Politics is a dirty word

In Canberra, Coalition threats to retaliate against independent MP Kerryn Phelps and two Labor MPs if parliament dares to refer the home affairs minister Peter Dutton to the high court to test his eligibility to sit in parliament, demonstrate that the Government is in panic mode. To equate medicare rebates to government funding to private child minding services is ludicrous.

The Liberal Party's woeful campaign in the Victorian State election produced an inevitable result - delivering a second term to the ALP's Daniel Andrews. The result was not all the fault of Matthew Guy, the Liberal Party machine must shoulder most of the responsibility for running an ineffective, boring and deceptive campaign. Implications for the next federal election are ominous for the party. Parliamentarians have been unable to work as a cohesive team in Government, How could they possibly hold together in opposition!

North Korean scientists have been developing new warhead technology allowing it to maintain a major missile strike capabiity without nuclear warheads. The development will allow the country to side-step any agreement with the United States to 'de-nuclearise' the Korean peninsula and will seriously embarrass US President Trump and the American military.Details about the development are closely guarded but it seems likely that it involves a kinetic energy system, an electro-magnetic pulse weapon or possibly a miniaturised anti-matter device.

The excellent result in the Wentworth by election demonstrates the bankrupt nature of our political system. Party politics should be condemned to the scrapheap. Voters demonstrated very clearly that they don’t trust parties. Hopefully after the next Federal election, parliament will be dominated by independents. It will be interesting to see how a government of independents works. We are sick of political parties and their stranglehold on the community.

Chaos at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation with the sacking of its managing director and resignation of the chairman is likely to be repeated unless there is a radical overhaul of the organisation and its structure. The top executive should never have been a director. The role should be that of a Chief Executive Officer. The only role of directors is to set direction and policy. Implementation of the policies and day to day administration must be solely in the hands of the CEO. To ensure editorial integrity, an Editor in Chief should be appointed. Perhaps the funding model should be changed. Rather than the Government handing over a bucket of money each year, perhaps a better model would for the Government to allocate an annual amount for public broadcasting - the ABC, SBS and any other entrant could then put together bids to provide particular services.

The action of Australian politicians in allowing poultry farms with stocking densities of 10,000 hens per hectare to describe their eggs as free range, opens up some major issues. One is the level of unfair competition from big business against small family farms.Another is that consumers won’t accept that definition. Most planning authorities are unlikely to accept such a density because of issues like odour, contamination of land, aquifers and waterways. It's likely that many planning authorities will refuse permits for new free range farms because of the absurdly high standards developed by politicians.

Voter apathy throughout Australia is nothing new but it will be more pronounced with the next election, following the performance of our politicians in Canberra. Why would anyone vote for a member of a political party? Parties subvert elected representatives to the point where they no longer act in the interests of their constituents or the community at large – their only concerns are for the party and their own benefit. There is scant voter choice between the ALP or the coalition. It will make little difference which forms Government after the election, the same bureaucrats will run the show anyway. We are voting for local members, not for a particular individual as Prime Minister. The only way for real change is to vote for representatives who work for us – not for their party. So we need far more independents in parliament, people who consider issues and fully debate them rather than just trot out party mantra and rhetoric. Before casting a vote, talk to the people seeking to rep...

The unfolding muddle in Canberra confirms the absurdity of our political system – we simply don’t need the draining cost of a Federal Parliament. The country would be more efficiently run by COAG – already made up by representatives of all states. We don’t vote for a Prime Minister, we vote for local members who then appoint a PM. That’s how it works so why go through the charade of Federal elections. Politicians put their parties before the interests of the community – so the problem could be solved by eliminating political parties, ensuring that candidates present their own views and intentions to their constituents.

Turkey’s proposed stealth fighter jet may gain wide sales throughout the world following Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Turkey. UK firms BAE Systems and Roll Royce are assisting Turkey with developing the fighter TFX programme. Britain and Turkey have signed a deal worth more than $140 million to develop the stealth fighter jet which is being designed as a weapons platform superior to the US F35 Joint Strike fighter. Pakistan is already interested in buying the plane for its airforce, and many other world sales are expected as confidence in the US declines. First test flights of the plane are scheduled for 2023 with already-designed turbofan engines but later models will be fitted with locally-produced engines.

