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June 12, 2026

Austen Tayshus thinking

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Not enough people have opinions about things. I know it’s just my opinion, but I get a bit tired of people who aren’t prepared to stick their neck out and say something challenging.

Austen Tayshus is a lot of things – brash, insightful, insulting, fierce, inspired… you could certainly never accuse him of being a fence-sitter. Tayshus has been knocking fences down for decades now, and on the eve of his show at the Byron Services Club The Echo asked him what he thought…

On Tony Abbott
Should leave politics. He’s had 100 days and I think that’s enough – he should give someone else a go. Even yobbos and idiots agree, we’ve all had enough of Tony Abbott. He’ll be gone.

On gay marriage
The point is that whatever your opinion the inevitability is what people should consider. They have approved it in Mexico. Everyone has a right to do what they want. In a democracy why not. As a gay man myself I am happy living with Luis my footballer and we’ve adopted African kids and we are playing at the beach now. I love my partner.

On the pope
This guy seems to be a little more adventurous than the previous popes but give it away, give it away now. Everyone knows that the whole Jesus thing is made up and the whole religion thing is designed to give the Jews a hard time. But leave us out. We killed Jesus for a good reason. If he comes back we’ll get him again.

On the Catholic cover-up of paedophile priests in the church
Absolutely disgusting but it has been going on in the Jewish community and goes on everywhere where there is sexual repression. People have to be able to express themselves sexually how they want.

On Gina Rinehart I share a hairdresser with her. It’s a true story. She took my hairdresser around the world and wouldn’t let her out of the hotel because it takes her so long to look like a person. You don’t get everything in life. She looks like a pumice stone. It’s a shame.

On refugees
Basically everybody is a refugee in Australia and the only real Australians are the Aboriginals. They are the ones who should have a say. I think that they should let tonnes of people in here, check them out quickly, don’t let them suffer; they should never have children in detention centres. I just had my cat in the vet in the orange jumpsuit being water-boarded – my cat is an islamist.

Comedian Austen Tayshus appears at the Byron Services Club on Monday 6 January with Mandy Nolan MC and Paul McMahon as support. Tix are $20/25 and are available at the club or can be booked on 6619 0529.



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Load limit increased for Byron Creek Bridge

The load limit for Byron Creek Bridge has been increased to 24 tonnes, say Byron Shire Council, following structural analysis of the bridge.

Festival and event grants on offer

Community organisations are encouraged to apply for NSW government grants to bring cultural festivals and events to life across the state over the coming year.

Dr Bronwyn Bancroft wins prestigious Ochre Award

Bundjalung woman and artist Dr Bronwyn Bancroft AM has received the Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence.

The Pocket Winter Festival bringing you music, food and fun

The Pocket Winter Festival is set to return on Sunday, 21 June, from 10am to 2pm, bringing together the community for a day of music, food, entertainment and family fun at The Pocket Public School.