Scott Morrison

[brian ross]

I wasn't aware there was a rule that a politician's children had to agree with his views on politics. Turnball's son is an individual and entitled to his own views on his father's demise as PM, don't you think or has Freedom of Speech died another democratic death in your minds? Mmmm?

Can't defend the treacherous Brian.

Turncoat was a mole. A Labor plant.

Trumble, as he is called in the Whitehouse was a Tory, through and through. He was what Thatcher called a "wet", as against her own "dries". He was from the old school of Tories, like his party's founder, Ming the Merciless, Menzies. He believed in a broad church. What a shame that his successors have failed to understand what John Howard said when he suggested that, "if we cannot govern ourselves, how can we govern Australia?" (or words to those effect). He wasn't the worse that the Tories have thrown up to be PM (Harold Holt and William McMahon and Menzies in his first iteration as PM, spring to mind)

His son is entitled to his independent opinion on politics, just as we all are. The "Mothers' Milk" theory of political allegiance doesn't necessarily hold true. I hold differing opinions to what my father held over certain issues. I am sure you do as well.

[Black Orchid]

His family is absolutely entitled to their own political beliefs but the day after he resigns batting for the opposition?

Clear case of sour grapes!

And that just reinforces what a truly weak bunch of politicians we have all round who are only in it for what they can get out of it.

[Rorschach]

Turnbull was only in it for himself.
Proven fact he tried Labor was rejected. Then tried the Libs... and foolishly they let him in.
Turnbull and Menzies are not alike in fact Menzies has probably been rolling in his grave at Turnbull's Progressive Liberal Party.
Turnbull stacked the decks inside the party with WETS, moderates, progressives...
He alienated the grassroots Conservatives which had long been part of and supported a centre Right conservative Party. Menzies only saw "liberal" in terms of equality and freedom" not the nonsense progressives bring to the party these days. Not Turnbull's progressive beliefs.

[sprintcyclist]

SuperMan Scott

NEW prime minister Scott Morrison has faced his first major leadership test over an issue that could make or break Australia. No pressure.

OVER the weekend, Scott Morrison faced the first real challenge of his leadership.

No, this wasn’t about crunching the budget numbers, stopping the boats or curbing our population growth rate. It was about our neighbour Indonesia.

As the United States retreats from Asia, and China muscles in at the same time, experts have warned Australia needs to start repositioning itself as a key player in the Asia-Pacific region.

Over the weekend, the new Prime Minister was in Jakarta — an appointment originally set up by Malcolm Turnbull — where new deals were signed with President Joko Widodo, aimed at achieving exactly that.

Here’s what went down.

WHAT HAPPENED IN INDONESIA

On his first international excursion as PM, Mr Morrison had some big shoes to fill.

It was well-known that former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had a warm friendship with Mr Widodo. This meeting was set up while he was still in power.

For Australia-Indonesia relations, Mr Turnbull’s rise to the top job was a marked shift after relations plummeted under the Abbott government.

This was the first time Mr Morrison met the Indonesian leader.

But the pair concluded with two significant deals under their belts — a free-trade deal that had been eight years in the making, and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to symbolise their commitment to elevated security ties.

Australia and Indonesia are two of the world’s 20 largest economies, but neither are in each other’s top 10 trading partners, making a trade deal crucial going forward.

Meanwhile, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was important to dealing with rising protectionism, intolerance and threats of conflict, particularly — although it was never said out loud — from China.

It spoke of the “threats of conflict” and “shifts and challenges” both countries faced.

“If left unattended, these may lead to the dismantling of the precious ecosystem and rules-based regional architecture that we have built over the past half century.”

“Our partnership reflects our vision of a region in which the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is central, the rights of all states are respected, and countries behave in accordance with international rules and norms.”

The ABC hailed the trip as a “success”, noting that the PM “appeared relaxed and confident” as he posed with Indonesian children and made small-talk with the country’s president.


WHY INDONESIA IS SO IMPORTANT TO US NOW

If there’s ever a time to solidify our relationship with Indonesia, it’s right now.

According to ANU professor and former chief defence strategist Hugh White, Indonesia “has the potential to be far more important to Australia than we have ever conceived” — potentially even rivalling China.

The country’s economy is growing rapidly. If it maintains its current growth rate, it will become the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2040, and the fourth-largest by 2050. As it stands, its GDP is set to be triple Australia’s in just over a decade.

“Wealth is the ultimate foundation of national power, so that will make Indonesia, or should make Indonesia, a very powerful country,” Prof White writes in Australian Foreign Affairs.

Our northern neighbour may not yet pack a punch on the world stage like the US or China — but give it time.

Prof White also notes Indonesia could be a “major strategic asset to Australia, helping to shield us from more-distant threats”.

He says Indonesia is the only neighbour close enough to pose any kind of serious threat to us — and at the same time, it’s the only country strong enough to defend us against any potential threats to our north.

