I Detest What Society Has Become As Result Of Gender Wars

I have been a strong advocate for women’s rights all my life. Having started out in my career in areas that weren’t the traditional domain of women it has subjected me to my fair share of discrimination and general put downs. That’s ranged from being told to just sit there and look pretty and let the men get on with running the business to outright discrimination in having far less qualified men promoted over me. I’ve never played the victim card because my parents taught me life wasn’t always fair. When life deals a tough card, you had three choices; 

1. Play the victim and blame everyone else 
2. Fight back, prove your worth and win (my preferred option)
3. Know when to walk away if you can’t do that 

I have with a single exception chosen 2. Once I walked away. That's another valuable life lesson. Know when to walk away. I now drum that into the heads of the young people I coach and mentor. 

So where is this leading? I feel compelled to speak out about what I see happening as a result of gender wars citing two recent examples. 

I’m becoming increasingly hacked off with those who have played the victim card which has led to so many woman being vilified when they shouldn’t be. I was reminded of this, when reading through recent reports in the Australian about the acting Chairwoman of the ABC, Dr Kristin Ferguson. 

The first story focused on a text message Dr Ferguson had sent to Emma Alberici following Alberici’s since discredited report in naming 400 Australian companies that allegedly hadn’t paid tax in the past four years. Besides a flawed critical critique of the Government’s corporate tax policy. The first paragraph in the story reads; “Yet another explosive leak — this time a text from the freshly appointed ABC acting chair Kirstin Ferguson — is threatening to derail the ABC’s relationship with Canberra again after a week of unprecedented chaos at the public broadcaster.” What unadulterated sensationalist bull-dust. 

The comments that followed the highly inflammatory report highlight the predicament we now find ourselves in. Where people are simply vilified for nothing more than sending a text message and being a woman. The sanctimony of some is breathtaking. 

I posted a comment about Dr Ferguson’s impressive CV, board roles etc in an attempt to bring some balance. In reply one suggested that he’d seriously doubt Dr Ferguson would remain on any serious Boards again “after demonstrating her lack of a simple but fundamental concept”. Simple but fundamental concept? Corporate Tax law? He’s got to be joking. And for the heinous crime of sending someone a text message which said, “Great work on the tax story. Thanks for making company tax digestible and understandable for the average punter watching” according to the commenter Dr Ferguson should never be taken seriously again!!! I have deduced from that the writer has also never made an error of judgement and should he ever do so he would expect to be relegated to the ‘failed bin’ and never to be trusted again. I didn’t expect he would respond to my question and, I was right he didn’t.

That Emma Alberici’s report contained nine errors and was deemed biased leading to it being withdrawn and rewritten to a another matter. But, to suggest Dr Ferguson is a total incompetent based on her sending one text message is sheer lunacy. She isn’t incompetent her successful career proves that.  Kirsten Ferguson has a very impressive CV from her military career and following business and consulting career. She has taken enormous risks in her life and it has rewarded her for those risks. She is an experienced director, with 10 years’ experience on the ASX100 and ASX200 boards and private company and government boards. In her role as Acting Chairwoman, note ACTING, she is the best placed to step into that role. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has similarly been singled out for his fair share of criticism. Readers have accused him of caving into PC nonsense and gender quotas. That the ABC Board since the resignation of Chairman Milne now comprises five women out of a Board of seven doesn’t offer him a wide choice. I suppose he could have appointed one of the two men as acting Chair. But Dr Ferguson is well qualified to take on the acting role and reports suggest the male members weren’t interested anyway. I think the PM has picked the right person regardless. So is it the fact Dr Ferguson is a woman who sent a text message to a much hated ABC journalist that has upset so many? I’m thinking perhaps yes. 

Today the readers of the Australian were doing a hatch job on Dr Christine Blasey Ford. This followed her testimony against Brett Kavanaugh. On the surface Dr Ford presents as a credible witness who recalled a traumatic event in her life going back to 2012 in sessions with her therapist. That was well before Trump was President and Brett Kavanaugh became a household name. 

Whether Dr Ford’s recall is correct is yet to be proven, and the same applies to Brett Kavanaugh’s denial. The FBI investigation will root out the truth. That hasn’t stopped the armchair judges being the Australian readers media court. They have made their decision based on media reports (with a few even quoting in evidence You Tube opinions). In doing so they have determined she is a fraud and a Democrat plant; on a mission to bring down  to quote ‘an honourable man’. The bias and malice voiced by many astounds me. It’s really disgraceful what some people say. 

