Daily Archives: August 11, 2021

While the extension of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions federal eviction moratorium allowed renters to breathe a sigh of relief, landlords across Massachusetts are still worried about how theyll keep a roof over their own heads.

Theres all kinds of articles about the tenants who are about to be homeless. You know, if they dont pay their rent, Im gonna be homeless, said Paulette Houston, 67, who rents out a three-bedroom apartment in her two-family Roxbury home she inherited from her mother.

Houston said her tenants, a family with two teenagers, owe her $7,710 in rent on her $1,800 a month property. With only a $1,700 monthly check coming in from Social Security since shes retired, she said she can barely afford to cover her mortgage and other expenses.

Houston said landlords look may like the bad guys in the media but, its not true. In her case, her only option to get rental assistance is through the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program, which provides local landlords with up to $10,000.

But Houston said her tenants have refused to finish the application, which asks a series of detailed questions including applicants Social Security numbers and other personal information.

More frustratingly, she said, the couple was only out of work for two months at the beginning of the pandemic, and should be able to pay the rent. They have had the funds, she said, but because of the COVID eviction moratorium, I cant get them out.

Doug Quattrochi, executive director of Mass. Landlords Incorporated and himself a small landlord in Worcester, said that although the core idea that people should have a home during a pandemic makes sense, it doesnt seem like a really carefully crafted policy, he said.

The new guidelines, which only apply the moratorium to areas of high transmission, means that some landlords have only some of their properties covered by the law. On top of that, the CDC is doing this without the direct connection to funding, he said. The fact that its separate, allows for potentially the moratorium to cover more people than are covered by the funding.

At the federal level, he added, the law only works if people know it exists. If people dont fill out the piece of paper, they get no protection, he said. Once they fill out the CDCs declaration form, theyre protected from eviction.

In Massachusetts, the additional rental assistance application is long and detailed and especially challenging for non-English speakers. Almost 5,000 applications were incomplete and timed out between January and June of this year, according to state data.

After helping his tenant fill out an application, Quattrochi didnt receive the $8,000 he was owed until four months later, when the funds were wordlessly dropped into his bank account.

All landlords want is to get paid, he said. Its really the administration of the rental assistance that is the problem.

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Small Massachusetts landlords struggle as eviction moratorium is extended: If they dont pay their rent, Im gonna be homeless - Boston Herald

Nationals Senate leader and Regionalisation Minister Bridget McKenzie, who was restored to federal cabinet when Mr Joyce returned to the leadership in June, said the partys responsibility was to assess the plan on behalf of voters.

We will not be signing a blank cheque sight unseen, she said.

Regional Health Minister David Gillespie, a supporter of Mr Joyce, questioned whether a 2050 pledge would mean anything.

We have got to have affordable 24/7 reliable cheap energy and we will use technology to achieve that rather than make an aspirational 2050 commitment that is 30 years away, he told ABC News.

Mr Joyce has a history of questioning climate science and the need for a policy response, claiming a decade ago that a carbon tax would push the price of a lamb roast to $100, a prediction never substantiated and subject to intense criticism.

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Mr Morrisons allies consider his latest comments as relatively positive for a negotiation on net zero, saying the Nationals leader was leaving room to be persuaded if he can be sure regional Australia is rewarded.

The assistance for farmers comes from schemes such as increasing the vegetation on land they do not need for food production or sequestering carbon in soil, measures that provoke dispute because some climate activists think the ideas cannot produce meaningful cuts to emissions.

Mr Littleproud declared farmers had missed out on fair compensation in previous climate policies that restricted their land use without giving them any payment for the property rights they had lost.

That is not the Australian way. That has cost a lot of livelihoods in regional and rural Australia.

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Mr Littleproud said pilot schemes were already under way and he would have a trading platform operating by the end of the year to allow businesses to trade biodiversity credits, giving landowners a payment.

We are the first country in the world to be able to measure improvement in biodiversity because the reason I came up with this was exactly the point that these farmers had missed the boat in being paid for a property right lost, he said.

