Gillard has a problem: Growing Convoy on the way — powers through North Queensland!

1,410 miles or  2,270 km to go

Fifty cars, trucks and vans, and there were at least four helicopters watching the action as the North Queensland Convoy headed through Charters Towers. Images like these will make the Labor Party break into a sweat.

These pics from the You tube of the aerial shots as the convoy went through Charters Towers.

Charters Towers Convoy

The Convoy travels through Charters Towers

Over 100 in the convoy in the NT last night!

ANNIE HESSE Katherine Times (via Carbon Sense Coalition Blog)
18 Aug, 2011 09:17 AM
A Convoy of more than 100 vehicles – including road trains, campervans and utes – rolled into Katherine last night to show their support for the Convoy of no Confidence, a convoy heading to Canberra to raise a voice against recent government decisions.

Rashida Khan, who led a trail of vehicles from Darwin to Katherine yesterday, said she was on her way to Canberra to speak up for “some of the toughest people” she knows, who “have been pushed to the edge by the decision to ban live export”.

Have a look at the convoy passing through Ingham (H/t Val Malkus). Send in those links!

Charters Towers Convoy

The Convoy travels through Charters Towers

Charters Towers Convoy

The Convoy heads out through Charters Towers

….

Charters Towers Convoy

Big flags are headed for Canberra

The You tube video the images came from. For a second, there’s a glimpse of 2 or 3 other helicopters also buzzing overhead.


PROGRESS UPDATE

Charters Towers is close to the top of the Pink Convoy ( They rest in Injune QLD Tonight).

The Brown Convoy is in QLD near Blackall tonight.

The Perth Convoy is approaching Penong SA, and visits Ceduna tomorrow morning (that’s about half way).

Rockhampton, Brisbane, Adelaide depart tomorrow morning.

All Convoy posts are here. The map and timetable here.

Convoy Map

Vote in this Canberra Times Poll
Do you support the convoy? Farmers, Miners, business-people are seeing their life’s work come undone, but some Canberrans are very angry that the traffic will be heavy on Monday. Commenters are resorting to petty name-calling. The so-called intellectual city which claims it is full of “compassion” doesn’t have five minutes to find out why so many people feel such an extraordinary action is worth doing.

7 out of 10 based on 3 ratings

140 comments to Gillard has a problem: Growing Convoy on the way — powers through North Queensland!

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    J.H.

    Excellent stuff. There is no ignoring this by the media….. A big mob of bluddy big trucks is pretty hard to ignore….;-)

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    val majkus

    I put this on Jo’s previous post:

    Have a look at the convoy passing through Ingham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuNC_Qnnh6E&feature=player_embedded

    Jo I wonder if this post could be kept as a top sticky post for the next few days so people can pass on youtubes and messages of support

    Go the convoy!

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    Titas Aduxas

    I have just read John Mikkelsen’s blog on The Drum,Have a look at the comments by the get up crowd,For the first time in many a year i want to punch someones lights out,grrr.

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    matthu

    Can we also please have a link to the lovely map of Australia with all of the convoy routes converging on Canberra? (It would be really great to update the map to show progress along each route on a daily basis!)

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    val majkus

    copy of an e mail I received today:

    http://www.climatespectator.com.au/news/govt-considers-new-tactics-aid-passage-carbon-legislation-report?utm_source=Climate%2BSpectator%2Bdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Climate%2BSpectator%2Bdaily&utm_source=Climate+Spectator&utm_campaign=1f290dd600-CSPEC_DAILY&utm_medium=email

    Govt considers new tactics to aid passage of carbon legislation: report
    • Published 9:36 AM, 19 Aug 2011
    • Updated 9:37 AM, 19 Aug 2011
    • TagsAustralia, carbon price, legislation, Policy & Science
    • Login or register to post comments

    The federal government is considering gagging debate in the Senate to help get its carbon price legislation through Parliament by the end of the year, according to a report in the Financial Review.
    The paper reports that the move has been prompted by fears that the Opposition will seek to frustrate the passage of the legislation.
    “We will aim to ensure that every aspect of this package of bills is appropriately examined and that the government’s propositions are tested so that the Australian people have a better understanding of the consequences of the carbon price,” Opposition Senate Leader Eric Abetz told the AFR.
    Meanwhile, it is also believed that binding contracts to pay Australia’s heavy-emitting power stations to close could be in place by next June, frustrating the Coalition’s plans to dump the carbon tax.
    The Age reports that government officials have begun preliminary discussions with the owners of power stations qualifying for the program to shut down 2000 megawatts of coal-fired power generation under Labor’s carbon price scheme.
    Senior government sources said Thursday that the aim was to have the contracts in place before the introduction of the carbon price in July 2012.
    Energy companies have urged speedy settlement of the contracts to provide certainty for their business.
    Expressions of interest for the competitive tender process open next month.

    typical of this govt to try to bind future govts

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    Matthu: I’ve added the map, sorry I don’t have time to update the spots. The original destination guide is http://joannenova.com.au/2011/07/the-convoy-of-no-confidence-is-amassing-towards-canberra/.

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    val majkus

    a poll (another e mail received today

    ‘Tis only at 47% Yes at present.. but No’s at 30% 3rd choice is yes, but they could be more careful of the impact on Canberrans 23%, so Yes’ are really 70%
    On 19 August 2011 17:32, Gregory Rauchle wrote:
    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/convoy-an-unknown-quantity/2263601.aspx

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    Phillip Bratby

    Good luck with it all.

    I bet nothing gets reported on the BBC.

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    JLC

    I heartily support the convoys and wish I could take part. But I don’t think they will make any difference. Julia Gillard won’t listen to anybody.

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    May neighbours respect you,
    Trouble neglect you,
    The angels protect you,
    And Canberra accept you.

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    Val, I will keep posting as much news as comes in. I’ve updated the other posts this week also today. There is just so much on.

    I note ABC news had 40 minutes air time tonight for a helicopter crash (albeit tragic) but no time for the largest rolling protest anyone has ever seen in Australia.

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    Robert of Ottawa

    Go Aussies Go.

    I bet Juliar is out of town when it arrives.

    Remember, it only takes ONE defection. Pressure your local MP.

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    scott

    CONVOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    Again, off topic, but another reason why part of this protest concerns the CO2 Tax.
    Remember in an earlier Post I mentioned that CO2 is the tip of the iceberg, and that the ETS is the real sting in the tail.
    The legislation also mentioned a range of other ‘greenhouse gases’ which will be costed according to their CO2 equivalence.
    There’s an Post across at Andrew Bolt’s site showing just that at this link.
    One thing it says there relates specifically to the gas used as a refrigerant.
    This will be costed at 3,862 times that of CO2.
    Now think Coles and Woolies especially, and how much refrigerant they use for all their food cooling to keep it fresh or frozen.
    Think then how much prices will rise because of that.
    As I have said all along.
    It’s just about the money.
    Tony.

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    John Brookes

    Its pathetic. Really. And useless.

    Stop focussing on “government this” and “government that”, and just get on with living your lives within the boundaries. There are always people who want to push the boundaries – who aren’t capable of enjoying what they can do, but bemoan what they can’t.

    If you are that sort of person, drive to Canberra – its a free country – just don’t expect me to think that you are wonderful.

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    Lou Skannen

    Mr. Brookes,

    Ever see “The Raiders of the Lost Ark”? Remember the trap Indy found himself in where the ceiling inches lower and lower? The boundaries creep closer and closer and in the end, if nothing changes, our hero will be a thin layer of goo between a rock and a hard place. The moving ceiling trap is analogous to government policy in regard to this issue. Your advice then is that folks simply go about their business as the life is crushed out of them?

    Nuts! The convoy is an inspiration even here in America.

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    FijiDave

    Brooksie, the expectation of you thinking I’m wonderful would hardly keep me awake at night.

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    matthu

    Thanks, Jo, for re-instating the map!

    And Nigel (CSIRO) if you’re reading this, your UK cousin-in-law says “Hi” and I hope you got a chance to view the video from Art Raiche where he mentions how

    “We were given very strict, VERY strict guidelines on not publishing anything or publicly discussing any research that could be seen as critical to Government policy.If we did not do it, we would be subject to dismissal.”

    http://www.nocarbontax.com.au/2011/08/dr-art-raiche-retired-csiro-chief-research-scientist-on-scientists-independence/

    I really enjoyed our dinner-table discussions about climate tax. Hope you are joining the convoy! Oh, wait …

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    Very Impressive! That would be impressive in the US with 10 times the population! In Australia, it is simply mind blowing!

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    pat

    safe travel, Convoy. the nation is with you.

    18 Aug: Aaron Glantz: NYT: Number of Green Jobs Fails to Live Up to Promises
    Two years after it was awarded $186 million in federal stimulus money to weatherize drafty homes, California has spent only a little over half that sum and has so far created the equivalent of just 538 full-time jobs in the last quarter, according to the State Department of Community Services and Development…
    it’s not a sexy thing.”
    Job training programs intended for the clean economy have also failed to generate big numbers. The Economic Development Department in California reports that $59 million in state, federal and private money dedicated to green jobs training and apprenticeship has led to only 719 job placements — the equivalent of an $82,000 subsidy for each one…
    Mr. Brewster said huge job losses in construction had made it nearly impossible to place large numbers of young people in the trades. Because green construction is a large component of the green economy, the moribund housing market and associated weakness in all types of building are clearly important factors in explaining the weak creation of green jobs…
    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/us/19bcgreen.html?_r=2

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    Damian Allen

    The convoys need to BLOCKADE canberra.

    Nothing in or out until gillard listens to the MAJORITY of Australians!

    ELECTION NOW !!!!!

    Say NO to COMMUNISM !

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    Bulldust

    Oh noes… I am sad now because I fear Brooksie doesn’t hold me in high regard… How will I sleep tonight???!?