I was so incensed I posted a comment highlighting that Dr Ford had undertaken a polygraph test (yes I know of the legal standing) with an ex-FBI Agent and referenced her 2012 notes. Highlighting she a well credentialed professional, she isn’t the type who usually makes these accusations. Pointing out if I had to make a determination before the official FBI report I would believe Dr Ford and an ex-FBI agent over armchair judges as to her guilt. This is one reply I received. Seriously, I roll my eyes over comments like that. 

For the record I don't believe in Grey's with probes but perhaps the poster does. He seems to know about them. 

So it is with thanks to the victim culture and gender wars we now find any woman who is successful or who steps up and puts themselves out there in trying to correct what they judge wrong will in turn be judged a virtue-signaller or their appointments (on merit) merely PC quotas. These women are set upon by those armchair judges who don’t want to, or can’t be bothered to take the time, or who are not intelligent enough to judge each on merit. Any man who supports these women will be branded and his actions deemed PC nonsense or playing the gender quota card. Any person who tries to engender balance into the discussion with be labelled a believer in Grey’s with probes. Everything is distilled to the political level; right vs left, left vs right. Facts, truth, probability, long forgotten.  

I hate what this society we have collectively created has become. It’s nasty, judgemental and spiteful. Truth, honesty and the concept of a fair go are dead. Innocent until proven guilty long forgotten in the court of media warrior-ship. Courage to stand by your convictions are vilified and ridiculed. This battle if that is what it is shouldn't be about gender it should be about fairness. I would equally fight for any man who has been treated as these two women have by armchair warriors. It's also about decency.

As they say ‘reap what ye sow’ and we sure as hell are doing that and it’s a damn ugly crop. It's about time we started to plant and more importantly demand a new one. We start that in having the courage to speak up and declare this is not good enough. 

Australia Day, I Will Not Be Insulted Or Bullied Into Accepting The Guilt

I posted this on Twitter yesterday following the Mayor of Byron’s announcement about their Australia Day celebrations. 

It appears to me the loopy Mayor of Byron, Simon Richardson is playing both sides of the deck re #AustraliaDay. He announced the council’s official ceremony will move to January 25 but some council events will still be held on the ‘national HOLIDAY’ the 26th. BUT then he said... “Celebrations on January 26 caused pain in a section of the community & questioned whether the values of a fair go & mateship were being reflected.” 

I asked why are some events were still being held on the 26th? Won’t those events still cause pain? PointIng out the lunacy of the illogical. 

I woke this morning to a response containing this link https://bit.ly/2DvCwQh to a Facebook post by a gentleman by the name of John Henderson. This is my response. 

I tire of the verbal assaults. I tire of being told I live on stolen land & that the contributions my family have made (including losing their lives) counts for nothing because they, and obviously ‘we’ are not legitimate. I tire of being told this land is not my land, or my home because it belongs to someone else. I tire of being insulted, abused and bullied into carrying the guilt of the past. 

John Henderson can rail against us and insult us but I don’t see one word in that tirade asking those he says we hate holding out the hand of friendship to us. I never read the words it’s time to put the past to rest and to move forward together. 

To me Mr Henderson also overlooked one very important point. He said ‘we’ being white Australians (and any other group who lives here I assume) don’t consider (hating in his words) “black-fellas” racism because they are Australian. Well, I believe there lies a problem. Many of our indigenous brothers and sisters (mostly the ones with the smallest amount of indigenous DNA but usually the most vocal) don’t consider themselves Australians. So isn’t it insulting for Mr Henderson to refer to them as Australians? 

It doesn’t matter what day we choose to celebrate Australia Day or who chooses it those with axes to grind won’t be appeased. The problem isn’t about a date or a celebration. Because the concessions and rights our indigenous brothers and sisters have won hasn’t appeased them. The vast sums of money the tax payers have gifted to them hasn’t appeased them. The significant tracks of land handed back to them hasn’t appeased them. The benefits and laws that apply to them but discriminate against us hasn’t appeased them. National sorry days, something that was supposed to heal the bitter wounds didn’t appease them. All of those things certainly haven’t appeased those of our own kind like Mr Henderson who believe we haven’t done enough and the problem is ours and our alone. The same Mr Henderson’s of our nation who accuse us of being the worst racist and haters in the world. So letting our our indigenous brothers and sister pick a day to celebrate Australia won’t certainly won’t. 