So Im trying to square the ledger.

The cost to the federal budget could be significant but the scheme is emerging as an essential part of any agreement with the Nationals, although it would not be enough on its own to upgrade the governments climate target to net zero by 2050.

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Nationals stake their claim on carbon compensation - Sydney Morning Herald

Sometimes not everyone sees what is great about living in Western New York and that gives the area a bad rap.

In a recent ranking of the worst places to live in New York State, one Western New York town made the top 10.

The website roadsnacks.net posted an article about the worst places to live in New York State and uncourtly Lockport ended up on the list. Pretty high on the list too!

Lockport was ranked as the 3rd worst place to live in New York State. Lockport was established as a village in 1829 was named after the Erie Canal locks that were in the area.

Lockport ended up 3rd on this list because according to the website,

The economy in the area is less than robust. The median income hovers at $45,018 and the unemployment rate stands at 6.0%.

The website Niche.com gave Lockport an overall grade of B when it came to its rankings and Lockport scored average results when it came to crime and safety and weather.

If you haven't been to Lockport in a while, it is a pretty cool town and the Erie Canal is a must-see when you visit.

Should Lockport be the 3rd worst place to live in New York State. If you ask me, no way. I would rather live in Lockport than downstate any day of the week. Sure we get snow in Winter, but the weather here in Summer and with all the cool things to do during the warm months is amazing.

That is what when you get a website that doesn't truly know the area, ranking the cities and towns in Western New York you have to take it with a grain of salt. I invite the author of the article to spend a week here in Western New York and I guarantee that no place here in the 716 would ever land on that list.

You can see the whole list HERE.

Best Places To Raise Families In WNY

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

If you ever wanted to live like a king or queen, you now have a chance to own your own castle that is just hours outside of Western New York.

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Western New York Town Lands On "Worst Place To Live" List - wyrk.com - wyrk.com

Media top headlines August 9

Brian Stelter admits Chris Cuomo's scandal has been a 'CNN conundrum' but still defends him, the mainstream media is silent while Obama dances maskless in a crowded tent, and NBC experiences the 'worst case scenario' as Olympics ratings plunge

The Los Angeles Times argued Sunday that the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) as part of an "ethnic studies" course in high schools was necessary to make students of all backgrounds aware of the effect of racial inequality on their lives.

The Times claimed in an editorial that "bias" by participants in a recent board of education forum in California "illustrated why an ethnic studies course" was needed in high schools, as well as why "the study of systemic and institutional racism" needed to be a part of it.

"A renewed call for ethnic studies in public schools has caused a nationwide wave of contentious school board meetings, with opponents of such courses hurling accusations of indoctrination and in some cases attempting to recall the education leaders they had elected," the Times wrote. "The verbal cudgel that opponents wield most often against ethnic studies is that its a version of critical race theory."

BEN SHAPIRO TO MSNBC CONTRIB CLAIMING SYSTEM IS RACIST: 'YOU'VE SUCCEEDED' IN THAT SYSTEM

The Times claimed that although several Republican-controlled states had moved to ban the teaching of CRT in schools, people had little idea what the subject actually entailed. It marked yet another liberal media outlet suggesting parents didn't understand the subject they were criticizing, following a similar CNN report last month.

"What many of its detractors do realize is that critical race theory challenges the notion that this is a land of equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, ethnicity or background. As it should," the Times wrote. "This is a land of equal opportunity but only for some people."

Critical race theory has come under fire from parents and others as a form of neo-racism that pits groups against one another, while supporters have called it a necessary rejoinder to what's been historically taught in American schoolrooms.

The Times argued that some groups of people had been left out of the opportunities passed down from generation to generation, and that one of the main tenets of CRT was to point out that "reality" and "make students of all backgrounds aware of the impact it has on their lives almost every day."

