11 August 2011

Truck convoy into Canberra - Monday 22 August-FYI

| JessP
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I was sent this email this morning…..thought it wise to share with fellow rioters:

My husband works for Harden Shire Council and was advised by the RTA that a very large convoy of trucks will be converging on Canberra on Monday 22 August for a blockade. He suggested I might pass this information on to you.
The trucks are coming from as far afield as Perth, Adelaide, Mt Isa and other points in between. At this stage the RTA do not know how many trucks will be involved but it is intended to be a blockade through the main streets of Canberra, converging on Parliament House. We will be having one convoy staying overnight in Harden – probably double Harden’s population!
There are a total of 9 convoys and below is some detail of the directions the trucks are coming from and the routes they will be taking:

Departing from Time Route Arriving Canberra
Hall 5.30am Most direct route allowable through Civic centre of town 6.00am
Murrumbateman 5.45am Gungahlin Dr/Tuggeranong Parkway/Cotter Rd/onto Adelaide Ave 6.45am
Yass 6.00am Northbourne Ave/Majura Rd/ Morsehead/Kings Ave 7.15am
Goulburn 5.00am Majura rd/Morsehead/Kings Ave 6.30am
Coolac 6.30am Northbourne Ave/Majura Rd/ Morsehead/Kings ave 8.30am
Harden 6.00am Gungahlin Dr/Tuggeranong Parkway/Cotter Rd/onto Adelaide ave 8.00am
Cooma 5.30 Johnson Dr/Drakeford Dr/Tuggeranong Pway/Cotter/Adelaide Ave 7.30am

You might like to let your office colleagues know about this as it is going to stuff up the traffic big time and getting to work that morning could be very problematic.

This link was later sent to me which confirms the the email!

See http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/convoy-of-no-confidence-in-the for details

Batten down the hatches – they are coming to town and they are not happy!!

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Holden Caulfield5:38 pm 12 Oct 11

Given today’s proceedings in Parliament I thought I’d bump this thread with a big SUCKED IN to the Convoy of No Confidence gang.

Childish on my part, but satisfying as well.

Now I’m posting on the wrong thread.

The following quote is also somewhat of a concern:

“When the Nation manages to roll the rubbish the infestation will need some serious attention.”

I for one am looking forward to my time in a gulag.

Seriously, this conspiracy convoy is the greatest source of free entertainment.

Official Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uESI9COsaHk

Crank it up!

Lazy I said :

I came up with a conspiracy theory of my own while sipping my chai latte this afternoon.

Truck stops: Large selection of pornography
Canberra: Porn capital of Australia

Just sayin’

Watch out for the inevitable press release from Fiona Patten…

I came up with a conspiracy theory of my own while sipping my chai latte this afternoon.

Truck stops: Large selection of pornography
Canberra: Porn capital of Australia

Just sayin’

That is a good turnout, two days out. Good luck to them. Give it go.

A couple clicks away from your UTube link I stumbled across how they do it in Yemeni. I think I prefer the Australian way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSxpK6zoryQ&sns=fb

Lazy I said :

KB1971 said :

They are on their way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuNC_Qnnh6E&sns=fb

1/2 Dozen trucks, a few evil 4WD’ers (how dare they…..) what looks like a Hybrid Camry & a Corolla (surely they are lost), a few grey nomads slipstreaming their way south & get this A DODGE RAM (from the land of plenty rape & pillage), the most evil vehicle of all!!!!!

Seriously though, this was supposedly taken at Ingham, there is not really many of them so it will be interesting to see how many actually turn up. I suspect it will be more orderly than everybody is predicting.

It better pick up some serious pace… 10,000 was the number being thrown around on 104.7 this morning lol.

KB1971 said :

They are on their way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuNC_Qnnh6E&sns=fb

1/2 Dozen trucks, a few evil 4WD’ers (how dare they…..) what looks like a Hybrid Camry & a Corolla (surely they are lost), a few grey nomads slipstreaming their way south & get this A DODGE RAM (from the land of plenty rape & pillage), the most evil vehicle of all!!!!!

Seriously though, this was supposedly taken at Ingham, there is not really many of them so it will be interesting to see how many actually turn up. I suspect it will be more orderly than everybody is predicting.

It better pick up some serious pace… 10,000 was the number being thrown around on 104.7 this morning lol.

They are on their way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuNC_Qnnh6E&sns=fb

1/2 Dozen trucks, a few evil 4WD’ers (how dare they…..) what looks like a Hybrid Camry & a Corolla (surely they are lost), a few grey nomads slipstreaming their way south & get this A DODGE RAM (from the land of plenty rape & pillage), the most evil vehicle of all!!!!!

Seriously though, this was supposedly taken at Ingham, there is not really many of them so it will be interesting to see how many actually turn up. I suspect it will be more orderly than everybody is predicting.

Parliament should urgently introduce an act to ban the assemblage of heavy vehicles within the Parliamentary Triangle, on risk of seizure of the vehicles. What other group in this country, other than truckies, has this ability to shove their views down the throats of others?

As for those of you planning on cycling down Northbourne Avenue while the trucks are rolling in, you must be more stupid than they are. Do you know how many cyclists get hit or killed on that road every year, with just regular traffic? You’re Darwin Award nominees in the making.

In my email this morning from Roads:

Convoy of No-Confidence- Monday 22 August
Commencing early morning on Monday 22 August 2011, a large number of vehicles are expected to drive into the ACT as part of a protest rally. Initial advice indicated the vehicles would predominately be trucks, however, information is being received that recreational vehicles, caravans and cars may also be involved; increasing the number of participants.

The increased level of traffic on ACT roads is expected to begin at 5.30am and may cause disruptions to traffic flow on most major Canberra roads.

ACT Policing is liaising with convoy organisers and will implement plans to coordinate the large number of vehicles coming into the ACT from most major roadways, with the intention to have protest vehicles off ACT roads by 8.30am; though this cannot be confirmed.

The convoy is expected to stay in the ACT for two days, meaning traffic disruptions may continue during the afternoon of Monday 22 August and morning of Tuesday 23 August 2011. While ACT Police and convoy organisers are working together to minimise disruptions, the potentially large number of vehicles expected may also impact on parking in the city and town centres.

Managers will be flexible around the possibility of delays in people getting to work as a result of heavier than usual traffic. If you believe you will be affected by these delays it may be worthwhile having a discussion with your manager as soon as possible.

For more information please call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81, visit http://www.act.gov.au or follow the ACT Police Twitter account @ACTPol_Traffic.

Bloody Hippies,
blocking up our bike paths!!!!!!

Someone should throw out some thumb tacs to pop their tyres.

This kind of protest is un-Australian I tellz ya.

Jim Jones said :

johnboy said :

JJ can you post that as a new story?

But if I do I’ll be lampooned as a latte-sipping, chardonay-swilling, chattering class, shiny-bum, mung-bean munching, green extremist blah blah blah … and I couldn’t possibly live with someone mocking my beverages.

Tell your story riding.. pal.

johnboy said :

JJ can you post that as a new story?

But if I do I’ll be lampooned as a latte-sipping, chardonay-swilling, chattering class, shiny-bum, mung-bean munching, green extremist blah blah blah … and I couldn’t possibly live with someone mocking my beverages.

JJ can you post that as a new story?

And now apparently there’s a counter protest:

VERY IMPORTANT CLIMATE MOVEMENT ACTION for Monday August 22
Don’t be taken for a ride bike ride

Act against the Liberal-National Parties’ anti carbon tax truckies blockade of Canberra on Monday
Support Real Action On Climate Change.
The main organiser of the truckies is a leading member of the QLD Liberal-National Party

Join our bike ride around Parliament House
12.30pm

Meet at the rear of Old Parliament House

Bring a light carboard placard with your favorite climate slogan appropriate for the day.
Abbott lies. There is no carbon tax on desiel. Riding for a safe future.  Don’t be taken for a ride by Tony Abbott. Truckies are being taken for a ride by Abbott.

This action is supported by Leigh Hughes, Climate Action Canberra, Geoff Lazarus, Climate Active Australia, Bob Douglas SEE-Change
For further information 0419 369 206

EvanJames said :

I just found him outing himself too. If he turns up to their riot on Monday and identifies himself as a Canberran, I’m sure they’ll welcome him and bond with him, and not call him a shinybum wanker at all. Nope.

I’m going to grass him up, I know for a fact he drinks milky coffee!

Ben_Dover said :

chewy14 said :

This event will be bigger than Dog Fellatio.

Gold!

+2.

I just found him outing himself too. If he turns up to their riot on Monday and identifies himself as a Canberran, I’m sure they’ll welcome him and bond with him, and not call him a shinybum wanker at all. Nope.

In fact, all their re-writing of what’s gone on won’t affect the way most of the Hayseeds behave when they hit town. I predict they’ll be good and offensive.

colourful sydney racing identity2:23 pm 18 Aug 11

chewy14 said :

Skidbladnir said :

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Could the real Tysen Davis please stand up?

Just a guess, but I suspect that might be the real name of our own 00davist.

Seeing as they actually have an email post where he says this, I think you may be on to something.

Ah, must have missed that amongst all the ramblings of the amphetamine crazed, conspiracy theorist, hicks.

His post got singled out and was roundly mocked in the other forum. So he decided to join them because they were nice….?

Guess he got a bad case of the everyone-must-like-mes or the reptoids got to him.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Could the real Tysen Davis please stand up?

I’m Tyler Durden.

Skidbladnir said :

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Could the real Tysen Davis please stand up?

Just a guess, but I suspect that might be the real name of our own 00davist.

Seeing as they actually have an email post where he says this, I think you may be on to something.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Could the real Tysen Davis please stand up?

Just a guess, but I suspect that might be the real name of our own 00davist.

colourful sydney racing identity1:57 pm 18 Aug 11

Ben_Dover said :

I’m Tysen Davis, and so is my wife!

No, I’m Tysen Davis. (I actually suspect that Tysen is Jim Jones or someone having them on 🙂 )

I’m Tysen Davis, and so is my wife!

colourful sydney racing identity1:45 pm 18 Aug 11

Could the real Tysen Davis please stand up?

brento said :

What’s the dealio with the moop who claims to be from here but has now decide that the Real Australians on that forum are much more, um, Real and nicer and better-er friends than the bitter & twisted curmudgeons and miscreants that skulk hereabouts?

Was someone mean to him?

That character who calls him/herself Oodavist or somesuch (there’s some Os at the front) was at first kicking them and then had a change of heart and elevated them to Real Australian status. Haven’t seen much of him/her in this discussion lately so I figure they’re over with the Real Australians, sittin round the campfire with a bundy, making new friends.

Maybe they’re a double agent and will come back to us with intelligence of what their secret plans are. We’ll be able to spot them, they’ll be posting in underlined bold.

Lazy I said :

Make sure you check out this thread:
http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/important-convoy-information?xg_source=activity
Directed at this riotact post specifically, it’s a goldmine!

What’s the dealio with the moop who claims to be from here but has now decide that the Real Australians on that forum are much more, um, Real and nicer and better-er friends than the bitter & twisted curmudgeons and miscreants that skulk hereabouts?

Was someone mean to him?

PBO said :

Well, if i am going to be late because of these turkeys then they are gonna cop a windscreen full.

P.S. This would be an opportune time for those stolen paintballs to reappear, anyone got them? anyone?

If anyone was proposing some serious anti-convoy shennanigans, I’d be up for it! They’re clearly not going to fall for the old concrete barrier funnelling trick, but paintballs might surprise them.

I still want to flog them e.coli burgers and corner the portapotty market.

colourful sydney racing identity1:21 pm 18 Aug 11

Lazy I said :

Make sure you check out this thread:
http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/important-convoy-information?xg_source=activity

Directed at this riotact post specifically, it’s a goldmine!

I have struggled with fits of laughter, one poster on that site wrote the following:
‘How do you educate the ignorant? When I discovered this site – I sat still for 5 minutes reading and re-reading their stupid ill-informed ignorant comments’
roflcopter, roflcopter, roflcopter ad nauseum.

Make sure you check out this thread:
http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/important-convoy-information?xg_source=activity

Directed at this riotact post specifically, it’s a goldmine!

Well, if i am going to be late because of these turkeys then they are gonna cop a windscreen full.

P.S. This would be an opportune time for those stolen paintballs to reappear, anyone got them? anyone?

Jim Jones said :

I should never have clicked on that link.

I thought we had a fair share of idiots here … but, my god, that forum is full of human waste.

I had a look through it last night, and was planning to do a “things I learned on the Just Grounds forum” post, but my initial amusement quickly gave way to a genuine depression that there are people who actually think like they do.

Just a quick lesson: having both Tony Abbot and Barnaby Joyce addressing your rally means that you’re covering the whole political spectrum.

Anyone else reminded of that scene in The Blues Brothers where they play at the country bar? “We got both kinds…”

EvanJames said :

Looks like they’ve been copping a bit of stick from other forums too (I know of a few):
http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/insults-and-demeaning-comments?xg_source=activity

They are much saddened by this, and then start fighting amoungst themselves. Toe the party line, or else! You’ll be attacked in underlined bold, possibly in several colours.

I should never have clicked on that link.

I thought we had a fair share of idiots here … but, my god, that forum is full of human waste.

chewy14 said :

This event will be bigger than Dog Fellatio.

Is that a new grunge band? 😉

Ben_Dover said :

Convoy of no confidence, the worlds first emo convoy, moping down the highway, wondering why everyone hates it, and thinking about cutting itself….

This needs to be re-posted over at Just Grounds! Except they might need someone to explain to them what emo means. They might think it’s washing powder or a large annoying bird.

Looks like they’ve been copping a bit of stick from other forums too (I know of a few):
http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/insults-and-demeaning-comments?xg_source=activity

They are much saddened by this, and then start fighting amoungst themselves. Toe the party line, or else! You’ll be attacked in underlined bold, possibly in several colours.

chewy14 said :

This event will be bigger than Dog Fellatio.

Gold!

Holden Caulfield said :

Just give this thread the Mully Cup now!

Pffft,
The trucks aren’t even here til next week.

This event will be bigger than Dog Fellatio.

Holden Caulfield said :

Just give this thread the Mully Cup now!

Any volunteers to present it at the rally on Monday?

Holden Caulfield10:19 am 18 Aug 11

Just give this thread the Mully Cup now!

Skyring said :

Jethro said :

Skyring said :

Baldy said :

Being amused because of people you assume to be Labor pointing out that liberal has done the same thing isn’t the same as diverting the issue, it is simply pointing out that neither party can take the moral ground on this as both are guilty of the same thing.

it is a move away from accepting the truth, like a child saying “But Johnnie and Tony did it too!”

As a parent, this argument never impressed me as a response to poor behaviour.

Well if you decided to punish said child by giving their reward to Tony and their response was, ‘but Tony did it too’, that would seem a completely reasonable response from the child and an unreasonable response from the parent.

That response don’t impress me much, neither.

What I’d really like is for Julia to lift her game. The reason she’s so low in the polls is not because the voters think Tony has all the answers, but because they think Julia hasn’t.

The Australian populace isn’t homogenous and not all people think the same. There are a stack of reasons why Julia is polling poorly.

– a highly effective negative campaign from the opposition (personally, I think that this is destructive and morally objectionable, but it’s proven to be really really effective)
– the rise of the Green Party as a meaningful third party alternative (combined with Labor’s continuing lurch to the right) has seen the party progressively bleeding it’s left-wing supporters
– a number of rent-seeking industries (and media outlets) instigating expensive marketing campaigns against government policy
– extremely poor communication to the general public about basic policy (this combining with the reduction in spending on government advertising – which was certainly the morally correct thing to do, but was politically stupid)
– there’s also been an increasing amount of cases of the government coming up with policy on-the-run in disastrous attempts to win political favour and follow the short-term media cycle (the way that immigration, live export meat trade, etc., has been handled is wantonly stupid and cynical).
– the reptoid conspiracy

Jethro said :

Skyring said :

Baldy said :

Being amused because of people you assume to be Labor pointing out that liberal has done the same thing isn’t the same as diverting the issue, it is simply pointing out that neither party can take the moral ground on this as both are guilty of the same thing.

it is a move away from accepting the truth, like a child saying “But Johnnie and Tony did it too!”

As a parent, this argument never impressed me as a response to poor behaviour.

Well if you decided to punish said child by giving their reward to Tony and their response was, ‘but Tony did it too’, that would seem a completely reasonable response from the child and an unreasonable response from the parent.

That response don’t impress me much, neither.

What I’d really like is for Julia to lift her game. The reason she’s so low in the polls is not because the voters think Tony has all the answers, but because they think Julia hasn’t.

dpm said :

Skyring said :

….It is this evasiveness, this unwillingness to accept the truth, that rankles with people who regard themselves as simple plain speaking folk.

By ‘simple plain speaking folk’, I assume you mean ‘real Australians’? 🙂

A love of truth and honesty is universal.

The chattering classes are getting really rattled, aren’t they?

If by rattled you mean; “enjoying taking the p1ss out a bunch of hayseeds, and their doomed to fail protest,” then yes, consider me rattled.

