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Weekend Punch: Snuggle up to these great reads

The Punch Team

by The Punch Team

07 Jul 05:00am

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The Punch is moving house - this is a caption

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

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

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

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Filed under: Open Thread, Weekend Punch

41 comments

Brrrrrrr! Brrrrrrrrrr! It’s icy outside. Good time to snuggle up with Weekend Punch and some of our best reads from this week. Yeah, we said snuggle.

It's chilly in the Snowy Mountains…

Biggest news of the week was the discovery of the Higgs Boson by CERN scientists at the Large Hadron Collider. Russell Emmerson’s excitement was contagious. A prominent CNN anchor came out - and it wasn’t a big deal, sagely noted Lucy. The student who got 99.95 out of 100 in her uni admissions rank lost her appeal, and Dan said that just like Don Bradman, sometimes getting 99.95 per cent is good enough. And Queensland won the State of Origin for the seventh time.

A firecracker this week was Tory M’s argument that it’s time for a federal inquiry into the Catholic Church - and that the church should embrace it. In politics, Clive Palmer got a kick out of tormenting both sides of politics (and how great is the cartoon in that story?) while Tory S explored changing the politics of the carbon tax. Meanwhile, Anthony Sharwood frolicked in the snow in Canberra and it was delightful.

Happy weekend, Punchers.

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41 comments

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    • acotrel says:

      07:16am | 07/07/12

      Labor supporters now have a big problem - Turnbull is exerting himself, and might get to lead the Libs again.  If that happens the LNP might win and become esconced in power for decades with their dud, callous and uncaring policies.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      08:50am | 07/07/12

      Pfft. Labor’s screwed even with Abbott leading the charge. Actually they’re screwed BECAUSE he’s leading the charge.

      Nelson and Turnbull couldn’t touch Rudd. Abbott comes along and challenges him? Blam. Down goes Rudd, like a sack of potatoes. And Julia’s doing even worse.

      The Coalition has no reason or need to swtch to Turnbull.


      The ALP dumping Gillard on the other hand….Those polls better pick up soon smile

      Gone by Sep/Oct if they don’t.

    • Ginger Mick says:

      09:12am | 07/07/12

      Even bigger worry, having your lot of spendthrift non-performing liars here for another 12 months +.

      The incoming government after the next election is going to be in the same situation as in Qld when the state owed $80 billion and expected to top out about $100 billion before reigned in.

      Federal is now $250 billion in debt and growing fast, before we start we are up for interest bill somewhere around $15 billion per annum.

      We could do a hell of a lot with a spare $15 billion per annum.

      Your opinions are just that. OPINIONS.  Damn sure your opinion is not smiled on by the majority and you could not sell it to save your life. ( oh ! you are entitled to your opinion)

    • JohnW says:

      10:18am | 07/07/12

      Only in your dreams. Turnbull will never lead the Libs again. The only people who like him are ALP voters, and there are not many of those still around.

      Labour supporters are so desperate that their only hope to stay in power beyond next year is to take over the Coalition.

    • Ginger Mick says:

      10:26am | 07/07/12

      Dud policies?

      Non performance of government more like it.

      http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/solar-insights-why-government-has-failed-at-solar-75665

      ” It will go to the 2013 election with not a single panel or heliostat installed from its $1.5 billion Solar Flagships program, despite more than 50 projects worth some $80 billion jostling for a bite of the action when it was first announced in 2009.”

      Cannot organise a party in a pub.  So let’s tax everybody so we can be seen to be doing something.

      What an indictment - what incompetence.

      Bring on the election.

    • Bane says:

      11:10am | 07/07/12

      And of course that decades in power will have nothing to do with terrible Labor policies and all round horrible government. Labor just have better marketing for a much worse product. Same applies for the Greens. Their relative success is based on their ability to appeal as a brand.(In the past anyway-times almost up) Most voters don’t even know how bad their product is.

    • John says:

      01:00pm | 07/07/12

      So that’s why Abbott’s banging on about faceless men again. It didn’t work last time, Tony. I don’t want to give away any state secrets, but having better policies does. That’s why I couldn’t vote for the Coalition even if Turnbull were their leader.

    • Shane says:

      02:31pm | 07/07/12

      First the PM wasn’t going to last a week, then it was a month, then it was until Xmas, then it was until the middle of the year, then it was until Xmas, again, then it was until the middle of the year, again, and now it’s until Sep/Oct, apparently. You’re just not very good at this, are you?

