Since the last federal election, Australia has been quite enamoured with Kevin Rudd and his new world order. I think it’s just been nice not to have a figurehead that’s a spiteful blithering idiot.
It hasn’t been all roses though. We’ve seen Rudd position himself as a jet-setting diplomat on the world stage, seemingly more interested in capitalising [...]
Today is ANZAC Day.
While I don’t have a particularly strong national identity, or perhaps because of that, ANZAC Day always leaves me feeling extremely annoyed. My respect and admiration for troops in general is overshadowed by frustration at the sheer stupidity of a military leadership which would send those troops into a bloodbath by carelessly [...]
The most unfortunate thing about actors passing away is the wanton airing of their cheapest movies on every television channel.
These ‘tributes’ make me sick. Depending on how you look at it they’re either capitalising on the death of a really nice person, or they’re glorifying a real prick. In the case of Charlton Heston I [...]
Today, Kevin Rudd is going to offer an apology to Indigenous Australians for the misdeeds perpetrated upon them by the nation of Australia.
At a time when there’s public outcry over the mistreatment, abuse and rape of Aboriginal children within their own societies, Australia is inexplicably going to apologise for taking their children away.
I realise that [...]
The best thing to happen this year will happen towards the end of it. George W Bush will finally pull a pension and fuck the hell off.
During his campaign for re-election, I vowed I wouldn’t bring children into a world which would allow him to hold office twice, but back then I couldn’t imagine that [...]
I realise that Al Gore isn’t particularly popular amongst Americans, but he seems to have won the respect of the rest of the world. Accused of lacking personality during the United States Presidential Election in 2000, this is a man who has shown himself to be an intelligent, articulate and good-humoured guy who is passionate [...]
Our government’s #2, Julia Gillard has assumed the role of Acting Prime Minister of Australia while Kevin Rudd is on sojourn to Bali for the climate change conference. She is Australia’s first ever female to assume the role, but I’m not convinced it’s as big a deal as everyone says it is.
The media is making [...]
The last federal election was essentially a referendum on industrial reform in Australia. The Liberal Party attempted to fix a centurty and a half of lazy work culture epitomized by the phrase “she’ll be right, mate”.
Until these changes were passed, it was notoriously difficult to fire full-time employees, and wages in many sectors were normalised [...]
Wow, it’s been quite a week or so. Bear with me while I catch up.
Today, Kevin Rudd was sworn in as the 26th Prime Minister of Australia, after leading the Labor Party to a convincing victory in this federal election.
The Liberal Campaign
In my opinion, the Liberal Party never had a chance, and I’m convinced they [...]
The government is subsidising breast prostheses for mastectomy patients to the value of $400. That’s well overdue, and a really positive move that has attracted the support of the opposition as well.
So say thanks — flash your local member of parliament.
Nursing is one of those occupations that only genuinely good people enter. If you think about what nurses do all day, it’s easy to understand why you might occasionally meet a surly one. In fact, it’s difficult to understand why they’re not all surly.
We’re all terrible company when we’re sick, and even worse when we [...]
During his visit to Australia for APEC 2007, President George W Bush and Prime Minister John Howard brokered what has been described as a monumental defence deal. As a result, the United States will be making certain classified technologies available to Australia as a mark of our continuing close relationship.
In other words, they’re going to graciously [...]
Not long ago, the Australian Government’s much-dreaded Work Choices system came into effect. One of the more controversial changes in the new industrial relations package is the elimination of ‘unfair dismissal’ protections for the majority of employees.
This has been the primary source for unprecedented panic in the workforce, and very serious backlash toward the incumbent [...]
The closing ceremony for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games was last Sunday. I kept my mouth shut while they were on, but I think its high time for me to say my bit.
Enjoying the well-established global benchmark of amateur athletic competition simply isn’t enough. In keeping with trademark Anglo-Saxon elitism it is simply unacceptable for [...]
