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New tourism 12 meter tall Solar Trees lights up the heart of Townsville

Sam

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09/06/2020

New tourism 12 meter tall Solar Trees lights up the heart of Townsville

Townsville’s newest and biggest attraction is set to light up North Queensland skies even more, with the installation of two ‘solar trees’ at the North Queensland Stadium precinct.

Treasurer Cameron Dick today announced $6.5 million in state funding for beautification project, with Townsville City Council contributing $1.5 million.

“The new stadium is a game-changer and a job-creator for North Queensland, bringing world class sporting events and performances to local audiences and providing another reason for tourists to visit this beautiful part of the world.

The project will see two solar trees ranging from eight to 12 metres tall installed along Ross Creek between North Queensland Stadium and Townsville city centre, including a including a Rain Tree that will provide an interactive water experience.

Mr Dick said the project would create 120 direct and indirect jobs during construction and would deliver unique tourism infrastructure for the region.

Minister for State Development, Tourism and Innovation Kate Jones said the investment aligns with the Townsville North Queensland Destination Tourism Plan’s priorities.

“We know how important tourism is to North Queensland, especially as we emerge from the impacts of COVID-19.

“The Palaszczuk Government has a plan to Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs and that means building new infrastructure, strengthening our existing industries and supporting growth industries.”

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said the solar trees would provide many benefits.

“The North Queensland Stadium is the heart of Townsville, and this new attraction will enliven the area for tourists and locals alike.

“Growing jobs in the region means growing our tourist offerings, and this project ticks both boxes.”

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said tourism infrastructure projects like the Solar Tree would have a huge impact on the local economy and activate the CBD.

“Initial estimates have shown that this project could inject $8 million into our local economy and support more than 110 direct and indirect jobs- which is a huge boost to our construction industry on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic” Cr Hill said.

“This is a completely unique attraction that is perfect for our region thanks to using solar power to run. It will encourage those visiting the Stadium to make the walk to the CBD just to experience such a beautiful visual show.

“Central Park is a crucial link from the Stadium Precinct to the CBD and it’s projects like this that will provide a flow-on benefit our local restaurants, accommodation and retailers as people come to the city.”

The project is expected to take nine months to complete and will commence construction in July.

Attribution: Treasurer, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning The Honourable Cameron Dick

The biggest level crossing removal blitz in Victoria history

Sam

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09/06/2020

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The biggest level crossing removal blitz in Victoria history

The biggest level crossing removal blitz in the state’s history is in full swing on the Frankston Line, as works continue to remove three dangerous and congested level crossings and build two new train stations.

Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan and Member for Mordialloc Tim Richardson today visited Mentone, where crews have been working around the clock to excavate more than two kilometres of new rail trenches.

The boom gates at Cheltenham and Mentone could be down for up to 49 minutes in the morning peak – causing delays and frustration for the 38,000 vehicles that travelled through these crossings each day.

Watch on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdzYVbeaLOM

In the past two weeks, workers have removed more than 74 Olympic-sized swimming pools of soil for the new lowered rail line. The works are being delivered by a team of 1,700 workers, with 50 trucks an hour transporting the excavated soil and six of the biggest cranes in Australia lifting beams and moving material into the trenches.

With excavation now complete, workers will soon begin reinforcing the walls of the trench with 4,000 cubic metres of concrete before beginning to lay the tracks and signalling for the new Frankston line.

Locals in Mentone can already walk over the new rail trench at Balcombe Road to get a birds-eye view of the massive scale of work underway.

In Cheltenham, a major milestone was reached today with Park Road now open to traffic and free of boom gate delays for the first time. Charman Road will reopen later this week, making travel around the area easier and safer.

Work is also steaming ahead on the new Mentone Station, where platforms are being installed and beams are being lifted for the new heritage deck over the rail line, which will create new open space for the community.

When trains resume on 27 July, three level crossings will be gone for good at Park and Charman roads in Cheltenham, and Balcombe Road in Mentone, with the new Mentone and Cheltenham stations to open in August.

Works at Cheltenham and Mentone are part of a massive $3 billion investment on the Frankston line, which includes the removal of 18 level crossings, with eight already gone, and building 12 new stations.

Quote attributable to Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews

“Coronavirus has had huge impacts on our community and our economy, but our building program hasn’t stopped supporting jobs and delivering the projects our state needs.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan

“It’s been a huge team effort so far, with the 1,700 workers getting on and removing these level crossings as part of our Frankston line blitz.”

Quote attributable to Member for Mordialloc Tim Richardson

“We promised to remove these dangerous and congested level crossings and we’re delivering – transforming our local area and making it safer.”

Attributi: Material obtained from this website is to be attributed as: © State of Victoria.

PM Morrison fears Black Lives Matter protests will start COVID crisis

Sam

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06/06/2020

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PM Morrison fears Black Lives Matter protests will start COVID crisis

Press Conference Journalists asks Prime Minister Morrison: Should people avoid Black Lives Matter protests over the weekend given the advice, well the pleas of State medical officers, and if they do attend those protests, should they face the same social distancing fines that anyone else would?

