This is Jim Chalmers MP - Wayne Swan's former chief of staff and hand-holder.
At the last election he was parachuted into Rankin, Craig Emerson's old seat.
He's been falling over himself today in drawing attention to Matthias Corman's performance on Andrew Bolt's show last night.
Early this morning, Chalmers' media guru sent this email to various members of the press gallery.
|
From: "xxxxxxx (J. Chalmers, MP)" <> Hi, Not sure if you saw this last night on The Bolt Report, but Mathias Cormann refused to say what the gross debt figure would peak at in the Budget despite being asked 6 times. (Answer is it doesn’t and blows out to $725b in 2027/28, so likely too embarrassed to say). Here is the video up on Jim’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/JEChalmers/status/862416966278987776 Let me know if you want me to send the actual file but it’s 42MB so thought it might be too big. Jim gave some grabs on it during doors this morning too. Cheers, xxxxxx |
It's a bit nauseating to watch Chalmers and Labor moralising on debt.
I met Jim in 2008 when I started doing the Drive show at 4BC. He came to see me with an offsider after I'd given Swan a hard time on the radio. He lost me when he said China would follow in Wayne's footsteps economically, using Swanenomics as its model for emissions trading.
What Swannie did, he did because Jim told him to.
Jim's major issue with Corman isn't so much the level of debt (which is frightening beyond words) - rather it's that he couldn't remember the number. 6 TIMES!!!!!!!! As Jim has been reminding us all day.
Well we all remember this Jim - Swannie armed with a cheat sheet produced by J Chalmers PhD.
The UK is headed to the polls in a few weeks and McTernan remains an active figure in UK Labour circles.
What the?
A NSW Police "investigation" has "determined" that a woman charged with assault offences has committed a "bias-crime".
The NSW Police Media Release is below, published in full including the police headline.
No, it's not a new category of offence. The woman has been charged with assault offences which are yet to be proven - however NSW Police are keen to categorise her assaults as being "bias motivated" - in other jurisdictions "hate crimes".
The Press Release includes comments from the Superintendent with responsibility for speaking about "bias-motivated crime" on behalf of NSW Police.
The woman's defence counsel may well put the police press release into evidence - especially this sentence,
"A police investigation into the alleged assault determined that it was a bias-motivated crime".
Police can charge, they can allege - but prior to a finding of guilt by a court of competent jurisdiction, it'd be a brave policeman who went to the press and said that a police investigation has "determined" that this is a "bias-motivated crime".
The defendant is entitled to a trial. Police are entitled to put into evidence matters which they allege show the woman's guilty state of mind so far as the offences are concerned, likewise her possible alleged motivation. It's up to a court to do the rest, that is convict or acquit. It hasn't been "determined" that she's committed any offence yet.
New Commissioner Mick Fuller might need to exercise a bit of leadership on his very enthusiastic troops who are apparently so eager to get the stats up on those elusive "bias crimes" that they're prepared to convict before the courts do.
A woman will appear in court today after being arrested for allegedly assaulting and intimidating four women in a bias-motivated crime incident in Ultimo.
Shortly before 2pm yesterday (Wednesday 10 May 2017), police from Sydney City Local Area Command were patrolling Pitt and George Streets, Sydney after receiving reports that a woman had allegedly assaulted and intimidated four women, two aged 18, a 19-year-old and a 23-year-old in Ultimo.
Police arrested a 39-year-old woman and conveyed her to Day Street Police Station where she was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm x 2, and common assault x 2.
She was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today, (Thursday 11 May 2017).
A police investigation into the alleged assault determined that it was a bias-motivated crime.
“Abuse and racist behaviour will not be tolerated and police will fully investigate any one who violates the law,” Superintendent Daniel Sullivan, Police spokesperson for bias-motivated crime, said.
“We encourage anyone who suspects they have been a victim of a bias motivated crime to report it to police. If we don’t know about it, we can’t investigate it,” Superintendent Sullivan said.