PRINCETON OFFERING BLACK LIVES MATTER COURSE TAUGHT BY PROFESSOR WITH COMMITMENT TO CRITICAL RACE THEORY

The Times claimed it was "disturbing" to see parents stand against their children learning "uncomfortable realities," and that it was "deeply problematic" for legislators to turn the debate over CRT into a political opportunity "by putting a chokehold on the truth."

It added that it was "particularly troubling" that a July forum hosted by the Orange County Board of Education was "stacked" with people opposed to CRT, and that the subject was "misrepresented" by panelists making false statements.

"Public education has gotten better at bringing the history, literature and art of marginalized groups into the classroom. But it has not gone nearly far enough," the Times wrote. "Ethnic studies is one place where the intention is for students to see topics through the history and eyes of Black, Latino, Asian and Native Americans, the nations four most marginalized groups."

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"Students spend most of their schooling seeing these issues through the eyes of White people who had the power to create the institutions and tell most of the stories," it added. "It is true that students should not be proselytized and told what to believe. But they need to be taught the truth."

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LA Times editorial pushes critical race theory: 'Needs to be part' of 'ethnic studies' course in high schools - Fox News

news, race-to-the-regions, news, property, farm, australia, real estate, city, land, race to the regions

Some of those fleeing the cities are considering ditching the office for a new life on the land. Lockdown weary city slickers are weighing up the cost of becoming farmers. Most of the available homes and lifestyle blocks have already been snapped up in this pandemic-induced rush of thousands to the regions. The new target is any operating farms hitting the market. Agents are being quizzed about the likely cash returns from buying into a farm, occupying the house and either having a crack themselves or appointing a farm manager. Some are exploring options of leasing the land. The surprise development comes as homes in regional areas further and further from the cities are coming under scrutiny. Those swapping the city for the country first aimed for areas within commuting distance of the cities, worried they would get the call to return to the office. As the pandemic drags on, lockdowns continue and working from home becomes more entrenched they are now looking further afield. Brad Jensen from Ararat Ballarat Real Estate said the tree-changers were "doing their sums" on buying farms. "We are getting more and more inquiries from the cities about farms we have listed," Mr Jensen said. "They want to know much much they could make from the land, they are first timers." Mr Jensen said none of his wannabe farmers had yet followed through on their interest but believed it was only a matter of time. "They are pretty keen to get out of the cities." READ MORE RACE TO THE REGIONS: There's still no signs the race to the regions is slowing. This week's Australian Bureau of Statistics report show a record 11,800 people left the nation's capital cities in the three months to the end of March. Sydney and Melbourne fared the worst. Regional house prices have risen by more than 13 per cent already in the past year, double that experienced in capital cities, CoreLogic head of research Eliza Owen said. Low interest rates, government building incentives and the pandemic-induced trend of people being able to work from home has sparked a net gain of 43,000 people to regional areas in the past year. Real estate agents are employing new tactics to coax home owners in regional Australia to sell up. Agents say they have never seen rivalry so fierce with big rewards on offer in the booming rural housing market. Some agencies are now paying sales staff more in commission to secure new listings than for the actual sales. The commission is paid when a home is sold. Agencies have ramped up some traditional tactics and are trying out some new ones as well after exhausting their inventories.

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Some of those fleeing the cities are considering ditching the office for a new life on the land.

Lockdown weary city slickers are weighing up the cost of becoming farmers.

Most of the available homes and lifestyle blocks have already been snapped up in this pandemic-induced rush of thousands to the regions.

The new target is any operating farms hitting the market.

Agents are being quizzed about the likely cash returns from buying into a farm, occupying the house and either having a crack themselves or appointing a farm manager.

Some are exploring options of leasing the land.

The surprise development comes as homes in regional areas further and further from the cities are coming under scrutiny.

As the pandemic drags on, lockdowns continue and working from home becomes more entrenched they are now looking further afield.

Brad Jensen from Ararat Ballarat Real Estate said the tree-changers were "doing their sums" on buying farms.

"We are getting more and more inquiries from the cities about farms we have listed," Mr Jensen said.

"They want to know much much they could make from the land, they are first timers."

