‘Let the men have their club. It’s good and healthy for them.’
“I’m a woman, and I’m well educated but honestly, let the men have their club! What’s wrong with it? Why can’t men have a club? I think it’s good and healthy for them. No one criticises women for having women-only clubs. Truly, I think it’s ridiculous. I support men in their right to be able to have a men’s club. I have sons and when they grow up, I hope they can have the ability to have fellowship with other men without constant societal pressure to have to include women in every single thing or otherwise they are ‘archaic’. Honestly, this club memberships issue really isn’t ‘one of the great social justice issues of our time’.”
Elizabeth explained:
“Mr Cousins is entitled to and is welcome to his own opinion. He should accord that right to those of a contrary view. Going public, as he has, could be interpreted as an attempt to coerce others to adopt his point of view. I say coerce, because he predicts the demise of the club.
“Mr Cousins and others of his view engaged in a battle of ideas and did not prevail. Instead of accepting that outcome and continuing to enjoy the camaraderie and other benefits of the club, he has chosen to leave. Again, his right. However, in his ire, he is trying to harm the club by encouraging others to leave. That is disappointing behaviour, inconsistent with liberal values.
“As has been pointed out by many others, there are clubs whose membership is restricted to women. To my knowledge, no one ever suggests, never mind campaigns, that they should admit men. This is freedom of association, a hallmark of a liberal democracy. We need to defend this, and indeed all pillars of this way of life.”
Hazel harrumphed:
“Um … where’s the women's club? Sign me up!”
Good luck, said Ghengis:
“Queens Club, only a few doors away and NO, you cannot join unless you are invited by them.”
Bernie mansplained:
“There are clubs for men only. There are clubs for women only. But there is no hoo-ha about the women-only clubs – is there? None at all.
“Women-only clubs are fine and dandy, according to the wokesters and PC brigade. But men-only clubs are verboten and must be ‘deconstructed’ so as to allow women to join them. And, ultimately, run them.
“Men must know their place. And there is no way known that uppity men should ever be allowed to be by themselves.”
John jabbed:
“This isn’t about inclusivity, it’s about women taking over all men’s space. All the good space, anyway. Just like women aren’t demanding equality in dirty and dangerous jobs like garbage collection labouring, coalmine labouring, builders’ labouring and so on, they’re also not demanding membership of low status yob clubs you’ve never heard of. Any yob club that gains some cachet or notoriety, expect applications.”
Cassandra cheered:
“ ‘Australia Club votes against letting women join’. I’m a woman and I support this decision.”
Deborah did too:
“Now this is a #MeToo movement that I am happy to support! Let the boys have some time to themselves too.”
Not Only But Also pointed out:
“Don’t blame women. This was a proposal from a group of men.”
Anne wanted in:
“Nothing to do with misogyny. Everything to do with having the same opportunity to network with senior members of business, politics, the professions, ie the same reason that most men seek to belong to this club.”
Rules, said Jules:
“If Turnbull was true to his stated convictions, he wouldn’t be a member. And given the club has just voted against one of his lifelong held positions (as a feminist, stated by himself), he ought to resign.”
Charles J chuckled:
“He has principles and if they don’t suit him he has others.”
Martin mused:
“Clubs by their very nature are designed for like-minded people to meet. Don’t join a golf club if you want to play tennis.”
Graham grimaced:
“It’s not about that. It’s about behaviour. Men still want to hold on to archaic behaviour and attitudes, and form a club where they can foster those attitudes towards outsiders, and pass this example on to younger men And as this article says, they are the leaders of this nation. Not very inclusive, or exemplary. They should not be allowed to call themselves the Australia Club.”
Nic thought it was nice:
“A friend of mine took me to lunch there once. Nice food, full of elderly men in grey and blue suits, good art and even a sprinkling of women with a great view of Sydney Harbour. Nothing confronting or offensive at all. Let them have their club, it’s not doing anyone any harm at all. It’s just a pity that The Australian makes such an issue of it. The world has far bigger issues to deal with.”
From Mary:
“Men’s Sheds around the country aren’t inclusive either. I imagine they are very positive places for men to just be around men. Men need space too.”