Convoy of no confidence, the worlds first emo convoy, moping down the highway, wondering why everyone hates it, and thinking about cutting itself….

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Jim Jones said :

Skyring said :

Solidarity said :

What is Tony Nobot supposed to mean anyway? Does he not have any robots?

He’s got Malcolm Turnbull.

See, if Turnbull were leader of the opposition, the general tenor of politics would be a lot better, and we wouldn’t even have to think about this mob of Tea Party idiots. As much as he has his faults, at least he has an interest in intelligent policy.

+1

+2

In fact, I think if Malcolm Turnball had been leader at the last election, we may have had a different PM.

(I’m not a great Turnball fan. But at least he’s a viable PM.)

Skyring said :

….It is this evasiveness, this unwillingness to accept the truth, that rankles with people who regard themselves as simple plain speaking folk.

By ‘simple plain speaking folk’, I assume you mean ‘real Australians’? 🙂

Skyring said :

Baldy said :

Being amused because of people you assume to be Labor pointing out that liberal has done the same thing isn’t the same as diverting the issue, it is simply pointing out that neither party can take the moral ground on this as both are guilty of the same thing.

it is a move away from accepting the truth, like a child saying “But Johnnie and Tony did it too!”

As a parent, this argument never impressed me as a response to poor behaviour.

Well if you decided to punish said child by giving their reward to Tony and their response was, ‘but Tony did it too’, that would seem a completely reasonable response from the child and an unreasonable response from the parent.

Jim Jones said :

Anyone who uses the term ‘chattering classes’ has demonstrated that they are utterly incapable of independent thought and should be mocked and belittled until my throat is sore.

Perhaps your next witty response could make some references to ‘latte’ and ‘chardonnay’ … then you can head over to the Andrew Bolt blog and skite about it.

Arguing with this kind of person is like playing chess with a pigeon: they knock over the pieces, take a sh1t on the board and then fly away back to their friends to brag about their victory.

Bloody hell Jim Jones, you have been scoring bullseyes here so long I hesitate to applaud, but only briefly. Love your work, and long may it continue. I may steal some of your words.

Baldy said :

Being amused because of people you assume to be Labor pointing out that liberal has done the same thing isn’t the same as diverting the issue, it is simply pointing out that neither party can take the moral ground on this as both are guilty of the same thing.

it is a move away from accepting the truth, like a child saying “But Johnnie and Tony did it too!”

As a parent, this argument never impressed me as a response to poor behaviour. It is an evasion, pure and simple.

A better response would be to accept shortcomings, make an apology, deal honestly with the situation. It amuses me no end to listen to Labor politicians wriggle and squirm away from uttering the words “carbon tax” as if pretending that if it is called something else, then Julia was not in error.

It is this evasiveness, this unwillingness to accept the truth, that rankles with people who regard themselves as simple plain speaking folk.

Captain RAAF9:58 pm 17 Aug 11

The Antichrist said :

The Antichrist suggests that the protest has been named incorrectly. It should have been called…

The Convoy of No Consequence

because when all the latte-sipping leftie shinybums (in Garema Place & up on the Hill) are back at work on Tuesday 23, nary a thought will be given to the minor disruptions of the previous day.

Not if their heads are all on spikes up Commonwealth Ave!

brento said :

The prescribed BAC for drivers of vehicles with a GVM or GCM (gross combination mass – ie. truck and trailer) of 15 tonnes or over (ie. anything bigger than a pie cart) is 0.02%.

You will find that on 1 December 2010 – the special driver class BAC was reduced from 0.02% to 0.00% – So I don’t think drinking will be on the plan!!!

EvanJames said :

The whole thing is a big social jamboree for these people, remember. So their thing of arriving the day before gives them a chance to hold an almighty piss-up on Sunday night.

The prescribed BAC for drivers of vehicles with a GVM or GCM (gross combination mass – ie. truck and trailer) of 15 tonnes or over (ie. anything bigger than a pie cart) is 0.02%.

Given that truck drivers would *never* compromise on their responsibilities as Professional Drivers (a subset of Real Australians), I’d expect they’ll be carefully limiting their alcohol intake the evening before hitting the road at sparrow’s fart.

That said, you’d think that NSW and ACT police, knowing all these drivers were shacking up just outside town before what is essentially a day off for them, would be looking to set up RBT stations just to make sure drivers of these vehicles are meeting their professional obligations before mixing it up with rush-hour traffic.

The Antichrist8:09 pm 17 Aug 11

The Antichrist suggests that the protest has been named incorrectly. It should have been called…

The Convoy of No Consequence

because when all the latte-sipping leftie shinybums (in Garema Place & up on the Hill) are back at work on Tuesday 23, nary a thought will be given to the minor disruptions of the previous day.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Waiting For Godot said :

Gee, the trucks aren’t coming for another five days and we’re already up to 8 pages.

The chattering classes are getting really rattled, aren’t they?

We had a lot more pages on Joel Monaghan sticking his manhood in a dog.

Hooray!

Waiting For Godot said :

Gee, the trucks aren’t coming for another five days and we’re already up to 8 pages.

The chattering classes are getting really rattled, aren’t they?

Anyone who uses the term ‘chattering classes’ has demonstrated that they are utterly incapable of independent thought and should be mocked and belittled until my throat is sore.

Perhaps your next witty response could make some references to ‘latte’ and ‘chardonnay’ … then you can head over to the Andrew Bolt blog and skite about it.

Arguing with this kind of person is like playing chess with a pigeon: they knock over the pieces, take a sh1t on the board and then fly away back to their friends to brag about their victory.

Skyring said :

Gungahlin Al said :

johnboy said :

If not a lie it’s a broken promise on a major policy announcement, it kills trust, and it is behaviour we should not be encouraging in our politicians.

Well people must be fairly shattered by Abbott’s flopping then… Reinventing Howard’s core/non-core with his “it only counts if it was written down” manoeuvre/contortion/copout? No? I thought not – selective perception is writ large with these people in this whole debate.

I love the way that Gillard’s groupies immediately change the subject when one of her disasters is the topic.

Prime Minister Julie Gillard has a growing credibility issue with people smugglers.

Oh yeah? Well, Tony (insert silly name here) Abbott snuggles budgies.

As someone who doesn’t vote for either, I think I can comment on this without the usual acusation of being a dedicated “so and so” supporter.

In response to Skyring I think what needs to happen is that when people – in this case Liberal/coalition supports – accuse a party – in this case Labor – of doing something such as lying they should aknowledge that the party they support has also done similar things, on tha same scale or larger, and that the said party is not clean of the same things they are accusing the party of doing. He who is innocent cast the first stone kind of thing.

Being amused because of people you assume to be Labor pointing out that liberal has done the same thing isn’t the same as diverting the issue, it is simply pointing out that neither party can take the moral ground on this as both are guilty of the same thing.

colourful sydney racing identity4:27 pm 17 Aug 11

Waiting For Godot said :

Gee, the trucks aren’t coming for another five days and we’re already up to 8 pages.

The chattering classes are getting really rattled, aren’t they?

We had a lot more pages on Joel Monaghan sticking his manhood in a dog.

Waiting For Godot4:23 pm 17 Aug 11

Gee, the trucks aren’t coming for another five days and we’re already up to 8 pages.

The chattering classes are getting really rattled, aren’t they?

Gungahlin Al said :

NoBot: It really needs explaining? Any using social media knows a bot is an app that is set loose and performs a single function. Tony Abbot’s single function appears to cry out “no!”.

I guess i’m an outcast then, makes me think of Bender saying “robit”

Also, I guess NoBot is pointing out that the opposition keeps on… opposing?

Jim Jones said :

Whatever.

If you want to discuss policy, good for you. But just give the ‘BUT SHE LIED SHE LIED’ bullsh1t a rest, alright?

Um, perhaps you have me mistaken for someone else cause I’m trying to remember ever saying anything like that.

Nup, never did.

Gungahlin Al3:24 pm 17 Aug 11

NoBot: It really needs explaining? Any using social media knows a bot is an app that is set loose and performs a single function. Tony Abbot’s single function appears to cry out “no!”.

Skyring: me a Gillard groupie? That’s so funny.

colourful sydney racing identity3:01 pm 17 Aug 11

Jim Jones said :

Skyring said :

Solidarity said :

What is Tony Nobot supposed to mean anyway? Does he not have any robots?

He’s got Malcolm Turnbull.

See, if Turnbull were leader of the opposition, the general tenor of politics would be a lot better, and we wouldn’t even have to think about this mob of Tea Party idiots. As much as he has his faults, at least he has an interest in intelligent policy.

+1

Skyring said :

Solidarity said :

What is Tony Nobot supposed to mean anyway? Does he not have any robots?

He’s got Malcolm Turnbull.

See, if Turnbull were leader of the opposition, the general tenor of politics would be a lot better, and we wouldn’t even have to think about this mob of Tea Party idiots. As much as he has his faults, at least he has an interest in intelligent policy.

chewy14 said :

Jim,
you’re correct about most of the politics in regards to this issue.
Both sides have been trying to engage the elusive Swinging Bogan.

But that doesn’t mean that the Carbon Tax, or the opposition’s policy for that matter is a good idea.
Both will achieve absolutely nothing with regards to climate change whilst putting our country at a disadvantage with our major competitors.
With no global agreement are efforts are completely useless.
Couple that with a nice slice of wealth re-distribution (removing any direct price signal to most consumers), along with the myriad of other failures and it’s easy to see why this policy and the government is on the nose. Note the opposition aren’t providing much either but I suppose when a government is doing this badly they don’t really have to.

Now some people are OK with all of this and want to “do something about climate change” even if it won’t achieve anything.
I’m not one of them.

And as for the people protesting, they are the right wing version of the socialist alliance hippies that you see at any left wing protest. They do not represent the majority of people who are against this tax.

Whatever.

If you want to discuss policy, good for you. But just give the ‘BUT SHE LIED SHE LIED’ bullsh1t a rest, alright?

Solidarity said :

What is Tony Nobot supposed to mean anyway? Does he not have any robots?

+1. Every time I see someone write that I think ‘Poor man has no robots, maybe we can get him one from Toyworld’

Same as Juliar, everytime I see that my brains adopts a pirate voice and says ‘JuliARRRRRR’.

Maybe my brain is just dysfunctional…

Solidarity said :

What is Tony Nobot supposed to mean anyway? Does he not have any robots?

He’s got Malcolm Turnbull.

colourful sydney racing identity2:28 pm 17 Aug 11

qbngeek said :

Ben_Dover said :

These are the sort of people we are dealing with…

Hi Russ and others I spent the entire day yesterday campaigning for the Convoy in Brisbane and there is one thing that is certain you cannot do it on the uhf radio as as soon as you mention anything about any topic that we are concerned with you get an instant barrage of drivers who think that whatever is done is a laugh and a bit of a gigle you cannot get back onto the line as you are shouted down and told you are an idiot . Was asked who would be stupid enough to drive their truck all the way to Canberra and back and waste all that fuel and money when it would achieve nothing , when told that if we didnt do anything they may not be sitting in thier trucks this time next year as the repo boys would have driven off with their trucks . Another wise guy reckons he was driving a truck and his fat

boss was putting 5000grand a week in his pocket and he was only getting stavation money ,when told the truth of the matter would not have it . So finally I had to admit defeat and I drove back home to Warwick and chatted to a couple of guys who would talk a bit of sense while is was driving home and the UHF had a clear channel ,they said they would when they see us rolling through are going to join us for as far as they could . I am convinced after yesteday episode that the best way to approach men is 1 on 1 in the cafeteria’s and lunch rooms to approach the couriers when they come to deliver and so forth but WE WILL PREVAIL . and if it is only me rolling out of here on the 20th then I will go forth Proud to represent the people that I leave behind

Hand up all who wish to hand control of our democratic process over to them….

So judging from this post (its hard to tell with rubbish punctuation and no paragraghs) it would appear that the truckies don’t even support them…so why the frick are they coming?

Front group for the Reptoid invasion.

If this goes on for much longer then we might find we have an election much sooner than thought.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/mp-craig-thomson-paid-to-save-julia-gillard/story-e6freuzi-1226116308634

I’ll bet Julia had Craig Thomson on the carpet quick as a wink.

Gungahlin Al said :

johnboy said :

If not a lie it’s a broken promise on a major policy announcement, it kills trust, and it is behaviour we should not be encouraging in our politicians.

Well people must be fairly shattered by Abbott’s flopping then… Reinventing Howard’s core/non-core with his “it only counts if it was written down” manoeuvre/contortion/copout? No? I thought not – selective perception is writ large with these people in this whole debate.

I love the way that Gillard’s groupies immediately change the subject when one of her disasters is the topic.

Prime Minister Julie Gillard has a growing credibility issue with people smugglers.

Oh yeah? Well, Tony (insert silly name here) Abbott snuggles budgies.

Ben_Dover said :

These are the sort of people we are dealing with…

Hi Russ and others I spent the entire day yesterday campaigning for the Convoy in Brisbane and there is one thing that is certain you cannot do it on the uhf radio as as soon as you mention anything about any topic that we are concerned with you get an instant barrage of drivers who think that whatever is done is a laugh and a bit of a gigle you cannot get back onto the line as you are shouted down and told you are an idiot . Was asked who would be stupid enough to drive their truck all the way to Canberra and back and waste all that fuel and money when it would achieve nothing , when told that if we didnt do anything they may not be sitting in thier trucks this time next year as the repo boys would have driven off with their trucks . Another wise guy reckons he was driving a truck and his fat

boss was putting 5000grand a week in his pocket and he was only getting stavation money ,when told the truth of the matter would not have it . So finally I had to admit defeat and I drove back home to Warwick and chatted to a couple of guys who would talk a bit of sense while is was driving home and the UHF had a clear channel ,they said they would when they see us rolling through are going to join us for as far as they could . I am convinced after yesteday episode that the best way to approach men is 1 on 1 in the cafeteria’s and lunch rooms to approach the couriers when they come to deliver and so forth but WE WILL PREVAIL . and if it is only me rolling out of here on the 20th then I will go forth Proud to represent the people that I leave behind

Hand up all who wish to hand control of our democratic process over to them….

So judging from this post (its hard to tell with rubbish punctuation and no paragraghs) it would appear that the truckies don’t even support them…so why the frick are they coming?

EvanJames said :

The whole thing is a big social jamboree for these people, remember. So their thing of arriving the day before gives them a chance to hold an almighty piss-up on Sunday night.

They are forming a new political party.

What is Tony Nobot supposed to mean anyway? Does he not have any robots?

Jim,
you’re correct about most of the politics in regards to this issue.
Both sides have been trying to engage the elusive Swinging Bogan.

But that doesn’t mean that the Carbon Tax, or the opposition’s policy for that matter is a good idea.
Both will achieve absolutely nothing with regards to climate change whilst putting our country at a disadvantage with our major competitors.
With no global agreement are efforts are completely useless.
Couple that with a nice slice of wealth re-distribution (removing any direct price signal to most consumers), along with the myriad of other failures and it’s easy to see why this policy and the government is on the nose. Note the opposition aren’t providing much either but I suppose when a government is doing this badly they don’t really have to.

Now some people are OK with all of this and want to “do something about climate change” even if it won’t achieve anything.
I’m not one of them.

And as for the people protesting, they are the right wing version of the socialist alliance hippies that you see at any left wing protest. They do not represent the majority of people who are against this tax.

I’m getting on board the Jim Jones bandwagon as well. Nicely put, sir. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

These are the sort of people we are dealing with…

Hi Russ and others I spent the entire day yesterday campaigning for the Convoy in Brisbane and there is one thing that is certain you cannot do it on the uhf radio as as soon as you mention anything about any topic that we are concerned with you get an instant barrage of drivers who think that whatever is done is a laugh and a bit of a gigle you cannot get back onto the line as you are shouted down and told you are an idiot . Was asked who would be stupid enough to drive their truck all the way to Canberra and back and waste all that fuel and money when it would achieve nothing , when told that if we didnt do anything they may not be sitting in thier trucks this time next year as the repo boys would have driven off with their trucks . Another wise guy reckons he was driving a truck and his fat boss was putting 5000grand a week in his pocket and he was only getting stavation money ,when told the truth of the matter would not have it . So finally I had to admit defeat and I drove back home to Warwick and chatted to a couple of guys who would talk a bit of sense while is was driving home and the UHF had a clear channel ,they said they would when they see us rolling through are going to join us for as far as they could . I am convinced after yesteday episode that the best way to approach men is 1 on 1 in the cafeteria’s and lunch rooms to approach the couriers when they come to deliver and so forth but WE WILL PREVAIL . and if it is only me rolling out of here on the 20th then I will go forth Proud to represent the people that I leave behind

Hand up all who wish to hand control of our democratic process over to them….

johnboy said :

If not a lie it’s a broken promise on a major policy announcement, it kills trust, and it is behaviour we should not be encouraging in our politicians.

