Enraged at Victorian PremierDan Andrews’ lockdowns,Penman is creating his own country and declaring independence from Victoria.
Now,we’re about as confused as you are. Lockdowns are a distant,unpleasant memory and COVID-19 restrictions are a thing of the past. But Penman still isn’t over it.
Unless Andrews offers him an apology,he will be going full sovereign citizen on Saturday.
“We intend to try and join Tasmania,it’s a much better state,” he said.
What exactly does that mean? In Penman’s words:“We just declare independence. It’s like when the United States colonies declared independence from Britain in 1776.
“If you’ve got unjust and tyrannical government,you can secede.”
This was news to us. But Penman reckons there’s precedent for such strange behaviour,pointing us toPrince Leonard of Hutt River province,an eccentric Western Australian who,in a fit of rage over wheat quotas in 1970,declared himself sovereign ruler of his own “micronation”,a charade he kept up for 50 years.
Penman’s plans for the nation of “Jimland” are similarly regal.
“I’m going to be the king,I’m going to be starting knighthoods and citizenships,we’re gonna have our own stamps and our own flag. We’re gonna raise money for men’s sheds,” he said.
Unlike Prince Leonard,who declared war on Australia for two whole days in the 1970s,Penman’s beef is with one particular state,and its overwhelmingly popular premier.
“We’re not un-Australian,we just don’t like Victoria.”
Conservatives unite
Appearing on right-wing provocateurJoe Rogan’spodcast recently,every incel’s favourite philosopher kingJordan Petersonannounced the creation of a new global network for like-minded conservatives.
The Canadian psychologist hopes his Alliance for Responsible Citizenship will form an alternative to the World Economic Forum and its “apocalyptic fearmongering”,but the whole thing seems a bit like theSuccession siblings’ “The Hundred” for conservative self-styled intellectuals.
Joining Peterson on this crusade are a few leading lights of the local right,with former prime ministersJohn HowardandTony Abbotton the organising committee,along with ex-deputy prime ministerJohn Anderson,shadow defence ministerAndrew Hastieand recently defeated LNP SenatorAmanda Stoker.
The international contingent includes climate scepticBjorn Lomborg,colonialism defenderNiall Ferguson and Republican lawmakersDan Crenshaw andMike Lee.
It’s the kind of company Howard told CBD he’d be glad to keep.
“Strictly speaking,I’m not involved in the organising of the event,but I am happy to associate myself with people such as Niall Ferguson,Jordan Peterson,John Anderson and Philippa Stroud,” he said.
“It is an association of people concerned to defend the values of Western civilisation.”
Obamarama
Barack Obama’sspeaking tour got back on track in Melbourne on Thursday after Wednesday night’s PR train wreck (where a local Indigenous elder was dumped from giving a Welcome to Country) with an appearance before a few hundred business leaders at the city’s Exhibition Centre.
In a weird throwback to the dark days of 2020,biosecurity was tight,with those lucky enough to score a handshake with the great man required to take a COVID-19 PCR test from the on-site testing crew.
Among the throng gathered to hear the 44th president’s thoughts on leadership were a couple of blokes at the top of organisations that could use a few tips – Crown chief executiveCiaran Carruthers and AFL bossGillon McLachlan with his brotherHamish McLachlan.
Clean air
Unlike the organisers of Obama’s special lunch,most Australians have more or less forgotten about COVID-19. Many of those reluctant to move on and shocked by the public’s laissez-faire attitude toward the virus have turned their attention to indoor air quality,with proponents arguing it’s the next big thing in public health and we must spend billions rebuilding everything to keep us safe.
Among the believers is new Labor MPMichelle Ananda-Rajah,an industrious type who keeps air purifiers in her Canberra office and who convened a bunch of experts for a Clean Air Forum in Parliament House on Thursday.
She managed to get some big pandemic names in the room,notably Chief Medical OfficerPaul Kelly,his Victorian counterpartBrett Suttonand Burnet Institute executive directorBrendan Crabb.
Still,for a group of people who have pushed back against every unwinding of restrictions and remained vociferous advocates for face-covering,very few were wearing masks.
We counted just 11 of 23,including Sutton and Crabb masked up in a staged photo. And both were spotted barefaced at various points during the hearing. According to St Vincent’s Hospital haematologistNada Hamad, another attendee,it was all fine because the air quality in Parliament House was good. She even had a little gizmo to prove it!
Might explain why Sutton was spotted at Canberra Airport later in the day,decked out in his trademark n95. Still,we’re left desperately hoping for the day when the experts can agree on something pandemic-related,and when the internet’s loudest COVID hawks stay consistent.
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