Is Australia its own Worst Enemy?

[Andu]

Sending the country (and its people) broke is a considered, conscious plan. The only people who will willingly adopt a socialist system are people with no money in their pockets, people who can only look to Big Brother to look after their needs with government handouts.

The gaping hole in this plan, (the same gaping hole that's been proven to be totally unavoidable in every country that has tried it, from the Soviet Union to the UK with its 'Welfare State' - but Australia will still try it, believing WE will get it right where it's been proven no one else has been able to [see my earlier post]), is that it relies upon someone to provide the money.

Who will that 'someone' be? The ever shrinking number of taxpayers in productive jobs? The mining companies? They (the mining companies) will stay as long as the rewards remain higher than the costs - and not a minute more. They'll pack up and move to other markets that offer higher rewards - and no carbon dioxide tax!!! - and come back only when government policies change to redress the rewards/costs balance.

[aroa]

Here in Bureaucratalia or Regulatastan, it works thus....

A Polly has a "brain snap".... Minister for the "Dept of The HOT Times to Come" puts the idea of cooling houses with ceiling insulation to.....

The BUREAUCRACY, which is given the task of implementing the program and oversighting costs and budget, making the "working rules" so it might happen.

But if that does not occur... and it all falls apart at the seams......

Who is ultimately responsible..? Well, no one really, its a collective thing.

Who ulimately pays the financial penalty yet again.? The taxpayers..!!
Forget all that, ... next project?

What is it with this country??? DMO have just blown $40 mil in the USA regarding IED proofing APCs. There are plenty of smart engineers and scientists in Oz... so why doesnt that money stay here, for our industry?.

The people causing this loss were probably seconded from the Sea Sprite project.!
Oops..! there goes another billion$. Nothing learned ?? History repeats itself.

And so it goes....

[jas24zzk]

BOB JOHNS
Yes Frank I couldnt agree more ,but Chamberlain had a Winston Churchill to bail them out. Id like to think Abbot is our man but whether he has the statesmanship to do it remains to be seen.

Abbot, and statemanship in the same sentence?? (wheres the puke icon)

I might not be old enough, but the ONLY aussie pollie to hold the ultimate seat that had any bearing of statemanship that I can recall would have to be Paul Keating. He dressed sharp, walked sharp, spoke sharp, and had the audacity to speak the truth when he didn't know the answer to something....heaven forbid with todays muppets! I guess I have liked more labour pollies than Lib's, doesn't mean I liked their policies tho.
Kim Beazely is prolly the nicest guy not to get a tilt at the top job, which just proves bull**** talks.

Bob Hawke........a total tragedy........at least he was patriotic.
Keating. At least had a vision.
Howard............f*cking garden gnome, with big cahoona's!. Took his tax changing policy (gst) to an election and gave us the choice.
KRudd. Only voted in because some elements of our community thought we needed a change.
Dillard. Simply the WORST politcian at any level I have ever seen. Hiding under the 'feminist umbrella' of being picked on because of the female gender. Being female, was probably the thing that got her party enough votes to form what she likes to call government. Being female isn't going to get her voted out....being **** is!.

Yabbot as an alternative....(wheres that spew icon again). Yabbot reminds me of a throwback to Hawke, but abbot lacks the charisma to make it successful.

Brown (sandwich). Everytime I see him at one of Dillards press conferences my blood boils. HE is NOT our prime minister, nor does he hold a ministerial position. what right does he have to stand there with our PM as if he represents us??????????? he should get back in his box and concentrate on coming up with the lunacy that is his parties existance.

[Worrals in the wilds]

there isn't a skerrick of naivete about Gillard - she knows exactly where she wishes to take this country, and that's to a place and a system of government that's anathema to me (and, I suspect, a majority of Australians who actually work for a living rather than sponge off 'the System' as a selected way of life). I used to think that. I used to think there was a plan but these days...Dunno.

A serious socialist wouldn't have come up with the Malaysia solution, because the socialist answer would have been to lay out the on-shore Welcome mats to the brudders, whatever the administrative cost involved in separating the brudders from the bombers. A serious socialist wouldn't have considered doing a deal with the Libs, because they are The Opposition. A serious socialist may have stood for everything you stand against... but they would have stood for something. You may have hated and loathed what they stood for but it would have been a principle. These guys in the current federal ALP...:confused: To quote The Who, WTF are you? Do they have a moral position on ANYTHING? Or is it all about the polls? Now they're blaming the Opposition for disagreeing with them? That's what the Libs are supposed to do! They're the Opposition FFS! :ugh:

This is a government who was so arrogant in its surety about offshore processing that it didn't even forumlate a backup plan in case the High Court Said No and both the Court and a lot of Artists Formerly Known as Labor Supporters said 'hang on a minute... the Malaysians? Don't they beat people with canes?:ouch: How is that Labor? Maybe this is about swapping Buddhist Burmese for Moslem MEasters because the Aussie/ Malaysian public will go for that, being dopey hateful racists and all? Maybe this will solve publicity problems for the Malay and Aussie governments because people are too dumb to notice'? Just a Maybe.

I agree about Brown. I hate the federal ALP for doing business with the little sniveller and kowtowing to his every word. What was he going to do, form a Coalition with the Coalition? :E The only principle that's apparent is: Anything for power.

[Andu]

Worrals, my argument is that Gillard will do anything (like all the spineless compromises you so accurately list) to maintain power for long enough to implement the Master Plan, phase one of which is to beggar the nation so that everyone is dependent on Big Brother.


Keating? Having seen him close up on quite a few occasions in his pre-PM days, I don't have a high opinion of the man. However, I will accept that compared with the misbegotten immigrant we have at the helm at the moment, (and her gender has nothing to do with it), Keating was a highly esteemed statesman of the first order.

But let's face an unpalatable truth - compared with Gillard (and to a not much lesser extent, Rudd), Ginger bloody Meggs could be considered to be a statesman.

[Zorro Polilla]

seriously this thread is better than the Jerry Springer show I'm right with you there avgas172 - there are few greater pleasures in life than sitting back with a freshly brewed coffee viewing the daily discomfiture and pitiful squealing of the disposessed born to rule, especially the blow-ins.

It must really get up the noses of the slow learners and doomsayers that Australia was the only developed western country in the entire world NOT to not fall into recession during the GFC thanks to the careful stewardship of Rudd/Gillard and especially Treasurer Wayne Swan.

An achievement which has now been recognised in the big wide world world which exists beyond the pond with Wayne Swan winning the prestigious global award of Finance Minister of the Year.

The only other Australian Treasurer to win the title from Euromoney magazine was Paul Keating in 1984, when he was dubbed the "world's greatest treasurer" by Bob Hawke.

Australia's longest-serving treasurer Peter Costello was never awarded the prize.
(http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/wayne-swan-named-finance-minister-of-the-year-by-euromoney-magazine/story-fn7x8me2-1226142070717)

Mr Swan will be presented with the gong at a reception in Washington this week.

Euromoney said he won for his "swift response" to stop Australia falling into recession amid the global financial crisis and for maintaining one of the world's best-performing economies.

"Mr Swan receives his award for his careful stewardship of Australia's finances and economic performance both during and since the global financial crisis," Euromoney said.

World Bank president Robert Zoellick said the award strengthened Mr Swan's "global influence".

An International Monetary Fund report predicts Australia's economy will grow by 3.3 per cent next year - far ahead of the 1.9 per cent average for advanced economies.

Onya Swanny!!

http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2011/09/16/1226139/259723-oakes.jpg

[CoodaShooda]

Nothing like starting the day with a bit of light humour Zorro.

While I'm not a great fan of Andrew Bolt, I'll leave the riposte to him on this occasion: :E

Congratulations to Treasurer Wayne Swan for winning the Euromoney 2011 Award for Best Finance Minister! May I also take a moment to congratulate some former Euromoney Award Winners:

Euromoney 2006 Best Investment Bank - Lehman Brothers (Busted 2007)
Euromoney 2006 Best Equity House - Morgan Stanley (Bailed out 2007)

Euromoney 2006 Best at Risk Management - Bear Stearns (Busted 2007)

Euromoney 2006 Best at Investor Services - Citigroup (Bailed out 2007)

And I’d like to note the favourable Euromoney commentary on AIG’s future, 2007 (bailed out 2007)

Hmmm… should we be worried?

UPDATE

Right on cue:

THE International Monetary Fund has slashed its economic forecasts for Australia, warning of a new global recession that would hit commodity prices and drive millions worldwide into unemployment....

The fund says Australia will grow at only 1.8 per cent this year, down from its previously forecast 3 per cent. The figure is way below the May budget forecast and only half the most recent Reserve Bank forecast, suggesting it will be harder than expected to reach the promised budget surplus in 2012-13. For 2012 the fund forecasts 3.3 per cent, down from 3.5 per cent.

But it points out that these are best-case forecasts, made on the assumption that almost everything goes right

[Captain Sand Dune]

pitiful squealing of the disposessed born to rule Sounds familiar. Nah, couldn't be!:E
blow-ins
Zorro Polilla. Joined: 22 Apr 11. Number of posts to date: 5. Hello pot, this is kettle - over.
It must really get up the noses of the slow learners and doomsayers that Australia was the only developed western country in the entire world NOT to not fall into recession during the GFC thanks to the careful stewardship of Rudd/Gillard and especially Treasurer Wayne Swan.
Of course the fact that they had a very healthy budget surplus left by the previous governemnt had nothing to do with that, did it?:rolleyes:
Australia's longest-serving treasurer Peter Costello was never awarded the prize.
I bet he doesn't care!!

[Frank Arouet]

And when they blew the budget surplus, they borrowed.

I can't think of one Labor Government who has left a surplus for in incoming Government.

Keating was a "wrecker" of the highest order.

[Ovation]

I'm sure it'll make Wayne feel good having some smoke blown up his @rse, but he's still the most incompetent :mad: Treasurer in my memory, having blown the surplus on projects that had little to do with nation building.

I would suggest his award was sponsored by the those in the EU who'll benefit handsomely from our Carbon Dioxide tax or failing that, he was the only nominee.

[sisemen]

They've managed to sneak past the guard post and it would appear that 'they' are back!

Should be entertaining for a while - until they get this thread canned.

[Pinky the pilot]

Treasurer Wayne Duck, er sorry Swan, winning the Euromoney 2011 Award for Best Finance Minister!

Does anyone else think that this award could also be considered the 'Kiss of Death?':eek::hmm:

Considering who awarded it, previous winners and the state of European finances in general.....

Someone has a sense of humour anyway.:rolleyes:

[Worrals in the wilds]

A new poster called Zorro? :hmm:
Let's see now... insults about other posters being posh, zany political cartoons and lots of economic numbers.

G'day RTB. Long time no post.
:}

[MTOW]

Alan Jones (yeah, I know) asked this morning when commenting on the duck's award whether it was April Fool's Day.

If Swan really is the best Finance Minister in the world, I think we all should be really, really worried about the immediate future, especially in regard to the financial crisis looming in Europe (esp. Greece). If, (as it would seem from the awarding of this prestigious prize), the EU financial experts who will be dealing with the coming Greek (and Irish, Spanish, Portguese, Italian?) crisis (crises?) are all lesser financial managers than Wayne Swan, we - that's the whole world - are in real trouble.

I saw a comment in the paper this morning attributed to one of Barak Obama's inner circle, where he said that they, (those in the White House running the US economy), were "Home Alone", i.e., there wasn't an adult with any real world experience among them.

[bob johns]

The Whining Swine worlds best money manager? What next? Robert Mugabe (Frasers soulmate.)getting an Honorary degree in something from the ANU? .Oh bugger ,he already has!!!The mind boggles.

[sisemen]

It's like a bottle of turps being awarded the 'Best red wine label' in show.

Means totally cock all to anyone apart from the designers of the label no matter how much the producers of the contents of the bottle try to big it up.

If Swanny hadn't had WA and Queensland and the BIG bag of cash that Costello left him does anyone really think that he would have come up with the goods? He knows it.

[MattGray]

Little Johnny - a congenital liar - still lieing through his teeth like a true blue Lieberal ten years on from the BS on which he took Australia into two unwinnable wars.


JOHN Howard has deleted from the paperback edition of his book the story that, on his first weekend in The Lodge as prime minister, the Howards invited Robert Menzies's daughter, Heather Henderson, and her husband, Peter, for celebratory martinis.

This follows a letter from Mrs Henderson to Mr Howard on December 21 last year rejecting his account, branding it as "quite fanciful" and asking him to remove it from future editions of his book.

"I was astonished when I read his account because it didn't happen," Mrs Henderson told The Weekend Australian this week. (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/john-howards-phantom-toast-to-menzies/story-fn59niix-1226139422589)

She said that during the 11 years Mr Howard was prime minister she and her husband were never invited to The Lodge as a couple to celebrate or to recall the memory of her father, the founder of the Liberal Party.

In her letter to Mr Howard, Mrs Henderson said: "An invitation to The Lodge is not something that is forgotten. Nor, indeed, is no invitation."

