Australia General Discussion

[Platypus]

Plenty of speculation about plenty of things, but that one does sound quite reasonable.

[Platypus]

Very significant bushfires in Northern Victoria, between Benalla and Yackandandah.

My 70-year old Auntie and her 80-something husband live right smack bang in the middle of it all and are not contactable. As far as I can make out from the CFA their specific location is not on fire, and hopefully they've made the decision to leave. That said, they are surrounded by fires in all directions. I don't know how serious the specific fronts are, I get the sense that only one is extremely dangerous, but yeah.

[Platypus]

One of the relevant fires has just been downgraded to watch and act, and in the latest report on ABC the road they're on wasn't listed as closed and it's a significant enough road that it would be mentioned if it was closed I think.

[Platypus]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-19/cairns-stabbing-eight-children-dead-after-manoora-stabbing/5979452

Horrible

[Platypus]

We got to perform at Eurovision?

[Platypus]

We got to perform at Eurovision?

...

You missed Mauboy performing a song that was too deep for her... but yes.

Oh no, I very much saw it, I was just offering it as the only positive thing to happen to Australia in 2014.

[Platypus]

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/12/22/top-achievement-minister-women-was-carbon-tax-repeal-pm-says

...

[Platypus]

Put it this way... Labor was required to put up a candidate, and there's definitely power in the position, but they won't be disappointed by the result, as it makes it a bit easier for the lefty block to get things done.

[Platypus]

Labor up 60-40 in Victoria makes me happy. Only actually means 1-3 seats, but still.

[Platypus]

Dunkley is one of the three for me, before LaTrobe, but it certainly does make a few more within reach if there's an effort put into them.

[Platypus]

This is also real.

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/26/prince-philip-angus-houston-named-australian-knights

[Platypus]

Poll on the fairfax websited with over 25,000 votes has a 92% negative reaction to the announcement.

Admittedly, the readership skews left, but still... I think this might be the 'jumped the shark' moment.

[Platypus]

Colleen McCullough has died

[Platypus]

She was outspoken in the extreme, but unlike many of the loudest voices, she had something to say. I didn't agree with a lot of it though

[Platypus]

Little birdy has said that it's Brough as challenger, Bishop as compromise unifying candidate/PM, Turnbull as Treasurer, and Morrison as Deputy leader and Foreign Affairs.

Morrison getting that role fills me with disgust, but apparently he's required to get enough of the conservatives over the line.

[Platypus]

I should also say that this person has reasonably consistent ears, but has always been very anti-Abbott so draw your own views as to the reliability

[Platypus]

This feels like that moment in a game of Europa Universalis when all your rebellions start to pop. VIC first, fine, whatever... then all of a sudden, QLD, NT, Federal, maybe a bit of pain in NSW...

[Platypus]

NT Country Liberal Party has gone into full-bore civil war. Alison Anderson has, of course, decided to involve herself in it.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/alison-anderson-and-larisa-lee-rejoin-clp-amid-leadership-turmoil/story-fnk0b1zt-1227206076554

[Platypus]

As long as Ricky "I told you he'd be good" muir gets back in, I'm alright with that

But I think things have simmered down for now. Turnbull won't challenge until he has the numbers, and he doesn't have the numbers. But one more tiny slip up from Abbott, and he's gone.

[Platypus]

I hope you're right

[Platypus]

Pyne is vacillating to make sure Turnbull and Bishop don't just go ahead without his boy Scotty.

It's done.

[Platypus]

Statement from Bishop

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Well, that's an emphatic endorsement isn't it?

"I am telling literally everyone who has the ability to turf him to turf him, but he has put words in my mouth so in public I need to be a loyal deputy. Which is why for the next three days I have laryngitis and will stay at home to call text my collegues to ensure they do not support the current leadership."

[Platypus]

As expected, although if we assume cbinet solidarity (and we shouldn't, at least not unanimously) then the backbench has a majority against him. He's toast, it's just a case of whether it's burnt toast for the Libs or if they can scrape it off a bit.

[Platypus]

The Ruddock thing is stuuuuupid beyond belief. He was the only thing Abbott had going for him in the parliament.

[Platypus]

Abbott: Because we gave you $1bn after the tsunami, you shouldn't carry out the death sentence on two Australian drug smugglers.

also...

Abbott: Yes, frozen berries have given 15+ people Hep A, but food security doesn't need to be improved from imported fresh products because I have a responsibility to the health of the wallets of Australians.

Ho-leee-feck.