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Wednesday, 21 June
23:45
Yeah Nah Pasaran! #166 w Bill Peel on Black Metal, Red Politics : June 22, 2023 "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
June is Radiothon Month at Melbourne community radio station 3CR. Weve published a fundraiser on GiveNow to which youre welcome to contribute and help keep community radio on the air. This week on Yeah Nah Pasaran! we talk to Bill Continue reading
18:55
Who is Christian Porters sugar daddy? (part 1) "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
By guest columnist Tess Lawrence Readers know that our guest columnist Tess Lawrence has the naughty habit of calling a spade a pickaxe, especially when excavating the toxic sewers of politics and bodily wastes left in the wake of certain politicians, in this case the erstwhile Attorney-General, Christian Porter who fancied himself a future prime
The post Who is Christian Porters sugar daddy? (part 1) appeared first on The AIM Network.
17:33
The New Global Financing Pact equals the old failed global financial arrangements "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Its Wednesday and I cover a few topics usually in less depth than usual and provide a musical entree. From tomorrow (June 22 to 23), the so-called world leaders are meeting in Paris for the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact which is being hosted by the French president. The aim, apparently,
16:00
Voice referendum a possible step towards Constitution renewal "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
The passing of the Voice referendum proposal could be a step towards renewing our Constitution into one that is more progressive and inclusive, writes Dr Klaas Woldring.
THE VOICE TO PARLIAMENT referendum proposal became law on 19 June 2023 when it was passed in the Senate: 52 for, 19 against.
In the 1967 referendum, Section 51 of the 1901 Australian Constitution was altered so that the Indigenous people were for the first time recognised as people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws by deleting other than the Aboriginal race in any State. Section 127 was removed altogether. It stated that Aborigines not to be counted in reckoning population.
Over 90% supported the amendment. There wasn't a No option. Although then regarded as fully fledged citizens, Indigenous representation in our parliaments did not follow. Some people, who are wondering now why the proposed Voice would be desirable, are saying 11 Indigenous people are actually parliamentarians in Canberra. Correct, but formally they are representing parties and their platforms, not the specific interests of the Indigenous people.
Others are saying, well they only comprise 3.2 % of the population, so why should there be specific representation of any kind just for this 3.2%? The frank answer is to make up for the lack of any serious representation of Indigenous people since the establishment of the British colony in 1788. This essentially racist attitude by the settler population has increasingly been found to be plainly wrong. Yet, when reflecting on the high levels of incarceration of Indigenous people and deaths in custody, these racist attitudes linger on regardless.
One could argue that the Indigenous people are also victims of Australia's archaic Constitution. In 2018, the Australian Law Reform Commissio...
14:43
Allowing sanctions exemption to Aussie coal company in Russia against national interest, say NGOs "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
13 June 2023
Allowing sanctions exemption to Aussie coal company in Russia against national interest, say NGOs
The Australian Government must refuse ASX listed, Tigers Realm Coals application for a permit to avoid sanctions, or risk money flowing to Putins bloody war in Ukraine, say leading NGOs.
Tigers Realms subsidiary, North Pacific Coal which mines and exports coal in the West of Russia has a number of significant Russian shareholders including recently sanctioned Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), a sovereign wealth fund created in 2011 by then-President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin.
In 2021, Tigers Realm appears to have paid a coal royalty of $945K to the Russian state and has set aside a $25 million royalty liability which could further fund Putins war in Ukraine.
In April 2023, Tigers Realm Coal disagreed with DFATs assessment that the mining operations were likely to be prohibited under Australias sanctions laws, instead stating that they were considering applying for a permit and outlining an intention to privatise the company in a possible attempt to avoid the application of these sanctions laws.
In June 2023, in a letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, four NGO...
13:58
Good riddance to feckless rubbish "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Three weeks ago Transport Minister Michael Wood was stood down after failing to properly declare a conflict of interest. Today, he's finally resigned:
Suspended transport minister Michael Wood has resigned as a Cabinet minister, after it was revealed his family trust held shares in Chorus, Spark, and the National Australia Bank that he did not declare.And good riddance to him. Wood's "explanation" for his failure to divest his Auckland airport shares despite years of reminders was always unconvincing, and "discovering" further undeclared conflicts makes it even less so. At best, he's simply too feckless to hold any position of public trust. And it certainly makes him seem completely out-of-touch with normal people, who know what they own and don't use secret trusts to try and hide their assets. But then, normal people would also check for further problems the first or second time they were told to divest, not the thirteenth. By failing to do so, he's not only ended his political career, but also invited judicial review of every decision he's made affecting the relevant companies or their competitors.Wood had made or been involved in decisions relevant to the sectors in which he held these undeclared shareholdings. The minister had already been under scrutiny for not declaring a conflict of interest related to his shareholding in Auckland Airport while working as transport minister.
"I have not managed this effectively, I take responsibility for it, and as such have submitted my resignation to the prime minister. I apologise to him and the public for this situation, Wood said.
Apparently there will be much more intense scrutiny of cabinet conflicts of interest as a result of this, and the Prime Minister is considering a full ban on shareholdings by Ministers. Good. But note what's missing from the new regime: transparency. At present conflict of interest information is guarded closely by DPMC, with only an infrequently released public summary which carefully removes any actual details. Which isn't good enough. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. If we want to be able to be sure Ministers are not behaving corruptly, and are managing their conflicts appropriately, then the secrecy over what they have declared and when steps are taken to remove them from decisions must end.
12:23
Daniel Ellsberg: The Establishments Whistleblower "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
In 1972 Stanley K. Sheinbaum, chairman of the Pentagon Papers Fund, wrote with a hot pertinence that remains striking (at this time Julian Assange is facing grave prospects of being extradited to the United States) that both Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo had struck a blow for us all when they gave the Pentagon Papers
The post Daniel Ellsberg: The Establishments Whistleblower appeared first on The AIM Network.
12:03
The Confusion About The Aims Of Education And Politics! "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Over the past few years, Ive read a lot of books about education. Most of them sound impressive and Im sure that a lot of people will read a particular one and go, Yes, thats it, thats whats wrong with the education system and if only schools would all do this then everything would be
The post The Confusion About The Aims Of Education And Politics! appeared first on The AIM Network.
12:00
U.S. dashes hopes after China meeting "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Positive outcomes of a recent meeting between China and the U.S. were dissolved by aggression and warmongering from the American media, writes Dr William Briggs.
THE MEETING in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken was broadly pitched as a positive event. Some see, in this meeting, the pathway to a more responsible approach from the USA in bilateral relations. If this were so, then the world might begin to feel a little more optimistic about the future. It is more likely to be a false hope.
Xi stressed in their meeting that the world needs a stable China-U.S. relationship. He made it clear that how the two countries manage their relationship will have a fundamental bearing on the future of humanity. A Chinese report of the meeting described how the common interests of the two countries should be valued, and their respective success is an opportunity and not a threat to each other. Xi talked of how the two countries should act with a sense of responsibility for history, for the people and for the world, and handle China-U.S. relations properly.
The Chinese leader also made the point that great power competition cannot resolve Americas problems and that China is not seeking to challenge or displace the USA, but the U.S. needs to respect China and its legitimate rights and interests.
All of this is reasonable and responsible. The cloud of optimism, however, quickly evaporated.
The U.S. State Departments response to Blinkens meetings in China and the 35-minute discussion he had with Xi is revealing. A press release from the U.S. State Department described how Blinken raised Chinas unfair and nonmarket economic practices, its h...
08:00
NBN Co fails to improve service conditions "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
NBN Co has rejected proposals for improvements after complaints were lodged against its lack of quality service by leading retail service providers, writes Paul Budde.
AS PART OF the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) industry consultation process, Telstra and Optus have again complained about NBN Co's lack of service quality improvements in the wholesale broadband agreement (WBA). NBN Co has rejected all proposed improvements by Telstra and Optus, leading retail service providers (RSPs) to call for intervention by regulators and the Government to raise standards.
One of the major points of contention is the regulated special access undertaking (SAU), which governs pricing and non-price terms for NBN access until 2040. The revised SAU seeks to increase prices without adequately improving most broadband services, leaving RSPs dissatisfied. While NBN Co claims to have made some concessions in terms of service standards, the RSPs argue that these changes are insignificant.
As discussed before, the SAU has been delayed repeatedly. This also clearly shows the monopolistic behaviour of NBN Co. It only makes piecemeal concessions to keep the process going, without seriously addressing the underlying issues. It can do so because it has a near-monopoly on fixed-based retail broadband infrastructure.
Telstra and Optus have expressed their frustration with the lack of...
07:38
How Last Weeks High-profile Resignation Will Impact the AIIB "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Despite the bad press that it generated, Canadian Bob Pickard's resignation from the Beijing-based development bank is unlikely to have a lasting impact.
07:29
Who Pays and Who Profits From High Energy Prices in Thailand? "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Many governments are facing the question of whether to absorb rising energy prices, or put the burden on the shoulders of consumers.
07:25
In which the pond offers a high on productivity groaning, the usual barking mad bromancer, and a serve of nattering "Ned" ... "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
The pond is continuing to wage war with its connectivity with Malware's marvel - it seems the calls are coming from inside the house - and don't be surprised if the pond suddenly disappears for a while under the weight of technical difficulties.
Meanwhile, this day the pond managed to stagger on, if only so that the pleasure of presenting a belated groaning could provide a splendidly productive start to the day, what with productivity all the go among pond correspondents...
It's true that if you'd ordered a groaning for Tuesday, then delivery on a Wednesday might seem like a serve of cold cuts, but that's what happens in the gig economy when the battery on the bike suddenly goes flat ...
Why did the pond elevate this sort of humdrum groaning to top
of the page? Well there was a truly mean girl projecting, and
blathering about a mean girl ...
We may never know the depth of Dame Slap's obsession, but just the headline was enough for the pond - why do the reptiles always project so nakedly and obviously? - and it was time to get back to paying less than minimum for a jolly good groaning ...
...
05:18
This is how to value property like a pro "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Australian Property Podcast
I joined Amy Lunardi to discuss how to value properties like a pro.
Tune in here (or click on the image below):
You can watch the video
Tuesday, 20 June
23:13
Australian Payment Provider Cuscal Imposes New Restrictions on Crypto; Industry Body Criticizes Move "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Sydney Opera House in Australia (Stanbalik/Pixabay)
22:22
Disinflation ahead, folks... "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Prices in decline
Pretty amazing to see the enormous slowdown in
producer prices in Canada.
Raw materials prices have dropped far more than
expected, down by a massive -18.4 per cent over the past year,
helping overall PPI to decline to -6.3 per cent over the past
year.
This is very interesting because there was an
argument that construction costs would be 'stickier' than
this.
Not so!
Germany's producer prices also fell twice as much
as expected in May, dropping -1.7 per cent, taking the year-on-year
growth down to around just 1 per cent.
This is important because the relationship between
producer prices and consumer price inflation trends to be a strong
one.
The US has also seen producer price inflation fall
to 1 per cent, while in much of Europe it looks like the inflation
story has almos...
20:52
Australian Data Center Startup Arkon Expands to U.S. With $26M in Fresh Funding "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
The data center purchase is likely to be the first of several. (Shutterstock)
17:41
Residential prices playing whack-a-mole "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
ausbiz TV: property trends
I joined Danielle Ecuyer on ausbiz TV to discuss record population growth here (or click on the image below):
17:37
Albanese auctions off game of tennis or snooker with him at The Lodge. Our Lodge. "IndyWatch Feed National"
The taxpayer funded lodge. How far up himself is this bloke?
17:12
FixedIt: Rape is about people "IndyWatch Feed National"
All headlines that erase victims and perpetrators are dehumanising, misleading, and lazy. This one is even worse because the article reports something everyone should read.
A man raped a woman. This is abhorrent, but not uncommon. The woman was able to report the rape to police. The police believed her, investigated and charged the rapist. The DPP took the case to trial and the man was convicted of rape. This series of events is remarkable.
The defence lawyer claimed the rapist was a vulnerable man who had experienced a great deal of psychological distress. This is entirely unremarkable.
Judge Gaynors response: It is not for men, such as your client, to take out their own emotional anguish and difficulties by the sexual assault of a young woman.
Some men see women as an object to assist them, or something to help themselves to in a time of personal difficulty.
(There is) this notion of a man in turmoil something clicks over in his head and the way to relieve that is by sexually assaulting a woman. Men cannot and must not, and if they do there will be very strong consequences.
In addition to the rape, the woman also told the court about the online comments shes seen making jokes and memes about the rape, and blaming her for the rapists choice to rape her.
Judge Gaynor, who clearly doesnt spend much time online, said this was extraordinary I cannot believe people can be so hideously cruel.
Judge Gaynors comments might be more incisive than most, but they are far more typical of the things said court than you might believe if you only ever read news reports.
Public institutions, such as courts, media, parliament, and police are structured to protect men from consequences of committing sexual violence and punish women for being victims of sexually violent men. Sometimes, when I see or hear a judge say the things Judge Gaynor said, I start to believe we can change those structures. Then I remember that you could fill the MCG twice over with all the women who have been sexually assaulted in a single year in Australia and the men convicted would fit in the members bars with room to spare.
and I think of the endless media articles implicitly or explicitly blaming victims and defending perpetrators, and the parliaments that make laws to enforce this behaviour. One exceptional judge and one remarkable outcome is not change.
Not yet.
...
16:51
The Benefits of Aluminium Plantation Shutters: A Stylish and Durable Choice "IndyWatch Feed National"
When it comes to window treatments, plantation shutters have long been favoured for their timeless elegance and versatility. Among the various materials available, aluminium plantation shutters stand out as an exceptional choice, offering a range of benefits that set them apart from other options.
In this blog post, we will explore the advantages of aluminium plantation shutters and shed light on the differences between aluminium and PVC or wood shutters.
- Affordability
Aluminium plantation shutters offer excellent value for your investment. While they may have a slightly higher upfront cost compared to some other materials, their long-term benefits and durability make them a cost-effective choice. With their resistance to wear and tear, you wont need to replace them as frequently as other window treatments, saving you money in the long run. - Ease of Installation
One of the advantages of aluminium plantation shutters is their ease of installation. They are typically designed to fit a variety of window sizes and can be custom-made to your specifications. Many manufacturers provide detailed installation instructions, and if you prefer professional assistance, there are experienced installers available. With their lightweight construction, aluminium shutters are relatively easy to handle and install, making the process smooth and hassle-free. - Insulation Performance
Up to 40% of your homes heating energy is lost through the windows, while, in summer, up to 87% of heat is gained through the windows. Aluminium plantation shutters offer excellent insulation properties, helping to regulate temperature and reduce energy consumption.The air pockets created by the louvred design of the shutters act as a buffer between the window and the interior space, providing an additional layer of insulation. This insulation helps to block out heat during the hot summer months and retain warmth in colder seasons, allowing for better control over your indoor climate. As a result, you can save money on heating and cooling costs. This makes aluminium the perfect material for living room or bedroom plantation shutters. - Durability
Aluminium plantation shutters are highly durable and built to withstand various environmental conditions. Unlike other materials prone to warping, cracking, or fading, aluminium shutters are resistant to moisture, corrosion, and UV rays. This durability ensures that your shutters will maintain their structural integrity and aesthetic appeal for years to come. With only minimal maintenance requirements, aluminium shutters offer a long-lasting solution that can handle the demands of daily u...
16:25
16:07
Combat roles? Equality? Watch this female v. male marine match-up. "IndyWatch Feed National"
Equality doesnt pan out in real life like it does in the movies. pic.twitter.com/oCMwKLmjx3 Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 19, 2023
15:15
31% of young Aussies hold crypto despite being risk averse ASX survey "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
While young Australians are more interested in crypto, its the 25- to 49-year-olds who own the most.
