Albo showed a lack of spine, and dubious political sense, when he decided to suck up to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch early in his first term. They had tried their best to keep Labor out of office. They lied shamelessly to thwart the Voice referendum, and had the gall to accuse Albo of being divisive. No matter what Labor gives them, they will always expect and demand more.
Same with the baffling decision to appoint a Special Envoy to combat Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism should be discouraged. But so should all forms of racism. And fighting the genocidal excesses of the current government and military of Israel should never be mistaken for anti-Semitism. What did the Special Envoy give Albo for his support? She encouraged the post- Bondi frenzy of Albo-blaming, that showed us how low the mainstream media and the LNP can go.
But he is nothing if not a slow learner. I don't think Albo got any thanks from the leading Zionists at home or abroad for inviting Herzog here.
He would have disgusted many of his natural constituents. To achieve what? More social division, that will be gleefully exploited by his opponents. Dumb policy, dumb politics.
“anti semitism” simply means “you don’t like our genocidal terrorist state” in the eyes of the pro israel community.
How to tell if someone is pro israel? They believe that israel— a genocidal, terroristic, supremacist state that illegally occupies other nations— has some inherent right to exist.
Thank you for this magnificently well-expressed demolition of the Herzog visit . The disgrace and humiliation to Australians ( and Democracy itself ! ) of Albanese and Minns being seen to grovel so obsequiously to this person who has happily signed bombs to be dropped upon Gaza/Palestine is unforgivable . They will live in perpetuity with the shame of it .
Hear! Hear! The ALP is no longer even an option for Australians seeking appropriate leadership for this nation. Since the Bondi mass shootings on Sunday December 14th 2025, the party has undermined all Australians with their complete lack of humanitarian values, honesty and trust.
Joel, what a cracker of an article! You have written how I feel. And yes, yes, yes, we deserve a national apology. We deserve so much better than this capitulation to a foreign state.
It was a judgment call, or lack thereof. Blind Freddy could see what a disaster it was going to be, particularly when Herzog ignored protocol and went far beyond the purported purpose of his visit. The fact that the GGs office have posted the details and photographs of the official visit, but blocked comments merely serves to indicate the lack of wisdom involved. Extremely disappointing, with the PM calling for lowering of temperature and cohesion but taking an action that everybody could see would achieve the exact opposite. Very surprised that the GG did not counsel against the visit and advise Albanese accordingly.
It’s wild how the political class always calls for “temperatures to be lowered” whenever the pro israel side or pro israel politicians do something disgusting or insane
Excellent summary. Wasn't that long ago I was thrilled to see 'my seat' Menzies, go red.....I've already emailed the new guy this week and said they've lost me over this. Selling us out to these evil grubs. And don't get me started on Jill Segal.
Albanese calculated that the downside of Herzog’s visit would be short term while a refusal to issue an invitation to him would be used by the right wing media and the paid right wing propagandists through to the next election. How you feel about that depends on how you view the risk of a right wing government here. I judge that risk to be high.
So why do some people on the left give a blue fuck about “antisemitism” when it’s clear that the pro israel community is entirely on the side of whoever will allow them to be genocidal zionists without criticism?
Albo is a cuckold and a fool. He also betrays Palestinians and Arabs in Australia with his pandering to the community of genocidal zionist fanatics and their supporters.
Yeah exactly. He just figured refusing the visit would be more politically damaging and he's probably right. Politicians don't have principles, they're only concern is power followed by money. Taken from this POV Albo made the right decision.
That’s strange. As an anarchist you should be passionately involved in local politics since anarchism arises from communal decision making. Are you sure that you have not confused anarchism with apathy?
Having Herzog invited to Australia after the Bondi murders is much the same as inviting Hitler if Lutherans had been the target of such murders. It sickens me.
The divisions highlighted by this misguided, foolish and short sighted exercise are not within society per se. The divisions are between the ruling class and the rest of us. The last week has shown that we are not being governed by those listening to us and working in our best interests. They have shown themselves to be beholden to foreign interests and financial influence. No surprises, they're thinking of cushy jobs, consultancies, hobnobbing with the rich and famous, foreign travel etc in their lives after politics and senior bureauracracy.
That u Barellan would have been better used to give Herzog a taste of what his soldiers are doing to Palestinians hostages in the israeli torture dungeons.
Albo showed a lack of spine, and dubious political sense, when he decided to suck up to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch early in his first term. They had tried their best to keep Labor out of office. They lied shamelessly to thwart the Voice referendum, and had the gall to accuse Albo of being divisive. No matter what Labor gives them, they will always expect and demand more.
Same with the baffling decision to appoint a Special Envoy to combat Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism should be discouraged. But so should all forms of racism. And fighting the genocidal excesses of the current government and military of Israel should never be mistaken for anti-Semitism. What did the Special Envoy give Albo for his support? She encouraged the post- Bondi frenzy of Albo-blaming, that showed us how low the mainstream media and the LNP can go.