ENDS
After the late Curtis Cheng was murdered by the Islamic state follower Farhad Khalil Mohammad Jabar, NSW Police released this announcement about "Bias Crimes"
NSW Police Force takes crimes, that are motivated by hatred or prejudice very seriously and any such crimes will not be tolerated. If you are a witness or victim, and you experience any incidents such as this, we encourage you to report to Police as soon as possible.
A bias crime is a criminal offence motivated against persons, associates of persons, property or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by an offender’s bias against an individual’s or group’s actual or perceived; race, religion, ethnic/national origin, sex/gender, gender identity, age, disability status, sexual orientation or homeless status.
A bias incident is an incident committed against persons, associates of persons, property or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by an offender’s bias against an individual’s or group’s actual or perceived; race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, gender identity, age, disability status, sexual orientation or homeless status but does not constitute a criminal offence.
The NSW Police Force takes all crimes seriously including bias motivated crimes. The NSW Police Force has a dedicated officer who oversights, and works with all Local Area Commands, to investigate bias motivated incidents.
I thought Obama and crew believed in climate change and were chipping in to do whatever they could to advance the cause of the planet.
I was partly right - Obama seems to be taking every opportunity to speak on his pet subject - but it's not love of the planet or his fellow man that's driving him.
It's money.
There's not a lot new in this speech - except the price tag. $3.2M US or $4.3M Australian.
If I had shares in The Clintons I'd be selling, there's a mega-competitor on the block.
Britain's Express newspaper has this report
The former President, who has already earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for private speeches since leaving the White House, will make his highest-paying appearance yet at the Global Food Innovation Summit today.
President Obama flew into Italy’s business capital yesterday, and according to local media headed straight for the extravagant Park Hyatt hotel, which can cost up to £7,100 (€8,400) a night.
After bringing the city to a standstill with a convoy of 14 cars, a helicopter and a 300-strong police escort, President Obama’s entourage reportedly took over two floors of the hotel.
The former Commander-in-Chief also took a private tour of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana museum, and the city’s cathedral.
President Obama has enjoyed weeks of holidaying since leaving Washington on January 20, including kite-surging lessons with Richard Branson.
In a move that was highly criticised even by former colleagues, he picked up £310,0000 ($400,000) last week for a speech to Wall Street bankers – which he accepted in September while he was still President.
President Obama will give his speech in Milan at Seeds and Chips, a conference on the impact that technology, innovation and climate change will have on food availability and production worldwide.
After the address, he will take part in a conversation with Sam Kass, the Obamas’ White House chef who also helped run Michelle Obama’s public health campaign.
It's all been bloody marvellous.
— Mark Colvin (@Colvinius) May 11, 2017
Mark Colvin (13 March 1952 – 11 May 2017)
Mark Colvin was a journalist of the old school. He read English Literature at Oxford before a stellar career with the ABC, including posts in Europe, the UK and exceptional reports from many of the world's hot spots, particularly Rwanda, a story which changed his life.
He went to Rwanda in 1994 to cover the genocidal, maniacal civil war. A million odd people were living in their own excrement - no sewerage, no power and murderous militias on the rampage. Cholera and dysentery were rampant. Mark contracted a rare blood disorder which nearly killed him. The treatment was almost as harsh as the disease, both his hips collapsed, he needed ongoing dialysis and he was never to enjoy great health again.
After convalescing for 18 months in Europe he returned to Australia and from 1997 presented ABC Radio's PM.
In December 2012 he received a donated kidney from a living person, one of his interview subjects Mary Ellen-Field, such was the regard she held him in.
He was one of few journalists to take an inquisitive approach to the AWU Scandal and he and I'd corresponded on Twitter over the years.
He was one of the very few at the ABC who behaved like a true journalist.
Australia is the poorer for his loss.
Rest in Peace Colvinius
Mark Colvin's journalism was elegant and erudite. In a world of superficiality, he was always informed and honest. We've lost a good man.