And yet we have the sheer hypocrisy of those who should be sitting in the dunce's corner with the pointy hat on for sanctimoniously and childishly referring to the PM of Australia as Juliar.

:ugh:

[Captain Sand Dune]

Because lying about who attended a cocktail party is so much worse than standing in front of the Australian people and telling them that no government she leads will introduce a carbon tax.:rolleyes:

[Fubaar]

Grasping at (martini?) straws there, just a teensy weensy bit, are we MattGray?

"There will bee no carbon tax under a government eye leayd."

Anyone else remember Krudd's very youthful (and very misguided) 'inner circle'? I think the Rudd/Gillard governments could also be classed as kids "Home Alone" - unfortunately, with their hands so damned deep in the cookie jar, they've gone through its bottom.

[MTOW]

An interesting point was raised on the Andrew Bolt blog this morning regarding the teaser scene the ABC released in trying to drum up an audience for 'At Home with Julia', where Julair and Tim are shown post coitus under an Australian flag.

The question? Would the outcry have been any different (or louder) and from different sectors of the community if they'd been shown having done the same under the Aboriginal Flag?

It's an interesting question, and one that raises similar points to the (apparently fashionable in some quarters) mocking of Christianity versus making any even vaguely disparaging comments about 'That Other Religion'.

[Super Cecil]

It's an interesting question, and one that raises similar points to the (apparently fashionable in some quarters) mocking of Christianity versus making any even vaguely disparaging comments about 'That Other Religion'.
Glad you mentioned that, I think we need more mosques in OZ. I like the tall spiral sahped things, also on a hot summer night there's nothing better than that bloke sitting up the top wailing away. I'm sure Andrew Bolt and Alun Jones would agree.

[sisemen]

One also wonders what the reaction would have been had Todd Sampson worn a T shirt which said "Black People Make Me Nervous" on the Gruen Transfer

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c92/allan907/GruenTransfer.jpg

[Captain Sand Dune]

Now come on, guys!
Everyone knows that only white Anglo-Saxon Christians are racist.:E

[bob johns]

Yes sand dunes I seem to have been on the end ,.of that, and for that clown in the T shirt I really hope he is (nervous )

[Wiley]

Oz media today having a wonderful time NOT getting an answer from a number of Labor politicians to the question: "Has Kevin Rudd been in touch with you raising the subject of a leadership challenge?" One Queensland Senator, (I missed his name), was incredibly inept in his refusal to answer the question, where Albanese, (while careful not to actually answer the question), did so with a bit more aplomb.

Meanwhile, the boss of the Health Services Union has taken leave of absence and the union has brought in an independent tribunal to look into the union's procedures, and in particular, secret commissions...

It will be particularly interesting to see what it says about the use of union credit cards.

As much as I'm deeply disappointed in Julia Gillard's performance since she grabbed power, I seem to recall that I was REALLY disappointed in Kevin Rudd's performance as well leading up to his (then welcome) ousting. If he manages to get back in the top job, his history would suggest that he'll find it very difficult not to indulge in quite a bit of payback. (Leopards and spots is the phrase that comes to mind.)

The major pitfall I can see if he did that is that afterwards, there'd be precious few left to man the front bench.

[Frank Arouet]

MattGray;

May I quote Wiley in part?

be precious few left to man the front bench

But like most polypeptide deficient persons of your calibre, you will be there to man the trenches. Madly wanking away to try and replicate that initial rush that every drug addict has realised needs a logarithmical increase to maintain his status at the bottom of the pit. Little believing as do most addicts, that all you have is nothing but an incureable pathetic addiction to a wasted way of life.

[JMEN]

And there goes Fosters...

[Andu]

This morning I watched Brendan O'Connor announce the arrival of two more boats and now Juliar Gillard give a press conference. Bruce Hawker's "phrase of the day" to all Labor spokesmen is obviously "Mister Abbott". Both O'Connor and Gillard repeated the Opposition leader's name over and over and over again (and again!), squeezing it in at every opportunity blaming Tony Abbott for the flood of boats we will now see (they say) because he will not support their Malaysian "solution".

As earth-shattering as this issue might be to some, I have a feeling in my bones that events on the financial front in Europe will, over the next few days and weeks, make us all wish irregular immigration was our only problem.

...and that's not allowing for Our Kev's stirring of the leadership pot.

[404 Titan]

Isn’t it funny how the Labor government don’t criticise the Greens (Brant) and though I haven’t checked the other independents Windsor and Oakshot for not supporting the bill. Of course they can’t rock the boat too hard otherwise their fragile alliance and hence grip on power may just fall apart. Hypocrites is probably the best word to describe the ALP.

[wishiwasupthere]

I had to laugh this morning when I heard on the radio one of our esteemed 'leaders' from the Labour party say something along the lines of 'Tony Abbott is the best friend to the people smugglers!!" Thats a bit rich coming from the Labour party!

And stop describing things as being in the 'national interest' Juliar!! If you were really concerned about the national interest you'd be stepping down and taking your disgraceful government with you.

[Pinky the pilot]

Anyone else note the article in The Australian today by Graham 'whatever it takes' Richardson?

Seems even he has given up on Juliar. Meantime, KRudd stirs the pot working the phones. :uhoh:

There will be tears and bitterness in the not too distant future methinks.

[LeadSled]

Folks,
According to Can'tborough's red hot rumor mill, TinTin is only 9 votes short of rolling one of the Julias. What an incestuous pit of vipers, is it the warm weather?? (meaning no disrespect for snakes in the grass).

The interests of the country as as far down the order of Labor political priorities that it looks like the QF boards view of QF staff and shareholders.
Tootle pip!!

[Andu]

TinTin is only 9 votes shortWill those who back Krudd now be forgiven for helping hold the knife 12 months ago?

Methinks not... or certainly not totally.

Fiddling...
Rome...
Burns...
are three of four words that immediately come to mind when I watch this sorry crew in action.


Aggghhhh!! Just when I thought things couldn't get worse, I was proven wrong. Sarah HansenhypenYoung just came on screen!!

Oh no!! Followed immediately by Krudd.

Followed immediately by Julair.

Talk about OD-ing on a bad batch of smack!

[CoodaShooda]

So it's Tony Abbott's fault that the boats started coming again when Julia's policy was introduced to replace the Pacific Solution. True! I think it was Shorten making the claim in debate yesterday. Apparently the opposition didn't vote against the changes back then; so it's their fault now that the policy hasn't worked.

Doesn't matter that Abbott wasn't opposition leader at the time. He's the nom du jour.

Now Julia thinks she has the solution, even though all her other ideas have failed - so we can trust her that she's right this time. But that nasty Mr Abbott won't support her draft and she won't support his alternative - so that's all his fault too that neither version will get through both houses.

And apparently, if her legislation doesn't get through this time, no future government can apparently legislate for off shore processing in the future.

And that's all Mr Abbott's fault too.

Pulllleeeassse!!!!!!!

Doesn't she realise that, every time she accuses Abbott of causing her a problem, she is highlighting both the failures of her policies and her inability to lead this country.

That Mr Abbott bloke sure must be a strong leader. Look at what the Prime Minister says he can make happen. And look how she can't get anything through him.

She's behaving like a little girl who can't get her way and is stamping her foot and blaming everybody else for her shortcomings.

She should try "honest leadership" for a change - but I don't think it's in her makeup.

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

Deckhairs...Titanic....wish it would just hurry up and sink.

[Andu]

Wonder what she'd do if Abbott voted in favour of the Malaysian deal after announcing he didn't like it, but would support it "in the national interest" (or some other self-serving phrase)?

She'd have major egg on her face when #810 asylum seeker arrived. (Not that I think the Malaysians have any intention of taking anyone they can find the slightest excuse to refuse entry.)

[Andu]

Wonder what she'd do if Abbott had the Opposition vote in favour of the Malaysian deal after announcing he didn't like it, but would support it "in the national interest" (or some other self-serving phrase)?

She'd have major egg on her face when #810 asylum seeker arrived. (Not that I think the Malaysians have any intention of taking anyone they can find the slightest excuse to refuse entry.)

[sisemen]

Anyone remember the scenes from the floor of the House on the morning after Krudd's knifing?

Abbott went to the middle of the floor to shake Juliar's hand and the microphones picked up her triumphant comment ...."Game's on"

Well, it certainly is Juliar and it would appear to be the case that you're the loser. The only person who appears to be in denial about that is Juliar herself.

I guess the likes of the "dear departed" and the recent Lazarus reincarnations of the same are squirming right now (and probably have been for a while).

[CoodaShooda]

I guess the likes of the "dear departed" and the recent Lazarus reincarnations of the same are squirming right now

Can't say that I agree with that sisemen.

They have a sort of air of desperation about them that smacks of the true, righteous fanatic.

If labor is failing as a government, it's all the fault of people who think differently to them. Nothing to do with labor's actions whatsoever. :E

[CoodaShooda]

And an e-mail doing the rounds:

Last Saturday afternoon, in Canberra, an aide to Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd visited the Bishop of the Catholic Cathedral in Canberra . He told the Cardinal that Kevin would be attending the next day's Mass, and he asked if the Cardinal would kindly point him out to the congregation and say a few words that would include calling Kevin a saint. The Cardinal replied, "No. I don't really like the man, and there are issues of conflict with the Catholic Church over certain of his views." Rudd's aide then said, "Look, I'll write a cheque here and now for a donation of $100,000 to your church if you'll just tell the Congregation you see Kevin as a saint." The Cardinal thought about it and said, "Well, the church can use the money, so I'll work your request into tomorrow's sermon."

As the aide promised, Foreign Minister Rudd appeared for the Sunday worship and seated himself prominently at the forward left side of the centre aisle. As promised, at the start of his sermon, the Cardinal pointed out that Mr Rudd was present. The Cardinal went on to explain to the congregation, "While Mr Rudd's presence is probably an honor to some, the man is not numbered among my personal favorite personages. Some of his most egregious views are contrary to tenets of the Church, and he tends to flip- flop on many other issues. Kevin Rudd is a petty, self -absorbed hypocrite, a thumb sucker, and a nit-wit. He is also a serial liar, a cheat, and a thief. I must say, Kevin Rudd is the worst example of a Christian I have ever personally witnessed. He married for money and is using his wealth to lie to the Australian People. He also has a reputation for shirking his Representative Obligations both in Canberra , in Queensland and overseas. The man is simply not to be trusted." The Cardinal concluded, "But, when compared with Prime Minister Gillard, Foreign Minister Rudd is a saint."

[Andu]

We must be on the same mailing list, Cooda. I got that one myself.

I've been trolling through 'The Weekend Australian' this morning. Multiple articles from different journalists on two widely disparate subjects: Julia Gillard (and the increasing consensus that her days as the denizen of the BoganVilla are numbered) and some old Commie called Walter Seddon Clayton who, before he died, confirmed that the Petrov affair was definitely not (as the Labor luvvies and the MSM constantly tell us) a beat up by Menzies to embarrass Doc Evatt and the ALP. Instead, he said that he was the top man in the CPA (Communist Party of Australia) and that all those people in the Department of Foreign Affairs who were named but never prosecuted were very much his agents and were, via him, passing everything on to Moscow.

Given that we now have an ex-(yeah, right)-CPA member (and the child of two hard core CPA members) now serving as a senator for... (now what Party is the lady representing?), his closing comment to interviewer Desmond Ball is illuminating: "He said that with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, communists had "lost the first round". However, he enthusiastically awaited "the next round", telling me about the next generation of covert communists and referring me to the children of those who had been in his spy network."

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

Gillard isn't the first Fabian PM of Australia. But she's certainly a lot less subtle about it than people like Hawke, Keating etc. (though perhaps not Whitlam) I think they have been emboldened by the way comrades Blair and Brown got away with completely trashing the UK.

They need to be recognised for what they are before they destroy democracy completely, I hope Australia with it's inbuilt distrust of politicians will be the place where the Fabian dominoes start to fall...(the americans seem to have realised that perhaps nice Mr Obama is another one of them too)

Either the sheeple will wake up and the comrades will all disappear into political obscurity, or if given much longer they will take their whole down countries with them.

:sad:

[Back Pressure]

This thread is immensely entertaining :D

Rarely have I read such fatuous right-wing paranoia as is displayed here.

Good thing Ronald Duck banned all the guns - will I see a lot of you out in the streets machine-gunning anybody who looks like they may have the slightest left-leaning tendencies ? What about people who are sunburned - they will be red !!

Many seem to be overlooking the natural inclination of conservative politics to heavily favour big business at the expense of the far greater working population. Do you sincerely believe that a body such as QF management would be "better" for it's staff under a Liberal (or coalition) government ? Anybody remember Work Choices ? How would pilots, engineers etc be faring now under that regime ?

[sisemen]

KJ2Oi3EQkr4....................................

[LeadSled]

CFI,
In my view, that Julia was apparently a member of the original Socialist Alliance ( and her parent were the founders of that organisation) is far more significant than reputed membership of the Fabian Society.