Mr Jensen said none of his wannabe farmers had yet followed through on their interest but believed it was only a matter of time.

"They are pretty keen to get out of the cities."

There's still no signs the race to the regions is slowing.

This week's Australian Bureau of Statistics report show a record 11,800 people left the nation's capital cities in the three months to the end of March.

Sydney and Melbourne fared the worst.

Regional house prices have risen by more than 13 per cent already in the past year, double that experienced in capital cities, CoreLogic head of research Eliza Owen said.

Low interest rates, government building incentives and the pandemic-induced trend of people being able to work from home has sparked a net gain of 43,000 people to regional areas in the past year.

Real estate agents are employing new tactics to coax home owners in regional Australia to sell up.

Agents say they have never seen rivalry so fierce with big rewards on offer in the booming rural housing market.

Agencies have ramped up some traditional tactics and are trying out some new ones as well after exhausting their inventories.

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City slickers look to ditch the office and kick back on the farm - Daily Liberal

Some Texas Democratic lawmakers are going back to work.

After the start of the first special legislative session in July, more than 50 Texas Democratic lawmakers broke quorum and flocked to Washington. There, they met with national politicians and conducted a robust media tour, all in the name of one goal: protecting voting rights.

But nearly a month after their departure from the state, the Democrats track record has been pockmarked by bad PR. And after four liberal legislators broke from their colleagues to return to the Texas Capitol on Monday, the states Democrats are fighting among themselves.

Early on in the quorum-break, Republicans framed the D.C. trip as a vacation after a Miller Lite case was pictured on a bus that Democrats had boarded. Later, two Democrats did the party's image no favors when they reportedly ditched D.C. to go on holiday in Portugal.

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After Gov. Greg Abbott announced a second called session beginning last Saturday, many of the D.C. Democrats plans were still unclear. Now, it appears that the liberal lawmakers' fortified front may have a few cracks.

On Monday, CBS Austin reported that four Democratic state representatives had left D.C. and reported to work: James Talarico of Round Rock, Mary Gonzlez of Clint and Art Fierro and Joe Moody, both of El Paso. The state House was still several members shy of reaching a quorum, but the quartets move appeared to indicate the winds had begun to shift in the Republican majoritys favor.

Emails to the four Democrats were not returned by publication time, and CBS Austin reported that those lawmakers arent granting interviews until later this week.

Soon, certain Democrats whod remained in D.C. lashed out at the lawmakers whod returned. In a tweet, Richardson state Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos posted a photo of what appeared to be Talarico, Gonzlez and Moody in the state Capitol, along with the caption you all threw us under the bus today! Why?

Democrats like @TurnerForTX and @jamestalarico checked in today to help Republicans pass anti-voter bills, she said. There is currently an injunction stopping TX from arresting Democrats, yet these Democrats on the floor today chose to participate in voter suppression.

(The Texas Supreme Court has since voided that temporary restraining order, allowing for the arrest of quorum-busting Democrats once more, according to The Texas Tribune. On Tuesday, the House authorized their arrests.

Eventually, youre going to have to come home." Professor Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha

"The fact that some of us secured a Temporary Restraining Order to protect ALL of us, yet some are trying to please the Governor and His OPPRESSIVE Agenda?! JUST WOW!" she continued.

Nearly 20 years ago, Texas Democrats left the state to break quorum on redistricting legislation. Such bold moves may attract awareness to an issue, but its still a political stunt that could potentially backfire, said Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, a political science professor at the University of North Texas.

While Eshbaugh-Soha appreciates the effort behind the push, he said it isnt a sustainable strategy. It's also unlikely to lead to congressional voting rights legislation.

Eventually, youre going to have to come home. Eventually, youre going to have to do your job as a representative, Eshbaugh-Soha said. You may not like it, but its not a strategy thats going to succeed.

While Democrats are attempting to prevent a Republican-backed elections bill, theyre also blocking other legislation, such as pay increases for retired teachers, Eshbaugh-Soha said. The liberal lawmakers who returned to the House this week may be facing pressure from their constituents to get back and do their jobs.