    Pathetic is a Government clinging on to what appears to be a corrupt and amoral member because they need him to form a minority government. Had there been a two-or-more seat majority Thompson would have had the flick by now.

    There is no doubt in my mind that the PM knew what was going on in this case. How could she not? This threatens the entire government.

    If you want to call something pathetic Brooksie… perhaps you should direct that adjective at the corrupt and amoral member and the party which continues to support him without question in its desperately pathetic bid to stay in power.

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    papertiger

    I like this for a road song.

    Ridin’ down the highway
    Goin’ to a show
    Stop in all the byways
    Playin’ rock ‘n’ roll
    Gettin’ robbed
    Gettin’ stoned
    Gettin’ beat up
    Broken boned
    Gettin’ had
    Gettin’ took
    I tell you folks
    It’s harder than it looks

    It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll
    It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll
    If you think it’s easy doin’ one night stands
    Try playin’ in a rock roll band
    It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll

    Hotel motel
    Make you wanna cry
    Lady do the hard sell
    Know the reason why
    Gettin’ old
    Gettin’ grey
    Gettin’ ripped off
    Under-paid
    Gettin’ sold
    Second hand
    That’s how it goes
    Playin’ in a band

    Well it’s a long way
    It’s a long way, you should’ve told me
    It’s a long way, such a long way

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    Steve Schapel

    Val (#25)…

    Thanks a million for pointing out those photos. That is just incredibly exciting. It shows that the convoy on the road is just the tip of the iceberg – the grassroots support within the town is huge.

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    Ian Hill

    Tony @ 15, thanks for the link.

    GWP = Global Warming Potential! Who dreams up these things? No need to guess. And it’s only “potential” but will be applied as if it’s fact. Why don’t they just propose taxing water and be done with it?

    Off to Canberra today, joining those who have already been on the road for days. 🙂

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    Thank you, thank you, JoNova, for covering this revolt against tyrannical government.

    And thank you Australians for the having the courage to demand the basic human right to govern!

    With kind regards,
    Oliver K. Manuel
    Former NASA Principal
    Investigator for Apollo

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    John Brookes:
    August 20th, 2011 at 1:58 am
    Its pathetic. Really. And useless.

    Stop focussing on “government this” and “government that”, and just get on with living your lives within the boundaries.

    You live in your cage, others want freedom, and are willing to fight for it. SO just roll over and play dead.

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    val majkus

    I haven’t seen Pointman here for a while so went looking for him and here’s some very timely advice from him

    http://thepointman.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/so-which-is-it-global-warming-climate-disruption-or-climate-change/

    and the advice with which I totally agree:

    They decided to move the goal posts. Since global warming was inconveniently not happening, they quite openly rebranded the scare to Climate Disruption but somehow this name didn’t stick and this was probably because the “disruption” bit of the name implied a disruption of the normal pattern of climate, which might involve proving some sort of disruption was actually occurring, never mind having to define what normality meant in terms of climate.

    In response, it was relaunched yet again as Climate Change. This had the great advantage that nothing had to be proved as climate changes all the time, so the thinking was the scare would be pretty bullet proof from the skeptics. The politicians, scientists, advocacy groups, media and the moneymen, smoothly switched over from talking about global warming, to talking about climate change instead. They didn’t miss a beat.

    Another advantage it had from a propaganda viewpoint, was that any extreme weather could be pointed to and declared to be a sign of climate change. When it suits the alarmists, climate and weather have a habit of being subtly interchangeable but only when it suits the message. The last three brutal Winters we’ve had were just dismissed as weather. If, on the other hand, they had been unseasonably warm, then that would have been climate.

    The skeptic community should never use the term climate change for a number of reasons but the big one is that the rebranding of Global Warming to Climate Change was a huge mistake by the alarmists and they should be reminded of it at every opportunity.

    It was a public admission that there was never anything to the supposed threat of the world warming uncontrollably so, in the absence of it failing to materialise, they had to change the threat. I like to remind them of that every time I write a piece or someone in company takes it upon themselves to lecture me about climate change. That highly enjoyable conversation usually runs along the lines of the following –

    When you say climate change, do you actually mean global warming? Well no, erm actually global warming is just part of climate change, you see! So the twenty years of dire warnings about global warming was all wrong then? Well, no, it’s just that scientists understand climate better nowadays. But they thought they understood it for twenty years, what confidence should we have that they understand it any better now? But I want to talk about climate change. Well, as you seem to be admitting global warming was a false alarm, why should I get all concerned about climate change? etc etc.

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    val majkus

    and for those who like to follow the evidence

    http://climaterealists.com/attachments/ftp/Manipulationofscience.pdf

    A very serious situation has arisen between the developed and developing nations. It is
    essential that it be resolved before or during the UNFCCC conference to be held in Durban
    starting at the end of November.
    As with any conflict, the causes have to be sought before the problem can be solved. As
    demonstrated in this report the problem is the manipulation of science initiated and funded by
    the developed nations accompanied by deliberate suppression of all contrarian research.
    The developed nations are now in serious difficulty of their own making. They will soon face
    the anger of their own citizens when it becomes known that the costly emissions control
    measures and taxes are based on deliberately manipulated science, and that the rest of the
    world is unlikely to follow their suicidal example.

    Thanks Professor Alexander for the advice

    Scientists could play an important role by demonstrating the false basis of climate change
    theory and so removing it from the international agenda. This will require considerable
    courage by the believers. But there should be no doubt regarding the consequence to
    themselves, their institutions and national interests if they continue on their present path.
    I recommend that South Africa should take the lead by informing the Durban conference that
    South Africa intends appointing a high level, independent, multidisciplinary Commission of
    Enquiry that will operate on the basis recommended by the Budapest Declaration on Science
    and the Use of Scientific knowledge. I believe that many nations will accept this proposal
    with relief.

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    Siliggy

    Large Mustering Helicopter Fleet escorts the Convoy of No Confidence into Charters Towers
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTrOMEn-1mM

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    val majkus

    (sorry for so many comments Jo, but as you say so much is happening)

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    Winston

    More directly on topic this time, with apologies to anyone bored with my humour, or lack thereof. But it amuses me to present you with a further instalment of my play…….

    Act II Scene I:

    Pre-dawn. A back road in the far flung reaches of the Empire. A crowd of plebeians gathering, voices are raised, several arms gesturing, some wildly. A hooded man approaches the group, his face shrouded in darkness, yet vaguely familiar. Perhaps he bears a striking resemblance to a number of statues erected all over the Empire, vestiges of a former leader who was overly fixated on his public profile, and in enshrining himself for future generations who would ultimately come to rebuke him.

    Stranger (Rudd): It is clear, good people, that our “beloved” Caesar has betrayed us. Our homes no longer are warmed by the hearth and filled with the laughter of children, our fields lie empty and our markets are desolate, many of us lacking the basic sustenance to survive. Our businesses struggle to succeed against the burden of this crippling tax, which increases relentlessly year upon year, while Empires beyond our shores compete against us by bringing in cheaper grain and goods. Surely, the main and only real function of a government is to secure the safety, health and the welfare of its people. A government that cannot provide the means for good, hard working people to live with basic food, shelter and warmth through the long hard winters has failed in its prime purpose and no longer worthy of its position of trust.

    Plebeian I: Well said, sir! We must now march upon the capital and express our desire for the restoration of the Republic, an end to these vandals who would ruin us!

    Plebeian II: We must send word to every corner of the Empire. Gather up your carts and wagons, your teams of horses, your oxen, your mules, your goats! Everyone we can spare should be marching to the capital. As we know, totus via protelo ut rome (All roads lead to Rome)!

    Plebeian III: Gather together all the slaves from the galleys, and then commandeer ships to sail up the Tiber to meet us. This is bigger than Ben Hur!!

    Plebeian I: What’s your name anyway, stranger? You remind me of someone, can’t quite put my finger on it.

    Stranger (Rudd): (hesitates)…..errr, Spartacus. That’s it, Spartacus. (Changing the subject) When will you good people be arriving in Rome, anyway?

    Plebeian I: By the XVth (15th), friend.

    Plebeian II: It’s settled then. We meet in Rome for the Ides of March! This will be the day that Caesar’s grip on the leadership is finally loosened, and the people will return to the freedom they once took for granted in our prosperous Republic. Come patriots, hasten we must. Our democracy and freedom is at stake

    Stranger (Rudd): (Aside) I love it when a plan comes together! Soon the rumblings of discontent will become deafening, and I will finally have my revenge on Caesar for the coup that robbed me of the glorious leadership of Rome. Then, I will regain my rightful place as leader once more. But quickly, there’s not a moment to lose. I must first arrange a little meeting with Favonius (Andrew Bolt) to put in place the final phase of undermining Caesar’s authority. On the Ides of March, all the fates will conspire to tear down the edifice of this usurper and her motley crew of thieves and traitors. (Exuent)

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    J Knowles

    Just in case convoy folk are somehow reading this, may I suggest that we all conduct ourselves in a moderate and objective manner. Some of the blogs are trying to paint the protesters as “red-necks” and radicals and a few Canberra residents are against their locality being disrupted on Monday. Be considerate of the ‘boys in blue’ who are going to have to deal with us.
    My impression is that most objectors to the carbon dioxide tax are ordinary mild mannered folk. As a builder I ask all my trade suppliers and clients about it and they look the the ceiling in exasperation and commonly say something like “Don’t get me started on that one”. The over-ridding sentiment is of too much Government interference in their lives and businesses.
    I’ll be joining the Sydney-Canberra convoy and intend using the event to spread a well reasoned position in a civilized fashion.

    Jo, you’re providing a great service for all Australians, (Brookesy included!).