13:45
Deadwood, Deadends, and Deadheads "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Whoathat was a close call. It took us nearly 60 years of disappointment, observation, and regret to get it. We didnt want to lose it.
You dont develop cynicism overnight. It takes business deals gone badpolitical promises that we never meant to be keptinnovations and inventions that didnt work outpublic policies that were idiotic when they began, and disastrous when they ended.
In todays world, where would you be without cynicism? Doing five years in the can for visiting the Capitol building without a permit? Joining the Ukrainian army to protect our democracy? Buying Nvidia and trusting that the Fed really does know what it is doing?
We cant even write those words without chuckling to ourselves. It was only two years ago that the Fed forecast inflation for 2023 at 0.1% now they say it will be 5.6%. They were only off by 5,500%!
Stronger, richer, freer?
Last week, US Government debt passed US$32 trillion. And it is growing fast up by US$10 trillion over the last four yearsand now increasing at US$2.1 trillion per year.
And what do you think? Did a single penny of that debt make the US stronger, richer, and freer? How young do you have to be to believe it?
As the debt rises, so do interest rates. Year over year, the Feds interest payments are up nearly 50%. Next year, more tax money will be needed to support the debt than to support the Pentagon.
The private sector is also paying higher interest rates. Companies that took on billions of debt at 3% interest now have to refinance at 7%. And they cant print money.
From Wolf Richter:
companies that only made it this far thanks to Easy Money are now getting hung out to dry.
Bankruptcy filings will whittle down the corporate debt overhang. Many companies will emerge from bankruptcy with less debt, and theyll be nimbler and more able to thrive. Others will be sold off in bits and pieces, making room for appropriately managed companies not encumbered by these issues.
There is a cleansing aspect to this part of the credit cycle that needs to be allowed to do its job to get rid of the excesses and the deadwood at the expense of investors. This cleansing process that has now just started is long overdue.
Mass VC extinction event
And heres Garrett Baldwin at Postcards from the Florida Republic:
Venture Capital has imploded over the last 18 months. Last week, the Wall Street Journal released a distressing analysis. Theyve found many startups are now unable to secure the funding they need. To say VC has been suffering is an understatement. Tom Loverro, a general partner at VC shop IVP, has said The Mass Extinction Event for startups is underway. Venture capital losses ov...
...
13:45
A Rich Life is Measured by More Than Money "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Its 3:42am and todays Daily Reckoning Australia finds me in a reflective mood.
My elderly fathers health is failing.
One fall too many has forced him to surrender his highly prized independence.
We knew this day of reckoning was comingbut its still sad to watch.
A tour of the assisted care facilities provided me with a stark reminder of what constitutes a rich life.
When a financial publication usually mentions the term rich, it tends to be associated with money or a vein of ore.
Not this time.
Dont get me wrong, money is important especially when it comes to paying the not-so-insignificant Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD). However, when the final tally on your life is done, true net worth is measured by other factors.
Money cant buy love
In 1964, the year when the last of my parents five children was born, The Beatles hit single Cant Buy Me Love was released.
In Paul McCartneys own words, his motivation for the song was
Cant Buy Me Love is my attempt to write a bluesy mode. The idea behind it was that all these material possessions are all very well but they wont buy me what I really want.
Growing up in a working-class family, material possessions were few and far between. Money was needed for the basicsshelter, transportation, food, clothing, and education. Precious little was left for material indulgences.
Society has changed quite a bit since then.
Credit-funded consumerism has literally consumed the developed and a good chunk of the developing world.
The quip, we buy things we dont need, with money we dont have, to impress people we dont like originally referred to Hollywood. These days, it extends well beyond the zip code of Beverly Hills.
And this increasing obsession with look at me on social media suggests the penny has not yet dropped on true love extending beyond self.
Of the limited number of possessions Dad can take with him, the most prized are his photos of family and friends. These are his permanent reminders of a rich lifeone that money alone cannot buy.
When it all gets distilled down, material goods become immaterial and its not how much you love yourself, but how much you are loved by others.
In the final tally, love and respect are what matters most.
Money cant buy happiness
Long before The Beatles were singing Tell me that you want the kind of things that money just cant buy, Roman philosopher Seneca (4 BC to 65 AD) wrote a letter to his mother.
The titleOf Consolation: To Helvia
Heres an extract
Consider in the first place how many more poor people there are than rich, and yet you will not find that they are sadder or...
...
13:40
Link "IndyWatch Feed National"
How do you say thank you to Seeker of Truth? Magnificent work, as always. Here's the Truth Seeker! Thomas Mayo (aka Thomas Mayor) was a protege of Brian Manning, a MUA activist working on the Darwin wharves when young Thomas put his hand up to be an Organiser for the...
13:31
Australias crypto laws risk being outpaced by emerging markets: Think tank "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Bermuda and Nigeria are moving faster on crypto than Australia, and the land Down Under will soon need to be up to speed, says Loretta Joseph.
12:32
12:02
Populist Quiz: Is Green The New Brown? "IndyWatch Feed National"
Properly tackling climate change requires open discussions and hard questions, in particular of people who might have already made up their minds about the best way forward. Geoff Russell explains.
I attended a Greens Party fundraiser recently in Adelaide. I didnt do a head-count of Animal Justice Party (AJP) members in attendance, but I know I wasnt alone. Many AJP members have a complex relationship with the Greens. Tammy Franks, Greens Member of the South Australian Legislative Council, has been a terrific advocate on animal issues in State Parliament and Ive worked with her on many occasions, either campaigning on shared concerns or arranging preferences during elections, and the like.
The night was full of all the things I love about the Greens, quiz questions about critters, pictures of just the eye of an animal asking you to name the species, or, even harder, having to tag a sound with its species name. Can anybody think of another quiz night where tables would nominate a representative to get up on stage and perform their favourite animal sound?
Environmental politics is full of warm touchy feely issues about cute or rare animals; as well as the not so cute. Interest in wildlife is deep and emotional for many of us, even if we are ignorant of the facts and analysis that a professional ecologist would bring to the table.
But however strong an emotional connection to land or its wild plants or animals might be, it doesnt guarantee sensible policy; not on its own. So Id have had a smattering of challenging educational questions. The kind of questions that expand your horizons, shrink your comfort zone and allow you to make truly rational policy decisions.
For example, how many tonnes of mined quartz do Uyghurs have to crush with big hammers to make a thousand megawatts of solar panels? Where does most of the worlds polysilicon in solar photovoltaic (PV) panels come from? You might like to read this for clues.
In the fie...
12:02
This Machine Kills tackles The Palestine Laboratory "IndyWatch Feed National"
This Machine Kills is a fascinating podcast that tackles techno-dystopia and political economy. I was interviewed on its latest episode about my new book, The Palestine Laboratory:
The post This Machine Kills tackles The Palestine Laboratory appeared first on Antony Loewenstein.
11:54
Link "IndyWatch Feed National"
Great work from the team at Advance Australia. Magnificent work. https://www.advanceaustralia.org.au Send this to your friends. NB - the Maritime Union of Australia shirt is a bit of a giveaway!
11:12
When TikTok welcomes The Palestine Laboratory "IndyWatch Feed National"
TikTok is one of the biggest apps in the world so its pleasing to see this pro-Palestine account, with a large following, talking positively about my new book, The Palestine Laboratory:
@anat_international Thank you @VersoBooks ???????? #palestine #books #palestinebooks #booktok #bookmail original sound anat_international
The post When TikTok welcomes The Palestine Laboratory appeared first on Antony Loewenstein.
10:44
Lovely memories of my childhood and Queensland's Gold Coast "IndyWatch Feed National"
Real old style tin and fibro Australia!
10:31
AFTINET updated briefing paper calls for the urgent review and removal of ISDS in existing trade agreements "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
June 20, 2023 : AFTINET has produced an updated briefing paper on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) with the latest case studies.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is a mechanism within some trade agreements which enables foreign (but not local) investors to sue governments for millions and even billions of dollars of compensation if they can argue that a change in domestic law or policy has reduced the value of their investment, and/or that they were not consulted fairly about the change, and/or that it did not meet their expectations of the regulatory environment at the time of their investment.
ISDS is a flawed system which gives additional legal rights to international investors which already have enormous market power. ISDS cases have been used to claim compensation for legitimate public interest laws and policies on health, environment, indigenous land rights, minimum wages and government action to reduce carbon emissions. This has a freezing effect on essential regulation and undermines the democratic right of governments to regulate in the public interest. Even if governments win ISDS cases, they cost tens of millions to defend.
ISDS flawed processes include: use of ad hoc tribunals, a lack of transparency; lengthy proceedings; high legal and arbitration costs and inconsistent decisions caused by the lack of precedents and appeals. Arbitrators are not independent judges, but instead remain practising advocates with potential or actual conflicts of interest.
Clive Palmer's claim to be a Singaporean investor in order to use ISDS in the Australia-New Zealand ASEAN FTA to sue the Australian government is just the latest example of international investors manipulation of ISDS in trade and investment agreements. The US Philip Morris tobacco company in 2012 also moved assets to Hong Kong and used ISDS in an Australia-Hong Kong investment agreement to sue Australia over our plain packaging laws. Australias large number of previous agreements with ISDS have also enabled international mining companies to use Australian subsidiaries in forum shopping exercises.
ISDS also enables excessively high awards based on dubious and inconsistent calculations of expected future profits, which can reduce significantly government funds for essential services, as occurred with the US $5.8 billion award against Pakistan. Third-party funding for cases as speculative investments which receive a percentage of the award encourages excessive claims, which are more about making money than obtaining justice.
Governments are responding to global movements a...
10:20
Great take on ADF's bodyworn camera idea for battlefield soldiers from Long Tan Platoon Commander Dave Sabben MG "IndyWatch Feed National"
Fantastic Dave - fair enough - well said mate.
10:12
10:07
09:55
Daniel Ellsberg Left us a message "IndyWatch Feed National"
Daniel Ellsberg, the defence analyst and whistleblower, made famous for his role in the exposure of President Nixons 1972 Watergate scandal, and who more recently, was a leading supporter of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, passed away from pancreatic cancer last Friday. He was 92. Elsberg was the real-life character behind the film all the Presidents Men. Norman Solomon is the national director of RootsAction.org and executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy wrote the following tribute to the great man (LA Progressive 19 June 2023).
When Daniel Ellsberg died on Friday, the world lost a transcendent whistleblower with a powerful ethos of compassion and resolve.
Ellsbergs renown for openly challenging the mentalities of militarism began on June 23, 1971, when he appeared on CBS Evening News ten days after news broke about the Pentagon Papers that hed provided to journalists. Ellsberg pointedly said that in the 7,000 pages of top-secret documents, I dont think there is a line in them that contains an estimate of the likely impact of our policy on the overall casualties among Vietnamese or the refugees to be caused, the effects of defoliation in an ecological sense. Theres neither an estimate nor a calculation of past effects, ever.
Video from KTLA
And he added: The documents simply reflect the internal concerns of our officials. That says nothing more nor less that that our o gficials never did concern themselves with the effect of our policies on the Vietnamese.
Ellsberg told anchor Walter Cronkite: I think we cannot let the officials of the Executive Branch determine for us what it is that the public needs to know about how well and how they are discharging their functions.
The functions of overseeing the war on Vietnam had become repugnant to Ellsberg a...
08:47
Manufacturers profits before environment "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
We (the consumers/shoppers according to their labels) are told/enticed/guilted/taxed into devoting a lot of resources in order to (allegedly) save the planet.
The problem there is that the manufacturers, corporations and governments are realistically in charge of this.
E-waste is a huge problem, both financially for the consumers and a burden on the environment which could have been being solved a few decades ago, but the corporations profits are of utmost priority or importance where governments 'support' this as, it's all about the economy.
For example, proprietary phone chargers could have been dealt with a couple of decades ago, but the manufacturers deliberately have not agreed on a so called standard, where the alleged pressure form governments now is too little too late.
In the case of printers, cartridges are deliberately priced where they can be more expensive than a purchase of a new printer with cartridges, where even manufactures chip the ink cartridge in order to gouge the customer for the consumable, another government 'supported' action against the consumer.
...
08:39
Privileged Penny and the Privileged Voice People "IndyWatch Feed National"
The Voice. For a Privileged few.
08:11
In their own words - the simple truth behind Albanese's Vanity Voice "IndyWatch Feed National"
Thank you Advance Australia for this excellent summary. THE DIVISIVE VOICE, IN THE WORDS OF THOMAS MAYO What is this Voice to Parliament really about? Lets ask Thomas Mayo, the union official and self-described militant who wrote the book on the proposed constitutional change. He sits on Prime Minister Anthony...
02:59
01:00
397. Responding to journal reviews "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Research papers that are submitted to journals for publication are sent to independent reviewers, who have the task of assessing whether the work should be published and suggesting ways that the paper could be improved. For researchers, responding to the reviewers comments can be challenging. How should you approach it?
There are three aspects of responding to reviewers: (a) responding emotionally to the comments you receive, (b) preparing a document that describes how you have responded to each of the reviewers comments, and (c) making changes to the paper.
Responding emotionally
Be positive.
If the editors decision is to reject your paper, you need to consider whether any changes are needed before sending it to another journal. Just soak it up and get on with it. Dont sit on the paper for ages while you recover from the rejection keep it moving.
If the editors decision is to ask you to revise and resubmit your paper, you should be happy, even if the reviews are annoying. The chances of a revise-and-resubmit paper eventually getting accepted are pretty good.
Even if you get a revise-and-resubmit decision, a common experience is that, on first reading, the reviewers comments seem more negative and more difficult to address than they really are. You can find yourself responding emotionally to the criticisms that the reviewers make of your work, especially if you dont agree with them. This is understandable, but not helpful. It might discourage you from revising the paper, but you should just get on with it. And when you do get on with it, you could well find that the changes you end up making to the paper are less extensive and less time-consuming than you first expect they will need to be.
It can be helpful to have an initial read of the reviews, then put them aside for a few days while you think about the comments (and calm down) and then come back and read them carefully again.
The response document
Before editing the paper or going and doing new statistical analysis or model runs, the first thing I suggest you should do is to create a table with two columns in your word processor and copy all of the reviewers comments into the left column. The heading for the left column is Review comment and the for the right column it is Response.
Each comment that needs a response goes in...
Monday, 19 June
23:05
Election fraud rampant on Gold Coast at 2022 federal election "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Letter to the Editor I have just read your article regarding the above and believe I have information that relates to similar happening in the lead up to the 2019 Federal election in the seat of Warringah where Tony Abbott lost his seat. There were a number of different ways increasing enrolments was done including large numbers []
23:04
Camp Lejeune Justice Act: A Ray Of Hope for Contaminated Water Victims "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
In the annals of environmental catastrophes, the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune, a U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina, stands ... Read more
23:03
Guest post: How Chinas rural solar policy could also boost heat pumps "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Since 2021, Chinas Whole County PV programme has been dramatically expanding the use of solar power in rural areas, by building on government, commercial, industrial and residential rooftops.
However, the programme faces a number of obstacles, with problems reported, for example, in the rollout in the province of Shandong in eastern China.
Yet it also offers advantages that can overcome the problem of scale. Installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops over a large area can clear out administrative burdens and reduce soft costs, which are inherent in marketing and installing solar to households or businesses one by one.
This raises an intriguing possibility: could such a programme work for other clean energy improvements, such as energy efficiency or clean heating?
Based on my new analysis for the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies of the Chinese counties participating in the Whole County PV programme, the answer appears to be yes.
Moreover, I found that the solar programme would pair surprisingly well with electric heat pumps.