Naturally, some die-hard Texas Democrats are frustrated with their colleagues, he added. But criticizing them on Twitter could poison the well and potentially undermine their collective goal.

The called-out colleagues could be more reluctant to work with them in the future, Eshbaugh-Soha said. And the longer lawmakers refuse to work together, the greater the political divide may deepen.

Unfortunately, I think this is just another illustration that were so far apart on issues that were willing to leave town and not engage, versus trying to come up with something that were supposed to be doing as representatives, Eshbaugh-Soha said. I think its a sign of the times.

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Quorum-Busting Texas Democrats Unhappy with Colleagues who Returned for Second Special Session - Dallas Observer

At the end of December 1989, France ended commemorations of its revolution two centuries before. Jack Lang, the culture minister, declared: Let us pause and take it all in and remember how fortunate we are to experience this amazing moment. This evening does not mark the end of the bicentenary, but rather a prelude: a kind of overture to the third century of our freedoms in the making.

This moment of naive optimism is all the more remarkable because the French are rarely prone to excesses of ebullience in modern politics. Each president seems to secure record lows in opinion polls. The fury of the street is never far away.

An enticing and quixotic history of France reaches these shores outre-Manche at a time when both countries have seldom felt so ill at ease. France in the World, a 1,392-page volume of essays, was published at home at the start of 2017. Since then France has had to contend with terrorist attacks, gilets jaunes, the calamitous fire at Notre Dame, resurgence of the far right, Trump, Brexit and other populist oddities and, in Emmanuel Macron, the foe of just about everyone.

Beginning with pre-history and ending with the attacks on Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan in 2015, this is a chronicle of the French, wedded not to territory or blood lines, but to certain ideals and ways of thinking. It is defiantly liberal-leftist in its vision of the past, seeing in colonialism and global finance the roots of most contemporary ills.

This is a book to dip into and enjoy. It is inconsistent, perhaps necessarily so. The thematic and geographic range is vast from farming to philosophy to social mores, from Algiers to Siam, the Suez Canal to Englands south coast.

It contains gaping holes and bewildering choices. The first world war is assessed largely from the vantage point of New Caledonia and a guerrilla war involving indigenous Kanaks and French colonial forces. An abiding theme throughout the narrative is the shadow cast across several continents by French imperialism. Rather than focus on German capitulation and the Treaty of Versailles, attention turns to the International Labour Office, the role of Coco Chanel and perfume and the endearing story of Charles Aznavour and Armenian immigrants.

The editors, Patrick Boucheron (French version) and Stphane Gerson (English version), are at pains to explain the methodology, devoting 35 opening pages to outlining their thinking. The nearly 150 essays are written by just over 100 historians.

Some of the tales are fascinating takes on familiar periods. The persecution of Huguenots and mass migration following Louis XIVs revocation of the Edict of Nantes deftly provides a modern context for the phenomenon of intolerance and flight. The Dreyfus affair helps explain the antisemitism that predated and followed. A section on the Black Death in the 14th century recalls how the devastation was exploited by the powerful to clamp down on nascent freedoms. A lesson for our times even though this, and a later chapter on 19th-century cholera, was written before the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the most riveting essays is on the controversy surrounding publication in 1949 of Simone de Beauvoirs The Second Sex. The story is both universal and quintessentially French. Albert Camus, for all his progressiveness, accused her of making a mockery of French masculinity. Seventy years later Catherine Deneuve and many others were having similar palpitations over #MeToo.

The most idiosyncratic chapters are perhaps the most compelling. The revolutions of 1848 are an essential ingredient in any European history curriculum, but how many people know much of the Year of Utopia or the first communist banquet which took place in Belleville in 1840? The social utopias forged in 1840 sought not only to improve the conditions of French labourers, writes historian Franois Jarrige. They aspired to nothing short of the wholesale regeneration of humankind.

