You're kidding me!

I've just been told the most amazingly bad thing about Tony Abbott, second-hand, but told in all seriousness. I have always found the leader of the opposition to be profoundly creepy, in his dismal politics, his strange-looking head, the peculiar way he moves (his weird walk, his tongue), and in the way he smirks while bending the truth. But after hearing what I've just been told about Mr Abbott, I'm pretty amazed that someone would go around saying this stuff. I'm not making reference to that rot from a few years ago about the son who wasn't, I'm referring to something else supposedly from his past. If this story is true, Abbott doesn't have a skeleton in the closet, he has a department of bloody paleontology in his closet. If this is true, and it gets out, I'd say it's goodbye career, but is it true?

White Australian billionaires are a victimized racial group - no, seriously

It appears that theFMG/Yindjibarndi video that I've previously written about got around before it got taken down from Vimeo. It appears that the video can still be viewed at other sites, and there is also a video on the internet that is presented from the FMG's point of view.

"Australia's richest man, Andrew Forrest, claims he has received death threats ..."

"Mr Forrest said the threats, which his company took seriously, came after the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation published an online video of a chaotic March 16 meeting in Roebourne.

The video was removed from US-based web host Vimeo after pressure from Fortescue but not before it went viral, sparking widespread debate and a national social media campaign against the miner."

Forrest gets death threats over Pilbara spat.
Steve Pennells
The West Australian
April 23, 2011.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/9247872/forrest-gets-death-threats-over-pilbara-spat/







Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation
http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/

"The True Yindjibarndi Story"
http://thetruenativetitlestory.com.au/

Rudd's wife now dominates the UK welfare-to-work industry

Therese Rein the $1.4bn queen of British welfare.
Peter Wilson, Europe correspondent
From: The Australian April 21, 2011 12:00AM

"The danger is that to make the contracts work, it has to deliver more outcomes than ever before for less money than the government paid in the past, and if they fail, it is the unemployed whose necks are on the line."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/therese-rein-the-14bn-queen-of-british-welfare/story-e6frg8zx-1226042492969

A political quote to ponder

"One of the habits of our national life is to glorify all aspects of the military. I've always assumed this gushing, out-of-proportion praise could only come from those who have never met our soldiers and experienced firsthand their limited intelligence and primeval interests in life."
- Mark Latham, June 2009

Mark Latham was roundly and soundly condemmed for making this statement, but in light of the many disgusting stories about abusive and bullying behaviour and vile sexual practices in the ADF that have come to light in recent times, it looks like Latham was actually right, again.

Julian Assange looking rough in interview on Australian TV

I've just watched the (edited) interview of Julian Assange by Leigh Sales on the ABCTV show 7.30, formerly known as The 7.30 Report. I was a bit surprised at Assange's appearance - his face was covered in blemishes, his hair was a mess and he needed a shave. Assange has never been particularly normal in the way he presents himself, but I thought he looked rougher than usual. He blinked a lot, which is normal for Assange.

Assange's rather dramatic question for our Prime Minister Julia Gillard that was delivered a while ago on the ABCTV show Q & A was discussed. The full interview will be available some time soon at the website of 7.30.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/

John Pilger discussing whistleblowing with Assange on TV tonight

On Sunday April 10th 2011 on SBS1 on Australian TV a documentary by veteran politically-left Australian journalist John Pilger titled Revealing the hidden truths of war: the war you don't see will be broadcast. I believe this documentary includes an interview or discussion between Julian Assange and Pilger. I believe John Pilger will be one of many speakers at a Marxism conference in Melbourne in April.
http://www.sbs.com.au/documentary/
http://www.marxismconference.org/

Video alleges shonky dealings by FMG

The mining industry which includes corporations such as FMG spent $22m last year in a campaign against Rudd's resource super profits tax, which was one of the battles that led to the fall of Rudd as PM. What nice people these mining billionaires are! I'd much rather have Kevin running this country over Twiggy any day of the week.

FMG's Great Native Title Swindle by Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corp. Vimeo. April 3rd 2011
http://vimeo.com/21871850

Slater & Gordon joins fight against Fortescue. Business Spectator. April 8th 2011
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Slater--Gordon-backs-Yindjibarndi-Aboriginal-Corpo-pd20110408-FQ4ZR?opendocument&src=rss

FMG's Great Native Title Swindle from Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corp. on Vimeo.