PRIME MINISTER: Well look, thank you for the question. I have spoken to Premier Andrews and Premier Berejiklian this morning. The police authorities in both states have made decisions, operational decisions on public order grounds. And I understand the decisions that they have taken, it’s not for me to comment on operational decisions of police forces. And they’re the decisions that they have made. But let me be clear, as I believe Premiers have also, that while those public order decisions have been made, that’s not an invitation or a license for this in those broader, I think, social responsibility terms. Our message is very clear, that the health risks of gathering in such large numbers and the risks of people coming into close proximity are real and Australians have worked incredibly hard in recent months and have undergone great sacrifices to protect the health of the most vulnerable and that has included our Indigenous communities. One of our greatest fears at the start of this COVID crisis, for Premiers, myself, our Cabinet at a federal level, has been our concern for the potential impact on Indigenous communities of COVID-19. And not just remote communities, but metropolitan communities as well. And so it is important for people to have their right to protest.
I said at the outset of this crisis that we had to deal with this crisis consistent with our values, and who we were as Australians and those liberties, and that is true, but with those liberties, great responsibility, I think, for individuals. And so for all of those Australians who couldn’t attend the funeral of a family member, or couldn’t see a loved one in a nursing home, or a veteran who couldn’t remember their fallen colleagues by attending a war memorial service on Anzac Day, I think all Australians owe all those other Australians agreed duty of responsibility and I say to them don’t go. Not because you shouldn’t express your view, find another way to express your view. We all found a way on Anzac Day to thank those who gave us our liberty, and not gather in large numbers. And we stood on the end of our driveways, or we held up a light on that dawn in our windows or on our balconies and we found a way to celebrate those who gave us our liberty. Let’s not misuse that liberty. Let’s respect it. Let’s respect other Australians. And let’s say to those who had the absolute agony of not being able to say goodbye to a loved one, let’s thank them by showing responsibility this weekend. The health advice is very clear, that it’s not a good idea to go. And I have asked the AHPPC today to consider this matter and the Chief Medical Officer will be standing up later today and advising you of the AHPPC’s, the medical expert panel’s, advice to Australians about gathering in these numbers, so this isn’t about issues regarding people’s ability to express themselves and engage in protest activity, we all respect that. But let’s respect those other Australians who have gone through such hardship. Let’s respect them. Let’s find a better way and another way to express these sentiments, rather than putting your own health at risk, the health of others at risk, the great gains that we have been able to make as a country in recent months. And let’s not forget the terrible economic consequences of that as well. Let’s not put that at risk. Let’s exercise our liberties responsibly this weekend. I encourage people not to attend for those reasons and those reasons only.

https://www.facebook.com/blowthetruth1/videos/1117064218676416/

Update 10,000 March at Black Live Matter Rally

JOURNALIST: On this topic, can I just ask, is it a national shame in Australia that there have been at least 432 Indigenous deaths in custody since the royal commission in 1991 and do you need to do anything more to, given that only two-thirds of the recommendations from that royal commission have been implemented?

PRIME MINISTER: Well of course it is, and that is why the closing the gap initiatives that all states and territories, and the Commonwealth Government, are so focused on delivering and that’s why we’ve gone through the reforms of that process as we have engaged with Indigenous peak groups. I mean in Australia we understand the problems we have, in this area. And I get only cooperation from all levels of government in trying to address these issues. No-one has a mortgage on concern about this issue. I share these concerns, all Australians share these concerns. And so I don’t diminish them for a second. But what I do say is that Australia is not other places. So let’s deal with this as Australians and not appropriate what’s happening in other countries to our country at this time.

Source: Licensed from the Commonwealth of Australia under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence. PM Morrison

The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the content of this publication.

Spreading the Corona Virus all over the City, The elderly at risk. Lefties can disobey the law but if it was you o.I.We would be getting fines.

Let’s see if there is an outbreak of Coronavirus. Queensland open your bloody Borders because the Social Distancing has been broken by 10,000 Young Lefties. P-off.

Trump, Past Presidents allowed China to rip of Hundred Billions of Dollars

Sam

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05/06/2020

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Trump, Past Presidents allowed China to rip of Hundred Billions of Dollars

PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Good afternoon. Thank you. I’m here today to talk about our relationship with China and several new measures to protect American security and prosperity.

China’s pattern of misconduct is well known. For decades, they have ripped off the United States like no one has ever done before. Hundreds of billions of dollars a year were lost dealing with China, especially over the years during the prior administration. China raided our factories, offshored our jobs, gutted our industries, stole our intellectual property, and violated their commitments under the World Trade Organization. To make matters worse, they are considered a developing nation getting all sorts of benefits that others, including the United States, are not entitled to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSsc5jcXZF0

But I never solely blamed China for this. They were able to get away with a theft like no one was able to get away with before because of past politicians and, frankly, past presidents. But unlike those who came before, my administration negotiated and fought for what was right. It’s called: fair and reciprocal treatment.

China has also unlawfully claimed territory in the Pacific Ocean, threatening freedom of navigation and international trade. And they broke their word to the world on ensuring the autonomy of Hong Kong.

The United States wants an open and constructive relationship with China, but achieving that relationship requires us to vigorously defend our national interests. The Chinese government has continually violated its promises to us and so many other nations.

These plain facts cannot be overlooked or swept aside. The world is now suffering as a result of the malfeasance of the Chinese government. China’s cover-up of the Wuhan virus allowed the disease to spread all over the world, instigating a global pandemic that has cost more than 100,000 American lives and over a million lives worldwide.

Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations to the World Health Organization and pressured the World Health Organization to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities.

Countless lives have been taken, and profound economic hardship has been inflicted all around the globe. They strongly recommended against me doing the early ban from China, but I did it anyway and was proven to be 100 percent correct.

China has total control over the World Health Organization, despite only paying $40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying, which is approximately $450 million a year.

We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engage with them directly, but they have refused to act. Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving, urgent, global public health needs.

The world needs answers from China on the virus. We must have transparency. Why is it that China shut off infected people from Wuhan to all other parts of China? It went nowhere else. It didn’t go to Beijing; it went nowhere else. But allowed them to freely travel throughout the world, including Europe and the United States.

The death and destruction caused by this is incalculable. We must have answers not only for us but for the rest of the world.

This pandemic has underscored the crucial importance of building up America’s economic independence, reshoring our critical supply chains and protecting America’s scientific and technological advances.

