Some 30 years ago, the Left Alliance faction in student politics (of which Adam Bandt was a member) had a factional song that referenced "Spawn of the Bourgeoisie/In mansions by the sea". I wonder whether Adam will be repurposing the song with the "s" deleted from the first word of the couplet.
Another great article Tim. I agree with your points about the tone deafness of the PM.
Yes there is media hypocrisy but the PM is a seasoned politician who one would think be self conscious. At this stage this lavish expense has been explained with his usual log cabin tale of growing up in public housing. It just rings hollow and speaks to the hubris of a Government elected with just 32% of the primary vote. Without proportional representation, we are going to get out of touch hacks from the LNP and ALP telling us that the sky is green and the ocean is red, when we can see the problem right in front of us.
The PM is far removed from the public housing of his youth: the most powerful public individual within the country and on a very generous salary of $550,000. It shows that he has stopped listening. 28 years in the Canberra bubble has removed him from the public which in the latest polls states home ownership is a major concern. The ALP wanted cut through? This will surely do that.
"... you have to take things slowly, not scare the horses, approach matters pragmatically, incrementally and competently to ensure the long-term viability of the government..."
And that is exactly why the Albanese government has been such a disappointment and lost so much support. The electorate was crying out for (and, understandably) expecting) strong, positive and early action after so many years of government for the rich and the powerful. Instead they have been offered timidity. The abysmal betrayal of the environment as the anticipated and promised effective action on climate change failed to materialise is probably the most obvious (and possibly the most egregious) example of why the Albanese government finds itself in such trouble - and why ALP voters are feeling so, simultaneously let down and furious.
Normally I would wish to have no objection to where prime ministers choose to live and how much they pay ..however as many say This moment in time when having one roof over some peoples heads ,is an issue Labor was supposed to feel the working class pain and not place themselves in the LNP bracket whereby consideration of others is a waste of time which is better placed in acquiring status and backing from fossil industries ,gambling industries ,liquor industries Developing industries ..in fact all those who find climate action tedious and will not be affected so why worry 🎩💰🫣
Yes. I kind of resent the usual lectures from political insiders and other "savvies" imploring people to be "realistic" and "grown-up" and appreciate "real politic" in how they understand how politics work--the implication being that people other than them are too airy fairy and naive about it--and then something like this happens and we are told it doesn't matter or it is bias or peripheral. I don't give a shit that he bought a nice house, but that's not the point and a self-professed political hardhead like Albanese should know it. Worse, he probably did know it and did it anyway.
This prick of a PM gets no sympathy from me. His go-to cry was back to his “poor ol’ Ma” and how he understands because he grew up in state housing, then to add salt to the wound he states he earns a “good income” , so there! Dumbarse prick, I look forward to L coming back as a minority gov and Albo getting the Elbow.
Albanese’s claim to being progressive is just that, a claim, with nothing to back it up because he’s a fraud.
In addition, and I may be wrong, but I can’t help but think that while the move to stop business gipping consumers online is a good idea, it’s really just penny & dime stuff for the individual, whereas housing is the biggest and most important financial event, other than getting married, that the average person will do in their life. No party has a solution because it would mean someone will have to get burnt. Watch the cognitive dissonance from those in housing when the solutions mean they’ll lose out.
I can see how the online grift legislation looks penny-and-dime, but I don't think it is. This stuff matters, though in a different way to concerns about housing affordability. Having a tiger in your bedroom is a big problem, but so, ultimately, is having a mosquito buzzing around your ear all night.
What's frustrating is that it's not the house, although this is what everyone's focusing on. Yes, Dutton is not receiving the same kind of scrutiny and outrage over his property portfolio (which he has disposed of it would seem), but Dutton has never pretended to be anything other than a neoliberal shill for big business who would happily hunt poor people for sport given the opportunity.
Albanese on the other hand has not just made a virtue of his upbringing, he built an entire political campaign around his party representing the interests of the people Dutton's party doesn't just leave behind but actively disenfranchises and disadvantages.
It's not the house, it's the hypocrisy inherent in demonstrating just how far removed you are from the people you've purported to be representing. It's a real mask off moment that any 1st year political science student would have been able to tell him was political suicide six months out from a cost of living election.
Yes a PM should be allowed a private life, yes the PM's partner is a private citizen who should be allowed to make decisions about her future... BUT decisions made by a PM about their personal life can demonstrate values that are at odds with their public life, even down to the timing of certain decisions. Which is why some constraints and sacrifices have to be made while in the public eye in return for the not inconsiderable privileges and compensation he receives (this man has access to two taxpayer funded homes, one of which is a cliffside mansion with ocean views...). It is ASTONISHING that a man who's been in parliament as long as Albanese has apparently didn't understand this.
