We log off (for now).     No notes! Go touch grass.

We chat with Celeste Liddle, Greens candidate for Cooper, about unionism, protest and speedrunning Spyro the Dragon.

Not an ep! Just an update! See you all soon xx

QLD and NSW are underwater, again. Knives are out for the prime minister. FU Pay is not good. The budget is discussed.   Floodcast (not that one) At Melbourne’s Flower and Garden show, see “Coming soon”, a garden built around the theme of climate change. The flooding in Queensland and NSW: It’s real bad. Lismore’s flood warning system didn’t work, because it was still damaged from the flooding three weeks ago. The NSW government has proposed cutting stamp duty for people leaving flood-effected areas. Everybody hates Scott Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells used her retirement speech to attack Scott Morrison and is not fit to be Prime Minister. In 2020 Fierravanti-Wells pushed conspiracy theories stating that the bushfires were created by eco-terrorist arsonists. Then voted against any kind of climate resilience measures. In 2007 she attended a Croatian neo-nazi event. And in 2014 asked Craig Kelly to attend that same event on her behalf. Scott Morrison has denied that in 2007 he claimed his preselection opponent was a “moslem”. Jim Malo: “being racist doesn’t preclude you from public life, in 2009 or now”. Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett is proud of his golliwog collection. FU PAY Me Australia loves buy-now-pay-later services. Australian Venue Co let you buy for a parma with four easy payments. Payday loan lenders are also getting into the area. New buy now pay later service FUPay is letting you buy milk, petrol and rent and pay it off later. FUPay are also pitching themselves as a tool for employers to micromanage their employee’s money. FUPay’s headquarters are in the same building as Indue, the company that manages cashless welfare cards. A real nexus of evil. Budget spectacular The government is giving $420 in additional tax offsets to lower income earners. If you do a winners and losers breakdown, lol that’s fake. The best form of welfare is a job, and the best type of rental support is buying a house. Actions Volunteer for a better political party.

Carbon credits are a big scam. David Koch fantasies about cutting the rope.   Carbon Credits! Angus Taylor has spent a billion dollars on “sham” carbon credits. Whistleblower Andrew Macintosh says many parts of the carbon offsets system are a scam. Andrew Macintosh has been replaced by former fossil fuel lobbyist David Byers (we’ve talked about him before). Under the Gillard government, Australia’s emissions actually went down. What’s the go with Angus Taylor anyway? Blockade Sunrise Protestors from Blockade Australia are continuing to disrupt coal company operations. Emma Dorge went on morning TV show Sunrise while hanging from a pole above a train line. Sunrise’s “Cool the Globe” initiative was sponsored by Origin Energy. Shoutouts Shoutout to The Greens! They’ve announced some cool new policies, like free university, and dental into Medicare. Shoutout too to Joe Hockey for fighting for free university too (before stripping it for parts). Blockade Australia are running actions from 27th of June - July 2nd. Change your god damn electricity provider!  

We get Adelaidepilled, then talk about the federal court ruling that the Environment Minister doesn't have a duty of care after all.   Adelaidepilled The election in South Australia saw large swings against the Liberals. The new Premier said some okay things. Fair enough! The federal court has found that the Environment Minister doesn’t have a duty of care to protect children from climate change after all! The judges had a lot of good legal reasons why we should ignore the fact that the government has blood on it’s hands. Climate change-lover Joel Fitzgibbon loves this. Climate scientist Peter Kalmus on the need to take risks. A harder place to live Scott Morrison says Australia is becoming a harder place to live. I wonder who did that? Guess he’s just moving through the stages of climate change denial. Scotty also reckons we should run coal power plants for as long as possible! Actions Speak up when you can! Find your community. It’s not your job but you’ve gotta do it anyway.

We talk about the power of polyps and the power of community.   Blobbing along Australia’s nuclear submarines would “inevitably” be forced to shut down by peacenik Queensland jellyfish. In 2006 the US Supercarrier Ronald Reagan was owned by 800kg of jellyfish. Floating in a pork barrel Flood disaster relief payments are different, depending on your electorate. Meanwhile, crowdfunding campaigns outstrip traditional charities. The Ballina hospital was evacuated and relocated, by staff and volunteers. …the Defence Force turned up nine days later. The Prime Minister’s visit to flood-effected areas avoided media questions, but brought his personal photographer. Actions Talk to a neighbors. Save yourself from reading, listen to a podcast instead.  

