Australia (the movie) is pretty embarrassing in parts, but for people in the East Kimberley it’s downright insulting, as anyone who was at the Kununurra premiere would have soon realised. The people in the Purnululu scenes (aka Bungle Bungles to whitefellas) were speaking Yolgnu, a language of the northern NT, whereas in that area the language is Kija. This is about as culturally sensitive as showing diggers in a Kokoda Trail movie speaking in Swedish or Dari. Perhaps a “Sorry” from Baz to the Kija people would be in order?
According to one NSW Liberal backbencher, NSW Lib power brokers (i.e. David Clarke and others) are pressing Joe Hockey to consider a move to state politics with an assurance of the Leadership. If he passes, Mike Baird may get the gig by April 2009. You heard it here first!
The next unemployment numbers will have a five in front not a four. The bank I work for has done some prelim work on the anecdotal evidence coming through, plus what we are seeing on the loan side. The Australian economy is substantially worse than even the Telegraph is reporting. On another front when the Bankwest takeover is complete, at least 30% of the eastern seaboard staff will be “re-structured due to Economic conditions”.
February 21 is just one of a few dates being bandied around for the Queensland election. A friend in Treasury tells me March. Springborg has ads on already and public servants are on the hop. Bligh may not be prepared for a real challenge in her own supposedly safe inner-city seat. Ex-Green Ben Pennings has a high profile anti-pokies campaign planned for South Brisbane. He received 25% last time he ran as a Green including a large personal vote and would undoubtedly take significant votes from all three parties. Preferencing the Greens or even the LNP could get them over the line, despite optional preferential voting. Word is he has a flash website almost ready to launch, statewide media interest, volunteers ready and a generous benefactor. Look out for a media launch soon outside Bligh’s office.
Ever wondered why the line-ups at Medicare offices seem longer lately? QLD Medicare branch managers have been told that they cannot recruit any more new staff, even if staff leave. And with the turnover at some branches (like Mount Ommaney) as high as 40% per year, some branches are getting very short-staffed and waiting times at busy shopping centre branches like Indooroopilly now average over 30 minutes.
It is pretty outrageous that, in the midst of discussions about alcohol sponsorship, the Chairman of Foster’s should be appointed as head of the ‘Expert Independent Sport Panel’!! It defies belief, really. Greoff Munro (ADF) has commented on this in current issue of GrogWatch newsletter, but it deserves wider scorn!
Regarding the GetUp campaign against internet censorship. At least one PS Department doesn’t like it. Haven’t been able to access the GetUp site for several weeks. Point the browser there and it just hums away for a while and then says ‘site may be busy or down’. This is not the same message we get when a site is actively blocked — but the effect is the same. But I have no trouble getting through to GetUp from home.
Canberra pollies and The Age‘s Canberra bureau can’t believe The Age‘s foolish decision to road, rather than air, freight copies of The Age to the nation’s capital. The paper now arrives here well after lunch making it virtually irrevelant in national affairs. Age CEO Don Churchill’s manager and bean counter David Skelton is blamed for the short-sighted decision which has caused anger amongst the country’s power brokers. MORE: The Age is now trucked up to Canberra instead of being flown in. As a consequence, it doesn’t arrive until 11am, i.e. long after most of its readers have left for work. Not surprisingly I cancelled my order and my newsagent told me I was just one among many. Losing seven sales a week from me isn’t a big deal. Multiply it a few hundred or thousand times every week of the year in Canberra and elsewhere and it’s probably one more nail in the coffin of this sad relic of a once great paper.
Steve Price 2UE morning presenter, stated this Tuesday morning that he never gets anything for free! Really!
Crikey/Media Monitors radio rumour watch reports:
- Presenter John Kenneally says Melbourne may follow Adelaide’s lead and become only the second Australian city to stage Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Lonely Planet co-founder Maureen Wheeler is reportedly prepared to give $12m to the venture and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has expressed interest to Peter Bassett, the artistic administrator of the 2004 Adelaide Ring Cycle. Kenneally says “First the Grand Prix, then the Ring Cycle“. — 6.36am ABC 891 (Adelaide)
- Caller “Bit Nippy” claims there’s been an influx of Great White Sharks into the Port Phillip Bay area since bay dredging began. — 7.14am 3AW (Melbourne)
- Caller Michael heard the power surge from Earth Hour was so large it almost blew the fuses in power stations. — 9.49am ABC 702 (Sydney)
Meanwhile, on the grassy knoll (?)…
- Caller Justin says there is a rumour that one of the “big four” banks will take over a major competitor by the end of the financial year. — 7.11am 3AW (Melbourne)
Rather than backing Mike Baird – I understand that some in the right are trying to knock him off at the next preselection – they are still smarting at the treatment meted out to Michael Darby
Th NSW state Liberals is the one place where Joe Hockey could really thrive and most likely become premier within 2 years. Let’s face it-it isn’t going to happen for Barry O’Farrell. Nathan Rees seems like a decent bloke but being from the Labor left and merely tolerated by the right, he is hampered by having to keep on creepy ministers like John Harzitsegos and is now even beginning to talk like Carr ie : Laura Norder.
Do us and yourself a big favour Joe and move stateside. Nothings going to happen for you Federally and NSW is there for the taking.