Avshalom posted:

open24hours posted:

Isn't Game of Thrones the only reason people wanted Netflix anyway?

starkebn posted:

h poo poo, I'd forgotten the best Aussie film:

Laserface posted:

Its still a fair bit more expensive than buying blocks of usenet access, to access a range of shows I dont really want to watch, and means my connection would be slowed down while its in use, which would be the same timeslot Im usually playing games online.

So Im out. but the pricing makes it nice for people who dont have the hardware or know how to pirate properly.

Tommofork posted:

Game of Thrones isn't on Netflix lol.

Actually it's because the other local streaming services like Quickflix are trash with lovely range.

cpaf posted:

HBO is releasing something called "HBO Now" in the next month or so which they've suggested will be about $15 a month and offer the entire HBO catalog without a cable subscription. $12aud + $15usd sure beats $60-90 a month for loving Foxtel

quote:

Julie Bishop to question Joe Hockey over reports of possible foreign aid cuts in next budget By political reporter Eliza Borrello Updated 41 minutes ago

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she plans to question Treasurer Joe Hockey about a report suggesting the aid budget is likely to suffer more cuts in May. Foreign aid has taken significant hits in recent budgets and The Australian has reported it is likely to suffer another small cut in May. But Ms Bishop said the cuts were news to her. "I'm not aware of that detail, so I read that for the first time in Greg Sheridan's column today," Ms Bishop said. When asked on Radio National whether she would be aware if her budget was going to be cut again Ms Bishop said, "well you'd hope I would be, wouldn't you? So I'll certainly be taking that up with the Treasurer to find out the source of that story."

It is understood there have been tensions between Ms Bishop and her cabinet colleagues over aid funding for some time. In October the ABC reported Ms Bishop had made it clear to senior colleagues she would fight any attempt to cut the aid budget. At the time, a source told the ABC Ms Bishop confronted colleagues about an article in The Australian foreshadowing aid cuts. The source said Ms Bishop raised the article and asked which Cabinet minister was talking to the media about her portfolio without consulting her. A colleague suggested that every portfolio would have to look at further budget savings in light of the increased costs of deploying troops in the Middle East.

Despite Ms Bishop's protestations, aid was cut in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) by $3.7 billion.

quote:

Scott Morrison rejects calls for him to apologise to aid group Save the Children after review into Nauru self-harm claims By political reporter Susan McDonald Updated about 8 hours ago

Former immigration minister Scott Morrison has rejected calls for him to apologise to aid group Save the Children after an official review could not substantiate claims some of their staff were encouraging asylum seekers at Nauru to self-harm. Former integrity commissioner Philip Moss was asked by the Government to investigate claims 10 staff from the charity group had encouraged asylum seekers to self-harm or fabricate allegations of abuse. His report released on Friday found those claims could not be substantiated and recommended the Immigration Department review its decision to remove the staff from Nauru. When Mr Morrison announced the review in October last year, he said "the public don't want to be played for mugs with allegations of sexual abuse being used as some kind of political tactic".

Mr Morrison was asked on Sunday whether he conceded he had got his comments wrong. He said the allegations had been presented to him in a formal report at the time and he referred them to the Moss review to be investigated along with other sexual assault allegations. "It was my action, on seeing all of those allegations, not to draw any conclusions on them at all, as I said at the time, and to refer them off to an independent review," Mr Morrison said. "So I'm pleased the independent review has been taken that the Government has received it and the Government has responded to all of the recommendations in a positive way."

When specifically asked if he would apologise to Save the Children, he replied "I made no allegations, I referred allegations for a proper inquiry".

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young continued to demand an apology.

"He should apologise and the Abbott Government needs to explain how they will make it up to the employees who were treated so badly," Senator Hanson-Young said. "The Abbott Government's eagerness to shoot the messenger meant that, in this case, they shot first and asked questions later. "Scott Morrison wants to wash his hands of this like he washed his hands of the assaults that we're being carried out against women and children on Nauru." Review heard allegations of sexual abuse inside Nauru. The Moss review heard allegations made by asylum seekers of rape, sexual assault of minors, and guards trading marijuana for sexual favours. Mr Moss detailed allegations that at least three women had been raped inside the centre and he raised concerns that assault was likely to be under-reported because detainees were worried about their refugee status. Mr Moss detailed one allegation that a female asylum seeker was asked to expose herself in return for longer showers. The Government is set to implement the review's 19 recommendations, many of which call for better training for centre staff and Nauruan police and officials. Others focus on child protection.