You could argue that the coalition did the same after the 2007 election – in which they campaigned with the pledge to introduce or support a carbon trading scheme and then voted it down in the Senate after Abbott took power.

Gungahlin Al1:14 pm 17 Aug 11

Doing a 3-post nutbag thing: Well said Jim Jones. Brilliantly actually.

Gungahlin Al1:11 pm 17 Aug 11

BlackIce said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Oh and by the way, how’s your poster boy TonyNoBot going with his promises eh? Seems to me he is flipping and flopping on issues more than a carp left on the bank to die. The latest being his somersault on reigning in frakking.

I take it you mean this type of fraking rather than this type.
Don’t think he’d have any hope of reigning in the second…

Ha! I think Abbott actually wants to encourage more of the second type. As long as you are nicely ensconced in wedlock.

Gungahlin Al1:10 pm 17 Aug 11

You know this whole “liar” thing really gives me the pips. Gillard made a commitment based on achieving majority government. The people as a whole decided not to give her that mandate. She now governs as a minority, only with the support of others. Therefore those others have sway, and have forced some previously stated positions to change

Please point out exactly where I used the word ‘liar’.

And no matter how it is spun, she said, ‘there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead.’

Swan then backed this up the very next day.

As well, please point to where I have ever endorsed Abbott, because i don’t. And at least I call both Gillard and Abbott by their real names, not childish constructions such as ‘TonyNoBot’.

Ease up Thumper – I didn’t say you did or mean to imply it. I was talking about the protests and signs and shite. On the broken promise – sure, and it was a stupid “promise” to make. But as I said, the reality is that the circumstances changed – beyond her control. So the promise became a moot point.

Sorry you don’t like my TonyNoBot thing. I’m sure you know I prefer to focus on issues rather than the people behind them. But in Abbott’s case I think it provides convenient shorthand for the woeful way that he is pursuing the populist vote by almost robotically opposing almost anything the government does/says. I am more interested in opposition that takes itself seriously and puts together viable alternatives and credible leaders.

I yearn for the return of Turnbull. Then this country might be able to return to some rational debate instead of this polarised black/white BS we have had for the last year or so. And a republic. In my personal opinion.

@Jim Jones: You sir can have my babies (if I as a chick)

chewy14 said :

Jim Jones,
seeing as what, 85%? of the electorate voted for parties with a no carbon tax platform, I think it’s pretty reasonable that people are angry over this.
The may not be expressing themselves very well but that’s another issue.

I understand your point, but, to be frank, the idea that people voted for a party *because* they had a no carbon platform is patently ludicrous. I’ll give $100 bucks to anyone who talked to friends, relatives or coworkers after the last election and heard any of them say – “I voted for Labor because they said that they won’t have a carbon tax”. It was a non-issue. It’s only become an issue retrospectively because it suits a political game. The government was upfront about wanting an ETS, and the carbon tax isn’t radically different. It would be just easy to argue that people voted for the government “because they wanted action on climate change” – and this explanation is just as simplistic and reductive, and has the same basic misunderstanding of the Australian political process.

In Australia, we elect a government who then proceeds to go about the business of policy. This is a pragmatic business, particularly in current circumstances when there is a minority government and a lot of negotiation, compromise and bargaining needs to be done. When circumstances change, you change with them – to do anything different is stupid and dangerous.

Yes, the current government has lost a lot of trust on this (and other) issues, and has played the politics extremely badly. The opposition has played the politics extremely well. But, by and large, current government policy isn’t too bad – particularly compared with the utter sh1t offered up by the opposition (note that there isn’t a single respected economist or climate change expert who supports their policy – and it looks like they’ll need a starting point of $70 billion dollars in ‘savings’ if they intend to not break their promises to the electorate).

Most people are angry about the carbon tax because they’ve been fed bullsh1t about it by a scare campaign from the opposition, supported by a stack of greedy, rent-seeking industries. The carbon tax is so low-key that the effect on daily life when it takes effect will be completely negligible – every single economist worth his or her salt will tell you that. The impact on cost of living from the carbon tax pales into insignificance when compared with the ordinary market forces that are in play.

It’s policy that is important and effects what happens to this country and all of us as individual. The mindless focus on ‘gotcha’ politics (from all sides of the political spectrum) is stupid and demeaning to us all and is leading to a situation where we’re almost as bad as the US in our inane ignorance and obsession with women’s weekly personality politics.

It would be an interesting experiment to pass around a petition on Monday calling for a constitutional change that means a party must control the House in its own right if it is to form government. I wonder how many of them would sign, not realising that the Lib/National coalition would never again be able to form government?

Yeah, I had that discussion in johnboy’s thread on this topic the other day. Someone tried to tell me that Tony Abbott should be PM because he leads the majority party. Uhh…

Australian Labor Party: 72
Liberal Party of Australia: 44
Liberal National Party: 21
National Party of Australia: 6
Country Liberal Party: 1
Independent: 3
National Party of Western Australia: 1
Greens: 1
Whatever Katter calls his rolling bag of fun nowadays: 1

Even if you add up the Coalition you get 72, so I have no idea WTF this person was on about.

Innovation said :

In the CT this morning, there are reports of rural towns neighbouring the ACT stocking up on supplies. The Hall pub is apparently ordering extra beer and food for “Monday” when the convoy comes through.

What time are these guys getting into Canberra on Monday morning? Between 6:00am and 8:00am?

The whole thing is a big social jamboree for these people, remember. So their thing of arriving the day before gives them a chance to hold an almighty piss-up on Sunday night.

The closest mob to them would be the Yass convoy? OH, hang on! I just looked at the table on the OP… There’s a yass mob (getting rat-faced in Yass, plenty of pubs there), there’s a Murrumbateman mob (Pub there will be rubbing its hands together), and there’s a Hall mob. Oh-kay. I figure they’ll be camping. A wet winter cold snap would be timely. Welcome to Canberra.

Riotact gets a guernsey on their convoy organising page, btw, right at the top. This is a “blog”, apparently. Seems everything’s a “blog” these days.

Jim Jones,
seeing as what, 85%? of the electorate voted for parties with a no carbon tax platform, I think it’s pretty reasonable that people are angry over this.
The may not be expressing themselves very well but that’s another issue.

Gungahlin Al said :

Oh and by the way, how’s your poster boy TonyNoBot going with his promises eh? Seems to me he is flipping and flopping on issues more than a carp left on the bank to die. The latest being his somersault on reigning in frakking.

I take it you mean this type of fraking rather than this type.
Don’t think he’d have any hope of reigning in the second…

And no matter how it is spun, she said, ‘there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead.’.[/quote>

A) In what universe is that more important the policy issues involved?

B) We all do it remarkably often – say that we will or won’t do something, and then circumstances change, and we are forced to change with them. What we then do is explain *why* we’ve had to change our position. To be fair, the government has attempted to do this (albeit pretty badly), and has had it’s explanation met with a round of hyper-intelligent policy discussion: ”liar liar pants on fire’.

Gungahlin Al10:24 am 17 Aug 11

johnboy said :

If not a lie it’s a broken promise on a major policy announcement, it kills trust, and it is behaviour we should not be encouraging in our politicians.

Well people must be fairly shattered by Abbott’s flopping then… Reinventing Howard’s core/non-core with his “it only counts if it was written down” manoeuvre/contortion/copout? No? I thought not – selective perception is writ large with these people in this whole debate.

Gungahlin Al said :

You know this whole “liar” thing really gives me the pips. Gillard made a commitment based on achieving majority government.

Umm. No. She said, “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead”.

Now, I don’t think she intended to bring in a carbon tax and was just lying through her gritted teeth at the time, but clearly she has broken a promise, and she’s copping the flak for that.

The interesting bit is seeing the Labor tragics bending over backwards to pretend it’s all good. People aren’t stupid – this sort of nonsense just ensures that the eventual kick in the pants is going to be stern and solid.

johnboy said :

If not a lie it’s a broken promise on a major policy announcement, it kills trust, and it is behaviour we should not be encouraging in our politicians.

Yeah, agreed. But, really, the only reason the broken promise is being brought up is because it’s politically expedient stick for the Libs to use against Labour. When Julia said that the Labor party would be pursuing an ETS rather than a carbon tax, nobody took much notice – it was assumed that the ETS would be the way to go. But the ETS didn’t get through, the political situation changed and the issue was still very very pressing, and still needed to be addressed.

As much as I’d like politicians to endeavour not to break promises, it’s more important that they address policy issues properly.

John Maynard Keynes: “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”

If not a lie it’s a broken promise on a major policy announcement, it kills trust, and it is behaviour we should not be encouraging in our politicians.

Gungahlin Al9:59 am 17 Aug 11

OK. But isnt the current WA State Govt a minority liberal govt, after labour won more seats there in 2008?? (i’m pretty sure??)
If so, shouldn’t he first be kicking out his local minority Govt before attcking the Federal one?!?

Good point, except that the WA government is not trying to introduce a carbon tax after saying, quite unequivocally, that they wouldn’t.

You know this whole “liar” thing really gives me the pips. Gillard made a commitment based on achieving majority government. The people as a whole decided not to give her that mandate. She now governs as a minority, only with the support of others. Therefore those others have sway, and have forced some previously stated positions to change.

That is democracy. Everyone should just get over it.

Those who can’t see that a minority government leads to more considered decisionmaking and long for the return of the majority rubber-stamp lower house (everyone remember the Howard majority in both houses and how well THAT went?) then you’ll get your democratic right to vote for change in a couple of years.

Oh and by the way, how’s your poster boy TonyNoBot going with his promises eh? Seems to me he is flipping and flopping on issues more than a carp left on the bank to die. The latest being his somersault on reigning in frakking. So how’s THAT sitting with rural voters now that the Greens are putting up legislation to do something about it but Abbott won’t support it?

Ben_Dover said :

Not by true Australians, most of those who voted in the government drink milky coffee.

So that I can avoid being first against the wall when the revolution comes, can I ask does this involve all coffee with milk in it, or only lattes? i.e. is there some optimum quantity or level of frothing of milk that pushes me over the threshold?

EvanJames said :

I love the way that the Labor group have had to negotiate with a bunch of independants and the Greens, because finally, people who don’t vote for the two main parties are enfranchised.

The Liberal Party and the National Party have been doing this for years, I might add. Forming a coalition although god knows how the Nats can stomach the economic rationalism of the Libs that is kicking the crap out of the rural people.

I like what the independants have been doing. Hell, I even quite like what Katter’s been up to. We need more of this, and less party machines.

+1. Always wondered why my parents vote National for that very reason.

Bring on some good old fashioned horse trading and pork barreling – at least those people are being represented.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

I, for one, welcome our new amphetmaine crazed, sleep deprived, truck driving overlords.

Gold Star, well played.

Innovation said :

I hope the Hall pub meant that they were going to fill these protestors up on Sunday…

Looking at the timetable and route details posted above, the idea seems to be to assemble at various nearby towns, leaving at sparrowcrack and arriving at Parliament House at staggered times.

Probably not a good idea to order a slender latte if you’re dining out in Hall on Sunday night, not unless you want to see the convoy action close up, mounted on the roobars of the first b-double in as a grim warning to others of your kind.

Innovation said :

I hope the Hall pub meant that they were going to fill these protestors up on Sunday otherwise they are likely to angry AND pissed when they get here in the morning – which is possibly not such a good thing.

Don’t want any mob of drunken yobbos storming the doors.

colourful sydney racing identity8:38 am 17 Aug 11

I, for one, welcome our new amphetmaine crazed, sleep deprived, truck driving overlords.

In the CT this morning, there are reports of rural towns neighbouring the ACT stocking up on supplies. The Hall pub is apparently ordering extra beer and food for “Monday” when the convoy comes through.

What time are these guys getting into Canberra on Monday morning? Between 6:00am and 8:00am? If local towns are going to fill them full of beer early in the morning on their way through it’s going to be a pretty exciting protest.

I have been of the view that they should protest, blockade and disrupt Canberra (so long as it’s peaceful) if it will make them feel better. It’s only a short period of inconvenience to the rest of us and, although it will get some headlines, I doubt that it will bring on any change in Government. However, I hope the Hall pub meant that they were going to fill these protestors up on Sunday otherwise they are likely to angry AND pissed when they get here in the morning – which is possibly not such a good thing.

dpm said :

Anyway, now that I think about your additional comment, if it’s actually about the Govt doing something when they said they wouldn’t, does it really matter if they are minority or not?

You’d think a government that was hanging on to power by its fingernails and the shakey whim of independents would be more careful about what they do when they promised not to.

As for WA, it was 28-all in 2008, with three independents leaning towards the Coalition.

p1 said :

Why are the Liberal and National parties still referred to at the Coalition while they are in opposition? Surely, since they have no need to band together to form government, they should just be two separate parties right now?

That’d just be the federal parliament you’re thinking of here?

Thoroughly Smashed9:19 pm 16 Aug 11

BlackIce said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

ProudtobeAussie said :

I am a self educated hard working Australian, who got off his ass…

And yet you can’t spell arse.

Now, now. Maybe he used to ride a donkey…

Oh yeah, I hadn’t thought of that.

OK. But isnt the current WA State Govt a minority liberal govt, after labour won more seats there in 2008?? (i’m pretty sure??)
If so, shouldn’t he first be kicking out his local minority Govt before attcking the Federal one?!?

Good point, except that the WA government is not trying to introduce a carbon tax after saying, quite unequivocally, that they wouldn’t.

I was just querying the “minority govt = illegitimate” argument he was mentioned as having used. Nothing about a CO2 tax was mentioned in the (small) summary I was referring to.
Anyway, now that I think about your additional comment, if it’s actually about the Govt doing something when they said they wouldn’t, does it really matter if they are minority or not? Why trot out that argument if the even-worse ‘lying’ is there to be used, as you have?
What he should be saying then is: “I’ve got no problem with minority Govts, they are OK. Unless they lie to us; then they’re really bad!!”
To me that’s different than the “minority govt = illegitimate” argument, but maybe i’m easily confused! 🙂

ProudtobeAussie said :

The comments I’ve read so far in regards to the “Convoy of No cofidence” really dont surprise me. It is a pefect example attitude that many of the “latte belt” dwellers of this country have about the rest of the country. Yes Im talking about rural and regional Australia.

Someone I know just went to Cowra to see the specialist from Sydney.
Our TV and Commercial radio is out of Sydney. Bonus, one of the few local TV Bulletins is made in another centre.There’s the constant threat of kangaroos on our roads. I could go on for ages.

We are regional Australia. Its the politicians and their circus who fly in and out who aren’t.

EvanJames said :

The Liberal Party and the National Party have been doing this for years, I might add. Forming a coalition although god knows how the Nats can stomach the economic rationalism of the Libs that is kicking the crap out of the rural people.

Can anyone clear up for me a question i have had for a while?

Why are the Liberal and National parties still referred to at the Coalition while they are in opposition? Surely, since they have no need to band together to form government, they should just be two separate parties right now? If they are one party ALL the time, then really they are not a coalition at all, but just one party. Why does the media let them get away with this fallacy? Basically it seems to be a branding thing to convince the “Country People” that the Liberals aren’t screwing them.

Look on the bright side. With all of these people away from their businesses and not earning an income they will all go broke and out of business. Think of the CO2 that will save with those trucks no longer spewing pollution.

EvanJames said :

The Liberal Party and the National Party have been doing this for years, I might add. Forming a coalition although god knows how the Nats can stomach the economic rationalism of the Libs that is kicking the crap out of the rural people.

It would be an interesting experiment to pass around a petition on Monday calling for a constitutional change that means a party must control the House in its own right if it is to form government. I wonder how many of them would sign, not realising that the Lib/National coalition would never again be able to form government?
Why is it ok for the Libs and Nationals to form a coalition, but not for Labor, Greens and Independents to do the same?

The_Bulldog said :

So – IMHO the organisers should be approaching our local media (not just the Canberra Times), and seeking to allay the concerns of residents – which aren’t solely about a “blockade” of Capital Hill.

.

I’ve heard heaps of coverage on radio, with interviews stressing that the organisers are working closely with the AFP. If there’s gridlock, it will be the AFP’s fault! For chrissake we put up with that ridiculous V8 race for a couple of years. Let’s let a bunch of concerned citizens converge on our city without having our reaction fulfil the stereotypes that Canberra citizens are snobby and elitist.

According to the 2006 Census, there are just 276,229 true Australians.

Broken down:
Total persons working in Beef Cattle Farming (specialised) industry: 48,175
Total persons working in various mining industries: 97,927
Total persons with Truck Driver as an occupation: 130,127*
Source: ABS, 2006 Census Tables.

*I left out ‘average Australians’ because it was a bit hard working out what this is. The average Australian is 37 years old. In 2006 there were 293,400 people aged 37, so I guess they could be added in to the count of true Australians as well, making it come to a grand total of 569,629.

Gungahlin Al said :

…On Radio National Breakfast today Fran Kelly interviewed a truck driver departing Port Headland (yes in WA!) about his role in organising it. He trotted out the minority govt = illegitimate argument….