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    Hasbeen

    John Brookes at 16, don’t worry mate, we don’t expect you to think we’re wonderful. In fact we don’t expect you to think anything, not in a hurry anyway.

    It must take time to ring Canberra to find out what you are supposed to think. Probably expensive too, or do they pay?

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    Speedy

    The official convoy song – not bad at all.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uESI9COsaHk&feature=related

    Cheers,

    Speedy

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    janama

    Speedy – It’s the Robertson Bros who wrote it for the Ray Hadley morning show.

    http://www.robertsonbrothers.com.au/

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    Bob Malloy

    Update on the Canberra times poll at 2.50pm August 20

    Q: Do you support the Convoy of No Confidence?

    Yes, I support their concerns and how they are bringing them to Government’s attention.
    (64.3%)

    Yes, public protest is a right in a democracy but they should try to minimise their impact on Canberrans.
    (15.7%)

    No, I disagree with their views and how they are expressing them.
    (20%)

    An 80% support of the convoy in one way or the other.

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    I don’t know why, but I have this sneaking suspicion.
    I’m wondering if Federal Labor will be having a quiet word behind closed doors with the ACT Labor Government to find a way to defuse any major protests by diverting and splitting the many convoys so that any massed protest cannot eventuate.
    I’m not sure if the ACT has a local Police Service, or if the ACT is policed by the AFP.
    Either way I can see some form of Police Service being involved, and I feel sure Labor will play up any incident that might eventuate.
    I can see those people behind those closed doors right now …..
    “Blah Blah Blah …. public safety ….. blah blah blah.”
    Not sure.
    Just a gut feeling.
    You can bet the ABC ‘fair and balanced’ Media will be playing up the disruption be ‘small’ groups of people hell bent on public disorder.
    TEA (Taxed Enough Already is the correct terminology here) Party associations will be made, and I’m sure ‘rednecks’ will get a mention, you know, far right wing extremists etc.
    This not any of those things.
    This is ordinary middle Australia quoting Peter Finch, when as Howard Beale he galvanised a nation by yelling:

    “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

    Let’s hope the Convoy actually gets a fair go.
    Fat chance that!
    Tony.

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    The Convoys are Coming ...

    Typical unbalanced Poll Question, splitting the Yes vote.
    Yet despite that, the unequivocal yes is still way out in front. & trumping the other two Quns. combined.

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    Grumpy Old Man

    Dear Jo. Totally OT, but have you seen this?
    http://climaterealists.com/attachments/ftp/Manipulationofscience.pdf

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    val majkus

    Grumpy old man @ 46 I referred to the link in 46 at my comment in 35 above
    What are your thoughts

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    gnome

    Val M @- I see lots of stuff labelled “must read” and mostly it is pretty “ho hum” stuff but this is one of the most well worth reading thing I have seeen in a long time.

    Now -at last- I will come forward and admit I gave serious consideration to joining the convoy but decided not to. You have my admiration folx, but Canberra in August is only for the seriously acclimatised. I wasn’t going to warn anyone before but they are well on the road by now and it is too late to turn back. Sorry folx.

    My only contribution was to send Jacques Laxale about 70 unopened “clean energy future” pamphlets.
    ((I had assumed that the heater in my car had failed through long disuse but last night was so cold I tested it and was amazed to find I was wrong but it was too late to catch up with the convoy by then

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    gnome

    That should be Val M @35- sorry again, but have a look.

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    val majkus

    gnome thanks for that and now!
    More from Just Grounds on the convoy
    From a trickle to a torrent , from Monash / Renmark turn off SA . See yuh at Culleraine .

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28c_autPwOM
    (think this would be Janet Thompson’s convoy)

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    val majkus

    This appears to be a legitimate DONATION link for the convoy:

    A message from President of NRFA Mick Pattel

    “due to the high demand of people wishing to be involved in the convoy but unable to attend would like to donate money, we have decided to allow people to donate to the cause and they can put money into the following account,

    NRFA account – ANZ- Bank
    BSB 014510
    Account no. 481103704
    they must put in the reference that it is a convoy donation”
    this has be done properly for auditor purposes.

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    @val majkus:

    Still around Val, no worries!

    I just wish I was in Oz, I’d be in on the drive towards Canberra. Poor old Juliar, it’s beginning to smack of April 1945 as the Allies drive towards Berlin, where a dictator cowers in a bunker underground.

    When’s the Downfall spoof of this going to appear?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI06Sc9paF0

    Pointman

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    Joe V.

    47val majkus: @ # 35
    & Grumpy old man @ 46

    This could be bigger than Climategate.

    Certainly worth going OT for.. Thanks Guys.

    This”ll teach them to take South Africa for granted, treating it as just another Sunny backwater for holding their next lavish dumb-TaxPayer funded Conference.

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    gnome

    Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ABC Queensland news “What started out as a convoy of protest from Darwin about stopping live cattle exports has escalated into 11 convoys of protest from other parts of the country over various issues”. (Not the precise words – I wasn’t taking notes- but a precise and accurate summary.)

    This is supposed to be a professsional news organisation. Can nothing be done about their arrogance and their stupidity?

    Note to Mark Scott- sue me if I have misrepresented your crew. I won’t contest any allegations that I referred to them as biased and unprofessional.

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    The Convoys are Coming ...

    Gnome @ #54.

    What’s your beef Man. ???

    The ABC is being overtaken by events, but all in all ABC in Queensland seems to have done a reasonable job (compared to ABC’s usual standards) in mentioning the convoys and giving Cate Stuart air time for that superlative broadcast to the nation , about what it’s about .
    http://www.abc.net.au/rn/counterpoint/stories/2011/3285714.htm

    No doubt in time they’ll do another Wendy Carlisle style Hatchett job, but I’ve yet to see it. They were obviously preparing the Monckton one Months before his visit, but they haven’t had the same time for this one.

    I’d just say to the Convoys, beware of any ABC film crew wanting to tag along with the Convoys, &gaining their confidence, because we’ve seen the result of the BBC trying that with Monckton, and ABC has been learning fast.

    Allow just straight factual reporting & un-edited interviews, otherwise it’s amazing what a paint job they can do.

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    The Convoys are Coming ...

    BEWARE: the ABC will let you have your moment, gaining your confidence, then afterwords it would be just like them (IMHO) to edit a documentary together, selecting from the many clips svailable, to sum it up to leave a lasting impression in the public’s minds of futility. Just wait and see …

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    Rereke Whakaaro

    val majkus: #34

    Quoting Pointman:

    The skeptic community should never use the term climate change for a number of reasons but the big one is that the rebranding of Global Warming to Climate Change was a huge mistake by the alarmists and they should be reminded of it at every opportunity.

    For those of you who don’t know, New Zealand has just had its worst snow event for fifty years. Road closed in both Islands, and snow actually settled in Auckland, which is normally subtropical. Three inches fell in Wellington, and hung around for three days (Wellington doesn’t normally get snow at all because of its geography).

    On the first day, a Monday, I had occasion to visit somebody at Parliament. As I was going through security, I was busy brushing snow off of my coat, and came face to face with one of the New Zealand Green party “advisors”. I grinned and said, “Heavy global warming outside”. He replied, “Its climate change”. To which I said, “Yep, always does – one of natures little marvels”, and gave him an even bigger grin. I don’t think he will be sending me a Christmas card this year.

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    Way to go Rereke! Stick it to them.

    Pointman

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    gnome

    The convoys are coming @55-

    it didn’t originate in a protest about cattle, it didn’t originate in the NT, it didn’t escalate from there. It was and is about Julia Gillard promising no carbon tax. Live cattle exports are worthy of some debate, the global warming fraud isn’t.

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    Sean McHugh

    Jo Nova @ 12

    I note ABC news had 40 minutes air time tonight for a helicopter crash (albeit tragic) but no time for the largest rolling protest anyone has ever seen in Australia.

    I blame the media as much as the Government for this Government. What is it like living under a communistic regime? We are already finding out. The next planned convoys should converge on the ABC TV stations and then on the commercial TV stations – placing most imposition on those that most censor or spin the Canberra event. See if they can ignore that and pretend that nothing eventful is happening.

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    Consensus science is Big Brothers tool to control people & information. World leaders secretly formed BB to protect the world (themselves) from the threat of mutual nuclear annihilation.

    That noble goal cannot be achieved in democratic societies by deception.

    It is encouraging that Australian citizens are uniting in convoys headed to Canberra for a show of no confidence in government leaders support for the AGW story and the environmentalist movement [1].

    Since world leaders and leaders of scientific organizations and the news media apparently secretly united about 40 years ago to support environmentalism and AGW (anthropogenic global climate change) propaganda of the day,

    Citizens of the world must now unite in demanding an end to tyranny and restoration of the basic right of citizens to control their governments.

    1. “No Confidence Rally”, The Internat’l News Magazine
    http://www.international.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2035:gillard-convoy-of-no-confidence-rally

    With kind regards,
    Oliver K. Manuel
    Former NASA Principal
    Investigator for Apollo

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    val majkus

    Missed Janet Thompson’s comment in Jo’s last post but check out Quadrant Online for Janet’s daily posts
    this one for today
    http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2011/08/the-thompsons-go-to-canberra-2

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    Speedy

    Janama @ 42

    Thanks – apologies for not attributing it properly.

    Any idea of how to get two Powerpoint animations working independently? Crakar24 and I have put one together called
    A Chair at the UN – sounds vaguely similar to Stairway to Heaven – and it stars Comrade G. Lyrics done, just trying to get Powerpoint soundtrack to sync with the pages turning over.

    If you’ve got a few ideas, please flick Jo an email and we’ll go from there.

    Cheers,

    Speedy

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    janama

    yes Speedy – Joanne sent me your rewrite – it’s great – unfortunately I’ve never got into powerpoint.

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    The Convoys are Coming ...

