Cleretic posted:

Over time, I've begun to suspect that 'Small Business' does not mean what I think it does (that is, businesses that are small).

In fact, I'm not even convinced at this point that 'Small Businesses' refers to something that's real at all, I think it might be a term for an entirely fictional creature that exists only in the form of descriptive statements and pledges of support.

quote:

The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has alleged a shooting rampage by Papua New Guinea navy personnel at the Manus Island detention centre on Good Friday was sparked after refugees were seen leading a small boy into the centre.

But this version of events has been fiercely disputed by refugees – who have accused the minister of lying – and contradicts police and defence force evidence which say the fight was sparked over a football field dispute. The police said “drunken soldiers … rampaged” through the centre, shooting into the air and indiscriminately assaulting people.

Evidence from police, defence force and refugee witnesses to the shooting on Manus Island say the confrontation escalated from a fight over who was allowed to use the soccer field near to the detention centre and inside the naval base which houses the centre.

None of the authorities on the island, or those held inside the detention centre, have mentioned a boy in the six days since the shooting.

In an interview on Sky News, Dutton said three asylum seekers were seen leading a five-year-old boy towards the detention centre.

“I think there was concern about why the boy was being led, or for what purpose he was being led, away back into the regional processing centre,” the minister said on Thursday.

...

Shunkymonky posted:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/20/dutton-alleges-manus-shooting-rampage-sparked-after-refugees-seen-with-boy


So... Dutton pretty much just made up some crap inferring that it was pedophile refugees which led to the shooting.

Like he's always been an evil repellent piece of poo poo but my god.

Shunkymonky posted:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/20/dutton-alleges-manus-shooting-rampage-sparked-after-refugees-seen-with-boy


So... Dutton pretty much just made up some crap inferring that it was pedophile refugees which led to the shooting.

Like he's always been an evil repellent piece of poo poo but my god.

Dutton posted:

“I think there was concern about why the boy was being led, or for what purpose he was being led, away back into the regional processing centre,” the minister said on Thursday.

Stoca Zola posted:

... And that's why they were shooting wildly at the place they thought the boy might be? What an idiot.

Don Dongington posted:

Like... Why is a minister knowingly and intentionally misleading the public (or parliament for that matter, mistah speaker) not loving illegal again?

starkebn posted:

is that parliamentary privilege?

BBJoey posted:

i hope dutton gets murdered, no offence

Shunkymonky posted:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/20/dutton-alleges-manus-shooting-rampage-sparked-after-refugees-seen-with-boy


So... Dutton pretty much just made up some crap inferring that it was pedophile refugees which led to the shooting.

Like he's always been an evil repellent piece of poo poo but my god.

G-Spot Run posted:

The larger, hairless cousin of the notorious Alot

I would blow Dane Cook posted:

https://twitter.com/MarkDiStef/status/855019879610458114

I would blow Dane Cook posted:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/nat...420-gvowlc.html

Bogan King posted:

Starshark posted:

I'd kill Dutton if I thought it would stop future politicians from trying on his particular brand of bullshit.

Cartoon posted:

If you want to set an example start with Peter Reith. He's the one that brought children into the debate. Which really just reinforces what I have asserted previously: People who invoke the sentiment of protecting children to garner support are usually using it as a political tool (eg Derin Hinch).

ewe2 posted:

Who let the bloody potato out?

Cartoon posted:

Someone should chip him over this.

The ABC posted:

Despite compulsory voting laws, many Australians claim they are either disaffected by politics or simply uninterested in civics.

In what is being described as "an exercise in realistic utopianism", federal MP Andrew Leigh is calling for a new public holiday to be held during election years.

The Member for Fenner told ABC Radio Canberra that "Deliberation Day" would be an opportunity to bring people together to debate the nation's future.

"Fewer people are members of political parties and fewer people are showing up to the ballot box and casting a valid vote," he said.

Dr Leigh said the concept of Deliberation Day had been borrowed from the theory of US academics Bruce Ackerman and James Fishkin.

"Their idea is that there ought to be a day every election year in which citizens get together in their local schools and town halls to talk about the issues that concern them," he said.

"The day might start with some sort of awareness raising issues, presentations by local experts and then small group and larger group discussions about the issues that matter for the community.

"It builds off the notion of town hall meetings which have seen an upsurge in attendance in the United States recently.

Dr Leigh said a Deliberation Day holiday would also create more opportunities for class mixing.

"We are in an era in which fewer people attend church, fewer people are involved in trade unions and fewer people are involved in community organisations," he said.

"Our society offers fewer chances of class mixing than we have had in the past.

"We need for people of modest means and of affluent means to get together to talk about the challenges our nation faces."
By creating new opportunities for Australians to participate in democracy, Dr Leigh suggested we could better address inequality.

"We can't tackle inequality unless people are rubbing shoulders with those who are different from them.

"We need opportunities for CEOs to chat to welfare recipients."

Dr Leigh said that as an economist he was in favour of maximising wellbeing over maximising money.

"I find that my wellbeing is higher on public holidays rather than lower."