OT: Current Affairs and Politics

[Gronk]

Huge news

 

[Gronk]

^^^ I was originally quite critical of Julian Assange. Not about the aspect of being a whistle-blower, but how he stepped away from being a bipartisan truth seeker and leaked Russian hacked stuff specifically designed to damage Hillary Clinton's candidacy. I don't care if it was hacked to damage Trump or Clinton - it was wrong.

However I am still pleased that he is free (bailed it seems) and since the jailing of David McBride in our country, it is even more clear that (genuine) whistle-blower protections are paramount.



This is a great series by Background Briefing

INTRODUCING — 'The Whistleblowers', a new series from Background Briefing - ABC listen

In this 6-part series presented by Adele Ferguson, the Background Briefing team brings you the untold stories of ordinary Australians who helped bring some of Australia’s biggest and dirtiest scandals to light.

www.abc.net.au

 

[strider]

Scott Morrison was way behind in the preferred PM polls but still won. Do you really think that that poll has merit ?

To win the next election, Dutton needs to pick up 18 seats.

He has this election on a platter. Every government across the world is struggling to regain power because of cost of living pressures. Even the conservatives in the UK are looking at a defeat in Jan 2025 (?) after being in power since 2010.

Unsure why Dutton has hung his hat on climate change denialism / nuclear power UNLESS he fears that the economy (^ consumer confidence, v inflation) will be on the upswing by the time that our Federal election needs to be held in May 2025. He seems to be taking an all or nothing gamble.

Yeah of course .... the LNP are rubbish and have no chance.

But its still insane that they arent runnimg rings around Dutton and the LNP.

 

[Gronk]

Yeah of course .... the LNP are rubbish and have no chance.

But its still insane that they arent runnimg rings around Dutton and the LNP.

You must have missed this bit.

Every government across the world is struggling to regain power because of cost of living pressures. Even the conservatives in the UK are looking at a defeat in Jan 2025 (?) after being in power since 2010.

 

[ImTheMan]

Yeah of course .... the LNP are rubbish and have no chance.

But its still insane that they arent runnimg rings around Dutton and the LNP.

Mate, if you are single and a front line worker in regional cities all housing is classed as "unaffordable" never alone in actual cities. This situation could have been avoided by both parties but it has been turbo charged by current governments. How is it insane to believe that Australia is always 8 years behind the USA and copies all of their shit. The working class is totally abandoning the lie, Albo just hopes enough immigrants believe it? No more Turnbull's, Albos and Scomos please.

 

[the phantom menace]

since the jailing of David McBride in our country, it is even more clear that (genuine) whistle-blower protections

Agree with everything else in your post - but don't see McBride and "genuine" whistleblower belonging in the same sentence. He was releasing info (apparently against existing rules) originally because he thought people were over-criticising alleged military war crimes - but the info he released ended up proving and being used for the opposite to his original intention.

Edited to add source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-25/david-mcbride-afghan-files-dan-oakes-four-corners/103542714

He [McBride] spent months staying back at night gathering secret files from his work computer, compiling an internal complaint about the ADF leadership alleging that SAS soldiers were being wrongly accused and illegally investigated for war crimes.

“If there is political bullshit going on against soldiers, and it doesn’t matter whether they’re SAS or not, you need to stand up for it,” McBride says.

His complaint was dismissed.

 

[strider]

You must have missed this bit.

You must have missed this bit ...

Dutton

 

[strider]

I don't care if it was hacked to damage Trump or Clinton

LOL .... hilarious ..... good one.

 

[hindy111]

Trump adds another 900mill to his wealth.
Yet people say he is a dope

Donald Trump’s Net Worth Jumps About $900 Million As Trump Media Shares Surge 27%

Despite the increase, the former president’s stake in the company has lost nearly $1.6 billion in value this month.

www.forbes.com

 

[Twizzle]

^^^
His stake in the company has lost about $1.6 billion in value this month, after Trump Media’s share price opened at just over $49 on June 3.

 

[Gronk]

LOL .... hilarious ..... good one.

You’re being a knob.

This is not about politics. It’s about ethics, morals and principles.

 

[the phantom menace]

So, in the US election.... with non-compulsory voting... what do we think happens when Tay-Tay tweets out to all her Swifties who she's going to vote for (or not vote for) this time around?

 

[Gronk]

I was in the car tonight and had the pleasure of listening to Matt Canavan and some other woman from the Nats debate the vaping reforms in the senate arguing that they should not be banned.

The ban extends to everything except for prescription used for quitting the durries. It’s all about getting it away from the kids. Research shows that 1 in 6 high school kids have vapped in the last month. 50% of these were nicotine vapes.

Nope, he’s not having it.

Here's what we know about Australia's move to restrict sale of vapes from next week

The Commonwealth government's "world-leading" vape ban is expected to come into effect next week, but sudden changes mean they will be easier to buy in October.

www.abc.net.au

Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024

Key points The Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024 amends the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 and other Commonwealth Acts to prohibit the importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertisement of non-therapeutic

www.aph.gov.au

 

[the phantom menace]

It was disappointing that the greens caved into pressure from somewhere (?) and wanted a concession for vapes to be available without prescription through pharmacies too to pass the bill in the Senate.

Why would Canavan even argue for more than that?

 

[Gronk]

 

[hindy111]

I was in the car tonight and had the pleasure of listening to Matt Canavan and some other woman from the Nats debate the vaping reforms in the senate arguing that they should not be banned.

The ban extends to everything except for prescription used for quitting the durries. It’s all about getting it away from the kids. Research shows that 1 in 6 high school kids have vapped in the last month. 50% of these were nicotine vapes.

