Summary: THE FOCUS GROUP You’ll Blame The Carbon Tax Or No Taxpayer Money For You checks in on what’s happened to QANTAS since last week Pressured by the Coalition, Qantas tells the government what it wants to hear; Even though the carbon tax has been covered by a ticket surcharge John Borghetti at Virgin Australia knows where his interests lie and comes out again to blame the carbon tax for all his business woes. Not Workchoices looks into Tony’s choices of workplace changes that he’s chosen to send to the Productivity Commission workplace to work on its choices. Terms of Reference may consider compliance costs for business, but not unions Eric Abetz unconvincingly explains that if penalty rates aren’t specifically mentioned they must be safe Audit This checks in on the audit commission and its report the government won’t release Maybe don’t spend hundreds of millions or more on discount medicines for retirees on more than $100k a year Maybe we could save the $2m or more we’re about to pay for Will and Kate’s visit Who has a plan? chooses to be amused by anyone being surprised to discover that not having a specific plan for government can very much be the plan, if you just want government out of everything. What An Endorsement is thrilled as Tony Abbott wins the approval of far-right US Republican hardliner, sometime presidential candidate and full-time crank, Rick Santorum: Rick “Satan is attacking the great institutions of America” Santorum Rick (On a pregnancy from rape) “As horrible as the way that that son or daughter and son was created, it still is her child. And whether she has that child or she doesn’t, it will always be her child, and she will always know that” Santorum. Rick “[Contraception] is a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be” Santorum. Rick “The idea that the Crusades and the fight of Christendom against Islam is somehow an aggression on our part is absolutely anti-historical” Santorum. Rick “All the people who live in the West Bank are Israelis, they’re not Palestinians. There is no ‘Palestinian.’ This is Israeli land.” Santorum. Rick “I don’t want to make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money” Santorum. Rick “Is anyone saying same-sex couples can’t love each other? I love my children. I love my friends, my brother. Heck, I even love my mother-in-law. Should we call these relationships marriage, too?” Santorum. Rick “If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual [gay] sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest” Santorum. Rick “Drill everywhere… There is no such thing as global warming.” Santorum. Ask Gina seeks advice from the billionnaire who knows how to solve all our problems Look Over There It’s A Foreign Person! checks out Bernard Keane’s revelation that the usual handy diversion from young people’s anger about housing unaffordability - IT’S A CHINESE INVESTOR NOT ANYTHING WE’RE DOING - is total bollocks. It’s Like The Coalition And Qantas All Over Again is shocked, SHOCKED I TELL YOU, at conflict between the ALP and the Greens: The news the principled, progressive ALP is looking at preferencing right-wing parties above the Greens in WA. Meanwhile, in Queensland a former Bligh government minister unloads on the ETU and the Greens But You’re One Of Us learns what happens when George Brandis disappoints the IPA. What’s All This Then learns that police in Victoria can now just order protesters in Victoria to “move on” or be fined $750 or sentenced to 2 years’ jail begging the question, and let’s quote here the remarks of noted anti-abortion protester Bernie Finn