The original Socialist Alliance was a breakaway group from the Communist Party of Australia, CPA. The breakaway occurred after the CPA denounced Stalin's slaughter in (as I recall) Hungary in the 1950s. It probably should have been called the Stalinist Party of Australia.

Few Labour politicians in the UK have not been members of the Fabians, in Australia, Fabians have had little policy or practical impact on Australian Labor.

Tootle pip!!

[Frank Arouet]

Anybody remember Work Choices ?

Anyboody remember No carbon tax, pink batts, cash for clunkers, BER, green loans, Live cattle exports, the recession we had to have, the destruction of the family unit under Whitlam, Political correctness, forced unionism, the untouchable Wharfies, Union Steamship Company, Jack Munday/ Joe Owens, Green Bans, Concrete pours walk off's, Bob Brown, Christine Miln, Oakshott, Windsor, The Future Funds, The borrowings, the interest on the borrowings, The defecit, The private BBJ of Rudd to keep him out of her way, the GG's son in law, The GG's flower account, not to mention the wholesale import of illegal immigrant jumping ahead of the progression of the refugee camps overseas, The rampart break down in law and order, anarchy, home invasions, rape because a girl was a good sort, (her fault), An impotent judicial system, Out of control bureaucracy's, (CASA and DOCS), poofters and lesbians in control of vital government functions, and;

Public acceptable stupidity in voting for the fools in the first place.

Back pressure on the brain of posters who maintain the impetus of Gillard.

Yours sincerely,
(A Redneck aparantly).

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

Frank....you forgot Herpes, tooth-decay and flat beer.

[bob johns]

Definition of a racist and a redneck? Someone who has won an argument with a multi culturalist and a greenie!!!!

[VK2TVK]

Right now Singapore is hosting a night time F1 race with enough lighting to power a small country for a month, and China is commissioning a new coal fired power station every week to keep up with demand.

The USA is still using more oil per day that the rest of the world combined, not to mention the combined emissions from China and Europe.

Meanwhile, in Australia, all the hippy wankers are praising these labor F-(kwits for introducing the worlds biggest carbon tax, in a country that is producing about 0.001% of all emissions..

Anyone that think we are world leaders and the rest of the world will follow suit is stupid.. Australia is merely a pimple on the arse-cheek of world politics..

Way to go people...

:D:D

[Worrals in the wilds]

And an e-mail doing the rounds:Cute, but it would never happen. Rudd's a Convert. The Catholic Church hates converts more than unbelievers, just ask the Inquisition (sorry, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:cool:). Contrary to popular opinion, an heretic is not an unbeliever but a Catholic who has turned against the Church. Just ask Galileo :eek:.

Many seem to be overlooking the natural inclination of conservative politics to heavily favour big business at the expense of the far greater working population.This is a problem. Incompetents on the left, enemy on the right, which way to turn? Howard's government had a lot of quiet (ie secret :suspect:) support from workers who were dissillusioned with the ALP and liked the self proclaimed no-nonsense (ie right wing) approach to issues like immigration and environment. That came to a screaming halt with Work Choices, where a fair chunk of the demograph thought 'do I vote for worse conditions when I've heard what even the reasonably ambivalent company I work for has planned? Hell no. :mad:' Hence Kevin 07.

Unfortunately Kevin 07 turned out to be a bit...embarassing. Jools The Saviour turned out to be Jools The Debacle, ably supported by the Greens who leaped at the chance to show the disbelievers just how freaky they are. Now we're left with two equally unappetizing options and a bunch of crazy rednecks/treehuggers. Stoked. :{

As always, being a Queenslander and all that I take exception to being called a redneck because I have the audacity to think the current ALP suck. I'm neither right wing nor particularly paranoid, but even a trainee guide dog can see that they're pretty ordinary. Who's supposed to tell them that? They're not listening to the rank and file, the more honest/vocal unions have been sidelined or actively demonised, Richo is a lone voice in The Australian wilderness and the ALP overlords just keep on trucking.

Just like an ex long haul truckie friend who told me a story about how he woke up with his head on the steering wheel of a road train and a strange 'doonk...doonk...doonk' sound. It was the crash barriers bouncing off his front wheel after he fell asleep at the wheel west of Charleville, as a council road works crew dived for the ditch...:ooh:

IMO this is the ALP at present, freewheeling in an out of control truck with no-one in control. All ye true believers, keep on trucking. You honestly think they're awesome? Good for you. Like the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith who ignored evil forces within the Church in the interests of PR and at the expense of decency, when the ALP vision blows up in a cloud of focus group wankers and corporate spin, you'll be seen as the Good People who allowed it to happen in the interest of preserving the Organization. Hopefully. Maybe you'll all snivel out of it on the 'we were misinformed' liferaft. :yuk:The scale is different (what the Church covered up was far worse than simple political incompetence) but as a formerly loyal member of both organziations, I see similarities in the approach. Now? I Believe in nothing. It's very liberating. :ok:

As with the Church, the Organization has a problem. To many high ranking officials, The Organization has become more important than the people it was supposed to protect. In both cases, the people at the bottom are saying 'what are you trying to achieve? Why should I support you'?:confused:

I'm glad we're amusing. Keep laughing it up. Come election day we'll see who's jubilant. Too bad the decision's not exclusively in the hands of the :cool: people and the rednecks/dissillusioned still get a vote. I'm sure you're working on that. :}

[Frank Arouet]

Deepsea Racing Prawn;

You mention Herpes?

Didn't you leave that back in Jetblast after you and your many other psychotic identities got the thread closed down. Good luck with this one. Pommies don't have a sense of political humour, but Australians can spot a fraud miles away and laugh at blokes like you.

Anyone who uses sexual disease as an excuse for their company they keep is probably too lazy to masterbate.

BTW Have I put a pox on you yet? I forget you see.:)

[Blanik3]

Oh my,Deep Sea Racing Prawn,it would appear that you have grievously upset Frank.Now I don't know where Frank hails from but,I suspect,he can hear banjo music wafting on the breeze most nights.

[sisemen]

Herpes? Something nasty that you can't get rid off and affects your performance?

Sounds like Jooliar and the ALP to me :E

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

poofters and lesbians in control of vital government functions

"There's one in the spotlight, he don't look right to me,
get him up against the wall..."

[CoodaShooda]

Meanwhile, in Australia, all the hippy wankers are praising these labor F-(kwits for introducing the worlds biggest carbon tax, in a country that is producing about 0.001% of all emissions..

Anyone that think we are world leaders and the rest of the world will follow suit is stupid.. Australia is merely a pimple on the arse-cheek of world politics..


Seems that the USA, Canada and NZ are now hurriedly moving away from emission trading schemes and carbon taxes.

Given her zeal in pursuing her carbon tax, I guess Julia expects that her pursuit of same is going to give us a trading advantage against our traditional (carbon ignoring) partners. :confused:

I just wish she'd let me in on the secret of how such an advantage is to be gained while the cost and risk of doing business in Australia are increased by her government's actions. :hmm:

PS Will someone let me know if the usual suspects post anything worth taking the time to read. For the moment, they're back on the ignore list.

PPS Do you think that there is enough time left before the next election for us all to realise how lucky we are to be living in the Socialist Paradise of Australia? Such enlightenment of the masses seems to be labor's only hope for survival as a viable political farce.

[Andu]

Is there anyone else out there who, like me, don't think Ms Gillard will still be PM come the New Year unless she comes up with some extraordinary sleight of hand... (sorry) 'success' or new policy that succeeds in turning voter opinion her way?

After listening to Labor spin doctor Bruce Hawker on the ABC this morning, I can't help but feel that the Labor Faceless Men's current master Plan is to slip Krudd back into the seat, have him repeal all the really unpopular policies, (carbon tax, [and most importantly] Andrew Wilkie's pokies plan), and then call an election before people have time to see (again!) the evidence of what a total dead loss Krudd still is - and will be. (Even they recognise that they have to rid themselves of the Brown Watermelon anvil they've placed around their own necks.)

Sadly, I believe there are enough voters out there who could well fall for it.

[sisemen]

I'm not so sure. Krudd is such an egotist that you have to wonder whether he would be willing to take the reins of an organisation that is doomed at the polls.

There would have to be more than a high percentage chance of turning the thing around for him to step up to the plate now. And, given the lessons of very recent history, a change of leader at the last minute don't necessarily work too well. :E

I suspect that Krudd is laying the ground to take over before the election after this coming one. A middle of the road "safe pair of hands" is the more likely choice to take over from the doomed witch. At least that course of action has a chance of succeeding as I am sure that a Government led by Abbott won't be a happy one.

[Dark Knight]

my Local Member and Senators. Cc Tony Abbott & my previous Liberal Member (redistributed unfortunately)
************************************************************ **********

Dear Prime Minister Gillard

Your article in this morning’s paper is a further gross distortion of the truth.

You know as well as I and the Australian public know that when Labor assumed office the previous government led by PM John Howard had, for all intents and purposes, stopped the boats, the detention centres were empty and the refugee activists silent for lack of `clients’.

PM Kevin Rudd, you and Labor changed the policy leading to an increasing flood of illegal entrants, aliens at an as yet unaccounted cost exceeding a billion hard earned taxpayer dollars.

Since the change you, Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen, others and the Labor Government have floundered around in a litany of deceit, deception, dishonest and untruths losing control and unable to protect Australia’s borders. Each new twist and turn is done with increasing deceit, deception, dishonesty and untruths failing to resolve the issue compounding it further.

Do you seriously think I and my fellow Australians are so stupid we cannot see through the continuous deceit and untruthfulness?

Do you really think you can treat us as idiots?

I remind you Prime Minister in accordance with OUR Constitution it is the Parliament that makes the decisions; not the Labor Party, The Greens, Liberals, National or Independents but the Parliament. If you as Prime Minister and the Labor Party cannot present Legislation to the Parliament and have it passed this is the fault of the Prime Minister and Labour – No one else!

If the you as Prime Minister are not big enough to admit the mistakes made, return to a system that worked and make it work again then you are not big enough to be Prime Minister if my, OUR COUNTRY!

If you are unable to do this I strongly suggest you should seriously reconsider your position.

I can assure you that if I am unable to impress upon the you as Prime Minister and Labor Party the need for you and Labor to fully reconsider your/their position you will not believe how hard I and others will work, how much leather we will expend to ensure you and Labor are cast into the wilderness if not for decades but forever.

Trusting this will receive your urgent consideration.

Yours Faithfully

[china777]

I am surprised that you and many Australians who were born in Australia, blocking their eyes to the truth that we who have come to Australia by boats, which came from the ocean and many of these boats sank and died a lot and you are here talking about taxes and you do not care about the lives of these people before they put their feet on the possible that an old boats sink at any time .

And you talk about how to stop the boats from coming to Australia and blame the Prime Minister, praising the former here and there and a lot of talk that makes you a man and then Haha
We are here with you study and grow, and now hold the certificates match what you have.

Aha, I guessed you would say I do not know how to speak English properly!
You are pathetic, my dear, and I will tell you I'm Australian and I am also an Australian, in spite of you dear
:O

[blackhand]

Aha, I guessed you would say I do not know how to speak English properly!
You are pathetic, my dear, and I will tell you I'm Australian and I am also an Australian, in spite of you dear
You are most welcome to live in Australia, Grasshopper.
We have no problem understanding your Englush.
Perhaps you might consider not to be rude to your new countrymen.
Part of our culture is to punch you on nose should you be rude too much.

Cheers
BH

[Dark Knight]

Me ole' China forgets to mention that where he may or not originate from and many other countries one has visited or lived in, the rules regarding entering those counties are far stricter than ours nor are any benefits `given' to such illegal entrants.

Further illegal entrants are usually detained & treated in conditions we would not let our dogs live in or treat them thus.

When visiting/working in other countries one appreciated one having been granted the privilege to and given the permission to enter and/or reside/work there and one was obliged to obey that country and peoples Law.

Is it to much to ask the same here in MY, OUR COUNTRY?

[MTOW]

(Me old) china777, I think you'll find that the vast majority of Australians are quite welcoming to newcomers who choose to come to Australia, particularly as refugees - if they come by our front door and go through the same procedures to be admitted here as just about everyone else who now lives here who wasn't born here did.

I also think you'll find that that a similar vast majority (if not exactly the same people) get really annoyed when they see people sidestepping those procedures by coming here uninvited and by the back door, (i.e., via boat!), thereby shoving far more deserving people further and further down the queue.

Particularly when those people throw away their travel documents before presenting themselves here UNINVITED, the same travel documents they used to get to and through a half dozen or more other countries, in not one of which they suffered any persecution.

[Saltie]

I thought the photograph on the front page of last Saturday's Weekend Australian said it all. The lastest batch of "refugees" (!) smiling from ear to ear as they were taken aboard the RAN ship, looking as though they'd all just won the lottery - which is exactly what they have done.

The only problem is that the hapless Australian taxpayer will be providing the payout to these winners - and all the winners' extended families. And if these latests lottery winners behave as over 80% of those who've come before them, they'll keep taking those handouts for yerars and years and years to come.