OK. But isnt the current WA State Govt a minority liberal govt, after labour won more seats there in 2008?? (i’m pretty sure??)
If so, shouldn’t he first be kicking out his local minority Govt before attcking the Federal one?!?

Thoroughly Smashed said :

ProudtobeAussie said :

I am a self educated hard working Australian, who got off his ass…

And yet you can’t spell arse.

Now, now. Maybe he used to ride a donkey…

I’m not going to get involved in the politik of it all – this is not the reason I’m pissed off.

What I (still) take exception to is the fact that not one of the more reasonable elements of the Just Grounds mob has sought to acknowledge the fact that, all politics aside, they are doing a pretty shitty thing to the people of Canberra – incidentally or otherwise. True Aussie and Blue Heeler don’t help their cause either – and we should probably beware the trolls.

So – IMHO the organisers should be approaching our local media (not just the Canberra Times), and seeking to allay the concerns of residents – which aren’t solely about a “blockade” of Capital Hill. So if any of the organisers are reading – here’s some help:

Perhaps we’re concerned that we have an unknown number of heavy vehicles driven by angry people converging on our city from a number of different directions at a particular time. Off track – but the time chosen by these reform-mongerers is one that is already a pain in the arse because of the ineptitude of our own local government (we’re not immue to stupid decisions either).

In the absence of any rational feedback from the organisers I’m going to shut up and see what happens. If the organisers are true to their word and no grid-lock eventuates and all members of the convoy behave nicely then I’ll eat a little humble-pie. I’ll cop it sweet too – but I suspect I know how this palaver is going to pan out – and it won’t result in a new election. End rant.

colourful sydney racing identity4:45 pm 16 Aug 11

Postalgeek said :

If there’s ever a cultural revolution, and you find yourself lined up in a stadium, and a smiling cocky walks up to you, offers you a hot beverage, and then asks if you’d like milk with it…remember to say ‘no thanks’.

Bowling Warnie, bowling *hand clap*

Gungahlin Al said :

Kelly suggested that with 2 rural independents in the balance of power aren’t rural interests more represented than ever? He said something along the lines of “that may be but it doesn’t change anything…”

He was probably self-educated.

Neither the carbon tax or the legitimacy of the standing Government are the real issue here.
The problem is that Labor TUK IRR JERBS!!

Gungahlin Al4:15 pm 16 Aug 11

colourful sydney racing identity said :

ProudtobeAussie said :

the current federal government “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people

Actually, it was.

I wonder how many of these talkback radio victims would be saying this had the independents sided with Abbott? My guess is they’d be completely silent on this argument, if not arguing the complete opposite from what they are saying now.

On Radio National Breakfast today Fran Kelly interviewed a truck driver departing Port Headland (yes in WA!) about his role in organising it. He trotted out the minority govt = illegitimate argument. Kelly suggested that with 2 rural independents in the balance of power aren’t rural interests more represented than ever? He said something along the lines of “that may be but it doesn’t change anything…” Sheesh. Can’t let the facts get in the way of a serious rage against the machine now can we?

Jim Jones said :

Ben_Dover said :

colourful sydney racing identity said :

ProudtobeAussie said :

the current federal government “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people

Actually, it was.

Not by true Australians, most of those who voted in the government drink milky coffee.

And probably drink white wine too, which – as all True Australians™ know – is even worse than milky coffee.

Well that would be true, real men drink red wine 🙂

If there’s ever a cultural revolution, and you find yourself lined up in a stadium, and a smiling cocky walks up to you, offers you a hot beverage, and then asks if you’d like milk with it…remember to say ‘no thanks’.

ProudtobeAussie said :

This is about true Australians, the truck drivers, the cattle station workers, the guys and girls that work in the mining industry, the average Austalian, like myself who have had enough of being “LIED” to by the current federal government who “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people but put in place by the back room bartering of the greens and independents.

Read a book, Henry Lawson is a good place to start. Even he recognised the unpalatable fact that the “true” Australian was, unfortunately, a city-dweller. He even coined a term for our propensity to see ourselves as tough bushies, while living in cities: The Bush Myth.

So, nice as it is to dream, the country folk are not the “true” Australians, though good Australians they might be.

As for truckies being “true” Australians, bugger off. That’s US country music mythologising.

And as a rural dweller who has voted Green and Independant for years, I take issue with people who don’t like the result of the election claiming that the government is illegitimate. All members were voted-for by the people. I love the way that the Labor group have had to negotiate with a bunch of independants and the Greens, because finally, people who don’t vote for the two main parties are enfranchised.

The Liberal Party and the National Party have been doing this for years, I might add. Forming a coalition although god knows how the Nats can stomach the economic rationalism of the Libs that is kicking the crap out of the rural people.

I like what the independants have been doing. Hell, I even quite like what Katter’s been up to. We need more of this, and less party machines.

Ben_Dover said :

colourful sydney racing identity said :

ProudtobeAussie said :

the current federal government “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people

Actually, it was.

Not by true Australians, most of those who voted in the government drink milky coffee.

And probably drink white wine too, which – as all True Australians™ know – is even worse than milky coffee.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

ProudtobeAussie said :

the current federal government “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people

Actually, it was.

Not by true Australians, most of those who voted in the government drink milky coffee.

Thoroughly Smashed3:53 pm 16 Aug 11

ProudtobeAussie said :

I am a self educated hard working Australian, who got off his ass…

And yet you can’t spell arse.

I’ve never observed a deeply insecure nationalist who was not a racist, but I wouldn’t want to exclude the possibility of their existence.

johnboy said :

Jim Jones said :

(psst … just between you and me, “True Australian” is actually just codeword for “deeply insecure nationalist”).

I always thought it was code for “Racist”.

Along with anyone using their national identity as an identifier on a website almost exclusively populated by their countrymen.

Other obvious signs are Southern Cross tattoos or stickers on vehicles and/or ‘I was born here, you flew here’ (or various other slogans) on bumper stickers.

johnboy said :

Jim Jones said :

(psst … just between you and me, “True Australian” is actually just codeword for “deeply insecure nationalist”).

I always thought it was code for “Racist”.

Along with anyone using their national identity as an identifier on a website almost exclusively populated by their countrymen.

What’s the difference between a “deeply insecure nationalist” and a racist?

They both preface all comments on race with the disclaimer, “I’m not a racist, but …”

Jim Jones said :

(psst … just between you and me, “True Australian” is actually just codeword for “deeply insecure nationalist”).

I always thought it was code for “Racist”.

Along with anyone using their national identity as an identifier on a website almost exclusively populated by their countrymen.

Postalgeek said :

ProudtobeAussie said :

dribble

Yeah, we know who you are. If I recall, most of the participants in the Cronulla Riots proudly claimed to be ‘true Australians’.

True Australians don’t go on about being true Australians. They just get on with the job.

(psst … just between you and me, “True Australian” is actually just codeword for “deeply insecure nationalist”).

ProudtobeAussie said :

dribble

Yeah, we know who you are. If I recall, most of the participants in the Cronulla Riots proudly claimed to be ‘true Australians’.

True Australians don’t go on about being true Australians. They just get on with the job.

colourful sydney racing identity3:04 pm 16 Aug 11

ProudtobeAussie said :

the current federal government “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people

Actually, it was.

ProudtobeAussie said :

I am a self educated

That part was pretty obvious.

ProudtobeAussie said :

The comments I’ve read so far in regards to the “Convoy of No cofidence” really dont surprise me. It is a pefect example attitude that many of the “latte belt” dwellers of this country have about the rest of the country. Yes Im talking about rural and regional Australia. This convoy is not about a bunch of whingers who want to disrupt your morning drive to pick up your latte on the way to work. This is about true Australians, the truck drivers, the cattle station workers, the guys and girls that work in the mining industry, the average Austalian, like myself who have had enough of being “LIED” to by the current federal government who “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people but put in place by the back room bartering of the greens and independents. This Convoy is a way of expressing the thoughts of thousands of rural and regional Australians who have been deliberately lied to by the Government of this country. Oh and before the jokes about the RM Williams boots, country bumpkins etc etc start, no I dont work as a truckie, cattleman or in any rural industry. I am a self educated hard working Australian, who got off his ass, put himself through university to obtain his diploma, started his own business 20 years ago (which is still operating today) father of three well mannered educated children. I am also a tax paying Australian citizen who feels betrayed and lied to by this current federal government and this is my way of expressing my “Vote of No confidence in the Government”

Man … you really hate coffee with lots of milk in it.

Are you lactose intolerant?

more people are employed by Woolworths than work in the whole mining industry…. time to pull ya heads in

ProudtobeAussie said :

The comments I’ve read so far in regards to the “Convoy of No cofidence” really dont surprise me. It is a pefect example attitude that many of the “latte belt” dwellers of this country have about the rest of the country. Yes Im talking about rural and regional Australia. This convoy is not about a bunch of whingers who want to disrupt your morning drive to pick up your latte on the way to work. This is about true Australians, the truck drivers, the cattle station workers, the guys and girls that work in the mining industry, the average Austalian, like myself who have had enough of being “LIED” to by the current federal government who “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people but put in place by the back room bartering of the greens and independents. This Convoy is a way of expressing the thoughts of thousands of rural and regional Australians who have been deliberately lied to by the Government of this country. Oh and before the jokes about the RM Williams boots, country bumpkins etc etc start, no I dont work as a truckie, cattleman or in any rural industry. I am a self educated hard working Australian, who got off his ass, put himself through university to obtain his diploma, started his own business 20 years ago (which is still operating today) father of three well mannered educated children. I am also a tax paying Australian citizen who feels betrayed and lied to by this current federal government and this is my way of expressing my “Vote of No confidence in the Government”

I don’t want to sound pedantic, but ABS stats show that almost 70% of the popn live in Major Cities, with the rest in the 4 other standard ‘remoteness area’ categories. I can understand that many truck drivers might live in Major cities, but I doubt many cattle station workers or miners live in major cities. So, they couldn’t technically be ‘average’ Australians, based on population numbers….
Anyway, good luck next Monday. Make sure you spend a few $$ while you’re here in Canberra! 🙂

ProudtobeAussie said :

The comments I’ve read so far in regards to the “Convoy of No cofidence” really dont surprise me. It is a pefect example attitude that many of the “latte belt” dwellers of this country have about the rest of the country. Yes Im talking about rural and regional Australia. This convoy is not about a bunch of whingers who want to disrupt your morning drive to pick up your latte on the way to work. This is about true Australians, the truck drivers, the cattle station workers, the guys and girls that work in the mining industry, the average Austalian, like myself who have had enough of being “LIED” to by the current federal government who “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people but put in place by the back room bartering of the greens and independents. This Convoy is a way of expressing the thoughts of thousands of rural and regional Australians who have been deliberately lied to by the Government of this country. Oh and before the jokes about the RM Williams boots, country bumpkins etc etc start, no I dont work as a truckie, cattleman or in any rural industry. I am a self educated hard working Australian, who got off his ass, put himself through university to obtain his diploma, started his own business 20 years ago (which is still operating today) father of three well mannered educated children. I am also a tax paying Australian citizen who feels betrayed and lied to by this current federal government and this is my way of expressing my “Vote of No confidence in the Government”

Would you like to see my birth certificate?? I am a ‘true australian’. In fact I can provide a documented history of my family tree which shows my family arrived here in 1790 with the second fleet…yours?

Also, I don’t drink latte, i find it repulsive and too milky. I have my coffee black and two, same way I have my tea.

So the average Australian is ‘the truck drivers, the cattle station workers, the guys and girls that work in the mining industry’? I can’t wait to see the Census results to see how many people actually work in those industries. I dare say it won’t be enough to make them the average.

So Mr ‘True Aussie’ lets answer some questions to see how ‘Australian’ you are?
– How long did you spend in the ADF? It was five years for me before I blew out my knee.
– How many times were you deployed in that time to represent your country? 3 times for myself.
– How often do you volunteer in the community? I coach soccer, am a scout leader, teach archery to disabled kids and assist my wife to cook for several elderly people.
– When was the last time you truly contributed to the country without personal gain?
– When was the last time you contacted your local MP and asked to speak to them about the issues that affect you? I did it just before the last election to see if they actually wanted to help fix things….guess what, the Liberal canidate really couldn’t care less because it was already in the bag.
– How much of the country have you seen? I have seen most of it and have taken my kids through a fair chunk of it as well.

There are many other things I could ask and these things do not make you Australian, what does is being an Australian citizen and loving the country we live in. You have no right to determine who the true Australians are or what they represent…so pull your f***ing head in.

ProudtobeAussie said :

I am also a tax paying Australian citizen who feels betrayed and lied to by this current federal government and this is my way of expressing my “Vote of No confidence in the Government”

So the next time Australia gets a government I do not like, you won’t mind if I come and disrupt you going about your daily business as my way of expressing my “Vote of No confidence in the Government”.

BTW, If you are a real Australian, what are the residents of Canberra? Surreal Australians?

unreal australians!

ProudtobeAussie, thanks for clarifying that. I wasn’t aware that I had to work in a primary industry to be a “true Australian”. I must have missed that particular clause for citizenship.

As for being sick of being lied to… Welcome to the world of politics. Do you really think a Coalition government would be any better? Remember, the Coalition are the ones who brought us that classic phrase “non-core promise”, as well as reality-bending takes on things like the children overboard debacle.

I’m not a big fan of some of Labor’s decisions, but I also happen to think that an Abbott-led Coalition would actually be far worse. So you’ll pardon me if this “non-true-Australian” (by your standards) waits for the next election to bring in a change of government. You know, like they do in a democracy…?

Proud to be Aussie – regardless of your views on the Government, you’re not “Proud to be Aussie” if you’re prepared to piss on fellow Australians for the sake of your political agenda… Or do Canberrans not count because we don’t work on cattle-stations or hold a Diploma? Or is because we might sip on lattes?

Get a grip you clown – being Australian is not the exclusive right of people from rural or regional areas. In fact – if you didn’t want to s*** on us by staging your protest the way that you are, you’d probably find residents of Canberra have far more in common with our rural brethren than the residents of Sydney or Melbourne do – but what do you care? Apparently we’re all latte sipping whingers. Why? Because we don’t like our town being kicked around? That sounds pretty countryfied to me actually…

I agree with your right to protest – but your methods suck and your logic is flawed. If you were fair-dinkum you’d be here on Sunday night, setup camp, and have numbers and support when those “liars” arrive on Monday morning. But no – you continue to be a “Proud Aussie” and s*** on the residents of this beautiful town. You clown.

I’ve never had a latte in my life. Your move.

Incidentally, I don’t think that self-educated means what you think it means.

ProudtobeAussie said :

This is about true Australians

Aborigines?

ProudtobeAussie12:50 pm 16 Aug 11

The comments I’ve read so far in regards to the “Convoy of No cofidence” really dont surprise me. It is a pefect example attitude that many of the “latte belt” dwellers of this country have about the rest of the country. Yes Im talking about rural and regional Australia. This convoy is not about a bunch of whingers who want to disrupt your morning drive to pick up your latte on the way to work. This is about true Australians, the truck drivers, the cattle station workers, the guys and girls that work in the mining industry, the average Austalian, like myself who have had enough of being “LIED” to by the current federal government who “WAS NOT” voted in by the Australian people but put in place by the back room bartering of the greens and independents. This Convoy is a way of expressing the thoughts of thousands of rural and regional Australians who have been deliberately lied to by the Government of this country. Oh and before the jokes about the RM Williams boots, country bumpkins etc etc start, no I dont work as a truckie, cattleman or in any rural industry. I am a self educated hard working Australian, who got off his ass, put himself through university to obtain his diploma, started his own business 20 years ago (which is still operating today) father of three well mannered educated children. I am also a tax paying Australian citizen who feels betrayed and lied to by this current federal government and this is my way of expressing my “Vote of No confidence in the Government”

EvanJames said :

Apparently, the convoy was originally the idea of the National Road Freight Association.

Hahaha! Funny, I had a suspicion that it was really a bunch of truck drivers freaked out by the way-off plan to get some more rail working in Aus! 🙂 Maybe it is! Hahaha!

I’m looking forward to seeing all the R M Williams fashion and hearing stories about their sisters.

Most of these responses are sounding like they’re by middle-class wankers and nimbys. Think of it as a circus rumbling into town. I’m taking Monday off work to wander around, take photos, and take in the atmosphere. I reckon there will be interesting people with good stories to tell.

The_Bulldog said :

So, riddle me this arse-clowns – if you’re not trying to target the people of Canberra (rather than the sh!t-stains YOU keep sending us every three years), why pick this time and this method to have your “protest”?

This.

There are only two possibilities:

* they’re lying and, for some unaccountable reason, want to piss off ordinary Australians like themselves without having any effect on the assclowns they’ve elected; or

* they’re idiots who think that everyone in Canberra is a politician.

I’d say that second thing.

amarooresident35:41 pm 15 Aug 11

EvanJames said :

KB1971 said :

I mentione this to a mate of mine who drives interstate BDoubles & his answer was “What Convoy????”