Since you mentioned Hawke it brings to mind that he went cold turkey on alcohol because he knew it was a necessary sacrifice for him to be PM. That's no small feat with an addictive substance, but it was a sacrifice for the country that served the country well 🤷♀️
Another article that makes the reader think, so bravo TD..........however & I write this as a non-economist but isn't the $$$ accumulation of duoply chiefs, Albanese & Dutton really just Rent Seeking: which the opening para of Wikipedia says is:
'Rent-seeking is the act of growing one's existing wealth by manipulating the social or political environment without creating new wealth.[1] Rent-seeking activities have negative effects on the rest of society. They result in reduced economic efficiency through misallocation of resources, stifled competition, reduced wealth creation, lost government revenue, heightened income inequality,[2][3] risk of growing corruption and cronyism, decreased public trust in institutions, and potential national decline.'
Granted I realise that: 'The word "rent" does not refer specifically to payment on a lease but rather to Adam Smith's division of incomes into profit, wage, and economic rent' but aren't the duopoly rent seekers politicians who 'manipulating the social or political environment' for their won gain to the exclusion of others, so that there will be no change to -ve gearing, capital gains etc thus contirbuting to the perpetual housing unaffordability?
Maybe John Quiggin can offer an opinion as well. If I'm totally wrong then please set me straight. Cheers
Albanese is just like a lot of people of his generation: has realised good returns on property built before the market went insane and has leveraged this ever since. Along with a good salary, you can pretty easily build wealth. (Dutton has been a more serious investor/developer/landlord.) Unfortunately, it is precisely this--Albanese situation--that has made it impossible for younger people to "get into the market" at all and Albanese, now PM, isn't really--to a lot of people's minds--addressing that inequality. This recent purchase can't be read outside that context.
"Albanese is just like a lot of people of his generation: has realised good returns on property built before the market went insane and has leveraged this ever since.”
Yes, yes and YES. This annoys the proverbial out of me (me age wise: bottom end of the boomers), their inability to see that we got what we got from shear luck of timing, not the “I worked hard” bs; everyone generally has worked hard and the lower down the income scale you are the harder you’re likely to work. We had the best employment conditions and welfare from top to bottom and best housing opportunities, which over the years have been smashed.
Anyone concerned for my mental health, don’t be. I get bloody outraged etc, etc, but once I put the laptop down I’m very good at just letting it go, which is just as well.
Some 30 years ago, the Left Alliance faction in student politics (of which Adam Bandt was a member) had a factional song that referenced "Spawn of the Bourgeoisie/In mansions by the sea". I wonder whether Adam will be repurposing the song with the "s" deleted from the first word of the couplet.
To the tune of Blame it on the Boogie
Another great article Tim. I agree with your points about the tone deafness of the PM.
Yes there is media hypocrisy but the PM is a seasoned politician who one would think be self conscious. At this stage this lavish expense has been explained with his usual log cabin tale of growing up in public housing. It just rings hollow and speaks to the hubris of a Government elected with just 32% of the primary vote. Without proportional representation, we are going to get out of touch hacks from the LNP and ALP telling us that the sky is green and the ocean is red, when we can see the problem right in front of us.
The PM is far removed from the public housing of his youth: the most powerful public individual within the country and on a very generous salary of $550,000. It shows that he has stopped listening. 28 years in the Canberra bubble has removed him from the public which in the latest polls states home ownership is a major concern. The ALP wanted cut through? This will surely do that.
Yeah, it's the arrogance that gets me. And the amatuerishness.
"... you have to take things slowly, not scare the horses, approach matters pragmatically, incrementally and competently to ensure the long-term viability of the government..."
And that is exactly why the Albanese government has been such a disappointment and lost so much support. The electorate was crying out for (and, understandably) expecting) strong, positive and early action after so many years of government for the rich and the powerful. Instead they have been offered timidity. The abysmal betrayal of the environment as the anticipated and promised effective action on climate change failed to materialise is probably the most obvious (and possibly the most egregious) example of why the Albanese government finds itself in such trouble - and why ALP voters are feeling so, simultaneously let down and furious.
Couldn't agree more, Wendy.
"I despair"...likewise. ☹️
‘Albo’
When four humble letters, a simple symmetry of two vowels and two consonants, say everything.
Normally I would wish to have no objection to where prime ministers choose to live and how much they pay ..however as many say This moment in time when having one roof over some peoples heads ,is an issue Labor was supposed to feel the working class pain and not place themselves in the LNP bracket whereby consideration of others is a waste of time which is better placed in acquiring status and backing from fossil industries ,gambling industries ,liquor industries Developing industries ..in fact all those who find climate action tedious and will not be affected so why worry 🎩💰🫣
Yes. I kind of resent the usual lectures from political insiders and other "savvies" imploring people to be "realistic" and "grown-up" and appreciate "real politic" in how they understand how politics work--the implication being that people other than them are too airy fairy and naive about it--and then something like this happens and we are told it doesn't matter or it is bias or peripheral. I don't give a shit that he bought a nice house, but that's not the point and a self-professed political hardhead like Albanese should know it. Worse, he probably did know it and did it anyway.