The government ignores the IPCC report and the floods. Warnie ruled though.   Fucking around / finding out The second part of the 6th IPCC report has been released. This one is about the social cost of climate change. UN President António Guterres: “I’ve seen many reports, but nothing like the new IPCC climate report, an atlas of human suffering”. The government response: Ignoring it. Except for Pauline Hanson, who’s happily denying that climate change exists. On a plus side, Victoria has announced a massive new offshore wind project to replace our aging coal plants. Floodcast (not that one) The flooding in Queensland & NSW: It’s real bad. The Lismore Maccas, completely underwater. The government has $5 billion sitting in a federal disaster fund, and just isn’t spending it. With local media closing, the ABC running on a rapidly shrinking shoestring budget, people are stuck without news that talks to them. But it’s okay, Peter Dutton has started a GoFundMe to help out. Dutton recently won $35,000 in damages for a defamation case against refugee activist Shane Bazzi. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk: “Let’s face it, it is climate change. I have never seen so many natural disasters”, but followed with… “Queensland is lucky, we have coal, we have gas”. Shane Stone, head of Australia’s disaster relief agency, vacillates on climate change, and blames residents for wanting to “live amongst the gum trees”. RIP Warnie Cricketer Shane Warne died early Saturday morning. He also had some good takes on climate change. “I think we all have to admit now that climate change is a huge issue… Scientists with proven facts are telling us things we can’t dispute about the rising temperatures, the rising sea levels” Actions Donate to help out in QLD & NSW: Bundjalung Community Flood Relief, Flood Recovery 2022. Read Warmth by Daniel Sherrell. Watch Shane Warne: 10 unforgettable deliveries, the Kath and Kim episode.

No pod this week! The vibes shifted too hard.   Instead, tune in to our pals over at Boonta Vista, raising funds for Sikh Volunteers Australia, Lismore SES and Loop Growers Brisbane.

Australia's largest coal power plant is shutting down early, Scott Morrison is good at diplomacy, and Grace Tame is cool.   On the tools Scott Morrison, welding expert. Good news! The biggest coal power plant in Australia is shutting 7 years early! They specifically avoided telling energy minister Angus Taylor about the plans. The Australian government has fought hard to keep fossil fuel plants spewing in the past. Angus Taylor is pissy about it. Of course, because the government refuses to consider any kind of transition, it’s the workers who lose. It’s not all good news… the mostly-Labor state governments are spending millions to prop up coal power plants. Demanding forgiveness Scott Morrison used the commemoration address for Kevin Rudd’s apology to Indigenous people to tell them they should forgive settlers. As The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria say, “get in the bin”. Secretly working for China Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton are going hard on their “Labor is secretly working for China” narrative. The head of ASIO is now doing the media rounds saying “please don’t”. Labor MPs having been going off chops on TikTok. Samantha Maiden writes for news.com.au that Anthony Albonese had spoken a line of Mandarin at a Chinese trade association function. Grace Tame is cool The Daily Mail published a photo of former Australian of the Year with a giant BONG. Tame released a great open letter eviscerating the media who tried to shit-sheet her. Duncan Storrar went on Q&A questioning welfare policies, and had his life dragged through the mud in response. Weed is a normal, popular thing in Australia. Liberal MP Dave Sharma posted that he’s “sure there’s a photo of me like that”, but has consistently voted for drug testing welfare recipients. Meanwhile, almost 70 thousand australians were arrested for weed possession. Actions Pay the Rent! There’s a way to actually make reparations. Share the podcast! Leave a review!

