Politics in Kicks meets Director General of ASIO, David Irvine


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Pictured: Your Fair Author and Director General of ASIO, David Irvine

When: 6pm, March 4th
Where: St George’s College, UWA
Who: Director General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation [ASIO], David Irvine
What: Speaking on “Intelligence and National Security in the Democratic State”

**NB: This special event, hosted by the Australian Institute of International Affairs WA was held under Chatham House Rule**

**I took extensive notes throughout his talk, this blog entry is based on them.**

I didn’t know much about ASIO, ASIS, or Secret Services until I attended this talk and had the privilege of meeting David afterwards.

This is what I learned…..

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Reader Question: Ukraine Riots and Russian Tanks

I love Question Time! So I’ll be publishing my follower questions from now on.

This one is from one of my Facebook followers!

Q: “Hey you sexy political bitch in her funky little kicks! Talk to me about Ukraine/Crimea/Russia. What’s going on? In simple, easy to understand language, if you don’t mind?”

– Kim S

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February In Review: Why voting smarter will help us trust the Government

[In] Australia increased trust in the institution of government is up 13 percentage points to 56 per cent.

However, three in five Australians (60 per cent) do not trust government leaders to tell the truth regardless of how complex or unpopular it is.

And two in five Australians (40 per cent) do not trust government leaders to make ethical and moral decisions.

Source: Business Insider 

February was a really interesting month — Schapelle released, Ukraine in turmoil, Protests at the Winter Olympics, The USA dodging another fiscal default, Aussie troops coming home from Afghanistan, The violent death of an asylum seeker at Manus Island and GWAR’s decapitation of a Tony Abbott effigy at Soundwave.

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Review Time: The Night Guardian

I’ve been at the Perth Fringe Festival a few nights in the last week, and I thought I would do a little review of a politically themed show I watched. Because politics isn’t always in the newspapers!

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What: The Night Guardian
Who: Ellandar Productions
When: Friday 7th of February
Where: The Blue Room, PICA building, Perth Cultural Centre

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Merry Shop-mas: What Christmas does for the Australian Economy

I heard on the radio just today (December 23rd) that Aussie shoppers will spend $1.5million a minute for the next 2 days until Christmas.

I’ve worked 5 Christmases in retail.
It’s character building that’s for sure.

“What does Christmas mean for our Economy, PIK?”
Asked Sammy, 23.

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What Tony Abbott and Michael Clarke have in common!

I had a bit of an argument with my parents about Tony Abbott the other day.

I argued at the time: Tony Abbott isn’t, in my personal opinion, an impressive statesman. After so long as a politician, he should have a better grip of diplomacy, personal image and the way he carries himself. I.e. Indonesian phone hacking scandal.

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How a Pillow Changed My (Grinchy) Attitude Towards Christmas!!

It’s past midnight in +8 GMT, and it’s quiet all through my house.
Not a creature is stirring (apart from your well-shod author), not even a mouse.
Not even a louse on a mouse.

I was an all-out grinch this year. Much to my mother’s disappointment.
Boney M Christmas Carols, crowded shops and too much stress over one meal.

I worked in retail for 6 years and tomorrow is my first non-retail Boxing Day in as many years. I said to my mother that retail ruined Christmas for me, that the way people become so ‘feral’ in shops took away my enjoyment of the day itself. Christmas became the day off between working 8am-8pm Christmas Eve and working 10am-5pm on Boxing Day. Merry Stress-mas. Ha.

I don’t hate Christmas, I’m just trying to find a new joy in it as I get older, something that draws me back into the excitement of it.

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In the “NO” – a brief monthly review of Auspol: Marriage Equality, the Great Barrier Reef, Holden, Indonesia and the death of the Carbon Tax

A brief rundown of the major events in Australia Politics in the last 6 weeks!
There seems to be a lot of “No” lately.

Let’s kick it off with the most recent:

MARRIAGE EQUALITY
No to Gay Marriage.

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The Australian High Court (highest in the land) over turned the Australian Capital Territory’s Marriage Equality laws.

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My thoughts on Obama’s speech at Mandela’s Memorial

Barack Obama’s speech at Nelson Mandela’s Memorial service:
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/FULL-TEXT-Obama-honours-Nelson-Mandela-20131210

….watching it, I got the sense that it was more than just one for the ages. I liked it.

It had all the oratory hallmarks of Obama gold — tactical and extended pausing, eye contact, vocal crescendo peppered with the odd hand gestures. I had forgotten how piercing his eyes were, he seemed almost emotional at times — drawing long breaths as if to contain emotion at one or two points. He seemed quite moved.

These are my highlights and lowlights from his speech:

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