MisterFrog

@MisterFrog@aussie.zone

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Deputy PM refuses to say if Chinese warships targeted Australian cities⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago⁩:

  This reads as you would expect from Newscorp. The way it’s written is clearly biased towards a US agenda.

  “Targeting our cities” seems like a weird way to put this, seems like emotionally charged language.

  At no point does the article actually mention how the Chinese were targeting Australia cities.

  Unless they’re actually firing something at a city, is it targeting? Intimidating perhaps? Even then, they just passed by.

  The deputy PM’s response makes way more sense than what this piece seems to be implying.

  It then straight up puts forward the American agenda on military spending and the strategic interests of Taiwan. Unlike the Australian side where it just quotes, it straight up takes a position for the Americans.

  There’s so much actual stuff to be criticising China for, but this passing by isn’t one of them.

  This shit is manufacturing consent for a future war with the US and China. If the US want to get into a war over Taiwan, that’s none of our business. We are a middle power, and have a tiny military. Joining another war for the US would be a huge mistake. Especially against another superpower.

  The current government seems on the money on this one, and absolutely fucking stupid when it comes to backing the US strikes again Iran.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Check your energy rates!⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago⁩:

  en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergon_Energy

  You’re in the situation what we wish to get back to in Victoria, you should feel lucky, not complaining.

  “Bargain hunting” for a electricity retailer is absurd. Because the privately owned electricity distributors set the rates, and the retailers just repackage the wholesale rates as fixed cost supply and usage charges. There is no “choice”. (This is the situation in Victoria)

  There should be one electricity distributor, the government (this is buy-in-large, your situation), who provides electricity at cost. Because it’s a natural monopoly, there’s no use of having parallel energy transmission wires owned by different companies, which is why that isn’t done anywhere in Australia (in most cases).

  This is exactly why our costs are way higher than in Queensland. “Competition” of privatisation doesn’t work.

  Thanks Kennett (the Liberal Premier who sold off the Vic SEC).

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨More Australians get their news via social media than traditional sources for first time, report finds⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  The Sydney Morning Herald

  I’m mean, it’s better than newscorp, but let’s not pretend like any Nine-Fairfax companies don’t toe the right wing corporate line.

  They are the embodiment of the teals (our socially progressive, economically right wing politicians).

  The guardian which is not Australian ranks highest in my mind here. ABC is okay, but after their funding cuts under the LNP they’re way less critical of the government.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨One million Australians missing specialist doctor appointments due to cost, report finds⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Part of the problem is that private health exists, but it can’t cover you for anything other than hospital.

  “Extras” aren’t really insurance, it’s a incentive scheme but you basically pay whatever you’re using at cost.

  The solution here is not to allow private health to cover the gap between Medicare and the out of pocket cost. The solution is to say, if you charge more than the rebate then it’s 100% private, you won’t get a cent of Medicare.

  Watch as private healthcare absolutely bottoms out because they’ll actually have to cover the whole cost, and therefore premiums will rise like crazy.

  How we we afford this? We’re already affording it. We subsidise private health, we pay insurance premiums. If you can convince people: oh hey, want cheaper health insurance? Oh hey, what’s this? You can pay LESS in universal healthcare than you do in premiums!

  Lots of people would go for it. A lot of us have private health insurance because of how the incentives are currently set up. We don’t want it. Before the tax concessions no one wanted it.

  You’d have to couple it with a massive investment in Medicare, completely removing all tax concessions for private health (which they should have never implemented in the first place). Better pay for medicos.

  But we can damn well afford it now, just that it’s politically difficult, especially with the corporate media, and everyone wanting taxes to go down (which I personally think is dumb as fuck).

  We need to put private health in the bin where I belongs. Hybrid systems are shit.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨One million Australians missing specialist doctor appointments due to cost, report finds⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  I second this, but make it +0% or else 100% private.

  Honestly, we need most medicos to be employees, and they can start a union to keep conditions and pay appropriate.

  Our subsidy system is just funneling money into practice owner’s pockets, who set prices based on supply and demand, which is a fucked way to run a healthcare system.