I want to make it very clear to the Mr Henderson’s of this nation I  will not be made to accept the guilt or to pay for the sins of those who came before me. As far as I’m aware no one in my family committed atrocities against our indigenous population. In fact my Dad employed “black-fellas” on our property and he did everything he could he help them. Except for Wingy Burns who used to steal everything including washing from our washing line. Why? Because Wingy believed he had a right to steal. That said my Dad still gave Wingy a place to live on our land and money for the work he did. Our indigenous workers were treated better in many respects than the ‘white workers’ who worked along side them. 

Mr Henderson also overlooks one very important point. Those who arrived here in 1788 were as much victims as those whose lands they are accused of stealing. Ripped away from their families most never to return. The soldiers with guns were often pressed-ganged into service, they had no say either. Yes dreadful things were done to ‘black-fellas’ in later years and we (in my humble opinion) have tried to make restitution for that repeatedly but it’s never enough. The one thing we can’t do is rewrite history but, we can learn from it but that is obviously something we are incapable of doing. 

So if as Mr Henderson claims Australians on mass are the worst racists on the earth (which I vehemently dispute) perhaps we have cause to be. Because over and over again we are told what dreadful people we are by self-righteous (not black-fellas) but ‘white-fellas’ like John Henderson. So yes Mr Henderson some perhaps don’t consider hating fellow Australians as ‘racist’ and you are obviously one of them because you certainly appear to hate us. 

Cut The Media Negativity & Give Scott Morrison A Fair Go...

Reading the daily news is an arduous task these days; page after page of negativity. I was reminded of this again this morning. One example which triggered my displeasure was a piece written by Paul Kelly for the Australian, the title “Liberals are doomed without a truce.” We all know how precarious the Liberal party situation is and we do not need to be reminded AGAIN. We’ve got the message from Paul Kelly and a plethora of other journalists; print, electronic media, radio and even from the social media warriors on all sides of the political divide.  

Mr Kelly goes on to acknowledge that PM Morrison wants to concentrate on Bill Shorten. That’s who he needs to be concentrating on. It would be fantastic if someone in the media and in particular the so-called conservative media helped him. 

In question-time this past week the LNP tabled several very impressive achievements. Thus has been the case for a while now but this past week was different. A lot had to do with how the information was disseminated. This cut across of a number of portfolios; the economy, jobs, security, health, deliverables to various states and even the space program we excellent examples. We also had drought and energy. There was not a mention anywhere in the media. All they wanted to concentrate on was Labor’s attacks on Peter Dutton which went nowhere in the debate and were brilliantly addressed by Attorney General Christian Porter. Or women complaining about bullying and Malcolm Turnbull firing arrows from the sidelines. I know this garbage sells newspapers and electronic subscriptions but the tragedy is one would not know about the achievements unless you watched QT or read through Hansard and it’s only political junkies like me who do that.

I’ll share examples.

Economy: 

Scott Morrison – Prime Minister 

“Over the past five years, as a government we have been building a stronger and more resilient Australia. More than a million Australians now have a job that didn't have one at the time of the 2013 election. The level of youth unemployment has fallen to its lowest level in over five years: 11.1 per cent; 95½ thousand young people getting a job and their lives having been forever changed. Bulk-billing rates have risen to their highest level and they continue to be supported by a government that believe in a Medicare that delivers for all Australians with our Medicare guarantee—a government that are rolling out the programs that make a difference to the everyday lives of Australians.”

Josh Frydenberg – The Treasurer 

“The Australian economy is growing at 3.4 per cent. We've created more than one million new jobs and we're bringing the budget back to balance earlier than expected in 2019-20. Fundamental to our economic plan is providing tax relief to millions of Australian families and businesses. We have legislated tax relief to ensure that 10 million Australians are getting a benefit of up to $530 a year at first stage, that 94 per cent of taxpayers pay no more than 32.5c in the dollar, and that more than three million small- and medium-sized enterprises will benefit from our tax plan.

I can confirm to the House that earlier in the Senate today our $20,000 instant asset write-off extension has gone through, and more than 300,000 businesses have benefited from our instant asset write-off.”

