Diary of our stinking Govt.

[boris1gary]

As it's more than 100 days now, it has been suggested that a new thread was needed.  The current govt has been breaking promises and telling lies at a rate so fast it's hard to keep up.

This below is worrying, "independent" pffft, as if your own doctor is somehow what? biased, it's ridiculous. So far there is talk of only including people under a certain age 30-35, for now. Remember that if your injured in a car, injured at work or get ill, you too might need to go on the DSP. They have done a similar think in the UK with devastating consequences.

and this is the 2nd time recently where the Govt has referred to work as welfare???? So when you go to work tomorrow (or tuesday), just remember that's welfare.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-20/disability-pensioners-may-be-reassessed-kevin-andrews/5400598

Independent doctors could be called in to reassess disability pensioners, Federal Government says

The Federal Government is considering using independent doctors to examine disability pensioners and assess whether they should continue to receive payments.

Currently family doctors provide reports supporting claims for the Disability Support Pension (DSP).

But Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews is considering a measure that would see independent doctors reassess eligibility.

"We are concerned that where people can work, the best form of welfare is work," Mr Andrews said at a press conference.

[boris1gary]

US and UK asked Australia to send personnel to West Africa to combat Ebola crisis

Both the United States and the United Kingdom have asked Australia to send personnel to West Africa to help combat the deadly Ebola virus, foreign affairs officials have told a Senate hearing.

Under questioning from Labor and Greens senators on Thursday, Blair Exell, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade first assistant secretary, confirmed the UK had requested Australia send personnel to Sierra Leone, while the US had asked for personnel to support efforts in Liberia

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/us-and-uk-asked-australia-to-send-personnel-to...

[boris1gary]

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/23/australias-war-on-whisteblowers-must-end

Australia's war on whistleblowers must end

The prosecution of Freya Newman, court actions against news outlets and police investigations of immigration leaks show the war on whistleblowers is escalating

In an outrageous attack on press freedom, Spurr has tried to legallyforce New Matilda to reveal its sources and prevent them publishing anything else related to the story. It’s a case of attempted intimidation that New Matilda has happily challenged, and later on Thursday Spurr dropped his bid to expose the source, although the case is still continuing. I’m yet to read other media outlets offering support for the small publisher.

Rather than address the issues raised by Spurr’s compromised position as a man who longs for colonial times, The Australian’s Sharri Marksonreported that the emails may have been obtained by hacking, allegationsslammed by editor Chris Graham.

The source of the leak is again questioned in an Australian editorial: “the [New Matilda] website maintains [the story] is based on leaks from a source, rather than hacking, as Professor Spurr alleges”. Even entertainer Barry Humphries has damned the release of the emails, wilfully ignoring the political significance of such a man with vile views toperpetuate white Australia in the education system of the 21st century.

There are many other examples of this war on whistleblowers in Australia. Immigration minister Scott Morrison has maintained a medieval seal on details over his border security policy and yet has been happy to find friendly, News Corp Australia reporters to smear critics of his policy. The government has now referred Save the Children workers to be investigated by the Australian Federal Police over “unauthorised” disclosures of information. It was clear intimidation, designed to make employees shut up.

In a haze of claims and counter-claims, with Operation Sovereign Borders celebrated as saving taxpayer dollars, the detail of a breach of security within the department is ignored or dismissed as insignificant. The source of these allegations against Save the Children was first reported in a Daily Telegraph story as being from an intelligence report that they also appear to have been leaked, and which was published on the day of Morrison’s announcement about the investigation. Leaking to obedient journalists doesn’t indicate a healthy whistle-blower culture but rather a docile political environment that rewards favouritism. It reduces democracy to sanctioned drops into reporter’s in-boxes.

Amidst all the fury over angry ideologues concerned that their bigoted conservative values are under attack lie the importance of whistle-blowing without fear or favour. 

[polksaladallie]

US and UK asked Australia to send personnel to West Africa to combat Ebola crisis

And Tone again said NO in question time today.

[boris1gary]

[debra9275]

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/abbott-government-must-work-harder-to-instil-confidence-20141022-11a1o...

an interesting article this morning about confidence (or lack of it)

[debra9275]

http://www.afr.com/p/national/coalition_support_falls_to_three_v0qa2xqf0cKprP8ONJxJeI?utm_source=out...

I think Rupert has turned 

[boris1gary]

bit late - probably on purpose as murdok doesn't have investigative journalists - their rags here are just LNP newsletters

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/oct/23/lachlan-murdoch-attacks-special-laws-to-jail-journalist...

Lachlan Murdoch attacks special laws to jail journalists for up to 10 years

‘Our freedom of speech and freedom of the press are not things we should blindly entrust to anyone’

[debra9275]

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/23/australias-war-on-whisteblowers-must-end

It’s a tragic irony that the loudest voices backing the current war on whistle-blowers are the very politicians who are theoretically elected to protect and enhance free speech and disclosure.

[debra9275]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-24/afp-looking-into-victorian-government-porn-ring-claims/5838206

The Federal Police says it is looking into claims a sacked senior Victorian government adviser ran a pornography ring from Treasury Place offices to see if anything illegal took place.

sheesh! a bit of nasty oneupmanship going on there

Mr Coulson was sacked over an unrelated incident just after Denis Napthine became Premier and is suing the Government for wrongful dismissal.

The Government has counter-sued, alleging Mr Coulson should pay back his severance package because of the pornography found in his office.

[gleee58]

I thought you might like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS0zS7Tij28#t=229