Arsetralian posted:

23 Mar 2015 The Australian MARK COULTAN NSW POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Don’t elect ‘sneaky’ Labor by accident, pleads Baird

NSW Premier Mike Baird has pleaded with the electorate not to elect a Labor government by accident, warning the uncommitted against protest votes and deriding “sneaky preferences deals” struck by the opposition. In a thinly veiled reference to the Liberal National Party’s shock loss in the Queensland election in January, Mr Baird yesterday used his government’s campaign launch to caution against the widespread impression he would comfortably win this Saturday’s election. A Fairfax/Ipsos poll released last night shows the Coalition leading Labor 54 per cent to 46 per cent after preferences. If the result were replicated on Saturday, the Coalition would suffer a 10 per cent swing against it from the 2011 election result and lose 18 seats. However, it would retain government with 51 seats in the 93-seat parliament to Labor’s 38. A Galaxy poll published in The Daily Telegraph today reveals the Liberal Party holding a slender lead in three key marginal seats that had looked likely to fall to Labor — Coogee and Campbelltown in Sydney and The Entrance on the central coast.
Before an audience that included Tony Abbott, former prime minister John Howard and former Liberal premiers Barry O’Farrell, John Fahey and Nick Greiner, Mr Baird yesterday railed against what he called Labor’s “sneaky preference deals” with minor parties, and urged minor party supporters to just vote “one” and not allocate preferences.

“That’s why you must just vote one. Let me be very clear — only by backing your local Liberal or Nationals candidate can you back me and my team,” he said. “Voting for a local Labor candidate will give you a Foley Labor government, and the unions back in charge.” Western Sydney and the NSW north coast are set to be the key battlegrounds as the campaign enters its final days. Mr Baird will blitz western Sydney this week, selling his core pledge of electricity privatisation as well as his plans to alleviate traffic congestion, while Labor leader Luke Foley will today visit northern NSW, trying to win previously safe seats from the Nationals.
Mr Baird’s schedule will be kept flexible, to target key marginals as late polling dictates. The parties will ease back on major spending promises after today, with the release of the costing of their promises, with the pressure on Labor, which doesn’t have the same funding as the government’s $20 billion war chest from electricity privatisation.

The parties had to submit their campaign promises to the independent parliamentary budget office, which today will release its results. Both parties will launch a final advertising blitz, with the government seeking to blunt a union campaign on electricity privatisation with assurances on prices and ownership. Labor will continue to target the unpopularity of the Prime Minister with its “Liberal cuts hurt” campaign. Yesterday, Mr Foley urged voters to get rid of Mr Abbott by voting Mr Baird out of office, saying that if the Premier was defeated on Saturday, the Prime Minister “would be gone on Monday”.

Mr Baird will emphasise his plans to tackle traffic congestion with major rail and road projects funded by electricity privatisation. Labor has not announced any major transport policies during the campaign, other than to cancel or delay Coalition projects. Yesterday, Mr Baird directly addressed voter concerns about the privatisation, saying he was leasing and not selling the electricity networks. Twice he said: “The point is that $20bn of our future vision will be funded by a lease of less than half the state’s electricity network. “In a nutshell, we will lease some existing assets, use the proceeds to invest in new assets — and, at the end of the day, will own both.” He also sought to discredit Labor’s campaign on energy prices, promising extra energy rebates, and to extend the existing scheme to gas customers.

A re-elected Baird government would also extend the scheme, which is budgeted to cost $1bn over the next four years, to lowincome households and those in retirements villages, as well as doubling the value of a rebate to help 32,000 customers who rely on life support equipment, as well as 6000 quadriplegic customers to cover the cost of electricity for their approved medical devices. Mr Baird’s launch targeted vulnerable groups — low-income households, the disabled, students and the sick — as he tried to persuade many traditional Labor voters who voted for the Liberals in 2011 to stay with his government. He said NSW would implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme one year early in locations in western Sydney, providing support to 2000 young people from July this year.

He promised more support for women with post-natal depression, revealing that his wife, Kerryn, had suffered after the birth of their first child. Mr Baird also promised more tax breaks for business, pledging to create 150,000 extra jobs in a second term, on top of the 136,000 that had been created in the past four years. Small businesses that employed extra staff would get a $2000 rebate, and an existing $50,000 payroll rebate would be expended for another four years, the Premier said. As well, there would be 25,000 $1000 scholarships to science, technology, engineering and maths students in VET courses, including TAFE. This is on top of a previously promised 200,000 feefree places for disadvantaged students in public housing. He promised to eliminate copayments of up to $38 for some hospital patients, allocating $76 million over four years to remove the fee for all highly specialised drugs used to treat cancer, HIV, hepatitis, Alzheimer’s disease and other serious conditions, trumping a Labor promise to eliminate the charges for chemotherapy patients.
He also bettered a Labor promise to provide before and after school care facilities at new schools by pledging $20m for 45,000 extra places at existing schools.

Melinda Pavey National's candidate for Oxley Bumff posted:

Claims credit for
* Kempsey Hospital redevelopment This was done by Rob Oakeshott a man the local Nats attacked with pitchforks at every opportunity.
* Kempsey Ambulance Station Actually part of Rob Oakeshott's Hospital development.
* Wauchope District Memorial Hospital Guess who? Oakeshott again!
* Pacific Highway Upgrade Neville Wran? I mean trying to stop this would be an ask. What exactly is she claiming credit for here?
* 10 additional police That is less than the number required as a result of population growth

Cartoon posted:

Morrison a liar.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-22/scott-morrison-reject-call-apologise-save-the-children-aid-group/6339258

"I wasn't lying when I lied." Ex Minister for child torture.

