’t happen, a range of overseas experts are predicting it will, hedge funds are predicting it will, economists here are predicting it will.

In the words of Kim Jong Il, It is inerritabur.

SimonFromLakemba says:

03:46pm | 29/02/12

M

Fairfax sit on both sides of the fence, strange mob.

The same people with the same theories because it helps them get noticed.

I’m in Real Estate myself so I have my finger on the pulse day by day and its still OK out there.

The worst is SE QLD, that’s a mess but apart from there its fine. The top end saw a correction of around 10-15% but that was about it.

Its a buyers market right now, you should buy if you can. Buy cheap, don’t buy in a huge development and don’t buy renovated.

I bought in 2008 right in the GFC and I made $110k in a few years, its possible just have to be smart about it.

M says:

04:51pm | 29/02/12

I’m going to wait the 12 to 18 months that’s being touted. I’m seeing stories of auction rates at 50%, vendors knocking 20k - 50k off asking prices just to get a sale, empty properties in melbourne, reduction in the available amount of credit being lent by banks, lack of First home buyers, etc, etc, etc.

I’ll sit it out for a while thanks. No offence, but I’m certainly not going to take any advice from a vested interest.

nihonin says:

02:40pm | 29/02/12

jay-ded, wonder if the TV channel news casts would pick it up, they usually do.  If they have it’ll run tonight and there’ll be the usual glib “oh silly us, well as good Qlders we’ll be paying the fine”.  Ummm no they won’t, we the hapless tax payers will be lumbered with that, I reckon.

TimB says:

02:19pm | 29/02/12

Whilst it’s always nice to see Gillard’s constant evasions highlighted for all to see, Isn’t how Slipper deals with her kind of pointless?

Her objective is to squirm her way out of answering the questions put to her. By turning off her mic and telling her to shut up, he gives her exactly what she wants- an excuse to not answer.

jay-ded says:

02:20pm | 29/02/12

I’m surprised that he didn’t ask her to leave like he did the libs last week…

SimonFromLakemba says:

02:49pm | 29/02/12

Different set of circumstances Jay-ded.

Id say turning off the PMs mic is pretty embarrassing for her.

TimB says:

03:10pm | 29/02/12

Perhaps Simon. But it’d be even more embarrasing for her if she gave a straight answer IMO. Thats why she tries do avoid doing so wherever possible.

jay-ded says:

03:26pm | 29/02/12

You’re kidding me right Simon?  By turning off her mic, she doesn’t have to answer the question.  Not that she was anyway.

SimonFromLakemba says:

03:51pm | 29/02/12

Jay-ded

Name a MP that does answer a question properly in QT? none of them do, it’s a farce as it currently stands.

TimB

As I said to Jay-ded above, she wasnt going to answer it properly anyway, same as any other MP that gets asked a question. To have her mic turned off was a huge slap in the face, and it was for not answering the question with relevance.

Crassus says:

04:23pm | 29/02/12

Once again, the Julia skirts another question;

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/pm-denies-being-pressured-over-bob-carr-foreign-affairs-offer/story-fn59niix-1226285013437

JULIA Gillard has refused to rule out in parliament that she offered the foreign affairs ministry to former NSW premier Bob Carr, despite earlier denying the story outside the chamber.

Mr Speaker says:

06:02pm | 29/02/12

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the opposition ever asked a real question instead of using question time to throw his toys out of the crib?

btw . She answered his question with her first sentence. Read it transcript and be informed.

Knemon says:

06:06pm | 29/02/12

@ Crassus - Seriously, how desperate are the coalition getting? Is this the best they can offer in question time?

I must be getting too old for this; once upon a time, QT was used to question ministers about policy Etc….WTF happened? (That’s a rhetorical question, as we all know the answer!)

nossy says:

05:23pm | 29/02/12

@nihonin yes indeed nihonin - listen to your doctor fella as if you dont well you know what will happen - hope you dont smoke as well?

nihonin says:

09:08pm | 29/02/12

nah nossy, gave them up, maybe I should follow your lead

M says:

03:55pm | 29/02/12

The funniest part of this whole debacle is this quote:

I sort of intimated that maybe he was not very smart because how could you be that buff and spend that much time in the gym and be smart as well.

The Irony, it burns.

iansand says:

03:59pm | 29/02/12

Is it pronounced Yummy (and is she?) or Yoomy

nihonin says:

04:17pm | 29/02/12

Depends if you think she’s attractive as to how you’d pronounce her name, I guess iansand.    But I think it’s actually pronouced yoomi.