For years, the government of China has conducted illicit espionage to steal our industrial secrets, of which there are many. Today, I will issue a proclamation to better secure our nation’s vital university research and to suspend the entry of certain foreign nationals from China who we have identified as potential security risks.

I am also taking action to protect the integrity of America’s financial system — by far, the best in the world. I am instructing my Presidential Working Group on Financial Markets to study the differing practices of Chinese companies listed on the U.S. financial markets, with the goal of protecting American investors.

Investment firms should not be subjecting their clients to the hidden and undue risks associated with financing Chinese companies that do not play by the same rules. Americans are entitled to fairness and transparency.

Several of the most significant actions we’re taking pertain to the deeply troubling situations unfolding in Hong Kong.

This week, China unilaterally imposed control over Hong Kong security. This was a plain violation of Beijing’s treaty obligations with the United Kingdom in the Declaration of 1984 and explicit provisions of Hong Kong’s Basic Law. It has 27 years to go.

The Chinese government’s move against Hong Kong is the latest in a series of measures that are diminishing the city’s longstanding and very proud status.

This is a tragedy for the people of Hong Kong, the people of China, and indeed the people of the world. China claims it is protecting national security. But the truth is that Hong Kong was secure and prosperous as a free society. Beijing’s decision reverses all of that. It extends the reach of China’s invasive state security apparatus into what was formerly a bastion of liberty.

China’s latest incursion, along with other recent developments that degraded the territory’s freedoms, makes clear that Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently autonomous to warrant the special treatment that we have afforded the territory since the handover.

China has replaced its promised formula of “one country, two systems” with “one country, one system.”

Therefore, I am directing my administration to begin the process of eliminating policy exemptions that give Hong Kong different and special treatment.

My announcement today will affect the full range of agreements we have with Hong Kong, from our extradition treaty to our export controls on dual-use technologies and more, with few exceptions.

We will be revising the State Department’s travel advisory for Hong Kong to reflect the increased danger of surveillance and punishment by the Chinese state security apparatus.

We will take action to revoke Hong Kong’s preferential treatment as a separate customs and travel territory from the rest of China.

The United States will also take necessary steps to sanction PRC and Hong Kong officials directly or indirectly involved in eroding Hong Kong’s autonomy and — just if you take a look, smothering — absolutely smothering Hong Kong’s freedom. Our actions will be strong. Our actions will be meaningful.

More than two decades ago, on a rainy night in 1997, British soldiers lowered the Union Flag, and Chinese soldiers raised the Chinese flag in Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong felt simultaneously proud of their Chinese heritage and their unique Hong Kong identity. The people of Hong Kong hoped that in the years and decades to come, China would increasingly come to resemble its most radiant and dynamic city. The rest of the world was electrified by a sense of optimism that Hong Kong was a glimpse into China’s future — not that Hong Kong would grow into a reflection of China’s past.

In every decision, I will continue to proudly defend and protect the workers, families, and citizens of the United States of America.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Attribution: Royalty-free license to the rest of the world for their submissions to WhiteHouse.gov under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Payne, Australia and India agree on new partnership on cyber technology

Sam

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05/06/2020

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Payne, Australia and India agree on new partnership on cyber technology

The Morrison Government has entered into a landmark, cooperative arrangement with India on cyber affairs and critical technology.

As part of the Australia-India Leaders’ Virtual Summit held today, I was pleased to join my Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, in signing the Australia-India Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber‑Enabled Critical Technologies Cooperation.

The Arrangement will enhance our bilateral cooperation on cyber and critical technology issues, which sit at the core of our new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. Under the Arrangement, Australia and India will work together to promote and preserve an open, free, safe and secure Internet, enhance digital trade, harness critical technology opportunities and address cyber security challenges.

Critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and robotics present significant opportunities for people, businesses and the broader economy, but also must be guided by international standards to ensure they do not present risks to security or prosperity.

That is why the Arrangement will be complemented by a new, four-year $12.7 million Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership. This Partnership will create a research and development fund for Indian and Australian businesses and researchers, and support other countries to improve their cyber resilience. Together, these measures will help shape a global technology environment that meets our shared vision of an open, free, rules-based Indo-Pacific region.

Content from this article should be attributed as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website – www.dfat.gov.au

Prime Minister Morrison : On behalf of myself and all of India, I would like to wish all the people and families my deepest condolences to the people who have undergone damage because of COVID-19. This a global pandemic has had an impact on all the regiments in the world and this digital form of our summit is one of the examples of the kind of impact COVID-19 has had over the world.

Excellency, while this gives me immense pleasure to meet you via this digital platform, however I am a little disappointed too, because I could not get the opportunity to extend a hearty welcome to you in India. We were eagerly looking forward to your visit to India, first in January, and then last month. However, unfortunately, both the times your visit had to be postponed. We have to say that this virtual meeting could not possibly replace your visit to India as a friend, my request to you is that once the situation improves, you will plan a visit to India along with your family and allow us to host you.

Excellency, India-Australia relations are not only comprehensive, but also very deep. And this comes from our shared values, shared interest, shared [inaudible], and shared objectives. In the last few years that has been good momentum in our cooperation and coordination. It is very fortunate that the reigns of our relations is held on one side by an empowered and visionary leader like you. I believe that this is the perfect time and perfect opportunity to further strengthen India-Australia relations.

We have unlimited possibilities, both as friends and heads of our friendship. These possibilities bring with them challenges too. How can we actually translate the potential behind these challenges so that the links between our citizens, our businesses, our economists, researchers etcetera becomes even more stronger? How do we make our relations a factor of stability for our region and for the world? How can we work together for the global purpose. All of these aspects need to be discussed.

Excellency, in the current world scenario, expectations of countries from each other and the expectations of our citizens from us is increasing. Given that we share democratic values, it is the duty of our two nations to meet these expectations. And that is why it is our sacred responsibility to uphold and protect values for global good like democracy, rule of law, freedom, mutual respect, regard for international institutions and transparency.