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) May 11, 2017
UPDATE
Link to the ABC's obituary below.
Obituary: Mark Colvin, the man who watched the world for Australia https://t.co/JRUcvIviQy pic.twitter.com/TS0SUWcyTx
— ABC News (@abcnews) May 11, 2017
PS - Here's our own TasSpinZone, aka BollyJagman recording his view about Mark Colvin as events in the AWU Scandal were unfolding - 2012 - 2013.
(4/10) Thing is, @Colvinius aka 'Mark Colvin' has NEVER shied away from introducing #AWU scandal or balanced segments. #auspol #ausvotes
— Pay4PlayPhilanthropy (@TazSpinZone) August 16, 2013
@amworldtodaypm Once again @Colvinius proved on his PM program, while being serial twitter blocker, he's very fair reporter. #auspol #AWU
— Pay4PlayPhilanthropy (@TazSpinZone) November 29, 2012
@Colvinius (bastard who blocked me & many others) is balanced. ABC is too They'll give balanced view of #AWU #slushfund #auspol over journey
— Pay4PlayPhilanthropy (@TazSpinZone) November 29, 2012
On a quite personal note.
Mark, you'll never know what it meant to be taken seriously by you - to be treated like a human being and not a blotted copybook.
Thank you Mark, you'll be so sorely missed.
For our readers, I'll treasure this toing and froing on the day Turnbull hooked into Shorten over the Pratt fortune and Cristal.
It's way past time to put the axe to the ABC.
This was part of the ABC News on Budget Tuesday.
If Sydney ever had a superhero, maybe it was Trough Man.
This character would lie down in the male urinals at dance parties in the 1980s and enjoy a long golden shower.
"In the old days at the showground parties, you'd go into the toilets and someone would always twist off the neon lights, you'd get there and it would be really dark,"
"You'd just hear sounds, you'd get to the urinal, and there'd be this body in front of you rolling around, wanting you to pxxx (my censorship there not the ABC's) on him.
"He was kind of nameless and a little bit mysterious … he never said a word."
ENDS
Read it if you must here.
Do we really need a taxpayer funded news organisations if it's going to run stories like this?
Today's missive from M.
PS. last week I was in New York with President Trump to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the battle of the Coral Sea. You can watch a short behind the scenes video here.
ENDS
Yes - the PS is real.
Rudd, Gillard, Turnbull - peas in a pod.
I hope Malcolm Turnbull is listening.
Jakarta’s outgoing governor Basuki Tjahaja ‘Ahok’ Purnama has been found guilty of blasphemy and sentenced to two years’ jail.
The 50-year-old ethnic Chinese Christian politician told the court this morning he would appeal the sentence in the next seven days before being taken into custody.
The panel of five Indonesian judges ignored the prosecutor’s recommendation that the blasphemy charge be dropped against Governor Ahok and that he serve only a two-year probation.
Delivering their verdict today in a trial widely seen as a test of religious tolerance in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, the judges said they disagreed with the prosecution and found him “legally and convincingly guilty of blasphemy”.
“The court does not find anything which could excuse the defendant’s actions therefore the defendant must be held responsible for his actions,” the judges said, imposing a two-year custodial sentence.
They also dismissed the defence argument that the case was politically motivated.
The judges conceded it was “likely some have used this case for political gain however we feel this does not eliminate (the defendant’s) guilt”.
ENDS
What did he say?
Translated:
“Ladies and gentlemen, you can’t vote for me because you’re being lied to by [the Quranic chapter] Al Maidah verse 51 and so on. That’s your right. So if you feel you can’t vote [for me] because you’re afraid to go to hell after you’ve been dumbed down, that’s fine. This is your personal calling. This program will continue regardless. So, ladies and gentlemen, don’t ever feel bad that you can’t vote for Ahok.”
The video went viral. Other edited versions were made.
However even the straight lift of what he actually said is out of context.
