“All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others.” So said Douglas Adams as he hitchhiked around the galaxy. What did you say this week? It’s the Readers’ Comments column. Let’s engage ...
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When the federal police showed up at the AWU headquarters to make sure certain documents pertaining to Bill Shorten’s use of union funds during his time in charge weren’t deep-sixed, a storm erupted that could leave a dark stain on both sides of politics. Thunder and lightning from readers’ keyboards followed. Warren broke into song, earning 76 likes:
“‘You can’t get me because I’m part of the Union, till the day I die’. ‘If you don’t agree with the law, break it’. The mantra says it all. Unions are corrupt.”
Said Sir Les:
“Bill Shorten boasted at the last election that he would run the country in the same way that he ran the AWU. All I can say is: ‘God help us’ if this man is ever elected to lead the nation!”
TrustMe trusted no one:
“Any incriminating documents or electronic files would have been erased long before the raid.
The AWU knew the subject matter was being looked at and had plenty of time to clean up old files. That’s the union way.
“You wait and see, it will be revealed nothing of consequence was obtained in the raids and Labor and their union masters will scream we told you so, we are innocent, this is a witch hunt. You all know by now how it plays out.”
Roger remembered:
“Shorten’s performance at the Royal Commission: No memory, no records, no emails, all lost, missing. Con artist taking the high ground. Time to resign Bill and let Anthony take over.”
Ken counselled creativity:
“There is plenty of precedent (particularly in Queensland) of how to quickly deal with such irritating requests.
“Mysterious fire in the middle of the floor of the now defunct Painters and Dockers office; Qld CFMEU taking truckloads of documents to a private property for landfill.”
Jo-nathan judged:
“The AWU’s document refusal ‘triggered raids’ is this article’s headline. Whenever the unions are under investigation, their predictable response, and also that of their political wing the ALP, is to scurry like a nest of angry ants obfuscating, obstructing and chanting ‘witch-hunt’.
“One only has to remember what Justice Dyson Heydon had to go through when the union heavies attempted to discredit him while he directed the royal commission into trade union governance and corruption, which resulted in the laying of criminal charges.”
Graeme asked:
“Why is anyone surprised? Sally McManus has made it clear that they consider themselves above the law.”
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Niki Savva took it to Streets, saying Paddle Pops could go the way of Holden cars if ACTU secretary McManus went ahead with plans for a national boycott. Diogenis said the point was moot:
“Won’t matter as there won’t be enough electricity to keep the refrigeration operational.”
George thought global:
“Australia still does not understand that we live in a global economy and market. It does not understand that the economies of scale enjoyed by other counties do not apply here. Also we have a relatively expensive currency. Frankly, I cannot see manufacturing ever succeeding
in any significant way in this country.”
Pulse put his finger on it:
“Streets workers earn 25 per cent more than the average wage? Do they work more hours/shifts? I can’t imagine making ice cream is a dangerous or difficult job. It makes no sense that employees trained to work on the plant are unable to cover for a worker on leave or when sick. That’s dark ages work practices.
“Sadly, this is another case of going down with the ship. The unions would rather have the company close down than restructure pay and agreements in line with the modern world. Lesson 101. Business thinking of coming to Australia, best to employ non-union workers.”
Timothy tittered:
“The scariest woman outside parliament? I agree that Sally McManus is a very strong contender for that prize. But she will never be the winner. She’s just not in the league. But Niki, I commend you on your modesty.”
Jane rejoindered:
“Cash will no longer be the scariest woman inside politics. Nikki, have you told the entire story here? The union does not advocate businesses closing. They do everything in their power to ensure workers keep their jobs. Might I suggest this is all about shareholders and not a company struggling?”
Ian imagined:
“Ah Jane. All they have to do is go out to one of the parliamentary courtyards and pluck the money of the money tree that Labor planted. Easy peasy.”
Jason S wanted Cash:
“Malcolm Turnbull is extremely fortunate to have Michaelia Cash as his employment minister. What a star. I particularly liked the way she calls a spade a spade on disgraceful union behaviour such as those CFMEU thugs who felt it was acceptable to threaten the children of Glencore workers at Oaky North mine.