This is indeed our sacred responsibility in the sense it is our legacy for the future. Today, when these values are being challenged in different ways, we can empower, through these values, by strengthening our mutual relations.

Excellency, India is committed to further intensifying comprehensive relations with Australia. This is important not only for our two nations, but is also needed for the Indo-Pacific region as well as for the world. I am pleased that the various framework of institutional dialogues between us are providing substance to our relations. Both countries have regular high level exchanges also. Furthermore, trade and investment is also growing. That said, I cannot say that I’m satisfied with the speed and scope of our relations with a leader like you, is at the helm of a friendly country, the benchmark for the speed in all of our relations should be ambitious. I am very happy that today we are elevating our relations to the comprehensive strategic partnership, in this kind of a pandemic our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the role becomes even more important. The world has to quickly come out of the social and economic adverse impact and for that, a coordinated and collaborative approach, is required. Our government has decided to use this crisis as an opportunity. In India, a process of comprehensive reforms in almost all areas has already begun. Very soon, the results of these reforms will be visible and [inaudible].

I am grateful for the care extended to the Indian diaspora in Australia, especially the Indian students, that is our students, during this very difficult time. Excellency, I would like to mention a special thanks to you for that. Excellency, once again, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak with you at this virtual summit. And I now invite you for your remarks, I am extremely eager to listen to your remarks, so I invite you for the same.

Prime Minister Morrison: Well, thank you, Your Excellency. Namaste. It is tremendous to be able to join with you again, as we have done on quite a number of occasions. But for the first time to do this in this format. And it doesn’t surprise me that this is how we will continue to meet these circumstances when you are the one who started the hologram within your campaign many years ago. And so it may be the next time we can have a hologram of Your Excellency here in Australia. But likewise, we could have brought a President Jokowi as well, because he similarly used that technology. And with a country as vast of yours, you have always been a pioneer in the area of technology for India and today is another good example of that.

Your Excellency, can I thank you for your leadership, not just within India, but more broadly throughout the G20, the Indo-Pacific and the stabilising and constructive and very positive role that you have played in these very difficult times. Together with our friends such as Prime Minister Abe, this has been so important in our region and to provide that steadying and stabilising and wise influence during what is an incredibly difficult time for all of our countries and we wrestle with those challenges each and every day.

Can I also convey our deepest condolences to all of those impacted by tropical cyclone Amphan. This is, together with all of the other difficult issues that are being faced, our condolences are with you for that terrible event and, of course, the industrial accident at Vizag. These are issues that are unrelated, obviously, to the Covid-19 challenges, but they still come and they still test us and once again, you’ve proved more than the measure of those tests.

Our relationship is exactly as you said. It is a very, very comfortable relationship, it is a very natural relationship, so much in common, so much shared, if not in language always certainly in the things that matter and the values that we hold and we both seek to champion those values together in our region and independently as very proud sovereign nations and very vibrant liberal democracies as well and I think we hold that flag up very proudly, each of us. When those flags come together in the way they have now and have for some time, we are only full of ambition, as you said, for what can be achieved in our relationship and between us, I have no doubt and with our excellent Foreign Ministers and Trade Ministers and others, Defence Ministers and others, we could achieve a lot in the years to come.

In the Indo-Pacific, we are committed to an open, inclusive, prosperous Indo-Pacific and India’s role in that region, our region, will be critical in the years ahead. The cultural links that we enjoy between our countries are well known. And what, though, I am even more excited about, Your Excellency, is that it’s time for our relationship to go broader and to go deeper and the things we are speaking of today, I greatly regret we could not do them in person, on not just one, but two occasions. And I thank you very much for the invitation to join, for Jenny and I, to join you in the future. I know she’s very much looking forward to it and so we thank you. She’ll be pleased when I tell her tonight when I get on the phone that Nerandra has invited us again and she’ll be pleased about that. So we look forward to doing that when we can all travel. But I suspect there’ll be perhaps some other opportunities we will meet, I understand perhaps at the G7 with that going ahead later in the year and other events as we draw to the close of the year.

Today, science and technology, a new special grant round between our two countries for a program that is really joining our scientists together. This is exciting. A joint declaration on a shared vision for maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. We share an ocean and we share responsibilities for that ocean as well. Its health, its wellbeing, its security and the relationship we’re forming around those issues and our maritime domain, I think, is the platform for so many other things between our countries. The mutual logistic support arrangement and a defence science and technology implementing arrangement. These are the substantial issues that good friends developed together that provide the opportunity for the many other commercial opportunities that come our way. In a time like this, we want to deal very much with friends and trusted partners and this is a partnership which has stood the test time and again and is during the course of this current crisis.

We share a vision for open, free, rules-based multilateral systems in our region, whether that’s in the health area or it’s in trade or in other places. We engage in those as confident but sovereign nations advancing, of course, our own interests and mindful of our own domestic challenges and I think you’ve navigated that incredibly well and we thank you for the way you continue and go in those fora in such an open and honest and transparent way.

The trade and investment flows between our country are not where you and I would both like them to be, but they are growing and they can grow a lot faster. But I think the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that we are forming today, going to a whole new level of relationship, will continue to build the trust because we want commercial and trading relationships that are built on trust. We already see a great movement of peoples in normal times between our countries and I thank you for your comments about the hospitality that is extended to Indian students here in Australia and we want to continue to see that happen. And we want to see Australian students study in India as well as we support and would like to support through the programmes that we run here from Australia.

I also want to commend India on its leadership in these multilateral forums, particularly on taking over Chair of the World Health Organisation’s executive board. This is a very important time to be chairing that executive board. I have no doubt that the way that that will be led under India’s leadership will be critical to how we deal with the many difficult problems that we are encountering globally, particularly in the health area.