He’ll soon know about it, it’s on the front page of The Australian today. Complete with a cartoon likening the convoy to the US Tea Party, which is refreshing to see.

Apparently, the convoy was originally the idea of the National Road Freight Association.

The President of the National Road Freight Association, Mick Pattel was (until the beginning of August) the Liberal National Party candidate for the state seat of Mt Isa.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-03/mount-isa-lnp-candidate-quits/2822154

Which sort of puts Mr Pattel comment “We want a government that has a clear mandate to govern without the influences of minor parties and individuals that are controlling the economy of this country” into a little bit of perspective.

Gungahlin Al5:40 pm 15 Aug 11

The_Bulldog said :

So, riddle me this arse-clowns – if you’re not trying to target the people of Canberra (rather than the sh!t-stains YOU keep sending us every three years), why pick this time and this method to have your “protest”?

Gold!

Before I read Blue Heelers pearls of wisdom I had read the Just Grounds forum. They misinterpret that fact that we, the residents of Canberra, are upset because of their political views, “social standing” or origins – despite the fact they’re more than happy to target the residents of Canberra for a bit of face-time on Today Tonight. I don’t think their hicks, red-necks or nutters – I think they’re run-of-the-mill rabble and scum-bags.

Are they rabble and scum-bags because of their policitcal views, their jobs, “social standing” or origins? No way – we’re all good Aussies and entitled to views on our democratic process. I’m calling them rabble and scum-bags because they’re prepared to piss on fellow “Asutralians” to make a point, when they could just as easily find an alternative that targets the people responsible for their gripe.

So, riddle me this arse-clowns – if you’re not trying to target the people of Canberra (rather than the sh!t-stains YOU keep sending us every three years), why pick this time and this method to have your “protest”?

KB1971 said :

I mentione this to a mate of mine who drives interstate BDoubles & his answer was “What Convoy????”

He’ll soon know about it, it’s on the front page of The Australian today. Complete with a cartoon likening the convoy to the US Tea Party, which is refreshing to see. Apparently, the convoy was originally the idea of the National Road Freight Association.

I mentione this to a mate of mine who drives interstate BDoubles & his answer was “What Convoy????”

Gungahlin Al1:08 pm 15 Aug 11

FFS people, we’ve put up with the GDE for years.

A few trucks really aren’t going to make any difference.

LOL! Good one Thumper.

Skyring said :

The residents are “collateral damage” in the planned protest. My advice is not to get stressed over it, but make the most of the opportunity. Stay home and post one-liners to the RiotACT. Or run a sausage sizzle stall in Fed Mall.

I’m not stressed, I’m annoyed.

The last idea appeals to me… get those e.coli burgers going, and I’m off to pre-book all the porta-potties in town for Monday 22 August… $20 a pop to use one.

EvanJames said :

How many people here have actually encountered a federal politician, in the flesh, in Canberra?

Quite often. Bob Brown is one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met, and Anthony Albanese is on my sh*itlist.

The aim of the convoy is to send a message to Canberra, and by that they mean the government. Apart from that, the story will be frontpage news across Australia, with colourful images and language irresistible to a journo’s heart.

The residents are “collateral damage” in the planned protest. My advice is not to get stressed over it, but make the most of the opportunity. Stay home and post one-liners to the RiotACT. Or run a sausage sizzle stall in Fed Mall.

Disinformation said :

Any fool can see that this innocent arrival of big rigs is coming in on all major entrances at precisely the right time to jam the place to a standstill.

One uncertain tourist in a rental minivan can slow local traffic to a crawl for ten minutes. A couple of hundred big trucks, (which are so optimised for cross city transit) will comprehensively lock up the city. I mean, Canberra is designed for truck parking. I see their designated parking places everywhere… Canberra will easily be able to accomodate them with no effort at all.

If the effect of a couple of thousand vehicles turning up full of people unfamiliar with Canberra, before peak hour, have trouble negotiating corners and finding nowhere to park can be successfully portrayed as an innocent byproduct of a passive protest, everyone is a whole lot stupider than I thought.

Spot on. The aim is to make this a bigger story than would otherwise be the case. It will be full of colour, drama and human interest.

The worst case will be massive traffic congestion, and if you’re a young public service mum trying to get the kids to school or daycare before finding a park in the Parliamentary Triangle, you’re going to have a thin time of it, facing competition from beefy blokes in dusty diesels.

Arguing politics with these chaps won’t make your day any easier. I suggest attaching an Australian flag to your aerial and smiling a lot will open up a few gaps.

At least the roadworks situation has eased a bit, unless the council has selected next Monday as a good time to dig up Northbourne Avenue for a new bike lane or something.

Disinformation11:39 am 15 Aug 11

I love how the organising webpage portrays this arrival of trucks and sundry as a protest, yet other mouthpieces are quoted as intentional gridlock. Why don’t they just put in print what their obvious objective is?
Any fool can see that this innocent arrival of big rigs is coming in on all major entrances at precisely the right time to jam the place to a standstill.

One uncertain tourist in a rental minivan can slow local traffic to a crawl for ten minutes. A couple of hundred big trucks, (which are so optimised for cross city transit) will comprehensively lock up the city. I mean, Canberra is designed for truck parking. I see their designated parking places everywhere… Canberra will easily be able to accomodate them with no effort at all.

If the effect of a couple of thousand vehicles turning up full of people unfamiliar with Canberra, before peak hour, have trouble negotiating corners and finding nowhere to park can be successfully portrayed as an innocent byproduct of a passive protest, everyone is a whole lot stupider than I thought. I wasn’t being optimistic to start with either.

The truckies will piss off the vast majority of people who have no way of making a difference and are just as upset about the political situation as the average Australian.

I’m sure that the people trying to drop their kids at school before getting to work will be sympathetic.

You can see why politicians use spin, it clearly works. This mob are all spending Sunday night in towns outside of Canberra, so they can time their arrival in the city to co-incide with Monday morning rush “hour” (which gets longer every month, and starts earlier and ends later). They could have arrived at various times on Sunday, and assembled for their rally on Monday.

but they spin it so that this essential part of their event is downplayed, and credulous folk buy it hook line and sinker.

Fact is, they see Canberra and the people who live and work here as the enemy. They make no distinction between the political purpose of Canberra and the political people who do what they do, and the other people who live here and work here, or live outside Canberra and work here. They don’t care about details like that.

Bolt and Alan Jones and their ilk have stirred them into rage against a range of ills they don’t like… with a selection of ills they can pick and choose from, for which Canberra is held responsible.

Perish the thought that they analyse where most politicians come from, and who they represent. That would be pretty unpalatable, I imagine.

How many people here have actually encountered a federal politician, in the flesh, in Canberra?

poetix said :

Seriously though, the web-site mentioned in the article is well worth a read, to get a feeling for those who feel themselves to be hurt in some way by the government. There is so much anger out there. And so little punctuation.

You forgot to mention ignorance.

Seriously though, the web-site mentioned in the article is well worth a read, to get a feeling for those who feel themselves to be hurt in some way by the government. There is so much anger out there. And so little punctuation.

Gungahlin Al9:23 am 15 Aug 11

Jethro said :

Gungahlin Al said :

BTW: I’ll be the one on the bicycle riding straight past, hindered not one jot and probably flipping you the bird.

Mr Al, I laud your sentiments. Perhaps I can convince you to flash a moon and not simply flip a bird?

Ha! Bit hard to get the tights down in a hurry Jethro.

Gungahlin Al said :

BTW: I’ll be the one on the bicycle riding straight past, hindered not one jot and probably flipping you the bird.

Mr Al, I laud your sentiments. Perhaps I can convince you to flash a moon and not simply flip a bird?

Holden Caulfield said :

Jethro said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Jethro said :

I checked out their site. I never knew that Bob Brown wanted to start a world government. Thankfully I have been informed of this outrageous proposition.

Correction Jethro, I think you’ll find you were imformed.

/me is perplexed

Re-read post #97 and then note my emphasis in post #103. 😉

/me is amused

Postalgeek for PM. That was magnificent.

Gungahlin Al7:28 pm 14 Aug 11

blueheeler said :

For all the detractors (different word to tractor) of this “Convoy of no Confindence” on here there are a few points to clear up.
1) These people of Australia are not rednecks, nutters, truckies or any other derogatory term that you want to use. They are citizens of Asutralia.
2) This NOT a blockade of Canberra and in fact the convoy will be doing one round the “The Circle” and then PARKING THEIR VEHICLES in pre arranged parking areas and then attending the protest rally at parliment house.
3) These convoys have been well organized, are being coordinated with both state police and AFP and all travel times are in accordance with the trucking industry log book regulations. The people organizing this convoy are not “tools”, nutters”, “country hicks” or “rednecks” and the reference to those types of names tells how ignorant people using those terms are.
4) If you ARE really concerned about what is going on and how it is organized and what the agenda etc. is then go to the Just Grounds website and READ the imformation and make imformed comment and not just “redneck” comments like you have been doing here.
5) One of the original negative commenters on here has since gone to the Just Grounds site, read the imformation, joined the group, identified themselves to the group, retracted their adverse comments previously posted here and will be joining the convoy in the Canberra area on the 22 nd Aug. Another two previous adverse commenters on here have since joined the just grounds group, have voted YES to the convoy petition and are also joining the convoy. IT ALWAYS PAYS TO MAKE IMFORMED DECISIONS.

What utterly “imformed” (sic) nonsense.

The timetable alone makes it blatently clear that they intend bringing vehicles in on every single significant route into Canberra. How could anyone believe for a second that isn’t intended to cause maximum disruption.

As Postalgeek said, Canberra is a city of *residents* not a congregation of politicians.

And to think that the so called “shock jocks” – legends in their own lunchboxes one and all that it seems you all spend far too much time listening to on your long drives and who incidentally won’t be losing a cent of heir outrageous incomes – have somehow convinced you that this major expenditure of fuel and effort by you all will make one zot of difference… It is laughable.

There will be no early election. There will be a carbon tax brought in. And the sky will not fall. Having seen the sky still in its usual spot, the general population will end up wondering what all the fuss was about. And then the polls will turn – whether by enough for the ALP to stay in office or not remains to be seen. It will depend a lot on whether TonyNoBot remains in the top spot pedalling his endless negativity or they put Turnbull back in, having realised that at least he can talk sense and come up with some actual policy ideas of his own. My personal opinion.

I trust you’ll quickly realise the folly of your efforts and get back to business before you default on the next repayments on your rigs.

BTW: I’ll be the one on the bicycle riding straight past, hindered not one jot and probably flipping you the bird.

Holden Caulfield7:19 pm 14 Aug 11

Jethro said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Jethro said :

I checked out their site. I never knew that Bob Brown wanted to start a world government. Thankfully I have been informed of this outrageous proposition.

Correction Jethro, I think you’ll find you were imformed.

/me is perplexed

Re-read post #97 and then note my emphasis in post #103. 😉

blueheeler said :

2) This NOT a blockade of Canberra and in fact the convoy will be doing one round the “The Circle” and then PARKING THEIR VEHICLES in pre arranged parking areas and then attending the protest rally at parliment house
….
4) If you ARE really concerned about what is going on and how it is organized and what the agenda etc. is then go to the Just Grounds website and READ the imformation and make imformed comment and not just “redneck” comments like you have been doing here….IT ALWAYS PAYS TO MAKE IMFORMED DECISIONS.

Well, either your head doesn’t know what your arse is saying or you’ve been misreported. Just to remind you, the Queensland Country Life paraphrased Mrs Ranacher, supposedly one of the lead speakers for the protest, as saying that :

…[she] backed plans by the convoy organisers to stage a sit-in in Canberra and to hold the city in gridlock until the Government, its supporters or the Governor-General agree to a new election.

You may say that statement is open to interpretation, but I’d say that the interpretations are few; the convoy wants to hold the daily lives of Canberrans, who have nothing to do with all the politicians sent by people like you to Canberra, to ransom until the convoy (a small percent of the Australian population) strongarms a negation of the result of a democratic process.

And you sit there scratching your arse wondering why there’s so much hostility, and accusing people of being ignorant and uninformed.

You either need to bang the heads of spokespeople for the convoy, bang heads of reporters at the Queensland Country Life, or accept that you didn’t think through your hyperbolic dribble.

I believe there are participants who have informed misgivings about government policy and seek to legitimately voice their concerns publicly. I believe there are also participants driven by prejudice who are regurgitating whatever conservative media has fed them and wouldn’t have a clue about the policies they are protesting and the limitations of minority government.

blueheeler said :

For all the detractors (different word to tractor) of this “Convoy of no Confindence” on here there are a few points to clear up.
1) These people of Australia are not rednecks, nutters, truckies or any other derogatory term that you want to use. They are citizens of Asutralia.

Don’t get too worked up. Town and country give as good as they receive, and snobs come in all shapes and sizes, and from all demographics. For every ‘hick’ there is a ‘chardonnay-sipping leftie yuppy’. All groups are equal when it comes to bigotry.

F***ing pricks. I say we start our own little blockade on the roads they will be taking to get here.

Holden Caulfield said :

Jethro said :

I checked out their site. I never knew that Bob Brown wanted to start a world government. Thankfully I have been informed of this outrageous proposition.

Correction Jethro, I think you’ll find you were imformed.

/me is perplexed

Jethro said :

I checked out their site. I never knew that Bob Brown wanted to start a world government. Thankfully I have been informed of this outrageous proposition.

I hope someone tells Bob Brown about this, too.

Holden Caulfield11:04 pm 13 Aug 11

Jethro said :

I checked out their site. I never knew that Bob Brown wanted to start a world government. Thankfully I have been informed of this outrageous proposition.

Correction Jethro, I think you’ll find you were imformed.

screaming banshee10:51 pm 13 Aug 11

Logbook my arse, if they didn’t want to cause disruption they would roll in at 10am and f-off by 2. I’d be very surprised if a few of the trucks don’t mysteriously break down, perhaps that action tow truck was a wise investment after all.

If these morons had any sense they would convoy over to their local member’s office and give them what for, marching in to the parliamentary triangle and stomping your feet like a 5 year old will get you nowhere

It’s good to know this isn’t actually intended as a blockade. However, they are bringing an unspecified large number of trucks to Parliament House, and it doesn’t sound like they intend to drive around the block and go home. Where do they plan to put all these trucks while they hold their rally? Whether intentional or not, this still sounds like it could cause havoc for people who work in the PT area, and some forewarning about what will actually happen would be appreciated.

^^ This. I know another reply says they will be going to park elsewhere and then attend the rally, but I can’t find any other info about this. Even getting however many trucks around PH and then onto the designated parking areas could clog things up pretty majorly. Anyways, I’ve noted it down as a definite day to commute on the pushie!!

blueheeler said :

For all the detractors (different word to tractor) of this “Convoy of no Confindence” on here there are a few points to clear up.
1) These people of Australia are not rednecks, nutters, truckies or any other derogatory term that you want to use. They are citizens of Asutralia.
2) This NOT a blockade of Canberra and in fact the convoy will be doing one round the “The Circle” and then PARKING THEIR VEHICLES in pre arranged parking areas and then attending the protest rally at parliment house.
3) These convoys have been well organized, are being coordinated with both state police and AFP and all travel times are in accordance with the trucking industry log book regulations. The people organizing this convoy are not “tools”, nutters”, “country hicks” or “rednecks” and the reference to those types of names tells how ignorant people using those terms are.
4) If you ARE really concerned about what is going on and how it is organized and what the agenda etc. is then go to the Just Grounds website and READ the imformation and make imformed comment and not just “redneck” comments like you have been doing here.
5) One of the original negative commenters on here has since gone to the Just Grounds site, read the imformation, joined the group, identified themselves to the group, retracted their adverse comments previously posted here and will be joining the convoy in the Canberra area on the 22 nd Aug. Another two previous adverse commenters on here have since joined the just grounds group, have voted YES to the convoy petition and are also joining the convoy. IT ALWAYS PAYS TO MAKE IMFORMED DECISIONS.

Name & shame I say, NAME & SHAME!!!!!!!!!!

I checked out their site. I never knew that Bob Brown wanted to start a world government. Thankfully I have been informed of this outrageous proposition.

blueheeler said :

1) These people of Australia are not rednecks, nutters, truckies or any other derogatory term that you want to use. They are citizens of Asutralia.

I have two points in response:

Truckies is not a derogatory term,
Some of the people who will be at the protest are undoubtably nutters, others are probably rednecks.

Is there a requirement for people to be citizens to join your group?