The Australian courts are about to decide on an appeal by an Iranian minor who turned 18 before he could get his family out here on the "minors separated from their family" lurk.. sorry, clause. Being 18, he is no longer eligible to get the family out under that clause - so he's appealing, saying that he wasn't 18 when he first made the application. Five will get you ten that the courts will find in his favour and and another floodgate will open.

I think the next 100 successful asylum seekers should be housed in ATCO huts in Sarah Hansen-Young's front yard.

[jas24zzk]

Seriously,
the worst has to be that algerian terrorist that they can't deport because he now holds dual citizenship.

Seriously!!! after 3 attempts to deport him, why was he given citizenship in the first place????????????? :eek::eek:

I have a paki mate who came by boat. He brought along his documentation, and was in detention less than 2 weeks, the major hold up being the medical/blood tests to check for all the nasties they have in that part of the world.

At least he brought some skills in and is now gainfully employed.

I think it should be simple, no docs...out the door you go!

Jas.

btw, i have nothing against anyone trying to find a better life...just how these muppets go about it.

[bob johns]

About 20 years ago when I was temporaly domiciled in Sydney I had a next door neighbour who had the appearance of being a full blood Chinese ,as did his charming Wife.They both spoke impeccable English with an Aussie accent. They were 5 th generation Aussies(?) I thought What good people .Then one day I was having a yarn over a beer ,when I got the impression that I was talking to a new immigrant.When I asked that ,if push came to shove with China ,where would he stand(?)and the answer was ,with China of course! as we are Chinese ,we just happen to live in Australia! Cop all the benefits of a stable Anglo -Saxon Christian country until it suits them then bite the hand that has fed them .Well when a dog does that then you shoot it.

[Zorro Polilla]

When I asked that ,if push came to shove with China ,where would he stand(?)and the answer was ,with China of course! as we are Chinese ,we just happen to live in Australia! Cop all the benefits of a stable Anglo -Saxon Christian country until it suits them then bite the hand that has fed them .Well when a dog does that then you shoot it.Suck it up Princess. :ok:

He who pays the piper calls the tune.

And here we have a Liberal government waiting in the wings backed by funds flowing from the Chicoms directly into the pockets of their two largest supporters Palmer and Rinehart. Both of which have a publicly declared policy of bringing in low paid Chinese "guest workers" to displace Australian workers.

And hypocrites here have the unmitigated hide to point the finger at Fabians and get their knickers in a twist over a few boat people.:ugh:

Liberals :yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk:

Start taking your Mandarin lessons girls.

[bob johns]

At your peril !---- Rednecks ??? You had better believe it, mate, because we aint going to let --,That-- happen!!!-------Anyway ,Zero, You wont get another reply from me-- like you latte mate! --kindly piss off and mind your own business --- like a good chap.

[Frank Arouet]

Gillard was today seen spruiking her "reforms" as comparable to the "Industrial Revolution". Now she's becoming delusional. All this while Rudd yesterday referred to himself as The prime Minister. Reckoned it was a freudian slip caused by jetlag.

Good one Kev.

It amazes me that the due process of the electoral system expects us "Liberals" (and I'm not necessarily one), to abide by the decision of the voters, (however convoluted they may arrive at it), yet those from Labor and every other fringe dweller they may feel the need to massage their ego's believe it their right to strike, cause public mischief, carry out acts of anarchy and the conservatives, when they are in, should just cop it.

I'm used to that $hit, but to expect anybody to support what can only be a criminal rabble as a government of the day is unreasonable.

Before you go on, how about turning a $23billion surplus into a $202 billion defecit. And Swan is the worlds best treasurer?

And all done without mirrors, just incompetence or planned destruction.

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

but to expect anybody to support what can only be a criminal rabble as a government of the day is unreasonable.

Nice hyperbole, Frank.

Maybe you could elaborate on this criminal behaviour.

[Andu]

That was "hyperbowl", was it, DSRPrawn?

[Frank Arouet]

It may have been hiper-bowle, but I've forgotten. Wayne K Prawn would know.

Maybe you could elaborate on this criminal behaviour

Lets start with purjury. As in swearing an oath of office. (or can't we believe Athiests taking an alternative affirmation). Yes, by golly gee, Athiests are good people when it comes to telling the truth.

[Blanik3]

well hell,Frank one didn't realise that it was mandatory to be Christian to tell the truth. I'll have a bet you won't come back and argue with me because you're not that bright and the Racing Prawn has you on the money.Then again ,I could be guilty of 'Hyperbowl'.Actually Frank ,when I think of it,we could engage in real discussion but,as I suspect you, have no real interest in that .

[Blanik3]

Sorry Andu missed the gag. Julia didn't really help herself with that one.

[Frank Arouet]

It's not about Christianity, Islam, or any other religion, but an oath of office. If you elect to be an Athiest, then I understand an affirmation carries the eqivalent value. Either way I expect that elected Minister to tell the truth and not lie in spite of the sworn statement.

And yes, you're correct, I couldn't be bothered arguing with you.

The Raw Prawn and yourself have a vote each, exercise that right and lets see how you go next time. In the interim cop the flak that's due to the present incumbants over a multitude of cock-up's, lies and dippy reforms.

[Neville Nobody]

Cranky Franky said
Lets start with purjury. As in swearing an oath of office. (or can't we believe Athiests taking an alternative affirmation). Yes, by golly gee, Athiests are good people when it comes to telling the truth.

Your imaginary invisible friend makes sure you always tell the truth Frank? :8 Bewdy, it's always heartning when you hear religous folks talk about how decent they are, gotta love those wacky invisible friends :}

[Fubaar]

On the ABC this morning, the presenter was asking people to call/text/email in with birfdaay (sorry... birthday) wishes for Jools, as today is her big 5-oh.

He said he was unable to read out most, and a (vast) majority were anything but complimentary. (One of the more presentable was "Enjoy this birthday in the Lodge, Julia. It'll be your last.")

I thought something along the lines of (in my best Amanda Bishop/Julia voice):

"There will be no birfdaay presents at any party eye holde."

[MTOW]

Not as off topic as some might think.

Your taxes at work in multicultural Australia (taken from the Andrew Bolt blog).

An opportunity exists within the Community Planning Partnerships and Performance Department for a motivated Project Officer. This is a temporary, full-time (38hrs per week) position....

You will be responsible for implementing the Salam Alaykum -Darebin’s Muslims Reaching Out project, funded by the Federal Attorney General’s department.

You will be responsible for:
• Working in partnership with the Islamic Society of Victoria to strengthen its role and effectiveness in organising events, dealing with the media, resolving conflicts, and managing stakeholders
• Developing and implementing activities that assist the Islamic Society of Victoria to dispel myths and misconceptions about Islam and Muslims
• Organising a series of seminars and events around interfaith and intercultural dialogue targeting community members to learn about Islam and its practices

Does any council hire a Catholic to help the Catholic church spread the word?

Darebin City Council - Darebin's Muslims Reaching Out- Project Officer (http://darebinjobs.nga.net.au/cp/index.cfm?event=jobs.checkJobDetailsNewApplication&returnToEvent=jobs.listJobs&jobid=1a9061dc-334d-4f95-919e-9f5e0108e03e&CurATC=EXT&CurBID=62AFB35D-9273-4A11-8DCC-9DB401354197&JobListID=22FC4F47-E994-46A3-B8C9-9BC901269F43&jobsListKey=b24b092c-3b3c-48cb-ac26-222c7b5f507f&persistVariables=CurATC,CurBID,JobListID,jobsListKey,JobID&lid=43821540018)

(Darebin is in suburban Melbourne, Victoria.)Darebin City Council Home Page (http://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/)

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

Athiests are good people when it comes to telling the truth

Was it not the alternative PM who stated that voters should not believe every pledge he makes unless it is written down as the "gospel truth"?:oh:

It would appear you dont have to be an Athiest to support the humble 'fib'.

[Frank Arouet]

religous folks

Moi ?

That's funny.:)

[Donalduck]

"Your taxes at work in multicultural Australia (taken from the Andrew Bolt blog)."

Andrew Bolt... the Convicted Racist?

[sisemen]

If it became "uncool" (or the government hand out gravy train came to the buffers) to be aboriginal I wonder how many white aboriginals would ditch their claims quick smart.

[Captain Sand Dune]

If it became "uncool" (or the government hand out gravy train came to the buffers) to be aboriginal I wonder how many white aboriginals would ditch their claims quick smart.
Ooooh, you're gonna get in trouble now!:E
I've often wondered why we have a separate (and vastly more generous!) welfare system for indigenous types than others, i.e. Australians.
Sounds a bit.....ooooh......what's that word: racist?

[sisemen]

Cap'n - that was just an observation leading on from the provocative "convicted racist" comment from the duck above. From Pickiwedia Donald's most famous personality trait is his easily provoked and explosive temper. The Duck gets a big kick out of imposing on other people or annoying them, but he immediately loses his temper when the tables are turned. In other words, he can dish it out, but he can't take it

'Twas merely a reflection on what, I suspect, most non-indigenous Aussies think. Bolt's problem was that he published his thoughts.

[Frank Arouet]

Ducks fly. There's your aviation content.

That said ...............Quack Quack-on. :rolleyes:

[jas24zzk]

You're obviously not in YMML Frank....not even the ducks are flying atm, the whole joint is one big arse duck pond! it really is quackers

[CoodaShooda]

The troops seem to have opened another front in the Sell Julia campaign.

By my (admittedly imperfect) count, we've had:

Hard working immigrant kid Julia
Good secondary school student Julia
Uni Student Activist Julia
Fabian Julia
Atheist Julia
Legal Adviser to unions and crooks Julia
Politician with promise Julia
Marriage wrecker Julia
Never give a straight answer but attack/blame someone else Julia
The obvious choice to be the first female Prime Minister Julia
I am fully supporting the Prime Minister (until I replace him) Julia
I was helping him steer but we've lost our way so I'm taking over Julia
Fake, electioneering Julia
Real (but indistinguishable) electioneering Julia
The Goebbels Award for bareface lying Julia
The "Every Policy I've Introduced has Failed (but its someone else's fault) Julia
The "I know better that anyone else what Australia needs, regardless of what Australians want" Julia
Power at any Price Julia
Unwed and Childless Julia

and, now

(from what I've seen on TV today, sharing her birthday cake with a group of primary school children and being advertised as the guest judge of birthday cakes on an upcoming Junior Masterchef)

"You can trust me with your kids and your country" Julia

Sorry - but the last two just are just too much of a contradiction for me to see her happy snaps with "Australians not of a voting age" as anything other than a cynical attempt to improve her public image.

How long before we see her frolicking with dolphins and cuddling koalas and pandas?

(I'm sure one of the usual suspects will come along to accuse me of mysogeny; but my opinion of Ms Gillard well predates her ascension to Prime Minister and is based on my perception of her character and moral values rather than her gender.)

[Jamair]

It's been said before and remains true - "No politician, once in power, will EVER get a better job out of power; so they will do ANYTHING to hold on to that power".

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

How about Western Bulldogs player Julia. I'd like to see that ... and she did promise.... :{

[Animalclub]

Whilst based at Tabubil I had to off load a local (flight over booked and he was the last booked) from a Twin Otter flight...

He said: You're not treating me like a white man.
I said: Don't play the race card with me
He said: I had to try!!!

He was honest so he travelled a couple of hours later on a diverted flight going to Goroka for its periodic check.

[Fubaar]

You missed "shy girl Julia" Cooda.

You have to give the headline editor commenting on Juliar's birfday in this morning's 'Australian' top marks for this.

Many happy returns. But whose, Julia Gillard's or Kevin Rudd's? | The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/many-happy-returns-but-whose/story-fn59niix-1226152359302)

Take a look at the 5 year old blonde girl in the picture in the article. Her hand to her head stance is begging for a caption commenting in Krudd's possible return.

Suggestions?



Right thread, Animalclub?

[Worrals in the wilds]

Too true, Cooda.
Just swap 'Slim Shady' for Julia and Eminem's got it right...:E

Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up,
please stand up, please stand up?

The only one we haven't seen is Competent Julia. Being a massive non-fan of Rudd, when the takeover happened that's the one I was hoping to see, but she hasn't even been spotted in the wild so far.

[sisemen]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c92/allan907/RuddCaption.jpg

[CoodaShooda]

Just worked out why the sudden spate of photo ops in childcare centres.

Julia and Kevvie are campaigning with the kids to get labor up at the first available election post the much anticipated 2013 shellacking.

The kids should be exercising their democratic rights in about 2025.

They have to win over the kids, 'cos no-one older is listening anymore.

[CoodaShooda]

Being a massive non-fan of Rudd

You sure you're a Queenslander, Worrals? You could be done for heresy over there. :E

[Frank Arouet]

It's interesting to see how our leadership oaths have changed.


Rudd. Sworn oath.


‘I, Kevin Michael Rudd, do swear that I will well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia, her land and her people, in the office of the prime minister, so help me God.’

