Australia - you're standing in it

Sheepdog's picture
Sheepdog started the topic in Friday, 18 Sep 2020 at 11:51am

The "I can't believe it's not politics" thread.

DingOZ's picture
DingOZ's picture
DingOZ Tuesday, 13 Jan 2026 at 9:06pm
loungelizard wrote:

Apologies to Yanis, but when I read "former greek finance minister" I couldn't resist, it reminded me of reading about 2 journalists once competing to get the most inconsequential article published, the winner was "small earthquake in Peru, no-one injured"

Trivia factoid: He married the woman Cocker wrote this classic Brit-pop song about.

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Tuesday, 13 Jan 2026 at 9:41pm

Very early in this interview with Paul Williams of Griffith Uni, they mention ON polling at 21% and 23% in two early polls of 2026.

Paul had a good quote about ON: "What the One Nation Party resembles, more of a old Labor Party from the 1950s and an old Country party from the 1930s than any other party. Um and that's that's where One Nations, you know, that's and so you've got old farmers, old miners, um who and and a younger generation of people who feel that disenfranchised. Um and of course you got a middle class or a lower middle class. This is a big point too that you know we've talked about inflation since the end of covid and you know the Reserve Bank tells us oh the inflation genie is back in the bottle but when you get people at the checkout still paying $330 for a couple of bag bags of groceries they can carry to the car. Yeah. Uh they realize that hang on there are two Australias here neither the government neither the Labour party nor the coalition is doing anything about the cost of living..."

(taken from the transcript and not edited too much)

DingOZ's picture
DingOZ's picture
DingOZ Tuesday, 13 Jan 2026 at 9:46pm

Coincidentally, Pulp are headlining Adelaide Festival. You can't make this shit up.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Tuesday, 13 Jan 2026 at 9:54pm

interesting stuff @Ding (worth pointing out to crew, when you hear on the news about the falling apart of the Festival committee - now down to 1 - it is the FESTIVAL committee, like the whole she-bang, they run Writers Week as part of the Festival https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/ Pretty dire time for the core of Adelaide's mad march (car racing and WOMAD and the Fringe are seperate to the Festival)

DingOZ's picture
DingOZ's picture
DingOZ Tuesday, 13 Jan 2026 at 10:03pm

Yeah, I had to take issue when Mr ll's explosive (yet mildly entertaining) let off started having a go at the authors. You don't get invited to writers' festivals without being a respected writer.

Unfortunately, Adelaide Festival '26 will be written off as a bad job. Hopefully it can be resurrected and will serve as a salient lesson for our pluralistic society.

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Tuesday, 13 Jan 2026 at 10:27pm

What a legend, went through hell and saved his animals and himself.

Fishofillet's picture
Fishofillet's picture
Fishofillet Tuesday, 13 Jan 2026 at 10:52pm
velocityjohnno wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGYPtFWPn2E

Very early in this interview with Paul Williams of Griffith Uni, they mention ON polling at 21% and 23% in two early polls of 2026.

Paul had a good quote about ON: "What the One Nation Party resembles, more of a old Labor Party from the 1950s and an old Country party from the 1930s than any other party. Um and that's that's where One Nations, you know, that's and so you've got old farmers, old miners, um who and and a younger generation of people who feel that disenfranchised. Um and of course you got a middle class or a lower middle class. This is a big point too that you know we've talked about inflation since the end of covid and you know the Reserve Bank tells us oh the inflation genie is back in the bottle but when you get people at the checkout still paying $330 for a couple of bag bags of groceries they can carry to the car. Yeah. Uh they realize that hang on there are two Australias here neither the government neither the Labour party nor the coalition is doing anything about the cost of living..."

(taken from the transcript and not edited too much)

Haha... and you know, we're all racists so that works too

sypkan's picture
sypkan's picture
sypkan Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026 at 12:21am

interesting statement from malinauskas

https://x.com/Smoovster/status/2010990887229431997

certainly seems to have gotten the outrage peddlers pedalling

sypkan's picture
sypkan's picture
sypkan Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026 at 12:23am

humorous...

https://x.com/thebigjohnnyd/status/2010966041594397081

but my gawwds thats some deranged shit

Hiccups's picture
Hiccups's picture
Hiccups Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026 at 10:33am
DingOZ wrote:

Coincidentally, Pulp are headlining Adelaide Festival. You can't make this shit up.