The unfolding nonsense in Canberra within the Coalition Government demonstrates yet again the stupidity of our political system. For years, successive Governments have been enmeshed in internal party politics. Politicians owe more allegiance to their parties than to voters in their electorates. The people do not elect Prime Ministers – they elect local members to Parliament who appoint the PM. The best way forward is to dump preferential voting and go back to a ‘first past the post’ system for elections. That would eliminate the absurdity of candidates winning a seat (particularly in the Senate) when they only received a handful of votes. The next step would be to ban political parties – they corrupt our political representatives by imposing a duty on them which is seen as more important than governing the country for the benefit of the cdommunity. 00

Declining standards seem to be a factor in most facets of modern life – just look at the levels of corruption and misbehaviour in politics, the banking system and business generally. And then there’s the real test – free-to- air television with a plethora of reality shows for the brain-dead. Even the ABC gets in on the act with a programme like Q&A which masquerades as a serious discussion panel but usually is just a free opportunity for politicians to peddle their particular foibles and philosophies. The ABC’s breakfast show underwent a transformation to turn into pale copy of the Channel 7 show, Sunrise. There was a ray of hope for entertainment with the establishment of Channel 76 Flix which seemed to promise the escapism of endless movies. But what does it deliver – a churning of a handful of films like 'The Master Race', 'Tall in the Saddle', 'Trail Street, ' "The Navy comes Through," "Marine Raiders" and 'Action in Arabia...

The European Union has said it will protect businesses from US threats against therm if they continue to trade with Iran following the US decision to reimpose sanctions against Iran. The US decision follows President Trump’s repudiation of the nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor, Barrack Obama to limit Iran’s nuclear programme. It’s time for other US allies, including Australia, to stand up against Trump’s belligerence. A start would be to cancel orders for the F35 joint strike fighter. Other options are available.

The Super Saturday by-elections in Perth, Fremantle, Mayo, Braddon and Longman on July 28th promise some interesting results with talk of an early election and maybe a Labor leadership spill. The results are eagerly awaited by those poor mugs who follow politics. All will become clear on Saturday night. In Tasmania, the Braddon by election could be a real surprise. The major parties are attacking the independent fisherman Craig Garland which suggests he might poll better than anyone can be comfortable with. In Perth. It could be a fun time with a swag of independent candidates and parties like the sustainable Party, The Animal Justice Party, the Mental Health Party and the People’s Party as well as the Liberal Democrats and the Western Australia Party. Thew Fremantle election is a similar bad joke. \In Mayo. South Australia, Rebekha Sharkie is expected to win while it’s wide open in Longman, Queensland with candidates for the ALP. LNP, the Australian Country Party, the Science Party, ...

Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine may have been responsible for shooting down Malaysian airliner MH 17. Many Western countries, including Australia, were quick to point their fingers and blame the Russian Federation for the action but what is the evidence? A number of Russian- made surface-to-air missiles were stolen in 1994 from an army base in Ukraine. The weapons were held at a base in the Cherkasskaya region of central Ukraine.It Was reported by the German Government that other conventional surface-to-air missiles have also been stolen by Ukraine separatists. If Governments are held liable for the misuse of weapons they supply to third parties, then the US, Britain and France are in real trouble, they, along with Russia, are the biggest arms dealers in the world.

Porton Down is the UK’s prime chemical weapons establishment near Salisbury It is understood that stores of Novichok and other nerve agents are held there for use in the Middle East and elsewhere.Novichok is part of a group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s. It is reported to be eight times more toxic than the nerve agent VX, which was used to assassinate the brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Novichok is usually stored as two less toxic chemical ingredients, making it easier to transport. When they’re mixed together, the chemicals react to produce a military-grade nerve agent. It can kill after being inhaled, injected or absorbed through the skin.It is the chemical used which the UK claim,s Russia used in Salisbury on a double agent and his daughter, and apparently has resulted in the death of a local women and the hospitalisation of her partner. No evidence has been revealed which shows how the Russians imported the chemical to the UK so its seems j...