And so as we announce agreements also in cyber and science and infrastructure and trade and education, this is a grand portfolio of specific and very practical arrangements that give form and substance to the comprehensive strategic partnership. You and I have both – you for much longer – have been dealing in these international issues for a long time and there are many relationships and partnerships but we know they don’t come to anything if we don’t put into the practical building blocks and agreements that sit under the relationship that actually contribute to the prosperity and the progress of the relationship between our two countries.

So today is a very good opportunity to extend that. It will be extended also in the agreement that we have to commit to foreign and defence ministers meeting on a regular two time, two plus two format. I think that’s a great step forward. The relationship also we have with partners in the region, particularly Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, the United States, others is very important and we are both enthusiastically pursuing those bilateral relationships. But increasingly in multilateral fora, both informally and formally, that is providing, I think, a basis of stability of our region, which we can all share in and we can drive prosperity from.

So I look forward to this first Australia and India Leader’s Virtual Summit Today. I wish I could be there for what has become the famous Modi hug and be able to share my samosas, which I thank you for. We had a bit of fun with that on the weekend. So next time, it will have to be the Gujarati khichdi which I know is a keen favourite of yours and you’ve mentioned to me before. So I’ll try that out in the kitchen next time, before next time we meet in person.

Thank you.

President Trump, First Lady visit the St John Paul II Shrine

Sam

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03/06/2020

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mail President Trump and the First Lady visit the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, Photo White House

President Trump and first lady on their Knees praying for Guidance for their Nation. The mainstream media won’t publish this but I’m happy to do just that and that’s why we are called the Alternative Media.

Below is Trump Speech to the Nation: I want to inform you about what the Media are not saying that the people who are Burning and Wrecking Havoc are Islamists, Black and White Drug Addicts and Vicious Mexican Cartels. Trump will Organise a Precision Strike on all those Gand Members but keep in mind it takes time for the Chief of Staff to organise a Military Strike because it has to be planned and Calling up 20,000 Troops isn’t easy as you think, They need accommodation, Food, Captains and Generals who will have to be informed on how the Miltary strike will happen and that can take a week but it will be swift.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. My fellow Americans: My first and highest duty as President is to defend our great country and the American people. I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our nation, and that is exactly what I will do.

All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by the brutal death of George Floyd. My administration is fully committed that, for George and his family, justice will be served. He will not have died in vain. But we cannot allow the righteous cries and peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob. The biggest victims of the rioting are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities, and as their President, I will fight to keep them safe. I will fight to protect you. I am your President of law and order, and an ally of all peaceful protesters.

But in recent days, our nation has been gripped by professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals, rioters, Antifa, and others. A number of state and local governments have failed to take necessary action to safeguard their residents. Innocent people have been savagely beaten, like the young man in Dallas, Texas, who was left dying on the street, or the woman in Upstate New York viciously attacked by dangerous thugs.

Small-business owners have seen their dreams utterly destroyed. New York’s Finest have been hit in the face with bricks. Brave nurses, who have battled the virus, are afraid to leave their homes. A police precinct station has been overrun. Here in the nation’s capital, the Lincoln Memorial and the World War Two Memorial have been vandalized. One of our most historic churches was set ablaze. A federal officer in California, an African American enforcement hero, was shot and killed.

These are not acts of peaceful protest. These are acts of domestic terror. The destruction of innocent life and the spilling of innocent blood is an offense to humanity and a crime against God.

America needs creation, not destruction; cooperation, not contempt; security, not anarchy; healing, not hatred; justice, not chaos. This is our mission, and we will succeed. One hundred percent, we will succeed. Our country always wins.

That is why I am taking immediate presidential action to stop the violence and restore security and safety in America. I am mobilizing all available federal resources — civilian and military — to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson, and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights. Therefore, the following measures are going into effect immediately:

First, we are ending the riots and lawlessness that has spread throughout our country. We will end it now. Today, I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets. Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled.

If a city or a state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.

I am also taking swift and decisive action to protect our great capital, Washington, D.C. What happened in this city last night was a total disgrace. As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults, and the wanton destruction of property.

We are putting everybody on warning: Our seven o’clock curfew will be strictly enforced. Those who threaten innocent life and property will be arrested, detained, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I want the organizers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties and lengthy sentences in jail. This includes Antifa and others who are leading instigators of this violence.

One law and order — and that is what it is: one law. We have one beautiful law. And once that is restored and fully restored, we will help you, we will help your business, and we will help your family.

America is founded upon the rule of law. It is the foundation of our prosperity, our freedom, and our very way of life. But where there is no law, there is no opportunity. Where there is no justice, there is no liberty. Where there is no safety, there is no future.

We must never give in to anger or hatred. If malice or violence reigns, then none of us is free.

I take these actions today with firm resolve and with a true and passionate love for our country. By far, our greatest days lie ahead.

Thank you very much. And now I’m going to pay my respects to a very, very special place. Thank you very much.

Source: WhiteHouse.gov under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Trump invites Putin, Australia, India and Korea to G7 summit in the USA

Sam

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02/06/2020

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Trump invites Putin, Australia, India and Korea to G7 summit in the USA

President of Russia Media Release: Telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the United States of America Donald Trump at the initiative of the American side.

The presidents exchanged views on the coronavirus response measures taken by both countries. Vladimir Putin expressed appreciation for the supply of US ventilators to Russia.

The Russian President congratulated Donald Trump on the successful launch of the Crew Dragon manned spacecraft on May 30, which carried American astronauts to the International Space Station. A common attitude towards the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the space sector was confirmed.