They're being urged to pull out, and seeing as in the past they've spoken out re: Palestine, they most likely will.

Hiccups's picture
Hiccups's picture
Hiccups Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026 at 10:34am
sypkan wrote:

humorous...

https://x.com/thebigjohnnyd/status/2010966041594397081

but my gawwds thats some deranged shit

sypkan's picture
sypkan's picture
sypkan Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026 at 11:34am

albo's 'hate' bill going down like a bucket of sick

when you've pissed off both the anti natanyahu crowd, the anti muslim crowd, and tony windsor... you know its a winner!

if liberals support this, it will be the end of them as a serious entity

whoops... thats the end of that...

https://x.com/TonyHWindsor/status/2011032595979739261

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026 at 5:34pm

Dedicate a few Oz neoliberal Chix classics to rescue Peter's Nuremberg Writers Festival

*Warnings moving Clockwise

That dog is vicious with a smile on his face
Can be rough-shod and mobile, or well-bred as lace
And Peter's crying wolf, this week he's eating from the streets
With one shoe on, with one shoe off, he's crawling on his feet

Now there's warnings moving clockwise in my direction
Wake up yawning just to hear them push in the blow
There's a muzzle arm at sunrise, it wants my attention
But my legs are pins and needles and my fingers are slow
Too slow...

Changed my religion and I look to the east
And I check my local papers for the mark of the beast
It's the trumpets above me that disturb me the least
'til my logical thinking is illogically ceased
...

My friend is happy, she moves to the breeze
And she devotes her energies to saving the trees
While I think of people dying on their knees
While we're two of the millions more ignoring their pleas
...

My hands are steady and I look to the skies
And I ask for a messenger who never replies
I see jets over Jordan, and tears in the eyes
Of a people who weather while society lies
...

*Killing Me

Love, don't rescue me
I've got nowhere better I want to be
I want to be held but not beholden
Standing my ground with one eye open
This fight doesn't quite add up, Love I thought you were free
But now I'm on the hook for all you've given me
Does it matter what I say or think or do?
You see what you see with the lens you're looking through
This fight keeps me tied to the worst in me
And it's killing me! Killing me

Love, I'm losing my voice, You led me to believe
I had a choice, let's pause, retract our claws
You could take my side, while I take yours
This fight keeps me tied, to the worst in me
And it's killing me! Killing me
Love...Come rescue me
I've got nowhere better I want to be
This fight keeps me tied to the worst in me
And it's killing me! Killing me! Killing me! Killing me

&list=OLAK5uy_kfbSsYLw5Eox3qdmutWPqKPaalMGxzD6s&index=9

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026 at 10:10pm

Constitutional expert Anne Twomey on the forthcoming hate speech laws, worth a read:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/one-word-makes-proposed-race-hat...

sypkan's picture
sypkan's picture
sypkan Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026 at 11:24pm

at first glance, I thought albo's 'hate' bill was an atrocious overreach and misplacement of power...

especially because it was premised on him saying he 'needs to unite us'

but now, 12 - 24 hours in, I can see I was wrong...

he's done a great job in uniting us!

https://x.com/JJKALE2/status/2011243857246322772

https://x.com/MichaelWestBiz/status/2011191105329766819

https://x.com/MikeCarlton01/status/2011351809869431169

https://x.com/YaThinkN/status/2011382684648640793

https://x.com/JustinGlynSJ/status/2011168558030676084

https://x.com/noplaceforsheep/status/2011339970137707002

https://x.com/k_eagar/status/2010987486085070996

https://x.com/TonyHWindsor/status/2011179953153565104

in absolute disdain for his bill

nice work albo!

enjoying this moment of unity

seeds's picture
seeds's picture
seeds Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026 at 11:40pm

You need a maccas soft serve old mate
That fixes everything
And it won’t break the bank.