Here's a proposal that could save many lives and billions of dollars. An American professor, Konstantin Balakiryan has proposed using hydrogen to extinguish bushfires. He says the use could save many lives as well as property and the environment. He proposes using hydrogen capsules producing directional explosions. The concept is not new, 18th century English scientist Henry Cavendish discovered the properties of hydrogen. He wrote about ; "Hydrogen in a mixture with hot air reacts to an explosion with the formation of water “ This can have tremendous effect in the fire zone; initially, a powerful explosion destroys the flame, then water is formed, resulting from the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen contained in hot air, covering the charred area while completely extinguishing the fire. A relativerly simple concept - let's hope the politicians allow it to be fully tested and implemented if it is successful.

There has to be a better way to fund the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to ensure that it delivers an effective service across the country. A fixed allocation should be set in the Federal Budget every year for public broadcasting. The ABC, SBS and any regional services that wish to participate could then lodge competitive tenders to provide particular services. The tenders would have to include detailed costings to assess their value for money.

The meeting between Us President Donald Trump and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un appears to have achieved a positive result - Working towards the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula . But will the US really not send warships armed with nuclear weapons into Korean waters and park them in South Korea. Will the Generals in the Pentagon allow Trump to stop the war games with South Korea? If they don’t, Kim Jong Il will have valid reasons to hang onto his nukes.

China has developed a stealth drone – an unmanned supersonic fighter aircraft known as Dark Sword,The plane, built byShenyang Aircraft Corporation, has a low observable (stealthy) configuration and is capable of sustained speeds up to twice the speed of sound with remarkable agility. Dark Sword has been n concept form since early this decade. The aircraft seems well suited for making supersonic dashes across the Taiwan Strait during a conflict as opposed to flying medium or long-endurance surveillance missions. It's also possible that the design could also be used on China's catapult and barrier equipped aircraft carriers. Whether based on land or at sea, Dark Sword is able to operate ahead of manned fighters collecting data and essential target information.

Channel Seven has plumbed the depths of reality television shows with its Barnaby Bonking Bonanza scheduled for Sunday night. It’s hard to believe that anyone will watch it it(but no doubt they will with the brain-dead tuning in.). P,T. Barnham’s comment that ‘No-one ever lost a dollar underestimating the taste of the American public is just as accurate for Australia. For the network it will probably be $150,000 well spent on a sitting politician who deserves to be reviled rather than rewarded.

The JaguarRover classic car company has pulled off a coup with its electric E Type being used by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their wedding at Windsor. The company plans to retro-fit existing E Types with electric drive trains. turning them into E Type Zeros. It is expected that the company will manufacture new versions of the E Type fitted with electric power plants. Enquiriues have already started flowing in.

The Boards and management teams of the ABC and SBS have been negligent in their duties by wasting taxpayers money in sending celebrity presenters to cover the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when both organisations already have reporting staff in the UK and Europe. Commercial tv channels only have to answer to their shareholders. But the ABC and SBS are misusing funds allocated by Government. It seems doubly strange that both organisations appear to support the concept of Australia becoming a republic but now are falling over themselves to present a royal spectacle.

Former Federal Treasurer Peter Costello was right when he said that most of us will be dead before Australia’s fiscal debt is paid off. At over half a trillion dollars the current Government must shoulder much of the responsibility because despite its rhetoric About good economic management and fiscal responsibility, debt has climbed steadily under its slack control. The latest budget does nothing to inspire confidence that politicians and treasury officials have the will or the ability to drive down debt. There are claims that the budget will return to surplus – but that seems to be a faint hope as the Treasurer is still addicted to spending.

Discussions between Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s President have been widely welcomed by the international community. It remains to be seen whether or not President Trmp can build on the new relationship when he meets with the North Korean leader. There needs to be a deal of thought into what is meant by the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Will the world be any safer if Kim Jong Un sells or gives his nuclear arsenal to an ally – such as Pakistan, Iran, South Africa or Zimbabwe?