This is an important finding, given the huge scale of rural China, which is home to hundreds of millions of people and is larger than many world regions. And it could also help to address another challenge: Chinas rural residents currently suffer a high burden of health issues due to the use of coal for heat and power.
- What is Chinas Whole County PV programme?
- Could the Whole County PV programme be expanded to heat pumps?
- What are the barriers to rural heat pump use?
- What does the future hold for the programme?
What is Chinas Whole County PV programme?
Up until recently, most solar PV in China was installed in remote western regions, requiring costly transmission lines to bring the electricity to eastern provinces that use the most power.
A series of huge clean energy bases......
22:00
If Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Were President, How Safe Would We Be? "IndyWatch Feed National"
Since I published what so far is a series of five columns exploring RFK Jr.s positions and claims, almost the entirety of the media, it seems, has jumped in, each offering another variation on why you wouldnt want this guy anywhere near the White House. Most have stuck to a general recitation of his well-cataloged history of controversies, and the pros and cons of having the Kennedy name.
There are certainly some pros. First off, we should all remember the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of his early years. When he was not engaging in foolhardy personal behavior, he was trying to be a good citizen, doing praiseworthy work to promote environmental consciousness and oppose large good deeds.
That was then; this is now. He seems to have changed, in many ways, and not for the better. Hes hardly the only person who has gotten worse much worse over the years. Sadly, the debasement of lofty principles and the degradation of the discourse is a trend.
Still, Ive seen few media drill-downs into his core beliefs, or detailed scrutiny of the claims hes made that are either scientifically dicey or simply false which has thus far been my principal focus.
And theres something else I havent yet seen: a rumination on what it would actually be like if he, against all odds, actually won. What would a Robert F. Kennedy presidency look like based on his public positions and statements over the years, and on the apparent mindsets and beliefs of a vocal segment of his backers?
What kind of people would he listen to? What kind would he appoint?
Answering that requires some sense of his own grasp of matters at the core of policymaking. Bright as he is, he may not understand science as much as he thinks he does. That may explain why he seemingly takes the word of so-called experts who challenge the establishment, many of whom have been discredited.
And he apparently accepts their own self-serving and outright wrong explanations for why they have been discredited. This goes to the heart of what makes him so untrustworthy as a prospective leader. (More on his health views below.)
Had Kennedy been president during COVID-19, there would have been no serious effort at containment, but rather it would have been allowed to spread until it burned itself out. One assumes that with...
20:41
Week to June 19, in nuclear news "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
A bit of good news . The lost underwater forests that came back from the dead.
Climate. Greta Thunberg: not phasing out fossil fuels is death sentence for worlds poor. . Oil-rich nations dominate COP28 now offering rich sponsorships, in the effort to silence critics. Fossil fuel lobbyists will have to identify themselves as such in registering for the UN Cop28 climate summit,
Environment. Global biodiversity crisis
Nuclear. Russiamoved small tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, sparking anxiety that the Ukraine war could go nuclear. Meanwhile, I have no doubt that Russia propaganda is portraying the war as being won by Russia. And it is also patently obvious that Western media depicts the Ukraine counter-offensive as being a winner. What gets me is that we thats the USA and all its like-minded hangers-on are not actually at war against Russia. So we dont really have to have the blanket of anti-Russian spin thrown over every news item of this proxy war, (as is the practice in a real war)
Christina notes. Rafael Grossi suffering a sort of Schizophrenia about nuclear so-called safety? Nuclear industry puppet France is bullying Europe into environmental...
20:09
Depopulation The Deagel Forecast and Birthgap "IndyWatch Feed National"
Introduction by DM
No government wants to deal with the excess deaths in 2022.
Lets refer to the FACTS. We have just the organisation to do just that the ABC.
CheckMate is a weekly newsletter from RMIT FactLab which recaps the latest in the world of fact-checking and misinformation, drawing on the work of FactLab and its sister organisation, RMIT ABC Fact Check. (ABC report)
Stating No credible evidence vaccines are behind a rise in Australian deaths.
Really!!!! At least the media is forced to report it. This is from News.com.au:
...
20:08
NAIDOC Musgrave Park Family Fun Day is back. "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
NAIDOC Musgrave Park Family Fun Day is back. The annual arts, culture, and music festival will be held on Friday, 7 July 2023 9am to 5pm in Musgrave Park. The Day provides a []
The post NAIDOC Musgrave Park Family Fun Day is back. first appeared on Westender.
19:12
Crikey's Editor Sophie Black confirms, only leftist group-think welcome. "IndyWatch Feed National"
Sophie Black is straight from central-casting for the Crikey editorship. A committed leftist. Employment history of a bit of human rights journalism, a dabble in the academic journalism world, did some writing for The Guardian - classic inner suburban (read: Greens) values. Typically like the Left, shes intolerant of other...
18:49
Melbourne activists vow to protest Donald Trump Jr event over transphobia "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Activists from the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF) have announced they will protest Donald Trump Jrs upcoming event in Melbourne on 11 July if he is allowed into the country to speak. Trump Jr was recently slammed by Australian Associated Press (AAP) Factcheck for spreading false claims on Sydney radio that a majority of ...
The post Melbourne activists vow to protest Donald Trump Jr event over transphobia appeared first on QNews.
18:23
Melbournes iconic Festival Hall is set to host live music once again "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Its been home to countless gigs, ranging from The Beatles and Frank Sinatra to Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Mars Volta and everything in between. Chances are, if youre a live music fan in Melbourne youve been to Festival Hall.
Now live music is set to resonate once again within the iconic walls of Melbournes Festival Hall once again, with the reigns now held by Live Nation, who took over the management of the venue owned by Hillsong Corp. The US-based global touring company has reportedly signed a multi-year lease on the venue.
Officially re-launching in Melbourne on Thursday, 15 June, Live Nation Asia Pacific President Roger Field officially reopened the venue for the music industry, ready to welcome music lovers back to its hallowed halls.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
View this post on Instagram...
18:09
Property Negotiation Tips to Maximise Your Sale Price "IndyWatch Feed National"
Negotiating the purchase of a property can be a challenge, no matter what side of the equation youre on. Whether youre a buyer trying to secure a fair deal or a seller hoping to maximise your profit, mastering the art of negotiating is a delicate balance. In this blog post, well explore 5 essential tips to help you navigate property negotiations successfully in the tough Australian market.
Research and Market Knowledge
Before you enter into any negotiation, make sure youve conducted plenty of research and have a deep understanding of the current market conditions in Australia and the specific neighbourhood the property is located in.
You can do this by analysing recent property sales in the area, considering the average sales prices and staying on top of any local market trends. With this knowledge in your back pocket, youll be in the best position to make informed decisions and negotiate from an ideal position.
Set Clear Goals and Prioritise
Having clearly defined goals and objectives is key to a successful negotiation. Regardless of whether youre a buyer or a seller, make sure you determine what your non-negotiables are. This might be the maximum price youre willing to pay or the minimum youre willing to accept, but can also include location, property condition, potential for future growth and more.
Once you have your objectives prioritised, you can stand firm during negotiations and remain confident in both where you stand firm and where youre willing to compromise.
Understand a Sellers Motivations
If youre a buyer, then its in your best interest to try and uncover the sellers motivations during negotiations. Are they in a hurry to sell due to a tight deadline? Or maybe theyre experiencing financial difficulties? Whatever the case, having insight into their situation can help provide you with an advantage during negotiations and allow you to make smarter decisions.
If the seller is motivated, then you have a good chance of securing a better deal or negotiating more favourable terms. Dont be afraid to engage in conversations and ask plenty of open-ended questions to gather insights that can help inform your negotiation strategy going forward.
Leverage Professional Representation
Working with a qualified and experienced real estate agent or buyers or...
17:55
Masterpiece. An instant classic. "IndyWatch Feed National"
Thank you 'Rhodesian' for this masterpiece - and Underminder for the tip.
17:53
Beware: pension systems about to collapse. Not! More mainstream fiction "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Sometimes, one thinks that the intellectual world should evolve as intelligent people take account of the dissonance between their ideas and the facts before them and adapt their views. I know that doesnt happen much but it should. I have studied the philosophy of science deeply enough over my student and postgrad days and beyond
17:50
Nats in blunder over Voice "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Nationals Leader David Littleproud made an astounding error of fact in his arguments against the Voice yesterday.
But in doing so he inadvertently made one of the strongest arguments in favour of the Voice so far.
He said: I think theres a way in which we can articulate that our great country is founded on a key tenet that all 26 million Australians are equal and that we all have an equal voice in this parliament through the 226 members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
That is just simply not true. The great Founding Fathers in whom the conservatives have vested such wisdom that the Constitution should not be changed did not give all Australians an equal voice in the Parliament.
They specifically gave the people of the smaller colonies which were to become states a greater voice in the Parliament than those from the larger colonies.
Each original state was granted a minimum of five Members of the House of Representatives, irrespective of their population. To this day the people living in the five Tasmanian electorates get a greater voice: one MP for every 108,000 voters, compared to one for 175,000 in other states.
The Constitution also gave each state an equal number of Senators, now increased to 12. It means that Tasmania has one senator for every 45,000 people whereas NSW has one senator for every 668,000. South Australians get one senator for every 146,000 people.
This is simply not equal, and the leader of a major political party and MP for seven years should know as much.
Ironically, Littleproud was rejecting Opposition Leader Peter Duttons notion of the Voice re-racialising the Australian Constitution by making Indigenous people more equal than everyone else. It was a leaf from the US far rights manual of political fear-mongering.
The Founding Fathers were right to give the smaller states greater representation in our constitutional compact because otherwise they would be put upon, ignored, or exploited. Without it, Tasmania would be even worse off. Remember, Senator Brian Harradine extracting special deals for Tasmania. Jackie Lambie is still at it. South Australian senators...
17:45
SOUNDCHECK: JUNE 19 25 "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Soundcheck is made possible thanks to Inner West Council.
The post SOUNDCHECK: JUNE 19 25 appeared first on FBi Radio.
17:34
Pakington Street restaurant Taste Jamaica has closed its doors "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
Loved amongst locals for its Jamaican-style meals and bright rooftop bar, Pakington Streets iconic Jamaican-style caf Taste Jamaica has permanently closed its doors.
The business announced the news on social media on Sunday, 18 June, after originally announcing the news in April, citing a focus on imports and catering at festivals and events going forward.
Taste Jamaica restaurant is now permanently closed. Time for some well deserved relaxation, the post read.
Everyone that has supported us during this time, we really do appreciate your support. We will never forget you all.
Festivals and Events thats what we are about and thats what we will be focusing on moving forward.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
Taste Jamaica will host a farewell party on 25 June 2023 with a brilliant day of live music. Titled Reggae on Pako, the farewell event will kick off at 12pm and feature the likes of DJ Dazz, Wild Gloriosa, Sole Sister Swing, Mpress Kandance, Flames Eye, Ras Jahknow band and Nicky Bomba.
Entry is free with food and drinks at bar prices.
View this post on Instagram...
17:25
Pauline Hanson on saying NO to Albanese's Vanity Voice "IndyWatch Feed National"
To the people of Australia: we are one people, one nation, and should be under one flag. I asking you to please vote no to Albaneses divisive and risky race-based Voice in Canberra. This will probably be one of the most momentous days in the history of our nation and...
17:07
More Albanese bullshit - now the referendum is a chance to say YES to reconciliation "IndyWatch Feed National"
He is all over the place. Parliaments pass laws. People make history. This is your chance to change our country for the better. pic.twitter.com/Haijepunz8 Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 19, 2023
17:05
Blockade Australia Media Release "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Blockade Australia gave a press conference at 2.30pm today at Pyrmont Bay Park Media liaison Zelda Grimshaw said: Exactly one year ago, NSW police tried to smash our network with a highly repressive strategic incapacitation operation at Colo and subsequently in Sydney. Today we have come back, like the hydra, threefold. You cannot decapitate the
The post Blockade Australia Media Release appeared first on The AIM Network.
17:02
Actor Ncuti Gatwa addresses fan speculation about his sexuality "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Sex Education and Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa has discussed why he doesnt want to publicly put a label on his sexuality. The booked and busy British actor got his breakout role as gay high school student Eric Effiong in Netflixs hit series. Soon, Ncuti will appear as Ken in Greta Gerwigs highly anticipated Barbie ...
The post Actor Ncuti Gatwa addresses fan speculation about his sexuality appeared first on QNews.
17:00
'Silent' killer in cholesterol more firmly linked to heart disease? "IndyWatch Feed National"
what we still do not have is a good biological
pathway that gives us so called bad cholesterol and statins are not
surviving the test of time.
what i do know is that independent of all this ,is
that we all suffer from low level scurvy which can be countered by
a daily heaping teaspoon of ascorbic acid or vitimin C. As
per Linus Pauling who turmed a bad prognosis at age 48 into a full
life through 92. my own prognosis was also equally bad after
my own heart attack at age 57. the last looksee five years
ago showed zero new inflamation and all old scaring just
that. And i do expect to see 100 with a healthy circulatory
system.
otherwise, i would like to have far better answers than any of this which assumes the association is significant when it may well not be. Far too often meta stats throw up indications that are simply that and certainly no proof of causation..
'Silent' killer in cholesterol more
firmly linked to heart disease
June 13, 2023
Common problem: One in five people have the
genetic potential for elevated Lp(a) levels
https://newatlas.com/medical/silent-killer-chole...
16:55
Every Human Being is Dealing With or Not Dealing With or Entirely Ignorant of The Same Force. "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Visible Origami June 16, 2023
God Poet Transmitting.
I had an experience yesterday morning that almost turned it upside down for me. As I was logging into my computer I saw something I had not seen before, and in a moment of disconnect, I clicked it previous to logging on and it immediately started to install Windows 11, (or so I was led to believe) which I did not want. I didnt want Windows 10 either, but knowing I could use a Windows 7 Shell, I got 10 when support for 7 ended.
Anyway, I could not stop this thing and the next thing I knew, (It was only a few minutes) my desktop was changed. My Documents was empty, as was Downloads, and I guess much of the rest of what I use each day, and I did not have my two Notepad HTML files which are always on the desktop.
This was early before 6 AM and I did all sorts of things including a System Restore. Nothing worked, and I kept getting error messages. It didnt make sense, and I am not a computer Luddite.
I am set to meditate before 7AM as The Sun is rising. I went and sat in my meditation chair but could not meditate. Before going out there was this discomfort and pressing anxiety. I could not understand it. I KNEW none of this matters. I knew it would be fixed, but the agitation was constant. I managed it without reacting.
I called my fix-it computer guy and he came over around noon. Instantly he located the problem and all was exactly as it had been. I had created another User ID and that was a kind of clear slate that didnt recognize what the main.. previous User had going on. It never even occurred to me that such a thing could happen. Note the word User. (grin) A sign of the times of Material Darkness and selfish intent.
The reason I write about it has to do with those emotional winds blowing through me the discomfort and anxiety for which I got no answers at the time. I wasnt personally feeling any of this. It was just passing through me, though I was free to identify with it if I chose to. I could let the wavy vibrations translate into Wrath if I wanted them to, or I could just let them go. Once you are established in this understanding in a visceral sense, your whole world will change.
Later in the day, I was told it was during moments like this that these subconscious forces were being bled out of me provided that I allowed it. The Temperance card came instantly into my mind. Its quality is Wrath. That has to do with the wavy vibration of the angel pouring forth the neutralizing agents upon The Lion and The Eagle; Leo and Scorpio.
The Eagle is the sexual force transformed into spiritual vision. Otherwise, you get the scorpion, with the stinger poised above itself. Sex is life and form-giving. It is also death-dealing to lif...
