OMGVBFLOL posted:

redweird posted:

That dude was our PM

quote:

Within two months she would be signed up to another college, the Australian Institute of Professional Education, whose CEO was praised in September in the NSW Parliament for his business’ achievements.

AIPE cost taxpayers almost $1 million per graduate last year. It received $111 million in Commonwealth funding after handing out just 117 diplomas. In 2013 it received $114 million.

To put that into perspective: the college received $10 million more in taxpayer funding in one year than the federal government's entire national package dedicated to combating domestic violence.

freebooter posted:

And I'm again reminded of that old piece about how Bush, post-presidency, handled living in a country where only 30% of the people approved of him, i.e. by living entirely within that 30%. "I've had thousands of letters of support," Tony says. Yeah no poo poo mate but there's like 22 million people in Australia.

Cleretic posted:

And I'd guess the only people who would actually support Tony are the type to be writing letters, anyway.

Vladimir Poutine posted:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/09/bitcoin-creator-satoshi-nakamoto-alleged-to-be-australian-academic?CMP=soc_567

"ABC posted:

Australian Federal Police have raided the home of a Sydney-based technology entrepreneur who has been identified as the suspected inventor of digital currency Bitcoin.

The raid was carried out this morning at the home of Dr Craig Steven Wright on a warrant issued by the Australian Taxation Office, the AFP said.

However, the police operation is not believed to be related to reports in two technology publications — Wired and Gizmodo — that this morning published claims based on leaked documents that provide some of the best evidence yet that Dr Wright was the co-creator of internet currency Bitcoin.

The ABC is unable to independently verify the authenticity of the documents.

Calls to companies run by Dr Wright have not been returned.

"ABC posted:

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has drawn criticism from regional neighbour Indonesia over his call for change within Islam.

Indonesia's ambassador, Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, has delivered his response to Mr Abbott's critique.

"This is a time when all nations must unite to defeat the scourge of terrorism," Mr Kesoema said.

"A rhetoric boasting of cultural and religious superiority over other cultures and religions is unhelpful to the cause and divisive."

The ambassador has also called for strong cooperation with Australia against terrorism.

"It is important for us including the multicultural societies of Australia and Indonesia to keep our focus on efforts to creating a long-term solution to the common challenges of violent extremism that we face," Mr Kesoema said.

"Violent extremism is the common challenges of all religions: Buddha, Christianity, Hindu, Islam and all faiths."

Mr Abbott used an interview on Sky News and a News Corp opinion column to argue for a "religious revolution".

Starshark posted:

Guess the writer, no reading the spoiler until you guess.

IF you want to understand why the liberal, democratic Western world is losing ground to the ideology of Islamic extremists look no further than the weak-kneed responses of the NSW and federal governments to a convicted criminal who refuses to obey the directions of its court officers.

In NSW an accused person must stand to hear the charge and respond with a guilty or not guilty plea, and it is protocol to stand when a judge enters or leaves but for more than a year now Milad Bin Ahmad-Shah al-Ahmadzai, 25, has refused to stand in court before at least four judges claiming that he is “not at the behest of any authority other than Islam”.

He has also refused directions to kneel during a routine security process when prison officers enter his cell at NSW’s Supermax prison facility. The failure of the NSW government to take decisive action demonstrates the weakness endemic to Western nations that have pandered to extremist members of one religious minority — Islam — despite assurances from many self-appointed Islamic community leaders that there is nothing in Islam that prevents its followers from honouring the laws of their host nations.

From Sweden to Australia, apologists for Islam have capitulated to a nauseating political correctness which has seen Christian-based culture demeaned and imagined Islamic sensitivities embraced.

Merry Christmas — about as inoffensive a greeting as it can get — is shunned and replaced by the saccharine Happy Holidays.

At schools, Easter Bonnet parades for children are banned because some toddler might want to know what Easter is, if he or she can get over their fascination with funny hats.

In Sydney, students at Christian schools are regularly bussed to mosques so they can “learn” about Islam but there is no two-way traffic. Islamic students are forbidden to study the Bible or learn about Judaism, Buddhism or Hinduism.