“Just as our closeness with Indonesia gives us many reasons or pretexts to be enemies, it also gives as many reasons to become allies. And this means that Indonesia’s growing power can be both good and bad news for Australia, making it both a more valuable potential ally and a more dangerous potential adversary.”

In other words, as the United States continues to retreat from the Asia-Pacific, and China’s position gets stronger, a strong alliance with Indonesia could prove invaluable.

The magazine’s editor Jonathan Pearlman notes that Australia’s independent strength is already diminishing.

“Australia’s global economic weight is likely to shrink over time, and its military edge in the Asia-Pacific region is already fading.

“Furthermore, the status and allure that Australia gains from being a close ally of the region’s dominant player, the United States, will diminish as China rises and Beijing challenges Washington’s primacy in Asia.”

WHAT ABOUT THE THREAT OF CHINA?

Concerns over China’s rising power and influence can be felt across the Pacific, but it didn’t get a mention from either Indonesian or Australian officials over the weekend.

Beijing and Jakarta are engaged in their own feud due to overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.

While Australia has no claims to the region, it asserts the “right to freedom of navigation” through oceans, in defiance of China.

Mr Morrison is yet to make his first move on China. Until recently, Beijing’s relationship with Canberra faced a lengthy diplomatic “freeze” due to rising tensions over foreign interference laws and the South China Sea.

But Beijing welcomed the new prime minister’s election last month.

In a statement to The Australian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said: “China’s policy towards the relationship with Australia has always been consistent and clear.

“A healthy and stable relationship is not only good for the two countries but also good for the regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.

“We look forward to working together with Australia to further develop the relationship in the right direction.”

https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy ... ef91758832

[brian ross]

His family is absolutely entitled to their own political beliefs but the day after he resigns batting for the opposition?

Clear case of sour grapes!

And that just reinforces what a truly weak bunch of politicians we have all round who are only in it for what they can get out of it.

Well, while I agree with your last sentence, I am unsure about your first and second ones, BO. I have no idea what Trumble's son's attitudes were before he was dismissed, merely that media has brought our attention to them now.

You should always bear in mind what the Old Testament had to say about visiting the sins of the father on the children (and vice-a-versa):

Exodus 34:7 - Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].

Deuteronomy 24:16 - The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

Ezekiel 18:19-20 - Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, [and] hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

[Black Orchid]

I spent 13 years in a Convent and I have absolutely no interest in the Old or the New Testaments. It is all hogwash and fabricated and re-fabricated ad nauseam to enslave and control the masses so that they don't have to take responsibility for their own wrong doings and/or misdeeds and then feel artificially cleansed through confession by a possibly paedophile priest/minister.

Basically it gives the sheep open slather to do what they want 6 days per week in the belief they will be forgiven once a week at confession. Hogwash!

[sprintcyclist]

I spent 13 years in a Convent and I have absolutely no interest in the Old or the New Testaments. It is all hogwash and fabricated and re-fabricated ad nauseam to enslave and control the masses so that they don't have to take responsibility for their own wrong doings and/or misdeeds and then feel artificially cleansed through confession by a possibly paedophile priest/minister.

Basically it gives the sheep open slather to do what they want 6 days per week in the belief they will be forgiven once a week at confession. Hogwash!

they don't have to take responsi ... n

That is not how I read the Bible all,
As you said - Hogwash !

[Black Orchid]

Religion is the basis for most evils in the world and if people think they can get absolution for their sins by confessing once a week what's to stop them sinning to begin with? Nothing! If that isn't not taking the responsibility for right and wrong on your own shoulders I don't know what is.

[sprintcyclist]

Religion is the basis for most evils in the world and if people think they can get absolution for their sins by confessing once a week what's to stop them sinning to begin with? Nothing! If that isn't not taking the responsibility for right and wrong on your own shoulders I don't know what is.

I agree with you.
I think that understanding is incorrect, according to the Bible.

............. I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. ...........

Revelation 2:23

............ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil. .....

Ecclesiastes 12:14


The big picture of the Bible is of a personal relationship with God.

[brian ross]

I spent 13 years in a Convent and I have absolutely no interest in the Old or the New Testaments. It is all hogwash and fabricated and re-fabricated ad nauseam to enslave and control the masses so that they don't have to take responsibility for their own wrong doings and/or misdeeds and then feel artificially cleansed through confession by a possibly paedophile priest/minister.

Basically it gives the sheep open slather to do what they want 6 days per week in the belief they will be forgiven once a week at confession. Hogwash!

Oh, I agree. I spent what, seven years under the tutelage of the Brothers. They beat my belief in God out of me quite well. However, I still appreciate The Bible for what it is - an adequate history of the Jewish and early Christian peoples. It contains words of wisdom about how a society should order itself - unfortunately all too often ignored, more than followed. "The sins of the father" are not wished upon the child. In otherwords, we are all individuals.