Gillard. Affirmation.


"I, Julia Eileen Gillard, do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will loyally serve the Commonwealth of Australia in the office of prime minister."

And as a comparison;


Howard sworn oath.


I, John Winston Howard, do swear that I will well and truly serve the people of Australia, in the Office of Prime Minister, and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, so help me God.

[gobbledock]

Interesting pictures you can see in the open book Ruddy is holding. The animals depicted can be likened to our politicians:

Scenario 1 - 'Animals (politicians) of varying stature all following each other head to ass, looking for the next trough to stick their noses in. Or,
Scenario 2 - 'Animals (politicians) following each other head to ass, looking to mount the animal (business leader) in front and ensure their species survives. Or,
Scenario 3 - 'Animals (politicians) looking for some sort of 'Noah's Ark' type refuge to hide in so as to make sure they are not destroyed in the upcoming elections.

[MTOW]

If this

Inside China - Washington Times (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/28/china-demands-war/)

gets beyond the verbal stage, it will make the things we're currently bitching and moaning about fade into insignificance.



Am I the only one who is NOT filled with confidence at the thought of either Julia Gillard or Kevin Rudd as a war leader?

The mind boggles at the very idea...

Then we'd have "Boadicea Julia" to add to our list of 'new' Julias. Oh... my... God...!

[Frank Arouet]

Swan budgetary announcement 30SEP2011.


$47.7 billion deficit as opposed to the budgeted $49 billion made possible by not spending as much as anticipated. Whacko!


Most all Labor promises don't eventuate until after 2013 so where are the savings? (or not so bad losses).


Possibly they pulled out of doomed projects that they are already found guilty of, and see no point continuing. Green Loans, cash for clunkers, free insulation, solar HWS, BER for example?


Had they grabbed the CASA budget they would probably be in surplus now.


Had they grabbed the CASA budget plus didn't bother with selective R&D grants to environmental scientists who said what the wanted, the Libs would be in deep trouble next election.


Had they done all of the above and looked after Australians instead of sending cash overseas in foreign aid, K Rudd would be happily extinct in a UN post somewhere in the Golan Heights and Jules would be celebrating her half century on this planet with people who genuinely like her.


But the science is in.

[Worrals in the wilds]

Cooda, even within Labor circles Rudd is not universally loved in Brisbane. Not by a looong shot:eek:.

[Andu]

I'd be embarrassed to be a voter in Krudd's electorate and to be told that, unlike voters in every other electorate in Queensland, only the voters in that electorate are so thick as to vote a Labor candidate back in.

Queensland has the doubtful place in history as the first place in the world to vote in a Labo(u)r Government. They have the chance in 2013 (and hopefully earlier) to not vote in one solitary Labor member of parliament. If there's one Labor Member of Parliament who richly deserves to be voted out of office - far moreso than every other Queensland Labor MP - it's Kevin Rudd.

[CoodaShooda]

Worrals....you mean I can't trust what the media tells me :eek::(

[Worrals in the wilds]

If you're talking about The Courier Mail (aka The Kevvy Bugle) I'd personally be dubious about anything except the comics and the TV Guide. Even that usually has a few errors :}.

There's no question that Rudd has a solid support base in Griffith and generally throughout SEQ, but it's not universal, and took a big whack after his previous PMly antics. Bligh's motley crew haven't helped the Labor brand either.

The Student Union Labor types (I call 'em UniLabor, dunno if it's original) who are running the show at the moment are really failing to engage grass roots supporters. They're not actually listening to any grass roots supporters so the next elections (state and federal) will probably come as a Roolly Huge Shock, but until they figure out that a lot of ordinary voters think UniLabor are living in an imitation-ivory tower, the polls aren't going to get any prettier.

They all need to get out more. Half hour photo shoots at construction sites ( where they're flanked by flunkies) doesn't really cut it.

[Blanik3]

I, John Winston Howard, do swear that I will well and truly serve the people of Australia, in the Office of Prime Minister, and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, so help me God. Well thank god you're on the case Frank.Until now I wasn't aware that we had these godless heathens at the top of government. I will sleep better now knowing that you are on the case rooting out heretics. But.seriously,do you ever wake up at night and think,'gee I'm a bit of a brainless numbnuts ,aren't I?'

[Lex Talionis]

Talking about statements by brainless numb nuts why don't we discuss how much a ton of carbon or anything for that matter weighs?

We could always ask Tony Abbott but then he seems to be more than a little confused on this issue or anything which requires thinking.

As Blanik3 has alluded to perhaps someone can explain exactly the source of angst in the alleged oath of office.

Was it the deleted reference to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth or is it the religious aspect that is apparently so worrying to the identity and security of our country.

Can we expect an imminent attack from HM military forces or perhaps is the author concerned that we will incur the wrath of God for this supposed slur by omission.

[Zorro Polilla]

They all need to get out more. Half hour photo shoots at construction sites ( where they're flanked by flunkies) doesn't really cut it.

And endless half hour photo shoots of Abbott filleting fish or here seen fumbling around a factory on his fifth visit to the Gold Coast is hardly a qualification for higher office either is it Worrals?
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/gallery/remote/2011/09/29/1166475.jpg


Especially when you are later sprung having a quiet perve down the lady manager's top.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/gallery/remote/2011/09/29/1166455.jpg


:rolleyes: PM Material :confused::confused:

[Worrals in the wilds]

I'm no Abbott fan. I also think the way Hockey behaved in Parliament wrt Swann's award was petty and childish.

However, that doesn't excuse the ALP's poor performance. They consistently hand Abbott free kicks that make him look shinier then he is. That's their fault, not his.

[Blanik3]

Well I must confess that I would be as guilty as Tony,after all,there you are on the endless road trip spruiking the usual nonsense of politics regardless of gender;well I for one would be glad of a surplus to be looking at.Oh.by the way Frank.I'm sure Tony was thinking of King and country as he was staring down the Khyber Pass.Not that I would expect you to understand that Frank-humour being a little missing in your DNA

[Blanik3]

Worrals ,you're right on the money.Geez i'd like to work out where the quote function is!

[Lex Talionis]

I agree that both sides of the political fence do not deserve any support at this point.Neither leader has the ability to enthuse or inspire the rest of us to feel as though we are in good hands.

As the well known saying goes 'A drovers dog' would win an election for the Libs at the moment so that would mean that the Libs could win with even Tony Abbott at the helm and for me that is a very chilling and unnerving prospect.

To my way of thinking Tony Abbott represents a very dangerous way forward for us.He represents a very narrow and conservative viewpoint that is being questioned by a number of people including others in the Liberal party.

This from the Age.
Peter Costello, who argued publicly what some of Abbott's colleagues will say privately - that the instinctive populism of the Opposition Leader, coupled with what Costello sees as his deeply ingrained Catholic collectivist instincts on economic policy, is a significant departure from the Howard-Costello project, where free-markets ruled and the new protectionism inspired by the more searing experiences of the global financial crisis was but distant, deeply retrograde, thunder.

The point of Costello's column in The Age was to argue that Abbott's leadership was precipitating a profound shift in the Coalition's economic thinking: voices that had been in the minority during the Howard government were now in the ascendancy. Had anyone noticed that Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce's folksy sermonising against the excesses of neo-liberalism was being enabled through his apparent freedom to declaim across portfolios without check from the leadership?
Costello thought he might do some reporting, what we in the trade might call a news analysis, and his disapproval was profound.
Catholic thinking was best left to theology, not economics, he suggested. The sectarian tone of his critique could have obscured a more simple point for a lot of readers. Cut through Costello's waspish aversion to Catholic collectivism and you see the nub - Abbott is a very different style of Liberal thinker, and his government would be of a different genus to the one Australians saw between 1996 and 2007. The sharpness of the column suggests Costello feels that this profound shift in the Coalition policy core is being insufficiently chronicled, let alone interrogated.

It is a worry when a potential Prime Minister allows these sort of photo opportunities.
This headline sums up both photos for Tony Abbott.

Picture clear for Abbott on renewables target

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/09/29/1226151/936334-abbott-oops.jpg

Then this one will give a lot of ammunition to anti Abbott supporters who question his views on women and especially those who view Tony Abbott as a religious ideologue.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2011/09/29/TONY-TONY-TONY.jpg

The problem with Labor is that they give the Liberals so many free kicks that people are not doing enough to question what direction Tony Abbott would take Australia in.

My main concern is that Tony Abbott does not know either.

[CoodaShooda]

A bit of Paul Kelly might be instructive here :E


The two great myths are Abbott as extremist and Abbott as ideologue. The Australian public shuns such traits and Abbott’s poll ratings affirm this is not how the public sees him. The effort to paint Abbott as extremist and ideologue, once Labor’s central strategy, has failed so far.

Labor, however, cannot give up. Undermined by its own dysfunction, it will keep playing the Abbott card because it has few other options and is convinced he is a destructive force unfit to become prime minister. Labor’s last hope remains a bet against Abbott’s political character.

[Lex Talionis]

The two great myths are Abbott as extremist and Abbott as ideologue
The question to be asked Cooda is "Are they myths or an accurate assessment".

Costello seems to be worried and if he is then you would have to say a number of others in the Liberal party as well.
Tony Abbott has wavered when asked about industrial relations policy and now seems to raising the ire of Costello regarding individual work contracts.

Or is Tony Abbott simply doing what he has always done and that is see which way the wind is blowing to maximise himself in the polls.He is not known as the political weather vane without good reason.

This doesn't change his basic beliefs and that is a concern to anyone who looks beyond the usual rubbish about the birthday of Julia Gillard or any other irrelevant political trivia.

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

You make some good points, Lex.

so that would mean that the Libs could win with even Tony Abbott at the helm and for me that is a very chilling and unnerving prospect

I've never had much time for Peter Reith, but after that Liberal Presidency debacle, I almost felt sorry for him. If that's the way Tony Abbott treats one of his own, what does it say about his character and his suitability to lead this country?

More light needs to be shone on this guy before he romps it in under the "vote for me...I'm not Labor" banner.

[CoodaShooda]

Lex

The question for you is whether you consider Paul Kelly to be of independent mind. Those are his views.

I have not met either Abbott or Gillard and must base my perceptions on what I have seen of their performances in front of the camera and, on one occasion, from the public gallery during question time.

I am not impressed by Abbott as a potential leader of my country. He slips up too often and seems easily caught off guard on matters he should have clear views on.

However, he appears a paragon among international statesmen when compared to the duplicitous, spin merchants who have claimed power for the moment.

If I can't believe Ms Gillard when (on those rare occasions when she is not obfuscating) she says things like

"we will get consensus on tackling climate change before acting"
"the science is in"
"there will be no carbon tax....."
"dismantling the Pacific Solution is a humane and effective policy"
"the Prime Minister has my full support"

why should I take, at face value, anything she says about her opposition?

As I (and others here) have said before, the Libs worry me, labor/greens incense me and I still want to vote "none of the above" come the next election.

But please don't continue to insult my intelligence by parroting labor's anti-Abbott rhetoric. It is clumsy in its transparency and only serves to remind us that Abbott has labor worried. (And if someone like Abbott has them worried, how bad are they?)

[Frank Arouet]

Some deflect criticism by attempting to change the focus to the opposition. The thing is it's not about Gillard and Abbott, it's about The Liberal/ National vs the Labor Greens amalgamations.

If anyone thinks having a massive Conservative Government swing is good, think about Howard's demise and why people just got sick of his arrogance. Change did not happen for the better.

If an election got rid of some deadwood and The freaking Greens, the next election may bring about a balanced Government.

Not the arrogant and illigitimate $hitfight we have now.

As a postscript, why do some of you morons persist in defending the indefensible?

[sisemen]

As has been previously said - Genghis Khan with one leg and one eye would be better than the shower of schiessen at the top for the moment.

More light needs to be shone on this guy before he romps it in under the "vote for me...I'm not Labor" banner.

Face up to it boys - your lot are a dead duck and there will be a Coalition Government in charge in the not too distant future no matter how much you parrot the party line. Hopefully they will have enough tools and people to get us out of the terminal mess that Krudd and Jooliar have got us into. So....suck it up and get used to the idea.

[Andu]

It's pretty clear that the Labor/Green Machine are scared witless by Abbott. If they weren't, they wouldn't be screaming so loudly. I see the Left's latest effort to demonise Abbott has been released this week - 'Tony Abbott: A Man's Man' (which, [being a man's man], in FemnoLeftieSpeak, is a huge insult.)

[CoodaShooda]

Perhaps the usual suspects should reflect on why " vote for me - I'm not labor" is likely to be a successful call at the next election.

Hint - It's got bugger all to do with Tony Abbott.

[Frank Arouet]

From Jetblast, a late starter for the Ig Nobel prizes;

Political Prize: Oz PM Julia Gillard for proving that Socialism and Global Wealth Redistribution works well so long as other people's borrowed money doesn't run out. :D

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

there will be a Coalition Government in charge in the not too distant future

...and good luck getting anything through the Senate.