Amoeba102 posted:

I have a feeling NSW will go out next Saturday and prove that we are worse than Vic and Qld once and for all.

quote:

HBO NOW℠ is only accessible in the U.S. and certain U.S. territories where a high-speed broadband connection is available

cpaf posted:

I'm pretty sure basically everyone in Australia knows how to pirate poo poo these days, and anyone who doesn't won't be likely to come into contact with Netflix anyway. The real advantage isn't that it's strictly cheaper or more readily available than piracy, but like steam or spotify it's delivered in a way that lets you legally pay for content that you can access however you like and with a structure that ultimately tailors itself to what you like and gives you suggestions and recommendations.

Admittedly like I said I have fibre internet, so I don't have bandwidth issues and don't consider downloading the entire thing to be more practical, but once you start using Netflix you appreciate it, just like steam or spotify/google music or whatever.

adamantium|wang posted:

NSW voters need more of a reason than "We aren't the Libs" to change government, something the state and federal parties aren't really doing.

adamantium|wang posted:

NSW voters need more of a reason than "We aren't the Libs" to change government,

Amoeba102 posted:

It's currently: "We are incrementally better than the Libs".

Seagull posted:

iron sky is probably really good if you're that poo poo bloke at the party who likes cards against humanity a little too much

starkebn posted:

Oh poo poo, I'd forgotten the best Aussie film:

PaletteSwappedNinja posted:

Are they?

tomkash posted:

NSW Labor is disgusting, I really can't think of any reason why someone would vote for them over the Libs other than electricity privatisation and they aren't even arguing against that very well. They were never going to win the election, as long as we can pick up another Greens seat I'm happy. Ideally we get a hung parliament with 2 or 3 Greens holding balance of power but like that would ever happen.

Luke Foley has to be one of the most uninspiring politicians in recent memory, kicking NSW Labor into gear with a $100m tax break for the racing industry (not long before the 4corners investigation) and flubbing around on marriage equality until they realised it could cost them the new seat of Newtown. Oh and then flubbing around with westconnex playing whichever side suits them depending on the electorate they're speaking to.

Although throwing the Nationals out of Ballina is a definitely a good thing.

Anidav posted:

Don't the polls have the ALP on track to winning Newtown?

V for Vegas posted:

Anecdotally the Greens have had a much better ground game in Newtown, I see them around all the time door knocking. The only Labor supporters I've seen just stand at the station and talk to each other.

V for Vegas posted:

Anecdotally the Greens have had a much better ground game in Newtown, I see them around all the time door knocking. The only Labor supporters I've seen just stand at the station and talk to each other.

Anidav posted:

Don't the polls have the ALP on track to winning Newtown?

quote:

Julie Bishop has rolled her eyes at the mention of Cabinet's budget razor gang in a speech by Treasurer Joe Hockey as Parliament pauses to mark the death of Malcolm Fraser.

Parliament has suspended usual business as MPs from both major parties pay tribute to the former prime minister.

"He was the great initiator, and we will be forever thankful ... of the Expenditure Review Committee," Mr Hockey said.

Responding to laughter and murmurs on Government benches, the Treasurer continued, "that committee has endured — much to the chagrin of my colleagues".

Education Minister Christopher Pyne and several backbenchers were also seen to laugh at the mention.

The Foreign Minister shook her head and held her head in her hands.

Tokamak posted:

I like the bit about him apologising for "going too far" with the Goebbels comparison.
Did people already forget about him claiming that Labor caused a 'jobs holocaust' last month? The guy is clearly happy to make offensive remarks about his political opponents. Has he been looking at news limited papers for inspiration?

Lid posted:

tomkash posted:

Yeah this is my first election volunteering but the greens have been everywhere in the inner west. Really good effort, lots of people prepolling, doorknocking, on the phones and letterboxing. It's a nice feeling having so many people working together for shared beliefs. Even the very few labor people I have met (only at pre poll) have been really friendly and recognise the greens are a good bunch of people. I've probably been incredibly lucky with my experiences though.

The billboard placement has been excellent around the innerwest and city, money well spent. The Greens have definitely been raising awareness and getting some people to actually stop and think about politics for a few minutes which is the most important thing imo.

adamantium|wang posted:

Really needs to be watched.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJuUGpg4-k

adamantium|wang posted:

Really needs to be watched.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJuUGpg4-k

Laserface posted:

I find it hilarious that they all say they are going to ease congestion on sydneys roads.


Like unless you literally triple the capacity of every major road you arent changing a loving thing.

auzdark posted:

I'm a stupid newbie - but what is the context of this? What is Hockey farting about?