richard.obrien's blog

“I have seen and witnessed and experienced some appalling behaviour in parliament, the kind of behaviour that 20 years ago when I was managing partner of a law firm of 200 employees I would never have accepted".
- Julie Bishop

Would that be the same law firm that deliberately dragged out cases of asbestos victims so that many of them died before having their cases heard?

"I looked at it and thought it's a bit rough, there's no criminal history”
- Peter Dutton on why he personally intervened to stop a French au pair from deportation

Here are some examples of when Peter Dutton didn’t think it was a bit rough:

Some highlights of Scott Morrison’s newish cabinet:

Marise Payne is the new Minister for Foreign Affairs. Payne was an obvious choice to fill the void left by Julie Bishop, having also spent 20 years in Parliament achieving bugger all.

As Minister for Education, Simon Birmingham cut university funding, increased fees and lowered the income level at which HECS debt repayments start. So, if nothing else, it will be a relief to students that he is now the Minister for Trade.

Worried about no one running the country while the Government squabbles over the leadership?

Worry no more.

Scott Morrison has been appointed to replace Peter Dutton’s as the minister in charge of Border Force, so the country of Nauru will continue running as normal.

With Dutton heading off to the backbench to pad out his CV and assist Tony Abbott with the sniping duties, Morrison has been given the opportunity to return to his favourite pastime of abusing children in Immigration detention.

This week in Canberra politicians on both sides of parliament made speeches condemning racism and congratulating each other for them.

This week on Nauru Medical staff reported a 12-year-old refugee boy on a hunger strike for more than a fortnight is close to death.

The boy has been held with his family on Nauru for five years since fleeing Iran. They have been assessed as refugees but refused resettlement in the USA, as are all refugees from Iran.

Lovely to hear both sides of Parliament condemn Fraser Anning’s repugnant speech today. It’s been a change from the rhetoric we’re use to hearing from Parliament in recent times.

We’ve heard George Christensen constantly attack Muslim immigrants calling for them to be banned. He’s also spoken to the far right-wing Q Society and appeared on a Neo-Nazi podcast.

I’ve posted all this before, but New Corp have posted this headline before too. So once again, here is a reminder of why the true bludgers have nothing to beware of:

The Newstart allowance is nearly $200 per week below the poverty line.

Over 730,000 children are dependent on welfare payments to their parents/careers.

32% of people receiving Newstart allowance are over 50.

50% of Australians and 70% of households have accessed welfare at some time in the last 15 years.

About this pamphlet Matthew Guy.

I know you’re saying it isn’t specifically targeting “African gangs”, in fact it isn’t even a photo of Melbourne. It’s from a story published in 2012 about gangs in London. The problem with your pamphlet isn’t just that it contradicts data from the state’s Crime Statistics Agency which show crime in Victoria has decreased by nearly 9% in the last year, it’s about context.

A first-generation Australia who doesn’t like immigrants

Labels Australia’s welfare system as "poison“ while claiming $546,210 in expenses in 2016
Oversaw the robodebt fiasco

Exaggerates or lies about his department's results

Wants everyone to fit in with his values.

In an article published in today's Sydney Morning Herald, Jane Shilling of the London Telegraph argues that White House secretary, Sarah Sanders, should not have been refused service by the Red Hen restaurant because of her politics. She also argues that civility is the key to creating dialogue with the Trump administration.

Fuck civility. Shilling could not be more wrong.