Peter Reynolds's picture
Peter Reynolds's picture
Peter Reynolds Thursday, 15 Jan 2026 at 7:56am
AlfredWallace wrote:
Peter Reynolds wrote:

Some interesting poll results coming in lately, 18-24 year olds have registered:
-The biggest resistance to changing Australia Day.
-The group that lays the highest amount of blame for the Bondi attack on Albo
-The biggest drop in concern for climate change.
These statistics were completely reversed before the Labor party took charge.
Labor is so uncool brus

Well, that entire cohort has no bloody idea about anything then, like yourself.
Statistics, NEWS, social media’ likes and followers, influencers etc’ , they don’t live in the real world.
If someone else or party doesn’t provide them with info, well, they’ve got nothing.
We live in an era where people don’t think for themselves anymore. Everything is hashtag, like or dislike dished up on a platter.
One party I’ll say I love your big fake silicone tits, the other party says they’re gross and disgusting.
What a shit indictment on society it is.

And you’re worried about interesting poll results.
Who says they’re interesting ? AW

Well I would respectfully disagree with you fine sir AW,
Just like Albo, I have listened to the people and have now changed my mind, I hereby now fully support WOKENESS!
Young people are so woke and wide awake they are now starting to come over to the correct side of all our culture wars!!!!! Well done Albo I salute you!
LONG LIVE WOKENESS!!!

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Thursday, 15 Jan 2026 at 8:04am

did you refuse to share knot-tying information with someone on here @PR? how downright unAustralian..

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Thursday, 15 Jan 2026 at 8:32am

A follow up on the hate speech laws to be jammed through next week, as criticism mounts and even gains offshore attention:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/social-media-posts-could-fall-fo...

So it's been lots of fun talking to you and getting to know you all, the debates have gone back and forth and I'll defend your rights to have the opposing viewpoint to me and your rights to say it, but it looks like that time is over. And for those who are more in agreeance, I'll shout you a wave! :)

The practical implication of it, the blowback that I keep mentioning - hoping to avoid - is that people who feel they cannot express themselves freely often bottle up the feelings and then lose their shit in mass protests that appear spontaneously. Look at the stuff that has happened in the UK since the policing of tweets. A functioning democracy should not need to go down this path.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Thursday, 15 Jan 2026 at 10:01am

I 'Notice' that sleeper 'news' site, (which quietyly ticks along cherry picking headlines where they can shoehorn someone's race or 'LGBT+' into an obscure outrage-inducing headline) has woken up.. this is what the site is for, to rally the troops when there is a political agenda on the move. Sam Duncan is a fucking idiot.

blackers's picture
blackers's picture
blackers Thursday, 15 Jan 2026 at 11:53am

I'm sure there is some outrage associated with this, but it seems a step in the right direction.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-14/police-crackdown-illegal-erideabl...
791df1d2b36342f5cda94602cb4726da
b6766e7b4f156e111ffdbf03f60870b4

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Thursday, 15 Jan 2026 at 12:20pm

12y/o Pawn tbb-accused, beaten & hospitalized for Jewish Bully's Hate spray of Catholic School Leader.
Welcome to Qld Police State Victimization...only got worse for tbb from this 1976 shitshow trial to now.

Innocent victim tbb's horrific Assembly 'Headmaster's Graffiti Trial' that not even Family know half of.
If and when they choose another innocent child as next victim...tbb simply runs fingers over his scars!
The poor little innocent bastard...pulls petal off flower...fly be free next fetal positioned anti-Semite.
Could share why innocent tbb was scapegoated but experts would deny any existence of such incident!
Yet tbb bears physical childhood scars as a symbol of power by Catholic Leader + Jewish Bully's hands.
Even have a Get well card signed by Teacher & whole class but for one Student's name is missing...
That being the Perpetrator! Smart crew will know why Perpetrator's Handwriting is exempt! Got it!

err...tbb ya do know the Writer's Festival was cancelled...
File it under : Local Paper Boy's Dystopian 1976 Police State Religious Might is Right Biographical

LNP State brands [Punkrocker] tbb Poor, Fat, Old, lazy & still drugged & locked up by LNP in 2025.
Correct : [PUNKROCKER] Biro Carved Top of tbb's Police File...pulled up 3x daily for any crime...
Whole town of Daily Death Stares > Abused with constant hourly death threats
Monthly knife to Throat or Guts or Smash yer head or often getting jumped at night by 100 fence pailings
Go home for some rest to have yer doors kicked in > cuffed & accused of [RAPE!] or choose Worse crime!
Persecuted & censored for words you never wrote, did write or about to write from age 12 to now.
50 years on & tbb can't openly share why he was hospitalized as a child by Words he never wrote!
All here know...be labelled > persecuted > hunted down & likely charged with yet another hate crime!

Sit'n'watch GC Bully live on line reword tbb's posts...like Back 2 the Future / Hogwarts News change!
Wonder what tbb is gonna say next...The Whole original post now reworded as a tbb Bully Ad of sorts.
That was the point of GCB Your Say...( Any that push the envelope cop the Bully rewrite) We own you!

Worst is when these highly paid Violent Hate speaking Boss Religious Right Wing nut Jobs...
Stuff vile hate in ya mouth & put poison pen in yer hand to example to the world an Enemy of the State.

Never even know what yer supposed to have said or when nor by which Wealthy Powerful Perpetrator.

Just to wipe ya off their Godforsaken Green Earth they do...squish the bug.

Monthly becomes Weekly denied Health treatment...worn out any all bullshit made up lies to deny tbb.

Cyclone Blackout with Post Reffo Hub GP Referral for [000] e-script : Entitles e-Reffo to 1 scoop of e-air!
12 hours wait > Have all my Cyclone Med Rations/ ID/Keys confiscated > Get locked up in a loony bin!
Escaped Midnite > Still LNP torment tbb...Take the Drugs > Deny assist > Harass my GP to lock me Up.

Be last time tbb seeks Emergency assist during an ABC mini musolini meltdown...Oh the Pain! The Pain!
Recently pleaded with GP to never call for an Ambo to Hospital...only to be rubbished to death.

Told GP Next blackout tbb will seek sanctuary on a Toilet Floor sucking air from Hand Blowers...
If ya think tbb is joking...already scoped out safest disease friendly Posh Tiled Toilet Floors on Goldie!
Doubly Adapted [000] Toilet Timeshares for fellow Qld Health e-scripted deported Reffo outpatients.
Not sharing tbb's Last Gasp [000] Accom listing with right wing barbs...can takeover yer own port-a-loo!

It's harrowing & exhausting to be labelled, punished & denied Health because of who you are or aren't.
50 years Religious Right wing Paranoid Hate Speech & violence upon a very ill victim tbb...sick of it!

Can't heal, swim walk, talk without rightwing Fuhrers denying tbb's quest to live with or without peace.
Joh's Police State never died with Joh ...d'd'don't you w'worry 'bout that... [Vote NAZI 4 PM]

Peter Reynolds's picture
Peter Reynolds's picture
Peter Reynolds Thursday, 15 Jan 2026 at 1:44pm
basesix wrote:

did you refuse to share knot-tying information with someone on here @PR? how downright unAustralian..

Hahahahahaha you got me there mate, however I did do a reveal, you obviously missed it!

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Friday, 16 Jan 2026 at 4:25am

AI : No Nation...not US / UK/ Israel have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism as a stand-alone criminal law. Like other democracies, it addresses antisemitic conduct through existing criminal and civil laws, treating the IHRA definition as a non-binding reference framework.
https://www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/
............................
Oz Background
May 2016 : World IHRA
15 July 2021 : Opposition ALP Albo Adopts IHRA
https://www.australianjewishnews.com/anthony-albanese-blasts-israel-boyc...

Albo condemned the rise in antisemitism generally, saying he is “deeply concerned” about its re-emergence, also acknowledging the surge of antisemitism from the extreme left.
He added that he is “very, very supportive” of specifically identifying antisemitism, like other forms of racism, and that antisemitism “should be talked about and should be taught [about]” and said a Labor government would endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

ALP led from the front on Antisemitism & dragged [L] Govt to the Table to support IHRA > 4 mths on...

14 Oct 2021 [L] Govt Finally address Antisemitism & Sign IHRA.
https://www.ecaj.org.au/australia-pledges-to-embrace-the-ihra-working-de...

*ECAJ President, Jillian Segal AO : “I also acknow­ledge the support of a great many par­lia­ment­ari­ans from the gov­ern­ment and the oppos­i­tion, including Federal Oppos­i­tion leader, Anthony Albanese”.

Now don't that beat all and make ya wanna cry...Huh! (Like who Knew Albo is the Good guy...Shh!)
{ Albo the Jewish Leader / Peacemaker : "I think I got Love on my hands!"...(Love / Blood...woteva!)

This cross-party support was welcomed by major Australian Jewish organizations, such as the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) and the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), as it indicated a united front against antisemitism that transcended partisan politics. State governments, such as New South Wales, also adopted the definition with bipartisan support.

tbb examples how ALP Albo dragged reluctant [L] up to the mark to Jointly combat Antisemitism.
SKYBC [L] Jewish Lobby all conveniently forget that Albo led the fight on Oz Antisemitism...Ok!
Just saying...coz ain't no one ever gonna share the Truth! (Exactly!) We all feel sick now tbb...FU.

2024 Mid Genocide...
8 July : PM Albo is under the pump > appoints Special Antisemitism Envoy
29 Sept : AFP Ardvarna (Antisemitic Hate Symbols)
29 Oct : (UN/Parliament Senate Inquiry) Antisemitism in Unis (Runs 29 Nov/ 12 Dec/ 22 Jan/ 5 Feb)
9 Dec AFP Avalite (High Harm Antisemitism)
14 Dec AFP Pearl (Antisemitic Strike Force)

2025
14 Jan : Tackling rising tide of Antisemitism Incidence [NSW/Vic/AFP] + (Envoy Support!)
19 Jan AFP Kissenger (Dural)
31 March Uni Antisemitism Report ( see 29 Oct 2024)

Pause : Israel / Jewish Lobby + [L] + Media unite is declaring Albo did nothing...
Only that's a Lie...Clear to all he did 100x more than any Lazy arse [L] before him...All say Aye!
Plus he lowered record Oz antisemitic incidents during this period...all refuse to report this!

TACKLE THE ANTISEMITISM CRISIS
[L] Election "Antisemitic Campaign" ( Shares first signs of Power Mad Statutory Upgrade )
Dutto : Create a new, dedicated antisemitism taskforce led by the AFP, bringing together Commonwealth agencies and state and territory police. We will direct the taskforce to investigate unsolved crimes against the Jewish community, and refer any visa holders involved in acts of antisemitism for immediate cancellation and deportation.
Note this Massive Pamper Pack was Soundly Rejected...

3 May (Election)
Top 5 Jewish Seats soundly rejected [L] $Gazillion Antisemitic Rescue Pack (Shit...they reckon!)
Any Expert saying Oz Jewish Voters were backing [L] Mid Antisemitic Crisis are telling big lies!

[L] W'Worth [-8.92] B'Field [-3.41] K'Smith [-3.88] Mac'nra [+.37] *G'stein [+1.88]
ALP W'Worth [-4.35] G'stein [+.07] B'Field [+2.56] *K'Smith [+3.88] *Mac'nra [+4.45]
Clear to see Oz Jewish Mob mid Crisis Voted ALP Policy over [L] Antisemitism Fear Factor!
All see [L] Have least Mandate for Inquiry / Antisemitism Laws...ToR (More fear factor!)

10 July Special Envoy Report (Shocks Shock-Jocks) Everyone do as I say > Said Now Fuckers! Run....
11 Aug ALP Govt Recognize Palestine [L] Nearly kill Albo in US...do wot ya like with the body!
Nov RESOLUTION ON ANTISEMITISM Young Labor Branches ( Links)
https://aild.org.au/resolution-on-antisemitism-adopted-at-the-australian...
3 Dec ECAJ Antisemitic incidents drop 20% 2024> 2025
14 Dec Terror Attack (10 m swear Albo did this, even today more Daily Death Threats on PM)
18 December 2025 [L] Switch Social Cohesion for Antisemitism then Extreme Extremism Crisis

[ Coalition Calls For Urgent Laws To Combat Antisemitism And Terror ]
Pass Legislation to Give Effect to the Special Envoy’s Plan. The Antisemitism Envoy should be made a [statutory office empowered by an Antisemitism Envoy Act]. The legislation should cement the Special Envoy’s functions and enact the definition of antisemitism, as set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

Restart Ai...(Here!)
*In contrast, certain elements within the Australian Liberal Party and associated advocacy groups are pushing to incorporate the definition into law, or use it as a policy tool, primarily as a means to suppress speech critical of Israel's government and actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which they conflate with antisemitism.

