Julian, the Queen & Covid-19

Assange in Context

Last Saturday, my friends in the Blue Mountains held a protest at Echo Point in support of Julian Assange. Indigenous Elder Aunty Carol Cooper welcomed us to this sacred women’s space. The plan from there was for self-nominated speakers to mount an empty chair next to three locals wearing masks representing Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. Each speaker took a couple of minutes to make their case. United in purpose, all was going splendidly until Snowden leapt from his chair to assail a newly arrived protester.

Snowden, Assange and Manning at Echo Point

The new arrival was distributing little Australian flags to hesitant members of the crowd. People accepted them with the alacrity of someone handed an undefused bomb. Brave Snowden snatched those he could wrestle free from the flag-bearer and demanded an end to this insult.

The flag-bearer replied: “This is the Australian flag”. Threats followed back and forth with each promising to flatten the other. Thus our efforts to free Julian were delayed until the flag-bearer retreated and Snowden remounted his chair.

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KFR 30th June 2019

Katoomba Financial Review

JULIE BISHOP WITH THE RICH AND FAMOUS
Our Julie, yes our very own Julie will be interviewing “the rich and famous” in some of the world most exclusive locations”. After years of dedicated public service, it looks like its time to serve Julie… to the world. The intuition that told her the Russians had brought down MH17 exactly 7 minutes and 8 seconds after the crash will now draw out the inner secrets of the glitterati.

The production company that gave you Anh’s Brush with Fame and Trial by Kyle now presents Julie in conversation. How can you add to such a thrilling prospect? Can you? Well, you can have Julie walk while she talks. And imagine the costumes. Maybe we’ll see the return of some of those glittering outfits she wore as Foreign Minister and be reminded of public money well spent.

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KFR 16th June 2019

Katoomba Financial Review

­­­­­FREECHOICE
My grandmother died at 61 and my Dad at 67. Both were smokers.  They both had choice though my Dad, who lost his leg at 11, probably had less than most after he fell under a Paddington  tram.  His schooling ended the same day. Travers Beynon has choice and he has chosen not to smoke but he is doing his bit to make sure others do.  He owns 300 cigarette vending machines and over 300 franchised FreeChoice outlets. There is even one in my little town.  This champion of free choice draws the comparison of his own love of racing cars and explains, “No-one trie­­­d to stop me when I started motor racing. If someone says that’s too dangerous, don’t do it. I’d be like…go to hell”.  So he is a protector of free will.

He tells us in this Financial Review article, that he’s tried electronic cigarettes but they obviously conflict with the very tight dietary regime he follows. This is essential if he is to maintain his frenetic lifestyle.   To charges of misogyny, evident in his Instagram images of women on dog leashes, he tells us his mother was his idol.  His grandmother was known as “The General” and typical of the dominant women who shaped his life.  It is obvious he cares deeply about the people within his orbit. Almost as much as he does for himself.  It is equally obvious that he couldn’t give a damn about anyone else. That’s a free choice.

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