    Gnome @59
    Hmm… I think you’ll find it was the Live cattle export ban that fired up the NRFA to start it, & then it grew from there, the Land Rights being a big issue for some,, though probably the Carbon Tax is what made it grow so huge right enough, but no matter.

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    Steve Schapel

    Rereke (#57)…

    …worst snow event for fifty years

    That wasn’t the worst, Rereke, it was the best! Beautiful. Magical. I know it caused a fair bit of disruption and inconvenience, but honestly I haven’t met too many people genuinely complaining – especially my 10-year-old daughter. 🙂

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    The Convoys are Coming ...

    Jo @ # 12

    I note ABC news had … a helicopter crash …

    Three of their own too.. What a blow. I wouldn’t have cared much about any other news after seeing that either. Seeing those choppers over Charters Towers it was at the back of my mind:- dangerous things, arent they.

    One of the RAF’s Red Arrows display team crashed yesterday after a display. Really brings it home. What a weekend.

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    Mike W

    Off topic..due to troll.. 🙂
    The “John Brookes” of Australia should be happy..they are getting a tax on CO2 to make the climate better..oh..thats right..the scientific spokesman flannery said it might effect the climate in several hundred to a thousand years.
    Yet the “john Brookes” of Australia remained silent when flannery spoke.
    A tax by deceit which will do nothing for the environment and was never designed to.
    And still the “John Brookes” of Australia robotically ignore this it and say nothing.
    weep for our country and the education system..
    Orwell was right..

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    “Australian Kids are Living in Climate of Fear”

    Rogue Government.com

    Australian National Universities Centre for Public Awareness of Science director Dr Sue Stocklmayer said climate change had been portayed as “Doomsday scenarios with no way out.”……

    http://www.roguegovernment.com/?news_id=26193

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    Bruce of Newcastle

    Bad news for Ms Gillard when even the Fairfax rank & file can read the tea leaves. This piece by Paul Davey in the SMH is well worth a read, showing that they the journo’s too think the carbon tax is a dead parrot, even if they aren’t allowed to speak against the Party:

    If Labor was to make yet another mistake to compound the myriad others it has committed in the not-quite four years (can you believe it?) that it has been in power, it is this – to underestimate the depth and the width of the sentiment against it out there. Those who protest outside Parliament House with placards calling Gillard a bitch and a witch and a snake might be ugly and they might be disturbing. But it’s a mistake to dismiss them simply as a part of some fringe. They are a symptom of the anger and hatred that now defines politics, inside and out of Parliament House.

    The trucks are just another sign.

    Go guys and gals, truckin’ to the pavlova on the hill. We’re with you!

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    matilda

    When the shearing sheds are silent and the stock camps fallen quiet
    When the gidgee coals no longer glow across the outback night
    And the bush is forced to hang a sign ‘gone broke and won’t be back’
    And spirits fear to find a way beyond the beaten track

    When harvesters stand derelict upon the wind swept plains
    And brave hearts pin their hopes no more on chance of loving rains
    When a hundred outback settlements are ghost towns overnight
    When we’ve lost the drive and heart we had to once more see us right

    When ‘Pioneer’ means a stereo and ‘Digger’ some backhoe
    And the ‘Outback’ is behind the house, there’s nowhere else to go
    And ‘Anzac’ is a biscuit brand and probably foreign owned
    And education really means brainwashed and neatly cloned

    When you have to bake a loaf of bread to make a decent crust
    And our heritage once enshrined in gold is crumbling to dust
    And old folk pay their camping fees on land for which they fought
    And fishing is a great escape; this is until you’re caught

    When you see our kids with Yankee caps and resentment in their eyes
    And the soaring crime and hopeless hearts is no longer a surprise
    When the name of RM Williams is a yuppie clothing brand
    Not a product of our heritage that grew off the land

    When offering a hand makes people think you’ll amputate
    And two dogs meeting in the street is what you call a ‘Mate’
    When ‘Political Correctness’ has replaced all common sense
    When you’re forced to see it their way, there’s no sitting on the fence

    Yes, one day you might find yourself an outcast in this land
    Perhaps your heart will tell you then, ‘I should have made a stand’
    Just go and ask the farmers – that should remove all doubt
    Then join the swelling ranks who say, ‘don’t sell Australia out’

    ~ Author unknown ~

    On behalf of my family and myself, I say a big thankyou to those travelling in the Convoys. You carry within you the Spirit of all Dinky Di Aussies that for a while have been down trodden, beaten and broken but never defeated! But like our ANZACS that fought against the same foe on far flung shores, we too must fight for Australia on Our land and in Our Parliament. This enemy is indeed taking up seats that should be occupied by representatives of the People that truly love this Great Southern Land, not some undeserving socialist that feels “entitled to it”. There is no ugliness in its beauty in dividing a Nation. We, the Australian People do not deserve this treatment.

    Last Tuesday Barnaby encouraged us to “maintain the rage”. He said we are but at the halfway mark. There were a couple of 20 something men standing just behind us. They stood out like sore thumbs – with their arms folded across their chests, their jaws rigid and the look of anger moulded in their features on their faces. They showed no enthusiasm, only hate for those around them. They held no Australian flag; they showed no sign that they were encouraged by the speakers; no clapping, no cheering, just anger. I watched them with some interest and thought why did they feel this way about Australia and Her People. They only have to look to Our Parliament as they are egged on by a selected Prime Minister that stood in Our Parliment and called these same voters “extremists”. What had caused Australia to become so divided. There is one answer – socialism.

    Were they the offspring of those communists that fled to every corner of the globe, including Australia, to avoid capture by our allies? A lot of those wanting to force socialism on Australia, have learnt at their parents feet. Look at the greens Lee Rhiannon (Brown), now sitting in the Senate. And always remember it was Russian dictator, Vladimir Lenin that said….the goal of socialism is communism. You will meet the same opposition tomorrow. But don’t be deterred or anxious about these types. They have misjudged the majority of grassroot Australians. We will stand shoulder to shoulder and we will get thru this and take our country back.

    Like many of you I’m 5th generation Aussie. I have a letter written in 1841 by my great g g g g grandfather who arrived into Port Phillip with his new bride. The letter to his brother back home in England encouraged him to make the same journey to the “new country”. The letter spoke of this wonderful land where crops waved above their heads, the cattle and sheep were fat “and soil so rich that it needed no work” and there was plenty of work for all. He spoke of land being opened up for those wishing to farm. Many, many chose farming. They did this for their families and their heritage! They paved the way so that they could feed a growing nation. Today, their heritage, the Farmers of Australia, feed the world.

    Tomorrow you will make history for all the right reasons. A peaceful protest of DEMOCRACY stating that we have no confidence in those taking up seats in Our Parliament. They have taken us for granted and are trashing this great nation. They are aided and abetted by the left aligned media, especially Our ABC. Don’t be discouraged if there is no media coverage. This is the left at work. Mainstream political parties which align themselves with green socialist extremists are destined for extinction. Instead, stand proud in front of Our Parliament knowing that the Nation is behind you. My God bless you all and have a safe journey home!

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    val majkus

    day 3 of the Thompson’s diary is now up here:
    http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2011/08/the-thompsons-go-to-canberra-3
    she says:

    All along the highway people did take notice of our signs and toot their horns. It seems some people less supportive of what we are doing are also taking notice of what is going on.

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    val majkus

    a great place to keep up with the convoys is here:
    http://justgroundsonline.com/profiles/members/
    click on latest posts (forums)
    there’s a forum for each convoy
    These people are making history!

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    Adam Smith

    Interesting article by Antony Green:
    [Calls for a Double Dissolution are Constitutionally Impossible]
    http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2011/08/calls-for-a-double-dissolution-are-just-ridiculous.html

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    janama

    but as in The Castle – it’s the vibe.

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    Sean McHugh

    Adam @74
    I don’t think anyone here anticipates that the Government would fall on its sword, even if the right kind of sword were presented to them. The agenda of the convoy is to give voice to a very angry public, a public that is not being heard by the Government (or their protective media). That the Government is still refusing to listen is evidenced by the names these ordinary folk are being called. These people are not chronic protesters like the Labor left and they aren’t destructive and willfully disruptive like their partners, the Greens. But guess whom it is that the Government calls, ‘extremists’.

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    Adam Smith

    The agenda of the convoy is to give voice to a very angry public, a public that is not being heard by the Government (or their protective media).

    Oh, I’m all for peaceful protest. But some in the Convoy seem to be asking the Prime Minister and / or Governor General to dissolve both houses of parliament, which would be completely unconstitutional and simply put the country into a constitutional crisis that would have to be resolved by the High Court.

    The constitution is more important than that, and our system of government is more important than being pushed around on the whims of a minority of people. Even if there’s 100,000 people at the protest tomorrow and on Tuesday, that would mean there’s another 22.5 million plus just going about their lives, without the luxury of taking a week off work to go and protest in Canberra.

    That the Government is still refusing to listen is evidenced by the names these ordinary folk are being called. These people are not chronic protesters like the Labor left

    This is a very strange thing to write. All Australians are allowed to peacefully protest, including people you disagree with. And it was Labor that protested to get rid of WorkChoices mate, which involved stripping pay and conditions off of some of the most vulnerable Australians.

    But guess whom it is that the Government calls, ‘extremists’.

    Well it is pretty clear that SOME of the anti-carbon tax protestors are extremists. There’s been people from the Citizen’s Electoral Council out saying it is another U.N. conspiracy. That is not a moderate position at all.

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    brc

    Adam @ 74

    Nobody seriously expects Gillard to call an election on the back of a convoy. Sure, that’s what the petition says, and that is the stated aim. Just like nobody marching in the street really expected the Iraq war to stop because of them. Well, maybe in both cases there are a few starry-eyed believers, but nobody rational would really think that. Nobody expects the PM to voluntarily lose an election, or the Governor General to force her son-in-law to an electoral bloodbath. Nobody really expected John Howard to ring George Bush and say ‘sorry, no troops, the hippies and arts students are really upset about this one’.