16:53
Proposed reforms to strengthen democracy could have major unintended consequences for charities and community groups "IndyWatch Feed National"
The recommendations from an inquiry into the 2022 federal election could strengthen Australias democracy, the Human Rights Law Centre said today, but they could also have the unintended consequence of silencing civil society voices in election debates.
The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters interim report recommends long overdue reforms to make political donations transparent, to cap election spending and to ban large donations to politicians altogether. Important detail is yet to be finalised, but done well, these reforms could help protect Australian parliament from the undue influence of wealthy individuals and harmful industries like fossil fuels and gambling.
A key concern emerging from the report, though, is that it also recommends donation caps be imposed on charities and community groups that qualify as third parties under the Commonwealth Electoral Act. Extending donation caps to charities and community groups will suppress advocacy on important issues like the climate and public housing, but do nothing to stop distorting public campaigns from industry peaks like the Minerals Council of Australia.
Alice Drury, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights
Law Centre, said:
Without limits on political donations and election spending,
politicians will respond to those with the biggest bank balance,
instead of those with the best ideas. Australians are fed up with
the status quo. We need a level playing field. Elections should be
a time when people with important things to say on matters of
public interest can be heard, not just those with enough cash to
buy a national platform.
Limits on political donations and election spending are the reforms we need to get the influence of big money out of Australian politics. But its equally important that we protect the rights of ordinary people to have their voices heard on issues they care deeply about, be it through charities or local community groups. It is vital that the Albanese Government sit down with civil society groups before this proposal becomes law to work through the unintended consequences for advocacy.
As they currently stand, the recommendations of this report are discriminatory and anti-charity: they would prevent charities and not-for-profits from raising large donations to use on advocacy on health and the environment in the lead up to elections, but wouldnt do anything to stop industry peaks relying on corporate membership fees for pro-tobacco and pro-mining election advertising.
Media contact:
Thomas
Feng
Human Rights Law Centre
Media and Communications Manager
0431 285 275
thomas.feng@hrlc.org.au
16:38
Connor Morels A Lovely Day To Be Online returns for one-off performance at Geelong Arts Centre Grand Opening Festival "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Fresh from an impressive run at Adelaide Fringe Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival earlier this year, Geelong and Melbourne-based actor, singer, writer and musician Connor Morel is bringing his gig-turned-musical-turned-existential-crisis theatre show A Lovely Day To Be Online home to Geelong as part of the Geelong Arts Centres Grand Opening Festival.
Following a $140m Little Malop Street Redevelopment, the Geelong Arts Centre will be officially swinging open the shiny new doors on Saturday 19 August, with a huge four-week-long opening festival happening to celebrate.
A Lovely Day To Be Online is the latest show to join the festival program, alongside the likes of celebrated multi-ARIA-Award winning R&B-pop artist, Jessica Mauboy, and an Australian comedy triple-header, featuring Dave Thornton, Dilruk Jayasinha and Lizzy Hoo, plus Missy Higgins, Opera Australia, Belvoir St Theatre, family fun with Windmill Theatre Company and more.
Stay up to date with whats happening in and around the region here.
Taking over the new Open House in Geelong on 22 September from 7pm, singer-songwriter and self-obsessed internet addict Connor fronts a live band in this original gig-theatre show that asks: are we doing the internet right? And would life just be easier without it all?
From the fake Instagram influencers to the radical keyboard warriors; the scamming crypto hackers to the obsessive YouTube addicts: were all in the sauce. But is it all going too far? And what would it take for us to realise it is?
Full of original soul-pop tunes, stories, memes and a whole lot of heart, this show delves into the humanity of how we use the internet, and how it preys on us when were at our worst.
Debuting at Melbourne Fringe last year to rave reviews, Connor (frontman of Geelongs nostalgic pop rock band The Run and who is already being referred to as an Australian answer to Bo Burnham) wrote the 50-minute show as a reflection on his own obsession with his smartphone and what it was doing to him.
Addressing how social media affects his relationships, his local community, and his broader understanding of how the world functions, the show was initially inspired by Connors own frustrating habit for his smartphone pre-pandemic, and escalating mid-pandemic with an increase in screen time prompting t...
16:31
Vanessa Amorosi, Spacey Jane, The Wombats lead Grapevine Gathering lineup for 2023 "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Fresh from delivering a huge festival last year with unforgettable performances by The Kooks, Peking Duk, The Veronicas, Ball Park Music, Confidence Man, Jack River and more, Australias favourite wine and music pairing Grapevine Gathering is back for 2023 with an absolutely huge lineup.
Taking to the Yarra Valley (VIC), Hunter Valley (NSW), Swan Valley (WA), Mount Cotton (QLD), and McLaren Vale (SA) this October, this years festival will include indie rock sensations Spacey Jane, UK festival favourites The Wombats, Hayden James, the electrifying band from Arnhem Land King Stingray, Absolutely Everybody singer Vanessa Amorosi, Cannons, The Rions, up-and-coming duo Teenage Joans and Bella Amor.
Grapevine Gathering 2023
- Saturday 7th October Rochford Estate, VIC
- Sunday 8th October Sirromet Wines, QLD
- Saturday 14th October Sandalford Wines, WA
- Saturday 21st October Hope Estate, NSW
- Sunday 22nd October Serafino Wines, SA
Full lineup
- Spacey Jane
- The Wombats [Aus Exclusive]
- Hayden James [Aus Exclusive]
- King Stingray
- Vanessa Amorosi
- Cannons
- The Rions
- Teenage Joans
- Bella Amor
- Hosted by Lucy and Nikki
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Hosting the music and wine festival will be the popular podcast duo Lucy and Nikki, who will keep the energy high and the audience engaged throughout the event with their witty banter and infectious enthusiasm.
Grapevine Gathering is renowned for its commitment to providing a holistic experience, complementing the diverse music lineup with the finest local wines and food options on offer. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to indulge in the tantalising flavours of each region while enjoying the lush vineyards, rolling lawns, and world-class wines that make Grapevine Gathering a truly unique and memorable event.
Presale registrations are now open with tickets going on sale Wednesday 21st of June at 6PM AEST. Presale purchasers gain access to the cheapest tickets and for a chance to WIN 1 of 500 VIP upgrades. Any remaining tickets will be released to the public at 6PM Thurs 22nd of June.
For more information and ticket purchase, head here.
The post Vanessa Amorosi, Spacey Jane, The Wombats lead Grapev...
16:25
Join the Silver City Stiletto, bound for the Broken Heel Festival "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
The Broken Heel Festival has announced tickets for the Silver City Stiletto, a party train of drag queens heading to Broken Hill this September. The three-day event celebrates the 29th anniversary of Priscilla Queen of the Desert at her spiritual home, The Palace Hotel and the outback town of Broken Hill. For the festival, NSW ...
The post Join the Silver City Stiletto, bound for the Broken Heel Festival appeared first on QNews.
16:15
You've forgotten something Mr Albanese - we also have a chance to say NO "IndyWatch Feed National"
Don't get too far up yourself Therapeutic Albanese.
16:10
Climate Change: Too many trees? "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
The government today announced its review of the Emissions Trading Scheme. As is clear from the media coverage, this is focused on one issue: forestry. The cor problem is summed up in this graph:
(Note that this chart does not include agriculture, because its currently not part of the ETS)
Basicly, we've planted enough trees already that we're going to have too many carbon credits by the end of the decade, resulting in a falling ETS price, a much lower incentive to reduce emissions, and (eventually) fewer trees. Which is a problem, because we need a lot more trees to meet future climate targets, and (eventually) to draw down carbon from the atmosphere and undo some of the damage we have done.
The review proposes four broad policy options to fix this. The first one - reducing ETS auction volumes - is a non-starter, for reasons which are obvious from the graph above: by the time we have a problem, auction volumes are minuscule compared to forestry removals. The second one - effectively, getting the government to start buying forest credits - is likely to be a part of any solution. In strict ETS terms, this can be seen as offsetting public sector non-ETS emissions (through cancellations) and backing auctions and free allocation units - especially those allocated to agriculture if it enters the ETS. But the real reason is to incentivise the forests we need to keep planting to meet 2050 and post-2050 drawdown targets. The third option is to reduce demand for forest credit by limiting their use and expiring them out of the pool if unused, or just by halving the amount given away. Again, the graph shows why this isn't really going to solve the core problem. The final option - and the one MfE is clearly pushing for - is to split the market in two, and say that polluters can no longer use forest credit to offset their emissions. This has some definite advantages - the ETS cap actually becomes a cap, meaning it drives reductions. But it raises the obvious question of who is actually going to buy forest credits if polluters won't? On this there's the intriguing suggestion of requiring polluters to surrender some proportion (10% say) of additional removal credits in addition to their normal units - effectively legislating for over-performance. But again, lo...
16:00
Medias weaponisation of Brittany Higgins rape allegations "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
The media campaign against Brittany Higgins was a revenge tactic by the Murdoch press after she exposed the Liberal Party's ignorance of women's issues, writes Dr Victoria Fielding.
*CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses rape
WHEN BRITTANY HIGGINS took her allegations of rape to the media in 2021, she used her story as a weapon in an uphill battle to seek justice. The problem women have in picking up a weapon is that it can be grabbed from their hands and used against them. That is exactly what the Murdoch media is doing to Higgins and anyone who supported her.
Women face enormous hurdles in taking allegations about sexual assault to the police and then to court. Almost 90% of sexual assault victims do not go to the police. The reason for this is that they are concerned their allegations wont be taken seriously or believed and that they might suffer personal or professional repercussions for reporting the perpetrator.
Brittany Higgins was one of these 90% of women for two years after she alleged she was raped by her senior colleague, Bruce Lehrmann, in a Parliament House office on 23 March 2019. She did initially go to the police on the same day Lehrmann was sacked, allegedly for a security breach, on 1 April 2019. However, she says she feared if she pursued the allegations further, her job was at risk.
For almost two years after the alleged incident, Higgins continued to work for the Liberal Government, campaigning for...
15:47
Member of Parliament Ted OBrien gets it so wrong about nuclear power. "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Nuclear not an option, Llew. 19/06/2023, Chris B, https://gympietoday.com.au/opinion/2023/06/19/nuclear-not-an-option-llew/
On the 29th of May 2023, our local member demonstrated yet again that he fails to understand the importance and the reasoning behind the Borumba pumped hydro scheme.
Mr OBrien noted his opposition to the project based on the impact of transmission lines on the environment and members of the local community.
Failing to understand environmental impacts, Mr OBrien utilised his platform to recommend nuclear power instead!
On cost alone, nuclear power represents over five times the lifetime costs of pumped hydro and solar, as costed by the CSIRO in 2022.
Not to mention the exorbitant costs associated with nuclear waste handling, decommissioning the sites, or that nuclear plants are required to shut down for maintenance periodically.
He also failed to mention that transmission lines would still need to be established at the new site of the reactors.
His increasingly unconstructive and arrogant behaviour during the renewable energy transition boils down to a bad case of not in my backyard and political grandstanding.
Mr OBrien stands yet again in the way of progress for our nation, future jobs and skills for the people of Wide Bay.
15:32
Hunter Valley bus tragedy impacts local community "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Nine people remain in hospital a week after a deadly bus crash in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, which claimed the lives of 10 people.
The tragedy, which is Australias worst road accident in about three decades, has sent shock waves across the country. In the days following the crash, the Hunter Valley community was still trying to process the loss.
Hit particularly hard is the town of Singleton, home to about 25,000 people, where a number of those who died had lived.
Chaplains are providing pastoral care at crisis centres set up in Singleton and Branxton.
David Riethmuller from the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network speaks about this tragedy and how it has impacted the community.
Image: Image courtesy Sky News Australia
Produced By: Aryana Mohmood
Featured In Story: David Riethmuller from the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, and
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Hunter Valley bus tragedy impacts local community appeared first on 4YOU 98.5FM Capricorn Community Radio.
Hunter Valley bus tragedy impacts local community "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Nine people remain in hospital a week after a deadly bus crash in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, which claimed the lives of 10 people.
The tragedy, which is Australias worst road accident in about three decades, has sent shock waves across the country. In the days following the crash, the Hunter Valley community was still trying to process the loss.
Hit particularly hard is the town of Singleton, home to about 25,000 people, where a number of those who died had lived.
Chaplains are providing pastoral care at crisis centres set up in Singleton and Branxton.
David Riethmuller from the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network speaks about this tragedy and how it has impacted the community.
Image: Image courtesy Sky News Australia
Produced By: Aryana Mohmood
Featured In Story: David Riethmuller from the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, and
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Hunter Valley bus tragedy impacts local community appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
15:30
BMRSG at the opening of the Tamil Refugee Councils new offices "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
by Mike Howorth
On 18 June Michael Howorth represented the Blue Mountains
Refugee Support Group speaking at the opening of the Tamil Refugee Councils
new office in Toongabbie.
The event was attended by over 120 guests, including from 15
organisations whom all support Tamil Refugees e.g. RACS and
STARTTS. In addition, Greens NSW Senator David
Shoebridge, former Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon and Cumberland
City councillor Dr. Sabrin Farooqui also spoke.
Speaking at what was the beginning of Refugee Week, Michael
addressed the audience on the theme for this years refugee week
finding freedom. He spoke specifically about the plight
of the 54+ (mainly Tamil) asylum seekers who arrived in Australia
in 2009 & 2010 and were given an adverse security assessment by
Australias intelligence service, ASIO. Michael, along
with other speakers talked about the need to continue to fight for
freedom for this group of people.
It was such an encouraging event seeing so many people and
organisations coming together to collaborate to offer hope,
opportunity and empowerment to so many people.
It was equally encouraging to hear such strong words of
support from Senator David Shoebridge who pledged to do all he can
to work alongside the Tamil Refugee Council and help bring change
within our Government.
No doubt the new Tamil Refugee Council Office will be a great
support, offering a range of services to Tamil refugees to help
them navigate their way to establishing a life in Australia a life
of freedom. Special thanks were given to Kalyani
Inpakumar and her daughter Renuga along with the many
other volunteers who have worked so hard at establishing this
centre.
15:22
Migrating populations from cities to regional towns "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Australian researchers have found that the migration of populations from major capital cities into smaller regional towns does not ease population growth pressures in major metropolitan cities.
As the cost of living skyrockets in major cities, some city dwellers are looking to escape the city for a more affordable and comfortable lifestyle in regional towns.
The new study recommends long-term management strategies to help alleviate potential issues arising from population growth in these regional areas in order to maintain their local regional lifestyle and careful population management.
The Wires Toni Pankaluic spoke with Dr Laura Crommelin, Senior Lecturer in City Planning at the School of Built Environment at the University of New South Wales Arts, Design & Architecture to find out more
Migrating populations from cities to regional towns "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Australian researchers have found that the migration of populations from major capital cities into smaller regional towns does not ease population growth pressures in major metropolitan cities.
As the cost of living skyrockets in major cities, some city dwellers are looking to escape the city for a more affordable and comfortable lifestyle in regional towns.
The new study recommends long-term management strategies to help alleviate potential issues arising from population growth in these regional areas in order to maintain their local regional lifestyle and careful population management.
The Wires Toni Pankaluic spoke with Dr Laura Crommelin, Senior Lecturer in City Planning at the School of Built Environment at the University of New South Wales Arts, Design & Architecture to find out more
15:17
Impact of Qld State Budget on Queenslanders "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick handed down the 8th budget of the States Labor government this week. The good news for the government was an unexpected windfall from state coal royalties, which the government used to provide cost of living relief for Queenslanders.
4ZZZ Reporters Alexis Pink and Eliza Marlow were in the budget lockup and brought us a breakdown of the measures and how it will impact Queenslanders.