For all the detractors (different word to tractor) of this “Convoy of no Confindence” on here there are a few points to clear up.
1) These people of Australia are not rednecks, nutters, truckies or any other derogatory term that you want to use. They are citizens of Asutralia.
2) This NOT a blockade of Canberra and in fact the convoy will be doing one round the “The Circle” and then PARKING THEIR VEHICLES in pre arranged parking areas and then attending the protest rally at parliment house.
3) These convoys have been well organized, are being coordinated with both state police and AFP and all travel times are in accordance with the trucking industry log book regulations. The people organizing this convoy are not “tools”, nutters”, “country hicks” or “rednecks” and the reference to those types of names tells how ignorant people using those terms are.
4) If you ARE really concerned about what is going on and how it is organized and what the agenda etc. is then go to the Just Grounds website and READ the imformation and make imformed comment and not just “redneck” comments like you have been doing here.
5) One of the original negative commenters on here has since gone to the Just Grounds site, read the imformation, joined the group, identified themselves to the group, retracted their adverse comments previously posted here and will be joining the convoy in the Canberra area on the 22 nd Aug. Another two previous adverse commenters on here have since joined the just grounds group, have voted YES to the convoy petition and are also joining the convoy. IT ALWAYS PAYS TO MAKE IMFORMED DECISIONS.

It’s good to know this isn’t actually intended as a blockade. However, they are bringing an unspecified large number of trucks to Parliament House, and it doesn’t sound like they intend to drive around the block and go home. Where do they plan to put all these trucks while they hold their rally? Whether intentional or not, this still sounds like it could cause havoc for people who work in the PT area, and some forewarning about what will actually happen would be appreciated.

00davist said :

Having looked at the responses from them (See the link above) I don’t believe it will be as bad as we have been expecting, they are not coming as a “Blockade” they are coming as a convoy, and will not be here with the intent to block roads.

Yes, increased traffic volume will have an impact, but that side effect could be attributed to a number of protest forms, and considering they are not coming here to cause a traffic block, should they not be allowed to voice their opinions simply because they will increase traffic?

I know i have flipped on this issue, but there is a huge difference in coming here to block all major roads, and simply coming here to be heard. Considering the AFP & RTA involvement, I imagine this will cause only a minimal amount of disruption.

Everyone has the right to be heard if they are upset, even if you don’t hold the same opinion Evan.

They have timed their arrival to cause the maximum disruption to the residents of this city. I’m sure they’re lovely people, salt of the earth, real Aussies etc etc etc but to try and argue that they are aiming to do anything but cause disruption is disingenuous.

Everyone seems very concerned about their “right to be heard”… I’m sure they’d give equal consideration to anyone wanting to voice their concerns to them, right? Uhhh, no. They’d be shouted down.

Rather than coming to Canberra to be at Parliament House for a rally at a certain time, the big event for them is their convoy of vehicles, which they are carefully timing to cause the maximum disruption to the workers in this town, and especially the workers who travel into this town every day.

and by the way, how about trimming your posts a bit? Your massive over-quoting is getting tiresome.

00davist said :

Northwest9 said :

oh the outrage. how dare these truckies disrupt my drive to work in their vein and attempt to highlight how many of them will be put out of business with another cost lumped on an already stretched thin industry

HOW DARE THEY PROTEST SOMETHING I DON’T AGREE WITH

hahaha, either way, i dont really care, but i would absolutely love to see the outrage on this site if the government decided to tax bicycle tyres or free trade coffee.

They have a right to protest, What i cant understand is, how in the name of hell will stuffing up everyday canberrans run to work make a difference, FFS: I have no controll over this issue what so ever.

As for the C.Tax itself, God, I really don’t know what to think of it any more, BOTH sides of the debate are spouting that much nonsense, propaganda, fear mongering and Bulls**t, that i can see straight!

Hi Northwest, Looks like my concerns about them coming here with the sole intent of barricading our major roads are unfounded, so yes, they have full right to bring their convoy in to protest.

I think, as you are getting at, that we most likely wont end up dying from the effects associated simply with the increased traffic, It may be a little slower, but it will indeed be moving, guess I’ll just make sure to bring an extra CD to keep me occupied.

EvanJames said :

peterepete said :

Well i reckon a few big rigs in town should be fun.

seems like it’s not just truckies, it’s all and any kinds of disgruntled folk who want to come to Canberra and tell us a thing or two. This convo on a weather forum:
http://forum.weatherzone.com.au/ubbthreads.php/topics/1005776/Re_Convoy_of_NO_Confidence#Post1005776
Seems they’ll be coming in cars too.

I think it will cause some real traffic issues, especially for the poor buggers on the Barton and Federal highways… Majura Rd and Northbourne will be a mess.

And yeah, their protest isn’t some ideological one, they are complaining about loss of various benefits and the impost of taxes or limitations that they don’t like.

Having looked at the responses from them (See the link above) I don’t believe it will be as bad as we have been expecting, they are not coming as a “Blockade” they are coming as a convoy, and will not be here with the intent to block roads.

Yes, increased traffic volume will have an impact, but that side effect could be attributed to a number of protest forms, and considering they are not coming here to cause a traffic block, should they not be allowed to voice their opinions simply because they will increase traffic?

I know i have flipped on this issue, but there is a huge difference in coming here to block all major roads, and simply coming here to be heard. Considering the AFP & RTA involvement, I imagine this will cause only a minimal amount of disruption.

Everyone has the right to be heard if they are upset, even if you don’t hold the same opinion Evan.

Golden-Alpine said :

I personally think everyone is worried about nothing, there may be a little disruption but nothing to get this worked up about.

The Plods are worried too.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/anticarbon-protesters-set-to-unleash-traffic-chaos/2257420.aspx

and why the hell would they be arriving at that time on a Monday morning if they didn’t plan to cause disruption? Come on, get real.

The silly nongs think that they’ll be disrupting the politicians… canberra’s morning traffic is clogged with politicians, in their weird view.

Reckon those concrete barriers wouldn’t be a bad idea, we could do some clogging of our own.

Golden-Alpine12:09 pm 13 Aug 11

I personally think everyone is worried about nothing, there may be a little disruption but nothing to get this worked up about. Most people have more than one route to get to work.

To the truckies involved, will Optimus Prime be taking the lead?

peterepete said :

Well i reckon a few big rigs in town should be fun.

seems like it’s not just truckies, it’s all and any kinds of disgruntled folk who want to come to Canberra and tell us a thing or two. This convo on a weather forum:
http://forum.weatherzone.com.au/ubbthreads.php/topics/1005776/Re_Convoy_of_NO_Confidence#Post1005776
Seems they’ll be coming in cars too.

I think it will cause some real traffic issues, especially for the poor buggers on the Barton and Federal highways… Majura Rd and Northbourne will be a mess.

And yeah, their protest isn’t some ideological one, they are complaining about loss of various benefits and the impost of taxes or limitations that they don’t like.

Well I suspect carbon tax will be the least of everyone’s problems in a few years time. Until I see electric B doubles, I’m going to stick with my plan to grow as much of my own food as I can.

Well i reckon a few big rigs in town should be fun. Must remember to go show the kids and listen to the rumble. This is an opportunity people. I wonder why people thing canberrans are kill-joys?

The cat did it11:06 pm 12 Aug 11

IIRC, it’s not the impost of a great big new tax that they’re on about- what they’re complaining about is the withdrawal of a concession on the rate of excise on diesel fuel, ie the loss of a subsidy. John Howard, a great one for giving away tax revenue to special interest groups, introduced this gem in 2001 or so, as a sop to the mining companies and the trucking industry. They’re objecting to having to pay the same excise rate as the rest of us diesel users.
Of course, the likes of Twiggy Forrest and other silvertail mining magnates would NEVER be behind such an exercise. No doubt 4 Corners is already following the money to prove this is so.

Disinformation said :

It appears that the truckies have read this entire thread.
Some have experienced a sense of humour failure about Tharwa commuters and concrete barriers mentioned here.

http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/important-convoy-information?xg_source=activity

Just had a look… So Solidarity was not the only one who missed the joke!

As for the Blockade comments,

1) I notice it’s just RA under attack there, I think someone should let them in on the fact that the email in the original post, has been flying all over Canberra like wild fire.

I for one had read the email before it was up here, as had the person who sent it to me and so on.

2) While i understand they may find it upsetting that there intentions have been mis-judged, and that a number of people did not fully sift through everything, but just knee-jerked to the original email (Myself included) I would have thought a few more of them might understand how you can get a bit ahead of yourself when you believe someone is about to block your drive. I assume at least some of them know how frustrating roadblocks of any kind can be.

3) I am very glad, and relieved to read that there is not any blockade of any form planned, just the convoy. I have absolutely no issue with them protesting, I don’t necessarily hold their exact views (I don’t necessarily disagree) but they have as much right as anyone to protest, and seeing as they have now clears up the inconvenience issue, I withdraw any objections.

Naturally there will probably still be some traffic disruption, but that will be much less than assumed, and, is a side effect of having such a large group, as opposed to the direct aim.

However, while i retract my objection, My comments regarding moving a good number of tonnes of cement barricades with my box trailer and Honda Civic, then using said stolen goods to create a 10km road block, while utilising nearby sculptures, that miraculously come to life to help me by holding things up to stop trucks, while the police decide they don’t care about any of this, i will not retract.

Anyone who can’t workout that’s a joke, you really need to try harder next time.

Oh, as for the truckie who wants to ‘Offer me the keys’ for a giggle… I might just surprise him, I don’t just own a Civic you know!

Disinformation said :

It appears that the truckies have read this entire thread. Some have experienced a sense of humour failure

Funny that. One is going to push someone’s Prius off the road with his Mack, apparently. Seems they don’t like reading the thoughts of “real” Canberra people. Maybe they thought we’d be peering nervously out of our windows as they rode through town.

And none of them seems to be a great fan of trains.

Disinformation said :

It appears that the truckies have read this entire thread.
Some have experienced a sense of humour failure about Tharwa commuters and concrete barriers mentioned here.

http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/important-convoy-information?xg_source=activity

Just followed that link.

The horror….the horror…

Solidarity said :

00davist said :

Classified said :

00davist said :

ConanOfCooma said :

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

Although i do understand the point made about needing to attract more attention than a letter, As a fellow commuter (Out past braidwood) I share your concerns.

I am thiniking i might ‘borrow’ some roadwork signs, and divert coastbound traffic (smaller flow) through tarago,and then back onto the kings, therefore compleatly freeing up the eastbound lane to overtake truck for the commuters.

If you got ahead with some cones and detour signs the night before, you could divert the cooma bound morning traffic at least through tharwa, and out at williamsdale, and free up the southbound lane from williamsdale to theodore, so that commuters could get around the trucks, all you need to do then is have a few people vouteer to help slow them down.

It looks likt they may not be bothering with the monaro past theodore (they have drakeford listed) so after that you may well be fine.

I like the think the ballsier approach would be to divert the convoy itself along Olf Bobeyan Road.

That could work…

I was starting to think that once you clear up the south bound lane, ‘borrow’ a bunch of cement dividers, and seperate the two lanes for about 10k, making sure, where you first fork them, only one is accessable to trucks (Maybe get that robo-man sculpture to hold onto a rod for you, one thats just too low for trucks, but high enough for cars) then you create two northbound lanes, one for trucks, one for cars.

Put a cement road block at the end of the one for trucks.

Sit back.

Laugh.

So you’ve just pissed off a bunch of truckies, who are on the road almost 24/7 and have your rego… not only that, but the rest of the convoys roll in smoothly.

Smart.

…You didn’t realise that was tongue in cheek when I got to the theft of a good couple of tonnes of Cement road blocks (On my car trailer too!) and used them to divert traffic over a full 10Km of Highway (That’s an awful lot of cement dividers for my little Honda!)?

…Congrats!

Disinformation9:59 pm 12 Aug 11

It appears that the truckies have read this entire thread.
Some have experienced a sense of humour failure about Tharwa commuters and concrete barriers mentioned here.

http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/important-convoy-information?xg_source=activity

Solidarity said :

00davist said :

Classified said :

00davist said :

ConanOfCooma said :

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

Although i do understand the point made about needing to attract more attention than a letter, As a fellow commuter (Out past braidwood) I share your concerns.

I am thiniking i might ‘borrow’ some roadwork signs, and divert coastbound traffic (smaller flow) through tarago,and then back onto the kings, therefore compleatly freeing up the eastbound lane to overtake truck for the commuters.

If you got ahead with some cones and detour signs the night before, you could divert the cooma bound morning traffic at least through tharwa, and out at williamsdale, and free up the southbound lane from williamsdale to theodore, so that commuters could get around the trucks, all you need to do then is have a few people vouteer to help slow them down.

It looks likt they may not be bothering with the monaro past theodore (they have drakeford listed) so after that you may well be fine.

I like the think the ballsier approach would be to divert the convoy itself along Olf Bobeyan Road.

That could work…

I was starting to think that once you clear up the south bound lane, ‘borrow’ a bunch of cement dividers, and seperate the two lanes for about 10k, making sure, where you first fork them, only one is accessable to trucks (Maybe get that robo-man sculpture to hold onto a rod for you, one thats just too low for trucks, but high enough for cars) then you create two northbound lanes, one for trucks, one for cars.

Put a cement road block at the end of the one for trucks.

Sit back.

Laugh.

So you’ve just pissed off a bunch of truckies, who are on the road almost 24/7 and have your rego… not only that, but the rest of the convoys roll in smoothly.

Smart.

…You didn’t realise that was tongue in cheek when I got to the theft of a good couple of tonnes of Cement road blocks (On my car trailer too!) and used them to divert traffic over a huge number of highway kilometers?

…Congrats!

Solidarity said :

00davist said :

Classified said :

00davist said :

ConanOfCooma said :

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

Although i do understand the point made about needing to attract more attention than a letter, As a fellow commuter (Out past braidwood) I share your concerns.

I am thiniking i might ‘borrow’ some roadwork signs, and divert coastbound traffic (smaller flow) through tarago,and then back onto the kings, therefore compleatly freeing up the eastbound lane to overtake truck for the commuters.

If you got ahead with some cones and detour signs the night before, you could divert the cooma bound morning traffic at least through tharwa, and out at williamsdale, and free up the southbound lane from williamsdale to theodore, so that commuters could get around the trucks, all you need to do then is have a few people vouteer to help slow them down.

It looks likt they may not be bothering with the monaro past theodore (they have drakeford listed) so after that you may well be fine.

I like the think the ballsier approach would be to divert the convoy itself along Olf Bobeyan Road.

That could work…

I was starting to think that once you clear up the south bound lane, ‘borrow’ a bunch of cement dividers, and seperate the two lanes for about 10k, making sure, where you first fork them, only one is accessable to trucks (Maybe get that robo-man sculpture to hold onto a rod for you, one thats just too low for trucks, but high enough for cars) then you create two northbound lanes, one for trucks, one for cars.

Put a cement road block at the end of the one for trucks.

Sit back.

Laugh.

So you’ve just pissed off a bunch of truckies, who are on the road almost 24/7 and have your rego… not only that, but the rest of the convoys roll in smoothly.

Smart.

…And you didn’t realise this was a tongue in cheek comment when it came to stealing a few tonnes of road diversion equipment?

…OK!

00davist said :

Classified said :

00davist said :

ConanOfCooma said :

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

Although i do understand the point made about needing to attract more attention than a letter, As a fellow commuter (Out past braidwood) I share your concerns.

I am thiniking i might ‘borrow’ some roadwork signs, and divert coastbound traffic (smaller flow) through tarago,and then back onto the kings, therefore compleatly freeing up the eastbound lane to overtake truck for the commuters.

If you got ahead with some cones and detour signs the night before, you could divert the cooma bound morning traffic at least through tharwa, and out at williamsdale, and free up the southbound lane from williamsdale to theodore, so that commuters could get around the trucks, all you need to do then is have a few people vouteer to help slow them down.

It looks likt they may not be bothering with the monaro past theodore (they have drakeford listed) so after that you may well be fine.

I like the think the ballsier approach would be to divert the convoy itself along Olf Bobeyan Road.

That could work…

I was starting to think that once you clear up the south bound lane, ‘borrow’ a bunch of cement dividers, and seperate the two lanes for about 10k, making sure, where you first fork them, only one is accessable to trucks (Maybe get that robo-man sculpture to hold onto a rod for you, one thats just too low for trucks, but high enough for cars) then you create two northbound lanes, one for trucks, one for cars.

Put a cement road block at the end of the one for trucks.

Sit back.

Laugh.

So you’ve just pissed off a bunch of truckies, who are on the road almost 24/7 and have your rego… not only that, but the rest of the convoys roll in smoothly.

Smart.

John Moulis said :

Classified said :

00davist said :

ConanOfCooma said :

I like the think the ballsier approach would be to divert the convoy itself along Olf Bobeyan Road.

It’s actually spelt Boboyan despite being pronounced Bobeyan. Same with Yarrangobilly which is pronounced Yeronga-billy. Yaouk is pronounced Yiak. I could go on. Come to think about it, why is Manuka pronounced Marnicka when the honey and the town in NZ is pronounced Manooka, as it is spelt. Petrie, Peetrie, etc etc

My 2 favourites are the Australian takes on Kosciusko (I believe traditionally Kor-Shs-Kio, or something similar)

And one of the names that sits a bit further back in my own family tree, Champness (French, Pronounced a little more like Shom-Ney) which even my family pronounced Champ Ness!

Classified said :

00davist said :

ConanOfCooma said :

I like the think the ballsier approach would be to divert the convoy itself along Olf Bobeyan Road.