    However, what they will achieve in Canberra is a prickly feeling in the collar of all Labor MPs as their hopeless government endures yet another round of widespread protest, noisemaking and bad press. They wake up every morning praying that the prostitute that Craig Thomsons’ credit card bought hasn’t surfaced with a press interview, or that Andrew Wilkie hasn’t called their bluff on pokie reform. They trudge towards parliament house to engage in yet another day of fighting endless policy fires and wondering if they will ever put a foot forwards. They are forced to defend policies they don’t want to talk about, and forced to tolerate disruptive ex-leaders intent on mischief making.

    And then one Monday morning there are thousands of vehicles hooting and cheering and reminding everyone just how tenuous their grip on government is. And the news cycle will run for a couple of days showing nothing but people who drove the width of the country to express their displeasure. This isn’t some arts faculty workshop in the lunch hour, these people have gone a long way at their own expense. And driven through an awful lot of marginal electorates to get there.

    How would you feel if you went to work and there were thousands of people wanting you out of your job? Would you feel great knowing that you, and half of your colleagues look like losing their hard-gained careers over the ridiculous policy demands of a minor party you probably don’t even agree with? Would you start to re-evaluate your support for your leader? When you know half of your supporters have already deserted you over the last 4 years?

    It just takes one Labor MP to buckle and break the line. Just one. They don’t even have to dissolve the government to lance some of the festering policy boils currently weighing them down.

    That is what the protest is about.

    Don’t kid yourself you can break peoples enthusiasm by referring to the constitution, because they just don’t care. You don’t need the constitution to bring this melange of uselessness to a flibbering and merciful end.

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    Adam Smith

    Nobody seriously expects Gillard to call an election on the back of a convoy. Sure, that’s what the petition says, and that is the stated aim. Just like nobody marching in the street really expected the Iraq war to stop because of them.

    Well this is a strange thing to write, the massive protests in Australian capital cities against the Vietnam war in the late 1960s were one contributing factor in Labor adopting such a strong position against the war.

    Nobody expects the PM to voluntarily lose an election, or the Governor General to force her son-in-law to an electoral bloodbath.

    What an absurd conspiracy theory. The G.G. won’t dissolve parliament for one really, really good reason, and it has nothing to do with who her son in law is, that reason is plain to anyone who has even a superficial understanding of Australia’s laws; such an action would be unconstitutional.

    Nobody really expected John Howard to ring George Bush and say ‘sorry, no troops, the hippies and arts students are really upset about this one’.

    I defend the right of this convoy to protest against the government in whatever peaceful fashion they choose.

    When you call people that have protested government names, you diminish yourself, and all the causes that you do support.

    However, what they will achieve in Canberra is a prickly feeling in the collar of all Labor MPs as their hopeless government endures yet another round of widespread protest, noisemaking and bad press.

    “Widespread protest”? Even if there’s 100,000 people at the protest, that would still mean that 99.5% of the populace wasn’t at the protest.

    They trudge towards parliament house to engage in yet another day of fighting endless policy fires and wondering if they will ever put a foot forwards.

    And yet every day, they’re still the Government, and the Coalition is still the Opposition.

    They are forced to defend policies they don’t want to talk about, and forced to tolerate disruptive ex-leaders intent on mischief making.

    And yet when divisions are called in parliament to put a bill through, the Labor government wins, the G.G. assents to the bill, and the bill becomes the law of the land

    How would you feel if you went to work and there were thousands of people wanting you out of your job?

    Bemused.

    Would you feel great knowing that you, and half of your colleagues look like losing their hard-gained careers over the ridiculous policy demands of a minor party you probably don’t even agree with?

    I assume you are talking about pricing carbon. That has been a Labor policy since 2005, the Greens have nothing to do with that.

    Would you start to re-evaluate your support for your leader? When you know half of your supporters have already deserted you over the last 4 years?

    No, because if Gillard isn’t PM, Oakeshott, Windsor and Wilkie will probably change their support to the Coalition.

    It just takes one Labor MP to buckle and break the line. Just one.

    No, it would actually take 2, because the Speaker could pass any bill Labor wants passed using his casting vote.

    That is what the protest is about.

    Well that’s a very long winded way to define what the protest is about. But setting that aside, the recourse that the protesters say they want on the petition is the dissolution of both houses of parliament, which is plainly unconstitutional, hence the petition should not be supported.

    Don’t kid yourself you can break peoples enthusiasm by referring to the constitution,

    Well what? Are you saying we should just ignore the constitution? What a revolutionary and undemocratic idea.

    Sorry, but Australia is a land of laws, that we don’t cast aside based on the whims of small sections of the populace.

    You don’t need the constitution to bring this melange of uselessness to a flibbering and merciful end.

    Well great, but if that is really so, can’t the convyers at least request things that are constitutional, instead of treating that fundamental founding document of our nation as if it is a piece of toilet paper?

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    Roy Hogue

    No one expected that a few hundred rebel colonists could overthrow the King of England.

    No one thought Gandhi could succeed.

    No one thought Martin Luther King would succeed.

    Yet when the history book was written the story was quite different.

    Now it’s your turn. Nuts to the doubters and the naysayers.

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    Adam Smith

    I just heard one of the convyers say on NewsRadio that they want “both houses abolished”. Well, that’s more extreme than asking for both houses to be dissolved, but both things would be unconstitutional.

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    matilda

    There is a POLL on the ninemsn website …Do you agree with the truckies’ call for an early election. Yes: 10,336 No. 2433 Link here: http://ninemsn.com.au/ – its located in the middle about 1/4 way down the page.

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    Gabrielle

    They’re getting downright nasty now.

    Have a read:

    http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2850098.html

    “So I ask: is the Convoy of No Confidence an Astroturf group? Who’s paying for the whole thing? How many rally attendees are long-term supporters and how many are casual one-timers?”

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    Damian Allen

    More on this LABOR CRIMINAL “craig thompson”………..

    Thomson runs out of credit:-

    http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/thomson_runs_out_of_credit/

    ELECTION NOW !!!!!!!!!!!

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    Damian Allen

    “Adam Smith”,
    Who employes you?
    GETUP or the ALP ???

    Come on now be HONEST !

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    Gabrielle

    Reports from the protest are that truckies not being allowed to cross the ACT border and police are preventing supporters from entering the grounds (on foot) to the rally.

    Explains why the meeja is reporting that only a few turned up.

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    Ross

    A very astute comment on Andrew bolts blog re the Convoy

    The more this ‘convoy’ is ridiculed the more impact it will have. Every time some Labor or Green politician, or some ABC out of touch journalist, all paid for by the taxes of these people, ridicules them, they are ridiculing ordinary Australians. Millions at home watching who see themselves as ordinary Australians recognise that they are being ridiculed as well.

    The message is clear – we think everyday Australians are stupid and we will never listen to you. For many life long Labor voters, the blue collar workers, the people who rub shoulders with truckies and allied trades everyday, it will be the big eye opener. They are being shown first hand just what this government really thinks of them.

    Can’t wait to see the next Newspoll. I thought Gillard must have been close to rock bottom but with her government’s reaction to this convoy I expect she is about to plumb new never seen before depths.

    Well, she has worked for it, let her get what she deserves!

    Ancient Mariner (Reply)
    Mon 22 Aug 11 (11:14am)

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    MattB

    “No one thought Martin Luther King would succeed.” I’d love to ask some of these convoy folks if they wish he hadn’t.

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    Damian Allen

    The point that always eludes these knockers of the convoy and the rallys is that the numbers are merely the tip of the iceberg.
    For each person that makes the effort to participate there are a huge number who agree with them and just because of circumstances are unable to attend.
    It does cost money to participate and we skeptics are not paid UNLIKE the TRAITORS from “getup” and the greens/alp.

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    I would like to know more about GetUp from those with personal experience, (rather than from official sites or Wiki). Do they come onto skeptic/conservative sites in a paid or subsidised way? Are certain members appointed to certain sites with GetUp approved tactics, policies and spin? Does GetUp encourage its troops to dissipate the energies of conservative commenters by leading debate off-topic and then into great length?

    The collectivist instinct is foreign to the true conservative. It’s hard for us to get a handle on GetUp’s mentality. I get the impression that some are well educated and well rehearsed, and have the ability to probe quite learnedly at exposed weak points, yet are just as happy to use irrelevancy and pure distraction when necessary.

    These are people who would faint if they had to turn a profit for five minutes in a real business, yet they seem to enjoy a good symbiotic relationship with the very rich. Whatever their inadequacies, they are organised and competent when it comes to spin and distraction and the “gotcha”.

    I should add that I don’t get this impression about all those from the Left who venture on to skeptic/conservative sites. Some seem simply to be individuals with opinions contrary to mine. But at other times I get a sense of programmed response and professionalism that’s a touch creepy.

    Sorry if this is off-topic, but does anyone have any solid inside dope on GetUp?

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    Bush bunny

    Matt B:

    That was a tasteless comment on Martin Luther King. But I would say that his murder was to some extent proved to benefit the movement.

    Gandhi didn’t succeed. He did with his march to the sea, to demonstrate against the Raj taxing salt, a health requirement in hot countries. They won that one and that is similar to the Convoy of No confidence. But his message of peaceful or passive resistance was not followed, and thousands were killed. They still are on the sub continent between Muslim and Hindu.
    He was against the partition of Pakistan from the subcontinent, that didn’t work.

    Go convoy, anyone have any update on Alan Jone’s comment the convoy was stopped at the ACT border.

