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[Jimmy]

The government is doing something, right now in fact. Australia is currently prosecuting Japan in the International Court of Justice about their whaling program.

'Science' of Japanese whaling attacked in court case

While it's doubtful anything will come of it, we have upheld our promise made in 2007 to address this issue at the highest level possible.

[Reudh]

Allegations from Peter Slipper have arisen:


That Joe Hockey and Mal Brough asked Clive Palmer (a billionaire) to fund James Ashby's legal fees - Ashby had accused Slipper of sexual harassment and it was a big huge case.

Hockey and Brough flat out deny such a thing happened, but not Clive Palmer. He confirmed that that's exactly what's happened.

http://m.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/slipper-allegations-link-hockey-to-ashby-20130627-2ozof.html

[Jimmy]

So apparently with the change from Julia to Rudd Labor and Coalition are now polling at 50% each. Looks like the election isn't in the bag yet for Abbott.

Newspoll shows Labor and Coalition neck and neck after PM Kevin Rudd flags leadership vote reform

[Sheb]

So Yeah I guess?

[Edmus]

I find it increasingly hard to care about labour.
At least the coalitions reaction is amusing.

[Osmosis Jones]

So what are people's thoughts on Rudd's overhaul of the Labor caucus system?

In my opinion, it's a pretty cheeky move, but I really do have to admire the sheer brilliance of it; his biggest threat is getting dumped the second the election is over, and this would make that nigh impossible, particularly as it removes the vast majority of the various unions' influence.

However, no one can really say no, because if they tell him to fuck off, the party loses face, and Rudd can always straight up threaten to walk. On top of that, it makes a clean break from all the powerbroking that dragged Labor down in the first place, and seems to be polling well besides.

Just... damn.

[Max White]

Well it does help bring Labor towards a fairer, more constructive, less corruptible, system. Is Rudd doing it for his own means? Yea, he most likely is. I mean seriously, few things have ever been so finly vailed. Yet I have no way of objectively proving his intentions, I can only assess the merits of his proposals, and ultimately they look positive. I'm not going to reject positive change just because the person suggesting it stands to benefit from it the most.

I will say I'm not a fan of limiting when a challenge can be held though. That I think is a step backwards.

[Max White]

Sorry, look, I have to. I just can't not, ok?

Are clouds... A gas?.. They're water vapor... I guess.

YES TONY. THEY ARE COMPOSED OF WATER VAPOR. A GAS. THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE NO VALID OPINION ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

You know, I live in a place where there is ridiculous excesses of water and arable land, and even some regions that are considered to be stable enough that even significant climate change might not compromise their ability to support human life.

But man, Australia? You guys are capital-f Fucked if the climate goes south.

[Max White]

Yes but the threat is that we also have a lot to loose from doing something about it. We sell raw commodities such as coal and minerals. Mining is the biggest industry. As such it is very easy for people to use argumentum ad consequentiam to 'discredit' climate change. Right now there is a news story on tv talking about how Mr Abbott (A candidate for Prime Minister come next election) claimed a proposed carbon credits trading scheme is "a so-called market in the non-delivery of an invisible substance to no one."

Thats right! Our attempts to cut carbon emissions isn't about avoiding environmental damage, it is about not delivering something to nobody! And because the 'product' doesn't emit radiation is the viable light spectrum, it doesn't even count! I can only imagine what he thinks of something that is legitimately intangible, such as education.

[Reudh]

You know, I live in a place where there is ridiculous excesses of water and arable land, and even some regions that are considered to be stable enough that even significant climate change might not compromise their ability to support human life.

But man, Australia? You guys are capital-f Fucked if the climate goes south.

Well, what's projected for us: more extreme weather, both rain and shine, if global warming were to happen. The southern state where I live would become significantly drier, and Queensland and northern NSW will become roughly comparable to India in terms of monsoonal rain. [citation needed]

[Osmosis Jones]

Mmmm I think I read once that if the poles completely melted, the NW quarter of Australia would eventually end up quite nice. In a few hundred years, once everything settles down. We'd be utterly screwed in the interim, of course.

[Max White]

New video ad campaign by the liberals.

So this is actually a huge improvement over the 'headless chooks' one they had going before. While it is still focused completely on misrepresenting another party, I at least feel like I am being treated like the average, less than fully informed voter, rather than a child who is easily swayed by a puppet show. I mean when they bother to show the Labor banner and not the Liberals, it is pretty clear who they want the spotlight on. Why a political party would be scared of flashing their brand? I wonder... Perhaps they are trying to be the lesser evil, rather than the bigger man.

Still, I believe in being honest about these things, and giving credit where credit is due. The liberals have yet to disable their comments section, and I think that really is admirable. Not enough to alone win a vote from me, but certainly worth a mention. Good work there libs, the greens, who have disabled all comments, could take a leaf from your book.

[Dutchling]

New video ad campaign by the liberals.

I just can't get enough of that accent :3

[Jimmy]

The ad is so much more interesting when you imagine it's being read by this guy:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Makes the close zoom head shots of Kevin much more appropriate too.