Security: 

Peter Dutton – Minister Home Affairs 

“I can update the House that we have cancelled the visas of 194 outlaw motorcycle gang members, who are the biggest distributors of amphetamine and ice in communities across the country. The ACIC predicts that that has saved 1,000 Australians from falling victim to members of outlaw motorcycle gangs. Not only are they big distributors of drugs but they are also in lock step with the CFMEU and other organised criminal organisations who are involved in extortion and assaults. Seventy-five of them have been charged in relation to these matters. This government will keep our borders secure and we will keep Australians safe.”

Economy & Jobs: Kelly O’Dwyer - Minister for Jobs, Industrial Relations and Women

“Over 400,000 jobs were created in 2017, with three-quarters of those jobs being full time. Unemployment is down, women's participation continues to see record highs and, pleasingly, we have seen 95,000 young Australians find employment in 2017-18, the best result in almost 30 years. By contrast, in their final year in office those opposite saw youth employment go backwards, with around 16,000 job losses. We all know that if you cannot get that first job, it is very hard to get the second, third and fourth job.” 

Health: 

Greg Hunt – Minister for Health 

“What I do want to note in particular in relation to the medicine Orkambi for cystic fibrosis is that eight days ago I was privileged to join the Prime Minister in his first major announcement on health, as we recognised that Orkambi had been recognised by the PBAC. Within a few short weeks we were able to list it. It had been raised by the member for Mayo, the Member for Forrest and by those on the other side—indeed I mentioned the member for Lilley previously. This medicine will help 1,200 beautiful young Australian children and young adults get access to life-changing medicine. Overall, it will lead in some cases to an additional 20 years of life, and this is a medicine that would otherwise have cost up to $250,000. Virtually no Australian family could afford $250,000 a year. This medicine in particular will mean that young children have access to a capacity to have a future which they would otherwise not have had.”

“In terms of rheumatoid arthritis, 22,000 Australian patients who sometimes suffer crippling pain and agonising conditions will have access to Olumiant. This is a medicine which would otherwise have cost up to $16,500 a year. It will now be available for $39.50 or $6.40 a script. Equally, over 140,000 Australian families will have access to Intuniv, a medicine for ADHD which would otherwise cost up to $1,900 a year. In other words, it is helping beautiful young children who have real challenges deal with their issues without the side effects which accompany so many other medicines in this space.”

“At the heart of this is the fact we've been able to allocate $6 billion to medical research, including $3½ billion for the National Health and Medical Research Council, $500 million for the Biomedical Translation Fund and $2 billion for the Medical Research Future Fund. As part of that Medical Research Future Fund, one of the most important things that we have done is support new clinical trials with a nearly quarter-of-a-billion-dollar program.

The rare cancers and rare diseases clinical trial program is about giving people hope and opportunity and treatment where they have previously not had such a chance. In particular, this week, we were able to announce six new trials for rare diseases—in particular, trials for rare cancers and rare conditions that would otherwise not have been done—with a $10 million injection. What we've seen is support for pancreatic cancer, traumatic brain injury, rare skin tumours, myeloma, myelofibrosis and conditions such as glioblastoma, a brain cancer which can be so catastrophic. What these trials will do is not only give the individuals who are on them access to potentially lifesaving or life-changing treatments but also bring forward treatments that can be applied to all Australians with those conditions going forward.”

Infrastructure: 

Chris Crewther - Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population

“This government has $75 billion worth of congestion-busting initiatives going on right now across the nation. That consists of hundreds of small-scale, little projects at a localised level—things like the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in your electorate, Mr Speaker, which you'd be familiar with—but also major infrastructure projects in every city in every state across the nation. That consists of the Bruce Highway; the Monash Freeway and the Tullamarine upgrade in Victoria; the Midland Highway in Tasmania; the North-South Corridor in Adelaide, the METRONET in Perth; and the Western Sydney Airport—over $5 billion put into that. All of these major infrastructure projects are designed to bust congestion.”

Michael McCormack - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure,Transport and Regional Development 

“That's why we back Cowper with a $971 million Coffs Harbour bypass. I didn't hear the member for Maribyrnong in his budget reply speech even talk about the Pacific Highway. There's also the Port Macquarie Airport expansion. We're getting on with the job of building for Cowper. There's the Tacking Point Lighthouse upgrade. These are worthy projects. They're making sure that the people of Cowper, the people of regional Australia, can get home sooner and safer.