The Governor was facing Muslim opponents in a democratic election. His Muslim opponents were standing (amongst other things) on a platform that said Muslims could not vote for a Christian leader. They said the Quran (Al Maidah verse 51) prohibited it.
Here's the quote in its full context:
“Ladies and gentlemen, you shouldn’t worry. The election has been moved forward, so if I’m not re-elected, I’ll step down in October 2017. So if these programs are going to run, you will still be able to reap the benefits from me. Even if I’m not re-elected as governor. I want to tell you this so you’ll be enthusiastic [about the program]. Don’t think that oh, if Ahok’s not chosen, then his programs will disappear. No, I’m here at least until October 2017. So don’t believe people – deep down ladies and gentlemen, you can’t vote for me because [these people] are lying to you using [the Quranic chapter] Al Maidah verse 51 and so on. That’s your right. So if you feel you can’t vote [for me] because you’re afraid to go to hell after you’ve been dumbed down, that’s fine. This is your personal calling. This program will continue regardless. So, ladies and gentlemen, don’t ever feel bad that you can’t vote for Ahok.”
Hizb ut Tahrir organised a rally with 3 million angry Muslims in the streets.
Ahok didn't stand a chance.
Australia must lodge a protest with Indonesia.
Democracy doesn't work this way.
Islam and democracy cannot happily co-exist.
One must make way for the other.
Indonesia has chosen Islam today.
That's bad for Indonesia, fatal for democracy and frightening for Australia.
The Philippines is proud of its regular contingents of Kilcoy-bound butchers and slaughtermen.
Yesterday we brought you details of the March 2017 class of Philippines trained workers headed our way.
Well the farewells are a regular fixture and have been for some time.
Here's Dumagete City Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo farewelling the class of November 2016 slaughtermen headed for jobs with the Kilcoy Pastoral Company in Queensland.
Newly-hired slaughter men thank Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo for the city’s all-out support so they could gain employment in Australia as soon as they complete all the requirements of its employer Kilcoy Pastoral Company. In photo with Mayor Remollo are (from left-right) Val Bryan Guivelondo, Nolie Biscarra, Robert Vilas, Isidro Bongcasan, City Marker Supervisor Engr. Ronnie Fortin, Cloyd Dionsay, Nestor Tunguia and James Macas.
And this is the Dumaguete City public employment service congratulating the Kilcoy-hires in the class of March 2016.
The question that has to be asked is why?
Why, if there are jobs in Australia, is Australia incapable of training its own people for these regular vacancies?
Why do Australians like Mitchell Rock tell us that Australians are being edged out to make way for Philippines imports?
And how long has this been going on?
The tragedy is that the practice dates back to at least 2006 - and rather than us using that time to regularise arrangements, we've embedded the practice of importing labour.
By Rodrigo S. Victoria
Naval, Biliran (June 26) -- A promising opportunity awaits the Filipino butchers and slaughterhouse workers as the Australian government is in need of these kind of workers with corresponding big salaries.
This was revealed by Lino Severino, Supervising TESD Specialist of the provincial office of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) here during the regular radio program PIA Kapihan at Pulong-Pulong ng Bayan.
ENDS - more here
Since then, the Philippines has been gearing up to take advantage of our jobs.
The Philippines Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) accredits service providers to run courses like these - the problem for us is they're funded and designed specifically to produce Philippines graduates for the Australian market. Why, after 10 years, can't we do that ourselves?
Here are some schools that offer tesda accredited butchery / slaughtering NC course in the Philippines.
According to them several countries such as New Zealand, Canada and Australia needs a total of 10,000 butchers, meat cutters / slaughtering workers to fill up their manpower requirements. This is yet good news to aspiring Filipinos who plan to work abroad. Aside from mentioned school, there are other training centers that offer the course. See the details below.
So you'd think the union and federal government would be going their hardest to bring the training and ultimate employment back here to Australia.
Nope.
The Federal Government will hand over will $85M to The Philippines this year - 50% of that is earmarked for education and training for their citizens some of whom will apparently be kitted out for jobs in Australia.
And the union? It's apparently untroubled with the 457 Visa arrangement- as long as the 457 holders are union members.
And it's not like we don't know it's been going on.
One of the April 2007 witnesses who gave sworn evidence to the committee was Russell Carr, then the Queensland Branch Secretary, Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union.
Take one company in Queensland—the Kilcoy Pastoral Co. We are not the flavour of the month with the Kilcoy Pastoral Co and we are not given reasonable access. We are given Work Choices legislation access, which means you get stuck in a room around the back, and anyone who comes to talk to you is then immediately victimised by the employer. That is how Work Choices actually works. So our ability to gather information is not as good as it should be.
We went to some extensive efforts to have some Filipino members of our union, who are fluent in Tagalog, a Filipino language, actually go to Kilcoy and speak to some of the workers in their spare time. They were able to highlight a number of issues where these workers were being disadvantaged, but when the workers were asked, ‘Are you willing to make a statement to that effect?’ they said: ‘But we will get sacked and we will have to go back to the Philippines. We paid money to get here—we are not going home with a debt hanging over our head when we get there.’ When we were talking to those workers, they were on just over $14 an hour.
The employer had obviously filled out the application under 457 legislation to get migrants. They had obviously stated that they were going to be put in skilled slaughtering positions. The skilled slaughtering positions, even at Kilcoy—which is not a very good shed—were at least $20 an hour. So the employer has signed paperwork saying, ‘We want workers—we will do it under 457 visa legislation, and they will be skilled slaughterers,’ and the whole place was full of Filipinos who were not skilled and who were working in the gut room and the tripe room and those sorts of areas. They were complaining to us about the amount of deductions that they had.
A Filipino worker that I was involved with, a female from a poultry shed, was there on a Saturday talking to these workers and she was able to translate to me. The specific complaints were about the deductions from wages and about the fact that, when they injured themselves, cut themselves, instead of going through WorkCover they had to use their private medical insurance, which the employer demanded they take out to address workplace injuries.
CHAIR—As part of their visa requirements, they must have private—
Mr Carr—Yes, but if you get injured at work, you should go through the Queensland WorkCover act and it should be part of the employer’s claims on WorkCover. You should not force employees to go out and use their private insurance, to treat it as a non-work related injury. Those are the types of issues that were highlighted to us. But when we asked that particular person to fill out a statutory declaration, he said no, because $A14—no matter what he was putting up with—was better than what he could earn in the Philippines, and he would not be able to pay off the debt, so he was stuck.
Senator POLLEY—In relation to your evidence that workers are not being used in skilled areas and they are not being paid correct wages and are working under the conditions you just outlined, is the department just short staffed or in your experience are they not making site visits?
Mr Carr—I have not heard of meaningful site visits by the department to employers with migrants. In fact, we wrote a letter on 19 June, which I am happy to hand over, to the Queensland regional manager of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Adelaide Street, Brisbane. We outlined the problems at Kilcoy. Not only did they not investigate, they did not even respond to our letter.
CHAIR—Can we have a copy of that?
Mr Carr—Yes, certainly.
Senator PARRY—I just want to test some of the evidence that was given, particularly by Mr Bird and Mr Carr, in relation to wages. You say that ‘proper conditions and wages have been eroded’. I think you gave $14 per hour as an example of some wages.
Mr Carr—It is around $14-something.
Senator PARRY—That is still low. So that we get it on the record, could you clarify the typical wages under the classifications of slaughter class 1, class 2 and class 3? What is set down in the award?
Mr Carr—The award would be around $600. We do not have anybody doing those tasks on the award in any significant meatworks anywhere in Queensland. We have just made several agreements.
Senator PARRY—Let me just jump in in order to save time: what do you have then? What are the classifications in Queensland and, for that matter, in Australia?
Mr Carr—We have plenty of people working under those classifications in Queensland, but they are all working on enterprise agreements, collective agreements and union collective agreements.