It’s actually spelt Boboyan despite being pronounced Bobeyan. Same with Yarrangobilly which is pronounced Yeronga-billy. Yaouk is pronounced Yiak. I could go on. Come to think about it, why is Manuka pronounced Marnicka when the honey and the town in NZ is pronounced Manooka, as it is spelt. Petrie, Peetrie, etc etc

colourful sydney racing identity3:54 pm 12 Aug 11

johnboy said :

a protest with the stated aim of shutting down the economy of this city to achieve a coup.

That people can think like this, over such a trivial issue, really, really scares me.

00davist said :

Classified said :

00davist said :

ConanOfCooma said :

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

Although i do understand the point made about needing to attract more attention than a letter, As a fellow commuter (Out past braidwood) I share your concerns.

I am thiniking i might ‘borrow’ some roadwork signs, and divert coastbound traffic (smaller flow) through tarago,and then back onto the kings, therefore compleatly freeing up the eastbound lane to overtake truck for the commuters.

If you got ahead with some cones and detour signs the night before, you could divert the cooma bound morning traffic at least through tharwa, and out at williamsdale, and free up the southbound lane from williamsdale to theodore, so that commuters could get around the trucks, all you need to do then is have a few people vouteer to help slow them down.

It looks likt they may not be bothering with the monaro past theodore (they have drakeford listed) so after that you may well be fine.

I like the think the ballsier approach would be to divert the convoy itself along Olf Bobeyan Road.

That could work…

I was starting to think that once you clear up the south bound lane, ‘borrow’ a bunch of cement dividers, and seperate the two lanes for about 10k, making sure, where you first fork them, only one is accessable to trucks (Maybe get that robo-man sculpture to hold onto a rod for you, one thats just too low for trucks, but high enough for cars) then you create two northbound lanes, one for trucks, one for cars.

Put a cement road block at the end of the one for trucks.

Sit back.

Laugh.

LMAO!

Hey – any chance we could use that concrete lane barrier on the Monaro Hwy where that truck got stuck doing the lane change the other day? Now THAT would be funny.

Classified said :

00davist said :

ConanOfCooma said :

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

Although i do understand the point made about needing to attract more attention than a letter, As a fellow commuter (Out past braidwood) I share your concerns.

I am thiniking i might ‘borrow’ some roadwork signs, and divert coastbound traffic (smaller flow) through tarago,and then back onto the kings, therefore compleatly freeing up the eastbound lane to overtake truck for the commuters.

If you got ahead with some cones and detour signs the night before, you could divert the cooma bound morning traffic at least through tharwa, and out at williamsdale, and free up the southbound lane from williamsdale to theodore, so that commuters could get around the trucks, all you need to do then is have a few people vouteer to help slow them down.

It looks likt they may not be bothering with the monaro past theodore (they have drakeford listed) so after that you may well be fine.

I like the think the ballsier approach would be to divert the convoy itself along Olf Bobeyan Road.

That could work…

I was starting to think that once you clear up the south bound lane, ‘borrow’ a bunch of cement dividers, and seperate the two lanes for about 10k, making sure, where you first fork them, only one is accessable to trucks (Maybe get that robo-man sculpture to hold onto a rod for you, one thats just too low for trucks, but high enough for cars) then you create two northbound lanes, one for trucks, one for cars.

Put a cement road block at the end of the one for trucks.

Sit back.

Laugh.

00davist said :

ConanOfCooma said :

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

Although i do understand the point made about needing to attract more attention than a letter, As a fellow commuter (Out past braidwood) I share your concerns.

I am thiniking i might ‘borrow’ some roadwork signs, and divert coastbound traffic (smaller flow) through tarago,and then back onto the kings, therefore compleatly freeing up the eastbound lane to overtake truck for the commuters.

If you got ahead with some cones and detour signs the night before, you could divert the cooma bound morning traffic at least through tharwa, and out at williamsdale, and free up the southbound lane from williamsdale to theodore, so that commuters could get around the trucks, all you need to do then is have a few people vouteer to help slow them down.

It looks likt they may not be bothering with the monaro past theodore (they have drakeford listed) so after that you may well be fine.

I like the think the ballsier approach would be to divert the convoy itself along Olf Bobeyan Road.

ConanOfCooma said :

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

Although i do understand the point made about needing to attract more attention than a letter, As a fellow commuter (Out past braidwood) I share your concerns.

I am thiniking i might ‘borrow’ some roadwork signs, and divert coastbound traffic (smaller flow) through tarago,and then back onto the kings, therefore compleatly freeing up the eastbound lane to overtake truck for the commuters.

If you got ahead with some cones and detour signs the night before, you could divert the cooma bound morning traffic at least through tharwa, and out at williamsdale, and free up the southbound lane from williamsdale to theodore, so that commuters could get around the trucks, all you need to do then is have a few people vouteer to help slow them down.

It looks likt they may not be bothering with the monaro past theodore (they have drakeford listed) so after that you may well be fine.

ConanOfCooma said :

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

This is all kinds of awesome. Pics when it happens, please.

Had the govt said ‘we are raising the GST by 2%’ and then also increased grants for alternative energy, people would have grumbled and said ‘govt spending out of control’ but probably just gone ‘oh well, taxes up, thats what happens’. eg will the criticism of the carbon tax be outweighed by the complaints about the (proposed) levy for a national disability insurance scheme? I doubt it.

So really the arguments against it cannot be classified as against a tax per se or against the govt raising additional amounts of money, but are really arguments against why the tax is being imposed.

At worst, surely the outcome is that alternative (renewable) energy sources will get a boost. Even if you dont agree with carbon affecting the environment, or dont believe Australia’s carbon tax will have any impact on the global environment, this doesnt seem to be too bad an outcome. People point to the investments in alternative energy in countries like Germany, failing to appreciate that this is just a tax and spend mechanism (people must pay the tax); the carbon tax is a price mechanism (people can opt out or in by making their own choices)

I guess putting it another way: would you see truck blockades from a mere tax increase (GST up to 12%!). I doubt it. So economic claims are not the reason for the opposition.

ConanOfCooma2:38 pm 12 Aug 11

Ah, they leave Cooma just as I do. Fear not, Cooma commuters, I shall make it my mission to get to the front of the convoy, and I will slow them down to 20ks an hour, so you can all overtake with a minimum of fuss.

Yes, Mr.Truck Drivers, I shall be going slower than you. Don’t try overtake now, that just means I will have to speed up until that next hill you can’t climb.

Fair enough if you protested against the people causing you shit, but as a commuter, if you wanna f*** with my drive more than YOU ALREADY DO, then this is war.

Northwest9 said :

00davist said :

With your first point, I guess you are right, I just wish there was a way they could effectively target the right people, and leave the rest of us out of it, however, when you look at the goings on in other countries (Try England) i guess we have it pretty good when it comes to people with grievances disturbing our ways, I would much rather they make me a little late to work, than burn my car!

With your second point, that’s your opinion on the issue, my problem is, for everyone who is so strongly against it, there is another equally for it.

I know this is exaggeration, but it feels like I have one mob telling me it will save the earth, cure cancer, and replace Ivan Milat with fluffy bunnies…

Plus rainbows!

and the other mob telling me the moment it comes in, 95% of the population will suffer a simultaneous heart attack AND DIE, while the rest have to live on in ruins, dodging chunks off falling sky… Plus Rainbows, Black Rainbows!

When you have such amazing hype on each side, it’s hard to take anyone for real (Not a shot at you mate, just the overall hit of it, in my opinion!)

I guess I feel it wont be in either way, all it is cracked up to be, It wont save the earth, and it wont desiccate our economy, it will just do a little bit to make us a touch cleaner, and tighten a few wallets.

IE: Vaguely Effective, Mostly Harmless!

i dont think it will have any effect on the environment, not until china and india follow suit. its kinda like saying if i dont fart while working in a sewage plant, ill fix the smell….

but at the end of the day, its just another tax im not going to be able to do anything about, so there isnt much point in me getting all upset about it.

infact the best thing about the carbon tax is it appears to be turning the population against juliar and her merry band of green controlled muppets, and opening peoples eyes up to how dangerously out of touch with economic management the greens are

I cas see what you are getting at there, and yes, I beleive we are past turnback with this govt. and the c.tax, so I gues now become where we get to find out what the outcome will be.

My concern with the no-confidence in the Govt. is the current opposition, I cant see how they will be any better what so ever, Let’s face it, Abott tried to woo the Independants with “I will do ANYTHING you want” so in reality, if they had gone with him, alot of what he is up in arms about, he would instead be doing.

I strongly beleive there is also no confidence left in the Coalition, and that Tony is a major part of that, there seems to be a large number of people who would prefer the Co. but despise Tony (See polls leading too and comming out of the last election, labor down, lib up, BUT, Juliar up, Tony down, whitch i read to mean “We want the party, but not ist’s leader)

I honestly dont know anymore if this govt will hold out to the next scheduled election, or if all the pressure will force an early one, I just hope they can hold out long enough to see us a change in opposition leader, whitch I also beleive would be a huge help to the opposition if there were to be an early election.

They’ll be pushing around 40 conservative topics apparently, presumably including pro-Christian conservative items like being agin’ gay marriage. Their spokeswoman in an interview today was stressing that the Greens/Gillard marriage of convenience bringing about the live export ban is one of their prime, er, beefs. I’ll be interested to see whether the motley leftie brigade who protested against the Christian firebrand fruitloops on Mt Ainslie a couple of times will have the courage to stand up and face off against a few thousand rural diehards on topics that actually matter. I reckon we moderate Canberrans may chicken out of this one.

Northwest9 said :

lets see shall we, owner operator increases cost, passes onto customer.

LinFox and finemores, with their fleet of trucks and contracts and accounting teams, holdout, can provide service for short period of time, while small bloke cannot, customer takes business to big guys, cause cash is king right?

small bloke goes out of business.

finemores and linfox then pass on cost to customer.

So how is that different from any other day of the week?

So they have no confidence with the current government – whoop de doo Basil – who does!!!

Most of the the protesting truckies probably voted for the current labor parties in power, so who is to blame for the current state of embarassment this country has???

00davist said :

With your first point, I guess you are right, I just wish there was a way they could effectively target the right people, and leave the rest of us out of it, however, when you look at the goings on in other countries (Try England) i guess we have it pretty good when it comes to people with grievances disturbing our ways, I would much rather they make me a little late to work, than burn my car!

With your second point, that’s your opinion on the issue, my problem is, for everyone who is so strongly against it, there is another equally for it.

I know this is exaggeration, but it feels like I have one mob telling me it will save the earth, cure cancer, and replace Ivan Milat with fluffy bunnies…

Plus rainbows!

and the other mob telling me the moment it comes in, 95% of the population will suffer a simultaneous heart attack AND DIE, while the rest have to live on in ruins, dodging chunks off falling sky… Plus Rainbows, Black Rainbows!

When you have such amazing hype on each side, it’s hard to take anyone for real (Not a shot at you mate, just the overall hit of it, in my opinion!)

I guess I feel it wont be in either way, all it is cracked up to be, It wont save the earth, and it wont desiccate our economy, it will just do a little bit to make us a touch cleaner, and tighten a few wallets.

IE: Vaguely Effective, Mostly Harmless!

i dont think it will have any effect on the environment, not until china and india follow suit. its kinda like saying if i dont fart while working in a sewage plant, ill fix the smell….

but at the end of the day, its just another tax im not going to be able to do anything about, so there isnt much point in me getting all upset about it.

infact the best thing about the carbon tax is it appears to be turning the population against juliar and her merry band of green controlled muppets, and opening peoples eyes up to how dangerously out of touch with economic management the greens are

Northwest9 said :

the rail system should never have been allowed to fall into disarray.

My oath. It’s a bloody shame how they built roads across tracks… infrastructure that was already in place, for god’s sake! The damage trucks do to roads is huge, and building/repairing roads is expensive, and trucking stuff everywhere is so inefficient (not to mention dangerous).

Look at the US, that bastion of the free market and capitalism.. fantastic rail network and soem of those goods trains are so long, you have to turn the car off if you encounter one crossing the road, they go on for ages.

Deref said :

Another good reason for getting trucks off the road and fixing the rail system.

the rail system should never have been allowed to fall into disarray.

1 train can carry huge amounts of freight compared to one truck. rail freight hubs should be setup and goods trucked short distances from them, rather than truck everywhere

Northwest9 said :

00davist said :

Northwest9 said :

oh the outrage. how dare these truckies disrupt my drive to work in their vein and attempt to highlight how many of them will be put out of business with another cost lumped on an already stretched thin industry

HOW DARE THEY PROTEST SOMETHING I DON’T AGREE WITH

hahaha, either way, i dont really care, but i would absolutely love to see the outrage on this site if the government decided to tax bicycle tyres or free trade coffee.

00davist said :

They have a right to protest, What i cant understand is, how in the name of hell will stuffing up everyday canberrans run to work make a difference, FFS: I have no controll over this issue what so ever.

nothing, but protests generally disrupt someone, or the message goes unnoticed. i suspect they probably think having trucks on the road causing chaos is probably going to get more media attention that a cranky email to an editor of a newspaper

00davist said :

As for the C.Tax itself, God, I really don’t know what to think of it any more, BOTH sides of the debate are spouting that much nonsense, propaganda, fear mongering and Bulls**t, that i can see straight!

the whole carbon tax is a joke. it wont change anything about how people use energy, its a rob peter to pay paul setup, but its ok “only the rich will be out of pocket…”, it will just employ a heap of accountants, public servants and so on, sink a few small businesses, and create a few opportunistic businesses, but thats about it

With your first point, I guess you are right, I just wish there was a way they could effectively target the right people, and leave the rest of us out of it, however, when you look at the goings on in other countries (Try England) i guess we have it pretty good when it comes to people with grievances disturbing our ways, I would much rather they make me a little late to work, than burn my car!

With your second point, that’s your opinion on the issue, my problem is, for everyone who is so strongly against it, there is another equally for it.

I know this is exaggeration, but it feels like I have one mob telling me it will save the earth, cure cancer, and replace Ivan Milat with fluffy bunnies… Plus rainbows!

and the other mob telling me the moment it comes in, 95% of the population will suffer a simultaneous heart attack AND DIE, while the rest have to live on in ruins, dodging chunks off falling sky… Plus Rainbows, Black Rainbows!

When you have such amazing hype on each side, it’s hard to take anyone for real (Not a shot at you mate, just the overall hit of it, in my opinion!)

I guess I feel it wont be in either way, all it is cracked up to be, It wont save the earth, and it wont desiccate our economy, it will just do a little bit to make us a touch cleaner, and tighten a few wallets.

IE: Vaguely Effective, Mostly Harmless!

Another good reason for getting trucks off the road and fixing the rail system.

p1 said :

Northwest9 said :

oh the outrage. how dare these truckies disrupt my drive to work in their vein and attempt to highlight how many of them will be put out of business with another cost lumped on an already stretched thin industry

Because truckies lack the necessary business skills to pass on a cost to their customers, who will pay the increased cost because they actually need the product being shipped?

lets see shall we, owner operator increases cost, passes onto customer.

LinFox and finemores, with their fleet of trucks and contracts and accounting teams, holdout, can provide service for short period of time, while small bloke cannot, customer takes business to big guys, cause cash is king right?

small bloke goes out of business.

finemores and linfox then pass on cost to customer.

The top of that website cited in the OP, with their mission on it, says they want to be heard AND have fun. So this trip to Canberra is a bit of a social outing, too, I suspect.

I object to the massive tax-payer funded subsidy to the trucking industry… they pay for a fraction of the damage they do to the roads. Why aren’t they protesting about that? Oh, yeah, that’s right, they benefit from it.

p1 said :

Northwest9 said :

oh the outrage. how dare these truckies disrupt my drive to work in their vein and attempt to highlight how many of them will be put out of business with another cost lumped on an already stretched thin industry

Because truckies lack the necessary business skills to pass on a cost to their customers, who will pay the increased cost because they actually need the product being shipped?

Truckies drive trucks, they don’t negotiate prices and costs: they work for massive companies who are more than capable of negotiating a changing economy. The economy (including the different factors that alter the markets involved), have been fluid and changing for a loooong long time before climate change was even identified. The notion that ‘we can’t possibly cope with any change … we’ll all lose our jobs … we’ll all be rooned’ is complete bollocks. This – along with damn near every other business instigated ‘anti-carbon tax’ protest is nothing more than rent-seeking.

If you can’t compete in a changing economy, you shouldn’t be in business in the first place – go find a job walking dogs or something.

00davist said :

Northwest9 said :

oh the outrage. how dare these truckies disrupt my drive to work in their vein and attempt to highlight how many of them will be put out of business with another cost lumped on an already stretched thin industry

HOW DARE THEY PROTEST SOMETHING I DON’T AGREE WITH

hahaha, either way, i dont really care, but i would absolutely love to see the outrage on this site if the government decided to tax bicycle tyres or free trade coffee.