The presidents addressed world oil market developments in the context of implementing the OPEC+ agreement. It was stated that this multilateral agreement, reached with the active support of the presidents of Russia and the United States, would lead to a gradual restoration of oil demand and price stabilisation.

Mr Trump informed Mr Putin about his idea of holding a G7 summit with the possible invitation of the leaders of Russia, Australia, India and the Republic of Korea.

The importance of enhancing the Russian-American dialogue on strategic stability and confidence-building measures in the military sector was noted.

The presidents agreed to continue contacts at various levels.

The conversation was constructive, businesslike and substantive.

Source: President of Russia Media Kremlin Moscow

PM Morrison Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB

FORDHAM: The United States wants Australia to step up in an expanded G7. So the G7 is a very outdated group of countries, according to Donald Trump. So what, we’ll have a seat at the table in an expanded G7?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah we’re expecting an invitation there. We actually received one from President Macron last year, it was actually on election night he sent me a text Emmanuel Macron saying congratulations, can you come to the G7 in France? And and again, this year, the United States has indicated they’re looking to do something similar. And so we welcome that. And it’s a good opportunity to deal with a lot of like minded countries. We always have the opportunity to deal with Japan in particular. And I’ve got a meeting this week by telepresence with Prime Minister Modi. South Korea being involved, that’s good. And of course, the U.K. and France and Germany, these as we’re working towards free trade agreements with the European Union and the UK. It’s always good to be engaging with like minded democracies.

FORDHAM: You just mentioned Prime Minister Modi in India. I noticed yesterday that you were cooking Indian, you like cooking Indian. But you said instead of the Samosas, you said ‘Sunday Scomosas with mango chutney all made from scratch’. How do the girls appreciate Dad’s dad jokes when you go to the Sunday Scomosas?

Source: Licensed from the Commonwealth of Australia under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.

The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the content of this publication.

Palaszczuk $21 million available to support First Nations Queenslanders

Sam

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28/05/2020

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Palaszczuk $21 million available to support First Nations Queenslanders

The Palaszczuk Government has made more than $21 million available to support the health and wellbeing of First Nations Queenslanders and communities during COVID-19.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said the measures aim to combat the spread of COVID-19 amongst First Nations Queenslanders to ensure the coronavirus does not adversely impact their communities or amplify existing health inequalities.

“From the moment the virus appeared in Australia we have been working to prevent outbreaks in Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities where we know it would have a devastating impact.

“This funding has gone toward preparing for possible future outbreaks in First Nations communities, while remaining committed to existing health services.

“We know that First Nations peoples, particular those that are aged 50 and over with one or more chronic health conditions may experience more severe symptoms of COVID-19.

“We have to remain vigilant and be able to respond early to COVID-19.”

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford commended remote and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders for the work they have done to protect their communities from the spread of COVID-19.

“In March, the National Cabinet agreed to restrict entry into those communities under the Commonwealth’s Biosecurity Act 2015,” Mr Crawford said.

“I have heard the concerns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mayors and leaders since the measures came into effect. We know these decisions have raised challenges for the delivery of healthcare and essential wellbeing services.”

This investment is already delivering for First Nation Queenslanders and will help:

Facilitate partnerships between Hospital and Health Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisations to support local COVID-19 responses
Bolster the frontline health workforce to help people remain connected and continue their healthcare during this time
Roll out innovative models of healthcare in the home, from the home and close to home
Enable a surge workforce capacity to respond to community outbreaks
Provide funding for increased communication activities.

Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chief Health Officer and Deputy Director-General Haylene Grogan welcomed this investment.

“I have been talking with community leaders and clinicians right across Queensland, we must do all we can to ensure people stay engaged in healthcare, especially in relation to chronic disease management. These measures are about healthcare in the home, from the home and close to home,” Ms Grogan said.

“This investment also provides an opportunity to drive health equity reform through enhancing the uptake of innovation.

“I know the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health sector in Queensland is doing a good job alongside our Hospital and Health Services and we want to see partnerships and innovation strengthened so that quality healthcare is provided to First Nations people in this state.”

Deputy Premier Miles said in addition to this investment, the Palaszczuk Government is also investing to expand the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) existing IUIH Connect Program in South East Queensland.

“IUIH Connect works closely with Queensland Health, Public Health Networks, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health clinics, and community-based social support services to connect patients and families towards holistic supports when and where they need it, across multiple systems and organisations,” Mr Miles said.

“As part of the $28 million fund established by the Palaszczuk Government to support Queensland’s community-based health service groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, IUIH is one of the first organisations to benefit with a $1.4 million grant.”

Minister Crawford said it is critical that we back our community support services during these difficult times as they respond rapidly to the widespread impact of the virus in Queensland.

“Getting the level of communication right during this time is critical to keep communities informed. An SMS platform for COVID-19 First Nations communications will be rolled out to provide tailored information about COVID-19 via text messaging, that will complement a broad communications program,” Minister Crawford said.

“First Nations communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations know what is best for their communities, and we are continuing to listen and be informed by their advice.”