*Australian Liberal Party's Position
The push by the Australian Liberal Party to adopt the IHRA definition, particularly some of its illustrative examples that relate to criticism of Israel, stems from several factors:

*Conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism: Seven of the eleven examples provided with the IHRA definition involve criticism of Israel. Proponents in Australia argue these criticisms are inherently antisemitic, while critics argue this conflates legitimate political debate about the Israeli state with racial or religious prejudice against Jewish people.

*A "policy tool" for institutions: The push is often to have the definition adopted at all levels of government, public institutions, and universities, not necessarily through a new criminal statute but as a framework to govern internal policies and discourse. This is seen by supporters as providing clarity in identifying antisemitism and by critics as a way to "chill" free speech and academic freedom regarding Palestine.

*Political pressure: The campaign for the adoption of the definition is heavily driven by advocacy groups and political figures who seek to control the narrative around the Israel-Palestine issue in Australia.
Critics highlight that using a non-binding definition to create a criminal law or policy that stifles debate about a foreign state's actions is a misuse of the definition's original intent, and argue that existing Australian race-hatred laws are sufficient to deal with genuine antisemitism...
(End of Ai.)

29 Dec ALP Independent Commonwealth Review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies (terms of reference)

2026
8 Jan ALP Govt Royal Inquiry into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion?
13 Jan ALP Govt Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 (Cough!)

Pretty sure the Social Cohesion + Antisemitism is too soon & late + Extremism is not Extreme enough!

Yeah but we still got our [L] Social Cohesion Crisis don't we...Oh! FFS Did [L] Lose another Crisis
https://www.liberal.org.au/2025/09/01/australias-social-cohesion-crisis
Mid Dec: (See above)
Social Cohesion Haze drowned out by Antisemitism Craze now a spell of Extremely Extreme Extremism
Them Indian Gurus now preach Groovy Social Cohesion Mantra...they don't mind a freebie!
https://www.facebook.com/IndianLinkAustralia/videos/social-cohesion-isnt...

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Friday, 16 Jan 2026 at 3:11pm

The kids instantly found work-arounds or bluffed their way back in.

Bless them.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-world-watched-as-australia-k...

Now, let the whack-a-mole continue...

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 16 Jan 2026 at 3:48pm
velocityjohnno wrote:

The kids instantly found work-arounds or bluffed their way back in.

Bless them.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-world-watched-as-australia-k...

Now, let the whack-a-mole continue...

Not sure that's a good thing?

After seeing what my older boy is going through I'm thankful we have the ban, even if it isn't completely effective.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Friday, 16 Jan 2026 at 3:53pm

at least it is not condoned behaviour, think of it like vaping. because shit hits the fan if kids are caught vaping, most don't do it. but many do cos it is naughty and their friends do it. kids even talk about their 'vape dealer', usually some lonely 20 year old ratbag. but how cool is that? that they have to be sneaky to do it. it is only vaping for god's sake, but better we don't just say 'go hard, kids'. in my book, all in all, that is a good result. so is the underage socials ban thing. kinda like hadrian's wall. disruptive rather than preventative.

GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley Friday, 16 Jan 2026 at 4:41pm

Worse than Dutton given how she’s sold her soul to keep her job!!IMG-4090

sypkan's picture
sypkan's picture
sypkan Friday, 16 Jan 2026 at 5:50pm

more like saved her soul and saved her job

for now...

sypkan's picture
sypkan's picture
sypkan Friday, 16 Jan 2026 at 5:49pm

probably too late though

another win from albo...

https://x.com/craigkellyAFEE/status/2012047984226398656

GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley Friday, 16 Jan 2026 at 5:56pm
sypkan wrote:

probably too late though

another win from albo...

https://x.com/craigkellyAFEE/status/2012047984226398656

IMG 4091

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Wednesday, 21 Jan 2026 at 1:04pm
velocityjohnno wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGYPtFWPn2E

Very early in this interview with Paul Williams of Griffith Uni, they mention ON polling at 21% and 23% in two early polls of 2026.