Produced By: Alexis Pink, and Eliza Marlow
Featured In Story:
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Impact of Qld State Budget on Queenslanders appeared first on 4YOU 98.5FM Capricorn Community Radio.
Impact of Qld State Budget on Queenslanders "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick handed down the 8th budget of the States Labor government this week. The good news for the government was an unexpected windfall from state coal royalties, which the government used to provide cost of living relief for Queenslanders.
4ZZZ Reporters Alexis Pink and Eliza Marlow were in the budget lockup and brought us a breakdown of the measures and how it will impact Queenslanders.
Produced By: Alexis Pink, and Eliza Marlow
Featured In Story:
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Impact of Qld State Budget on Queenslanders appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
15:15
Queensland State Budget for Social Housing Not Enough to Fix Housing Crisis "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Last weeks state budget saw the Queensland government announce a $320 million investment to assist those facing housing insecurity.
But advocates say the five hundred new social and affordable houses promised by the state government are not nearly enough to address the current housing crisis.
The Wires Mary-Kate Hannagan spoke to Queensland Council of Social Services CEO, Aimee McVeigh, to find out more
Image: Image courtesy: Ikram Shaari/ Pexels
Produced By: Mary-Kate Hannagan
Featured In Story: Aimee McVeigh, CEO Queensland Council of Social Services
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Queensland State Budget for Social Housing Not Enough to Fix Housing Crisis appeared first on 4YOU 98.5FM Capricorn Community Radio.
Queensland State Budget for Social Housing Not Enough to Fix Housing Crisis "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Last weeks state budget saw the Queensland government announce a $320 million investment to assist those facing housing insecurity.
But advocates say the five hundred new social and affordable houses promised by the state government are not nearly enough to address the current housing crisis.
The Wires Mary-Kate Hannagan spoke to Queensland Council of Social Services CEO, Aimee McVeigh, to find out more
Image: Image courtesy: Ikram Shaari/ Pexels
Produced By: Mary-Kate Hannagan
Featured In Story: Aimee McVeigh, CEO Queensland Council of Social Services
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Queensland State Budget for Social Housing Not Enough to Fix Housing Crisis appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
15:11
Stranger Things Jamie Campbell Bower leads Melbournes Metro Comic Con "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
<p><p><p>There are only a few weeks to go before Metro Comic Con lands in Melbourne on 8-9 July, and the pop culture convention has pulled out all the stops to add more popular stars to its lineup.</p> <p>Beyond appearances by stars of the big and small screens and talented writers and artists, the event will feature exclusive panels, photo and autograph opportunities, pop culture exhibitors, cosplay, merchandise stalls and more.</p> <h3>Metro Comic Con in Melbourne</h3> <ul> <li>Major pop culture convention</li> <li>Melbourne Showgrounds on 8-9 July</li> <li>Jamie Campbell Bower leads lineup</li> </ul> <p class="p1"><b><i>Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment </i></b><a href= "https://fortemag.com.au/entertainment/"><span class= "s1"><b><i>here</i></b></span></a><b><i>.</i></b></p> <h3>Additions include:</h3> <p>Jamie Campbell Bower from the smash hit series Stranger Things. The English actor thrilled fans in the most recent season of the sci-fi show when he brought to life Vecna, the central villain of the tale. He has also won a multitude of passionate fans from his roles in The Twilight Saga movies New Moon and Breaking Dawn Parts 1 & 2, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Camelot (TV) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Dean Lennox Kelly: he has starred as Ketterdam crime boss Pekka Rollins in Netflixs adaptation of Shadow and Bone, Kev Ball in Shameless and Meredith Rutter in Jamestown, and guest starred as William Shakespeare in Doctor Who.</p> <p>Christopher Heyerdahl: he recently played Captain Locke in James Gunns Peacemaker series, starred opposite Andrew Garfield and Sam Worthington in the miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven and appeared in the haunting opening scene of The Last of Us. He is also known for his roles in TV shows like Sanctuary, Hell on Wheels, Stargate: Atlantis, Van Helsing and Supernatural, and the Twilight Saga movies.</p> <p>Vico Ortiz: they are most recognised for playing skilled pirate Jim in the TV series Our Flag Means Death alongside Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby.</p> <p>Tommy Flanagan: a prolific actor best known for playing Filip Chibs Telford in Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C. He also starred in movies such as Gladiator, Braveheart and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and will soon be seen opposite Russell Crowe in Sleeping Dogs.</p> <p>Tom Taylor: an Australian #1 New York Times bestselling author with a long list of credits for Marvel (Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Wolverine, X-Men, Superior Iron Man), DC (Superman, Injustice, Batman/Superman), Dark Horse (Star Wars: Blood Ties, Star Wars: Invasion) a...
15:09
Coinbase blasts SEC for no straight answers following court order "IndyWatch Feed National"
The comment from the crypto exchange came after the SEC asked for more time to respond to Coinbase's rulemaking petition.
15:02
Yarra Valleys 16-day Fireside Festival returns in July, bigger and bigger than ever "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
<p><p><p>Wine Yarra Valley is excited to announce the return of its Fireside festival for its fifth year, and their Fireside Winter Twilight Market for its second year, after a tremendously successful 2022.</p> <h3>Fireside Yarra Valley</h3> <ul> <li>Saturday 8 Sunday 23 July 2023</li> <li>Various venues around the Yarra Valley and selected inner-Melbourne venues</li> </ul> <p class="p1"><b><i>Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment </i></b><a href= "https://fortemag.com.au/entertainment/"><span class= "s1"><b><i>here</i></b></span></a><b><i>.</i></b></p> <p>Fireside is a 16-day festival of events across the Yarra Valley and beyond, celebrating all that winter in Melbournes most accessible wine region has to offer in sights, sounds, smells and, most importantly, tastes, against the alluring landscape of moody skies, crisp nights, and the warmth of an open fire.</p> <p>The festival showcases some of the regions very best food and drinks with special winter-themed menus curated around chargrilled, smoked and wood-fired local ingredients.</p> <p>The 2023 program features over 30 culinary experiences, including all-star food & beverage collaborations from TarraWarra Estate x Frank Camorra (Movida), Jayden Ong Wines x Tom Sarafian (ex. Rumi, Bar Saracen, Little Andorra), No7 Healesville x Bar Liberty, Rob Dolan Wines x Matilda 159, and more.
Fireside Winter Twilight Market
- $45pp or $55pp on the night. Tickets are extremely limited and selling quickly!
- When: Saturday 8 July, 4-8pm
- Where: Yarra Valley Railway Station, Healesville
Also returning for 2023 is the Fireside Winter Twilight Market. After an incredibly popular pilot event in 2022, this year</p>
14:42
Review: Obonjayar at City Recital Hall "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Obonjayar at City Recital Hall, 16 June
2023 with CINTA and Agung Mango
Review and images by Eileen Cantwell
The City Recital Hall presents another in its Switched On series, described as a sonic shift to contemporary music. Tonights line-up included CINTA, Agung Mango and headliner Obongjayar.
My attendance needs some context. Irish born and Australian for nine years, Im a massive fan of Afro Celt Sound System with a long famine of live gigs. To say I was overly eager, with open expectations of both the venue and artists is an understatement.
City Recital Hall is a venue of tranquillity, and even the journey there enhances the feeling of another world walking along Pitt Street with the expected nightlife, hustle and bustle of Vivid, and two overly enthusiastic freelancer DJs on electric bikes/portable speakers. There is a downward shift in energy as you take a small turn onto Angel Place and the doors are wide open, conveying a sense of welcome. I liken it to a paradise hotel when your shoulders relax and you know only good things are on the way. I was not disappointed.
First on stage was CINTA a divine presence with a vocal ability to reach into your heart and extract all emotions. With only her voice, keys and back-up vocals she beckoned your attention and left us wanting more. She is an act I would seek out as a headliner.
Next up, Melbourne rapper Agung Mango was a great surprise. Already an accomplished artist he gave 100% performing in this unusual setting a seated audience being a far cry from the underground rap scene. He took it all in good heart but a more interactive audience would have provided that extra layer he needed. With some great back-up vocals and beats he should be proud of his end-to-end display.
Nigerian-born artist Obongjayar arrived on stage in a striking green jumper and beige skirt, beckoning the seats at the back to be emptied and fill the aisles before he started duly understood and adhered to.
With only a flicker of knowledge of Nigeria by way of author Chimananda Ngozi Adichies novel Half of a Yellow Sun, I knew I was going to feel passion, heart and intensity, but what about the music? Nothing could have prepared me for Obongjayars presence live. He performed with intensity and sought the soul of each member of the crowd as he stared knowingly, and what seemed like individually, evaluating the energy of their souls. After a general sense of approval and a praise to the spirits in the venue, the striking green jumper was removed and the remaining performance was done topless with extravagant moves in a tight space.
...
14:25
Charlie Puth announces second Melbourne show for October 2023 "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
In his first-ever Australian tour later this year, Charlie Puth has announced a second Melbourne show due to an overwhelming demand for tickets over the weekend.
Quickly selling out Margaret Court Arena on Sunday 29th October, Charlie Puth will now be bringing The Charlie Live Experience to Margaret Court Arena on Monday 30th October. Tickets to the second Melbourne show go on sale 11am Tuesday 20 June 2023.
Charlie Puth Australia 2023
- October 27 The Riverstage, Brisbane
- October 29 Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne (Sold Out)
- October 30 Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
- November 1 Aware Super Theatre, Sydney
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Charlie Puth announces first ever Australian tour for October/November 2023
Charlie Puth has been whole-heartedly embraced across Australia for his exceptional songwriting, and charismatic online persona.
Further to the incredible international success across his three studio albums, Puth has had multiple singles crack the Top 10 of the ARIA Singles Chart locally, including One Call Away reaching #3 overall, and Attention, both of which being accredited 6 x Platinum.
As the global star makes his way down under to celebrate the release of his critically acclaimed 2022 album CHARLIE, fans will have a chance to hear all of their favourites, whilst experiencing the music in a brand new way. Truly at home on stage, fans will be enamoured with Puths artistry within his live show; not only with a voice that transcends, but through his incredible musicianship, and captivating onstage charisma.
Grab your tickets here.
The post Charlie Puth announces second Melbourne show for October 2023 appeared first on Forte Magazine.
14:11
Community legend Dr Bernard Gardiner gets top Queens Ball honour "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
78er and longtime LGBTQIA+ health advocate Dr Bernard Gardiner has received the top honour at the 62nd Queens Ball Awards. The Queens Ball is proudly the longest-running continuous LGBTQIA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy event in the world. The glitzy gala event returned to Brisbane City Hall on Saturday (June 17). More than a dozen Queensland advocates, ...
The post Community legend Dr Bernard Gardiner gets top Queens Ball honour appeared first on QNews.
14:07
Husband duo Mister Co usher in a new rock era with liberating new single Dont Talk About It "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
Stepping out of the colourful, love-filled world and into a new era, liberated and filled with a fiery passion, Mister Co begins again.
This time with Dont Talk About It, a dynamic and catchy track that while taking a massive step in an entirely new direction, is still as genuine to who the husband duo are as anything else theyve ever done.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Independently released on 17 June, Dont Talk About It sees the passionate musicians and producers Connor and Oscar Absolum exude immense confidence and liberation.
Drawing inspiration from their alternative and rock influences, the near four-minute track features driving guitar lines, crashing percussion and intimate lyrics providing an enthralling entry into a new rock era for the duo while promising to liberate listeners and leave them humming the infectious chorus for days.
Soaring with raw emotion, cinematic strength and the radiant energy thats become synonymous with the duo since their first single, here the duo delivers an entirely empowering anthem, delving into the theme of emotional captivity by those who claim to be supportive.
Reflecting on their personal experiences of feeling restrained and limited by individuals who hindered their musical and personal endeavours, Mister Co. crafted Dont Talk About It as a powerful response to reclaim their voice, leaving behind the theme of love that characterized their earlier works.
We wrote Dont Talk About It while reflecting on the times in our lives where we felt held back and restricted by people who didnt want us to succeed with our music, our business and our relationship. This was our chance to respond and have our say.
Written as an emancipation piece, the pair explores the narrative of being held emotionally captive by those who claim to support you, singing:
Free!
Me!
From your lies!
Its!
Time!
For me to take flight!
I want to t...
13:53
Statement at the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council "IndyWatch Feed National"
June 2023
Item 2: Enhanced interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls
Statement by the Human Rights Law Centre, Australia
Thank you, Mr President. I am Sitarah Mohammadi.
Since the Talibans return in 2021, they have launched a systematic campaign against human rights in Afghanistan that affects all liberal groups, women, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras, Pashtuns, and minorities.
While Afghanistan is a land of ethnic minorities among the various victims of the Talibans repressive rule, it is important to recognise the genocidal and systematic persecution endured by the Hazara people, a religious minority. Recognising the systematic persecution of Hazaras should lead to meaningful steps to document these abuses and protect the Hazaras from further repression, dispossession, and marginalisation.
The systematic persecution of the Hazara people illustrates a complex combination of factors such as ethnicity, religion, predominantly Shia Muslims, and the suppression of democratic and progressive values. Consequently, the situation of Hazaras further reflects the broader human rights violations and atrocities committed by Taliban rule.
At the national level, Hazaras are excluded entirely from the Talibans governance system. The systematic and structural discrimination against the Hazaras at the micro and local levels is deeply concerning. The Taliban actively divert international humanitarian aid from Hazara areas to reward their supporters in other areas.
Several Hazara communities in several provinces have been forcefully displaced from their ancestral lands.
This is genocidal displacement.
Hazaras face active discrimination in the judicial system at the administrative and district levels. Locally, the return of the Taliban has created a situation whereby one group, primarily the Pashtun people, completely dominates the Hazaras politically, economically, and culturally.
The Taliban have entirely removed all Hazaras from the courts across Afghanistan, including in areas where the Hazaras form the majority of the population.
Hazara women experience extra layers of vulnerability due to the intersectional factors of gender, religion, and ethnicity.
Hazaras face widespread and all-encompassing discrimination that affects them in various aspects of their lives.
The mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was renewed by UN Security Council Resolution 2678 on March 16, 2023. On the same day, the Council approved Resolution 2679, mandating an ongoing human rights assessment of Afghanistan.
The UN must go beyond tepid ver...
13:43
The Exciting Apple Vision Pro "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Apple has an embarrassing new product that over-affluent parents are desperate to get their hands on. Its a headset for looking at videos, that you control with your eyeballs! Its also goggles you wear to watch the videos you made while it was on your head earlier- before the divorce- and it takes you back to those precious moments? Because the same thing is on your head? Imagine being reminded that you lost your kids because you were a too cashed up nerd, every time you look at a video of your children. Who dont love you anymore.
I joke, because I irrationally hate, but a Youtube guy who tried out this gadget was seriously excited about collecting memories with his child. Yes, bro, they grow up so fast, so strap a shame thing onto your face and gather up all those images of your child becoming increasingly alienated from you because the only part of your face they can see is your weird smile. Your strange techno smile. Your disturbing, self satisfied shitty lips. Your weird fucked mouth that is constantly making shapes about how electronic devices are bringing the future to life, in real time, now, here, while your children are trying to play, and be children, and be your child, but you are following them around like a cyborg creep fuck asshole.
Im not sure Im genuinely this angry at the Apple Vision Pro, which is a very expensive toy for huge fucking assholes, who I do sort of hate, if Im honest. Okay, hate is such a strong word. Everything they represent? I hate that? In fact this is my core argument against nearly everybody and almost everything? I hate what you represent. Hate hate hate. Hate hate hate hate hate. Hate. Fucking fucking hate hate.