There have been no real surprises uncovered by the Royal Commission into the banking and superannuation industries. It has been known for years that financial advisers provide advice that benefits the adviser rather than the client. Federal Governments allowed this to happen by failing to to ensure that the financial regulator, ASIC had a proper oversight of the industry. The regulator has a cosy relationship with the industry and successive governments endorsed it.Bank executives and board members should be made accountable - as should bureaucrats and politicians who sat on their hands while all this was going on in plain sight.

The US seems to be working overtime to start the third world war. Trump doesn't care if it's over Syria, North Korea, China or Russia - he just wants a fight. The latest American outrage over Syria is an example of not thinking things through. He and his Generals don't want to accept that Russia has developed sophisticated electronic waqrfare systems. It will be relatively simple to disrupt US missile attacks to the point where the missiles could land anywhere.Won't it be interesting for the US to conduct a strike on Israel?Another they have miscalculated is that the next world war will involve combat at home - something t hey haven't experienced since the Civil War. It's all very well stamping around the world killing people, but they it will be too late for second thoughts with the Russians, Chinese and North Koreans sweeping down from the North and South American forces marching north.

The Us seems prepared to go ahead with threats to launch missile strikes against Syria, even though no evidence has been presented to establish that the Syrian regime launched a chemical attack – and anyway, where were the weapons obtained – mostly from Western arms dealers, the US, UK and France. The arms trade has been a lucrative business for these countries who regard themselves as civilised, many of those weapons find their way into the arsenals of terrorist groups. If an attack is launched, Russia has said it will shoot down the US missiles and may strike the launch sites. Many in America think that is just empty talk but Russia has been working for decades on missile defence systems. It has already deployed S21 and S22 defence missiles in Syria and is reported to have an S 400 Triumf interceptor system in place with long range capabilities. It may also have satellite weapons systems operational to bring down cruise missiles.

The fuss over the Lidell power station is a direct result of the New South Wales Government selling the asset to AGL. If it was still owned by the Government, decisions would be easier to make. It was the same in Victoria after Premier Kennett privatised the State Electricity Commission – including the Hazelwood power station. Short term financial gain resulted in negative long term consequences for the community – a usual result of Government incompetence. Politicians are unable to grasp the concept of long term impacts and consequences. ‘Pie in the sky’ calls for the Federal Government to invest billions of dollars in building new coal fired power stations will achieve nothing but more debt for the country. Even if they were built, a future Government would sell them to private enterprise.But there is an argument that Australians may as well have the benefit of power generation from our coal, If the coal is sold and burned overseas we are contributing to world carbon pollution. It ...

The furore over Australian cricketers tampering with a cricket ball in South Africa should take no-one by suprise. Certainly it was cheating, unethical and just plain wrong. No question that everyone involved should never play cricket again. But the incident was a reflection of the dire state of Australia’s culture and values.It seems that almost everyone here thinks they have a right to have "more". Corruption and disrespect is rife in our financial systems, politics and bureaucracy. Just listen to parliamentary question time and hear the lack of respect our politicians have for each other - why should we have any for them!Politicians rort the system without a second thought. Cricketers are just rich bullies and thugs with an overwhelming sense of self-importance and entitlement (just like many others in our society).The fundamental probledm is that cricket was designed as a game for gentlemen and since game was monetized by people like Kerry Packer, there are no gentlemen ...

I agree with Paul Mason in his book 'Post capitalism' that our current economic system is unable to adapt.The digital revolution is ripping up the 'business as usual' rule book. The history of Western industrial development, economic theory, the labour movement and the evolution of technology serve as the foundation for Mason’s principal thesis: that capitalism itself is breaking up on the rocks of technological innovation, giving way to new political and economic movements. As he says, “capitalism has reached the limits of its capacity to adapt”.