The land of romanticism was also the land of harmonisation and rules. From March to May 1875, Paris hosted an unusual summit. The 20 attending nations were not there to manage border disputes or divvy up the world. Instead they signed the Metric Convention, which standardised the new measurement. It was embraced by virtually all, except the island nation that is Britain.

Perhaps more than anything else, it is language that defines Frenchness. Villers-Cotterts is a commune to the north-east of the capital, one that apparently has not too much to show for itself. Today it has a population of 10,000 and an extreme right-dominated municipality. In 2014 its newly elected mayor refused to participate in ceremonies celebrating the abolition of slavery. Since 1539 it has, however, been synonymous with an event far more propitious, even if the location was an accident. Francis I, who happened to be staying at his chteau in woodlands nearby to hunt game, decided at this spot to sign the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterts, establishing the French language as obligatory in legal and state documents. The French have taken up the cudgels ever since.

Three and a half centuries later, Victor Hugo posed the question: How does one recognise intelligence among peoples the world over? He proceeded to answer it himself: There is one sure sign: whether or not they can speak French. By this standard and by others too, Brexit Britain does not perform well.

France in the World: A New Global History is published by Belgravia (19.99). To support the Guardian and the Observer buy a copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.

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France in the World review a defiantly quixotic chronicle - The Guardian

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International actor Russell Crowe has brought a Hollywood entourage to the NSW South Coast for the filming of a new big budget movie. Crowe's latest project is expected to also star Liam Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky. The southern part of the region remains clear of COVID-19 cases and without strict lockdown restrictions, a welcome opportunity for film producers. A large entourage was seen arriving via helicopter to a prestige property near Bare Bluff yesterday, one day after Crowe tweeted a photo of an idyllic grassy seascape with the caption "Shooting in Kiama. What a beautiful place". It's believed Hemsworth may have been among the A-Listers wearing COVID-safe masks upon landing. Crowe's next major project is the action thriller Poker Face by Arclight Films International, in which he both stars and directs, and is currently "in filming" according to Screen Australia and industry website IMDB. Screen Australia describes the plot as following the tech billionaire Jake, who invites his childhood friends to his mansion for a poker game, however, those friends have a love-hate relationship with the host who has concocted an elaborate scheme designed to bring a certain justice to all of them. It's reported the film was to be filmed in America but moved to Australia. IN OTHER NEWS: A bustle of film production crew and trailers have been spotted at a car park south of the Kiama bends, with signs and security onsite alerting the general public the car park would be closed until August 18. The Mercury understands Poker Face will also be filmed in Berry, though a Kiama Council spokesman would not confirm if there were any other Kiama locations the Hollywood heavyweights would visit. "Council has received four requests for filming and photography in August in recent weeks," he said. "A number of these were for Bombo Quarry, which is currently closed due to the construction of our eco-walk staircase, or land not managed by council." Nardia Guillaumier of NEG Photography said she had spotted Crowe "walking down the street" several weeks ago but did not ask for an autograph as he was "entitled to enjoy the region in peace". "Welcome to our beautiful town," she posted to the star via Twitter. "We hope you enjoy our region ... you will love it here." The Illawarra and South Coast have been popular locations for television and film crews in recent years with TV, advertising and film companies applying to councils for film permits. Crowe will next show up in Thor: Love And Thunder starring Chris Hemsworth, scheduled for release in May 2022.

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/39334uWFriQ6mZbDw7tBDLC/b8a9c396-f7de-4c66-988a-9d7f8c104e5e.png/r4_0_1916_1080_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

International actor Russell Crowe has brought a Hollywood entourage to the NSW South Coast for the filming of a new big budget movie.

Crowe's latest project is expected to also star Liam Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky.

The southern part of the region remains clear of COVID-19 cases and without strict lockdown restrictions, a welcome opportunity for film producers.

Russell Crowe is filming his next major film Poker Face this week, which is expected to also star Liam Hemsworth. Pictures: Sylvia Liber & Supplied

A large entourage was seen arriving via helicopter to a prestige property near Bare Bluff yesterday, one day after Crowe tweeted a photo of an idyllic grassy seascape with the caption "Shooting in Kiama. What a beautiful place".