Nope, he’s not having it.

Here's what we know about Australia's move to restrict sale of vapes from next week

The Commonwealth government's "world-leading" vape ban is expected to come into effect next week, but sudden changes mean they will be easier to buy in October.

www.abc.net.au

Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024

Key points The Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024 amends the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 and other Commonwealth Acts to prohibit the importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertisement of non-therapeutic

www.aph.gov.au

My mate vaped for a year and ended with fluid on his lung and unable to breathe freely. Severe chest pain. 6mths later with no vaping and still hasn't recovered 100%.
And counts vaping in my face and blowing that smelly shit all over the place. It's worse then cigarettes if also me.
I'd ban them all together.

 

[hindy111]

Who even vapes? I hardly see anyone smoke cigarettes these days. Maybe your older generation 50+
Vaping seems like a 13-30ylds. Why isn't it banned? It cleary targets innocent kids.
Government is weak as piss

 

[Gronk]

Nationals have little to be proud of on vaping reforms

The National Party’s position on vaping is a tax grab that shows a complete disregard for the health of Australians.

www.ama.com.au

newsGP - Ban tobacco and vape political donations: RACGP

It is among the college suggestions for proposed laws aimed at ensuring Australia remains a ‘world leader’ in tobacco control.

www1.racgp.org.au

Campaign Media Release

Special Minister of State Mark Dreyfus



LABOR TO BAN POLITICAL PARTIES FROM ACCEPTING TOBACCO DONATIONS

A re-elected Rudd Labor Government will ban political parties from accepting tobacco company donations and will take immediate steps to end tobacco investments across government.

According to the World Health Organization tobacco is “the only legal consumer product that kills when used exactly as intended by the manufacturer”, with 15,000 Australians dying each year from smoking related illness.

Federal Labor will amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to ban donations from tobacco companies to Australian political parties and candidates. This measure will reduce the ability of big tobacco to influence public policy in Australia.

The Liberal Party has accepted more than $3 million in donations from big tobacco since 1999, and is clearly unable to kick the habit despite the concerns of Liberal MPs like Russell Broadbent and Mal Washer, Liberal candidates like Bill Glasson and Liberal Premiers like Colin Barnett.

Tobacco companies themselves have admitted they only donate to political parties to try to influence policy. By British American Tobacco’s own admission, they only donate to the Liberal Party to influence Liberal Party policy.

“We have a clear policy and compliance procedures on political donations…” “Such payments can only be made for the purpose of influencing…” BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO WEBSITE

We will also take steps to end tobacco investments across government, and work with entities like the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation to exclude tobacco investments from their investment portfolio.

This builds on the actions of the Future Fund, which excluded tobacco companies from its investment portfolio earlier this year.


Federal Labor has a strong record of action to reduce smoking rates:

⢠Australia was the first country in the world to require all tobacco products to be in plain packaging with new, bigger graphic health warnings. New Zealand and Ireland are now following our lead. Evidence suggests that it’s working. ⢠Investment of more than $135 million in anti-smoking social marketing

campaigns. ⢠Comprehensive advertising restrictions under the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992, including, from 6 September 2012, internet advertising in Australia. ⢠The Government spends over $50m each year to help smokers access

smoking cessation therapies to help them give up smoking. ⢠The 2013-14 Budget included a $226.4 million investment in cancer care, part of the $4.1 billion the Federal Labor Government has invested in

cancer screening, treatment and care since 2007. ⢠The Government has already made large investments in health and hospitals. National Health Reform is providing an additional $20 billion in

funding to 2019-20. ⢠Labor increased the price of tobacco by 25% in 2010, which has helped reduce total tobacco consumption by 11%. In August 2013, Labor announced a further phased increase in tobacco excise of 12% per year

for the next four years.



22 AUGUST 2013

https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22media/pressrel/2701336%22

 

[Gronk]

As I understand it, British Tobacco and Phillip Morris are still donating to the Nationals, however they do so by stealth. They become members of the body that represents Newsagents for example and then donate through the back door.

Labor committed to this ban in 2004. The LNP said they would too.

 

[Gronk]

Agree with everything else in your post - but don't see McBride and "genuine" whistleblower belonging in the same sentence. He was releasing info (apparently against existing rules) originally because he thought people were over-criticising alleged military war crimes - but the info he released ended up proving and being used for the opposite to his original intention.

Edited to add source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-25/david-mcbride-afghan-files-dan-oakes-four-corners/103542714

He [McBride] spent months staying back at night gathering secret files from his work computer, compiling an internal complaint about the ADF leadership alleging that SAS soldiers were being wrongly accused and illegally investigated for war crimes.

“If there is political bullshit going on against soldiers, and it doesn’t matter whether they’re SAS or not, you need to stand up for it,” McBride says.

His complaint was dismissed.

Hmm it’s complicated. His intentions were to protect soldiers who were being thrown under the bus ?

David McBride considered the investigations conducted by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) into the conduct of soldiers in Afghanistan to be improper for several reasons. He believed that the investigations were politically motivated and aimed at protecting the image of the ADF rather than seeking justice. Specifically, McBride felt that good soldiers were being unfairly targeted and put through serious trauma as part of what he described as a “PR exercise” in response to public concerns over soldier behavior. He was particularly concerned that these investigations were not genuinely aimed at uncovering the truth or addressing any actual wrongdoing but were instead being used to manage public perception and maintain the ADF’s reputation .

Dark day for democracy as military whistleblower David McBride imprisoned | Human Rights Law Centre

Civil society groups have expressed grave concern and alarm after military whistleblower David McBride was sentenced to almost six years’ imprisonment in the ACT Supreme Court.

www.hrlc.org.au