It's a good* news week!   International news Anthony Albanese reassures the nation that no-one cares if he wins or not. Good* news Nurses in NSW are striking for better pay and safer conditions. The Omicron wave and the withdrawal of government supports has been brutal for health workers. The ICU nurse in the US who quit, and encouraged others to do the same. Environmental activists win high court case, stopping a new coal mine in the Bylong Valley. Victoria has decriminalized sex work! We won’t need to worry about inhaling burnt koala noses for too much longer. This follows deliberate action from the NSW government to block legislation to project koalas. Bigotry begone? The religious discrimination bill has been withdrawn. This follow’s Rebekah Sharkie’s successful amendment to the sex discrimination act that would have prevented the transphobia intended by the original bill. Transphobes have taken a sudden interest in “saving women’s sport”. Arizona has just passed the “Save Women’s Sports Act”, intended to do exactly the same thing. We’ve talked about the Olympics before.  

Western Australia succeeds in succeeding, the Religious Discrimination bill is bad and aged care is in cri—.   International news Western Australia is cut off from the nation, with their only rail link flooded out. As a result of this, WA is running out of water treatment chemicals. Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has advocated using nuclear bombs to mine iron ore. Religious discrimination Mitch was on the Drum! The Federal government is still pushing their pet “Religious Discrimination” bill. The Labor party has said they’ll conditionally support it. Citipointe Christian College has made students sign an enrollment form confirming that they are not trans. Most Australians don’t even want this thing! Aged care is in cri— PM Scott Morrison almost called the situation in aged care homes a crisis. The Aged Care minister went to the cricket instead of going to an inquiry on the situation. Aged care workers are going to be paid a one-time bonus of $800. Listen to a cool podcast called Not Good Enough talk about royal commissions. Textgate At the big press conference for losers, Scott Morrison was called a psycho. Everyone in Canberra hates each other. Malcolm Turnbull calling Mathias Cormann “weak and treacherous”. Post-leadership spill: “It is not over, fight continues, f*** (Morrison).”, Senior minister calling staffer Brittney Higgins “a lying cow”. Peter Van Onselen has been named in a bullying complaint at Channel 10. Barnaby Joyce’s fiance wrote an article headlined “Coward Cabinet Minister Who Leaked Texts Should Quit”. Later that afternoon texts were leaked showing Joyce calling Scott Morrison a hypocrite and a liar. Shoutouts Solidarity with Vanuatuan seasonal worker Sergio, who had wages stolen and organised a strike with fellow workers. The Antipoverty Center is running a fundraiser for their Abolish Work for the Dole campaign. Isaac’s cute little numbers game.

The Aged Care minister goes to the cricket, the NDIS is a complicated octopus and Scott Morrison gets the respect he deserves.   Weather talk Ever year, we see more and more once-in-a-century days for it. Aged careless Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck went to the cricket instead of fronting a committee hearing on his policies. Last year, Colbeck didn’t know the number of people who had died under his department’s care. Health care minister Stewart Robert doesn’t seem to care that aged care residents are going without food and water. Minister for the NDIS Linda Reynolds says participants will be allowed to use their funds to purchase RATs. A system of vouchers So… it’s basically use your own money to buy RATs. Carolyn Campbell-Mclean spent $1300 on RATs and couldn’t get them reimbursed. Meanwhile, pharmacies are losing money on the government’s harebrained scheme to allow concession card holders to access tests. Treating Scott Morrison with the respect he deserved Outgoing Australian of the year Grace Tame refused to smile for the cameras with Scott Morrison next to her. News man Peter Van Onselen chucked a hissy fit about it.  

Meat just keeps getting spilled, everyone's back working for the economy and the Labor party loves doing borders.   Okay here’s the meat Meatspill 2: Meating of the Meats It’s the economy, and you’re stupid Josh Frydenburg says industrial action is bad for the economy. The Labor party says free RATs are good for the economy. Scott Morrison reckons children driving forklifts would be great for the economy! Meanwhile, schools are going back, which will be a killer move for the economy! Vaccine nationalism Kristina Kersher Keneally reckons Australia should be tougher at the border when it comes to vaccines. Never mind that Australia’s pacific neighbors have very low vaccine rates… …quite a lot of which is our own fault. Australia an China have been digging into a vaccine cold war in the pacific. Shoutouts Listen to the Citations Needed episode on GDP fetishism. Folding Ideas has a great new video on NFTs. Friend of the show Tom Tanuki’s youtube channel is going from strength to strength. Anyone heard of this game called Bloodborne? Folks? Is this anything?

Australia's Unions post through it, it's very very hot, and Hillsong have a big party.   Posting through it Union leader Sally McManus says that Unions are not launching a pay rise blitz. Cool hashtag: #WTFWoolies. Meatworks workers are having to wear hairnets to show their covid status. It’s hot! Australia may have hit it’s hottest day ever — some places hitting above 50 degree. Time to have fun in the sun! Maybe try wearing bathers and a raincoat? Part of the area that hit 50 degrees was Roebourne Regional Prison, which has no air conditioning. Last year it hit 48 degrees. The area where these temperatures are so hot? A massive area for off-shore fossil fuel extraction. Meanwhile, the government is sending counterterrorism police to raid climate activists for taking photos of someone else writing chalk messages on a bridge. Praise be! Hillsong held a massive festival under the guise of a religious event, while other festivals and venues close are forced to close without government support. Plus attendees were doing shoeys of water, which is incredibly lame. Scott Morrison is a devout Pentecostal, an good friends with Hillsong leader Brian Houston. Shoutouts Fuck australia day. Donate to Pay the Rent and Sisters Inside.

Rats, we forgot to order any RATs! Also Mitch talks to Emerald Moon from the Serious Danger podcast about Green politics, Byron life and loud music.   Circle of self-indulgence Omicron: There’s lots of it around. McLean’s book club: The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway Scott Morrison says Jen gets the tests for him. …and that “Australians are taking wickets in the virus”??? RAT tests are simply not available in Australia. Byron punks Listen to the Serious Danger podcast! Listen to Class War Listen to Eye of the Enemy Rex Hunt on Byron hardcore. Shoutouts Shoutout to the acts who have supported the boycott of the Sydney Festival and cancelled their acts. Watch BDS organiser Jennine Khalik’s interview on the Project.

We talk about Shell's acquisition of Powershop and the cool cool Labor party.   Power flop Powershop got acquired by Shell. Energy Australia cancelled their partnership with Powershop. Amber Electric got sassy. Shell have said they plan to reach “net zero” by 2050. Opposition party? The Labor party have announced a plan to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030 if they are elected. Such ambition! They’ve also dumped plans for vehicle emissions standards. And worked with the government to hand out more subsidies to gas miners. Oh also they worked with the LNP to stifle criticism from charities. Actions Change your energy provider again. Sorry. Hopefully it’ll work out next time! Check out Co Power or Amber Electric. Listen to A Serious Danger, it’s good!  

We're all recording in the same room for the first time in 91 episodes! It's a bit chaotic. Also some news is discussed.   Blocked Blockade A Blockade Australia activist has been jailed for 12 months for stopping a coal train. Tough lockdown anti-protest laws are now being used against envionmental protestors. WA Premier proposed keeping border checks post-covid to stop drugs. Schools out for parliament The Liberal government have decided to not establish an ICAC, even though they promised :( Why on earth are we doing a religious discrimination bill again? The Labor party are being incredibly wishy-washy about whether they support it or not, because of course they are. Oh hey the Liberal and Labor party also joined forces to give more money to carbon capture (doesn’t work). Who wedgies the wedgier? Scott Morrison lied about whether he said he was going on holiday specifically to Hawaii?  

MQFF help pinkwash apartheid, Dani Laidley returns as a hero, and the Victorian Pride Lobby release a massive report on LGBTIQA+ people's feelings toward police.   Pinkwashing The Melbourne Queer Film Festival were asked to drop a pink-washing Israli film, and join in BDS against the aparthied state. They didn’t, saying they wanted to remain “apolitical”. The push to remove the film was spearheaded by Queer Palestinians like Lujayn Hourani. MQFF co-president Molly Whelan and board member Nayuka Gorrie have resigned over the festival’s decision. Returning hero Former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley returned to speak at the football club, representing her “old tribe and new tribe”. Dani was outed as trans by police, who leaked photos and made transphobic comments. Pride lobby The Victorian Pride lobby surveyed 1,500 LGBTIQA+ people to understand their feelings towards police. In 2019, police raided queer bookshop Hares & Hyenas, breaking a man’s arm (they also had the wrong address). IBAC found it was okay though. Get cops out of pride.  

Heroes keep stopping coal trains, Scott Morrison has never told a lie and Australia wins at Climate Golf.