FROM SPYCATCHER TO STUCK ON A FLYCATCHER : MALCOLM TURNBULL

PM and Louie the Fly

CANBERRA : Caught brushing a fly away in the House of Representatives , this classic  photograph epitomises how the former high  flyer  Malcolm  Turnbull now  resembles a   blowfly  stuck on the Coalition's  never ending  roll of   sticky flycatcher paper . Along  with  mince pies  at   Christmas  time   , these sticky  fly traps used   to  be all the  go in Australia . Now   Malcolm's inner  buzz feeders   seem to    get  caught up  daily in  some sticky issue    from  which  there  is no escape , just like those repulsive  hanging  cemeteries  in  kitchens  throughout the nation .

In  his bid to evade   a sticky political end ,  the  PM rushed up to consult  imported   bluebottle and Bill  basher ,  Barnaby Joyce ,  at the  New England by-election .   He and the glassy eyed  Barnaby, who looked as if he had been bitten by an  African  tsetse fly ,wore similar made in   China  shirts,  the smelly   armpits  of  which were thoroughly   checked by ASIO   for  bugs.    

  The two men on top of  the steaming  true blue  dung heap...until Bennelong  result.

SLACK TOWNSVILLE MEDIA FAILS TO REPORT VICIOUS ATTACKS ON MAGNETIC ISLAND

Residents  in   part of  Nelly Bay have  received notices  in their letterboxes claiming  that  local  Curlews  are  being  poisoned . The person responsible for the claim  is a  longtime   island  resident . In  southern  parts of  Australia  these  birds are  regarded  as  a  rarity . Media  needs to follow this  up  as  it is a  hard news story .

 

Geoffrey Bay  , promoted as an almost pristine stretch   on Magnetic Island , has been the subject  of    deliberate  attacks  on  vegetation  planted to  protect the  foreshore and  minimise erosion  . In the  process , plants  worth  at  least $5000  have  either been sprayed   with   poison or  ripped out .  After  each  act  of  deliberate  vandalism , the Townsville City  Council  erected  a   sign  warning that  there has been illegal damage  and  that  penalties apply. A telephone number is  supplied on which to report suspicious activity. The TCC should be asked for   full details  and  if  it has questioned anybody / referred the matter to the  police ; anybody  reported  suspicious  activity ?  

 Despite two attacks, two signs  being erected , the  Townsville City Council did not  issue a media statement  about  this  unsatisfactory situation , the island  described by the  council  as  the  Jewel in the Crown .    Even so , you would  think that an alert , in touch,  Townsville  media   and  the island's local community sheet  would have  picked  up  these  attacks through hearsay ,  contacts , regular rounds (what?) ...even asking  questions of TCC and police  like : Anything of  interest  on  Magnetic  Island  today ?

The  signs  declaring  the  attacks  are near  a  track  used  by  a   large  number  of  visitors.  Initial  authorised  plantings were  carried out   by people with extensive  experience  in   environmental  work .  Early  in  the process , they were  approached by an  aggressive  man   who  demanded  to  know what they were  doing  ; later  on  he  was   joined  by  an  abusive  woman .  The  pair seemed  concerned  the  vegetation  would  impair  the  view  of  the beach and across  Cleveland   Bay .

View  from Geoffrey Bay at  low tide .

The plants  were subsequently  attacked, stakes  pulled out  over  a  period .  That  Geoffrey Bay   needs  foreshore protective  work  is self  evident  by  the   following  photograph .

 

Alma Bay , not  far  from  Geoffrey Bay , recently  got a mention because it has been  listed  in  top 10  beaches . However, a  visit  to  Alma  a few days ago  revealed many  cuttlefish   bones  washed up  on  the  beach  with  weed, a small section  below .

The white  bones  are  the  remains  of  small  cuttlefish  which have been attacked and eaten .  Wonder  why   so  many  have  washed up on  the  beach ?  Could  be a story  here . Are  the cuttlefish  deaths  linked in any way with the bleaching of the reef, finding it  hard  to  hide  from  predators ?

WAR AGAINST CATS

The powerful message against   cats , showing one about to pounce on a Bower Bird ,  is  strikingly  represented  in  this  T-shirt  , one  of  several  sold in  North Queensland   in past years , a collection of which  has  just surfaced . The  campaign   against  cats  is further   highlighted  by the  image  of   cats   in   gunsights   on  two   following  T-shirts . 

A feature of the T-shirts  is that  they were   designed and made in Australia, some in Cairns . They were sold  at markets  and  in  shops . A conservative estimate of some years ago put the number of feral cats  at 15 million in Australia , killing  about 75million birds  and other  wildlife DAILY .

ADANI IS A CLASS "A" TOXIC SUBSTANCE FOR TURNBULL ,LNP

Of  the  many lessons from the Queensland state election  for the Turnbull Coalition  and the LNP  , just two are  that  the proposed  Adani  coalmine - still strongly supported by  the  hysterical   Feds - has been soundly rejected  by  Australian voters  and  the  vast  Murdoch  media  machine  is  becoming increasingly  impotent , evident  since the snap  election  in  England  where  it  rubbished   the  Labour  leader Jeremy  Corbyn  mercilessly and  the  Tories  just scraped home . 