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    matilda

    I am awaiting that sleaze albanese to come on 2GB AM 87.3 – expected after 5pm. After his disgraceful mocking of the Convoy calling it a Convoy of no consequence. Ben Fordham of 2GB has asked those in their cars TO TURN ON THEIR LIGHTS in SUPPORT OF THE CONVOYS – callers were calling in – some in tears – that the moment that Ben asked people driving to turn on their headlights, they all came on together – car after car with their lights on.The silent MAJORITY!!! People that had their lights on were waving and tooting to each other.

    ps. I have just listened to the interview. Albanese denied that he meant the Convoy that he was talking about! This government will turn it around and blame anyone but themselves.

    Those in the Convoy will be still in Canberra tomorrow. If you are travelling tomorrow please fly Our Flag and turn on your headlights- give those from the Convoy support as they have certainly had a tough day.

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    Damian Allen

    SOME ARTICLES ABOUT THIS COMMUNIST ORGANIZATION “GETUP”…………….

    Sanctimonious hypocrites GetUp our nose | Herald Sun Andrew Bolt Blog

    http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/sanctimonious_hypocrites_getup_our_nose/P40/

    GetUp and its strange but well-heeled bedfellows – Crikey

    http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/04/getup-and-its-strange-but-well-heeled-bedfellows/

    Broken promises? GetUp! takes a month to count them | Herald Sun Andrew Bolt Blog

    http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/broken_promises_getup_takes_a_month_to_count_them1/

    GetUp! hides Labor’s broken promises | Herald Sun Andrew Bolt Blog

    http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/getup_hides_labors_broken_promises/

    GetUp a SellOut | Herald Sun Andrew Bolt Blog

    http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/getup_or_sellout/

    The Soros Plan To Kill Capitalism – Big Government

    http://biggovernment.com/mvadum/2009/11/05/the-soros-plan-to-kill-capitalism/

    GetUp exposed: George Soros’ tentacles reach into Australia

    http://www.australian-news.com.au/Soros/GetUp_exposed.htm

    Why Don’t We Hear About Soros’ Ties to Over 30 Major News Organizations?

    http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/05/11/dont-hear-george-soros-ties-30-major-news-organizations/#ixzz1M8trgdMt

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    Damian Allen

    Latest results from the POLL on

    http://news.ninemsn.com.au/

    “Do you agree with the truckies’ call for an early election?”

    YES 57433
    no 13490

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  • #

    Refer to Comment 44
    Tony.

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    Damian Allen

    I’ve heard that at least one of the convoys of no confidence in gillard was blocked by the police!!!

    Somebody needs to get to the bottom of this ASAP !!!!!

    ELECTION NOW !!!!!!!

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    Bush bunny

    I can’t get anything more on the convoy so far. Hope they are OK.

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    Michael Petterson

    According to Anthony Albanese MP we are called “the convoy of no consequence”

    Also according to Mr Bob Brown Our opinion is classed as ‘whinging and Whining”

    I would ask that you express your opinion to these two misguided fools,in the strongest words possible. As one of our Just Grounds members said,Your comments regarding the convoy behind the doors of parliament today shows your lack of balls. Get a set Anthony”!

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    Sean McHugh

    Adam Smith @77 to Sean McHugh @76:

    The agenda of the convoy is to give voice to a very angry public, a public that is not being heard by the Government (or their protective media).

    Oh, I’m all for peaceful protest. But some in the Convoy seem to be asking the Prime Minister and / or Governor General to dissolve both houses of parliament, which would be completely unconstitutional and simply put the country into a constitutional crisis that would have to be resolved by the High Court.

    Asking for a government to stand down does not make a protest violent or threatening. Do you have any evidence that this protest wasn’t peaceful – especially compared to protests we have seen from the left?

    The constitution is more important than that, and our system of government is more important than being pushed around on the whims of a minority of people.

    Pushed around by whims? Whom is actually being pushed around and how hard? When is please-please-go-away a whim? And how do you determine that they represent a minority? Certainly not by the polls. But anyway, I note the Labor/Green politicians are of the same opinion, willfully deluding themselves into believing that these protesters are rednecks and only represent a small stupid minority. This has been the reason for Labor’s demise and apparently will continue to be so. So, by all means, let their sneering and smugness continue and may the force lend decibels to those who cheer them.

    Even if there’s 100,000 people at the protest tomorrow and on Tuesday, that would mean there’s another 22.5 million plus just going about their lives,

    Yes, just a few rednecks. That’s the way, Adam.

    [there’s another 22.5 million plus just going about their lives], without the luxury of taking a week off work to go and protest in Canberra.

    Some of these protesters sacrificed thousands of dollars, and not because they are rich. And yes, many did have to take time off work, but not at the expense of the taxpayer – like those whom the left champion. The more left the working-age protester, the less likely he will need to take time off work.

    That the Government is still refusing to listen is evidenced by the names these ordinary folk are being called. These people are not chronic protesters like the Labor left

    This is a very strange thing to write. All Australians are allowed to peacefully protest, including people you disagree with. And it was Labor that protested to get rid of WorkChoices mate, which involved stripping pay and conditions off of some of the most vulnerable Australians.

    It’s better than stripping jobs like the Labor/Greens will do. Bob Brown, the acting Prime Minister, actually wants to close down industry. Labor/Greens are only bleeding hearts and humanitarians when being so is useful for them.

    But guess whom it is that the Government calls, ‘extremists’.

    Well it is pretty clear that SOME of the anti-carbon tax protestors are extremists. There’s been people from the Citizen’s Electoral Council out saying it is another U.N. conspiracy. That is not a moderate position at all.

    These people are ordinary folk and have probably not dealt with politics too much before. Your own criticisms tend to support that. But let’s flip the coin. Do you think Bob Brown is an extremist? How about the global government he wants? Not extreme?

    Now if a leftist wants global government proper, where better to start than with the UN? It is already a leftist governing body and boasts global force by its very name. It just lacks the power it desires. With its Global Warming scare and its now discredited IPCC, it sought to fast track gaining more authority, more power and more money. Why do you think that Rudd was showing more interest in getting a seat on the UN than in being Australia’s Prime Minister? Of course things don’t look as rosy after Climategate and Copenhagen.

    ‘Conspiracy’? I have spent many years writing critically on churches and their belief systems. When I wrote about it, I used the term, ‘religion’ not, ‘conspiracy’. I see the UN, the Greens (Labor’s partners) and political correctness (inc. Global Warming) as being quasi-religion. I feel that the word, ‘conspiracy’ has been tainted too much even for conspiracies. It’s now almost unusable.

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    Adam Smith

    Asking for a government to stand down does not make a protest violent or threatening. Do you have any evidence that this protest wasn’t peaceful – especially compared to protests we have seen from the left?

    I made no accusation that the protest wasn’t peaceful. I did point out that some of the protesters are asking the P.M. and G.G. to do something that is blatantly unconstitutional.

    I also have no idea what you mean about requesting the government to “stand down”. It is the democratically elected government of Australia, it has no obligation to “stand down” for anyone.

    Pushed around by whims? Whom is actually being pushed around and how hard? When is please-please-go-away a whim? And how do you determine that they represent a minority?

    It’s obviously a small minority given the size of the protest. 500,000 people protested against the invasion of Iraq in 2003. That’s what a significant protest looks like.

    Yes, just a few rednecks. That’s the way, Adam.

    I didn’t call anyone a redneck, that’s your word.

    Some of these protesters sacrificed thousands of dollars, and not because they are rich. And yes, many did have to take time off work, but not at the expense of the taxpayer – like those whom the left champion. The more left the working-age protester, the less likely he will need to take time off work.

    Well there’s plenty of people in Australia that just can’t afford to take time off work to protest in Canberra. Fortunately these are people that will benefit the most from the carbon pricing regime, because they will get the biggest income tax cuts. Someone on half median weekly earnings will get a tax cut of $1000 a year.

    Do you think Bob Brown is an extremist?

    On some issues yes he is.

    How about the global government he wants? Not extreme?

    I have never heard Bob Brown say he wants a global government, but feel free to find me any direct quotes where he makes this claim so I can evaluate them.

    Now if a leftist wants global government proper, where better to start than with the UN?

    The U.N. isn’t a global government.

    It is already a leftist governing body and boasts global force by its very name. It just lacks the power it desires. With its Global Warming scare and its now discredited IPCC, it sought to fast track gaining more authority, more power and more money.

    There’s no need for me to respond to the above nsubstantiated U.N. conspiracy theory.

    Why do you think that Rudd was showing more interest in getting a seat on the UN than in being Australia’s Prime Minister?

    Because AUSTRALIA SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN HOW THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL OPERATES AND THE DECISIONS IT MAKES!

    The UN is only as good as the countries that have a vote on the security council, Australia should have such a vote.

    It is ASTONISHING that on the one hand you present such absurd UN conspiracy theories, but on the other hand don’t think Australia should be in a position to influence the outcome of the U.N.’s decisions!

    Also, I’m pretty sure Kevin Rudd would love to still be PM!

    ‘Conspiracy’? I have spent many years writing critically on churches and their belief systems. When I wrote about it, I used the term, ‘religion’ not, ‘conspiracy’. I see the UN, the Greens (Labor’s partners) and political correctness (inc. Global Warming) as being quasi-religion. I feel that the word, ‘conspiracy’ has been tainted too much even for conspiracies. It’s now almost unusable.

    Further unsubstantiated UN conspiracy theory that I don’t need to respond to.

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    Adam Smith

    “Adam Smith”,
    Who employes you?
    GETUP or the ALP ???

    Come on now be HONEST !

    Stick to the issues mate, instead of just throwing abuse.

    When you revert to abuse it just makes it seem that you don’t have confidence in your own opinions.

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    debbie

    Adam Smith @ 101.
    I have never heard Bob Brown say he wants a global government, but feel free to find me any direct quotes where he makes this claim so I can evaluate them.

