What's making News, 2025

[xcvator]

Interesting.. sign of the times?

https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/motoring-news/stellantis-discontinue-jeep-grand-cherokee-in-australia/news-story/013bfb4bbc83f4355dce12172396c192

Lets be honest
Stellantis is a huge company that includes American brands Jeep, Ram and Chrysler, France’s Citroen and Peugeot and Italy’s Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, and China’s electric Leapmoto

Maybe RAM is the only brand there you'd be excited about.

You obviously have never owned or driven an Alfa 

[Brij]

Interesting.. sign of the times?

https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/motoring-news/stellantis-discontinue-jeep-grand-cherokee-in-australia/news-story/013bfb4bbc83f4355dce12172396c192

Lets be honest
Stellantis is a huge company that includes American brands Jeep, Ram and Chrysler, France’s Citroen and Peugeot and Italy’s Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, and China’s electric Leapmoto

Maybe RAM is the only brand there you'd be excited about.

And you forgot that Stallantis also own Lancia.

But they haven't built anything exciting for 30 odd years 😒

[Fizzie]

You obviously have never owned or driven an Alfa 

Hardly anybody has for more than 5 minutes at a time!

[Bird]

You obviously have never owned or driven an Alfa 

They didnt have heated gloves in my size to use when pushing it.

[xcvator]

Hardly anybody has for more than 5 minutes at a time!

In a previous life I had 1 of the last Alfette GT's before all the anti pollution crap was put on , it went like the proverbial turd out of a shangai , and stuck to the road like shyte to a blanket, great fun when you picked your time and place 

[xcvator]

This is a bit of a long read , but the ending is a bit frightening

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-10/donald-trump-and-maga-are-undoing-america-s-greatness/105027736

[Fizzie]

the ending is a bit frightening

I've been saying for a few years now that he's going to appoint (maybe that should be anoint ) himself President For Life

Read a sci-fi novel that's set in the US in 2100 with a rebellion taking place against the fanatically-religious dictatorship government. Story was that a Hallelujah Brothers televangelist had raised massive public support right across the country & won the 2012 election with a huge majority. "Of course, there was no election in 2016 ..."

Continuing in the same vein though https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-12/trump-rejects-australia-s-bid-for-tariff-exemptions/105039966

[xcvator]

Trump would change his tune pretty quickly if Albo even hinted about king out the US staff at Pine Gap . It's 1 of the most important spy places in the world for the US

[Fizzie]

Trump would change his tune pretty quickly if Albo even hinted about king out the US staff at Pine Gap . It's 1 of the most important spy places in the world for the US

& / or the Harold Holt radio station at Exmouth.

But, seeing the way he reacts, you can already hear the rant about the rest of the World being only too ready to stab the US in the back & so on

[Fizzie]

Having a machete got mentioned t'other day, but

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-14/machete-knife-crime-victoria-explainer/105049700

"Machetes are already "controlled weapons", which mean they cannot be possessed or carried without a lawful excuse, but under Premier Jacinta Allan's new proposal, they will be banned.

The government describes machetes as "long, cutting edged" knives "with a blade of more than 20 centimetres".

Under the new laws, Victorians who legitimately require them such as farmers or hunters will be required to apply for exemptions."

No mention of campers though?

[Hairs]

This is, IMO opinion completely FU.
"Child murderer to be released after decades behind bars"
[url]https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/crime/child-murderer-to-be-released-after-decades-behind-bars/news-story/159845a66079b52e274826d1d7e8efbd[/url.
I just watched this on NBN News.
His identity is to hiden, because he committed the crime when it was 13, like WFT.

"A lifetime of anonymity is in place for SLD, who pulled the three-year-old from her bed in the middle of the night, stabbed her through the heart with a steak knife and left her body in long grass, courts were previously told"

This piece crap will live off the taxpayer for the rest of it's life.



You don't use magic to disappear, ya use a 4x4 & Swag.

[Troopy_03]

Having a machete got mentioned t'other day, but

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-14/machete-knife-crime-victoria-explainer/105049700

"Machetes are already "controlled weapons", which mean they cannot be possessed or carried without a lawful excuse, but under Premier Jacinta Allan's new proposal, they will be banned.

The government describes machetes as "long, cutting edged" knives "with a blade of more than 20 centimetres".


Under the new laws, Victorians who legitimately require them such as farmers or hunters will be required to apply for exemptions."

No mention of campers though?

More than 20cm? you can buy a cooks knife longer than that. I bought a machete when I was about 15, and my 18 months younger brother got his at the same time. I still have mine.

[prodigyrf]

So it begins in earnest
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/4wd-access-to-nsw-public-land-under-the-spotlight-in-popular-petition/ar-AA1AZsA3

Might end up like guns whereby you have to be a registered and accredited 4WD club member with strictly organised outings and access only as the best middle ground rather than total bans.