[Frank Arouet]

Anybody who believes Abbott wouldn't go for a double dissolution as soon as he got the power is unhinged.

Perhaps your camisole is too tight?:ugh:

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

Perhaps you need to learn more about the Double Dissolution process.

[Frank Arouet]

Three bills rejected by either house can trigger a double dissolution.

If the Parliament is not capable of governing, that is a trigger.

With-holding supply can, and has, triggered a double dissolution of parliament.

When, listening to Gillard and Brown rabbit on, is worse than 24 hours of AB Circle Pro advertising, that should also trigger a double dissolution or a civil war at least.

I don't want to play with you any more, you are so tiresome.

[CoodaShooda]

I don't want to play with you any more, you are so tiresome.

That seems his intention, Frank.

Labor makes an art form out of distraction and disembling.

Note we rarely talk about the underlying issues that are bubbling away.

Control of the internet (NBN)

Control of the media (Current enquiry)

Offshore wealth redistribution (Carbon Trading, Refugee Trading, Foreign Aid to Africa)

Overbearing government control through regulation and taxation etc

The environment

[Andu]

Re my post #368:

Polemic on Tony Abbott lacks substance and logic | The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/polemic-on-tony-abbott-lacks-substance-and-logic/story-fn558imw-1226156412980)

SUSAN Mitchell's so-called polemic on Tony Abbott, Tony Abbott: A Man's Man, betrays her ideological elitist left-wing bent with what can only be described as a poorly researched, one-sided work with little credibility.

Mitchell writes in detail about Abbott as a way to demonise him rather than to paint an accurate picture of his ideological perspective on the world -- and all without the courtesy of interviewing him.

It is these types of thin analyses that do more to harm the reputation of academics than almost anything else.

[sisemen]

It is very instructive how the government, and their supporters, concentrate on Tony Abbott rather than attempting to 'sell' their message. It says something about the horrendous mess that the ALP is now in.

One thing is for sure - they are worried; very worried. Don't forget that it was Tony Abbott who saw off Krudd. For all their demonizing they just know that Abbott is winning hands down every waking day.

It's past time Jooliar. Give it up while you've still got some dignity left, before the gamble on pokies (now isn't that a delicious irony?) destroys you and your mob of sycophants entirely.

[MTOW]

while you've still got some dignity leftSome would say that particular boat left the dock quite some time ago siseman.

If it was ever there, for many, it went when the 'hyperbowl' and the 'high dungeon' gaffes went virtually unreported by overly compliant MSM.

[Frank Arouet]

As much as I would like to see this current mob of incompetents put to the sword, I am concerned about a massive swing that would be a great temptation for an incoming government to become prematurely arrogant.

Although no doubt they could be better trusted than Gillard, Swan and Co.

The current leadership, The Greens, and a couple of clowns looking for their five minuites of fame need excising as a priority.

This could be accomplished by Labor with a change of Leader.

(I said could).

[Andu]

New arrival belies people swap: opposition (http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/new-arrival-belies-people-swap-opposition-20111001-1l2af.html)

A boat believed to have 70 asylum seekers on board was intercepted on Saturday morning.

It was the second boat to arrive in Australian waters this week.

Since the Malaysia deal was signed in July, 728 people and 24 crew have been picked up and taken to Christmas Island for processing.

"Ten boats have now turned up in just 10 weeks, highlighting just how easily people smugglers can overwhelm this flawed and failed Malaysian arrangement," opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said in a statement after the latest arrival.

He cited immigration department evidence to a Senate inquiry into the Malaysian deal, that the cap of 800 people to send overseas represented eight to 10 boat arrivals.

[Frank Arouet]

This came across my desk today. Thought I should pass it on as I was asked to do so. (I think the dates are in order, but couldn't be bothered checking).

On the 18th of August 1966 at Long Tan,Vietnam,

D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment,

mainly made up of Australian National Servicemen

and at that time located to support the American Army,

fought a battle against the Viet Cong.

In this action D Company lost 18 men killed and 24 injured.

The Viet Cong dead numbered in excess of 245.

The Australian lines were never crossed.

The Viet Cong withdrew.

American President Johnson and US Army Staff recognised the achievement

by awarding the Unit Citation of Gallantry on 30th May 1968.

The Award was formally accepted by Queen Elizabeth in 13th June 1968.

Prime Minister John Gorton made the formal presentation

of this American Citation to the Battalion

at Lavarack Barracks,Townsville on 18th August 1968.



On the 31st of March 2010,

D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

were belatedly awarded the Australian version of

"Unit Citation for Gallantry" (UCG)

honouring their extraordinary deeds at Long Tan.

The Government however refused to approve travel payment

for the surviving Unit Members or their families,

including the families of deceased Unit Members,

in order that they be present at the

UCG Presentation Ceremony

presided over by the Governor General of Australia.


In February 2011 the same Government of Australia

footed the Funeral Bill to bury the illegal boat people,

who tragically perished on Christmas Island.

This included flying surviving family illegals and survivors

to and from Sydney and Xmas Island,

accommodating them, etc etc,

plus a Coach tour of Sydney thrown in.

The Canberra Politburo had waited 45 years

to publicly acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice

of these Sons of Australia

and then immediately **** on their memory

by wetting themselves to appease the feelings of boat illegals forcing entry into our country.


Now we witness,what can only be described as, attempted political face saving,

by this same Government, sponsoring a TV Documentary,

to celebrate our Armed Forces accomplishments at Kapyong, Korea in 1951.

This will see our Prime Minister and the entire Priministeral Entourage

fly in a RAAF plane to Korea to mark this 60th Anniversary.


What Bloody Hypocrisy!!!

What a Blatant Affront to the feelings

of our Nation's serving Armed Forces,

Past and Present.

Shame,Shame,Shame,

You Political Parasites.

You do not deserve to represent our country.

[blackhand]

@Frank
:D:D:D:D:ok:

Lest we forget.

[Andu]

On Sydney talkback radio this morning they were rabbiting on about the fact that the Australian taxpayer is forking out an unbelievable 1.4 million dollars a year providing free cigarettes to asylum seekers held in detention - and then went on to make the (not unreasonable) point that those same asylum seekers could sue the Australian Government (= the Australian taxpayer) in years to come for causing them to contract lung cancer or just an unhealthy habit.

A number of those same asylum seekers have proven themselves to be quite quick and willing to sue the government over other matters - like the pain and suffering they have endured whilst in detention, so it's probably not an unreasonable assumption. (And if they hadn't thought of it before today, thanks to Sydney talkback radio, they're on to yet another nice little earner now.)

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

Well at least the smoking thing weeded out some of the "unaccompanied minors" because they were hanging out for a fag and weren't allowed to smoke unless they were over 18! I wonder about the tobacco tax on those cigs, does the government pay it or who???

[sisemen]

1.4 million dollars a year providing free cigarettes

In the words of Victor Meldrew....."I don't believe it!"

[Blanik3]

Frank your ability to spew vitriol is much to be admired,however you might like to check your facts before rushing to judgement.The decision to deny travel for (some) veterans to the GG's event was taken by Defence.it would appear some Long Tan veterans feel they have been slighted by the top brass-they may very well have a point.it would ,no doubt,surprise you to learn that i was,and am ,an opponent of our involvement in Vietnam.Yet i would acknowledge that this country's treatment of returning soldiers was appalling.We expected them to serve and upon return we did very little to support them.We have seen much the same since from both sides of the political spectrum. You Frank ,with your inability to check facts and a penchant to spread viral emails,have managed to besmirch the memory of Long Tan and slander the poor wretches who were smashed upon the rocks at Christmas Island. Neither of whom were deserving of your attention. In short Frank,beneath contempt.

[Andu]

Thank God the Libs/Nats weren't in power when the report on the cost of free cigarettes for asylum seekers was released. If they were, about five minutes after it hit the streets, we'd have had Julian Burnside in front of a camera loudly proclaiming that "the Conservatives" had a cunning plan to kill all these poor unfortunates off by giving them all lung cancer.

As they said on talkback radio yesterday, "watch this space" for a class action suite asserting something very similar to that some years down the track when God only knows how many of them will line up for compensation from the country that took them in (and probably from overseas from the small number who were turned away) for the damage all those free ciggies has done to them.


As a non smoker, I'm out of touch on prices. I know that 1.4 million dollars figure represents a lot more than just the cigarettes themselves, but, as in indication of the size of the asylum seeker "industry" (for want of a better word), is there someone out there who could convert 1.4 million dollars into a number of cigarettes per annum at the average price of cigarettes in a tobacconists?

[Worrals in the wilds]

Cigarettes are worth about 65c per stick (given that a packet of decent 25s goes for about sixteen bucks) so it would add up to a lot of cigarettes. :eek:
The question is whether the government is paying the excise, which at 34c per stick makes up over half the price.

[T28D]

At $14 per pack = 100,000 packs

[Dark Knight]

When Labor came to power , for all intents and purposes, the boats had stopped, the detention centres were empty and the `refugee activists' were silent due to a lack of `clients'

Rudd, Gillard & Labor with their infinite wisdom changed the policy allowing the boats and illegal entrants, aliens, to return in ever increasing numbers.

The blood of the `poor wretches' and a reported unknown number of others, lies squarely on the hands of PM Gillard & the Labor Government.

It is with the greatest of contempt that PM Gillard, her Ministers and Labor lost control of Australia's borders kowtowing to a highly vocal minority with little or no interest in the welfare of their fellow Australians or the future of our country.

[jas24zzk]

DK,
and therein lies one of our greatest problems. The minorities always get their way here....look at brown sandwich and co. We now have the major problem whereby the fruitcake 'save the sea sand' lobbyists are in a position of real power.

We do not seem to have the ability for the collective majority to put these muppets back where they belong. :ugh::ugh::ugh:

[Worrals in the wilds]

Being a (partially ;)) reformed 'save the sea sand' fruitcake, what really, really, really annoys me about the current Greens is how little they talk about serious environmental issues. I don't mean the big publicity issues like climate change and energy (which every pollie's talking about, if only to get on the telly) but stuff like clearing, species and habitat loss, the states' often woeful management of national parks/ vulnerable places / marine environments, feral animal control etc, etc, etc.

As just one example, there were terrible environmental impacts from Qld's summer of disasters that the state couldn't even begin to deal with...didn't hear a thing from the Greens except for Bob's gem that Qld deserved a disaster because of its coal mining. :yuk::yuk:.

They're far too busy pushing their socialist watermelon agenda about controlling free speech, social reforms and collectivism to give a toss about the actual environment. The skiting about being the next force in Aussie politics is both delusional and pathetic...you get the feeling that they really think they're going to take over from the ALP. It's a great pity that the ALP didn't pull them on early in the peace; after all, what were the Greens going to do? Side with the Libs? :E

I really hope they get a serious kick in the arse next election, and IMO Labor also deserves a kick in the arse for putting up with so much crap from the party that about 12 million out of 13ish million Australians DIDN'T vote for.

[Andu]

You typify the antics of our own Juliar during her early days as an anti Vietnam protester

If we can believe the age the lady gives us on her driver's licence, Julia(r) Gillard was born in Sept 1961.

I know we had the odd bod stay behind after Jan 72, but it was then that the last Australian units pulled out of SVN (9 Sqn and 4RAR among the largest if my memory hasn't deserted me). Which would have seen Jools not yet turned eleven when (for us) the Vietnamese war was all over.

It would be not impossible, I'll grant, if her Ma and Da' took her along, (as more than a few did), but I think it would be highly unlikely that we can include her being an anti-Vietnam war demonstrator among the many sins we dyed in the wool right wing reactionaries can otherwise saddle her with.

Frank, those-who-would-disagree-with-us like Blanik3 have successfully managed to get two or three earlier threads discussing Australian politics on Jetblast binned by steering the debate in personal abuse. I for one would hate to see them succeed again with this one, so I urge you to destroy these people's skewed ideas with cogent argument rather than lambasting the man.

[Frank Arouet]

I withdraw.

[jas24zzk]

I withdraw.

Oh come on Frank your tougher than that :ok:

Blaniks response that it was actually DoD's responsibility to pay for the travel expense, albeit a good one missed the point totaly.

Why was it ever to come out of DoD's budget in the first place!!!!!