    • Nikraf says:

      03:10pm | 07/07/12

      @ginger mick “Federal is now $250 billion in debt and growing fast, before we start we are up for interest bill somewhere around $15 billion per annum.”

      if Australia is that much in debt as you say then you should know who is getting the money and how much of the Australian GDP that is .
      you have made the clame now tell us where your info came from don’t bolt off and not tell us

    • Alfiestevedewsbery says:

      03:27pm | 07/07/12

      Sorry to be the bearer of bad news Acotrel, but Turnbull will toe the line and your nemesis, Mr T Abbott will lead the Coallition to a resounding victory in 2013.

      From that day forward, people will spit on the ground at the mere mention of Gillard’s name.

    • TimB says:

      10:13am | 08/07/12

      Shane says: ‘‘You’re just not very good at this, are you? ‘

      Wow AASQ is still floating around. (You’re John too aren;t you?

      God you’re dumb.

      Sep/Oct is the only prediction I have EVER made about Julia.

      Feel free to find any posts of mine where I’ve predicted otherwise. It should be easy for you seeing as that I keep the same Identity from post to post and you change repeatedly.

      Keep on being a gutless wonder AASQ

      ‘Aasq says:04:56pm | 08/02/11

      First you said the Prime Minister wouldn’t form Government. Then, she wasn’t going to last a week, then it was a month, then it was until Xmas, and now apparently we have to wait until the end of the month. You’re just not very good at this, are you ? ‘

      You’re just not very good at this multiple screenname thing are you?

    • Ginger Mick says:

      11:02am | 08/07/12

      @  Nikraf

      I suggest you go have a good read of this government site

      “The Australian Office of Financial Management manages Australian Government debt, cash and financial assets.”

      http://www.aofm.gov.au/

    • Shane says:

      06:03pm | 08/07/12

      Thanks for proving my point, again.s

    • Bertrand says:

      07:33am | 07/07/12

      Good to see Turnbull completely demolish the arguments against gay marriage.

      It’s strange, I’ve always thought that socially liberal policies regarding gay marriage, euthanasia, drug liberalisation, etc fit better with the Liberal Party, which preaches minimal government interference in our daily lives. It’s strange that this opposition to government intrusion doesn’t extend to the private sphere, only the economic sphere.

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      08:16am | 07/07/12

      Bertrand
      Agree, I always thought it curios how the free market outlook some how is entwined with social conservatism.

    • TracyH says:

      09:00am | 07/07/12

      spot on Bertrand..it’s particularly evident in USA politics…a paradox indeed.

    • JohnW says:

      10:38am | 07/07/12

      Turnbull said nothing new at all, and nothing that hasn’t already been refuted many times before.

      There is nothing “socially liberal” about inviting government intrusion anyway. Why the need to have government endorsement for a relationship? Liberal ideology does not invite more government interference in our daily lives.

      Turnbull has just confirmed that he will abandon his own alleged personal principles (to support gay marriage) if they risk his political career (by violating the shadow ministry decision).

      His support is so minimal that he is trying to shore up the gay vote in his own electorate at the expense of any hope of broader support.

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      11:25am | 07/07/12

      The Liberal Party are a bunch of hypocrites. Take for example, their policy on maternity leave. Social engineering? Check. Taxation on business? Check. Expansion of government bureaucracy? Check. Expansion of the welfare system? Check. All the things that go against the true Liberal philosophy. The Liberal Party really haven’t been Conservative since John Howard came into power

    • Gratuitous Adviser says:

      03:51pm | 07/07/12

      Like the Greens “open slather to immigration” policy, the gay marriage issue has got “buckleys” chance of being the official policy of the winning party of an Australian general election.  The States (usually governments that are on their way out, anyway) can patronise all they want, who cares.

      For me, who accepts that being gay should not be reason for disadvantage, civil union is no problem, but a big “NO” if the word “marriage” is in there.  Marriage is for the man/woman commitment only.  For me, it’s the stealing of the word “marriage” that I do not like.

      By the by:  Religion (yuk) has no relevance for me in this argument as I believe that it has caused more deaths and unhappiness in this world, than the worst world wars.

    • Bertrand says:

      03:53pm | 07/07/12

      “There is nothing “socially liberal” about inviting government intrusion anyway. Why the need to have government endorsement for a relationship? Liberal ideology does not invite more government interference in our daily lives.”

      A policy that tells me who I may or may not marry is government interference interference in my private life.