And this is what the West is doing to its own children. This doesn’t address the Islamist propaganda being pumped out by extremist imams and mullahs pimping for IS and other death cults.

It took this month’s Paris shootings and bombings to get the French and Belgian governments to react to a problem which they have been aware of for years.

That both European capitals have no-go areas has never been kept secret but no action was ever taken to enforce the laws of either France or Belgium in their Muslim-dominated bainlieues until the Paris riots of 2005, when nearly 9000 cars were burnt over a 20-day period.

Despite tougher laws requiring immigrants seeking residency permits or citizenship to learn French and integrate, with a crackdown on fraudulent marriage, anti-racism groups claimed that greater scrutiny of immigrants would only create more racism.

France’s failure to stand up for its own culture and ensure that immigrants assimilate is reflected in a recent ICM poll which reported that 16 per cent of French citizens have a positive view of Islamic State, rising to 27 per cent among 18-24 year olds.

As Toby Young noted in The Spectator magazine: “That is more than a quarter of all French 18-24 year olds who think it’s just fine to behead aid workers, throw homosexuals off buildings and sexually enslave 12-year-old girls.”

Australian governments, which have emphasised multiculturalism over multiracialism have ensured our society will be as fragmented, with some cultures refusing to assimilate and actively encouraging young people to ­ignore Australian laws.

The case of the convicted criminal al-Ahmadzai is a glaring example of the failure of the state to administer the law equally.

Instead of treating his refusal to obey the law within our courts and the regulations that govern our prisons as acts of contempt that should have been immediately punished, the NSW government, through Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton and the prison system via Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin, has proceeded down the same policy path which has so demonstratively failed European nations.

Al-Ahmadzai began his standing boycott before District Court Judge Ian McClintock in May last year, when he sat as he pleaded guilty to threatening to “slit” the throat and crack the neck of an ASIO officer.

Last November 26 he refused to stand to be arraigned in front of Judge Colefax for aggravated break and enter. And at his District Court trial on that charge in September he again refused to stand, this time for Judge Jane Culver.

It is a year since Judge Colefax referred al-Ahmadzai’s actions to the Attorney-General for investigation for a possible charge of contempt but the state showed its weakness and has taken no action.

Crown Prosecutor Craig Everson said the Attorney-General determined to take no action beyond that of the referral for possible action.

Ms Upton denies that, saying she had asked her legal advisers for “options” on how to deal with al-Ahmadzai and her spokesman later said it was the Solicitor-General, and not the Attorney-General, who had decided that there were no grounds for contempt proceedings.

This is buck-passing of the most egregious sort. It cedes power to criminals.

Avoiding confrontation to shield the extremist minority has only one outcome — the monstrous Paris option.

Show some spine and stand up for our own laws.


Piers Fatterman

quote:

The failure of the Weimar government to take decisive action demonstrates the weakness endemic to Western nations that have pandered to extremist members of one religious minority — Judaism— despite assurances from many self-appointed Jewish community leaders that there is nothing in Judaism that prevents its followers from honouring the laws of their host nations.

hooman posted:

At what point does no longer apply?

hooman posted:

At what point does no longer apply?

SynthOrange posted:

Australia's offshore detention cost $1.2bn in 2014-15, Senate estimates told
Controversial decision to fly asylum seeker seeking an abortion back to Nauru against her will cost $115,000

Zetsubou-san posted:

It's... wonderful.

Digiwizzard posted:

I wonder how large the torture camp allocation in the budget can actually swell. Like eventually we're going to have to choose between keeping that last hospital open or going ahead with that prison fortress on an artificial reef with electrified jail cells and robot guards made of solid gold.

Lid posted:

Bronwyn Bishop says she will recontest her seat of Mackellar, telling Liberal Party supporters on Sydney's northern beaches that the "threat of terrorism" had convinced her she needs to remain in Parliament.

The 73 year-old former Speaker told guests at a Christmas drinks party at her Newport home on Tuesday evening that she had been "exonerated" over the "choppergate" expenses scandal and was energised to serve another three year term as an MP.

