I don’t know the answer to that question. But what I see happening around me increasingly troubles me. And I think it’s time we all started asking ourselves why. katesjustsaying.blogspot.com…

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠. Governor-General Sam Mostyn appealed to Australians for greater decency, civility & unity following the horrific attack on Helen Haines. And what does she wake up to the following morning? Abusive messages on social media. She wasn’t advocating for a political party. She wasn’t promoting an ideology. She was appealing to our shared humanity. And those who responded with abuse have demonstrated precisely why her appeal was necessary. We’ve reached a deeply troubling point when even a call for basic human decency becomes an invitation for hostility. Political disagreement is one thing. The inability to recognise a simple appeal for compassion without responding with hatred is quite another. 𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲. theaustralian.com.au/nation/… via @australian

No More ‘Trust Us’: Climate Scientists Urged To Open Their Books climatechangedispatch.com/tr… @ccdeditor

𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬. Australia’s housing crisis is taking a dangerous turn, with rising interest rates and Labor’s May budget property tax changes creating a perfect storm that threatens to undermine the very thing needed to improve housing affordability: building more homes. September-quarter results from two of Australia’s largest residential developers reveal the extent of the slowdown. Stockland reported a 29% annual fall in house-and-land sales, while inquiries from prospective buyers plunged an extraordinary 71%. Mirvac recorded a 30% annual decline in residential lot exchanges, with buyer inquiries falling 30% in just three months. Higher borrowing costs, reduced investor incentives and falling property prices have severely weakened buyer confidence. Prospective purchasers are holding back, waiting for prices to bottom. This is making it increasingly difficult for developers to secure the pre-sales required to obtain construction finance, placing further pressure on an already struggling industry. Mirvac CEO Campbell Hanan summed it up bluntly: “It’s a housing market that the government wanted to slow down – and it has.” The consequences extend well beyond falling house prices. Construction insolvencies more than doubled in the September quarter, smaller developers are increasingly vulnerable, and concerns are mounting about the financial stability of builders and subcontractors. Larger developers with stronger balance sheets may benefit by acquiring distressed assets, but that does little to address the broader housing shortage. Meanwhile, inflation remains stubborn, the prospect of further interest rate rises has increased, and economists see little evidence of a housing market recovery before 2027. While a construction slowdown may help the RBA contain inflation by reducing demand, building costs and employment pressures, it comes at a significant longer-term cost. Fewer homes being built today means an even greater housing supply problem tomorrow. Labor’s already ambitious target of 1.2 million new homes by the end of the decade now looks even further out of reach. The fundamental contradiction is becoming increasingly apparent. Policies intended to make housing more affordable by cooling demand and property prices are simultaneously discouraging the investment and construction needed to increase supply. As Hanan warns, house prices cannot continue falling while the cost of building new homes keeps rising without eventually damaging supply. afr.com/chanticleer/somethin…

We have the little chaps results back. Aslan has Hyperthyroidism. So we’re starting on a medication with regular checks. It might mean surgery down the track but for now it’s pills down the throat. But at least we know what the issue is. There is a permanent treatment which is a radioactive iodine injection into the thyroid. That would mean a trip to Sydney or Brisbane & then isolation for around 10-days. I couldn’t subject the poor little guy to hours in the car, being injected with radioactive iodine, isolation and then hours in the car to come home.

AI just discovered a bug putting 70pc of world’s websites at risk. Australian government agencies and businesses are scrambling to patch vulnerabilities in websites after artificial intelligence tools were used to uncover critical vulnerabilities in the programming language that runs in the majority of web servers around the world. A spokesman for Cybersecurity Minister Tony Burke said that the National Office of Cyber Security was aware of the issue, which was first reported to officials on Wednesday, and that work was quickly being undertaken across government to patch the bug. afr.com/world/north-america/…

Good morning possums

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐭’𝐬 $145 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐭 The Albanese govt has recorded $145.6 billion in unexpected upward revisions to spending forecasts since taking office, raising serious concerns about budget management, forecasting accuracy and the impact of public spending on inflation. Analysis by HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham reveals that $136.8 billion of these revisions occurred in just the past five budget updates, since May 2024. Major contributors include: 🔷NDIS: $37 billion in increased spending forecasts, with repeated cost overruns. 🔷Aged care: $20 billion in additional demand-driven spending. 🔷Social security: $40 billion, reflecting indexation and growing demand. 🔷Natural disaster relief: $20 billion in additional assistance to states. 🔷Veterans’ payments: $15.8 billion, partly attributed to clearing claims backlogs. 🔷Schools: $13.7 billion in additional spending. 🔷Household battery subsidies: An $11.6 billion increase in projected costs revealed in December 2025, forcing the govt to scale back the scheme. These figures reflect different spending revisions and periods and should not be added together. Importantly, the $145.6 billion represents higher spending forecasts, not necessarily money already spent. Economists sound the alarm Deloitte Access Economics warns that federal and state governments are adding to inflationary pressures by pursuing expansionary fiscal policies while the economy is already operating above capacity. Veteran economist Chris Richardson says forecasting errors, measured relative to the size of the economy, are now 24 times worse than their pre-COVID average. The Parliamentary Budget Office has also warned of systematic optimism in budget forecasts, including assumed savings from policies that have not yet passed Parliament. The consequences Real federal spending rose 4.3% in 2025–26, more than double the 1.8% previously forecast. Excluding the pandemic, federal spending has reached a four-decade high, with ongoing deficits and rising debt projected. Treasurer Jim Chalmers now faces pressure to find approximately $11 billion in savings in December’s mid-year budget update. The central issue The concern isn't simply that spending has increased. Some increases reflect legitimate pressures, including disaster relief, indexed payments and growing demand for essential services. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡. As Bloxham observes, weak productivity growth limits how much additional spending the economy can absorb without adding to inflation. In effect, when public spending continues to expand in an economy already operating near capacity, households and businesses may be forced to bear more of the adjustment through higher interest rates and constrained private spending. The question for the Albanese govt is no longer just how much it spends, but whether it can accurately forecast, control and sustainably fund its commitments. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬. afr.com/policy/economy/ndis-…

Man arrested after ‘storming MP’s office with nunchucks’ in WA. A man has been arrested after entering the electorate office of West Australian Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley and allegedly threatening staff while armed with nunchucks. afr.com/politics/man-arreste…

Such a good message from the Governor General Sam Mostyn.

Two suspects in RAF Fairford terror plot re-arrested for ‘helping Iran’. Two men suspected of involvement in the RAF Fairford plot have been arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service. Police reaffirmed their belief in Tehran’s involvement as they detained the pair, aged 24 and 25, for a second round of questioning, this time under the National Security Act. The men were originally arrested last month on suspicion of preparing terrorist attacks. Their re-arrest, under fresh espionage offences, is an indication that detectives could have found specific evidence to link them directly to Iran. theaustralian.com.au/world/t… via @australian

What Happens When We Stop Talking | John Anderson youtu.be/z75Ks-O5-T8?si=1czY… via @YouTube

I feel absolutely heartbroken for Helen Haines, having read the confirmation from her husband that she has lost both her legs. Life can be so terribly cruel at times. And news like this puts so much of the everyday bitching & moaning into perspective. My heart goes out to Helen, her husband & their family. I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through.

You’re still missing my point. I’m not overlooking the responsibilities of those in govt. I’ve spent years questioning their decisions, demanding accountability & criticising their failures. But you’re continuing to explain society’s deteriorating behaviour through the actions of politicians. And these changes haven’t suddenly emerged under the last two govts. I’ve been observing & writing about them for years. My piece is about something much broader. People abusing supermarket employees, medical receptionists & veterinary staff. People applauding theft. People excusing threats, intimidation & violence. Are we seriously going to attribute all of that to politicians failing to answer questions or explain their decisions? Of course leaders have responsibilities. But so do the rest of us. And I think blaming govt has become far too convenient a way of avoiding an uncomfortable question. Whatever our grievances, when are we going to start holding ourselves accountable for how we treat one another?

Red-faced Ben Carroll admits forgetting to pay for fuel at petrol station. I can’t say too much about this because a few weeks back I walked out of Woolies without paying for nearly $300 worth of stuff. I used self-checkout, I had my mind on a tough conversation that I was facing later in the day & there was no staff in the self-check-out area to remind me. It wasn’t until I got back to my car that it struck me that I hadn’t paid. I rushed back & paid. theaustralian.com.au/nation/… via @australian

𝐍𝐀𝐁 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐔𝐓 2,500 𝐉𝐎𝐁𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆. Some 1,500 of those jobs are expected to go by the end of this year. Not much of a Christmas present for the employees & families affected. And while much of the commentary will inevitably focus on NAB’s profits, there is a broader economic picture that shouldn’t be ignored. NAB is facing rising bad debts, pressure on revenue, deteriorating economic conditions and a sharp decline in home lending. According to Jarden analyst Matt Wilson, the major banks have experienced a 20% fall in investor loan applications following the federal govt’s tax changes in May, leaving them competing for a shrinking pool of new loans. Now, none of this makes the loss of 2,500 jobs any less devastating for those affected. Nor does it mean NAB’s restructuring decisions should be beyond scrutiny. But profitability doesn’t mean a business is immune from deteriorating economic conditions. And looking at the profits alone, without examining what’s happening beneath them, tells only part of the story. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. afr.com/companies/financial-…