The  mere  fact  that  the  three incumbent ALP members in the vital Townsville  region were  reelected  in  the state  election despite the massive  pro Adani  attack of the Murdoch owned  Townsville  Bulletin , the strange decision by the Townsville City Council to give  $18.5million   to  Adani   for a FIFO  airport   and   activists  and  anyone else  against  Adani , including concerned   grannies ,  were   ridiculed   speaks  volumes.The paper and  the Murdoch Brisbane  Courier Mail ,  accused  Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk of  being off  the  rails, in  harness  with  the  Greens, etc, etc, etc. 

The  erroneous   belief that  Adani  is  a sure  election  winner  for the desperate  Turnbull Government  and  the  LNP   is  clear  in  this advertisement  run in the Townsville  Bulletin  before  the state election .

It is topped  by the beaming   senior  senator  Ian Macdonald , given to wearing  Hi-Vis clobber in parliament,  presumably   so  that  he will  stand out on foggy Canberra mornings . In  the  mug shots of  those  avid  supporters  of  Adani   ,  only one of  the five  bottom row was  elected in the Queensland  state  vote  ,  Dale Last ,  sitting  MP  for  Burdekin .   

 

The incumbent Member for Hinchinbrook, Andrew Cripps  , who  clashed with  anti  Adani  activists , including  veteran   Wendy Tubman,  lost his  seat. Matthew  Derlagen ,  coal lumper  from  Senator Macdonald's own office , failed  to be elected in the seat of Mundingburra .  In the seat of Townsville,  Casie Scott, a  former  Darwin journalist  , gave  the sitting ALP  member , Scott Stewart  , a run for his money , the slow count of votes would have made an  interesting running   story for Townsville and   Darwin  if  there was any linkage (doubtful)   between   the  Murdoch  papers in   both  cities, probably  not . 

In  the  top  row of  pix in the advertisement  is  the federal  Member  for  Dawson , George " Holy Moly "  Christensen , without his whip , who is likely to be  cast into the  fires of  Hell and  Adani   over  his   exposed  desire to bring  down  Mr  Jello-Malcolm Turnbull- and  his   inner  circle of  suet  puddings .  

A whole Italian expensive penny  opera  could be written about the  stance of   Rocky  Senator Matt  Canavan, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia , over   his  support  for  Adani   and  his  attitude  to NAIF possibly   handing  out a billion bucks   to   the project .   Umpteen banks  won't  touch Adani with a barge pole ,  the Chinese  have also  said  they would  not handle   it  with  asbestos lined  chopsticks . 

 

 In its lampooning of   the ALP   and anybody against  Adani, the Townsville Bulletin ran  a front page story referring to activists as  MUNGBEAN MILITIA who , shocked  readers were informed , included   southerners  who  were known to chain themselves to gates in  the nude . Gasp !     

Another  indication that  Adani  is  electoral  dynamite  for the conservatives  was  the  television coverage of a public  gathering  in  south east Queensland where  nobody put up their hand when  asked  if  any  government  money should   be  given  Adani .  In the interests of being fair and balanced ,  at a meeting of businessmen in Townsville , everyone put up their hand when asked if  they support Adani , which  you  would   expect , the way the Queen city  of  the  North  lurches  along , with its claques  who are not subjected to much in depth questioning and  probing .  

 

 STOP PRESS : As late as  December 8, the Townsville  Bulletin was  running a  front page story  attacking   Labor  , saying it  could   cancel  federal Adani approvals   and   "  the  world's largest coal mine  could be imperilled. "  Surprise, by  P5   the   paper  reported a sudden development under  a heading  ADANI JOB MEETINGS IN LIMBO Mystery on community sessions. It said  Adani  jobseeker   information  sessions in Townsville and  on Palm Island   had suddenly  been rescheduled , the  Adani  spokesman had not responded  to  inquiries, and even ran the info that some of China's biggest banks had announced  that they do not intend financing  Adani ...  "Sources suggest this is not make or break  for the project  and that Adani is investigating  other  avenues  for finance." The editorial  declared Townsville business   and community leaders  were concerned  "our  political  leaders' games " might  "scare  Adani  off  once and  for  all. "

RAY OF SUNSHINE : By December 11 , no mention of  the Adani  mystery ,  the Bulletin had a  front page story about work  starting  on a $160million wind   turbine and   solar  farm at Hughenden  , just one  of   several  similar  projects in the north.  Still , the  Bulletin  gave the impression  the election was still running, pointing  out   LNP leader  Tim Nicholls ( now on his way down the coal chute )  had pledged  to  commission   a  coal fired  plant   for the north within 100 days  of   taking office.


The Bulletin trumpeted  Labor's win should not be  taken  to mean North Queenslanders  suddenly don't want  coal-fired  power...The  Queensland government should consider  building a  "cutting -edge"  ( every  proposal  in  Townsville  seems  to  be  so  described  of   late ) coal   fired  plant  in  the  north .

CAPTIVATING CAIRNS WITH LONELY PELICAN AND UFO

 

Abra photographs.