Wheezle posted:

I wonder what she thinks is supposed to have happened to exonerate her.

freebooter posted:

And I'm again reminded of that old piece about how Bush, post-presidency, handled living in a country where only 30% of the people approved of him, i.e. by living entirely within that 30%. "I've had thousands of letters of support," Tony says. Yeah no poo poo mate but there's like 22 million people in Australia.

quote:

Independent review reveals high prevalence of sexual harassment in Victorian police force Wednesday 9 December 2015 6:44AM (view full episode)

An independent review has revealed the extent of sex discrimination and sexual harassment in the Victoria police force.

It has found 68 per cent of female and 57 per cent of male Victoria Police employees have witnessed at least one form of sexual harassment in the workplace in the past five years. The review was commissioned by the former Victorian Police Chief Ken Lay, after internal police investigations uncovered what he described as 'grubby' behaviour. This included men filming women in change rooms, making suggestive comments, performing simulated sexual acts, and unwanted groping or touching.

The review, conducted by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, heard from about 5,000 police officers who reported abuse and intimidation within the force. The Commissioner of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Kate Jenkins, joins James Carleton on RN Breakfast.

quote:

Two people arrested in Sydney counter-terrorism raids as part of Operation Appleby Updated 13 minutes ago

Two people have been arrested by the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team in Sydney as part of the ongoing Operation Appleby.

The ABC understands the properties raided are in the Sydney suburbs of Wiley Park and Bankstown. The arrests were carried out by officers from the Australian Federal Police and the New South Wales Police. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told Macquarie Radio that investigations were ongoing. "It's a continuation of Operation Appleby," he said. "The AFP has obviously been doing some amazing work in tracking down people that may be a threat to us and that operation is underway at the moment." They are part of Operation Appleby which focuses on detecting and preventing terrorist attacks on Australian soil.

In September 2014 the operation conducted raids in Sydney and Brisbane and arrested 15 people. An alleged plot to kidnap and behead a member of the public was uncovered as part of the operation.

Police said they would provide an update about 10:30am (AEDT).

quote:

GST: Fresh food, healthcare and education to cost billions more if tax broadened, PBO finds By political reporter Dan Conifer Updated about 2 hours ago

New modelling shows basic foods would cost Australians more than $7 billion extra annually if the GST was applied, while a leaked document reveals states and territories are facing a $50 billion shortfall by 2030.

The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) analysis has found scrapping a raft of GST exemptions would raise at least $21 billion in additional revenue a year from 2017-18. The PBO found applying the tax to basic foods would raise $7.2 billion in 17-18, while health and medical care would reap $6.4 billion.

PBO's 2017-18 scenarios

Applying a 10 per cent GST to basic food would raise an extra $7.2 billion ($4.8 billion after compensation)
Applying a 10 per cent GST to basic food, health, medical care, education, child care, water and sewerage would raise an extra $21.6 billion ($16 billion after compensation)
Increasing the GST to 15 per cent without expanding the base would raise an extra $32.5 billion ($24.6 billion after compensation)
Increasing the GST to 15 per cent and applying it to basic food would raise $42.7 billion ($31.4 billion after compensation)
Increasing the GST to 15 per cent and applying it to basic food, health, medical care, education, child care, water and sewerage would raise an extra $65.8 billion ($49.3 billion after compensation).
It also said education would collect $4.9 billion, childcare would add $1.6 billion, while water and sewerage would add $1.1 billion to revenue.

The PBO assumed compensation would be provided under any government change, meaning much of the extra revenue would be returned to low income households. "In the absence of compensation arrangements ... each of the scenarios analysed would have a greater relative impact on lower income earners," the PBO report said. The independent office has modelled a range of scenarios, from removing the GST-free status of basic food through to applying a 15 per cent tax to a broader base. It found the changes could raise between $7.2 billion and $65.8 billion in 2017-18, before compensation is provided to the poorest 40 per cent of households.