    This link is for your edification 🙂

    http://greens.org.au/policies/human-rights-democracy/global-governance

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    MattB:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 2:23 pm
    “No one thought Martin Luther King would succeed.” I’d love to ask some of these convoy folks if they wish he hadn’t.

    Why? What has that got to do with the purpose of the convoy? Are you just using ad hominems (veiled as they are) to try to discredit that which you do not like and cannot explain?

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    Adam Smith:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 9:57 pm “Adam Smith”,
    Who employes you?
    GETUP or the ALP ???

    Come on now be HONEST !
    Stick to the issues mate, instead of just throwing abuse.

    I am curious – how is that abuse? Are you saying those are abusive organizations?

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    Adam Smith

    I am curious – how is that abuse? Are you saying those are abusive organizations?

    You are casting ulterior motives on the reasons people post here.

    We all have a right to make contributions here, plain and simple.

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    Adam Smith

    I have never heard Bob Brown say he wants a global government, but feel free to find me any direct quotes where he makes this claim so I can evaluate them.

    This link is for your edification 🙂

    Dear lord! You don’t know the difference between “government” and “governance”.

    Let me remind you that it was the Coalition government that signed the Kyoto protocol.

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    J Knowles

    Given the short notice of the Convoy and the tyranny of distance, it was amazing to see so many ordinary hard working Australians in Canberra to-day. TonyofOz was right, the AFP had been instructed to prevent the truckies getting in. There appeared to be a fair bit of ‘diffusion’ work going on and many trucks simply drove round and round the Parliament Hill circuit with horns blaring.
    Top End (Northern Oz) farmers gave a clear picture of their plight over the sudden blocking of live beef exports to Indonesia.
    I’ve just got home and feel utterly disillusioned with the political process. I’m ashamed to call myself Australian when I permit a bunch of utter morons to mismanage the nation to this extent and the press seems to be missing the point though regulars here know all about that.
    The positive indication is that a huge cross-section of the population is aware that the carbon dioxide tax is a fraud. Even two sets of elderly rels I visited to-day were well versed in the science.

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    Adam Smith

    TonyofOz was right, the AFP had been instructed to prevent the truckies getting in.

    Evidence?

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    J Knowles

    There was an amusing moment as I was walking back to my ute. A group of anti-protest cyclists passed me with bell tinkling pathetically in the afternoon sunshine with some bearing the usual fear-laden sub-urban environmental slogans. After the guts and determination of the Convoy rally the bicycles were quite Pythonesque.

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    J Knowles

    To Adam Smith at 109.

    The truckies were blocked by the police and the police told us that they were acting upon instructions from above.
    After a while the trucks were allowed to park on the dirt median strip which divides the ring road’s lanes but then some of them were given parking tickets.
    I said “Good-day” to a few officers and they were very polite but it was evident they were there to manage and down-play the event.

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    Adam Smith at comment 107,
    Gee!
    I just love guys like you who are so blind, they forget to check before they make bold statements.
    The original Kyoto Protocol from 1997 bound the 192 member Nations to what it called for, an overall reduction in emissions of GHG especially CO2 to a level 5% lower than what those Countries emitted in 1990, oh, except for the US that is, because they had to cut theirs by 7%.
    Those 192 Nations were split into two areas called Annexes.
    Annex 1 consisted of 40 Countries, culled from that 192, these 40 being developed Nations already.
    From that list of 40 Countries, 23 of them were then culled from that list.
    Those 23 Nations, so Kyoto directed were to lower their emissions, and to implement measures to introduce a tax on GHG emissions, especially CO2. They were then to implement introduction of renewable power to replace coal fired power, which they determined as the largest source of those CO2 emissions. Each of those 23 Countries had to pay for their own Country’s measures, and those 23 Countries also had to pay EVERY cost of the remaining 152 Countries, supply them with the money to lower their emissions and also the money and the technology to move to renewables themselves.
    Those 152 Countries in Annex 2, well, all they had to do was to report their emissions, nothing else.
    EVERY one of those 192 Countries supplied their signature to the Protocol, this signature indicating that they were present.
    This is the signature you mentioned the Coalition Government signing.
    This was a totally meaningless signature that bound the Country to nothing at all, just that they were present when the Protocol was implemented.
    There was however an all important second signature which did mean something. It meant that your Country actually agreed to allow the UN to fleece you blind, or in the case of those 152 Countries, that you agreed to allow those 23 Countries to pay for everything you had to do because of what Kyoto called for.
    This signature was not supplied by only 2 Countries, Australia, and the U.S. because the Coalition was not going to make Australia subject to paying EVERY other Countries costs.
    Then, with a flourish following his election Rudd added that second all important signature as almost the first thing he did following his election win in 2007 at the Bali conference.
    To this day the US has not signed, and as much as this was laid at the feet of George W Bush, it was the Clinton Administration who would not sign. The protocol failed in the Senate by a majority of 95-0, and it was then not even presented to Congress.
    Al Gore was VP for all of this, so you can see how hard he was trying to get it up at that time.
    So, where you say it was the Coalition who signed us up to Kyoto, that is totally incorrect.
    That was Rudd, and now unlike the U.S. we are bound by what the UNFCCC calls for because we have agreed by adding that second all important signature.
    Now perhaps you can gain some sort of inkling as to why Copenhagen failed so miserably, and why it will be all but impossible to find any replacement for Kyoto when it expires in 2012.
    I mean why would 152 Countries cut their own throats when they have this perfectly legal document already that they don’t want changed, especially that part about those 23 Countries paying ALL of their costs.
    Australia is one of those 23 Countries.
    Thanks Kevin. Thanks a bloody lot.
    Oh, and Adam Smith, sometimes it pays to actually do some checking before running off with untruths, and that way, you don’t look like such a fool!
    Tony.

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    Adam Smith:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 10:55 pm I am curious – how is that abuse? Are you saying those are abusive organizations?
    You are casting ulterior motives on the reasons people post here.

    I am not doing any casting. I asked a question. The person who made the statement was asking your affiliation. Are you now saying that affiliation with those organizations is abusive? his assertion may be incorrect. It may be loaded. But it is hardly abusive unless you think the organizations are.

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    Damian Allen

    “Adam Smith” you are a TRAITOR to your country Australia and a DISGRACE to your fellow Australians !

    Traitors used to be EXECUTED, maybe it’s time to bring back this law!!

    MORON!@@#%

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    Adam Smith

    To Adam Smith at 109.

    The truckies were blocked by the police and the police told us that they were acting upon instructions from above.
    After a while the trucks were allowed to park on the dirt median strip which divides the ring road’s lanes but then some of them were given parking tickets.
    I said “Good-day” to a few officers and they were very polite but it was evident they were there to manage and down-play the event.

    This is an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory.

    Alan Jones’ claim that parts of the convoy was stopped at the borders is fiction. The organisers of the convoy worked closely with the AFP to ensure they didn’t cause excessive traffic disruption. The AFP provided a police escort for parts of the convoy so that it could reach parliament house quickly.

    Just stick to the facts mate.

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    Adam Smith

    [“Adam Smith” you are a TRAITOR to your country Australia and a DISGRACE to your fellow Australians !

    Traitors used to be EXECUTED, maybe it’s time to bring back this law!!

    MORON!@@#%

    Oh, so let me get this right, you think that people should have to agree with you, and if they don’t, they should be killed.

    It doesn’t seem like you like democracy much.

    Stick to the issues mate. We should be able to have disagreements without saying that people on the other side of the debate should be killed.

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    Adam Smith

    I am not doing any casting. I asked a question. The person who made the statement was asking your affiliation.

    Again you are making assumptions about how the Australian political system operates that are wrong.

    Unlike in the U.S., Australians don’t “register” as a supporter of a political party.

    I have no political affiliations.

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    Sean McHugh

    Adam Smith @ 107 to Debbie @ 103:

    I have never heard Bob Brown say he wants a global government, but feel free to find me any direct quotes where he makes this claim so I can evaluate them. [AS]

    This link is for your edification 🙂

    http://greens.org.au/policies/human-rights-democracy/global-governance

    Dear lord! You don’t know the difference between “government” and “governance”.

    The semantic quibble doesn’t help you. Governance is essentially what governments do. It’s not a logical leap to infer that global governance is a would-be product of would-be global government. It’s also pretty obvious that Bob Brown wants global government and sees the UN as already provide a degree of it. In other words, he does identify the UN with global government.

    As for the pretentiousness with, “Dear lord! You don’t know the difference between “government” and “governance” [emphasis mine]”, you need to deflate a bit and return to earth.

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    Tony, thank you for your patiently detailed summary (@112) of Australia’s involvement in the Kyoto Protocol.

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    @112 and 119

    The history of abuse of government science is indeed intriguing.

    Have there been any updates to the 2010 “Revised Climategate Timeline?”

    http://joannenova.com.au/2010/01/finally-the-new-revised-and-edited-climategate-timeline/

    To fill in information on the deep roots of Climategate and the Standard Solar Model,

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10640850/20110722_Climategate_Roots.pdf

    We need additional information on

    a. ) The start date of US DoE contracts DE-AC02-79EV10098 and DE-AC02-81EV10739 to Phil Jones

    b.) The association of Professors Owen Gingerich and Cees De Jager, and their relationship with Henry Kissinger

    c.) The international agreement made on the Sun in meetings at the Bilderberg on 17-21, 1967.

    http://www.cdejager.com/

    http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hsdept/bios/gingerich.html

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Kissinger

    O. Gingerich and C. De Jager, “The Bilderberg solar model,” Solar Ph3, 5-25 (1968): http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1968SoPh….3….5G

    With kind regards,
    Oliver K. Manuel
    Former NASA PI for Apollo
    [email protected]

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    Adam Smith

    The semantic quibble doesn’t help you. Governance is essentially what governments do. It’s not a logical leap to infer that global governance is a would-be product of would-be global government. It’s also pretty obvious that Bob Brown wants global government and sees the UN as already provide a degree of it. In other words, he does identify the UN with global government.