“No fluffy unconvincing rhetoric like her boss, she uses direct and powerful language that leaves nobody guessing. I bet those real misogynists at the CFMEU are grinding their teeth. Good! The hyperbolic over-reaction by McManus, the CFMEU, ALP and Bill Shorten to the AWU raids tells me they are 100 per cent right on the money.”
Glenn groaned:
“This is low-life politics and will do nothing to help the LNP cause. They are desperate and it is showing.”
Benson cued the Benny Hill music:
“The government fires a torpedo and it blows up in the tube. Total incompetence again from this pathetic government.”
Graham called for Cash’s head:
“And they bitched about (Peta) Credlin demanding standards and competency from political staffers. Cash has had a hard lesson about some of the parasites who hang around politicians. What other leaking has this person and others done? What ‘favours’ do they owe?
“In the end, it’s Cash’s responsibility. She hired the person. She needs to stand down.”
Swee summed up:
“How can you stuff up mud-throwing?”
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Janet Albrechtsen said #notmetoo as she tackled the lynch mob mentality and trial by social media in the wash-up to Weinsteingate. Brownyn went broad brush:
“It is a process of ostracism, one of the unhappy side effects of democracy. As in ancient Athens, there is no specific charge, and no defence can be mounted.
“The aim is not justice, but the neutralisation of a particular person. The perpetrators are not necessarily women, and sometimes it happens to women (Demidenko). Some attempted ostracisms fail (Trump) and some succeed (various Australian Church leaders), depending on the strength of the person attacked. I always feel for the victim.”
Thus spake Kate:
“Mostly men commenting here. And most are defensive. Sorry, but just because most men are good, it doesn’t mean we can’t condemn those who are not. Weinstein is obviously one of them. I feel no sympathy for him. But I’m not about to condemn men generally or look on them with suspicion just because of a few grubs.”
Cameron was wary of the mob:
“Social media campaigns such as Tracey Spicer’s call to report sexual harassment play on the propensity of people to ‘groupthink’. This strategy has a dangerous lynch mob mentality where accountability, truth and reason are not guaranteed.”
Scott shared:
“So in my workplace, a female colleague constantly describes her sexual conquests to myself and others. Tinder ‘D’ pics are also waved under my nose, despite my voiced disgust.
“One afternoon I was discussing with another employee, the admirable assets of a lady I had seen while shopping. FC then berated me, saying that discussing women like that while in her presence was a form of sexual harassment. She was serious.”
Mark remarked:
“My first thought was ‘that’s 50 or so female professionals who consented to meet a producer in their hotel room/bedroom rather than in the lobby accompanied by their agent’.”
Stephen stoked the battle of the sexes:
“There is nothing less reputable than the sexual assault statistics invented by feminists. There are huge shades of grey and clumsiness in male/female courting rituals, largely dictated by evolution, but feminists see heinous sexual assault for things like ‘his eyes lingered on me for a second too long and made me feel uncomfortable’.”
Barry said the law was an ass, but it was our ass:
“Suffice to say that our courts system may not be perfect but it is much preferable to Twitter and lynch mobs and yes it is probably reasonable to presume that many men are reasonably well behaved.”
arlys earns comment of the week for her acceptance of reality and hope for change:
“There were many lechers in the acting game, and the casting couch was famous. But many women also used it to get what they wanted also. They came from small towns and cities to do whatever it takes to be a star, and it bothered them not. It was/is a place of broken dreams, of success, of sex, drugs and rock and roll.
“For women who felt it wrong that the only way to success was to have to go on a casting couch, they were right, but many females were also happy to use it to achieve what they wanted as well. I doubt we will hear about them. The casting couch has been used in the acting game for far to long, but it is right through big business as well. It needs to go.”
Blokes, Mary had your back, right up to ‘rack off’:
“I feel sorry for men. Most do not deserve the ridiculous shaming. Resilience to life ladies please. I have had men say and do things I did not particularly want them to say or do but guess what I told them — rack off.”
