As it usually does on Boxing Day, The Australian has published quarterly aggregates of Newspoll with state and demographic breakdowns, on this occasion casting an unusually wide net from its polling all the way back to July to early this month, reflecting the relative infrequency of its results over this time. The result is a combined survey of 5771 respondents that finds Labor leading 55-45 in New South Wales (a swing of about 3.5% to Labor compared with the election), 57-43 in Victoria (about 2%), 55-45 in Western Australia (no change) and 57-43 in South Australia (a 4.0% swing), while trailing 51-49 in Queensland a 3% swing).
Gender breakdowns show only a slight gap, with Labor leading 54-46 among men and 56-44 among women, with the Greens as usual stronger among women among men. Age cohort results trend from 65-35 to Labor for 18-to-34 to 54-46 to the Coalition among 65-plus, with the Greens respectively on 24% and 3%. Little variation is recorded according to education or income, but Labor are strongest among part-time workers and weakest among the retired, stronger among non-English speakers but well ahead either way, and 62-38 ahead among those identifying as of no religion but 53-47 behind among Christians. You can find all the relevant data, at least for voting intention, in the poll data feature on BludgerTrack.
C@tmomma @ Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 8:06 am
My family used to come up here from Sydney for holidays when I was a kid, but at some point I just decided to make the move permanently. Have barely missed the big smoke.
A happy new year to all bludgers, William, regular posters and lurkers as well. It is a peaceful, quiet morning here in Adelaide disturbed only by the sound of cats circling for food. I hope it is peaceful for you wherever you are. Have a good rest BK, there is not much new news to report here.
The Kyiv Post reported large scale Russian missile attacks last night. Ukrainian air defence shot down over 2/3 of the missiles with one death reported. The article also reports a poll indicating 93% of Ukrainians believe Russia will be defeated.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/6308
And this uplifting article talked about the defeat of autocracy in 2022. Democracy turns out to be stronger, and most people would prefer to live in the latter.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/6260
An extract from the NY Times polling piece..
The imbalance arose in part from an industrywide challenge. Traditional surveys using over-the-phone interviews, with human beings asking the questions, have grown astronomically more expensive as Americans become harder to reach and less willing to sit through time-consuming questionnaires with strangers.
Reputable pollsters like Gallup and Pew have phased out “horse-race” polling entirely; others have cut back. Quinnipiac University conducted just a few statewide surveys in the final stretch this year. “Frankly, cost is an issue,” Doug Schwartz, Quinnipiac’s polling director, explained.
At the same time, it has never been easier or cheaper to conduct lesser-quality polls using internet questionnaires or automated phone services.
One newcomer to the industry that illustrated the low barrier to entry was Patriot Polling, incorporated in September in suburban Philadelphia by two high school juniors.
The pair — Lucca Ruggieri, 17, who identifies as a Republican, and Arhan Kaul, 16, who is more interested in data science than politics — met at a program for future leaders, joked about how terrible polling had been in recent elections and decided to take a stab at it themselves. At worst, they figured, they would bolster their college applications.
A statistics teacher and local Republicans and Democrats gave them pointers. Mr. Ruggieri’s father agreed to pay for the automated phone calls, at about $2,500 a poll — compared with tens of thousands of dollars for polls relying on live interviews.
The first survey they published was among the first in the nation to give Dr. Oz a lead over Mr. Fetterman. It caught the attention of FiveThirtyEight, which, after inquiring about their methodology, began to publish their results.
Mr. Ruggieri was bowled over. “I wouldn’t think they would look at high schoolers,” he said.
When critics questioned FiveThirtyEight for taking the youngsters’ polls seriously, an election analyst at the site called the critique “ageist,” saying “students can do awesome work.” Indeed, Patriot’s poll for the New York governor’s race roughly reflected the outcome, and its survey in the Arizona Senate race came closer to the final result than those of Trafalgar and InsiderAdvantage.
To Mr. Rosenberg and Mr. Bonier, teenagers weren’t responsible for the false red-wave narrative — it was partisan pollsters, who flooded the market with outlier results and were abetted by the keepers of the polling averages.