 

HAROLD HOLT DISAPPEARANCE REMEMBERED IN PARLIAMENT

December  17 being the 50th anniversary  of  the  disappearance  of Prime Minister Harold Holt  while swimming at  Cheviot  Beach , Victoria, in  l967 ,  here  is a flashback  to  a lighthearted moment in Townsville when  Holt, third from the right, laughing ,  visited  the  university , and  was  confronted  by a student  in  underwater gear .

 

 He  and  Mrs  Holt, Zara , pictured ,  spent   time relaxing  and spearfishing in  North Queensland . The   PM  had a friend  from  early university days in Melbourne  ,  artist and  environmentalist  John Horatio  Busst,  involved in  early moves  to  save  the Great Barrier Reef   from  mining  and  oil  drilling .

 

 Recently  a  special  ceremony was held  at  Ellison Reef   to mark the   50th  anniversary  of  the  successful campaign  led by  Busst to  prevent   its   mining . As a  result , it set the  legal precedent for  protecting the Great Barrier  Reef, a large part of it now in a sorry state due to coral bleaching , crown of thorns , runoff,  undeniable climate change .   According to those who inspected Ellison Reef  last October  it  was  not  in very good shape.  Part of  the anniversary  took part  at   Busst's  distinctive  residence  , Ninney Rise, at Bingil Bay, from whence he  led to the fight  to save the  reef and  rainforest  in  the  l960s  and l970s.

 

In the   Special Collections, Eddie  Koiki  Mabo Library , James Cook University, Townsville , are the important  personal   papers of  Busst ,  which includes three boxes of letters ,  one  to  American president  Lyndon  Baines  Johnson (LBJ), calling on him to back a move to  set up adjoining  marine and wildlife  parks throughout   Australia in  honour of   Harold  Holt. There are  also interesting  letters  from  poet  Judith  Wright , strongly involved in the  campaign  to  protect the  Great Barrier  Reef . Mrs  Alison Busst was  with  Zara  Holt  the  day the PM  disappeared . 

 

Made a Dame, Zara  married  a Liberal  dairy farmer  politician , Jeff  Bate, in 1969 and  lived with him in a 100 year old  stone house at  Tilba Tilba  on the NSW  south coast ; he  died in 1984. Upon her death in 1989, she  was  buried  at Sorrento Cemetery , the  closest   graveyard  to  Cheviot  Beach  where  Harold Holt  got  caught  in  a  rip  and  disappeared. 

At the  special  House of Representatives Harold Holt  commemoration this week were  members of  the  family, Holt's press secretary  Tony Eggleston , in the middle, former treasurer and friend of  the family, Peter  Costello, far left .

 

Former   Northern Territory  News   Walkley  Award  winning  reporter  and author  Keith Willey  covered  the  dramatic   Holt  disappearance  for  the   Sydney  Sun .  

LIFE IS NOT MEANT TO BE EASY , BUT RARE ROADRUNNER HELPS

A former Australian  Prime Minister,  the  late  Malcolm Fraser , aka the  Crazy Grazier, famously made  the statement  that  life could  be  nasty  at  times...like when  he was  elected  PM after the  sacking of  Gough Whitlam  by  the sozzled   Governor-General ,  Sir  John Kerr .

From time to time , Little Darwin , in its  fight against the forces of darkness , receives  bundles  which have fallen from the back of  trucks late at night , old  newspaper cuttings, strange   letters   and  revealing  files .

 While attending a  political  Christmas  party  in a  French restaurant  a  day or so  ago , a  seasoned  political  apparatchik  , with   Belgian  chocolate  cake and sauce   to  follow,   surreptitiously   slipped  a  document    into  the  sweaty   hand  of   a  rump  and   garlic  prawns   subversive  connected   with   this   blog .   

Later ,  on  close examination ,  in  a  cone of  silence ,  the  intriguing foreign  item was  unwrapped   and found  to contain  the  following  advertisement   for   the  sale  of  a  classic 1961  Lancia  Flaminia  Sport Zagato SI RHD , described  as   very  rare , formerly owned  by  Malcolm Fraser  .  Price : 650,000 Euros .  

 

PIT  STOP :  After  posting  this revelation, Little Darwin received a coded message  from  a  modest pollie , voted Politician   of  the Year  by the Canberra  press  gang ,   (admittedly  a long time ago ) , the  former  Honourable  ALP Member for  Casey , leather jacket , dark  glasses   and   occasional  fruity oaths , the  one and only  Pete  Steedman .  It  revealed that  Steedman  once   owned   a  Lancia, but it was  just  a  working man's model .  He explained the situation thus :"  I was always pissed off  because Malcolm had this rare and special Lancia. I had a 1969 Zagato, rare enough itself, but Malcolm had the one I coveted. "

 

Steedman has  had  some great  wheels over  the  years, including   a rare Vincent  motorbike. Right  now he  can  put you  onto a bargain  buy, a Bentley ,previously  owned  by a LOL  , who  only used  it to go back and forth to church on Sundays and  the odd  Bingo  outing ...until it came into the  possession  of   leadfoot  Pete .