The Royal Commission enquiring into the actions of banks, the financial services sector and superannuation funds is now underway and may help to solve some problems.Compulsory Superannuation has been a crock for baby-boomers. It's OK for the high flying GenYers and subsequent generations with its generous tax breaks. But for those about to retire it has been useless. After a lifetime working and paying taxes those around 65 and 70 get little except the prudent savings accumulated over the years. One 70 year old recently cashed- out his super – the princely sum of $18,500. For most of the working life of people that age, superannuation contributions from employers were not available. Following the introduction of compulsory super, many only had limited part time employment and may have been largely self-employed - taking meager living expenses out of business income. With a low level of disposable income, there was no opportunity to take advantage of tax breaks and shovel thousands ...

The Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews appears to be doing his best to lose the next State election, due in November. He is facing pressure over an enterprise bargaining agreement with the United Firefighters Union (UFU) containing clauses allowing for a combined total of 196 days leave for some staff, which includes sick, personal and recreation leave It also provides cash allowances. All Opposition leader Matthew Guy has to do to win is keep his mouth shut and not create any public scandals.

Politicians need to be convinced to change their minds on an intensive 'free range' standard for egg production . The sheer volumes of manure make intensive free range production dangerous for animal health, and us humans eating contaminated eggs. Intensive cage eggs are likely to be less dangerous than intensive free range. Outbreaks of food poisoning have increased in Western Australia apparently as a result of poor handling of eggs. Eggs are safe if handled properly on farm, during delivery and in kitchens. Problems are likely to increase after politicians approved an intensive standard for free range production which risks major contamination. As each hens produces half a cubic metre of manure a year, hens on farms complying with the new standard will be living in a huge dung pile of 5000 cubic metres.

I have previously described the decline of our political system, and mentioned the benefits of anarchy. To push this a little further,our country is divided into two sides, the right and the left; Liberal/National Conservatives and labor/Greens The party system does not meet Australia’s best interests. Far from uniting us, parties divide and weaken our community. They are the cause of the ineffectiveness of government. They create mob mentality, corruption and pit citizen against citizen where the common goal of a better country is lost to party politics causing the dysfunction seen in Canberra. Our leaders can’t lead because they are not individuals, or even representatives of the people, they are servants of their political party, where the intelligent individual is replaced by a one-dimensional system easily susceptible to corruption. In the US, George Washington is on the record saying““Political parties may now and then answer popular ends, but they are likely in the course of ti...

In Australia, politicians are regarded as one of the lowest forms of life – and recent events in Canberra demonstrate that our version of democracy isn’t working. In my opinion, the basic problem is political parties – they should be banned. Politicians owe more allegiance to their parties than to the people who elected them. The citizenship saga was totally mishandled. Those politicians who were found by the High Court not to be eligible to sit in Parliament were never properly elected so there was no need for costly by elections – the seats should have been given to whoever came second in the Federal election. Then the dual citizens (once they satisfied the High Court ruling) would have had the opportunity to stand at the next Federal election Instead taxpayers were slugged for a series of unnecessary by elections – mainly in a desperate effort to shore up a floundering government. So much for democratic processes. As for Barnaby Joyce, voters in New England must be feeling like co...

It’s a great pity that voters in New England didn’t keep Barnaby Joyce out of Parliament when they had a chance. As Minister for Transport he is now leading the charge against electric vehicles on our roads. What a clown!

A handful of businesses will benefit from Government handouts designed to turn Australia into a major arms dealer – selling weapons all over the world. Brisbane-based company, NIOA, has branched out from the commercial gun market into military and law enforcement, supplying Australian and New Zealand police with 70,000 Glock pistols and providing the military with automatic grenade launchers, Assault rifles and ammunition. Armor Australia manufactures lightweight vehicle armour, Marand makes armoured reconnaissance vehicles. Thales Australia makes Bushmaster troop carriers. Austal and W &E Platt are also likely to benefit as will overseas businesses with branches here – like BAE Systems, Supacat and Saab.

India’s decision to build 200 Hawker Hunter jets instead of spending billions on state-of-the-art fighters should be an eye-opener for many Governments. The jets are only a platform to deliver weapons within striking distance of an enemy. It’s only when the enemy is on the other side of the world that speed is important. The Hawkter Huntere is capable of carrying the latest air-to air missiles and other ordnance. For a relatively close attack, the Hawker Hunter is perfect and cost effective. Using Similar logic, Nuclear powered submarines are a high cost option. Diesel-electric submarines in electric stealth mode are virtually undetectable compared with nuclear subs which need noisy water pumps to prevent reactor meltdowns. The only real value in a nuclear powered sub, is the ability to travel submerged for many thousands of kilometres to reach a target.