ON THE OTHER HAND it could be that Apple have done their research and discovered that the real market for people who want to be divorced from their surroundings is not gigantic. If you want some space you can look at your phone. If you want to more thoroughly immerse yourself in a world beyond imagination you can pop in some headphones. Voila! No one can talk to you unless they are a gigantic asshole, in which case you control reality itself by simply not looking at the asshole until they go...
13:35
Killing the hat game "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Newsroom has a followup piece about its complaint about Stuart Nash refusing to release compromising emails to donors in which he revealed cabinet discussions. Nash had used the "hat game", claiming that those communications were made in his capacity as an MP, not a Minister, and so not covered by the Official Information Act (and so, for OIA purposes, they did not exist). Newsroom had complained, then dropped the complaint when the Ombudsman took too long, then revived it when the emails were leaked and Nash was sacked. And the Ombudsman has now made the obvious ruling: that the emails were held in a Ministerial capacity, and so Nash violated the OIA. That's good, but it gets better, because the Ombudsman has also directly attacked the hat game:
In announcing his decision, Boshier also set out his expectations about how future ministers should respond to OIA requests. He emphasised the importance of transparency and underlined the OIAs broad application.This is an obvious ruling, given the 2016 ruling that information received by Ministers is official by default, and Ministers have to prove that it was received in another capacity. But its good to have it formally stated. And hopefully there'll be an official case note, so that Ministers will have no excuse, and for requesters to refer to when Ministers illegally try and hide information.This case highlights the potential for the roles of an MP and a minister to overlap and for information to be held in both capacities. The Official Information Act is an important constitutional safeguard. It is based on the principle of making information available, said Boshier. In my view the OIA should apply where there is a ministerial overlap of any kind.
13:11
Jane Campion on Movies Movies Movies "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
- :: Jane campion interview on Movies Movies Movies - Mornings with Maia Bilyk
Jane Campion, for many, is the ABC-TV-movie-to-Palme-Dor blueprint.
A two-time Academy Award winner including Best Director for 2021s The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion dropped by FBi for Movies Movies Movies on Mornings with Maia Bilyk. The juggernaut filmmaker has a commanding career which has moved through short works, large features, American marvels, blockbuster television and small indies. Her focus on the feminine capacity to wreak havoc and harmony on the psyche has attracted the spirits of Hollywood heavyweights such as Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Meg Ryan and Pam Grier.
With Sydney Film Festival turning 70 this year and celebrating with a comprehensive Campion retrospective Film Lordes Jen Atherton and Andr Shannon thought it would be a good time to sit down with JC and see if she would validate them, which she does by talking about George Lucas and American Zoetrope and showing how low funded, unsupported, experimental, groundbreaking, industry-disruptive and ultimately poetic film works will always have a place in our hearts.
Listen to the interview on Mornings w...
13:04
More STI services in Surf Coast "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Anglesea Medical has joined the Victorian Sexual Health Network to help manage sexually transmissible infections (STI) in the Surf Coast region.
The centre partnered with the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) on June 13 to provide important sexual services to residents.
General practitioner Doctor Lucy Dobson said providing STI management was necessary, and it was often treatable and preventable.
Detection and treatment of STIs is not just helping the individual but multiple people, she said.
Anglesea Medical aims to provide an inclusive and confidential environment where we can test, detect and treat STIs for people of the Surf Coast and surrounding shires.
We are aiming to provide asymptomatic testing, support people requiring treatment and aid contact tracing.
Belmonts Kardinia Health also delivers sexual health services in Western Victoria Kardinia, and chief executive Michelle Heagney said the centre was able to help more people by partnering with MSHC.
By partnering with MSHC we have been able to provide additional detailed training to our GP and nursing team, she said.
Through aligning with their communications, we have seen an increase in patient numbers.
Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) chief executive Rowena Clift said it supported the recruitment of GP clinics in the region.
WVPHN is delighted with the outcome and congratulate Anglesea Medical on securing this important partnership to deliver sexual health services in the region, she said.
More information on STI management and prevention is available at staystifree.org.au
The post More STI services in Surf Coast appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.
12:57
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Nightcap National Park "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
...
12:53
Rialto Aglow is the new 10-day winter lights festival coming to Melbourne "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Rialto Aglow is the new 10-day winter lights festival coming to the heart of Melbourne next month, bringing along interactive light installations from some of Australias most exciting public artists, nightly live entertainment and festival-themed cocktails, food and bites to Rialto, the iconic fifty-five-floor office tower and retail precinct in the heart of Melbourne CBDs midtown.
Running from 19 to 29 July, the free festival will be headlined by a new large-scale projection artwork leading into the Rialto Piazza, with interactive works of light, music, sound and colour immersing the Piazza from Collins St to Flinders Lane and King Street.
Rialto Aglow Melbourne
- Rialto Aglow is the new winter lights festival coming to Melbourne
- Running for 10 days (19-29 July) the festival will feature interactive light installations, live entertainment and themed cocktails and food
- Entry to Rialto Aglow and live entertainment each night is free
Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment here.
With entry to the festival free, guests will also witness large-scale works from Simone Chuas prolific Amigo & Amigo studio (VIVID Sydney, Canary Wharf London, Eurovision 2023) including Accordion, a multisensory large-scale installation inspired by the traditional instrument of the same name; and Lunar Lamp Posts is Amigo & Amigos new large-scale 10 x 10-metre interactive light installation, inspired by the cycles of the moon. With over 40 different music sounds and interactive lighting animations, the audience can touch and play as the forest of moons illuminates and animates.
Beloved Australian neon light artist Carla OBrien (White Night, Burning Man, Festival of Light) will also have a range of works popping up around Rialto Aglow, through her new studio Volter International. Highlighted works include a playful live instrument installation Neon Play The Music and the iridescent Double Rainbow Love Heart Archway, while all her works provide irresistible photo opportunities, much like Carlas Neon Angel Wings did for Katy Perry at Burning Man festival in 2016.
The Rialto Aglow Winter Lights Festival is supported through the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund a $200 million partnership between the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne.
Rialto Aglow runs from 5pm daily 19-29 July 2023. Entrance to Rialto Aglow, and live entertainment each night is free for Melburnians and visitors of all ages. Head here for more info.
The post Rialto Aglow is the new 10-day winter lights festival coming to.......
12:46
George Michaels teen pop era revisited in Wham! Netflix doco "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Netflix has released the first trailer for its new music documentary film Wham! The film will follow then-teenagers George Michael and Andrew Ridgleys four-year journey from schoolmates to global pop stars. In 1982, Wham! set out to conquer the world. By June of 1986 George and Andrew played their very last gig at Wembley Stadium ...
The post George Michaels teen pop era revisited in Wham! Netflix doco appeared first on QNews.
12:40
Handing on the Meals on Wheels baton "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
The Ballina Shire Meals on Wheels has been operating as a community-based not for profit food service since 1967.
While age and disability may reduce some peoples capacity to get out and about, Meals on Wheels volunteers help make it possible for many to stay home and maintain their independence by delivering meals, social interaction and a friendly check on wellbeing.
Since its inception over 60 years ago, Meals on Wheels 14,000 volunteers in NSW alone have delivered around 4.5 million meals delivered.
Meleta retiring
Service Coordinator of Ballina Shire Meals on Wheels, Meleta Wood, is retiring as after 16 years of service and Dan Davidson is stepping into the role this month.
Meleta has overseen the growth of the service into the recent inclusion of a social support / activities program for people 65 years and over.
Meleta has seen many changes over the years including moving to the new site at 62 Crane St in 2008. Her dedication and hard work and service will be missed by staff, volunteers and clients.
Dans the man
New Service Manager Dan has a background as a business owner/ head chef and working as a Service Coordinator in age...
12:39
A stroll among the ruins and the recovery "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
A smallish group tackled FOBIFs June walk yesterday, on a circuitous route around The Monk, taking in many of the more notable mining sites of the area. The weather was fine and cool with extensive patches of sunshine: perfect for walking. The bush is looking pretty healthy with rampant regrowth of Golden Wattle, among other species. It will be spectacular in the seasonand Golden Wattles are already starting to flower.
In the Eureka Mine zone: one day this could be world heritage!
The route chosen crossed the Eureka Mine site, but ventured into some obscure but fascinating corners: in fact, it could be argued that the interest of the mining history of this region is in its abandonment, the fact that much of what remains is not signposted, and has to be found by adventurous explorers, not tourists with a map.
Now, whats this about quartz? Part of the FOBIF group wondering about the gold question.
Our thanks to Lionel Jenkins and Barb Guerin, for devising a route which took in some really isolated, thought provoking sites.
Next month FOBIF is offering two walks: a long and a short! Check the program for details.
...12:35
Why we excuse Australian war crimes "IndyWatch Feed National"
The long history of Australian militarism reminds us that the necessary condemnations of Ben Roberts-Smith and the SAS need to be situated in relation to the countrys sub-imperial ambitions. Are we a part of the Empire / Close welded as hilt and blade? AG Hales asked. As the tensions between the United States and China grow, that determination to weld Australia into Empire only becomes more dangerous.
The post Why we excuse Australian war crimes appeared first on Overland literary journal.
12:03
Two nights in Port Douglas; which restaurants (Salsa, Seabean, Nautilus)? "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
We have two nights in Port Douglas and are currently holding dinner reservations for Salsa, Seabean and Nautilus. We're Canadians visiting Australia. Which ones should we keep? I will be spending some other days in Cairns afterwards.
Or if any other suggestions, would love that too! :) Thank you!
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12:01
Albanese government makes some concessions on affordable housing policy "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
Contributed by Joe Montero
Theres no to ways to look at it, the Albanese government has had no other choice but to offer more than what it had offered in Mays budget to extend social housing. It has not only been about the Greens holding out for more in the senate. A steep rise in the cost having a roof over ones head has become a huge issue with an electorate facing difficulty as the cost of living overall continues to rise.
Under these circumstances, the cost of housing has the potential of being a make or break for any government. The May budgets provision on this score was criticised as inadequate by organisations dealing with those falling through the holes, for not being nearly ambitious enough and that it would not start until 2026. It said it would do little to make a difference.
Cartoon by Simon Kneebone
Anthony Albanese government had no other choice but to offer more and did so on Saturday. The initial offer of $10 billion or $500 million a year over a decade, was added to by a once off top up of $575 new funding for the states, with $610m for New South Wales will, $496 million for Victoria, and $398 million for Queensland. $209 million for Western Australia, and $135 million for South Australia with the rest divided between Tasmania, the Northern Territory. The Australian Capital Territory, who will receive a minimum $50 million.
A further $200 million will be allocated to repair, maintain, and improve housing in remote Frist Nations communities.
The original promise was supposed to build 30,000 new homes in the first 5 years of the program. This number was always questionable and has now been downgraded to 20,000. It still seems a lot with the promised outlay. This has inevitably led to suspicion that a significant part of new builds will be sold in the private market and that there be far less going into social housing than the impression given.
Aware of this the potential fallout, Anthony Albanese has countered with a promise this isnt going to happen. were not going to have public housing built and then flogged off, he said. time will tell whether the government is going to honour this.
Another problem is the question mark over trusting the Housing Australia Future Fund (also known as the Haff). It will be managed as a...
12:00
Nightcap National Park: Celebrating the birth of environmental activism "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
A celebration was held for the defining moment in modern environmental activism that led to the protection of rainforests across NSW, writes Charles Hunter.
ON SUNDAY 18 June 2023, locals from Northern NSW joined National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff and the traditional owners Widjabul Wia-bal to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Nightcap National Park. Its somewhat unusual to attend a party to celebrate the creation of a national park but there is an incredible story behind Nightcap.
The 8,080-hectare Nightcap estate, which is part of the Wollumbin Caldera, is located in Northern NSW near Byron Bay and protects ancient Gondwanan rainforests containing trees with lineages dating back many millions of years and a forest that has the highest biodiversity in NSW. This is certainly worth celebrating, however, the true celebration was for the inspiring story of why the park was created 40 years ago.
The story begins almost ten years before Nightcap was gazetted in late 1974, the year Nan and Hugh Nicholson moved up from Melbourne to live a quiet life next to the ancient Gondwanan rainforest at Terania Creek in Northern NSW (Bundjalung Country), not long after the infamous Aquarius Festival was held in nearby Nimbin. But just a few months after the Nicholsons had moved, Hugh discovered some harrowing news.
Nan and Hugh Nicholson w...
Nightcap National Park: Celebrating the birth of environmental activism "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
A celebration was held for the defining moment in modern environmental activism that led to the protection of rainforests across NSW, writes Charles Hunter.
ON SUNDAY 18 June 2023, locals from Northern NSW joined National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff and the traditional owners Widjabul Wia-bal to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Nightcap National Park. Its somewhat unusual to attend a party to celebrate the creation of a national park but there is an incredible story behind Nightcap.
The 8,080-hectare Nightcap estate, which is part of the Wollumbin Caldera, is located in Northern NSW near Byron Bay and protects ancient Gondwanan rainforests containing trees with lineages dating back many millions of years and a forest that has the highest biodiversity in NSW. This is certainly worth celebrating, however, the true celebration was for the inspiring story of why the park was created 40 years ago.
The story begins almost ten years before Nightcap was gazetted in late 1974, the year Nan and Hugh Nicholson moved up from Melbourne to live a quiet life next to the ancient Gondwanan rainforest at Terania Creek in Northern NSW (Bundjalung Country), not long after the infamous Aquarius Festival was held in nearby Nimbin. But just a few months after the Nicholsons had moved, Hugh discovered some harrowing news.
Nan and Hugh Nicholson w...
11:58
Roos defeat improved Newcomb "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Anglesea had to work extra hard to brush off a tenacious Newcomb in round 11 of Bellarine Football League on Saturday June 17.
Anglesea had the aid of a strong breeze in the opening term and led by 26 points at the break, but the Power hit back when it was their turn to trail by 18 at half time.
A five goal to one third term had Anglesea up by 44 points at the last change, but Newcomb rallied to boot five of their own although it wasnt enough to prevent a 32-point victory to the fourth-placed Roos.
Jarrod Bacon kicked four for Anglesea while the ever reliable Andrew Steele slotted through three for Newcomb.
Modewarre continued its midseason resurgence with a 54-point win against Geelong Amateur.
The Warriors have now won three of their past four and are outside the top five only by percentage.
It was an even contest for the first half and even at three-quarter time, the game was still anyones, but six goals to one in the final term sealed the win for Modda.
Nat Matthews was best for Modda while Tom Hornsey booted six goals to take his seasons tally to 35.
Brydon Barnett was Ammos best with four goals.
Barwon Heads debuted 15-year-old Angus Ford in its huge win against Portarlington.
The occasion didnt overwhelm the youngster either with Ford picking up 16 disposals, three goal assists and booting one himself to be among the best players.
The Heads won by 140 points and rested co-coach Mitch Herbison and key forward Brock Close, but Ollie Wiltshire booted five goals and Harrison King four.
Ocean Grove took it right up to Drysdale for two and a half quarters, but the Hawks class prevailed to win by 44 points.
James Breust and Tom Ruggles booted four goals each while Josh Wooding did the same for Ocean Grove.
Torquay eventually defeated Queenscliff by 40 points, but not without a heck of a fight from the young Coutas.
Queenscliff led by eight points at half time and an upset was brewing, but the undefeated Tigers clicked into gear with eight second half goals to one.
Daniel De Gois kicked four for the Coutas while Jack Heathcote and Michael Croxford were Torquays best.
The post Roos defeat improved Newcomb appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.
11:51
11:17
Sip and celebrate rainforests on Saturday "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
World Rainforest Day is an annual collaborative event created to celebrate, you guessed it, the worlds rainforests and to inspire the global community, and this year, guests at the Cape Byron Distillery, to conserve one of the Earths most valuable resources.