      A policy that tells me I may not receive end-of-life assistance when I am dying of an incurable and painful disease is government interference in my private life.

      A policy that dictates I should be arrested and sent to jail because I choose to smoke a joint instead of drink a beer is government interference in my private life.

      Not that the ALP is any better, but at least they are upfront about their belief in government intrusion.

      The rallying cry of the Libs is small government. It’s just that they don’t actually live by the doctrine they preach.

    • marley says:

      09:18am | 08/07/12

      Lets just remember that the Liberals aren’t liberal.  In any other country, they’d be the Conservative Party.

    • TChong says:

      08:08am | 07/07/12

      Wests Tigers and the Mighty ‘Pies both getting done on the same night !!!
      Gillards carbon tax is surely to blame.
      I now must submit an application to join the Liberal party, and help rid Oz of this dreadful tax.
      If only I knew how badly the carbon tax would affect day -to-day life (evidence : last nights results) then I most certainly wouldnt have given money to the Greens to save baby whales.

      Reply

    • Chris L says:

      10:01am | 08/07/12

      Trial by media is always a bad idea. They should have let the Coalition supporters keep making their claims in the hope it would backfire like with Godwin Gretch.

      Mind you, it does look like Ashby is in real trouble now. The whole reason he won’t have to answer claims in the civil case is because he now looks like he’ll be facing criminal charges.

      Again, I’ll hold off assuming who’s right (if either) until there’s a verdict.

    • TimB says:

      08:44am | 07/07/12

      Oh and Chongy, commiserations for last night;)

      Looking forward to the rematch next month. With Farrah back on deck you should make a fight of it.

      Go Barba!

      Reply

    • pa_kelvin says:

      03:47pm | 07/07/12

      And hopefully Ellis ,the Tiges could do with him back leading into the finals.Sadly it looks as if Lote’s career is over. :(

    • Bill says:

      09:24am | 07/07/12

      The mighty Blues did it! Spanked the pies! Never had any doubt. Well, not after 3/4 time anyway. smile

      Reply

    • Nikraf says:

      02:56pm | 07/07/12

      it could be the Imam’s are not getting there cut from the people smugglers

    • Poking the Gorilla says:

      11:40am | 07/07/12

      “Defence Force chief Chris Barrie - who was in charge when the navy turned back seven asylum seeker boats under John Howard - warned yesterday it was a dangerous tactic and should not be revived. “The problem about the policy is it drives people to very desperate measures, and I don’t think that is something we should promote,” he told the ABC.

      “We’ve seen already examples of boats being set on fire and other accidents.”

      But Opposition Leader Mr Abbott claimed Admiral Barrie’s views were being misrepresented and because the navy had turned boats back before, they could do it again.

      “Admiral Barrie, along with all other serving members of the armed forces, understands that the armed forces are under the direction of the government of the day,” he said.

      Mr Abbott also said it was “misrepresentation” that Jakarta objected strongly to turning back boats, saying his colleagues spoke to Indonesian officials yesterday and they were “happy to work constructively with Australia”.”

      But a senior Indonesian official said the country would object strongly to the coalition’s policy.

      “It’s exactly like you going to someone else’s house and throwing dirt there,” the official said.

      Abbott is looking more and more exposed and continues to struggles with the truth.
      Do we really want this right wing redneck provoking 300 million Indonesians and talking down our great nation?
      Might be time for a return to the centre and constructive rhetoric and policy that Turnbull can provide.

      Reply

    • PhilD says:

      02:23pm | 08/07/12

      “It’s exactly like you going to someone else’s house and throwing dirt there,” the official said.
      Interesting, since we’re using that analogy, what if that house is dumping the dirt in your house in the first place?
      Happy to take the boat people as long as they are willing to work building infrastructure in the outback or country until they get on their feet or things return to normal in their homeland and they decide to go back home. The Australian pioneers did the same. If they don’t want to do that then there’s always the queue.
      As for provoking 300 million Indonesians, they have enough of their own problems to worry about.

    • SD says:

      12:24pm | 07/07/12

      It’s not strange it all. It’s because they’re a conservative party, not a liberal party. The current parties name is a complete oxymoron. It’s not Turnbull who isn’t Liberal, it’s Howard and Abbott. People obviously don’t know what English words mean, look up Liberal. Demand your party be brought back to the centre right or accept it but change name to something more befitting like FHA Australian Fascist Party.