We compare our record with the record of those opposite. With mobile towers, did we have one mobile tower funded by those opposite? No; but more than 800 are being funded by the Liberals and Nationals. Again, there is the Coffs Harbour bypass—we've delivered that final passage, that final piece of the puzzle, in the Pacific Highway upgrade. Small businesses will have higher taxes under Labor. That's what Labor offers us. Regarding self-funded retirees, I know that a lot of people like to retire to the Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour area. It's a fantastic area with fantastic weather. But those self-funded retirees will be smashed if the person opposite ever becomes Prime Minister, because Labor have a plan to steal the savings of those self-funded retirees. Shame on the member for Maribyrnong and shame on all those opposite for supporting him. The people of Cowper know that you can't trust Labour. They know that they can't trust Labor with their savings. The contrast could not be starker.

Good economic management is good for regional Australia. It allows us to spend $1.405 million in regional programs, with many, many more underway. Whether it's the Building Better Regions Fund, the Regional Growth Fund or the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages, they're all funding initiatives that are helping regional Australia and helping regional Australians contribute to our economy. Those opposite stand for higher taxes and higher power prices. Union bred, union fed and union led—that's the member for Maribyrnong.

Veterans Affairs: 

Darren Chester - Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel

“This is a government which is determined to get on with the job of delivering for our veteran community. We want to see a safer, stronger and better Australia where everyone can get ahead together. Veterans certainly share in the benefits of our strong economic plan. As a nation, we have every reason to be proud of the level of support we provide for our veterans and their families. More than $11 billion per year is provided to veterans and their families. In the order of 290,000 veterans and their families receive some form of support from the Australian people. Each year, there is more than $5 billion provided for health and community services to our veterans, with nearly $200 million allocated for veterans' mental health services. This includes more than nine million individual medical and dental services for our veterans and their families.

The government has also sought to reform the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Keep in mind that the Department of Veterans' Affairs this year commemorates its 100th anniversary. We are working with the Department of Veterans' Affairs to make sure it is ready for the next 100 years. In this year's and last year's budgets, we've invested in the order of $280 million in this important reform package, which will transform every aspect of DVA's systems to make sure it does provide for the needs of our veterans and their families into the future.”

Senior Australians: 

Ken Wyatt - Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health

“More than 1.3 million Australians have the benefit of a budget that we have committed to, that rises from $18.6 billion to $23.6 billion. And following the recent Oakden inquiry, we are in the process of establishing an independent aged-care quality and safety commission.”

Education:

Dan Tehan - Minister Education 

“Over the next 10 years this government is committed to growing funding for students in regional and remote Australia from $3.9 billion to $6.8 billion. I think that's worth repeating: from $3.9 billion to $6.8 billion. This is an increase of 74.6 per cent. The Australian government recognises that it generally costs more to educate students going to schools in regional and remote areas. This is why extra funding, called location loading, is provided for students going to schools in regional or remote areas. Under the new funding arrangements, the location loading will continue to apply and, in 2018, is expected to benefit approximately 750,000 students. We know we can, and we will, do more for these students. It's why the coalition commissioned an independent review into regional, rural and remote education. The government's response to the review includes steps to make a lasting and real difference for regional, rural and remote communities.” 

Space Industry:

Karen Andrews - Minister for Industry, Science and Technology

“Mr Speaker, as you've heard today, this government has a very strong record in creating jobs. But there's much more work that needs to be done. Our space industry already includes more than 380 companies, employs more than 10,000 people and contributes $3.9 billion per annum to the Australian economy. The Australian Space Agency will grow our space sector. Projections are that it will triple the size of the sector and add $12 billion to the economy by 2030. It will help create 20,000 new jobs. It will provide opportunities that help our farmers and our engineers. It will provide a whole ecosystem to assist and provide jobs now and into the future.”

The above are all answers to specific questions asked by opposition members and members of the LNP government. I share them to highlight there is a lot of things getting done. There is so much more happening but governments can only make investments if the economy is strong and our economy is strong. I feel that a responsible media should make the population aware of what governments are delivering because it’s those achievements that make such a difference to people’s lives. They are also the things that differentiate the LNP from Labor. Instead, the media is intent on feeding the population 24/7 polls and endless analysis and predictions, gossip, drama and soap opera. I find that irritating and dishonest. Is it anyone wonder voters are fed up when that’s all they hear?

I encourage people to find the time to scan through Hansard because unless a miracle happens and the media changes (which is not likely) Hansard is the only place you’re going to find to read about what actually happening. It also gives you some really good insight into the people who are elected to parliament. That is often very different to what the media says and how individuals present themselves.  That's particularly so in the Senate. We all owe it to ourselves to be informed. 

Hansard