The Indian Govenment is taking steps to reign in its military spending by building a new version of the classic British Hawker Hunter fighter jet for its airforce. The new jets, named Langoor will solve India's fighter shortage with the minimum of cost and risk, while embracing the national 'Made in India' initiative. Top military brass have recognised that not all attack aircraft need to be super fast and the Indian airforce already has advanced and costly Russian and European fighters.Various missiles, including sidewinders can be carried by the Hawker Hunter just as effectively as much more expensive aircraft. It plans to build at least 200 Langoors to bolster its attack capabilities.

China is reported to have deployed at least 200 of its J20 stealth fighters. The first few entered service last March. The plane, is a twin-engine multi-role fighter that can reach speeds of 2,100 kilometres an hour. It has also deployed the first of its J31 stealth fighters. Both aircraft types use a refined version of ‘vectored thrust’ pioneered by the UK's Hawker Siddeley group. The moveable exhaust thrust makes the planes highly manoeuvrable.

The US Government shutdown as a result of no agreement over budget allocations was an inevitable result of the Trump presidency. But what does it mean? American troops will still tramp around the world killing people and politicians will still be paid to sit and twiddle their thumbs. Who will notice any difference?

The US navy is in turmoil over revelations that its personnel are not properly trained. The commanding officers of two US Navy destroyers involved in deadly collisions last year in the Pacific Ocean face courts-martial and could be charged with negligent homicide over the deaths of 17 sailors. Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin, commander of US naval forces in the eastern Pacific has already been sacked. The commanding officer of the USS John S. McCain guided missile destroyer, which collided with a merchant ship near Singapore in August, faces possible charges of dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide. The commanding officer and three other officers on the USS Fitzgerald guided missile destroyer, which collided with a Philippine container ship in June, also face possible charges including dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide.

The United States is funding a 30,000 man Kurdish terrorist squad on the Syrian border with Turkey. For some years America has provided money and weapons to the PKK Kurdish terrorists in spite of its rhetoric against terror groups. Its double-standards go back many years. US money helped to bolster the IRA in the 1950's and 60s, so the current action is no real surprise. Naturally the Turkish Government is incensed by the announcement and is likely to mobilise forces to meet the threat.

The 1.5 million residents of Hawaii were sent into a panic when authorities sent text messages warning of a missile attack. Everyone immediately assumed that North Korea had launched missiles. But the warning was false and demonstrated the fundamental weakness of the US alert system.

Democracies throughout the world have been beset by political unrest. The United States is united in name only and there has been much discontent since the last Presidential election. Britain is going through turmoil which has not been lessened by the decision to leave the European Union. Italy has been in political chaos since the monarchy was banned in 1946. Australian voters are unable to differentiate between major political parties so there has been a Government with a pitiful majority in Parliament. Perhaps it’s time for anarchists to take over. Democracy can be criticized as: economically inefficient, politically unrealistic, dysfunctional, morally corrupt or a suboptimal form of Government. Important figures associated with anti-democratic thought include Martin Heidegger, Hubert Lagardelle, Charles Maurras, Friedrich Nietzsche, Plato, Aristotle, Carl Schmitt, Josiah Warren, Hans-Hermann Hoppe and Oswald Spengler. In the UK, the Anarchist Action Network is made up of autono...

Retired Major General Jim Molan was right when he cast doubt on US willingness or ability to defend Australia in the event of conflict. Successive Australian Governments have rushed to assist America in its thuggist activities around the world, but no one should have any illusion that the US, under the presidency of Donald Trump(or any future president) will do anything to help Australia. Trump has demonstrated his attitude to the world. His jingoistic and misplaced attitude to America's military strength leaves little room to believe that the US is a capable or reliable ally. We would do better to foster closer relationships with our neighbours, including China.