–
The chance that SARS-CoV-2 emerged naturally from animals in China is “one in a million”, according to top scientists who told Adam Creighton that the world risks biological war if controversial “gain of function” research into viruses is not shut down immediately. The truth is out there, said John:
“CCP obfuscation of the initial appearance and spread of a virus which has killed millions, lends credence to virologists claiming that it is a non-evolved ‘gain of function’ bioweapon, engineered in and escaped from a laboratory. The truth is emerging, despite all attempts to deny or conceal it.”
Kieran’s call:
“All gain of function experimentation should be prohibited globally and backed up with harsh criminal penalties for all those who breach this prohibition. Just as we have a nuclear test ban treaty, we need this, because gain of function experimentation is more dangerous than nuclear weapons.”
Dermot decreed:
“I have no doubt that other countries are also investigating bio weapons irrespective of denials. Suspiciously, China were very quick to have a vaccine and go into overdrive denying any negative views and instituting punishment on Governments and scientists that suggested further investigation or alternative views. CCP ham-handled attempts to stifle any and all objections has only added fuel to the fire. It seems for all their technological power their diplomatic ability is juvenile and immature. The more they bluster and threaten cements the increasing view that they have much to hide.”
TerenceL theorised:
“Just assume, for arguments sake, that China deliberately or accidentally released the virus as a biological weapon. It matters not as they will never admit it, it cannot be proved and they will certainly not accept any responsibilty. We must accept that it is a pariah nation with global ambitions to stifle the democratic world. Time to stop wasting resources on the hows and whys and concentrate on mobilizing resistance to a very obvious threat. Only today, a short period of disruption to our vital communication network shows how pathetically vulnerable we are to a hostile sophisticated enemy whilst we consume ourselves with gender identity and other self centered issues.”
Wow, said Johnnw:
“If true, surely this is the crime of the century. World wars have started over far less than this. Those responsible must be brought to justice and China must pay the world reparations in the trillions.”
Jim counselled:
“Let’s wait and see if it was accidental or deliberate first.”
Dwight asked:
“So, what happened to the 27 scientists who published a letter in Lancet in February 2020 to say this was a conspiracy theory?”
Overit answered:
“Peter Dazsak, one of the main instigators of the letter, was found to be directly involved with funding for the Wuhan lab. This involvement was not declared at the time of the publication of the letter. America’s involvement – funding and training of the Wuhan ‘bat lady’ – is just coming to light. People were protecting themselves and, apparently, the western world’s investigative journalists were on a year’s leave.”
Andrew agreed:
“Yes, ‘working’ from home. But thank God for Sharri (Markson), she is onto them.”
–
Jack the Insider dismissed the much-vaunted Four Corners report into the cult of QAnon and a member’s friendship with the Prime Minister as a nothing burger, repeating claims that had been reported over a year ago by other media. Red mist from Chris:
“While China is busy infiltrating our country, the good old ABC tries to link the PM to a cult. Way to go, boys and girls.”
NewSpeak spoke:
“Four Corners these days reminds me of those Hollywood style tabloid scandal sheets – all gossip and garbage with headlines designed to sell magazines.”
John hit back:
“Who watches Sky News? Only those who rather listen and watch what they already believe in. Become an informed viewer watch the ABC.”
Robin reacted:
“I’m still more worried by Antifa, BLM and Extinction Rebellion as threats to our freedoms and values than I am by QAnon.”
Arthur! agreed:
“QAnon offers some sort of hope to the disaffiliated ‘basket of deplorables’ who watch the antics of the left and do not see any counter. QAnon is not some sort of sect or cult or white supremacist rabble rouser – it is a person expressing views from behind a computer screen, people make of it what they will.”
David was disappointed:
“What a complete waste of my time watching Four Corners last Monday night. Amateurish, lacked any credibility, boring. Big build up but fell totally flat. Ms Milligan needs to get back to the basics and stop targeting the government.”
Action Jackson too:
“It was very boring and amateurish. At one point I found myself thinking ‘there’s no way the whole show is resting on one word (ritual) said by the PM in his speech; surely there’s some big explosive material about to be revealed’ ..... aaaand then the show ended.”
–
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Welcome to the column where you provide the content. High-profile businessman Geoff Cousins quit the Australian Club after members of the prestigious Sydney institution voted against allowing women to join, describing his horror at the “guffaws and giggling” in the room ahead of the ballot. Crazy, said Chris’s wife: