@pewnack @ajsadauskas My comment was more a reference to sections of the Australian media that want to regurgitate the "cost of eggs" narrative from the US election.
Let me give a couple of examples.
Here's 2GB's Mark Levy interviewing Peter Dutton earlier this year: "Yeah, exactly. I get messages here on this programme, Mr Dutton, from listeners who say, ‘well, all we keep hearing is the Treasurer saying that, ‘oh well, we’ve brought inflation under control. Look at what we’ve done to the economy”. And the point they make to me is: ‘have they walked into the local grocery store and done the weekly shop because everybody’s prices of everything is going up’ – petrol, groceries, eggs. I mean, it’s all there and there for everybody to see."
Source: https://peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-transcript-interview-with-mark-levy-2gb-2/
Murdoch's Sky News has trotted out a handpicked supposed ordinary voter from Western Sydney who is supposedly concerned about the price of eggs.
Source: https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/thinking-of-starting-to-raise-our-own-chickens-voter-pushed-to-extreme-measures-as-costs-of-fresh-produce-becomes-unbearable/news-story/3ac548f84106d939fae065b3d0beaf68
As usual, our ABC is jumping on the News Corp bandwagon: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-26/why-are-eggs-so-expensive-in-australia-us-donald-trump/105091068
I'm sure you can find more examples.
So the narrative News Corp and others in the Australian political media are so confidently pushing is that the politicians (especially Labor) are out of touch with ordinary voters in Western Sydney.
And the big issue supposedly on every voter's mind in Western Sydney is the price of eggs.
That the people of Parramatta and surrounds are deeply upset by the price they're paying for their eggs.
And the Murdoch press are so deeply in touch with the local zeitgeist they know this is the big issue.
Well, as an actual voter living in actual Western Sydney, I find it somewhat amusing.
Because *WHAT BLOODY EGGS*?!
No-one is worried they're paying too much for eggs, when there's often none in store to buy!
And here's the funny thing.
Had any of these Dutton stenographers so much as stepped foot inside a Coles or Woolies in Western Sydney these past few months, there's an above-average chance they would have said: "Huh. There's no eggs here."
Because *WHAT BLOODY EGGS*?!
#auspol #election25 #election2025 #ausvotes #nswpol #nsw
#nswpol
"The cost of major contracts for a motorway to Sydney’s new international airport has surged again, this time by $152 million, piling financial pressure on the project jointly funded by the federal and state governments.
"Tender documents show the estimated cost of the western section of the M12 motorway has risen by $78 million to $659 million, and the central part by $47 million to $510 million. In addition, two contracts for design work by consultants have almost doubled to $68 million.
"Greens transport spokeswoman Cate Faehrmann said the government did not question forking out millions of dollars more when costs inevitably blew out for new motorways, yet baulked at providing reliable public transport services for south-west Sydney."
“'The public needs to be reassured that the highest level of scrutiny is being applied to these massive contracts by the government, particularly when costs are regularly revised upwards at a tune of millions of dollars at a time,' she said."
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/construction-of-motorway-to-sydney-s-new-airport-hits-financial-bumps-again-20250324-p5lm2s.html
A couple of thoughts on this one.
First, this is yet another example of how the neoliberal infrastructure procurement policies that Australia has imported from America and Britain have led to more expensive infrastructure.
You don't save money by cutting back on public servants, and outsourcing the design and management of big infrastructure projects to the private sector.
Secondly, the Minns government's decision to cut back on the proposed additional metro links to the Western Sydney Airport, yet keep the motorways, us looking particularly foolish.
#nswpol #auspol #sydney #nsw #fuckcars
Train testing has begun on the Sydney Metro Southwest line, ahead of its scheduled opening next year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8eQnFPSnuU
#train #trains #nsw #nswpol #SydneyMetro #auspol
Funny how the city of Sydney gets to have three nude beaches while the alleged “hippy” area of Byron Bay has closed theirs
And the local Greens candidate - a woman, allegedly feminist, Mandy Nolan - is agreeing with the prudes, agreeing with closing our beaches, agreed that LGBTQ folk shouldn’t have access to our historic cultural spaces and has also publicly stated that women should cover up to prevent sexual harassment.
Mad world.
#Nudism #AusPol #Greens #NSWPol
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/15/my-petty-gripe-please-dont-wear-a-suit-and-tie-to-the-nude-beach-you-look-like-a-pervert
Dare Sydney Cyclists to stage a month long rolling car protest.
Placards roped onto the doorside reading ‘I would’ve cycled to work. But government won’t reopen the bicycle lanes.’
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/13/sudden-closure-of-iconic-bridge-to-cyclists-shows-car-is-still-king-in-brisbane
#AusPol #NSWPol #FreedomOfExpression #CyclingCycle
When the housing crisis crashes into the underfunded public school system: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/parramatta-macquarie-boys-high-school-housing-sydney/105117922 #education #housing #urbanism #auspol #nswpol
"An abandoned school in Parramatta earmarked for housing should be converted into a new school to service the area's booming population, locals say.
"Macquarie Boys Technology High School and the residential care facility at Rydalmere were both shut down in 2009, leaving the 19-hectare plot of land abandoned.
"In 2018, the former state Liberal government announced it would turn the land at Rydalmere into a new primary and high school, but it stalled.
"The current government was looking to transform the site into a residential and commercial precinct, and was searching for developers to build about 2,300 homes on the site by 2028.
…
"Parramatta councillor Kellie Darley said she was concerned that, at present, schools in the area would not be able to accommodate the city's growing population."
Personally, I think a vertical school on part of the site would fill the need for more schools in the area, while leaving most of the site free for more housing.
And there's a fantastic example nearby: https://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/projects/a/arthur-phillip-high-school.html
Unfortunately, tickets are sold out. But just the concept of Gladys Berejiklian the Musical is hilarious: https://riversideparramatta.com.au/whats-on/gladys-a-musical-affair/ #auspol #nswpol
Fantastic advocacy work by @walk_sydney on reforming the NSW Roads Act, so our streets are for people and not just cars: https://walksydney.substack.com/p/reforming-the-roads-act-walksydney #auspol #nswpol #politics #urbanism
"We want a Roads Act that guarantees freedom to move — especially for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and everyone in between. That means recognising walking as a fundamental right and delivering streets that are safe, inclusive, and accessible.
"We also made the case for a Commissioner for safe and inclusive streets — someone with real power to hold road authorities accountable, require crossings and footpaths, and ensure safety is never compromised.
"The Roads Act Review is a chance to reimagine how our streets serve people. We’re optimistic and we’ll keep pushing to make sure this opportunity delivers real, lasting change."
Fuck yeah. Forestry NSW lose in the high court, opening the way for more legal actions to force them to do their damn job.
https://www.miragenews.com/high-court-backs-community-right-to-sue-nsw-1441522/
BIG WIN for Forest Activists!
High Court today unanimously dismissed an appeal by the State-owned NSW Forestry Corporation confirming that conservation groups can bring legal action to enforce compliance with logging laws in native forests
#NSWpol #auspol
https://1earthmedia.com/high-court-win-for-forest-activists-against-forestry-corp-nsw/
The police hid the truth, the government lied and the result was you had more rights and freedoms taken away for no good reason.
Greens voters in Western Sydney: Adam Bandt and Mehreen Faruqi are hosting a campaign rally 6pm this Sunday (13th April) at Parramatta Town Hall. Details & RSVP here: https://contact-nsw.greens.org.au/civicrm/event/info?id=21450&reset=1
"Western Sydney has been ignored by the two major parties for far too long. Communities are sick and tired of being taken for granted, being used as photo ops at our festivals while the issues that matter most to us are ignored.
"This election, that changes. The Greens will be fighting to keep Dutton out and get Labor to act. With a minority government all but guaranteed, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for change – and Western Sydney is key to this.
"Join Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, Deputy Leader, Mehreen Faruqi, and our candidates for Western Sydney at Parramatta Town Hall. Over some food and light refreshments provided by the Greens, you’ll have a perfect opportunity for us to hear from you and you to hear from us about what Greens politics means for Western Sydney and why this election is so important."
@bastardsheep.com The river and Church St frontage is the *good* side of the building. It's worse around the back.
Feeling inspired to watch some theatre?
@bastardsheep.com I swung by Australia's least inspiring performing arts building earlier today to take some photos. Renovator's delight is being kind... #arts #auspol #nswpol
Parramatta is set to get a revitalised arts complex, with the plan now open for public consultation.
From ArchitectureAU:
"The $188 million proposal for the redevelopment of Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres is currently on exhibition on the NSW government’s state significant applications portal, with the public invited to have their say on the designs.
"The revitalised building will feature a collection of performance spaces, including a new 1,500-seat Broadway-style Lyric Theatre replacing the building’s existing Lennox and Raffertys Theatres, a refurbished 760-seat Playhouse Theatre, a 341-seat Black Box Drama Theatre and a 116-seat Studio Cinema. A new bar and cafe is also situated on the river side of the proposed building."
https://architectureau.com/articles/design-for-parramatta-riverside-theatres-on-exhibition/
The current building opened in 1988, and it's certainly showing its age.
Current venues in the complex include the 761-seat Riverside Theatre, the 213-seat Lennox Theatre, and the 88-seat Rafferty's Theatre.
So definitely a well-needed upgrade.
You can have your say on the project on the NSW Planning Portal here: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/parramatta-riverside-theatres-redevelopment
I see that the NSW Government are playing ‘High ball/Low ball’ while the argument from Doctors is more nuanced.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/02/doctors-in-nsw-public-hospitals-threaten-three-day-strike-over-pay-dispute-defying-ban
#NSWPol #NSWHealth
RPA hospital closes HIV psychiatry clinic with 200 patients after staff resignations
Exclusive: Former staff tell Guardian Australia some HIV patients have since required acute mental health care, as hospital also loses specialist pain and eating disorder support staff
The resignation of psychiatrists from Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital has led to the closure of a HIV psychiatry clinic with 200 patients, as well as a loss of specialist psychiatrist services for patients in the pain clinic and the most unwell eating disorder patients.
#NSW #NSWPol #health #Australia #psychology #psychiatry #MentalHealth #pain #ChronicPain #EatingDisorder
The North Shore NIMBYs are out in force, "protecting the environment" in the Ku-ring-gai shire by opposing new housing near train stations.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-great-divide-over-this-north-shore-council-s-housing-plan-20250331-p5lnyp.html #urbanism #nswpol #auspol