Paul had a good quote about ON: "What the One Nation Party resembles, more of a old Labor Party from the 1950s and an old Country party from the 1930s than any other party. Um and that's that's where One Nations, you know, that's and so you've got old farmers, old miners, um who and and a younger generation of people who feel that disenfranchised. Um and of course you got a middle class or a lower middle class. This is a big point too that you know we've talked about inflation since the end of covid and you know the Reserve Bank tells us oh the inflation genie is back in the bottle but when you get people at the checkout still paying $330 for a couple of bag bags of groceries they can carry to the car. Yeah. Uh they realize that hang on there are two Australias here neither the government neither the Labour party nor the coalition is doing anything about the cost of living..."

(taken from the transcript and not edited too much)

Yep, the first time in Australia’s history that a minor party has polled higher than one of the major parties.
It says volumes despite the fact that these polls rarely translate to the ballot box at election time.
In any case, the flight from the two majors continues - the Libs are a smouldering piss-stained wreck and and despite being put on notice again and again, year after year, Labor won't or can't address the big ticket issues such as
cost and standard of living, housing and accommodation, and high levels of immigration/population growth (60%+ against current levels).

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Wednesday, 21 Jan 2026 at 6:53pm

I think the Nats pried themselves out of the piss-stained wreck in the senate last night. So that's the first poll in Oz with a minor higher than one of the majors? Hmm. Been watching it also happen in the UK, where it's gone further, and they are banning 4 million people from voting in upcoming council elections on a technicality where a landslide against their majors was expected.

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 at 12:18am

Nats are piling out.
That wreck looks like a clown car now.

blackers's picture
blackers's picture
blackers Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 at 2:03am

The 4 percenters will go down with the rest in that wreck

GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 at 7:32am

Hey @vj, reform in the UK get lower house seats only as their upper chamber is for “lords” whereas here Pauline and her One Nation party can only get senate seats. She and her band of knuckleheads will never form government just like the #grifter Price will never be PM (boy didn’t she back the wrong team??) however they will cause kaos if they get enough upper house seats!!

The sort of kaos that might make the PM pull the trigger on a double dissolution election which would be a massive own goal for ON

A Salty Dog's picture
A Salty Dog's picture
A Salty Dog Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 at 1:02pm
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 at 1:12pm
simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 at 3:08pm

^ send the ungrateful fukwit back to wherever he comes from

burleigh's picture
burleigh's picture
burleigh Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 at 3:29pm

It's all good. Just one crazy person. Don't you dare try and say there is a problem in Australia with a certain religion.

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 at 4:39pm

haha wouldn't dream of it shhh !

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 at 5:36pm
andy-mac's picture
andy-mac's picture
andy-mac Friday, 23 Jan 2026 at 6:42am
burleigh's picture
burleigh's picture
burleigh Saturday, 24 Jan 2026 at 11:01am

We’re doomed as a nation:

?si=rYVV1II6OylXdtq1

seeds's picture
seeds's picture
seeds Saturday, 24 Jan 2026 at 5:12pm

Burls, getting bold, with the rise of the party he votes for.

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Saturday, 24 Jan 2026 at 5:38pm
Roadkill wrote:

This shit hits home when it’s where you live.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-22/sepehr-saryazdi-faces-court-on-te...

Torture until near death then deport.

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Saturday, 24 Jan 2026 at 6:43pm
burleigh wrote:

We’re doomed as a nation:
https://youtu.be/sfJZUT5go6Y?si=rYVV1II6OylXdtq1

What, we're doomed if there's knuckle draggers around like that bald grogan?

tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter Saturday, 24 Jan 2026 at 7:09pm
goofyfoot wrote:
Roadkill wrote:

This shit hits home when it’s where you live.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-22/sepehr-saryazdi-faces-court-on-te...

Torture until near death then deport.

I'd lock him up and farm the skin on his arse for burns patients for the rest of his life.

seeds's picture
seeds's picture
seeds Saturday, 24 Jan 2026 at 7:31pm

I’d put a dandelion up his barrel and whisper sweet nothings. Peace.
Let’s not get too carried away fellas, we don’t want to become them.

tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter Saturday, 24 Jan 2026 at 8:05pm

I get a bit grumpy after dealing with holiday crowds, and not just in the surf.
Just gotta keep it together until Tuesday and I'll be fine,