Attribution: Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services. The Honourable Steven Miles

Katter: Time to stop milking dairy farmers

Sam

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19/05/2020

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Katter: Time to stop milking dairy farmers

That the House:(1) notes that:

(a) on 6 May 2020 the Minister for Agriculture put out a media release titled “Time to stop milking dairy, fair go for farmers”;

(b) nearly 500 dairy farmers have left the industry in the past year;

(c) the ACCC in 2018 identified that there is a market imbalance between processors and farmers;

(d) in the state of Queensland alone the number of dairy farmers has dropped from 1,305 in 2000-2001 to 356 in 2019;

(e) Australia had 12,896 dairy farms in the year 2000;

(f) in 2018 there were just 5,699 dairy farms, a reduction of 57 per cent which is likely to have increased in the last 12 months;

(g) in the North Queensland dairy area before deregulation farmers got 60.4 cents per litre, but after deregulation they got 41.1 cents;

(h) Dairy Australia’s Situation and Outlook March 2020 report says dairy farmers have been impacted by the summer bushfires adding additional price pressures to their operations, including in:

(i) NSW, 32 dairy farms on the south coast and far south coast and eight on the mid coast;

(ii) North East Victoria, 35 dairy farms directly affected and 11 more operations significantly impacted;

(iii) East Gippsland in Victoria, approximately 30 dairy farms affected in the direct fire zone with varying degrees of impact, including two known to have lost major assets; and

(iv) South Australia, 12 dairy farms affected by fires prior to Christmas;

(i) Dairy Australia has also stated a range of factors weighed on economic growth last year, including geopolitical tensions, trade policy uncertainty, social unrest and stressed emerging markets and overall, growth in global output fell 0.7 per cent to 2.9 per cent, the lowest level since the 2008-09 financial crisis;

(j) the Australian Dairy Situation Analysis dated May 2019 states that Australian dairy farmers operate in a deregulated and open market, leaving them quite exposed to the product price adjustments induced by global market shocks and associated flow on impact to farm gate milk prices, which, coupled with increased volatility in the availability and pricing of key production inputs such as water and feed has undermined local farmer confidence in the long term dairy market outlook and the scope to extract reliable returns from their milk to build a longer term future; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) give more support to Australia’s dairy farmers;

(b) instruct the ACCC to develop a minimum farmgate milk price;

(c) enforce the minimum farmgate milk price through the Dairy Code of Conduct; and

d) as an interim measure, provide a mechanism for mandating the voluntary milk levy until the minimum farmgate price is established or create an offence to purchase fresh milk below the minimum price to farmers that will be set by an arbitration authority designated by the ACCC.

I represent one of the three areas designated in Australia as being the biggest and most at risk. Bega was another area that was designated as one of the biggest and most at risk. On the day before dairy deregulation, we were getting 60c a litre for fresh milk. The day after we were getting 41.1c a litre. Thirty per cent of our income was taken off us overnight. Every person in this room, imagine if you got a telephone call and were told that 30 per cent of your income was to be taken away tomorrow. That’s what happened to these poor farmers.

For those that advocate for free markets, I strongly advise that they sue the universities they went to for not telling them that free markets do not include a situation where two retailers have 80 per cent of the marketplace. That is called an oligopoly, and proof positive is the fact that within one day the price had gone from 60c down to 40c. That’s not a free market. That clearly is an oligopolistic pricing mechanism, where two, three or four people control the price. If further proof were needed, as Fred Cudor pointed out to me, if Coles and Woolworths could decide arbitrarily that they could put 20c a litre on milk to help drought affected dairy farmers then clearly they’re controlling the marketplace. Just two people in the marketplace could unilaterally decide to kick the milk prices up 20c, further proof that it is not the market setting the price but the two giant supermarket chains.

I’m not attacking them. They have a responsibility to their shareholders to maximise profits. The honourable opposition member who will be seconding this motion, Mr Joel Fitzgibbon, has pointed out on numerous occasions that they have a responsibility to maximise profits to their shareholders. They’re going to play by the rules, but we set the rules. The rules are based upon a free market when there is no free market, clearly. If overnight you can chop the price down 30c and then you can put it up 20c literally in one day, there is no free market. You’re just deciding whatever price you want to put on it and that’s the price it will be. That is the necessity for minimum pricing. Quite frankly, intelligent people—and there are a lot of unintelligent people out there—know that the government members are getting constant publicity because they are saying: ‘Oh, this is dreadful. Oh, we must have a code of conduct. We’ve got to put a code of conduct in.’ Well, they got the code of conduct in and we got 3c out of it. Consumers are paying 20c.

I can’t speak for every farmer in Australia, but there are only two factories left in Queensland. One is in Brisbane and one is in North Queensland. There are a million people in North Queensland, so it’s a very sizeable factory. For that area with a million people, I can say very definitely that we got 3.1c. So the consumer’s paid 20c and the farmer got 3.1c—and it was to help the farmers! I don’t know what farmers got helped, unless you consider 3c a help.

An arbitration commission—it was a fair claims commission, if you like—set the price for milk to the farmer at 60c a litre. If you extrapolate that price to prices currently, 20 years later, then you come up with a figure of 94c a litre. That’s what they should be getting, and they’re getting 60c a litre. I don’t want to get tangled up with figures, but you don’t have to be told that every dairy farmer in this country is going down. Some of the big boys think that, by getting bigger, they are going to be all right. I had discussions many years ago now with Tony Perich, the second biggest milk producer in Australia. He is in Penrith, outside of Sydney, and he’s milking over 2,000 milkers. That’s fantastic. I don’t think anyone in Queensland is doing 700, and he was doing over 2,200 at the time. He said: ‘We’re losing money. If you think you’re going to get bigger and that will somehow solve the problem, it won’t, because I’m as big as there is and I’m still going broke.’ For those stupids who think they can stay where they are, they will be gone because of their stupidity. You can take your free market and every intelligent person who believes in free markets—

The SPEAKER: Member for Kennedy, could you pause for a second. You have moved that standing orders be suspended, so at some point you really need to be saying why standing orders ought to be suspended.

Mr KATTER: I take your point, Mr Speaker. We have lost 500 dairy farmers in the last year. If I had to put a figure on it, I would say we’re losing 30 a week. So do we stand here and do nothing—because this House maybe won’t sit for another month or two; I don’t know—and watch another 100 or 200 farmers hit the wall or move into a situation from which they can never recover? That is the urgency of this motion.