“We can’t trust the data on RealClearPolitics or FiveThirtyEight any longer,” Mr. Rosenberg complained on MSNBC in late October, “because it’s essentially Republican propaganda.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/31/us/politics/polling-election-2022-red-wave.html
Oliver Sutton
“ 2002 Cabinet papers is the main political story of the day:
‘ In 2002, Australia was on the cusp of joining the United States-led invasion of Iraq and had already committed troops to Afghanistan — but previously secret cabinet records released make very few references to what would become a decades-long engagement …’
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-01/cabinet-papers-2002-release-war-in-iraq/101792688
Thanks for linking this article. It is an important story. When you consider Australian troops spent 20 years in Afghanistan, 10 years in Iraq, in ultimately futile wars. They cost over 200,000 civilian dead, 50 Australian soldiers killed (plus a larger, poorly reported number of mental health casualties), over $11 billion in direct expenditure, and directed most of the defense acquisition expense away from defending Australia for two decades.
And the recorded reasons why we went there are… two verbal reports by John Howard and Alexander Downer.
There should be an inquiry into why Australia joined the Iraq war. Andrew Wilkie should be invited to appear either as a witness or a questioner.
Thanks, sprocket.
‘Mr. Ruggieri was bowled over. “I wouldn’t think they would look at high schoolers,” he said.’
Media motto: “All the news that fits, we print”.
Good morning all. May you all have a happy, safe and prosperous 2023.
I have been pinched and a-punched by two grandchildren but one forgot to intone ‘and no returns’ and I managed to get in a return pinch and a punch.
More pinch and a punch perpetrators will arrive later so I will have to be alert.
From Google:
‘This phrase is thought to date back to old England times when people believed in the existence of witches. The ‘pinch’ part refers to the pinching of the salt – as this kitchen ingredient was believed to weaken the witches when thrown at them. The ‘punch’ part was to banish the witch once and for all.’
In terms of at least one good start, 1 January 2023 is the first New Year’s Day for several decades that Australia is not in a shooting war.
Socrates @ #2008 Sunday, January 1st, 2023 – 8:32 am
As always, wars are about political gain for the political leaders of the day. Mass deaths, injuries and associated mental trauma are necessary collateral damage for the warmongers.
“We can’t trust the data on RealClearPolitics or FiveThirtyEight any longer,” Mr. Rosenberg complained on MSNBC in late October, “because it’s essentially Republican propaganda.”
Gosh, aren’t we fortunate that our Australian media reports polling from an informed and independent perspective! 😉
An inquiry into the 2002 coalition of the willing would be welcomed by me. Until such an inquiry is held, and clears him, john Winston Howard will be under a cloud of suspicion. Suburban housespouses knew there were no weapons of mass destruction. How come the then government did not?
On a brighter note, I’m off to Bali this afternoon. Salamat tabun baru!
“I’m off to Bali this afternoon.”
No nookie unless you’re married, MABWM. 😉
Hugh White is an enemy of Labor? What? Hugh White has made and continues to make a fantastic contribution to Australian foreign and defence policy. His recent writings about China have been extremely valuable to Labor in trying to chart the course towards improved relations with our most important for decades to come trading partner.
The late Pope failed the religion’s children.
He had the power to have a global truth and reconciliation process and to reset the Church’s relationship with its children, past and present.
But he protected the pedos and buried their victims.
On matters of doctrine, I am not fussed: a religion is a religion is a religion.
MABWM
Go for it. The nookie law is inoperative.
‘Country of fear: Australia of 2002 was preoccupied with national security’
‘Cabinet papers 2002: even before the Bali attacks, the Howard government passed sweeping anti-terrorism laws in response to 9/11’
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/01/country-of-fear-australia-of-2002-was-preoccupied-with-national-security
George Mega sees it. Albo has become a Teal.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-lines-up-to-ride-a-global-progressive-wave-20221230-p5c9ep.html
I hope traditional Labor voters continue to remind him to go back and pick up those he’s left behind living in poverty.
The Catholic institution rolls on through the centuries with replacement lead actors. Conservative to its core and ruthless in its business enterprise.
Good Morning and Happy New Year News Patrollers!
Today I have something for you, which isn’t nothing, as the wonderful Julia Gillard would say. 🙂
I’ll start with this article from Politico which looks back at an incredible year in bad prognostication.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/12/31/the-worst-political-predictions-of-2022-00074872
And while I’m on US politics, Donald Trump’s tax returns show the former president received income from more than a dozen countries during his time in office, highlighting a string of potential conflicts of interest.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/30/trump-taxes-foreign-income-00075872
This is a very good article about the ‘man’ of the moment:
Chess prodigy, ‘king of toxic masculinity, suspected human trafficker’: Who is Andrew Tate?