This prick of a PM gets no sympathy from me. His go-to cry was back to his “poor ol’ Ma” and how he understands because he grew up in state housing, then to add salt to the wound he states he earns a “good income” , so there! Dumbarse prick, I look forward to L coming back as a minority gov and Albo getting the Elbow.
Albanese’s claim to being progressive is just that, a claim, with nothing to back it up because he’s a fraud.
In addition, and I may be wrong, but I can’t help but think that while the move to stop business gipping consumers online is a good idea, it’s really just penny & dime stuff for the individual, whereas housing is the biggest and most important financial event, other than getting married, that the average person will do in their life. No party has a solution because it would mean someone will have to get burnt. Watch the cognitive dissonance from those in housing when the solutions mean they’ll lose out.
THERE WILL BE NO MEANINGFUL CHANGE.
I can see how the online grift legislation looks penny-and-dime, but I don't think it is. This stuff matters, though in a different way to concerns about housing affordability. Having a tiger in your bedroom is a big problem, but so, ultimately, is having a mosquito buzzing around your ear all night.
lolol I readily accept your view and I love the mozzie analogy as that’s bloody annoying!
What's frustrating is that it's not the house, although this is what everyone's focusing on. Yes, Dutton is not receiving the same kind of scrutiny and outrage over his property portfolio (which he has disposed of it would seem), but Dutton has never pretended to be anything other than a neoliberal shill for big business who would happily hunt poor people for sport given the opportunity.
Albanese on the other hand has not just made a virtue of his upbringing, he built an entire political campaign around his party representing the interests of the people Dutton's party doesn't just leave behind but actively disenfranchises and disadvantages.
It's not the house, it's the hypocrisy inherent in demonstrating just how far removed you are from the people you've purported to be representing. It's a real mask off moment that any 1st year political science student would have been able to tell him was political suicide six months out from a cost of living election.
Yes a PM should be allowed a private life, yes the PM's partner is a private citizen who should be allowed to make decisions about her future... BUT decisions made by a PM about their personal life can demonstrate values that are at odds with their public life, even down to the timing of certain decisions. Which is why some constraints and sacrifices have to be made while in the public eye in return for the not inconsiderable privileges and compensation he receives (this man has access to two taxpayer funded homes, one of which is a cliffside mansion with ocean views...). It is ASTONISHING that a man who's been in parliament as long as Albanese has apparently didn't understand this.
Completely. (It's a bit like when Hawke used to do interviews in his bathrobe by the pool when Keating took over as PM.)
Since you mentioned Hawke it brings to mind that he went cold turkey on alcohol because he knew it was a necessary sacrifice for him to be PM. That's no small feat with an addictive substance, but it was a sacrifice for the country that served the country well 🤷♀️
Another article that makes the reader think, so bravo TD..........however & I write this as a non-economist but isn't the $$$ accumulation of duoply chiefs, Albanese & Dutton really just Rent Seeking: which the opening para of Wikipedia says is:
'Rent-seeking is the act of growing one's existing wealth by manipulating the social or political environment without creating new wealth.[1] Rent-seeking activities have negative effects on the rest of society. They result in reduced economic efficiency through misallocation of resources, stifled competition, reduced wealth creation, lost government revenue, heightened income inequality,[2][3] risk of growing corruption and cronyism, decreased public trust in institutions, and potential national decline.'
Granted I realise that: 'The word "rent" does not refer specifically to payment on a lease but rather to Adam Smith's division of incomes into profit, wage, and economic rent' but aren't the duopoly rent seekers politicians who 'manipulating the social or political environment' for their won gain to the exclusion of others, so that there will be no change to -ve gearing, capital gains etc thus contirbuting to the perpetual housing unaffordability?
Maybe John Quiggin can offer an opinion as well. If I'm totally wrong then please set me straight. Cheers
Albanese is just like a lot of people of his generation: has realised good returns on property built before the market went insane and has leveraged this ever since. Along with a good salary, you can pretty easily build wealth. (Dutton has been a more serious investor/developer/landlord.) Unfortunately, it is precisely this--Albanese situation--that has made it impossible for younger people to "get into the market" at all and Albanese, now PM, isn't really--to a lot of people's minds--addressing that inequality. This recent purchase can't be read outside that context.
absolutely. I hope that voters realise they have a choice outside the duopoly.
"Albanese is just like a lot of people of his generation: has realised good returns on property built before the market went insane and has leveraged this ever since.”
Yes, yes and YES. This annoys the proverbial out of me (me age wise: bottom end of the boomers), their inability to see that we got what we got from shear luck of timing, not the “I worked hard” bs; everyone generally has worked hard and the lower down the income scale you are the harder you’re likely to work. We had the best employment conditions and welfare from top to bottom and best housing opportunities, which over the years have been smashed.
Anyone concerned for my mental health, don’t be. I get bloody outraged etc, etc, but once I put the laptop down I’m very good at just letting it go, which is just as well.
My wife's first instinct was to say that he must have a younger woman, this decision was made with his dick.
First Dog’s take is rather apt:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/oct/16/the-prime-minister-bought-a-fancy-house-is-it-poor-political-judgement