In attempt to mitigate climate change and deforestation, this day, June 22 serves to raise awareness of the significance of rainforests in stabilising climate, maintaining biodiversity, and sustaining communities.
11:16
The Maggie Pills announce national Hope is a Risk album tour "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
<p><p><p><p>Argentine x Australian punk rock outfit The Maggie Pills have just dropped their powerful debut album, <em>Hope is a Risk</em> in its full-length glory, while also offering up the mighty third album track Bright the Brightest Light and sharing a run of national tour dates to celebrate.</p> <p>The album tour will kick off in Melbourne on 24 June before heading to Frankston, Geelong, Beechworth, Sydney, Wollongong and Adelaide.</p> <h3>The Maggie Pills National Tour 2023 Victorian Dates</h3> <p>Sat 24 June The Bergy Bandroom, Melbourne<br> W/ The Hot Blood & Hearts and Rockets
Sat July 8 Singing Bird Studios, Frankston<br> W/ Hearts and Rockets & Nicoteenagers
Sat 15 July The Barwon Club, Geelong<br> W/ Stripp, Green Blanket and Vicious Blonde</p> <p>Sat 19 August Tanswells, Beechworth<br> W/ Biff</p> <p class="p1"><b><i>Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews </i></b><a href= "https://fortemag.com.au/music/"><span class= "s1"><b><i>here</i></b></span></a><b><i>.</i></b></p> <p><em>Hope is a Risk</em> is the mighty debut release from The Maggie Pills, an outfit whose founding members, Argentinian frontwoman Delfi Sorondo and Venezuelan drummer Mario Perez, formed shortly after migrating to Australia.</p> <p>Mastered by legendary sound engineer Joe Carra (Amyl & The Sniffers, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Courtney Barnett), and filled with compelling Latin percussions, razor-sharp guitars, fuzzy bass lines, unhinged synths, and gestural vocals, Hope is a Risk masters the intersections between intuitive and mathematical, grunge and pop, gothic and colorful.
The band was born out of necessity for myself and Delfi to unleash all the feelings we went through when we migrated to Australia but suddenly found ourselves alone in the middle of a global pandemic and the world was falling apart reflects Perez.</p> <p>These intimate experiences give profound authenticity to Hope is a Risk as the personal becomes political throughout the albums themes on global politics. Yet theres a constant sense of finding resolution amidst the turmoil, with each track providing a carefully curated amount of unhinged catharsis, tension and release as well as a sense of being at peace with itself.</p> <p>Its own anger constantly seeks light through pop tones, guitar-hero landscapes, and imaginatively built universes inspired by the otherworldly, western films, sci-fi, and William Blake levels of poetic ponderings. After all, The Maggie Pills migrated to Melbourne to take a leap of faith across the pacific ocean and chase their artistic dreams.</p> <p>I think this is why the songs we play carry a lot of...
11:06
Kween Kong gets Logie nomination for Drag Race Down Under "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
RuPauls Drag Race Down Under runner-up Kween Kong has received a Logie nomination, with the show itself also nominated for its second season. The 63rd TV Week Logie Awards are on in Sydney on July 30. The short-listed stars and shows vying for Australias top TV awards were unveiled on Monday morning. And the Adelaide-based ...
The post Kween Kong gets Logie nomination for Drag Race Down Under appeared first on QNews.
11:06
How Vietnam Can Disrupt Chinas Dominance in EVs "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
There's a long way to go, but the country has most of the ingredients it needs to be a significant player in global EV supply chains.
10:58
SACOSS welcomes 'biggest social housing investment for decades' to address rental affordability crisis "IndyWatch Feed National"
Sunday, 18 June
2023
The South Australian Council of Social Service and its members welcome the Federal Governments announcement of immediate and significant funding to state and territory governments for social housing.
10:45
Swapping and saving seeds this Friday in Mullum "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Saving seeds in an important part of saving the planet and Byron Hinterland Seed Savers are excited about continuing this important work in our local area and will host a seed swap this Friday.
This event will be held at the Mullum Farmers Market on Friday and everyone is invited to come and share the fun of exchanging seeds with people in your community.
Byron Hinterland Seed Savers believe that together, we can build a network of states that are accessible for all, local, homes saved, chemical, free, diverse, and all varieties that are nutrient dense, and are adapted to our bio region.
Choosing the best possible plants
Seed saver Celine Massa says that saving seeds allows us to choose the best possible plants, that are the most adapted to our region and climate, an important aspect in these climate-changing times. Saving seeds that are heirloom, diverse, and rare means that more varieties of seeds will be available in our local region which makes us more resilient in the long term.
Seed saver Jia Hoelzl says seed saving is one of the most important things we can do in our time. Seed saving is a revolutionary act against the large corporations...
10:41
Anatomy of a Cover-Up: whistleblower warned PwC and Lendlease of $1b tax scam "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Anatomy of a Cover-Up:
whistleblower warned PwC and Lendlease of $1b tax scam
PwC advised Lendlease on the billion-dollar tax scam which is now subject to Australian Tax Office audit. As Lendlease whistleblower Tony Watson fights the giant in court over his dismissal as a tax lawyer, documents obtained by MWM show Watson warned a PwC tax partner and group finance chief Tarun Gupta the tax scheme was a rort. Michael West reports.
In the week before Christmas in 2017, whistleblower Tony Watson met Tarun Gupta, then CFO of Lendlease, and Paul Abbey, a global tax partner of PwC. Watson explained to them in detail how Lendlease was breaching the tax laws on an aggressive retirement village deal. The ATO will not fall for it, he advised them subsequently by email.
The Tax Office did not fall for it. Although, in the face of exhaustive lobbying and butt-covering by PwC and Lendlease, the ATO has dithered on enforcing the law, it has told Lendlease their tax approach was wrong and is now albeit 6 years later auditing the company.
PwC was adviser to Lendlease on the scam, so its tax partner Paul Abbey should not have been surprised by anything said at that meeting. After the meeting, Watson wrote to Tarun Gupta and the Lendlease Board on 31 December 2017:
- Next steps
You will assess the immediate next steps after Paul Abbey reports back to you. I fear we have placed him in a difficult position..Paul Abbey will either have to call his own partner as having produced an incorrect opinion under duress, or himself embrace the hopeless tax claim that the law does not apply to reduce the cost bases by the deductions claimed. If he...
10:41
Should Politicians Be Permitted to Accuse Others of Crimes With Impunity Under Parliamentary Privilege? "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Senator David Van may not have been well known before last week. But he is now a household name after Senator Lidia Thorpe accused him last week of sexual assaulting her in parliament, under the protection of parliamentary privilege. During...
The post Should Politicians Be Permitted to Accuse Others of Crimes With Impunity Under Parliamentary Privilege? appeared first on Sydney Criminal Lawyers.
10:31
Joe Biden feels up actress Eva Longoria - makes her cry - and no one says anything. "IndyWatch Feed National"
Thanks to Washington Free Beacon for these graphics of Biden trapping then copping a feel from actress Eva Longoria. https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/creepy-joe-strikes-again/ And who wouldn't be upset and cry over a lecherous old creep feeling you up in public? Here's the whole thing as it happened.
10:23
Real estate agent jailed "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
A former estate agent who mishandled his clients trust account funds for personal use was sentenced to 12 months in prison and a two-year Community Corrections Order in the County Court on Friday June 16.
Richard Michael Hayden, 56, of Torquay, pleaded guilty on June 5 to three offences under the Estate Agents Act 1980. These included two charges for causing almost $1.6 million in trust account deficiencies and one charge for fraudulently transferring around $776,000 in trust funds for his own use.
The court heard how Mr Hayden used these funds to pay for international holidays, entertainment, clothing, and medical costs.
Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria Nicole Rich said the outcome serves as a strong reminder that estate agents found doing the wrong thing will face serious
consequences.
Consumer Affairs Victoria will continue to hold real estate agents who misuse money to account, to protect buyers, vendors, and the integrity of the wider real estate industry, she said.
Victorians deserve to know their money can be trusted with real estate agents and this outcome serves as a serious warning to agents doing the wrong thing.
Consumer Affairs Victoria launched court proceedings against Mr Hayden following complaints from consumers between November and December 2018 who reported deposits not being paid after settlement or cancellation of a contract of sale.
Mr Hayden was the Director of Skyline Developments Pty Ltd, which traded as Ballarat agency Hayden Real Estate, when he committed the offences.
Estate agents and agents representatives must keep any consumer moneys held
temporarily, such as property sales deposits and rental payments, in a trust account to ensure the funds are protected. They must not use those funds for general business expenses or personal use.
Consumer Affairs Victoria takes a zero-tolerance approach to real estate agents
found to be breaking the law, and monitors compliance through random and annual auditing of trust accounts.
The post Real estate agent jailed appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.
10:22
Sydney Criminal Lawyers Weekly Rundown Articles from 12 to 18 June 2023 "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
In case youve missed any of them, heres a rundown of the past weeks articles: UK Rejects Assanges Appeal Against Extradition, Despite Global Campaign for Freedom The court rejected his appeal against extradition, despite mounting calls for his freedom and...
The post Sydney Criminal Lawyers Weekly Rundown Articles from 12 to 18 June 2023 appeared first on Sydney Criminal Lawyers.
10:15
Swiss approve net-zero climate law "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Switzerlands famed mountains are at extreme risk from climate change. Just in the last week, a huge chunk of the summit of Fluchthorn (also known as Piz Fenga) collapsed. The 3,399m mountain lies in the Silvretta Alps on the border between Austria and Switzerland. Thousands of tons of rock fell because of thawing permafrost.
Now, Swiss voters have backed a new law that seeks to accelerate the countrys shift from fossil fuels to renewable energies and reach zero emissions by 2050. In all, 59.1% of voters approved the governments Climate and Innovation law.
The government and all major parties, except for the right-wing Swiss Peoples Party, had called to vote in favour of the bill.
According to the Swissinfo website,
The new climate and innovation lawExternal link, approved by parliament in September 2022, aims to kill several birds with one stone: it sets out CO2 emissions milestones to ensure Switzerland meets its international climate commitments and seeks a gradual reduction of imported fossil fuels in favour of Swiss-made renewables to improve energy security.
The law was drawn up as an indirect counterproposal to the so-called Glacier Initiative, and incorporates the main objective of the initiative namely, for Switzerland to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
But the text uses a carrot-not-stick approach: no taxes or compulsory action but instead financial support CHF3.2 billion ($3.2 billion) over ten years for homeowners to replace electric, gas or oil heating systems with more climate-friendly systems like heat pumps. Businesses will also be incentivised to invest in green technologies.
09:57
Teenager missing from Coffs Harbour "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
NSW Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a boy missing from Coffs Harbour.
Thomas Carney, aged 16, was last seen at a shopping centre on the Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour about 2.30pm on Saturday (17 June).
When he could not be located, officers attached to Coffs-Clarence Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, with a solid build, black and red dyed hair in a mullet hairstyle and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing black pants and a black hooded jumper.
Anyone with information of his whereabouts is urged to contact Coffs-Clarence Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The post Teenager missing from Coffs Harbour appeared first on The Echo.
09:37
Fake parking tickets circulating Geelong "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Geelong residents are being warned to double-check their parking fines after discovering fake tickets in the region.
The City of Greater Geelong first discovered the fraudulent tickets Friday morning, June 16, which are realistic in appearance but have several distinguishing features.
City of Greater Geelong parking tickets bear an eight-digit infringement number, are entirely white, feature the offending vehicles registration plate and details, have legislative references at the top of the ticket, and include an officer ID of three numbers.
A fake ticket can be identified by having a blue band across the top of the ticket and a QR code, which are not featured on an authentic ticket.
Community Service Delivery director Robyn Stevens said residents need to remain vigilant and wary of the scam.
Were not yet fully aware of how the fraudulent tickets are being used by scammers, she said.
We strongly advise anyone receiving a suspicious-looking parking ticket not to click on any link or to use the QR code.
I encourage anyone receiving a parking ticket within Greater Geelong to take a few moments to check that it bears the features of an official City of Greater Geelong parking ticket.
The post Fake parking tickets circulating Geelong appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.
09:30
Queensland election guide launched "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Ive been using this quiet period between elections to get ready for the elections of 2024, and as part of that I have now published my guide to the 2024 Queensland state election.
This will likely be the biggest election event of 2024, and the latest, scheduled for 26 October 2024.
While I am still waiting for electoral boundaries to be finalised before I can do the ACT, NT and NSW council elections, theres no redistribution needed for the Queensland state boundaries.
The guide features profiles of all 93 state seats. Each profile features the history and geography of the seat, and tables and maps showing the results. They will eventually feature candidate lists, but at the moment 16 months out from the election this section is pretty much entirely empty.
Most of this election guide is only available to people who chip in $5 or more per month via Patreon, but Ive unlocked four marginal seat guides as a free sample:
You can click through to each seat via this map below.
09:00
Activists block facilitation of the climate crisis at ports in Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
As part of a coordinated mobilisation of actions in response to what they say is Australias facilitation of the climate and ecological crisis, activist Raffi is on a bipod, halting all operations at Newcastle, the most significant economic bottleneck of the worlds largest coal port.
Raffi is on Kooragang Rail Bridge blocking the coal rail line on what they say is stolen, unceded Awabakal and Worimi Country in an active blocking of impactful action towards a safe climate.
09:00
Grow Your Own Herbal First Aid Kit "IndyWatch Feed National"
We bring you the herbs and plants you will need to grow to create your own herbal first aid kit.
08:56
The Beatles in Sydney: The Biggest Drag of All Time "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Lots of famous artists love touring Australia. Foo Fighters. P!nk. Coldplay. The Beatles, though? Not so much.
On June 18th, 1964, almost 60 years ago, the Liverpool legends performed in Sydney for the very first time.
Things got off to a good start as they were greeted by over 1,000 fans at the airport, safely escorted through the mayhem by 300 police officers. They were taken to plush suites at the Sheraton Hotel, and held a positive press conference for Aussie reporters.
So far, so good. The trouble started at the first of the bands six shows. After fans incessantly threw candy at the stage (the result of a misinterpreted interview comment made by George Harrison the year before), Paul McCartney was forced to stop their performance twice in order to ask the audience to refrain from throwing things. He was ignored both times as more candy hailed down upon the foursome.
As it was McCartneys 22nd birthday that day, the band retreated back to the Sheraton for a party, were 17 girls who had won a Daily Mirror competition, Why I would like to be a guest at a Beatles birthday party, were reportedly there.
Their Aussie ordeal led Harrison to call the Sydney shows the biggest drag of all time.
Over the weekend, Twitter account Australian Kitsch posted a letter the guitarist sent from the Sheraton Hotel to his parents back home in England.
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08:37
Amy Shark Among 2023 Logie Awards Nominees "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Amy Shark is among the nominees for the prestigious Logie Awards.
The nominees for the 63rd TV WEEK Logie Awards were announced this morning at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.
In the Most Popular New Talent category, Shark earned a nomination for her work as a judge on Channel Sevens Australian Idol.
After over a decade away, Australian Idol returned this year with a star-studded panel of judges. The iconic singing competition ran on Network Ten between 2003 and 2009, and was picked up again 13 years later by Seven Network.
Alongside Shark, international pop star Meghan Trainor, most famous for her mammoth hit single All About That Bass, iconic jazz crooner Harry Connick Jr., and radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands were chosen to judge the hopeful singers.
23-year-old
from Far North Queensland singer Royston Noell was crowned the winner of
Australian Idol season eight, earning a recording contract
with Sony Music and a life-changing $100,000 in prize money.
