Menzies House

AWU scandal: police check Gillard’s claim

2013-05-25T14:04:25+10:30

The police investigation continues:

Love nest or bachelor pad?

2013-05-25T08:53:03+10:30

Going bush: First Bloke heads back to his roots

Four months ago, Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s partner Tim Mathieson quietly bought a bush block on the banks of the Goulburn River near Jamieson, in north-east Victoria.

Mr Mathieson has since placed a caravan on the secluded and partly forested block, which backs on to the river as it enters Lake Eildon. Between periods in residence at The Lodge in Canberra, Mr Mathieson – known as ‘‘the First Bloke’’ – has been spending time alone and with his mates on the 1150 square metre block. He has plans to build a shack – his own ‘‘Men’s Shed’’.

Related article: Gillard's ball and Chain

Come on down

2013-05-25T08:39:35+10:30

Indonesia's central bank chief urges country's banks to compete overseas

The new governor of Indonesia's central bank, Agus Martowardojo, says Indonesian banks will have to meet international standards as they move into other markets in the region.

Mr Martowardojo says also wants to discuss reciprocal access rights between Indonesia and other countries.

Nice neighbours

2013-05-25T08:34:51+10:30

Indonesian counter-terrorist unit accused of mass killing in disputed Papua province

Activists says 11 people were killed and 20 more are missing after a combined military and police crackdown on support for the Free Papua separatist movement in April.

SBS - truth is poison - disgraceful bias

2013-05-24T08:05:40+10:30

SBS can’t spot a Muslim killer even when he quotes the Koran

But SBS, in a report nearly seven minutes long, somehow fails to mention even once the words, “Muslim”, “Islam”, “Allah” or “Koran”. Listen to this stunning example of non-reporting - a deliberate and deceptive evasion.

Read more: Via Bolt blog (Sorry, link now fixed)

Birds of a feather...

2013-05-24T07:52:27+10:30

Question: name two things America and Australia have in common?
Answer: both have socialist leaders and both despise their defence forces.

As predicted, Labor is on the assault just as it did at the last two elections. It is of no consequence to their architects of strategy, whether or not party ramblings resemble truth. Spin maestro McTernan’s style assures that.

Gillard’s last roll of the electoral dice and attending media propaganda confused many voters who did not recognise the difference between state and federal issues. The poor-old lady standing in a hospital corridor crying, “Nurse, Nurse,” is one example.

Slick slogans and buzzwords have dominated Labor’s brand. But not having the wit to create clever and lasting slogans like Mortein’s Louie the fly ad read by John Laws, “when you are on a good thing stick to it,” Labor’s hackneyed buzzwords have become tedious, if not counter productive.

“Moving forward,” mentioned 36 times in one, 31-minute press meet. “Working families,” “the real Julia” and now to be used in every way at every opportunity is, “cut to the bone,” even though it was said by Tony Abbott when outlining his plans to restore the nation’s financial stability.

Nevertheless, Labor pounced on the phrase with Penny Wong leading the charge: “…Liberals cut to the bone.” Gillard: “…a choice to cut to the bone.” Swan: “…a plan for cuts to the bone.” Dreyfus: “…not the time to cut to the bone.” Macklin: “…get out there and cut it to the bone.” Bradbury takes the prize: “We will see cuts to payments, cuts to pensions - cuts to the bone ...or an opposition whose only plan is to make savage cuts, cuts to the bone.” Within a day the ABC had contracted the contagious jibber.

Although “cut to the bone” has always been a popular descriptor, irony may be found in that the ALP is not the only political party on earth to use it. US President, Barack Obama, a Democrat, began using the phrase in March when he announced his plan to raise $1.6 trillion additional revenue over 10 years. Severe budget cuts will require the Marine Corps to “cut into bone.” Obama said. “They don't trim the fat; they cut into muscle and into bone.” Note the common use of, “over 10 years.”

Well, you could say that such a trivial saying as such was merely a coincidence. But Gillard and Obama, chanting from the same hymnbook have prior form. On March 16 The Financial review reported:

“Barack Obama’s Minnesota campaign chief, Jeff Blodgett, has been flown to Australia by Labor’s head office to help train more than 100 staff in grassroots US techniques for the federal election.
Campaign officials including MPs’ electorate staffers, about 30 officials from state ALP branches and about 15 organisers from unions including the Australian Manufacturing Workers union, United Voice, and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association are attending the three-day training conference in Canberra.”

Gillard’s minister for propaganda and below-the-belt kicking, John McTernan made several trips to the US last year to learn the tricks of Obama’s effective snow job on lesser savvy American voters. Social media was proven a most effective tool.

Most political pundits have savaged Gillard’s long road-call for a September election but it may be a shrewd ploy by McTernan. To implement an Obama style campaign in Australia would take time and this year’s federal election is likely to be the first American inspired polling strategy in our political history. McTernan needs that delay.

Intention to use social media to promulgate Labor’s hype among the populace has already been flagged by McTernan. Google, Facebook and Twitter are potential targets because most people tend to believe their search results. Astute searchers know only too well that search results are often erroneous and getting worse.

For example, searching a company’s dodgy product is often met by glowing reports, page after page of them. The company itself carefully crafts, in multiple styles, huge numbers of complimentary accounts. With so many “good reports” the searcher gives up after combing about 50 web pages assuming the product to be good. Complaints and bad reports are not easily found. This is what Labor will bank on.

In the meantime, the Coalition might try a catchy slogan and none better than the words of John Laws after he dumped Mortein to promote Raid, “When you find a better thing, switch to it.” Laws ended up in court over that one.

Flannery tells Senate - go jump

2013-05-24T07:41:24+10:30

A LABOR senator has questioned Climate Commissioner Tim Flannery's decision to snub a budget estimates hearing next week to fly overseas on a private trip.

Committee chair Senator Doug Cameron said Mr Flannery, paid a reported $180,000 for his part-time job, should have attended.

Two other key CEOs of climate bodies established by the government have also sent apologies - because they are off to Europe.

Read more for your money:Via Daily Telegraph

Fairfax to introduce paywalls

2013-05-24T07:33:12+10:30

...Possibly more important than Domain is the performance of the newspaper assets, as advertising revenues drops. In July the company will follow in the footsteps of other media groups and introduce a paywall for editorial content. This seems to be working on international brands such as The New York Times but is untested in Australia.