Monday morning

THERESE Rein in a “not a good look for a Labor PM’s wife” moment Ingeus’s reputation has been tarnished, especially among the poorest and most disadvantaged, after it coerced some unemployed people to work unpaid for 30 hours a week for up to six months in charity shops and big-name retail outlets. I presume the ACTU are preparing a statement of rightous indignation at the blatant abuse of the workers by a capitalist swine….waiting….waiting. Interestingly the Pom unemployed get pound stg. 71.70 a week jobs benefit (only pound stg. 50 a week for those aged under 25)  That’s $117.85 and $82.18. respectively. Australian Newstart is $250 pw min or twice the local rate as a comparison. Queensland LNP poll slide. Her better half, or is that her lessor half, have somehow managed to arrange for the press to state that Campbell Newman’s latest polls that have plummeted to 2PP 59:41 to the LNP represent “A chance for Kevin. Yep. Somehow that’s a positive for Kevin.  Just in case you misread it – that’s 59 to the LNP The people smugglers are still in the limelight as the ALP drags itself slowly up to the start line where Howard was years ago.  I really think Kevin believes that  because he and President Yudhoyono announced a “Conference” the problem can be put in the pending tray until the elections. Don’t bet on it. Lawrence Gribben from Carseldine, Qld, a suburb next door to mine, puts it succinctly;

THE Greens want people-smugglers to decide who comes to Australia, Kevin Rudd wants the Indonesians to decide and the Coalition wants Australians to decide. Hmm … spoilt for choice.

Jason Clare, who has had no real-life employment which apparently makes him qualified to be the Minister for Home Affairs, is fighting the good fight.  I heard him on the ABC ratting on about the Coalition.  Hat tip Jason, the country think the ALP are to blame for the problem – not the Coalition. Mr Clare said turning boats back didn’t work and that Mr Howard had only sent back a handful.  Turning back boasts did work and Howard only turned back a couple because of that fact- it did work….they stopped coming.  Admiral Barrie, relevant commander at the time says  – “We didn’t have to turn any more back because they stopped coming” . Got that Jason? He warned turning boats back could lead to a repeat of the Siev 36 incident in which five people died when a vessel was sabotaged in 2009. Ah, so what you are saying is that if  just one asylum seeker says – “I’ll top myself if you don’t let me in” you suggest the nation, the Navy and/or the rescuing ship’s Captain simply fold .  Keeping in mind that these people have access to the internet they will all be talking among themselves right now as they wait for their boat.  “All we have to do is threaten suicide and they’ll fold – quick, burn your papers and get on the boat – it’s our last chance before adults take over” He further adds that sometimes sailors have been hurt or were in a situation where they could be, and this is apparently another reason not to have a firm policy.  Yes, sometimes sailors do get hurt while carrying out their duties.  They are not public servants, bureaucrats, or god forbid, political ALP hacks or clerks.  They are servicemen and women and sometimes a sailor has to do what a sailor has to do – ie, obey orders to the best of their ability. Poor plan Jason  – you still need to work on it.