[Champin]

Then what? Will these mugs then turn to pruning saws? You can get some pretty nifty ones that fold up like pocket knives. Will they ban them next? Or tomahawks?
Is the ban addressing the problem or merely another knee jerk reaction to a bigger issue.


Sent from my T86 using Tapatalk

[Fizzie]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-24/call-for-four-wheel-drive-ban-aussie-beaches/104990150

 

[Hairs]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-24/call-for-four-wheel-drive-ban-aussie-beaches/104990150

 

Every couple of years this makes headlines.
Yes, there are Dickheads that do the wrong thing, not only on dunes. But forest tracks, within National Parks.
I don't know what the answer is, we all want experience where our vehicles can take us, Thanks why we spent the coin.
As our population grows, and vehicles become more affordable, and with all the cheaper add ons, people are unfortunately going to do damage to the environment.
And yes, I am someone who loves to get to those places most can't get to.
Hmm, in all honesty, beach driving doesn't interest me, all that bloody salt, to wash off/out later.


You don't use magic to disappear, ya use a 4x4 & Swag.

[Hairs]

Then what? Will these mugs then turn to pruning saws? You can get some pretty nifty ones that fold up like pocket knives. Will they ban them next? Or tomahawks?
Is the ban addressing the problem or merely another knee jerk reaction to a bigger issue.


Sent from my T86 using Tapatalk

A 18V Makita 115 Grinder is a pretty handy bit of kit.
NSW NPWS already have heavy fines for carrying one of these.
And God help you if you are caught with a 18V Chainsaw.


You don't use magic to disappear, ya use a 4x4 & Swag.

[Champin]

A 18V Makita 115 Grinder is a pretty handy bit of kit.
NSW NPWS already have heavy fines for carrying one of these.
And God help you if you are caught with a 18V Chainsaw.


You don't use magic to disappear, ya use a 4x4 & Swag.

Seriously?
Are chainsaws banned in national parks? My 18" chainsaw lives in my car. And I've used it on the way to work occasionally to clear trees off the road.

Sent from my SM-X200 using Tapatalk

[Hairs]

Seriously?
Are chainsaws banned in national parks? My 18" chainsaw lives in my car. And I've used it on the way to work occasionally to clear trees off the road.

Sent from my SM-X200 using Tapatalk

Yes, In northern NSW.
Hey I know, it's madness.
Yes, There has to be some controls, to stop mindless behaviour.
However, throwing a blanket over those that do the right thing is an over reaction.
I get the protection of our natural resources, but imo the sword don't have to be used.

You don't use magic to disappear, ya use a 4x4 & Swag.

[Hairs]

Champin,
Our 4wd Club has an exemption, chainsaws, as we help NPWS maintain several old huts within National Parks, only when we are attending to this task.
Used for clearing tracks, to gain access to these remote places.
Sometimes after storms, trees can be down across tracks.
I haven't looked into,
If you are carrying a chain saw and you need to travel through a National Park, to gain access to a State Forrest, free camp or private property.
I also don't know how they are going to police it, we've been camped in state forest, and have heard a saw operating across the river in a national park.
So I guess some people either don't know the regs or they are just, oh well if I don't get caught,

You don't use magic to disappear, ya use a 4x4 & Swag.

[Champin]

I often see disgusting things left in our beautiful bush. Broken camp stuff, rubbish of all kinds and the most scary of all, camp fires not extinguished properly. We mostly bring out more rubbish than we take in but it's bloody hard to keep up with the crap left out there. It's no wonder they want to lock the parks up.
In saying that though, Victoria in bordering on bankruptcy so one does wonder if the reasoning behind the closures is more of a fiscal policy than a ecological one.

Sent from my T86 using Tapatalk

[Hairs]

It's sickening to see the rubbish some leave behind, and camp fires still burning
One thing that does my head in, seeing live trees cut down next to the river bank, what do they think is holding that lovely flat grassed area together, that they love to camp on?

Anyway, yes we pickup what we can.
The broken glass in fires pits.
We usually have to chicken pick the area before we setup, then leave it better condition then what we found. Come back next time(might only be a month), the sh1t left everywhere again.
Makes you wonder what their homes are like.


You don't use magic to disappear, ya use a 4x4 & Swag.

[Bird]

Then what? Will these mugs then turn to pruning saws? You can get some pretty nifty ones that fold up like pocket knives. Will they ban them next? Or tomahawks?

Ban Knives? Hold me beer...

You didnt see the sword that a few of our hard done by refugees were using in home invasions yesterday?
https://www.wyndhamtv.com.au/sword-and-stolen-cars-five-caught/

[Champin]

Don't see that everyday. Reckon they should ban everything with a sharp edge. Oh and while we're at it, blunt objects too.

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[GeoffA]

Ban Knives? Hold me beer...

You didnt see the sword that a few of our hard done by refugees were using in home invasions yesterday?
https://www.wyndhamtv.com.au/sword-and-stolen-cars-five-caught/

There seems to be a common theme.....