Meanwhile a leaked COAG document shows state and territory governments face a combined deficit of nearly $50 billion in 2030, including about $35 billion in health and $10 billion in education. The document has been prepared for Friday's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting and is the second leak in as many days before Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meets premiers and chief ministers on Friday. Treasurer Scott Morrison will discuss the situation with state and territory counterparts at a meeting in Sydney today. The GST is set to be discussed, along with state-based charges, such as property and payroll taxes, along with competition reform. The Commonwealth is pressuring states to abolish about $85 billion worth of inefficient revenue-raising measures.

Tax reform options explained

Eight options for tax reform have been modelled by the Treasury, including raising the GST and broadening its base. South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said he wanted an open conversation about potential tax changes. "What I'm not prepared to do though is to turn up here and just skirt around the edges and have another photo opportunity," Mr Koutsantonis said. "Let's talk turkey, let's get some real results, let's actually achieve something for the nation and for the states. Let's, just for one day, put our partisan politics to the side and do what's best for the federation and the country."

West Australian Treasurer Mike Nahan said the GST had to be the meeting's focus, saying WA was comfortable with a 12.5 per cent GST that applied to more goods and services. "The major focus has to be GST because that's the efficient indirect tax and without increasing that you can't get rid of inefficient indirect taxes," Dr Nahan said, but warned the carve up must also be improved for his state. We're not going to tolerate an increase in GST that distributes 70 per cent of GST collections from Western Australia to other states, that's the bottom line."

Junkee posted:

Another year, another horde of khaki-clad haircuts aggressively quoting Margaret Thatcher at uni students and wafting a thick layer of smug all over bars you used to like. The Victorian Young Liberals are signing off for the holidays.

After a year which has included their big boy counterparts facing a humiliating leadership spill and their NSW chapter being publicly shamed for a ridiculous slapfight, the group are proudly hosting a big Christmas party next weekend and have set up a Facebook event to invite their members.

“It’s time to celebrate the end of another successful year for the movement,” the event reads. “Our Christmas party will be a relaxed night to kick back, reflect on the year that was in politics and recognise the contribution of Young Liberals across the state to the party. Dinner and drinks will be provided on the rooftop of [the Victorian Liberal Party offices] from 7pm. Make sure you join us for what promises to be a fun night.”

And, while that statement ludicrously neglects to mention the exact type of top-shelf gin the bar will be serving or whether there’ll be a photobooth with cardboard cutouts of Malcolm Turnbull and/or Mike Baird, it wasn’t their biggest mistake. Their biggest mistake was making the event open to the public.

Mithranderp posted:

If these latest terror arrests lead to actual charges, I'll eat my scat.

Mithranderp posted:

Charges laid.

Dude McAwesome posted:

jfc Toned Abs is a loving nutjob. Now he's in Singapore. It's like he's on a worldwide "everyone in the world must know Australia is completely hosed because this guy was PM for 18 months" tour.

Mithranderp posted:

I don't have a hat

Birb Katter posted:

hosed up if true

Gorilla Salad posted:

Who wants to laugh until they cry or puke?

Google tells me there are 631 asylum seekers on Nauru and 943 on Manus Island, that's 1574 people in concentration camp hell.

With a $1.2b budget, that works out as $762,388 per person, per year. That's over three quarters of a million dollars per person per year.

Now, who remembers when His Tonyship decided that buying your way to citizenship was a good idea? Who can remember how much money they decided you should pay to become Australian?

It was $50,000.

So, for what we're spending now to torture these people, we could give them the money and they could buy full citizenship and still end up with $710,000 for every man, woman and child in offshore detention. Which is more than enough for a house, school, starting a business, anything.

And all we'd have to give up as a nation is to stop torturing children.

SynthOrange posted:

Who's invested in Transfield and Serco?

hooman posted:

Newstart is 502 a fortnight for a single. So 13k a year. For the cost of the offshore detention program we could give 1200000000/13000 = 92307 refugees a new start in Australia. Not to mention that every cent of that money would go straight back into our economy because newstart is woefully low.

Also that assumes that none of them get jobs which is pretty unlikely.

open24hours posted:

I bet if you looked hard enough you could find politicians investing in and profiting from it. A fun project for an investigative journalist.

Kommando posted:

really? she it was that low. 251 per week. can you even find non share rental accommodation and eat for that much?