  Let’s just pay the average medico more, while skipping all the profits were subsidising.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Australia condemns LA Police for rubber bullets after quietly arming our own⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  We recently did have protests because of the recent death in custody in the NT. But you’re right, they’re not terribly large.

  Even the weekly Palestinian protests are larger.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨*Wiitching Hour at Northland* - an important video about how Aussies can prevent Nazis promoting themselves and gaining power⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  They can’t form a political party. Right? We do not have freedom of speech in this country. Hate speech is illegal. At least, I would think so?

  Ignoring their 3:30AM flashmobs seems prudent.

  Don’t give them the light of day

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Could this be the death of Australia's nightmarish welfare system?⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Private providers in a public system is ridiculous in my opinion. Here’s an idea, hire them directly instead of paying for a profit margin. :O (this opinion extends to Medicare providers, also)

  What I recall being ridiculous was the wait on Centrelink applications. (It’s been a number of years since being off Centrelink so don’t haven’t paid attention recently)

  Waiting 3 months was an option for me, but Christ, I can’t imagine how shit that must be who need immediate stability.

  I also very much hope Labor update payment rates. Where are you gonna find a place anywhere near services and public transport to rent cheaply enough in order to actually get by?

  If only we heavily invested in public housing, I’d wager we’d either end up saving a bunch of money not going to private landlords, or otherwise massively increase the amount in the pockets of people on Centrelink, because it wouldn’t be going to landlords…

  Alas.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Wealthy Australians are worried we might realise how rigged the system is in their favour⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Make $100,000 from selling your labor. 2024-25 FY: $20,788 (not including deductions)

  Make $100,000 from selling your appreciating assets: $5,788.00

  Gotta love that capital gains discount…

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Ben Roberts-Smith loses bid to overturn defamation case loss⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago⁩:

  This travesty is that he’s not been prosecuted for murdering people/war crimes (allegedly)

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Not difficult to understand⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago⁩:

  This is on you then. Providing finished documents in an editable format just feels wrong to me

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Not difficult to understand⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago⁩:

  Just lie. There is absolutely nothing unethical about lying about timeframes on your resume.

  Looking for a job after being made redundant, but still in good standing with your former coworker or manager? Just say you still work there.

  Otherwise they’ll have way more leverage when it comes to salary negotiation.

  My friend did this when he got made redundant, landed a well paying job, after months of being unemployed.

  You have no reason to have a gap on your resume because you’ll be unfairly punished for it.

  Just lie. It’s 100% ethical.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Can someone explain Australian parties to me?⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago⁩:

  The lower house single-member electorate voting system does still favour larger parties, it’s just way, way, better than FPTP.

  oercollective.caul.edu.au/…/electoral-systems/

  Relevant part starts at “Majoritarian (or ‘winner takes all’) systems” about a third of the way down.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Permanent residents who had overseas drivers licenses transferred - your license may no longer be valid⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago⁩:

  This has been the case of a while in Victoria already. Makes sense to me, and hardly much of an imposition since you have to renew your driver’s licence from any country eventually anyway.

  And yeah, if you’re just visiting or on a temporary visa, no probs

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Major environmental not-for-profit Planet Ark goes into administration⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago⁩:

  Aluminium used for drink cans is dubious because, once again, plastic (liners to prevent the drink from corroding the cans)

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Honest Government Ad | How To Vote 2025⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago⁩:

  The Juice Media are forever questionable to me for recommending the teals as a blanket “not shit candidates”, despite some of them, not unsurprisingly, being against workers rights.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Mental health experts concerned about Coalition plan to scrap workers’ right to disconnect⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  How people can vote for these idiots beggars belief

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Swapping out red meat and creamy pasta sauce could significantly cut household emissions, Australian research finds⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Next thing you’re gonna be telling us is to bring back public servant building surveyors as the only building surveyors, to stop the conflict of interest that the builder paying the inspector directly causes.