    It’s pretty obvious that this is evidence of the horse shoe theory of political ideology. It used to be the far left fearing a world government, but now it seems to be the far right.

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    Adam Smith:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 6:30 pm
    Again you are making assumptions about how the Australian political system operates that are wrong.

    Unlike in the U.S., Australians don’t “register” as a supporter of a political party.

    Again, I made no assumptions. A question is not an assumption. What part of a question do you not understand?

    And not to rub in your ignorance of America, but we are not required to “register” with a party either. I have never registered, nor do I intend to. Indeed, a plurality of Americans are not registered with any party.

    And you have yet to answer the question.

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    Adam Smith

    …we are not required to “register” with a party either.

    I made no such claim.

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    Adam Smith:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 11:52 pm …we are not required to “register” with a party either.
    I made no such claim.

    Adam Smith:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    Unlike in the U.S., Australians don’t “register” as a supporter of a political party.

    You are also a liar. “Unlike in the US”. clearly you did make the claim.

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    Adam Smith

    You are also a liar. “Unlike in the US”. clearly you did make the claim.

    Err what? You clearly used the word “required” to insinuate that I claimed that registration was compulsory.

    I made no such claim. The use of the word “required”, in this quote:

    …we are not required to “register” with a party either.

    is your invention, pure and simple.

    Now instead of misquoting people and misrepresenting what they have written, perhaps you may like to stick to debating the issues?

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    Adam Smith:
    August 24th, 2011 at 12:22 am
    Err what? You clearly used the word “required” to insinuate that I claimed that registration was compulsory.

    I never said you were requred, I said you were wrong as we were not either, and then went on to inform you that a plurality of Aericans ARE NOT registered. You seem to have the misconception the US IS REGISTERED, and then went on to deny you made the statement. Again, you said “unlike in the US”. Unless your grasp of the english language is sadly lacking, that means it is different in Australia. I pointed out it was not. You denied saying it was different, and I called you on your lie.

    As for debating the issues, I would love to. When will you start? you have tried to change the subject everytime someone nails you for being wrong.

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    Adam Smith

    Again, you said “unlike in the US”. Unless your grasp of the english language is sadly lacking, that means it is different in Australia.

    Oh FFS! Australia doesn’t have a system of voter registration. That’s the difference I pointed out, pure and simple.

    And again, you should apologise for implying that I said voter registration was compulsory, when I clearly did nothing of the sort.

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    Adam Smith:
    August 24th, 2011 at 1:42 am
    Oh FFS! Australia doesn’t have a system of voter registration. That’s the difference I pointed out, pure and simple.

    And again, you should apologise for implying that I said voter registration was compulsory, when I clearly did nothing of the sort.

    I apologize for implying you said required. But I have a question and a comment.
    #1 – You have no voter registration? So anyone can walk up and vote?
    #2 – We were talking party registration, not voter registration.

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    Sean McHugh

    Adam Smith:

    Adam Smith @121 to Sean @118

    The semantic quibble doesn’t help you. Governance is essentially what governments do. It’s not a logical leap to infer that global governance is a would-be product of would-be global government. It’s also pretty obvious that Bob Brown wants global government and sees the UN as already provide a degree of it. In other words, he does identify the UN with global government.

    It’s pretty obvious that this is evidence of the horse shoe theory of political ideology. It used to be the far left fearing a world government, but now it seems to be the far right.

    Don’t change the subject. You now have to concede to Debbie and me, that Bob Brown wants global government, that he considers the UN as being global government (albeit limited) and that he wants to see the UN more powerful as a global government.

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    Adam Smith

    Don’t change the subject. You now have to concede to Debbie and me, that Bob Brown wants global government,

    No, what Bob Browns want is for the Greens to be the Australian government.

    You are so worried about global government, but explain to me how the internet would work without global agreement? How would telephones work? How would we be able to have events from the otherside of the world shown live on Austrailan TV withouut global agreement? How would we be able to stop countries building nuclear weapons without global agreements? How would be be able to stop damaging the ozone layer, through international agreement (the Montreal Protocol)? How would be be able to regulate things like whaling, without global agreement?

    Your alternative plan for the world seems to be something resembling anarchy.

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    Roy Hogue

    Adam Smith,

    Just to clear something up for me: is voting not compulsory by law in Australia, with a penalty if you fail to vote?

    Then if I’m right, would you not be required to register or be identified as a legitimate voter by some means so the law can be enforced? You might also want to prevent voting by non citizens, also requiring positive voter ID. How is all that accomplished?

    Thanks

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    Roy Hogue

    Adam Smith,

    You are so worried about global government, but explain to me how the internet would work without global agreement? How would telephones work? How would we be able to have events from the otherside of the world shown live on Austrailan TV withouut global agreement? How would we be able to stop countries building nuclear weapons without global agreements? How would be be able to stop damaging the ozone layer, through international agreement (the Montreal Protocol)? How would be be able to regulate things like whaling, without global agreement?

    You have all these things now. They were negotiated among nations and established as law in each country by treaty. Yet there is no global government.

    All the agreements necessary for these things were entered into voluntarily. Any nation could have stayed out.

    With a global government these things and much more are forced down everyone’s throat. No nation can stay out. Is this what you want?

    That seems like a mighty big difference for you to simply gloss over as though it didn’t exist.

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    Roy Hogue

    PS to Adam Smith,

    Remember this link from Debbie at post 103.

    http://greens.org.au/policies/human-rights-democracy/global-governance

    No one will trust that Bob Brown thinks differently. I don’t have to know a thing about Australian politics except that Bob Brown is a green to understand that.

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    Mark

    Roy #131

    Indeed, compulsory votiing is part of the Electoral Act. In reality however, all anyone needs to do is get their name crossed off the roll at the polling place. Short of a polling official observing every elector actually voting, it is clearly impossible to ensure that every elector does just that.

    The whole idea of compulsory voting is both ridiculous and repugnant in a real democracy. Why should the electors have to support candidates if they are all ratbags?

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    Bush bunny

    Roy #131 Voting is compulsory in Australia for Federal, State and Local Government elections. But you must be 18 yrs plus, and an Australian citizen. If you are ill or incompacitated on election day or live too far from a polling station, you can apply for a postal vote. I was given automatic voting rights as a British citizen when I arrived in 1965. But they rescinded that right for people from Britain after 1983 I think. You had to be a fair dinkum Australian citizen either by birth or by adoption. I chose to become an Australian citizen in 2000 when the Republic referendum was defeated.
    Well the republican party wanted it condition of the ability of the Prime Minister to sake a President the head of state. A President who was voted in by the people?
    Australia is a Crowned republic with the Queen our monarch and GG her representative in Australia all have to be Australian citizens, as do our politicians. But one has to actually enrol on the electoral roll.
    And that is checked when you go into a polling station to receive ballot papers that are numbered and checked during the counting. Last Federal election I was scrutineering for Tony Windsor, and they had several recounts of primary votes because the number of ballot papers issued didn’t tally to the number handed out. Three votes had been mistakenly given to Tony’s piles of 50 voting papers when it should have gone to the Nationals rep. Then it was down to one. It took hours. I never got away until 9.30 pm.

    Mark 134. People do just that! They just write rude things across their ballot papers or just don’t fill them in at all. I have been to the AEC in Canberra and seen how the voting is counted on a two party preferred voting system. I have scrutineered at about 12 elections, including Federal, State and Local council elections. I have been approached by sometimes illiterate or mentally disadvantaged persons to help them vote or sometimes an elderly person to be advised how to vote. They are taken to the polling station senior official who helps them vote. Not tell them how to but if they can’t read they may say I want to vote for Tony or the labour candidate (if there is one). And they are directed to where to put the 1 and number the second preference and so on, etc. I have had some rather strange experiences handing out ‘How to Vote’ cards. One young guy came in at 5 to 6 and took hold of a how to vote from the labor person but before taking it asked ‘Is it illegal for me not to take this?’ No we said kindly, it may have been him who wrote ‘I only came here because it is illegal not to – so bugger off.’

    Adam you are referring to the primaries in the US when they are selecting candidates for their political party presidential election.

    You can become a member of a political party in Australia but that is by choice. If you are not a member then of course you won’t be nominated to stand for a political party.

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    Mark & Bush Bunny – So voting is compulsory, and although mark indicates it is clear to juke the system, they have to have at least some way to know who is eligible and who is not. Can you tell me how they know who is eligible and who is not? Bush Bunny says she lost her voting privileges for a time, before becoming a Aussie citizen in 2k.

    You can become a member of a political party in Australia but that is by choice. If you are not a member then of course you won’t be nominated to stand for a political party.

    But Bush hit one nail on the head. Apparently you do have parties in Australia (never in contention), but like the US, you can join a political party (but are not required to). So Adam’s statement of “unlike in the U.S.” is wrong. I dare say, he is consistent in his being wrong.

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    Mark

    PhilJourdan:

    It is every citizen’s responsibility, on attaining the age of 18, to ensure that they are enrolled and enrolled correctly. The system is wide open to voting fraud as it is certainly possible for multiple voting to take place.

    Multiple voting can be a critical issue in marginal electorates but, under the existing legislation, impossible to eradicate.

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    Mark @137 – I appreciate the information. It seems that there is no perfect system, and fraud will always be a part of it. A shame, but given the stakes (all the money in government), it should not come as a surprise to anyone.

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    Mark

    PhilJourdan:

    There will always be loopholes in voting systems.

    I get suspicious when governments enact electoral laws which enlarge the loopholes rather than ensuring the validity of the process.

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