tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post2295248688107266748..comments2023-11-05T23:07:01.842+11:00Comments on Grog's Gamut: Two halves of the asylum seeker debateGreg Jerichohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-11662878256778235642011-02-19T10:03:29.744+11:002011-02-19T10:03:29.744+11:00Anon - you're right. The ALP needs to hold to ...Anon - you're right. The ALP needs to hold to this and show it;s not just a one offGreg Jerichohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-56471275073367427782011-02-19T06:46:28.464+11:002011-02-19T06:46:28.464+11:00Thanks for another well written article. My wife a...Thanks for another well written article. My wife asked, " do they (the Libs) want violence in the streets?". Yes, they do, if they think it might bring them to power. Nothing else is important to Abbott, nothing.<br />I've never had much time for Bishop, Ruddock or Hockey, but good on them for speaking up against racism, even in private.Chris Grealynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-58341277241766118482011-02-18T23:19:14.790+11:002011-02-18T23:19:14.790+11:00I really don't want to be a party pooper but I...I really don't want to be a party pooper but I'll only believe that the ALP has developed a spine if they keep this positive attitude about multiculturism and asylum seekers when the fear mongering starts again. They have had negative publicity about one ten year old boy and they have responded. There is nothing there that to me suggests that they will continue to hold the high moral ground at all. The next time that it is easier for them to cave in to the racist elements of this country I still expect them to blow it. SorryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-19998707597812400852011-02-18T15:44:01.791+11:002011-02-18T15:44:01.791+11:00thanks for the excerpts from the speech grog, i tr...thanks for the excerpts from the speech grog, i tracked down the rest of it on the net and was so very pleased with bowen's words.<br /><br />i do hope this presages something really good, it seems like such a long time since a politicial got up and spoke about the value to my country of all those who come here.firstkittennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-47446066434802747892011-02-18T14:05:23.621+11:002011-02-18T14:05:23.621+11:00Re the Inverbrackie photo - Tony doesn't have ...Re the Inverbrackie photo - Tony doesn't have to worry about the place being a "pull factor" now that the place has been photographed with him in it.Helenhttp://castironbalcony.media2.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-38451287750328149532011-02-18T13:08:24.571+11:002011-02-18T13:08:24.571+11:00From Friday's SMH
''I wouldn't nor...From Friday's SMH<br />''I wouldn't normally comment on shadow cabinet but I can confirm Scott did talk about the strong feelings in the general community about Muslim immigration and he said that we as a party had to engage with that sentiment'' Mr Robb said.<br />So we have confirmation of Morrison discussing the matter of Muslim immigration in a Shadow Cabinet meeting. Lenore Taylor's article is vindicated by someone who was there.<br />Abbott now must either act on terminating Morrison's shadow portfolio or by doing nothing he indicates his support for what Morrison has done.Sam Sunshinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-287062695894920782011-02-18T13:02:07.228+11:002011-02-18T13:02:07.228+11:00Grog – Over a large glass of Chablis last night, I...Grog – Over a large glass of Chablis last night, I got creative so here’s a bit of a cheeky, light hearted tale from the week’s events.<br /><br />I had to have a bit of a giggle to myself listening to Andrew Bolt’s reaction to the Mark Riley’s gotcha moment on Insiders last Sunday. Firstly Andrew said and I quote “it’s an absolute disgrace, a travesty of journalism, it’s dishonest.” Yes I know I had to have a second and even a third take on that one too and my wife was not happy that I nearly spilled my cornflakes all over the new lounge which still hasn’t been scotch guarded and the dog continuously licks instead of the windows. He then went on to say that it was a “sacking offence.” Did I hear that right? Was Andrew suggesting that if a journalist was dishonest that they should be sacked? Well now, I have never read the Herald Sun before but I will be from now on. Hopefully they will publish the email which usually goes around when a so called organisational restructures happens which normally reads:<br /><br />“It’s with great sadness that Andrew has decided to leave us to take up an exciting new position with another company. His resignation is effective immediately and we ask that you please respect his privacy by not making any contact with him in the future. Can you also please ensure that you don’t get in the way of the guards who have kindly offered to assist Andrew in removing his belonging from the building this morning.<br /><br />On a brighter note, management have found a replacement for Andrew’s position and they start tomorrow. Please make them feel welcome.”<br /><br />I am probably being too optimistic about receiving such correspondence because one suspects that the words “Journalist” and “Andrew Bolt” are probably not uttered in the same sentence too often around Melbourne’s Southbank due to the fact that setting such high expectations always leads to disappointment.<br /><br />He then tried to defend Tony by saying that he already had responded to the question and he shouldn’t have to repeat himself. Well I didn’t realise that when a Cornflake comes back up through the nose, it can be a bit difficult to dislodge but if you pick hard enough you can get it out and rest assured, the dog will still woof it down with all the vigour of a Labrador’s last supper. Andrew’s logic had me a bit puzzled and I suspect Annabelle too, because if Tony doesn’t have a problem repeating “Stop the Boats” and “Great Big New Tax” a gazillion times a day then why would repeating his response again to Mark another couple of times be such a difficult concept to grasp.<br /><br />Anyhow, whatever, that wasn’t the funniest thing that Andrew said. When he accused Mark Riley of “malevolence” that was pretty close to being a Wankley and a Cornflake moment. Now I had a fair idea what the word meant but just to make sure I wasn’t committing any travesties or being dishonest, I went to dictionary.com and here’s what it said:<br /><br />“wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; ill-disposed; malicious.”<br /><br />Is anyone else seeing a problem here? By this stage I was confused. I asked my Cornflakes whether he was talking about Mark or himself, which seems a bit odd now that I have reflected on it but I guess at the time nothing else was making sense and I suspected that because my Cornflakes had special survival skills, it was quite conceivable that they may also have a higher intelligence. They were unsure who the comment was directed at, but they did mention that the milk had got a bit warm which was in breach of Workplace Health and Safety Guidelines and that according to Nicola Roxon, drinking 4 beers the night before makes me a bit of a binge drinker.<br /><br />So I am still none the wiser, the dog hangs around me every time I pick my nose and Andrew still lives on. It really has been a strange week. Have a lovely weekend everyone. ;-)Apathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-6741329925749789892011-02-18T12:29:12.597+11:002011-02-18T12:29:12.597+11:00We should never forget which radio station gave th...We should never forget which radio station gave the floor to Grott Morrison to make his loathsome comments ...<br /><br />Their ABC.<br /><br />http://l.picoodle.com/ca1i0fft.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-44665542793482681962011-02-18T11:16:57.343+11:002011-02-18T11:16:57.343+11:00@Doug - COMPLETELY agree with you about the need t...@Doug - COMPLETELY agree with you about the need to set the agenda and make your point CLEARLY instead of accepting some kind of blame for things outside the control of the government - WORD THINGS better.<br />I always was stunned that when the Howard government was bent on scrapping the 'unfair dismissal laws', the word 'unfair' and 'laws' became conflated in people's minds...and if Labor had just reworded it to 'Laws against unfair dismissal'when speaking of it, they may have convinced a few more people. Anyway. Great comments.<br />And thanks again for a terrific post Grog!Rhiannon Saxonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-63914415644568305782011-02-18T09:37:52.073+11:002011-02-18T09:37:52.073+11:00You know, so far I have been really impressed with...You know, so far I have been really impressed with Chris Bowen as immigration minister. I would hate to do that job in Australia. The level of feeling surrounding asylum seekers who arrive by sea is so ridiculous that it drives me nuts. <br /><br />I do not accuse the Liberal Party of this but I am tired of members of the community playing the "compassion" card to mask their racism. You see it pretty transparently in blog comments in the MS press. This co-opting of the idea by One Nation types is quite disturbing. As I say, I don't think the Liberal Party in general is guilty of this. Elements of it, sure maybe, but generally I don't think they are doing that.<br /><br />So I was very impressed by Bowen when he took the portfolio after the election. I think it was on Q&A where I got the impression he was in for the long haul, not short term expediency. If a regional processing centre can come off it will be a great outcome I think. And Bowen has shown solid committment to this.<br /><br />Then the speech yesterday about multiculturalism. Great stuff. I certainly support the idea of it but I'm most pleased with a minister arguing strongly, thoughtfully and with a bit of nuance rather than responding to the soundbyte rubbish of someone like Allan Jones, Andrew Bolt or whoever else. This is an issue for which the shock jocks have set the agenda for a long time. It's great to see a calm and rational contribution to it. <br /><br />Nuance has been sorely missing in Australian political debate for some time. I do hope it is making a come back.BennOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-5396140764374382672011-02-18T09:16:40.314+11:002011-02-18T09:16:40.314+11:00So things are moving in the right direction, and t...So things are moving in the right direction, and that's great. The question in my mind, though, is that if almost all the people who arrive by boat are genuine refugees, should we not find a way to get them here without them having to pay vast sums of money to travel in dodgy little boats?Brett Donaldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-16657239857505032232011-02-18T09:12:31.861+11:002011-02-18T09:12:31.861+11:00they also need to reclaim the economic narrative a...they also need to reclaim the economic narrative and by doing something similar to bowens speech.start from first principles and educate the electorate rather than always being seen to look defensive by answering the coalitions predictable criticisms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-40899184744174033732011-02-18T01:33:56.521+11:002011-02-18T01:33:56.521+11:00As I was saying two blogs above:
http://www.theage...As I was saying two blogs above:<br />http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/labor-is-being-led-by-the-nose-20110217-1ay3y.html is in The Age today (18 Feb)<br /><br />Time for Labor to reset the agenda. When I did a Media Skills course with Paul Lyneham back in the mid-90s, his message was clear. "You don't need to answer the question. A question is just an opportunity you use to get your own message across."<br /><br />The so-called Beazley Black Hole and then the Tampa both spooked Labor because Howard (and Costello) turned them to their advantage by spin, subterfuge and outright falsehoods. If Labor still believes it has a message, it needs to spell it out. Just ignore the Opposition and spell out what you are going to do and why. When told the insulation thing caused four deaths, say it was regrettable that those houses were wired incorrectly, which is why we need proper regulation of shonky builders. Everyone has dealt with shonky tradespeople (A Current Affair makes a living from them) so will understand and sympathise. Control the narrative, set the agenda, stop being reactive to Abbott's agenda because then you will always be on the back foot.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09894826694101357885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-64313551248275273962011-02-18T00:22:06.741+11:002011-02-18T00:22:06.741+11:00It's about time someone talked about the econo...It's about time someone talked about the economic benefits of immigration. <br /><br />But they don't, presumably because they aren't familiar with what is considered the more 'heterodox' economics of entrepreneurship and innovation. Which would, btw, justify the NBN convincingly. Cost benefit analyses be damned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-60444624267584067512011-02-18T00:04:05.798+11:002011-02-18T00:04:05.798+11:00Very refreshing to see a Labor Minister resetting ...Very refreshing to see a Labor Minister resetting the agenda after it had been surrendered for so long. No doubt the Nuts and Bolts will go for him but I hope he and his colleagues will stand firm on this and other issues. So long as they pander to the Nuts and Bolts they stand for nothing. There is no reasoning or compromise with the Nuts and Bolts, so you either surrender or take them head on. If you don't go in hard, you might as well go home because all will be lost.<br />Funny - last week Abbott said Gillard had a tin ear. From the timing of events, I'd agree with you that Gillard put a bomb under DIAC re Seena. Maybe her new Chief of Staff has made the difference. The tin ear is Abbott's - for not realising the damage done by his immigration hobbit from the Shire.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09894826694101357885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-65812699912932847872011-02-17T23:50:00.637+11:002011-02-17T23:50:00.637+11:00I am proud to be a member of the Labor Party today...I am proud to be a member of the Labor Party today. I joined after Howard's loathsome response to the Asylum Seekers on the Tampa in 2001. I have been waiting a long time for Labor to throw off the spectre of Tampa and the long shadow it cast over the nation. Today and last night Chris Bowen has done that.<br /> I wonder if Peter Martin will sneer at him anymore?<br /> Anyway, Chris' Dad is my FEC President, and next time I see him I'm going to give him a big hug for bringing up such a sterling individual.Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12850659738502789103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-76007418185721513442011-02-17T23:38:52.445+11:002011-02-17T23:38:52.445+11:00To put this into historical context, you should go...To put this into historical context, you should go read Hansard for 25 August 1988. The then PM, Bob Hawke, moved a motion affirming that no Australian government would have a discriminatory immigration policy. This motion was opposed by John Howard and the Liberals voted against it... Apart from three that crossed the floor: Ian Macphee, Steele Hall, and, yep, Philip Ruddock.<br /><br />Ruddock was actually quite progressive before he was appointed to Cabinet by Howard in 1996. He was probably the only "wet" that wasn't purged or sidelined during the early 90s, but this was at the cost of him suspending any compassion he might have felt. I guess now that he's now a backbencher, he's allowed to exercise his conscience again.stephenmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-87853263518563450372011-02-17T23:38:51.435+11:002011-02-17T23:38:51.435+11:00Gotta love the contrast. A week or so ago we had B...Gotta love the contrast. A week or so ago we had British PM Cameron saying that multiculturalism in Britain was a failure. Contrast that with Bowen lauding the triumph of multiculturalism within Australia.<br /><br />One wonders what the difference between the two approaches is.Coldsnackshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05516572460120066990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-10253201317727744762011-02-17T23:18:55.192+11:002011-02-17T23:18:55.192+11:00and also a pleasant change:}and also a pleasant change:}Pipnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-21848889415000299092011-02-17T23:16:19.022+11:002011-02-17T23:16:19.022+11:00When the Baktiari children became famous they were...When the Baktiari children became famous they were considered to be troublemakers for the Howard government, and eventually they had to go, I believe, to make a point.<br />This time around that is thankfully not going to happen despite the best/worst efforts of Mr. Morrison. What a pleasnat change a pleasant change.Pipnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-84143726907574502572011-02-17T23:05:56.649+11:002011-02-17T23:05:56.649+11:00It's exciting to hear multiculturalism talked...It's exciting to hear multiculturalism talked about as something to be cherished rather than some evil plot.<br /> howard the toad has finally left the building.<br />murdochs people will wet their pants with rage but the speech was made and now can't be ignored . A very pleasant day .Thank you Labor Party.tredlgtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-58233823296127687392011-02-17T22:49:04.090+11:002011-02-17T22:49:04.090+11:00vp - I haven't - will go searching for it (unl...vp - I haven't - will go searching for it (unless BB wants to post the link himself).Greg Jerichohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-8708110628078214642011-02-17T22:35:48.042+11:002011-02-17T22:35:48.042+11:00Mr. Bowen has delivered today. He is committed to...Mr. Bowen has delivered today. He is committed to removing the eight-year-old with his family off Christmas Island. He has inferred that a home will be found for them near existing family.<br /><br />He has also stated that other children in the same position will also be removed.<br /><br />I can only hope that the two fathers of the children buried are not far behind in joining their families.<br /><br />I would love to know who made the decision, which was obviously was revoke that the refugees would not have access to families while in Sydney.<br /><br />I also give credit to the Labor Party for creating the climate that allowed these humane actions to proceed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-69373645223281936662011-02-17T22:33:36.524+11:002011-02-17T22:33:36.524+11:00The labour party for the first time in a long whil...The labour party for the first time in a long while is gaining the ascendency and dominating the coalition. Two issues 1) the liberals don't have a replacement for Abbott, excepting of course Turnbull, but that would require a complete u turn on climate change and balance of their front bench 2) Gillard will never be the real deal whilst she continues to act as an American asset via the Julian Assange issue. Interestingly, this an issue the coalition can't take advantage of.Gordicansnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-66570197267449038732011-02-17T22:31:14.107+11:002011-02-17T22:31:14.107+11:00Grog, re the first part of your post, I get the se...Grog, re the first part of your post, I get the sense that TA has lost control of his shadow cabinet.<br /><br />re the 2nd part, it is good to see some some strategic rockets for good being launched, & good on Bowen for both his speech too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com