  Bloody madness, clearly the private market is more efficient /s

  Our housing regs are a joke since they’re not even well supervised

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨IT'S ON: Albanese to call May 3 federal election tomorrow morning⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  The exception here being teal independents who vote with the Libs, as the colour name suggests, they’re not for workers. The only difference is that they believe in climate change and are not as socially conservative.

  Handy tool: theyvoteforyou.org.au

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Private childcare whistleblowers' disturbing experiences inside a sector putting profits before kids⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Even under our current capitalist model, I think there are practically no benefits for privatisation of necessities. (Management of each being equal, that is. People pointing to “government inefficiency” are naive to think there aren’t just as many private orgs who run very inefficiently.)

  What’s the point of having energy transmission private? I can’t well plug in a different network. I’m stuck with one, and then have to do a stupid dance with the retailers who “compete”.

  What’s the point of having the airport be privately owned? It’s not like we have much of a choice of which airport to fly out of.

  What’s the point of paying private schools with government money? That’s just money that could have been spent on public schools.

  All of which we have to pay cost + profit. Instead of just cost.

  The list goes on.

  Privatisation is stupid.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨'Limited incentive' for Coles and Woolworths to compete vigorously on price, and margins have risen, ACCC finds⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  While a large part of the population is mislead about capitalism or benefitting from the system themselves, I think you’ll find your sentiments are shared by many. Especially here on Lemmy.

  This system sucks.

  But yeah, our media is so fully captured by corporate interests that any proposal tooooo socialist is promptly demonised.

  Oh those profits from our minerals? Nahhhh the foreign companies deserve that. Can’t have a mining tax.

  Breaking up monopolies? Nahhhh that’s practically communism (despite competition being part of capitalism’s rhetoric)

  Big sad :(

  At least Trump will likely secure us another term without an LNP majority government hehe

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨'Limited incentive' for Coles and Woolworths to compete vigorously on price, and margins have risen, ACCC finds⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Aldi is a nice way to save, but, their fresh food selection is pretty meh, and often not great quality (as in, going mouldy fast, I don’t care about how they look).

  I usually pair going to Aldi and an Asian supermarket

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨trump puts 25% tariffs on Aussie steel and aluminium⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Typo, was supposed to be lapdog*

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨New report skewers Coalition’s contentious nuclear plan – and reignites Australia’s energy debate⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  I’m still really unsure why some socialists have decided that because China carries the flag of socialism, that it means they’re automatically good at everything, ever. And everything bad about it is western propaganda.

  I’m a socialist, hell, I even like China in many regards, much more than many of my fellow Australians.

  But damn, why so many people on Lemmy.ml stanning for them? Makes no sense.

  That being said, much of the infrastructure they have, is indeed nice (all the massive amounts of coal we sell them, notwithstanding).

  But there are a bunch of inefficiencies and issues.

  Ya know, like any other country.

  China isn’t a utopia, it’s a place, with good and bad points.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨“I Want Every Young Mum Back In The Office Permanently” Says Multimillionaire Childcare Profiteer⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  I ate the onion on this one

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Australian bosses on notice as 'deliberate' wage theft becomes a crime⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  It’s not hard (this isn’t legal advice). If you find there has been an error (intentional or otherwise), document it, send it to them in writing.

  They’re now fucked if they are in the wrong because now they know, and if they continue to not pay you, or threaten you job over it, they’re risking a lot more than before.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨trump puts 25% tariffs on Aussie steel and aluminium⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  Huge cars with terrible visibility should have been outlawed ages ago anyway. There’s no good reason for someone’s bonnet to come up to my shoulders on a fucking ute.

  There’s a reason why the road toll is going UP per capita in the US.

  As much as it sucks for the Americans, there is a small part of me that’s happy about Trump shooting themselves in their own collective foot, because maybe we’ll consider diversifying our alliances a little. Instead of being America’s little laptop.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Australian Federal election 2025: Taiwan offers to help counter online disinformation in lead-up to poll⁩ ⁨⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩:

  It’s honestly incredible we manage to elect anyone other than right-wing parties at all, given the media environment.