Successive governments in this country choose to squabble over veterans rights.....who should pay and what should be paid for....Lib/lab both guilty.
As a taxpayer, i look at the mail Frank posted and think to myself, why is this an issue? those people put their very lives on the line 'in the name of god and country'. Why shouldn't we pay. Too me having departments squabble over this stuff makes me very unproud to be an aussie. (yes i have aussie pride seat covers)

I was disgusted (as i was to read franks post) by the recent media campaign for the government to maintain the graves of our current 21 VC winners gravesites.
sorry to me that is a no brainer....what ever it costs! These people deserve full respect in the afterlife. They are a legacy to us all

[Blanik3]

jas24zzk I am in furious agreement with what you say.We send service people to do a job,yet our support for them upon their return is ,to say the least ,tardy.
As to your question as to why it should have come from the DoD's budget,I imagine that the request would have had to go through them.That their decision ought to have been overturned is correct,however I don't think that it would have been as simple as that.
Snub to Governor General’s Medal Ceremony Offer to Long Tan Veterans | Battle of Long Tan Blog (http://battleoflongtan.reddunefilms.com/2010/08/snub-to-governor-generals-offer-to-long-tan-veterans/)
Frank; I accept your withdrawal with good grace,I could not see how you construe what I have said was ,in any way, denigrating of service men or women.Andu wishes for cogent argument,I support him in that.Most of us here would if we were locked up in a room(with malt scotch ,of course)may find that there would be many more things we would agree upon than disagree.
It is not my intent to cause this thread to go the way of others in the past-the subject matter is worthy of discussion no matter where one's opinion may lie.A little robustness is also fine:ok:

[Wiley]

At the risk of maintaining the current thread drift, but continuing the "furious agreement" with both Frank and Blanik, re uniformed Service people versus civilian Public Serfs: back in my RAAF days, I flew Hercs. We had one trip a year that was very, very popular with any and everyone - the annual Rimpac exercise to Hawaii, where a Herc would carry the 10 Sqn Neptune groundcrew and spares to Barber's Point (and usually do some really good SAR training with the US Coast Guard Hercs while there while the Neppies were doing their best to 'sink' USN submarines).

Managing to snag that trip was considered a real "win" for the lucky crew, for Hawaii, even living four to a miniscule "cabin" in the USN quarters at Barbers Point, beat the socks off our usual destinations. The only downer was the allowances - which we bloody pitiful, given that we had to buy food etc at US retail prices, which our allowances, based on eating in heavily discounted RAAF messes, didn't go anywhere near covering. This always lead to a major sh*tfight on the crew's return to Richmond with the civilian Public Serf accounts officer in headquarters Richmond who approved (or more often disapproved) the expenses claimed.

As I mentioned, this was a really popular trip, so much so that, the year I scored it, one of the senior civilain accounts people (the one with whom we had the sh*tfights over expenses) came up with a really creative reason why he should go along on the flight. (I think his reasons were so he could see what all the complaints were about - yeah, right!) T

To our surprise, the CO readily agreed to let the civvie come along. (With the long overwater sectors that the trip involved, weight/fuel was always a major problem on this flight, and an unnecessary body was 200 pounds less fuel we could carry.)

The civvie bean counter almost did a handstand on the spot when he heard he could go. But there was a sting in the tail of the CO's offer - the civvie would have to travel on the RAAF allowances rather than the hugely more generous public service allowances. Suddenly, he had far more pressing matters to attend to, and we went without him.

The sons and grandsons of these same public servants are the ones who made the decision that the Long Tan veterans would have to get themselves to Canberra.

-------------------------------

Back a bit closer to the topic of this tread, I see that Australian citizen with a Middle Eastern name found guilty of people smuggling in Indonesia cannot afford to pay for a lawyer to mount an appeal to his sentence. I wait with bated breath to see whether multiple thousands of my tax dollars will be made available for this poor unfortunate fellow citizen's legal expenses and appeal.

[Lex Talionis]

I agree with jas24zzk in that it has been successive political parties who have seen over too many examples of penny pinching.
To my way of thinking anyone who has put his/her life on the line for this country deserves everything without some bureaucratic kneecapping at every opportunity.

I also agree with Andu that we should keep a sense of reality if we are serious in a political discussion.Unless this is some sort of right wing talkfest there should be a balanced approach.For example this sort of precious indignation.

"But please don't continue to insult my intelligence by parroting labor's anti-Abbott rhetoric. It is clumsy in its transparency and only serves to remind us that Abbott has labor worried. (And if someone like Abbott has them worried, how bad are they?)"

There will not be one person feeling aggrieved or insulted with a response as translucent and simplistic as that.

If you are going to disparage any Labor figure then you should expect a critique of the potential Prime Minister.Tony Abbott consistently tells that that he wants an election and that means as leader of the opposition he would be Prime Minister and as such not only deserves but requires an examination of his potential.To suggest otherwise is nothing short of a flimsy attempt to divert our attention away from reality.

[CoodaShooda]

Lex

Neither precious nor indignant.

I'd welcome a real "critique" of Mr Abbott. If you have time to waste, search the old JB threads for my past comments about him. You might be surprised to find that I do not rate him highly.

[Frank Arouet]

I withdrew my comments because they were inflammatory, and as noted, had the potential to action moderator intervention. The grace with which they were withdrawn are proportional to the vitriol in post it answered.

[Lex Talionis]

This shows my frustration with Australian politics.We have the leader of the opposition promising to vote against legislation the government wants to introduce presumably because it is a bad piece of legislation and not just because it is from another political party.

Then however,he tells us that he won't necessarily repeal it if the coalition wins the next election which if it was bad or ineffective is more than a little bizarre.

Then to make matters worse and to show us that he really does not know what he is doing he tells us that he doesn't know the actual mechanics or details of the legislation.

So it all boils down to doing anything to win power even if the legislation is good for the country.
Mr Abbott has told Macquarie Radio the Coalition will vote against the legislation when it comes before Parliament, but would not say if he would repeal it if he won the next election.
"We haven't seen the legislation. We don't know the mechanics of how it's supposed to work," he said.
"It hasn't gone through our formal Liberal Party and Coalition processes. So I'm reluctant to say a blanket yes."

Then this next example of weather vane politics.
OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott appeared to ditch his boat phone election promise to turn back asylum seekers after admitting yesterday he had no idea how it would work.

Memo to the Liberal party: Change leader ....(Again) Any leader really as you could not do any worse.Surely you must have someone who knows what they are doing.

A drovers dog could lead the coalition to an election win at the moment with Labor shooting themselves in the foot at virtually every opportunity.Tony Abbott only has to stay out of the limelight and not give any interviews and he can't lose.

That is the really scary part but what alternative is the coalition giving us?
I'd welcome a real "critique" of Mr Abbott
Cooda,By 'a real critique' do you mean one that is in-depth,probing,unbiased and meticulous or simply one that you agree with?

[jas24zzk]

Lex,
I totally agree. I was very hard pressed for my vote at the last election, as I do try to choose on policy, tho the incumbant gets an extra point in my thoughts if they are doing a good job.

The way I see it, is that if was in the Nat party, i'd be looking to break the coalition...now or even the moment the last elections results were decided and give australia a REAL 3rd option.

I guess voting them in would be scary for many people as there aren't enough people left voting that know what their performance was last time they had any power.
=============================

I noted with interest this week, that the pollies look set to double their pay packets. Hmm not a bad thing in my view, as it might attract candidates that have achieved something more in life than admitting they are a failed school teacher or self serving unionist

There is some argument that the PM's pay (for example) should be in-line with public sector CEO pay to attract better qualified candidates. I'm all for this, except when i see the performance of some of them floating around.

Maybe Pollies pay should be linked to performance reviews.....Juliar would be better off on the dole if that were the case. :ugh:

[Blanik3]

I noted with interest this week, that the pollies look set to double their pay packets.
Do you have a source for that Jas?

So it all boils down to doing anything to win power even if the legislation is good for the country.
I have sympathy for your view Lex,but Abbott is hardly alone in that sphere.I remain unconvinced that the legislation is good for Australia.When all is said and done we have a very small issue with asylum seekers in this country as compared with Europe.Whilst everyone is being'hairy -chested' about being tough on border protection-there are far more pressing issues that face this country. Just off the top of my head,taxation reform,restructure of manufacturing base,addressing the structural deficit that has been in our economy for well over a decade that neither party has plans to rectify.

[Lex Talionis]

Blanik3,
My apology if it sounded as though I was supporting the legislation as I too believe that the asylum seeker issue is nothing more than a political football with the aim nothing more than to increase political advantage in the polls.
Just off the top of my head,taxation reform,restructure of manufacturing base,addressing the structural deficit that has been in our economy for well over a decade that neither party has plans to rectify.
Wholeheartedly agree there as well especially with the taxation issue.The entire Australian tax system is a dogs breakfast and should be completely shelved and a new system designed from scratch but neither party is interested.

My concern and as I said it is a frustration with the Australian political system is that we have an opposition party which will vote against legislation which it's leader admits does not know anything about.:ugh::ugh::ugh:

We have a system in which either party will vote against anything the other party seeks to introduce regardless of it's potential benefit.

In other words a system in which Australia and it's future is secondary to being in office.

The only time we see a bipartisan approach or attitude is when the parties are voting for some sort of increase in remuneration.

[Captain Sand Dune]

LARGE businesses that lock Australian suppliers out of contracts could be named and shamed as part of a Federal Government push to save manufacturing jobs.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced new rules forcing more businesses to draw up "buy Australian" plans that will be published on a website so they can be scrutinised by suppliers and unions, the Courier-Mail reported.

"If you want Australian taxpayers' dollars then you're going to have to give Australian businesses a fair chance to compete for work," Ms Gillard said.

"This is all about giving Australian business the fair go that it deserves."

The move was announced at the end of a one-day jobs forum in Canberra that looked at the unemployment crisis in industries hit by the strong Australian dollar such as manufacturing, tourism, retail and education.

About 100 employers, unions and academics debated ways to tackle problems ranging from pockets of joblessness to skills shortages around Australia in the closed-door forum in Canberra yesterday.

Ms Gillard vowed her government would focus on helping manufacturing workers retain jobs in the mining sector, including possibly expanding "fly in, fly out" work arrangements.

But Dow Chemical chief executive Andrew Liveris, who opened the forum via videolink from the US, said Australia should do more to attract skilled migrants and develop hi-tech manufacturing.

Under the new rules announced by Ms Gillard, businesses and state governments that want to apply for federal government grants of $20 million or more must draw up the local jobs plans, known as "Australian Industry Participation Plans".

The plans are based on those already used by businesses that get government relief from tariffs on imported goods.

But businesses will be forced to disclose more information. Those with projects worth more than $2 billion will also have to publish opportunities for local suppliers.

Ms Gillard said the changes would not breach free trade rules.

Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie, who has been tasked by Ms Gillard to investigate ways to help Australian businesses compete for lucrative contracts with mining companies, said the changes would help create local jobs.

Unions welcomed the announcement and warned they would use the information to name and shame companies that did not use local suppliers.

Love it. This from the government that wants to screw Australian businesses to the wall with a carbon tax:hmm:. Obviously the Australian cattle export industry wasn't Australian enough for Juliar and Co.:mad:

Oh, and I love how they got the unions onside by allowing them them a say. When someone can show me a succesful business run by a union, I'll listen.

[jas24zzk]

Blanik,
did a search for you, someone else might have more luck....
Saturday Herald Sun, oct 1st. Author Patrick Lion

excerpt from newstext...

MPs eyeing big bucks Backbenchers' pay could double
Herald Sun, 01-10-2011, Ed: 2 - SECOND, Pg: 013, 403 words , NEWS
FEDERAL MPs could be about to get extraordinary pay rises. The salaries of backbenchers are tipped to almost double, to $250,000. Writing exclusively in the Herald Sun today, columnist Laurie Oakes said MPs expected base salaries for backbenchers and...

I might have to scan the article.

[CoodaShooda]

Careful, Lex and Blanik. You are now on the dangerous ground of writing things with which I agree. :E

That is the really scary part but what alternative is the coalition giving us?


Which is why I continue to dream of a "none of the above" box on the ballot paper.

Lex, my criticism of labor's attacks on Abbott is not a defence of the man; it's criticism of the style labor chooses to adopt.

[Frank Arouet]

Whichever party that leads Australia out of any morass that the incumbants have put us in has a job on their hands. It may just be too big, and one can feel sorry for Barry O'farrell in NSW after their landslide victory in trying to pick up the pieces and glue it all back together. He is now being attacked by opportunists for policy introduced by a series of delinquint premiers.

Whoever leads a new government has only one job to attend to first, and that's get rid of The Greens and those loopy Independants.

When this happens you may get value for your money with a workable opposition and a workable government and a workable Senate.

My main concern with an Abbott walkover is giving him too much power, but then again that risk is preferable to another term under Gillard.

If all else fails one can only hope The Kiwi's invade us before China.

[Lex Talionis]

Lex, my criticism of labor's attacks on Abbott is not a defence of the man; it's criticism of the style labor chooses to adopt.
No difference at all in the style and tactics used by the Liberals/Nationals and many here to attack Labor politicians.
From memory it was one of the regulars here who was not happy with the various twisted/topical names some people were coming up with for Tony Abbott and co.Yet he and a lot of others use the same technique/similar names for Labor politicians with such names as Krudd and Juliar.

Now I agree that Gillard has not done herself any favours and I'm not happy with her performance at all but looking back at some recent posts I find the frankly sanctimonious and infantile observations of her body,age and accent absurd and irrelevant to any political discussion.

If anyone was to retaliate with the same observations here about Tony Abbott,Julie Bishop or Barnaby Joyce I'm sure this thread would go the way the others have.