It's believed Hemsworth may have been among the A-Listers wearing COVID-safe masks upon landing.

Crowe's next major project is the action thriller Poker Face by Arclight Films International, in which he both stars and directs, and is currently "in filming" according to Screen Australia and industry website IMDB.

Screen Australia describes the plot as following the tech billionaire Jake, who invites his childhood friends to his mansion for a poker game, however, those friends have a love-hate relationship with the host who has concocted an elaborate scheme designed to bring a certain justice to all of them.

It's reported the film was to be filmed in America but moved to Australia.

A bustle of film production crew and trailers have been spotted at a car park south of the Kiama bends, with signs and security onsite alerting the general public the car park would be closed until August 18.

The Mercury understands Poker Face will also be filmed in Berry, though a Kiama Council spokesman would not confirm if there were any other Kiama locations the Hollywood heavyweights would visit.

"Council has received four requests for filming and photography in August in recent weeks," he said.

A-Listers arrive to a secluded location in Kiama on Tuesday, for filming on Russell Crowe's latest project which includes Liam Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky. Picture: Sylvia Liber

"A number of these were for Bombo Quarry, which is currently closed due to the construction of our eco-walk staircase, or land not managed by council."

Nardia Guillaumier of NEG Photography said she had spotted Crowe "walking down the street" several weeks ago but did not ask for an autograph as he was "entitled to enjoy the region in peace".

"Welcome to our beautiful town," she posted to the star via Twitter. "We hope you enjoy our region ... you will love it here."

The Illawarra and South Coast have been popular locations for television and film crews in recent years with TV, advertising and film companies applying to councils for film permits.

Crowe will next show up in Thor: Love And Thunder starring Chris Hemsworth, scheduled for release in May 2022.

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When Russell Crowe brings a Hemsworth and a film crew to town - Daily Liberal

The National Party's liberal and conservative factions are strained as the party reckons with voting against a ban on gay conversion therapy.

East Coast Bays MP Erica Stanford Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

National was the only political party that did not support the legislation through its first reading last week.

It was a caucus decision but it is now clear not all NationalMPs agreed on voting against the ban.

When it comes to gay conversion therapy, National MPs believe it is wrong.

But ask these same MPs about the government's proposed ban on conversion therapy and it is not so simple.

East Coast Bays MP Erica Stanford states the caucus'position has always been that 'gay conversion therapy is abhorrent'.

The National Party's primary concern is that the proposed ban on gay conversion therapy could land some parents in court.

Today, MPs were pressed on why the party didn't support the legislation through its first reading on principle, before using the select committee process to iron out the details.

Stanford lays blame at the government's feet.

"Kris Faafoi was the one who couldn't answer any of those questions when he was the one discussing his own bill so he's the one who set the cat among the pigeons in the public and politicians as well not being able to clearly say that parents would not be criminalised," she said.

Chris Penk - one of National's more conservative MPs - points out the legislation would have passed its first reading with or without National's support.

"It goes forward with or without us they've got the numbers already," he said.

Chris Bishop. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Chris Bishop's voting preference was made public after a conversation on Twitter, in which he admitted he hated his vote on the conversion therapy ban, was published.

However, he wouldn't repeat this on today's caucus run, reiterating his certainty the legislation can be shaped into a form National will support.

"I'm confident that we'll be able to get the bill into a shape where the caucus can support it in the second or third reading, National definitely does not support conversion therapy we do want it to be banned we just want it to be banned in the right way," he said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was very unlikely parents would be prosecuted for preventing their child from taking hormone blockers under the government's bill.

"It is just simply not that simple and again you would have to have an attorney general decide that that prosecution is a good idea I see that as highly unlikely," she said.

Ardern said it was disappointing National was withholding its support over a minor part of the bill that can be worked through at Select Committee.

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National's factions strained over gay conversion therapy ban - RNZ