Peter came to praise Janet:
“In the current environment, you are brave to write this piece Janet. You make perfect sense.”
Bob_M buried Spicer:
“This is nasty stuff. Right out of the East German social handbook. Who appointed Spicer to run our legal system?”
John proposed a simple test:
“If a woman expresses even a hint of admiration for the likes of Clementine Ford ... run.”
Howard was impressed:
“Very refreshing; lawyer logic and reason.”
Christopher counselled:
“While I agree that sexual harassment must be tackled it must be according to proper workplace channels and procedures and the process of law. The majority of marriages and partnerships result from workplace meetings
“The lynch mob method will only cause huge rift as good men will feel anything they do or say could jeopardise their reputations, careers and whole life because the risk of misinterpretation. Just like a few shocking men have made it bad for a lot of good men, the misdirected actions of a few very angry women may result in a lot of misery for a lot of good people.”
Rob was in raptures:
“Janet, brilliant article, as always! I like the quote from Aristotle. My favourite is the opening lines from ‘Of Revenge’ by Francis Bacon: ‘Revenge is a kind of wild justice; which the more man’s nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out. For as for the first wrong, it doth but offend the law; but the revenge of that wrong putteth the law out of office’.”
Myron applauded:
“This is an intelligent and thoughtful article. I absolutely agree that the simplistic headlong rush to condemnation by social media is no substitute for clinically applying the rule of law in a traditional way. Thank you Janet.”
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Former US president George Bush helped proved the point after apologising for touching an actress while telling an off-colour joke. Erasmus offered:
“The unfortunate thing is, if we start saying that a friendly pat on the body or a blue joke is a sex crime, it begins to let people who commit real sex crimes off the hook. Suddenly a pat on the knee and rape are somehow equivalent. While all unwelcome physical contact is bad, we need to be clear that it is not a sex crime.”
Andrew went to extremes:
“Next we will have celebrity women complaining about being ostracised, when men they are seen with insist on a healthy amount of daylight in between both parties; or refuse to be photographed with them so there is none of this sensationalist fallout in the future.”
Philip pitied the fool:
“Poor old George. He should have realised the snowflakes have no sense of humour and any opportunity to ‘out’ someone is deemed a moral win for them. I am sure Ms Lind will be inundated by offers from Huffington or similar media entities looking to crucify anyone from the old establishment.”
Roderick was all ifs and butts:
“I had my butt squeezed in art school by an attractive fellow student and leaning in I whispered, ‘I didn’t mind but if I had done that we would have had a riot in the place’. As a male do I qualify for the #MeToo thingy and where do I go for the money?”
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When a quartet of idiots thought a baited crocodile trap placed near the site of a recent fatal attack was a fine place for a dip, Darwin Award fame seemed close at hand. Ian was charitable:
“Aussie larrikinism is not yet dead.”
Kerry countered:
“The most important thing is that nobody else risks their lives rescuing them from an attack. The croc should be left to have its fill.”
Dwight saw innovation:
“Another Aussie invention, the self-baiting croc trap.”
Peter applauded:
“Great to see the Aussie spirit alive and well compared to the risk averse nanny state which prevails in this country. The Spanish run with the bulls. Ole!”
Bradley asked:
“Why can Queensland trap crocs but here in WA we have no right to trap sharks?”
Clive chipped in:
“We serve our sharks with chips”, adding: “Those stupid enough to feed themselves to crocs are doing a community service!”
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Each Friday the cream of your views on the news rises and we honour the voices that made the debate great. To boost your chances of being featured, please be pertinent, pithy and preferably make a point. Solid arguments, original ideas, sparkling prose, rapier wit and rhetorical flourishes may count in your favour. Civility is essential. Comments may be edited for length.
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Miners change tune on climate change
Peak mining industry body The Minerals Council of Australia has joined the fight on climate.
Easy to point the finger
Demanding we abandon coal for climate is akin to asking NZ to give up love affair with sheep.
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