Money makes the world go round. That’s a truism in a market economy. The promise of democracy – one vote, one person, one value – ought to balance that. But what if money makes the political world go round? Nothing less than the fate of electoral democracy is at stake if we let money swamp […]
Money has swamped Qld politics, and that endangers democracy: @Graeme_Orr #qldvotes comment
January 27, 2015
Innumerate or deceptive: @adropex dissects @TheIPA ‘report’ into ABC coal coverage #leardblockade
August 19, 2014
Innumerate Ignorance or Calculated Deception It is unfortunate that the IPA, and in particular James Paterson, did not take note of the ‘scholarship’ referred to in their recent report of the ABC’s coverage of ‘Australia’s energy choices’ and apply it to their own publication. It would undoubtedly have saved them the embarrassment of making public […]
#BentleyBlockade a trigger to taking our country back? @mickdaley1 on the democratic possibilities
May 28, 2014
[clear] Must SHARE! Awesome edit! @parisanddarmin #Pilliga #leardblockade The Emperor Wears No Clothes – #BentleyBlockade: http://t.co/IR9cWn2ort — Meredith Stanton (@CloudsCreek) May 25, 2014 As tents and tripods came down and people figured out how to extract extract several tonnes of vehicles and associated implements embedded in concrete at Gates A, B and C to the farm […]
Tinkler at #ICAC: The art of of good and bad cops by @boeufblogginon
May 20, 2014
#icac Watson is on the point of corralling Tinkler in the questioning of Tinkler. Very clever. — Joan Evatt (@Boeufblogginon) May 16, 2014 Law students should have been at the ICAC hearing on Friday afternoon when Nathan Tinkler was being questioned. They would have seen a fine example of corralling a witness and one […]
Look! You Punters just don’t understand ‘time honoured’ traditions ok? @YaThinkN
May 5, 2014
I saw some awful reports in regard to poor Joe Hockey, our esteemed Treasurer, ‘being for sale‘ in the paper this morning. Scurrilous journalism at it’s best. Sky News was right onto this outrageous slur against our Treasurer’s integrity, with a bit of hardworking investigative journalism, they got right to the heart of this so-called […]
Maverick Narrabri Councillor Bevan O’Regan ‘a certain style of country bloke’: @nocsg profile, Margo interview #leardblockade
January 24, 2014
[clear] UPDATE 12.55pm: Margo’s Q&A with dissident Narrabri Councillor Bevan O’Regan Bevan, 81, is a retired wheat and cattle farmer and the deputy Mayor of Narrabri Council with three sons and three grandchildren. “My hobbies are studying world and domestic politics, and my interests are my family and the farming world.”. I spoke with […]
The sociology of how Cathy won Indi, by @ktbar0
September 12, 2013
[clear] By Kate Sleeman 12 September, 2013 Life in regional cities and towns is often perceived by our city cousins to be a step back in time; dull, slow, backward and socially conservative. However the election result in Indi has hopefully changed their perceptions and highlighted the power of real communities. They are beginning to […]
Latte-sipping city slicker @VanBadham gives thanks for rural independents and sees a new dawn for values in politics
August 27, 2013
By Van Badham August 27, 2013 The tactical employment of demeaning stereotypes has always been popular in the Australian political discourse. Just lump together some universally loathed behaviours – like vanity, self-indulgence or entitlement – dress them as communities you’re trying to discredit, and parade them like carnival villains. “Union thugs”, anybody? “Feminazis”? “People smugglers”? “Asylum […]
@OakeyMP on the dirty LabLib deal to grab our cash
May 29, 2013
Parliamentary speech May 28, 2013 by Rob Oaskeshott The fix is in on political donation reform. In a week of racing scandals—in fact, a month of racing scandals—the only ones ‘More Joyous’ about this failed donation reform that looks to be coming before the House today, looks to be the cosy relationship between the head […]