00davist said :

They have a right to protest, What i cant understand is, how in the name of hell will stuffing up everyday canberrans run to work make a difference, FFS: I have no controll over this issue what so ever.

nothing, but protests generally disrupt someone, or the message goes unnoticed. i suspect they probably think having trucks on the road causing chaos is probably going to get more media attention that a cranky email to an editor of a newspaper

00davist said :

As for the C.Tax itself, God, I really don’t know what to think of it any more, BOTH sides of the debate are spouting that much nonsense, propaganda, fear mongering and Bulls**t, that i can see straight!

the whole carbon tax is a joke. it wont change anything about how people use energy, its a rob peter to pay paul setup, but its ok “only the rich will be out of pocket…”, it will just employ a heap of accountants, public servants and so on, sink a few small businesses, and create a few opportunistic businesses, but thats about it

Some carbon footprint they’ll be leaving! Surely they’d be better off refusing to drive a couple of days a week for as long as it takes to force the price of diesel down. Everyone wins.

Ben_Dover said :

Oi carrnt read, oi carrnt wriote,
but oi can driver a traaaactor!

I turns it left
and I turns it right
to spread moi fer’iliser

Northwest9 said :

oh the outrage. how dare these truckies disrupt my drive to work in their vein and attempt to highlight how many of them will be put out of business with another cost lumped on an already stretched thin industry

Because truckies lack the necessary business skills to pass on a cost to their customers, who will pay the increased cost because they actually need the product being shipped?

Northwest9 said :

oh the outrage. how dare these truckies disrupt my drive to work in their vein and attempt to highlight how many of them will be put out of business with another cost lumped on an already stretched thin industry

HOW DARE THEY PROTEST SOMETHING I DON’T AGREE WITH

hahaha, either way, i dont really care, but i would absolutely love to see the outrage on this site if the government decided to tax bicycle tyres or free trade coffee.

They have a right to protest, What i cant understand is, how in the name of hell will stuffing up everyday canberrans run to work make a difference, FFS: I have no controll over this issue what so ever.

As for the C.Tax itself, God, I really don’t know what to think of it any more, BOTH sides of the debate are spouting that much nonsense, propaganda, fear mongering and Bulls**t, that i can see straight!

Northwest9 said :

oh the outrage. how dare these truckies disrupt my drive to work in their vein and attempt to highlight how many of them will be put out of business with another cost lumped on an already stretched thin industry

HOW DARE THEY PROTEST SOMETHING I DON’T AGREE WITH

hahaha, either way, i dont really care, but i would absolutely love to see the outrage on this site if the government decided to tax bicycle tyres or free trade coffee.

Yep, it will be a real day of darkness…

Northwest9 said :

HOW DARE THEY PROTEST SOMETHING I DON’T AGREE WITH

It’s a bit closer to “how dare they aim to disenfranchise me with a misguided attempt at subverting the democratic process”, but that’s probably just semantics to you.

Gungahlin Al11:09 am 12 Aug 11

johnboy said :

I just love how they’ll spend more on diesel for this than a lifetime of carbon tax.

+1
Clearly too many truckies listen to Sydney and Melbourne shock jock TonyNoBot fanboys…

oh the outrage. how dare these truckies disrupt my drive to work in their vein and attempt to highlight how many of them will be put out of business with another cost lumped on an already stretched thin industry

HOW DARE THEY PROTEST SOMETHING I DON’T AGREE WITH

hahaha, either way, i dont really care, but i would absolutely love to see the outrage on this site if the government decided to tax bicycle tyres or free trade coffee.

Imagine their surprise when they discover that Canberra’s roads are actually full of tradies!

p1 said :

Part of the reason I don’t like there protest is, of course, that I don’t support their aim. On one front I am in support of a price on carbon (however badly implemented), and while not loving everything else this gov’t has done, it is better then MrRabbot. The other front I disagree on is there stated aim of throwing out the government though blockading a city.

Hey look….we actually agree for once.

I don’t have an issue with carbon pricing, I have an issue with all the money being given back to people who will make no effort to change their habits. The money should be used to fund further research into renewable energy sources and carbon reduction.

I also agree that irritating the citizens of Canberra is not the wat to effect change. Here’s an idea, lobby the liberal party to get rid of Abbott and rebuild into a worthwhile opposition over the next 2-3 years. I voted Liberal last time, but I almost didn’t because of him. He and Julia are as bad as each other.

Solidarity said :

dvaey said :

Theres a real simple solution to this. RTA can setup their inspection areas on the roads into the ACT. With that many trucks coming in for a protest, I doubt 100% of them are upto to scratch, with completed logbooks and upto scratch with regards to roadworthiness.

If this blockade targets the residents of Canberra, it will do nothing to advance their cause. Is August 22nd something special? Are they actually hoping to affect more than a handful of people involved in the decision? Why not go put your trucks on the harbour bridge if you want to cause a disturbance that matters, rather than blocking a couple of hundred hard-working people just like themselves in a small city?

FFS are you serious?

It’s not an attack on you, or the people of Canberra.

It’s a protest, they’re not out there to disrupt our lives, they’re there to be noticed by the pollies.

Is Parliament House on the Harbour Bridge? No? theres your answer.

Mate, actually look into this before you open your mouth, You look like a tool!

Solidarity said :

Is Parliament House on the Harbour Bridge? No? theres your answer.

If they were blocking the Harbour Bridge, I would still think there were tools, but I would care a lot less.

I will make a point of riding to work that morning, just incase enough of the nutsacks turn up to create traffic hazards.

Part of the reason I don’t like there protest is, of course, that I don’t support their aim. On one front I am in support of a price on carbon (however badly implemented), and while not loving everything else this gov’t has done, it is better then MrRabbot. The other front I disagree on is there stated aim of throwing out the government though blockading a city.

Solidarity said :

FFS are you serious?
It’s not an attack on you, or the people of Canberra.
It’s a protest, they’re not out there to disrupt our lives, they’re there to be noticed by the pollies.

The great unwashed voters of Australia make NO distinction between the politicians, and Canberrans. None. They’re coming to bore it up bloody Canberra, full of bludgers and idiots who inflict all these things they don’t like on them. We are to blame for everything that’s wrong, and they’re going to really show us a thing or two.

I for one welcome our new 22 wheeled overlords.

Would you prefer they just boycotted Canberra? No trucks delivering food or petrol or bicycle tubes for a week?

a protest with the stated aim of shutting down the economy of this city to achieve a coup.

You don’t think that’s an attack?

dvaey said :

Theres a real simple solution to this. RTA can setup their inspection areas on the roads into the ACT. With that many trucks coming in for a protest, I doubt 100% of them are upto to scratch, with completed logbooks and upto scratch with regards to roadworthiness.

If this blockade targets the residents of Canberra, it will do nothing to advance their cause. Is August 22nd something special? Are they actually hoping to affect more than a handful of people involved in the decision? Why not go put your trucks on the harbour bridge if you want to cause a disturbance that matters, rather than blocking a couple of hundred hard-working people just like themselves in a small city?

FFS are you serious?

It’s not an attack on you, or the people of Canberra.

It’s a protest, they’re not out there to disrupt our lives, they’re there to be noticed by the pollies.

Is Parliament House on the Harbour Bridge? No? theres your answer.

What it boils down to is, if you have large trucks, you can hold everyone else to ransom. Bully-boys. According to that dreadful website, they are a disparate bunch of nationalist ratbags who are pissed off about things they don’t like… I saw a Disgruntled Dads group mentioned down the side (the courts hate men etc etc etc).

That grid with 9 of the groups’ timetables that is in the OP, is that featured anywhere on the dreadful website? I went looking and couldn’t find it. It’s a handy summary of what roads they’ll be on and at what time. There’s 11 groups now… That grid would be a good thing to distribute so people know what’s going to happen. I fear Majura Road will be a dog’s breakfast.

Theres a real simple solution to this. RTA can setup their inspection areas on the roads into the ACT. With that many trucks coming in for a protest, I doubt 100% of them are upto to scratch, with completed logbooks and upto scratch with regards to roadworthiness.

If this blockade targets the residents of Canberra, it will do nothing to advance their cause. Is August 22nd something special? Are they actually hoping to affect more than a handful of people involved in the decision? Why not go put your trucks on the harbour bridge if you want to cause a disturbance that matters, rather than blocking a couple of hundred hard-working people just like themselves in a small city?

Rawhide Kid Part39:59 am 12 Aug 11

johnboy said :

I just love how they’ll spend more on diesel for this than a lifetime of carbon tax.

I was wondering how much diesel and money to drive all the way from Perth would cost.

wooster said :

God you can be a twat…

I live to please. 🙂

Wow! ANother William McGonagall fan. We are few and far between….

Maybe not so few and far between, I’ll happily admit to being a fan of the great bard!

I think we should think on the positive side. Just think of all the extra tourists in Canberra! (If they turn up in numbers as planned)
I look forward to hearing a comment from the ACT Govt afterwards about how much money this event ‘injected into the local economy’! 🙂
As they are truckies(?), perhaps savvy retailers could raise the price of meat pies, Coke, No-doze, porn mags and diesel for that day and clean up!? hahaha!

Disinformation8:45 am 12 Aug 11

LSWCHP said :

I don’t care if they’re in favour of motherhood and apple pie. If the arsehat who wrote that poem comes to Canberra, he’d better look out. I have the collected works of William McGonagall,and I’m not afraid to use them.

Dammit. Now I’ve got to wipe the coffee off my monitor.. It’s not fun having it come out your nose.

The most successful protest at parliament house was held in the late 90’s by the forestry industry.

Late one sunday night they drove their trucks in and blockaded parliament (actually filled every road around the building with trucks). They only inconvenienced the MP’s and a few workers up there. The rest of Canberra went about it’s business. John Howard actally had the guts to walk through the blockade each morning.

But from that 4 or 5 day event regional forest agreements were established, funding was provided and the industry trundled along for another few years….

I’m not sure what exactly these guys are after (apart from an election) and if a one day event is going to make a difference?

“How nice. It’s a shame we had an election only last year and there won’t be another one simply because some people didn’t like the outcome.”

God you can be a twat…

Don’t drive past my place or I’ll be spiking the road with tech screws.

Having said that, they have every right to protest.

They might have the right to protest, but nobody, and I do mean nobody, has the right to publish poetry like that obscenity at #8. It’s late, so I don’t have time to verify that horror and I’m just assuming it’s for real. I wish it wasn’t.

There’s only so much a man can bear, and that was just beyond the pale. I don’t care if they’re in favour of motherhood and apple pie. If the arsehat who wrote that poem comes to Canberra, he’d better look out. I have the collected works of William McGonagall,and I’m not afraid to use them.

Muttsybignuts10:49 pm 11 Aug 11

Didn’t they do this years a go? Park some big trucks around parliament house? “YAWN” It was boring then, it is boring now.
A mate of mine works at parliament house and says there is some kind of protest or another going on all the time. The pollies just come and go, hidden in the gutze and don’t even know what is going on. Even with a few roads congested around the Parliamentary triangle the AFP will still ensure a road stays open to get MPs in and out.
A waste of time.

Ben_Dover said :

Country born, and country bred.
Strong of arm, and think of head…

I’m just hoping that typo was ironic…

screaming banshee9:01 pm 11 Aug 11

I’d love to see someone arrange to blockade the trucks at their departure points. Shame I have to work.

This comment:

imarty said :

Pity it wasn’t a week later on the 22nd…
http://www.beefcentral.com/news/article/423

seemed to fly under the radar…

Easy solution, block the 3 major roads coming onto town until 9am. A minority will be inconvenienced & it will take the sting out of their argument.

If they bring 11 long-haired friends of Jesus in a cartreuse microbus with them, well yeehaw! Everybody sing…”we got a mighty convoy, rockin’ through the night!”

Can’t wait ….. whoo hoo. I hope Mr Plod and Mr RTA will be doing roadworthy checks.

and as if they would drive from Perth,

haha if they want to waste money on fuel, best of luck to them

justsomeaussie6:33 pm 11 Aug 11

Can someone explain the logic to me?
They are worried about the costs of fuel etc, so they drive thousands of kms spending their own money and being unable to work during that time? Will it achieve anything? I think not outside of inconvenience a lot of Canberra who generally don’t give a rats about their cause.

What exactly do they achieve by driving all their trucks to Canberra?

Hmmm, looking at the quality of the website, it will be interesting to see how many turn up. Might be a lot, but there’s a fair chance it will be smaller than the fanfare.

I suppose if you believe in their stand, you should go along too to show support (or be a hypocrite?).
I also suppose that if you don’t believe in their viewpoint (or just don’t give a damn wither way) you should just plan a different way to work, and try to ignore it all?

johnboy said :

I just love how they’ll spend more on diesel for this than a lifetime of carbon tax.

Exactly! I’ve never seen such a hissyfit over such a relatively minor issue (which has been massively blown out of proportion).

Oi carrnt read, oi carrnt wriote,
but oi can driver a traaaactor!

Country born, and country bred.
Strong of arm, and think of head…

patrick_keogh6:08 pm 11 Aug 11

For those of you who want to “contribute” to the organisation of the convoy, here are the phone numbers:
Peter Whytcross 0427025591
Darryl Pederson 0418450641
Tony Hopkins 0419600560
Russ Martin 0428370098
Ken Wilkie 0427742554
Matt 0427 815 595
Janet 0417 815 595
Peter Baker 0407804089
Nigel Grivell 0408 107087
Noel Porter 0427285216
Rick Finning. 0428510101

I for one will be attempting to reassure myself that they only inconvenience politicians (who are in places other than Canberra mostly) rather than dinky die Ozzies (spit) such as myself (spit).

Does this mean we get the day off work?

johnboy said :

I just love how they’ll spend more on diesel for this than a lifetime of carbon tax.

I guess it shows how cranky they are!

Also, considering I have already been in the car over an hour by the time I hit the ACT, and the fact that I am in no way a mornings person, they had better not get in my way!

AFP or not, I will bring a trailer with enough damn ramps to divert all traffic up the gutter, and around them!

GottaLoveCanberra5:56 pm 11 Aug 11

Hahaha awesome, the phone numbers for each convoy leader is listed on their website. Now I wonder where I can find the radio frequencies they’ll be operating on to create further chaos!

Before we go for another Election, Can we please quietly swap Abott for somone else?

Lets face it, We wouldnt be in this position if he had not been the face of the opposition last election!
(I realise we would also not be in this mess if the current Govt. was able to do theire Job, but that might be asking a bit much of this crowd)

Turnbull, Hockey, A Gorilla, Hell bring back Howard, Just ditch Abott!!!

(Also, lets remember that Abott informed the independants he would do ANYTHING to get there support, so if he had got in, it would be no different, it would just be him forcing us to stomach the independants ideals.

Loose Abbot, Go to Vote, and get them by wthout the need to woo independant loonies!

amarooresident35:53 pm 11 Aug 11

johnboy said :

I just love how they’ll spend more on diesel for this than a lifetime of carbon tax.

Nah, the owner drivers will be able to claim the fuel rebate. Every other taxpayer will end up subsidising their right to protest. Socialism!!!1!

amarooresident35:49 pm 11 Aug 11

I wonder how many people will join the convoys? They are asking for a very big commitment from anyone who wants to particpate.

Oh, and check out the poetry. Banjo would be proud.

There is movement in Australia, the word has passed around,
A bob tailed truck is leaving Darwin NT on the 17th,
Canberra bound.
Now the truck will bolt from Katherine yards on the 18th of August 2011,
No doubt the mob will be joining him, on his journey down.

A progressive Convoy is what he has sent the message for far and wide,
The call will be answered without a moments hesitation from all who can drive.

So down your tools, put your leave notice in – for today we become part of Australian history together.

I just love how they’ll spend more on diesel for this than a lifetime of carbon tax.

Holden Caulfield said :

Hmm, the flyer states: “Together we can force an Election!”

Not a chance! Labor will try and avoid one like the plague given the opinion polls, and the senate won’t make trouble either.

Ah, is this The Hayseeds? Or a different group?

As you know, we are all politicians because we aer in Canberra, so stuffing us up will work.

I don’t like that timetable with the routes… Majura Road might get really nasty. It’s already pretty busy in the mornings (mega busy). Northbourne ditto. Glad to see there’s none coming in from the East. Maybe I better not give them ideas or the Goulburn mob will come in via Bung.

Holden Caulfield5:21 pm 11 Aug 11

Trouble is if they pull it off it will gain attention. Certainly more than would be gained by speaking directly to their relevant MPs anyway.

Apart from that they can GAGF!

Hmm, the flyer states: “Together we can force an Election!”

Let’s see how they go with that one, haha.

Jerks. Why do they have to inconvenience a bunch of innocent people to try and make a point? Nothing could make me less interested in their position, despite whether they have a valid concern or not.

The site did mention the AFP will be escorting them, so hopefully there will be some form of order to it all.

Oh well – there goes my Monday morning, I guess. Anyone have a free couch walking distance from ANU?

Also, thanks for the heads up!

How nice. It’s a shame we had an election only last year and there won’t be another one simply because some people didn’t like the outcome.

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