:laugh:
Seriously though, a GP with no empathy is a bit of a scary thought. Glad I don't live in Canberra.

Where's Fairfax getting this Dastaysri business from?

-PB

Who knows but they've really got it in for him. I recall the federal MP in my area, Stuart Robert (spelling?) was caught doing deals with China, he even flew there to close one out and got no way near this much scrutiny. I believe he's still a member of the House of Representatives? 

Mr Robert used to have his mug on a billboard I had to drive past every day. It disappeared quickly once he got caught for his dodgy dealings. 

They're all doing it unfortunately and it will only get worse as China grows. 

I think the difference is SD quite literally undermined Australia's chief security agency. It borders on treason. 

All political donations need an overhaul regardless of whether its old Rupert Murdoch giving the LNP money or China or any other entity. 

Sam Dasty goneskies

-PB

Chinaphobia

Bye Felecia 

Good riddance to the commie traitor. 

China is a communist, authoritarian, totalitarian, thought-policing, human rights abusing, budding imperial power. I am absolutely not a supporter of the Coalition or of professional conservatism, but I fully support the government in any possible crackdown of China's parasitical, anti-democratic influence in our open society. Crying 'Chinaphobia' is the same as crying 'Islamophobia' - both are legitimate opponents of Western democracy and should be understood as such. Liberal acceptance of systems that openly stifle free expression should be ridiculed as the hypocrisy and weakness that it is. 

Agree. That's why clowns such as Christine kenneally need to shut the farrk up

Perfectly happy to be scared of China lol, there's good reason to be.

-PB

+1

Very good result but should have gone the moment it came to light that he told that bloke to leave his phone behind.

Dodgy as fuck.

Either way we will need to learn to live with their growing influence. 

China Commies or US Capitalists?

Capitalist 100%. Not even a question.

-PB

Massively unfortunate coincidence that since the penalty rates were cut for retail workers:

1. No new jobs have been created
2. Workers aren't working more hours
3. Consumer spending has tanked

Bravo neo-liberals *claps*
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/penalty-rate-cut-fails-to-stimulate-jobs-survey-shows-20171213-h04csj.html

But ipso facto.

-PB

But my trickle down economics.

So all the money spent in Bennelong by Labour went to waste.

Doesn't seem ridiculous in context (and no unions didn't spend anywhere near $750k on it). Winning that seat was always a big ask.

Despite their win it indicates that a swing will be most likely occurring against the Govt next election, with their slim majority I'll be surprised if they remain in power. 

but muh job creators

More's the pity when that chinless, union hack who, besides an 18 month stint as a lawyer (probably an article clerk), has never held a real job gets elected next year.

Is there no one in the Labour party that has ground their way up doing the hard yards in business or some other field of endeavour that is halfway inspiring?  I deadset wouldn't cross the road to see this bloke if he was in town unless he was handing out free beers.
 
Fuck these career politicians.  

And the liberal party is just as guilty.  Christopher Pyne is a perfect example of the same sort of uninspiring career politician that has somehow reached the upper echelons of the Australian political landscape.

24 years that clown has been in Parliament.  (Working only 2 years out of government in a 26 year working career.)

It should almost be illegal.  Or at least there should be a cap on how long you can be in parliament.

Never have either of these 2 fools employed a person, quoted a project, paid payroll tax, gone to a job interview against a dozen applicants, seen their job outsourced, had to retrain, tried to negotiate a lease, developed a block of land, tried to finance a project, prepared a business case, applied for a grant, jumped through mountains of red tape, been through the wringer at local, state and federal level when trying to get something off the ground, been unemployed or experienced any of the multitude of trials and tribulations that exist outside of politics.  

Have they ever coached a soccer team, volunteered down at the lifesaving club, sold raffle tickets on a Friday night at the pub, manned a Bunnings BBQ on a Saturday morning, been on a P & C committee or any one of 100 other community things that the average man in the street has experienced.

If we lived in Muzland you couldn't run for parliament until you were at least 30 and you'd be capped at 3 terms and then you'd have to get out.  Come back after one election cycle if you want but I'd be crowbarring these ponces out and forcing them into work outside of politics between terms.

Just think, it is possible that Pyne and Shorten (and dozens of others) will be in Parliament until they retire, or at least until they quit and go and sit on half a dozen boards drawing big fat stipends, without actually working outside of politics.

Jesus H Christ on a bike.   

Capped terms would fix all that. Downside is you don't get seasoned experience politicians, but in the current landscape I'd be ok with that.

-PB

lol Crocodile tears Brandis is finally fucking off to a cushy job in the UK.

-PB

I don't think its a major issue. They can always be democratically ousted or shafted by the party prior to an election. 

Gave you at least a dozen reasons why it's an issue.

They're supposed to be representatives of the people right?  So how can the Liberal party stacked with 2/3's of their parliamentarians as lawyers be representative?

And how can the Labour party stacked with 2/3's of their parliamentarians as union hacks be representative?

Problem is that most people wouldn't want to be a politician. Also you need a pretty good understanding of laws to be a politician (so probably why lots of lawyers in politics) and it also involves lots of hours of work, with most of it not for those you represent. So I'd imagine you'd have to have a self-interest to actually last in politics, as any community / social issues that may get you into politics may only cover a very small spectrum of the whole picture that you have to deal with in government. Lots of others also conspiring to make sure you look after their interests too ... otherwise you won't last long.