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/chess-prodigy-king-of-toxic-masculinity-suspected-human-trafficker-who-is-andrew-tate-20221231-p5c9mv.html
Some high-profile industries have shed more than nine in 10 workers over the past decade as changes in technology and shifting consumer preferences reshape employment in Australia.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/it-s-a-wake-up-call-the-industries-that-have-lost-nine-in-10-workers-in-the-past-decade-20221229-p5c9b3.html
The public will vote on a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to parliament as early as August, with Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney revealing the federal government will introduce legislation to parliament in March setting up the referendum.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/voice-referendum-as-early-as-august-burney-reveals-20221229-p5c9br.html
There has been much made of the Albanese government for its failure to provide enough detail about its proposed Voice to Parliament, but the strategy is clear.
While some criticism is valid, we should look at those who are the loudest critics of this “lack of detail”. They are either opponents of the Voice or people who would benefit politically from its demise.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/don-t-underestimate-the-people-advising-albanese-on-the-voice-20221229-p5c9co.html
As the new year begins in an atmosphere of economic crisis and uncertainty, correspondents take a look at the major issues they will be watching around the world.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/the-world-in-2023-what-to-expect-20221213-p5c62x.html
The 2002 Howard government Cabinet Papers have been released. We weren’t relaxed and comfortable’, we were ‘a country of fear’.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/01/country-of-fear-australia-of-2002-was-preoccupied-with-national-security
And just to show how Asylum Seekers have been politicised by the Liberals in the 20 years hence, John Howard’s government considered letting offshore detainees into Australia in 2002
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/01/john-howards-government-considered-letting-offshore-detainees-into-australia-in-2002
Australia’s new laws taking effect on 1 January: from super top-ups to PCR tests and home care fees
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/01/australias-new-laws-taking-effect-on-1-january-from-super-top-ups-to-pcr-tests-and-home-care-fees
John Howard overrode George Pell’s objections to allow research using surplus IVF embryos
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/01/john-howard-overrode-george-pells-objections-to-allow-research-using-surplus-ivf-embryos
Howard ministers considered extinguishing native title over SA site earmarked for nuclear waste dump
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/01/howard-ministers-considered-extinguishing-native-title-over-sa-site-earmarked-for-nuclear-waste-dump
Finally, this is one bullet Howard dodged on Australia’s behalf:
Russia-backed spaceport proposed for Christmas Island abandoned in 2002 over sovereignty fears
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/01/russia-backed-spaceport-proposed-for-christmas-island-abandoned-in-2002-over-sovereignty-fears
Jess Harwood asks,
Are we a kinder country than we were 12 months ago?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/31/are-we-a-kinder-country-than-we-were-12-months-ago
The nation’s intelligence community believed there was “no evidence” Australian interests were being targeted by international terrorist organisations just months before the largest loss of Australian lives in a single terror attack in the Bali bombings.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/no-evidence-of-threat-to-australia-months-ahead-of-bali-bombings-20221229-p5c97w.html
Population boom caught the Howard government by surprise
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/population-boom-caught-the-howard-government-by-surprise-20221223-p5c8kn.html
The Howard government agreed within three months of the capture of alleged terrorist David Hicks that he had been apprehended legally by the United States while looking at ways to prevent him from selling his story.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/howard-government-moved-quickly-on-claims-against-david-hicks-20221228-p5c94y.html
Julian Assange to ask for prison release to attend Vivienne Westwood’s funeral
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/julian-assange-to-ask-for-prison-release-to-attend-vivienne-westwood-s-funeral-20221230-p5c9kg.html
This is the reflection on 2022 of Parnell Palme McGuinness
https://www.smh.com.au/national/of-human-bondage-let-s-do-it-all-again-this-year-20221230-p5c9gl.html
With the new year, expect more public anxiety as climate change continues to escalate – and more worry among companies and governments over liability and risk.
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/rising-climate-costs-challenge-countries-companies-2023-2022-12-14/
This is a pictorial essay about how Ukraine withstood Russia’s assault
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/year-end-ukraine/
Madonna King asks for clueless politicians to wise up. Good luck with that, Madonna!
https://thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2022/12/30/clueless-politicians-rishi-sunak/
Finally, some cartoons and illustrations
Vintage Matt Golding
Aresna Villanueva
Oslo Davis – Overheard 754 – Newsagent, Altona, Saturday 11am: “Any more thoughts on that sheila’s painting? I’ll put in three if you can do two point five.”
Reg Lynch
Richard Gilliberto
Joe Benke
Enjoy!
Coffee tastes so good this morning.
To William, thanks. Your analysis is an Australian institution and your blog isn’t far off.
To BK, thanks for giving the blog a second bedrock of respectability with the best news resource I know – by far.
To the lurkers and occasional posters, please post more. The blog needs you.
To the regulars…. well, I don’t want to encourage any of you with even the mildest of praise…. other than; happy new year peeps!
I see Linda Burney talking August for the Voice referendum.
The sooner the better AFAIC.
The longer you leave it the more time it gives the divisive MSM time to divide the nation as is their modus operandi.
Morning bludgers
All the best for 2023!
My predictions
The ukraine war to end by june
And putin to be taken out by his own inner circle.
Covid will become endemic by end of 2023
There will be a soft economic landing by years end
#weatheronPB
One fat shadow waits.
Random clouds are watching me.
Warm, close, smothering.
“This is the reflection on 2022 of Parnell Palme McGuinness”
I’ll stick with Banjo’s take:
Here the youngster ran out, and the priest gave a shout-
“Take your chance, anyhow, wid ‘Maginnis’!”
Thanks c@t!
And on US politics. Predictions.
Finally Trump will be indicted.
He somehow conjures a reason for going to middle east during his legal troubles. Excuse may be golf tournament. He doesnt come back to face the music.
Several GOP house members are also under pressure to leave due to their involvement in Jan 6.
Elon musk also faces legal jeopardy and twitter is onsold.
Victoria @ #2025 Sunday, January 1st, 2023 – 9:19 am
I desperately hope you are right about Trump being officially charged with crimes, as I’m starting to drift into thinking this is all just a Dem political point scoring dragged out exercise with no conclusion.
C@t is quite mad Wranslide.
“Appeasement” raised its ugly head in her last screed. As did labelling White an enemy of Labor.
If C@t actually bothered to read – just once – Fitzgerald’s Whitlam Oration from 2017 (which was the last occasion I saw and conversed with Bob Hawke and Graham Freudenberg, alas) she’d have realised that the practices of routinely and consistently saying no to China goes right back to the beginning of the relationship. Of course, despite me posting the link a dozen times, she has either never read it, or simply doesn’t have the mental furniture to understand it.
Of course, in full self pity mode she then pulls the sexism card out of the pack. Disgraceful bludging. C@t to a T.
2023 is not off to a flier.
One of the family members staying chez nous for Christmas/New Year has just done a positive rat test. Second dose of Covid, and feeling crook.
Lots of ratties being done. Masks being worn. Kids’ anxieties being managed. In-house isolation being organized. Pregnant in-law advised that the person she was sitting next to for several hours is now positive. Cuzzes being warned off from coming over for New Year’s fun. Alternative travel arrangements being made.
I assume that the 14 demands and the $20 billion in trade punishments are on China’s side of the negotiating table.
I am not sure what demands Australia has on its side of the negotiating table. I am aware of only one: the WTO action.
What must be somewhat heartening for China is that the Coalition has repeatedly shown that it is willing to fracture any bipartisan approach to China against the national interest and for party political purposes.
Andrew_Earlwood @ #2027 Sunday, January 1st, 2023 – 9:39 am
Finding common cause with wranslide, Quel surprisement, Andrew_Earlwood. 🙄
Two of the most obvious China luvvies finding comfort in each other’s support.
Doesn’t. Prove. A. Thing.
Still more rancid abuse in place of an argument. Why am I not surprised?
And this lauding of Stephen Fitzgerald over, and over, and over again, as if he is the only one whose opinion is worth anything. Oh wow, he did The Whitlam Oration in 2017! So that means, what exactly? He’s one person with an opinion. Like, guess what, we all have one. Btw, I don’t feel compelled to read every link you put up because I already know you will only put up those that support your pov. Interesting that you never show yourself open to points of view which don’t agree with your own, that might show you have an open mind. Instead your mind is closed to anything bar that which reinforces your pre-conceived notions. Nevertheless, I will look up the speech and see what I make of it. That is, if I have ‘the mental furniture’ to be capable of comprehending such an enlightened perspective. 😐
Now, back to your two old biddies over the back fence sesh with wranslide. 😉
Boerwar @ #2028 Sunday, January 1st, 2023 – 9:49 am
A very unfortunate development for your family. My sympathies and best wishes.
If only the source was a wombat which could easily be taken out with weapon of choice from the BoerBunker.
Pi says:
Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 10:47 pm
Just popped in to say happy new years to you all. Take care of yourselves and your family. Good to see you again beguiledagain. Thanks for the blog Monsieur Bowe.
I have high hopes for this year before us.
————————————————————
Thank you Pi. I’m hoping that my 86th year will be better for myself, my loved ones and all on this planet than what we’ve had for the past three years.
The referendum on the Voice to Parliament won’t be run in the way the referendum on becoming a republic was run.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/don-t-underestimate-the-people-advising-albanese-on-the-voice-20221229-p5c9co.html
Also, you can do worse than to read this once a day for a week, then once every week for a month. Let it sink in.
https://ulurustatemdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/UluruStatementfromtheHeartPLAINTEXT.pdf
“Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tribes were the first sovereign Nations of the Australian continent and its adjacent islands … This sovereignty is a spiritual notion … It has never been ceded or extinguished, and co-exists with the sovereignty of the Crown. … With substantive constitutional change and structural reform, we believe this ancient sovereignty can shine through as a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood. … We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution. … We seek a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history.“
Family gatherings carry so much. Best wishes BW. Those grandkids are the joy of life.
sprocket_ says:
Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 8:18 am
An extract from the NY Times polling piece..
———————————————————————————————-
It’s interesting to note that over recent years US polling appears to have worsened (much like the commentary) whereas in Australia polling appears to have regained credibility (though commentary is still propaganda).
Rex and LR
Thanks for best wishes.
Socrates
“ There should be an inquiry into why Australia joined the Iraq war. Andrew Wilkie should be invited to appear either as a witness or a questioner.”
——————————————————————————————
Liberals would have us believe that a couple of discussions were sufficient to send us to war. If we are to give Cabinet decisions the credit they deserve and require, and after all we have no other evidence on which to base our expectations, then this speaks volumes about the process under the Howard Government on such a critical issue of national importance. It’s simply an absolute disgrace. History proves it was third rate, arrogant, sycophantic and wrong.
More bile from C@t (@9.58 am). Who has an unerring talent in being simultaneously offensive, and taking umbrage – with a large dollop of self pity – at any return fire (whether real of imagined).
In her latest effort, she gives Fitzgerald another kicking as being just one opinion. Yadda Yadda. She then effectively admits to not having read the Oration; which is a pity – because if she had (and assuming she could understand the basic points) she’d realise two things at least:
1. Albo’s line about the Australian-China relationship “Agree where we can, disagree where we must” goes right back to Gough and Stephen, and was a golden threat that ran through the relationship until the modern liberals completely debauched it.
2. Stephen’s suggestions on how to manage the Australian-Chinese relationship going forward very neatly reflect Kevin’s Rudd’s own prescriptions for how American and China should manage their relationship going forward, as set out in detail in his recent book ‘The Avoidable War’.
I don’t just refer to Fitzgerald because I am a Whitlam fanboy, but because he is a true giant of the last 50 years and he was able to summarise THAT 50 years neatly and present it as a Labor vision – present, past and future that is worthy of comrade’s C@t’s attention and respect, if not her complete agreement. Pearls before swine. Much?
Edited: I also note in passing C@t’s accusation that I only post articles that I agree with. I think the record will show that I have a long history of referring to, indeed on occasions linking / quoting from articles that I disagree with and THEN setting out in detail my reasons. As to her accusation that I dont have an open mind, well I guess that test of that would be the extent to which I am able to take on new information and change or at least modify my point of view. Also, the extent to which I am prepared to criticise those who i would otherwise agree with.