But he is nothing if not a slow learner. I don't think Albo got any thanks from the leading Zionists at home or abroad for inviting Herzog here.
He would have disgusted many of his natural constituents. To achieve what? More social division, that will be gleefully exploited by his opponents. Dumb policy, dumb politics.
Spot on 💯
“anti semitism” simply means “you don’t like our genocidal terrorist state” in the eyes of the pro israel community.
How to tell if someone is pro israel? They believe that israel— a genocidal, terroristic, supremacist state that illegally occupies other nations— has some inherent right to exist.
Thank you for this magnificently well-expressed demolition of the Herzog visit . The disgrace and humiliation to Australians ( and Democracy itself ! ) of Albanese and Minns being seen to grovel so obsequiously to this person who has happily signed bombs to be dropped upon Gaza/Palestine is unforgivable . They will live in perpetuity with the shame of it .
Hear! Hear! The ALP is no longer even an option for Australians seeking appropriate leadership for this nation. Since the Bondi mass shootings on Sunday December 14th 2025, the party has undermined all Australians with their complete lack of humanitarian values, honesty and trust.
Right on every level and in every aspect.
Joel, what a cracker of an article! You have written how I feel. And yes, yes, yes, we deserve a national apology. We deserve so much better than this capitulation to a foreign state.
Which makes our government traitors to stand with a genocidal regime over their own people.
“A picture of a thousand words!” Mins standing holding the umbrella.
Excellent piece!
It captured succinctly what Australians felt. Shame, Humiliation, Anger.
Having a War Criminal invited by Anthony Albanese.
Labor is finished!!!
It was a judgment call, or lack thereof. Blind Freddy could see what a disaster it was going to be, particularly when Herzog ignored protocol and went far beyond the purported purpose of his visit. The fact that the GGs office have posted the details and photographs of the official visit, but blocked comments merely serves to indicate the lack of wisdom involved. Extremely disappointing, with the PM calling for lowering of temperature and cohesion but taking an action that everybody could see would achieve the exact opposite. Very surprised that the GG did not counsel against the visit and advise Albanese accordingly.
Albo needs to be pulled out of office by the prick, much like his buddy Keir “israel” Starmer in the UK
It’s wild how the political class always calls for “temperatures to be lowered” whenever the pro israel side or pro israel politicians do something disgusting or insane
Excellent piece of work Joel. It is exactly what I think and feel too .
Excellent summary. Wasn't that long ago I was thrilled to see 'my seat' Menzies, go red.....I've already emailed the new guy this week and said they've lost me over this. Selling us out to these evil grubs. And don't get me started on Jill Segal.
Albanese calculated that the downside of Herzog’s visit would be short term while a refusal to issue an invitation to him would be used by the right wing media and the paid right wing propagandists through to the next election. How you feel about that depends on how you view the risk of a right wing government here. I judge that risk to be high.
So why do some people on the left give a blue fuck about “antisemitism” when it’s clear that the pro israel community is entirely on the side of whoever will allow them to be genocidal zionists without criticism?
Albo is a cuckold and a fool. He also betrays Palestinians and Arabs in Australia with his pandering to the community of genocidal zionist fanatics and their supporters.
Yeah exactly. He just figured refusing the visit would be more politically damaging and he's probably right. Politicians don't have principles, they're only concern is power followed by money. Taken from this POV Albo made the right decision.
So how do you feel about the risk of an extreme right wing government?
Not good but frankly I don’t approve of any government being of the Anarchist persuasion. I don’t want to be ruled.
That’s fine as a theoretical
position but is of limited use in dealing with political realities. Sadly, it often becomes a way of opting out of deep thinking about current events.
Politics is too stupid for me. I can't dumb down enough.
That’s strange. As an anarchist you should be passionately involved in local politics since anarchism arises from communal decision making. Are you sure that you have not confused anarchism with apathy?
We already have one-it just has a facade that it cares. Apart from the blatant racism demonstrated by the LNP how much do they differ?
I want to know why the prime minister of this country is so incredibly out of touch with citizens? Or maybe he just doesn't care...
Having Herzog invited to Australia after the Bondi murders is much the same as inviting Hitler if Lutherans had been the target of such murders. It sickens me.
It’s amazing how used to grovelling Australian governments are.
The divisions highlighted by this misguided, foolish and short sighted exercise are not within society per se. The divisions are between the ruling class and the rest of us. The last week has shown that we are not being governed by those listening to us and working in our best interests. They have shown themselves to be beholden to foreign interests and financial influence. No surprises, they're thinking of cushy jobs, consultancies, hobnobbing with the rich and famous, foreign travel etc in their lives after politics and senior bureauracracy.
Yup. Nice piece
https://seqldiww.org/on-alp-deflection-from-crimes-against-humanity/
That u Barellan would have been better used to give Herzog a taste of what his soldiers are doing to Palestinians hostages in the israeli torture dungeons.
https://www.jns.org/australias-silence-on-jew-hatred-shouldve-drawn-more-attention-right-after-oct-7-former-official-says/