Quite frankly, I think there are probably some people over here who are not game to open their mouths but are praying that we get this through because, eventually, their farmers going to wake up. Eventually their farmers are going to wake up and say, ‘We’ve been voting for the country party, but we don’t think this mob are the country party anymore.’ Sixty per cent of New South Wales has made that decision. With the land mass in New South Wales, they have left. All of North Queensland, virtually, has left. The people are not dumb and eventually they will wake up and realise that the party that was formed to deliver a statutory market, a minimum price, is now the party— (Time expired)

Source:https://www.aph.gov.au/Attribution: Parliament of Australia website.

Hanson: We do not want migrants to return to Australia in the same numbers

Sam

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14/05/2020

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Hanson: We do not want migrants to return to Australia in the same numbers

Senator Pauline Hanson (Queensland) : One Nation submitted today’s matter of public importance: (Migration May 2020)

When Australia restarts our migration program, we do not want migrants to return to Australia in the same numbers and in the same composition as before the crisis.

I have to admit that they are not my words; they are Senator Keneally’s words, which she used in her article. It’s quite interesting. I’ve always said there should be a debate on this, and I’m pleased that we actually got to call on this debate.

Forcing debate about immigration and foreign workers is often a thankless task. No-one knows this more than me. When you bring up facts such as more than half of the nation’s population growth since 2005 has come from overseas migration, you get called a racist. When you explain that instead of flooding Australia with migrants to drive economic growth we should be increasing productivity or investing in skills and training, people call you xenophobic. When you make commonsense statements like, ‘Australians should get a fair go and the first go at jobs,’ people call you a white supremacist. When you argue, like Senator Keneally did the other day, that once Australia restarts its immigration program migrants must not return to Australia in the same numbers and in the same composition as before the coronavirus crisis, people might even accuse you of stealing One Nation policy.

This is why I today want to say thank you to Labor’s shadow immigration minister, Kristina Keneally. I know she will not be getting much support from her Labor colleagues. Reading through some of the recent comments made by Senator Keneally, I can only assume she has spent much of her time in quarantine reading through my speeches from 1996 and taking copious notes, because so much of what she said could have been taken from comments and arguments I’ve made over the past 24 years. Perhaps Senator Keneally may want to make an admission here today that she’s a closet One Nation supporter. I know it took Mark Latham a couple of decades to come out of the One Nation closet, but look how great he’s doing! He’s a new man and loving it, and so are the Australian people.

Today I want to reassure the Senate that if Senator Keneally wants to cross the floor in support of her own comments and finds herself thrown out of the Labor Party for breaking ranks, I will always have a position in my office for talented immigration speechwriters such as herself. I know I don’t often get a chance to congratulate my Labor Senate colleagues, but I always give credit where credit is due. Credit is due, because, by revealing herself as a convert to One Nation’s position on immigration, Senator Keneally has proven that what I have long said is true: so powerful are my arguments on immigration that even a staunch opponent of One Nation like Senator Keneally will eventually be dragged kicking and screaming to support cuts to immigration and cuts to foreign workers. I know there are many in the Labor Party, and even more among Labor’s allies and the unions, who agree with my position on immigration and foreign workers behind closed doors but refuse to speak the truth publicly out of fear of being called a racist or some other meaningless insult.

Right now, due to coronavirus, there are millions of Australians unemployed or underemployed. These are the people we need to look after, not foreign workers. This is the debate we need to have. We can’t go back to our old immigration program. Australians have a right to a job and to a way of life that is not tied to welfare handouts. For decades, the coalition and Labor parties have used mass migration and foreign workers to artificially pump up economic growth. For decades they have cynically used insults and slurs to try and shut down this debate. For decades they have refused to admit that this is creating problems with increased demand on our limited services, housing affordability, unemployment and underemployment, wage stagnation and congestion in our cities. Senator Keneally and I have now warned each and every one of you that if we continue down the same path, the path of mass migration and foreign workers, our economy will come crashing down. I moved a notice of motion today on the floor of parliament, and I’ll just read out some of the comments in this notice of motion:

… relying on high levels of immigration to boost the population to fuel economic growth is arguably a lazy approach letting lots of migrants come to Australia to drive economic growth rather than increasing productivity or investing in skills and training is a lazy approach instead of letting lots of migrants come to Australia to drive economic growth, we should be increasing productivity or investing in skills and training as at June 2019, there were 2.1 million temporary visa holders in Australia Australia hosts the second-largest migrant workforce in the OECD, second in total number only to the US one in five chefs, one in four cooks, one in six hospitality workers, and one in 10 nursing support and personal care workers in Australia hold a temporary visa …

Another one says: when Australia restarts its immigration program, we must understand that migration is a key economic policy lever that can help or harm Australian workers in the economic recovery and beyond …

Senator Davey talks about regional areas. It says here: we must also ensure that regional areas don’t only get transient people but community members who will settle down, buy houses, start businesses and send their kids to the local school …

The whole fact is that Labor said I was pulling a stunt. No. All those words were from Senator Keneally, from her article. That was from Labor’s shadow minister for immigration, yet they said I was pulling a political stunt. No, I wasn’t pulling a political stunt. The fact is that I called Labor out for what this is: they themselves pulled a political stunt. Keneally was the one that actually made those comments, but Labor clearly do not stand by them, because they did not support the notice of motion today. So who’s really pulled a political stunt? They use it when it suits them. As I’ve said, high immigration props up our economy and has been used by both the major political parties.

And I will make a comment about Senator Faruqi today saying that One Nation stands by white supremacy. At no point have we ever. I’m sick of the lies put across in this chamber with regard to One Nation, and I’m going to call that out for what it is. I encourage people to go to One Nation’s website and look at our immigration policy, which is nondiscriminatory. That is purely a lie. To talk about immigration policy, we need a debate; Australians want the debate. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Brockman ): That concludes this matter of public importance.

https://www.aph.gov.au/nAttribution: Parliament of Australia

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