I’ll give one recent example of me being prepared to do both. I have changed my mind regarding the utility of acquiring the B-21 as a strategic asset. In doing so I have criticised both Mick Ryan and Hugh White -blokes that I generally agree with otherwise. i also disagree with White (and for that matter Rex Patrick and others) who say that modern SSK’s with AIP will do the job for the Defence of Australia going forward (IMO they will do the job now and for the next 15 years or so, but only about 70% of the job beyond that timeframe once China obtains more – and quieter SSNs and as India and even Pakistan follow suit).
Maybe I misheard, but I think ABC 24 just reported that Benedict was ‘the first Pope to visit Australia’.
Paul VI, of course, visited in the 1970s. I well recall the happy juxtaposition of the front and back pages of Brisbane’s Telegraph on the last day of the Papal visit to the River City.
‘Final ceremony for Pope’ was the front page headline.
Over on the back page, a sportswriter speculated on the prospects for Rugby League footballer Norm Pope:
‘Pope looking for a job at Souths’.
I wont be surprised if pope francis exits stage left this year.
Already 30 degrees in Melbourne town
Great work Cat this morning, especially the articles on the cabinet papers.
UK Cartoons:
Chris Riddell on welcome to #2023 Feeling confident? #NewYear2023
Harry Burton on #2023NewYear #Covid
Mark Winter on #2022
Steven Camley on the end of #2022 #CostOfLivingCrises #2023 #NewYear2023
Martyn Turner on #2023 #Covid #UkraineWar #NewYear2023
US Cartoons:
Thanks C@T for the Dawn Patrol.
“ Some high-profile industries have shed more than nine in 10 workers over the past decade as changes in technology and shifting consumer preferences reshape employment in Australia.”
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/it-s-a-wake-up-call-the-industries-that-have-lost-nine-in-10-workers-in-the-past-decade-20221229-p5c9b3.html
———————————————————————————————
FWIW I always find these articles, along with those on demographics, to be quite interesting . Of course they are now historical data but I wonder if these changes were predicted at the start of the decade? The ability to predict such changes would be highly desirable to the nation as we seek to guide young and even older workers toward much needed skill sets.
One of my children topped university in journalism but in the final year (15 years ago) realised just how much of it was becoming syndicated and understood the highly limiting future of the profession. In good news those writing skills have been put to very good use in a different profession.
Q: It’s interesting to note that over recent years US polling appears to have worsened
Optional voting in the USA has always made polling tricky, Trump and his crazy fans and passionate detractors has made the ‘who will turn up and vote’ even trickier to calculate.
Re Cronus @10:23.
“Liberals would have us believe that a couple of discussions were sufficient to send us to war. If we are to give Cabinet decisions the credit they deserve and require, and after all we have no other evidence on which to base our expectations, then this speaks volumes about the process under the Howard Government on such a critical issue of national importance.”
The Howard Government’s decision process was simple. Well before the end of 2002, it was obvious that the USA was going to invade Iraq, so Australia was in.
‘…Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.
…’
RGM – another war rope-a-dope.
It could be that the single biggest decision Albanese has to make in his prime ministership is about whether to join the US in Xi’s War on Taiwan.
The old year as Father Time, the new year as a baby. It’s been a New Year meme forever, long before anyone even thought of memes. There must have been a first time that someone thought of it, a first cartoon.
Happy New Year and a great 2023 to William and everybody.
Andrew_Earlwood @ #2038 Sunday, January 1st, 2023 – 10:26 am
Projection much about abuse?
I’m halfway through listening to it now, Earlwood. To say you are grossly oversimplifying Fitzgerald’s pov (or ‘Stephen’ as you chummily refer to him) above is to state the obvious I guess.
And I know already that you will have no respect for my pov because I am no ‘giant’ that you laud to the heavens. But you’re going to get it anyway. And like I care what you will think about it.
BW
As Australia had not adopted the Statue of Westminster, RGM was speaking the truth; UK could and did declare war on our behalf. The situation in the two dominions that had adopted the statute was quite different.
“ I’m halfway through listening to it now, Earlwood. To say you are grossly oversimplifying Fitzgerald’s pov (or ‘Stephen’ as you chummily refer to him) above is to state the obvious I guess.”
Indeed. I was keeping it simple, so you could follow along with just a few points. He made many other, as you will note. Indeed some of his last suggestions are now redundant – because of ‘events’, but the underlying structure of his argument is as fresh and valid as ever.