The proud Indigenous singer was clearly overwhelmed at the time. Thank all this mob up here, all my family and friends for coming, he happily declared onstage. Everyone whos been voting, thank you so much! Youre ready You are amazing. I love you, said Trainor at the time.
Shark faces strong competition in the Most Popular New Talent category from fellow singer Ayesha Madon recently featured in Tone Deafs Get to Know series for her performance in the Netfl...
08:30
Money, power, influence: How media monsters used journalism to cement their empires "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Money, power, influence:
How media monsters used journalism to cement their empires
Carl Sagan said that in order to understand the present, its necessary to know the past. Nowhere does this apply with greater force than to the Australian media and its place in the nations power structure.
Media Monsters, Sally Youngs second volume on the history of the Australian media, is indispensable for anyone interested in the dynamics that drive Australian politics.
It builds on the foundations laid in her magisterial first volume, Paper Emperors, and matches it for breadth, depth and insight, synthesising ownership patterns, political manipulation and vested interests that have helped shape Australian democracy.
Not only are these forces largely hidden from public view, but they have survived epochal social, political and technological change more or less intact.
The patterns that emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries the dynasties, the allegiances, the political partisanship, the harnessing of journalism to promote proprietorial preferences were still present into the 1970s. Some survive to this day: Notably, the journalistic practices of the Murdoch dynasty.
Media Monsters picks up the story in 1941, where Paper Emperors left off. It covers the long period of conservative political hegemony through the 1950s and 1960s, and...
08:03
Fitzroy Island Hotel "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Im coming to Cairns in late august and looking at staying 1 night in the Fitzroy island hotel. However some of the reviews say that the rooms are outdated, dirty, tatty and worst of all, smell musty and full of mould. Has anyone here had an experience with the hotel and can confirm/deny this? Many Thanks -A desperate Brit
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08:00
Critical D-day over Papua governor Lukas Enembes legal nightmare? "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Critical D-day over Papua governor
Lukas Enembes legal nightmare?
By APR editor - June 19, 2023
SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya
Next month, on July 10, six months will have passed since Papuas Governor Lukas Enembe was kidnapped and flown to Jakarta for charges over alleged one million rupiah (NZ$100,000) graft.
Despite his deteriorating health, he has been detained in a Corruption Eradication Commissions cell (KPK) in the Indonesian capital more than 3700 km from his hometown of Jayapura.
He is due to appear in court today, but that depends on his health status.
08:00
Albos team sets employment records, despite job categories disappearing "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Australias jobs market has improved greatly over the first year of the Albanese Government, as Alan Austin reports.
IN HIS FIRST YEAR as Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese has increased the number of Australians in the paid workforce by 3.44% to an all-time high of 14 million plus a few. That gives Albo the best record of any prime minister from Malcolm Fraser onwards, when the current data series began.
Thats according to the monthly jobs figures released last Thursday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This data batch contains several hidden items worth celebrating, with credit shared, of course, by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and workforce ministers Tony Burke and Brendan OConnor.
The jobless rate improved from 3.68% to 3.55% in May. Thats down from 3.91% when Labor took charge. Jobs added so far this year come to 220,000. The total over the full year to 31 May 2023 is an impressive 465,500.
The percentage of all workers with full-time jobs is now steadily rising, as the economy improves. For the last four months, more than 70% of all workers were in full-time jobs. The last time this happened was in 2012 when Julia Gillard was PM. Jobs relative to population are also steadily rising.
All-time high hours worked per person
This measure is arguably the strongest evidence that current economic policies are getting people into productive work.
As several IA contributors have argued, notably...
07:49
Over half of Qld Budgets $60bn of revenue upgrades used for additional spending over FY21 to FY24 "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
Queensland general government revenues are $60 billion higher than once expected over 2020-21 to 2023-24, but debt is only $23 billion lower, with total spending revised up by around $32 billion. Some of this is understandable due to higher inflation and population growth, but much of it is due to policy choices, such as power price rebates.
Since the current Queensland Treasurers first budget handed down in December 2020, estimates of total general government revenue across 2020-21 to 2023-24 have been revised upwards by $60 billion. The 2020-21 to 2023-24 time period is relevant because these were the four financial years forecast in the Treasurers first budget. Revenues have been higher than first expected because the economic recovery from the COVID-recession was much stronger than expected, meaning higher payroll tax and stamp duty revenues, and because of super-high commodity prices, primarily coal but to a lesser extent oil and gas, associated with the invasion of Ukraine. Partly, the revenue revisions were associated with the Governments new royalty regime which imposed additional tiers of royalty rates.
At the time of the 2020-21 budget, Queensland general government debt was projected to increase to over $88 billion in 2023-24 and the total non-financial public sector was projected to increase to $130 billion. The non-financial public sector excludes state-owned financial corporations such as Queensland Treasury Corporation and Queensland Investment Corporation. Such entities can hold substantial amounts of debt unassociated with the usual business of government or traditional government trading enterprises. For instance, as well as borrowing money for the general government, QTC borrows additional money and lends it to local governments, universities, and private schools, among others.
Thankfully, higher revenues since the 2020-21 budget have resulted in lower estimates of government debt in 2023-24, but not by as much as might be expected. Lets consider the general government sector and Ill aim to examine the total non-financial public sector including the government-owned corporations in a future article. The state Treasury is now forecasting debt levels of $65 billion for the general government and $111 billion for the non-financial public sector in 2023-24. For the general government sector, total debt is only $23 billion lower, despite $60 billion of revenue upgrades. Whats going on?
Since the 2020-21 budget, total operating expenses over 2020-21 to 2023-24 have been revised upwards by around $30 billion, and capital expenses have been revised upwards by nearly $2 billion, meaning around $32 billion of additional spending. Around $14 billion of these additional expenses could be explained by higher inflation, average wages growth, and population on my calculations, which leaves over half of the increase in expenses due to explicit government policy deci...
07:42
In which the Caterist and the Major do their usual black knight impressions in brave culture wars ... "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
So the pond was watching a Finnish production of Turandot the other day (it's amazing what you can find on YouTube), and began thinking it was a rum sort of do.
Here's the sweet young slave, full of undying love and amazing sacrifice, but she has to off herself in the third act to help save her beloved master. It's true that Puccini gives her a nice song to send her on her way, but to what avail? She's done herself in for a female sociopath with a body count too big to put a number on, and for an arrogant, self-serving, patriarch who just wants to make the sociopath submit, because she's showing alarming signs of feminist thinking (as you'd expect of feminist sociopaths). He doesn't even seem to mind that his blind, long suffering daddy is now without his faithful companion Li. Sure, Calaf sings a song of sorrow, but guilt assuaged, he stays on the make for the ice maiden.
Moral of the story? As usual, it's the hapless lumpenproletariat that cops the lumps, while the other pair get to sing at end of show of undying love and glory. No wonder Puccini had trouble finishing it. Two most unattractive leads and the heroic worker done down. It's enough to make the pond turn Marxist. Even cultural Marxist and fully woke.
What's the pond talking about? Not a clue. Even Rex Huppke couldn't offer a clue:
Asked to define woke this month, DeSantis said:
Look, we know what woke is, its a form of cultural
Marxism.
You cant define a word that means nothing with a term that also means nothing. Thats like me saying, Well, we know what flarpitude is, its a form of horticultural Taoism.
You cant define a word that means nothing with a term that also means nothing. Thats like me saying, Well, we know what flarpitude is, its a form of horticultural Taoism.
What's that? Too off topic? The pond should return to its herpetological studies? But that's more than enough to make the pond turn cultural Marxist, and the pond has never been one for Marxism.
Speaking of horticultural Taoism, the self-regarding swill of pompous 'leet Surry Hills swine is populated by Calafs and the odd Turandot (the pond fancies Dame Slap in the role if she had a singing voice as opposed to a feral, sociopathic keyboard), and you'd have to look long and hard to find a selfless Li.
They were at it again, with yet another excuse to feature the Lehrmann matter (and naturally find an excuse to run a snap of Higgins in the revolving fickle of visual fate, though there was also Lidia to demonise):
...
07:29
07:09
WA Labor requires farmers to get permits from blackfellas before ploughing their paddocks "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
From News Ltd Farmers in Western Australia are furious about sweeping new cultural heritage laws that will require them to pay an Aboriginal consultant up to $160 an hour to obtain permits to do anything on their land that might disturb more than 50 centimetres of soil. Locals have warned that the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage []
06:27
Whats Wrong With This Study? CDC Finds COVID Shots Safe and Effective for Kids Under 4 "IndyWatch Feed National"
By Angelo DePalma, Ph.D. | The Defender | June 16, 2023
An analysis published earlier this month in Pediatrics concluded the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are safe and effective in preschool-age children a conclusion trumpeted by media outlets such as Parents and Medscape.
But the study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente researchers with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raises more questions than it answers.
Researchers followed children (mostly 4 years old or younger) who collectively received more than 245,000 doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA products and found no indications of serious side effects, according to a Kaiser Permanente news release.
Using a form of surveillance monitoring known as rapid cycle analysis, investigators performed weekly sequential analyses for 19 safety signals, including myocarditis, pericarditis, seizures, heart attack, Bells palsy, neurological inflammatory conditions, anaphylaxis and several others.
The study period was from June 2022 to March 2023.
Instead of using a comparable group of unvaccinated children as the control, the authors compared adverse events occurring 1-21 days after vaccination in one group, with outcomes among children in another group who had received the shot at some point between 22 and 42 days previously.
Time since inoculation was the only distinguishing feature, and the only factor that might account for inter-group differences.
The study, therefore, boils down to the question of whether children who received an mRNA shot about 10 days previously experienced more or fewer adverse events than children who received their jab about 32 days previously.
Data were mined from the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), a repository of patient data from eight private healthcare systems, which included five Kaiser Permanente regions and three other large health entities.....
06:26
05:41
Monday Message Board "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Post comments on any topic. Civil discussion and no coarse language please. Side discussions and idees fixes to the sandpits, please.
Im now using Substack as a blogging platform, and for my monthly email newsletter. For the moment, Ill post both at this blog and on Substack. You can also follow me on Mastodon here.
04:05
Benjamin Gilmours Paramdico: page 76 "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Heres another post where I talk about a book with a focus on page 76 chosen because it happens to be my age., but also because I remember someone saying that flicking to a page in the 70s (they Continue reading
00:15
NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, June 2023: between Grafton and Maclean Hospitals another 40 nurses are needed to provide adequate staffing levels "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Grafton Base Hospital is a Level 3/4 rural community hospital with an est. 68 bed inpatient capacity which provides acute medical, surgical, orthopaedic, paediatric, anaesthetic, geriatric, obstetric and maternity, intensive and critical care, renal, oncology, palliative care, emergency, some specialist outpatient services and day surgery facilities. Maclean District Hospital is a Level 3 rural community hospital with an est. <43 inpatient bed capacity, an inpatient Rehabilitation Unit and a Day Surgery Unit.
Clarence Valley Independent, 14 June 2023:
Between Grafton and Maclean Hospitals another 40 nurses are needed to provide adequate staffing levels say the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association as the Local Health District tries to fill 180 nursing vacancies across the region.
NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Clarence Valley branch secretary Thea Koval said without agency nursing staff being called in, who are paid significantly more than NSW Health nurses, Maclean and Grafton hospitals would struggle to operate.
Without agency nursing staff our hospitals would not be able to be run with the nurses employed only by NSW Health, she said.
...Sunday, 18 June
20:55
Maybe Republicans Are Just Bad at Investigating "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
If you watch Fox News (or adjacent propaganda outlets) and listen to any number of Republicans, it is painfully obvious that prominent Democrats have been engaging in a multiyear crime spree in plain sight. And we are not talking about petty offenses but rather some pretty serious stuff: accepting bribes, high-level corruption, witch hunts, government weaponization, mishandling classified documents (actually, that one is apparently OK now), and possibly being involved in an international network of blood-drinking pedophiles.
Well, maybe. Well keep an open mind for now.
For example, it is conceivable that Joe Biden accepted $10 million from some Ukrainian. And, maybe, Hillary Clinton did all the things. Admittedly, that entire Democrats are grooming kids in pizza restaurants and drinking their blood thing is more difficult to swallow, but you never know what they are into when they are not ruining America.
Finally, theres Hunter Biden. That guy is a screwup, and were willing to believe just about any accusation leveled against him. That being said, he isnt a Democratic official and therefore doesnt really belong on this list, but Republicans are trying sooo hard, which is why we included him as well.
Now, imagine that you are part of a group of god-fearing patriots who are not only aware of all of these crimes being committed, but also have nearly unlimited resources to investigate them.
That would be pretty neat, right?
Surely, with million-dollar budgets, subpoena power, loads of amenable judges you installed, and control of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for four years, you could round up these rogues and put them away for good. You know, tough on crime, law and order and such especially if a central theme of your partys platform is to lock one of them up. After all, your supporters expect you to put an end to all that criming.
That just leaves one question: Why arent any of these Democrats and their allies in prison?
There really are only two possible answers. The first is that most of these allegations are complete BS (probably not the Hunter Biden stuff, though. That guy is a grifter). The second is that Republicans are epically bad at investigating.
There isnt a day without a Republican trotting out on Fox News to proclaim that they have ironclad evidence that will nail the Bidens for good.
Take Hillary C.........
20:42
WA Mother Battles Therapeutic Totalitarian Horror Story "IndyWatch Feed National"
READ MORE AT CALDRON POOL West Australian authorities
have stripped a desperate mum of her...
20:30
NSFW! Douglas of Detroit, pioneer physique photographer "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Douglas of Detroit, aka Douglas Juleff, was a highly admired physique photographer before a police raid destroyed his career and ruined his life. Douglas Juleff learned his trade in the photo lab of a major Detroit department store. He became a dab hand at retouching removing blemishes and wrinkles and adding highlights using ...
The post NSFW! Douglas of Detroit, pioneer physique photographer appeared first on QNews.
20:25
Captain Brian Charles Houston of Hillsong "IndyWatch Feed National"
Brian Houston likened himself to the great explorer Captain James Cook in his book Live Love Lead (2015).
In Live Love Lead Brian Houston likened himself to great pioneers, adventurers and explorers like Captain James Cook who discovered, charted and mapped Australia and New Zealand.
19:45
Kamala Harris flogging 'free internet'!!! "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
In the 21st Century, high-speed internet is a necessity. The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to have already given millions of Americans a discount on their monthly internet bill. Check your eligibility and sign up at https://t.co/rYeK5u6Ho7. pic.twitter.com/Zdt2MUgalU The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 17, 2023
18:58
Electoral Commissioner asked to clean up rolls before Voice Referendum "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Commissioner Tom Rogers Australian Electoral Commission Locked Bag 4007, Canberra ACT 2601 June 11, 2023 Dear Mr Rogers, It is with some urgency we write to you asking that electoral rolls across the nation be cleansed of bogus entries well before the Voice referendum, otherwise its result might be shown to be meaningless (as []
18:48
Tony Abbott with laser-like precision on the principle behind the NO vote for Albanese's Voice "IndyWatch Feed National"
Tony Abbott nails it re the #Voice, "its a power grab by activists," says former PM @HonTonyAbbott #VoteNo #VoteNoAustralia #auspol pic.twitter.com/wroHU3vksW Timjbo (@Tim_jbo) June 18, 2023
18:36
For all the beatification of Andrew Probyn, there's evidence that he was quite the arsehole. "IndyWatch Feed National"
You can tell a lot about high profile people by how they treat strangers. Its currently fashionable for the Left and the political class to tweet about how outraged they are about the ABCs decision to get rid of Andrew Probyn. Perhaps theres something everyones ignoring. He was, at times,...