      Reply

    • Alfie says:

      03:42pm | 07/07/12

      That is also why the took the ‘u’ out of labour.

      They wouldn’t work in an iron lung.

    • PhilD says:

      12:56pm | 07/07/12

      @Bertrand: “Good to see Turnbull completely demolish the arguments against gay marriage.”

      Absolute bollocks. So Silvertail Malcolm Turnbull delivers a Michael Kirby lecture - one sanctimonious prick pandering to another. Where was the argument - only with himself. It was just a lecture, an unchallenged statement. He was just sprouting his opinions of which he has many, but no beliefs, no conviction and no depth. A lot of ‘why shoulds’, ‘it won’t hurt me’, ‘I don’t see why…’ - he is obviously confused. No argument, just pollywaffle as he proposes a middle road to gay unions with a future road map to gay marriage and in doing so has alienated himself from the extremists in both camps.

      Liberal and Labor are now both misnomers in their representation and mainstream policies as they stray from their old rank and file. Tea parties are on the rise.

      Reply

    • PhilD says:

      02:00pm | 08/07/12

      The Green tea party for one. The mad Katter’s tea party for another.
      Six more parties registered this year including the Stable Population Party - we’re going to house the boat people in stables. The Climate Sceptics have expanded and now they are the No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics - they were sceptical about the climate but not enough people believed them saying they needed a change somewhere..
      We also have the Australian Fishing and Lifestyle Party - now that’s my cup of tea.
      http://www.aec.gov.au/parties_and_representatives/party_registration/registered_parties/index.htm

    • Gratuitous Adviser says:

      03:11pm | 07/07/12

      Has anyone else noticed that over the last few weeks the clubs are advertising a lot more (great social experience/performing a community service-nothing about losing your house on the pokies). 

      I suspected that there may be a reason for this and it appears that the clubs are down in profits, especially in Newcastle.  Happily it is not because there are less people going to clubs but the great unwashed of Newcastle in particular, are playing the pokies less.  Of course the clubs stated reason is the economy, and not giving credit to people that are finally waking up to what a sucker bet poker machines are.

      Good on Newcastle for smartening up however heading north, Queensland is getting a further 1,000+ poker machines as a gift from the QLD Government to the people.  To their credit the QLD Government are being straight with their people and saying that they need revenue and not hypocritically reasoning “great social experience and doing a community service” as do the clubs and pubs.  Let’s not forget the stealth experts on this issue, Woolworths.

      Reply

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      01:12pm | 08/07/12

      Hmm…. A majority of women voluntarily leave the mining industry by the age of 34 and then wonder why there is a pay gap. The federal government should quit trying to social engineer workplaces and let people face the consequences of their lifestyle choices. I call upon the Coalition when they get into power to dismantle the Gender Equity In the Workplace legislation (How can they be equal if they are making different choices?) and abolish the Women in the Workforce Agency. This should be a no brainer for the Liberal Party since it reduces government interference and social engineering, reduces government bureaucracy and saves money

      http://www.theage.com.au/national/women-miss-out-in-mining-boom-20120707-21o62.html

      Reply

    • Inky says:

      03:05pm | 08/07/12

      Just a quick hi to anyone stuck in the office this Sunday like myself. Looks like most of the weekend open thread is actually about the issues, it’s a bit heavy for getting me through my last 3 hours. Anyone else out there? How’s anyone else’s day going? That goes for you weekend people who actually aren’t working too, I suppose.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      06:27pm | 08/07/12

      Labor should discard The Greens.
      The latter belong in the urban ghettos of Middle Europe, and can only thrive where alternating systems of economic governance, (all Europe is such at the moment, irrespective of the philosophical ideals of One monetary system that is supposed to unite a cultural one) are in place.

      This country, you would think, (and rightly, too) would be the last place on earth where The Greens should have influence : the middle class in this country are mostly new, and when they were the Workers, it was the Labor Party who saved them. They have good memories, but importantly, they are still on the march to prosperity, and they now want Tony Abbott.

      The Greens appeal to wannabe futurists.
      These are the Intelligent (sic) Classes who want to dumb down ambition to make it wrong to try beyond our birthrite, and to subdue energy so that no-one develops new things that are not soil or water based.

      They are anti-civilization in my opinion, and Julia should get rid of them quick smart.
      I still know a lot of the old-guard Workers, and none of them will vote again for Labor, because of only their association with a mob of dying honey-bees who take the nectar, but don’t produce anything.

      Reply
 
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