Senator PARRY—What is the minimum wage? They are all earning above the minimum wage?
Mr Carr—They are all earning between $900 and $1,000 for a 38-hour week. Some are earning more than that; $900 would be the low-ish end of the stick.
Mr Smith—So $600 a week would not meet the minimum salary level—
Senator PARRY—Exactly. That is what I was getting to. What is the evidence of the $14 or even $15?
Mr Carr—I will tell you specifically how that occurred. That occurred at Kilcoy Pastoral Co because the miners were all right. The company allegedly brought in Filipino slaughtermen—I do not think they had seen a slaughterhouse—and put them on flat labouring tasks. Kilcoy has an LK agreement; it is a non-union agreement. I am not bleeding over that but it is a fact of life that the wages for a labourer at Kilcoy are lower than at any of these other places.
Senator PARRY—That would not meet the minimum wage.
Mr Carr—No, it does not.
Senator PARRY—Have we got evidence, such as payslips, to that effect?
Mr Carr—No. When they came in they got a regional concession off the body to pay the award rate or that agreement rate. So they were getting paid a non-union, lowest agreement in the meat industry rate. It is actually a legal rate but they should not have been doing those tasks. The whole thing is a furphy anyway, because they should be doing slaughtering tasks. But when they came in under the regional concessions, the company were given the right to pay them the award rate and not worry about the minimum salary. That is one of the very reasons that we entered into helping negotiate the labour agreement. The thing that was getting bastardised most in Queensland was the regional concession, and that is how they are doing it.
Under the old legislation they could be brought in on a regional concession and be paid the relevant industrial instrument rate. If the relevant industrial instrument happens to be an AWA for $14.40 an hour, then that becomes legal. Our fear and our support for the labour agreement was based around: what happens if employers start bringing them in under the 457 visa legislation and get the right to pay them under the relevant industrial instrument? There is no flaw in the relevant industrial instrument except the minimum salary, if they are put on AWAs. That is why the employers panicked, wanted a labour agreement and actually rolled over on the position of getting rid of the minimum salary. Like everybody else, they wanted stability. They did not want people doing slaughtering tasks for $14 an hour or something on an AWA, on the minimum salary rate. That would have been legal and possible, and it still is under the 457 visa regulations as they stand. That is perfectly legal.
Senator PARRY—In a short sentence, can you describe the difference between a boner and slicer and a slaughterman?
Mr Carr—Yes. A slaughterman is somebody who works on the slaughtering floor. They kill the bullock, take the hide off, take the gut out and reduce it to a carcass. You probably saw in Rocky where he punches a carcass—
Senator PARRY—Yes.
Mr Carr—They are in the chillers.
Senator PARRY—And a bone and slicer does the meat defining?
Mr Carr—The next day, the bone and slicer comes in and does the rest of the work.
Senator PARRY—The bone and slicer is the higher skilled of the two, obviously?
Mr Carr—No. An A-rate slaughterman is equally skilled as a boner. The other two people can explain it better, but under the classifications the slaughterman is the higher skilled. They are the ones who were legally allowed to be brought out under the 457 visa legislation. Employers were not entitled to bring anyone out as boners and slicers under the 457 visa regulation, and they are still not entitled to, and yet the whole meat industry is full of boners and slicers who have been brought out. That is what caused—
Mr Smith—Quite frankly, they should not be able to bring them out under the slaughtering classification either because the slaughtering classification that we use is a non-trade classification. It is at 95 per cent of the trade rate. The 457 visa is supposed to apply to tradespeople. The whole thing is just—
ENDS
Mr Smith was right, the whole thing is just...........
And it still is.
There's now an institutional system established in The Philippines where it's apparently assumed Australia will require the services of regular contingents of Filipino workers in perpetuity.
Good on Mitchell Rock and his mates for calling this out.
In Part Two of this report we'll focus on the owner of the Kilcoy Pastoral Company and its Queensland Abattoir, China's largest agricultural "business" - New Hope Group.