Sad but true.

“The heat was turned up on the Howard Government ahead of the official start to the Kyoto Protocol on Wednesday, with protests in London and political pressure at home.
Australia and the US are the only major industrialised countries to have resisted signing the protocol, which will limit greenhouse emissions and introduce an international carbon trading scheme.
…
[B[y not ratifying the treaty, Australia would miss out on any global economic opportunities that came with ratification, including carbon trading schemes worth $6 billion.
…
Mr Albanese said it concerned him that both the US, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and Australia, the largest emitter per capita, were the only two countries in the developed world not to have ratified the protocol, named after the Japanese city in which the initial climate change conference was held seven years ago. ” (n.c.a)

“The real reason the Prime Minister is allowing and encouraging the abortion debate is to send a message. The law won’t change, but after a long and costly parliamentary fight – which will monopolise media coverage for weeks and involve senior Liberals appearing on television agreeing with church leaders – morally conservative working-class Australians will know that, secretly, if only those rotten elites would let him, John Howard would love to move against abortion.” (Age)
It wouldn’t all be so painful if election stunts in the UK didn’t mean that it’s far more likely that I might have to move back to Australia before I wanted to. I don’t think I could cope with going back while Howard is still in power.
Otoh, I’ve been asked to speak on a panel at a museums conference in November. Woo!

“The Howard Government has warned that all states except South Australia will forfeit funding for major road projects unless they adopt tough anti-union measures for the building industry.
…
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie responded angrily to what he described as “blackmail” and declared his state would not change its industrial relations system.
…
Industry observers regard Canberra’s linking of road funding to workplace relations as unprecedented.” (n.c.a)

I was very taken with this interview about weasel words. It’s particularly good on corporate- and political-speak.
“I think Mr Howard quite cleverly redefined the notion of trust as simply trust us to run the economy properly.”
“Eric Alterman said about the US election recently that Americans now live in a post-truth environment”
I’ve decided rambling about personal stuff is just boring. Here’s a sample: stayed in Monday, went to a party, went to a party, had friends over for dinner, went to a party, went to a friend’s club, went to a party, went to a wedding reception, went to a party, went to a leaving do, went to see friends’ band.

“John Howard has supported a parliamentary debate on abortion as conservative MPs push for a public inquiry into the number and timing of terminations.” (n.c.a)
vs.
“Abortion row ‘manufactured’
The Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL) has accused Federal Government ministers and Governor-General Michael Jeffery of manufacturing a crisis over abortion.
Spokeswoman Eva Cox said … there was no need for a major inquiry into abortions because statistics showed the number of terminations was stable or slowly falling.
“Ministers, the Governor-General and others are manufacturing a crisis about abortion to promote their own moral views,” Ms Cox said.
“The current highly-misogynist dialogue about women who make casual decisions and ‘abort for convenience’ is an insult to many of the women who have considered this difficult decision.”” (n.c.a)

I knew I shouldn’t have read the Australian news.
“John Howard has vowed to push through the Senate all of the Coalition’s workplace reforms blocked since it took office, signalling the biggest crackdown on union power in the nation’s history.” (n.c.a)
“We run the risk in this country of a shortage of employees because of the shrinking participation rate and the shortage of skilled people.”
It might be time to write another ‘Dear John’ letter. At least a tiny part of the reason for any skills shortage is that people with desired skills are choosing to stay out of the country while he’s in power.

What can I say? Buggery.org has said it better anyway.
Random depressing quotes: “They were both willing to make forestry an issue, but for Labor it was evidently a national issue of national heritage, whereas for the government it was a marginal seats strategy for picking up seats in Tasmania.” (n.c.a)
“Early Senate results show the Coalition may also command a majority in the Upper House, which would allow Mr Howard to proceed with the sale of Telstra and other controversial government plans held up by the opposition over the past three years.” (n.c.a)

“The Liberal Party today defended its use of pre-recorded phone messages from Prime Minister John Howard, with which it is bombarding households across Australia in the lead-up to polling day.” (n.c.a)
I’m so glad I’m not in the country. Getting one of those calls would probably lead to me destroying my phone in an incandescent rage. I’m not sure whether the American-style recorded message or hearing Johnnie’s voice would annoy me more.

“Howard terror plan gets brush-off” (BBC)
Well, der. If Australia had waited for the UN before falling over itself following the US into Iraq and if the Howard government hadn’t pulled away from the region so determinedly, maybe they’d have some credibility now.