[CoodaShooda]

looking back at some recent posts I find the frankly sanctimonious and infantile observations of her body,age and accent absurd :confused:

[Captain Sand Dune]

:confused: indeed!

So sanctimonious and infantile observations about other politicians would be OK then?
Ms Gillard as earned every one of those sanctimonious and infantile observations in my opinion.

[sisemen]

If she can't take the heat then she shouldn't have put her hand up for the job.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQquVKWbeLVAHmrTNm9bnbHc8OWBX6cMznlntlI8V 3RbrSHGM_

[Blanik3]

Careful, Lex and Blanik. You are now on the dangerous ground of writing things with which I agree. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/evil.gif

Bugger,sorry about that Cooda,I'll just duck out for a latte. :}

My main concern with an Abbott walkover is giving him too much power


a reasonable concern Frank,however I suspect if the parliament runs full term then there will be more focus on the Coalition's policies which may cause the numbers to narrow.I'm not,in any sense,suggesting that Labor could take a lead,but the media cycle will change direction as we get closer to the election.

JAS,thanks for the link.I see it's from Oakes so I'll track it down.

[CoodaShooda]

there will be more focus on the Coalition's policies which may cause the numbers to narrow

If labor continues in its negative, spin driven approach to trying to blame everything on Tony Abbott, I'd suggest the electorate will have gone well beyond the "anyone but labor" point of no return well before the libs are forced by the media to present their policies.

But I agree there is still time to turn things around. Perhaps they need to hire these guys. Gruen (http://www.abc.net.au/tv/gruenplanet/pages/s3331936.htm)

Blanik
There has been coverage in the past few days of the government's intention to have the "independent" Remuneration Tribunal report on (and recommend) appropriate salaries and conditions for MPs. The trend of reporting has been to suggest 100% increases across the board but with offsets in allowances.

Experienced the unedifying spectacle of our local, conservative M(up)P(et) addressing an audience a couple of days ago.

"simper, simper" (weak smile, no eye contact) I am going to address the House on the Carbon Tax (open hand gesture) next week. "simper, simper" What (open hand gesture, rabbit in a spotlight stare) do you think I should say?" (weak smile, simper):ugh::yuk:

[jas24zzk]

No blanik, its not from Oaks, he is simply referred to in the article

[Andu]

My main concern with an Abbott walkover is giving him too much powerIf history is any guide, look at what Malcolm Fraser did with his huge numbers in '75 - SFA!!

Re the 100% pay rises for pollies: I'm all for it, but I'd like to see a couple of riders:-

(1) the increases not to take effect until after the next election

(2) with the increases comes an almost total withdrawal of the ridiculous retirement benefits that politicians, in particular, ex-ministers and ex-prime ministers, have for life. In particular, the 'gold pass' free travel at public expense and the taxpayer-funded offices. I lalso don't see why they shouldn't be on a superannuation scheme more in line with what the rest of the country has rather than the goldmine super scheme they've voted in for themselves.

[Captain Sand Dune]

......and get rid of 34SQN. No gripe with the RAAF, however I reckon it's a grossly abused perk.

The personnel and funding used to run it could be much more gainfully re-distributed elsewhere within defence.

[Frank Arouet]

Interesting you bring up 34 SQ.

No. 34 Squadron RAAF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._34_Squadron_RAAF)

Of note is 2x BBJ's and 3x Challenger 604's are leased by Qantas Defence Services. One wonders how this little scheme works.

Anyway, are you suggesting we send Rudd away in a boat or something?

The man should be in continual orbit.

[CoodaShooda]

are you suggesting we send Rudd away in a boat

I think I know a Prime Minister who wishes he'd do his overseas travelling under sail and without a satellite link.

Cap'n Sand Dune
I seem to recall 34 Sqn being scrambled to get our local labor M(up)P(et) to the Tennant Creek Show to judge the best (dog) breed in show.

Same MP who was squiring Mr Rudd around New York strip clubs, come to think of it.

[Frank Arouet]

Senator Barnaby Joyce
Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water
Leader of The Nationals in the Senate
LNP Senator for Queensland

7 October 2011
Regional Cities program puts surfing over mining
Tony Burke today announced the Building Better Regional Cities program for which less than 10 per cent of the 565 councils in Australia can apply for.
In his announcement, Mr Burke said that:
The Gillard Government is unlocking housing supply so that fly-in fly-out is no longer the only option in communities experiencing record levels of growth.

Here is a quick geography lesson for Mr Burke. The mines are in towns like Dalby, Cloncurry, Karratha, Mt Isa, Charters Towers, Mt Tom Price, Biloela, Emerald, Chinchilla and Roma. In the future towns like Charleville and Quilpie. None of these towns are eligible for funding.
The Labor party must think it is better for parents in the mining industry to fly-in and fly-out rather than finish work and drive home to their kids.
Every town that is eligible for funding in Queensland is on the beach, except for Toowoomba.
Labor party policy prefers fish and chips over the real vision of new, inland population centres.
This program announcement comes after the debacle of their RDA fund mark 1, where to get a grant it was generally advised to be in a Labor or Independent friendly seat. Under that round, two-thirds of the money went to the one-third of the seats held by Labor in regional Australia.
The Labor party has once more shown that they are not a party of vision but a defender of the demographic status quo. They have no vision to build new population centres, no vision to move people to where the resource wealth is created. Instead they are taking the wealth of the regions to use it to bolster up their failing political franchise in established urban centres.

More information-Matthew Canavan 0458 709433

[Worrals in the wilds]

Interesting you bring up 34 SQ.

They were practically RPT in and out of Brisbane at all hours when Rudd was PM.
So much for him being an anti aircraft noise advocate. Guess it just applies to other people's aircraft noise. :yuk:

[Towering Q]

The mines are in towns like Dalby, Cloncurry, Karratha, Mt Isa, Charters Towers, Mt Tom Price, Biloela, Emerald, Chinchilla and Roma

There are no mines in Karratha, there's Woodside's North West Shelf gas project, (soon to be joined by the Pluto project) and Rio Tinto's Iron Ore port facilities.

[T28D]

The Rio port is Dampier, there is no port at Karratha it is just a dormitory town

[jas24zzk]

Interesting Post Frank.

It got my thinking of my time in Dysart as a kid.
Dysart, Queensland - Google Maps (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Dysart,+Queensland&hl=en&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=42.368473,79.013672&vpsrc=0&hnear=Dysart+Queensland&t=h&z=10)


back in '83 or was it '84 the one primary school had almost 2000 numb nuts like me....wonder how much has changed. Gawd knows what the high school had...wasn't there long enough to find out.

[Worrals in the wilds]

The Labor party must think it is better for parents in the mining industry to fly-in and fly-out rather than finish work and drive home to their kids.


Unfortunately, that is exactly what a lot of parents think.

...towns like Dalby, Cloncurry, Karratha, Mt Isa, Charters Towers, Mt Tom Price, Biloela, Emerald, Chinchilla and Roma. In the future towns like Charleville and Quilpie. None of these towns are eligible for funding.


I can't speak for Karratha or Tom Price (haven't been there) but for the others... the average bogan doesn't want to live there. Hell, I wouldn't want to live there. Why? No beach. Nothing to do. Nothing to see. Nothing for the kids to aspire to except mining or moving away. Of course the answer is to make these places more attractive and use the government money (if it's being dished out) to encourage water slides, David Jones shops, Movie Theatres, Maccas takeaways and all the other stuff that people actually want. Even if you added all that, these towns would still be dusty, hot and far from the beach. From the mining companies' point of view, you need a bunch of workers and they don't want to live there, you've got :mad:loads of money, what do you do? Fly 'em in.

The trouble with FIFO is that the demand for services from desperate residents doesn't get to the level where these businesses want to invest in DJs Emerald or Wet 'n' Wild Cloncurry. Government meddling doesn't seem to be fixing that, when it's cheaper to stick everyone on a plane to Brisbane/Townsville for their days off. All it does is gives a cash cow to the Brisbane, Townsville and Gladstone councils because they're 'supporting industry'. Easier not to pretend and let business take its course.

There may be a resource there, but be damned if many people want to live next door to it. If Barns thinks these towns are even vaguely attractive to the average family (and I say that having a personal affinity with two of them), he's kidding himself.

[jas24zzk]

Worrals,
what about ballaraat (or balarooted as i call it) succesful town on the back of mining.

Whats the difference between ballaraat and the others? what has been missed in thier development?

[Worrals in the wilds]

I haven't been to Ballarat, but my understanding is that it's not hot, dry, dusty and full of flies. It's also not far from Melbourne, unlike the other towns, many of which are a full day's drive even from Townsville. Dalby is probably the local Qld equivalent and I doubt that they have trouble attracting live-in workers.

Actually Charters and Chinchilla aren't too bad and could probably be classed as decent places in potentia, but Quilpie, Charleville and the Isa are seriously location challenged. They're at least a day's drive from the coast, have social 'issues' (let's just leave it there:ooh:) and frankly... they're boring. Fun to blow in for the annual rodeo/show/race meet/ Miss Melon contest (Chinchilla, in case anyone wanted to go:}), but pretty sucky for an all year round stay.

Ballarat, Broken Hill and the Isa were established as towns before FIFO was an option. Standing by for incoming:}, but IMO very few people would have actually moved to Isa or BH fifty years ago if there was the option of jumping on a plane in and out. Of course, despite adversity Broken Hill has developed an art scene and is actually a decent place, but it's still stinking hot and miles from nowhere and good shopping.

What the regional councils don't want to admit (or can't admit, becuase they're staffed by people who already live there) is that these towns are not attractive to the general population. If they were, the general population would have already moved there. I talk to a lot of junior tradie/labourer types, and all the money in the world wouldn't get them to move to Quilpie while they can still earn in Brisbane/Gold Coast, even for lower wages. They're working on the coast, so why go elsewhere? To quote one of them, 'where are the chicks'?

[jas24zzk]

LOLZ!!!!!!

After spending 3 years on the coast in Bowen as a kid, i have never re-acclimatised to melbourne.........25 years on..........bring on the heat!!!

As for shopping!!! hate that ****! ( i was gunna say its womans work, but i am not that much of a chauvanist) Todays environment ensures i can shop on line anyway.

My time in dysart, is an interesting reflection of your comments....let take the indivuals.....

Dad...........working
Mum............after 2-3 hours of housewife chores, bored ****less
My bro and I... school, exploring, catching lizards, slingshoting the high school boys and the kissing thier girlfriends.


if thats an analagy, then its the wives driving the FIFO process and halting the towns progress

[Andu]

Kevin Rudd fuels leadership rumbling as he leads attack on Tony Abbott | The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/kevin-rudd-fuels-leadership-rumbling-as-he-leads-attack-on-tony-abbott/story-fn59niix-1226161665486)


KEVIN Rudd has defied advice to delay a bid to regain the Labor leadership until next year, aggressively declaring his aim to "do anything" to stop Tony Abbott and fuelling a campaign to destabilise Julia Gillard.

The Foreign Minister yesterday embraced the role of his friend and former minister Alan Griffin as his parliamentary "numbers man"; made clear his intention to take on the Opposition Leader outside foreign affairs; and refused to say that he was not actively undermining the Prime Minister.

After weeks of conducting a barnstorming media campaign, the naming of two Labor backbenchers pushing his leadership bid, the sounding out of union leaders for support and growing concern in the Labor caucus, Mr Rudd yesterday pushed leadership speculation to new heights.

Asked whether he was trying to actively undermine Ms Gillard to get back the top job, Mr Rudd did not deny the destabilisation. "What I am actively seeking to do is to do everything possible to prevent Mr Abbott becoming prime minister of Australia," he said.

"In that context, I'm working hard with my Prime Minister and with my ministerial colleagues to do that because Australia would change radically. That's what I am about."
The man can't help himself.

If the the Indonesians fold quickly over the 14 year old Bali drug buyer, (how much is that costing, with Rudd ordering the *** ambassador to Bali to fix it?), he'll milk his statesmanlike coup to the max as another string in his bow to retake the Boganvilla.

And if he succeeds, there'll be blood in the street as he pays back those who knifed him last August. As I said - the man can't help himself. Leopards... spots...

[sisemen]

Yes. Watched in amazement when the news first broke. There was Krudd, acting all statesmanlike and prime ministerial, in front of the cameras getting the publicity and the jump on Jooliar.

When she eventually made her statement in front of the cameras it was obvious that she was seething inside in having been pre-empted by Tin Tin.

Watch this space - it's going to get really interesting. And I'm going to be away for a week and probably no access to TV news let alone PPRuNe :{

Abbott must be really worrying them if they are willing to commit suicide over it. :}

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

I am finding all this business with the 14 year old in Bali disturbing. Krudd with his head-patting "we'll bring this little bloke home" rhetoric...:yuk: um, so Krudd condones the buying of marijuana does he? :confused:

[CoodaShooda]

I thought I was the only one angered over the government's over the top response to this little pot head getting caught.

Lucky for him he isn't a livestock exporter. Then, presumably, the government would be helping the Indonsian police to stitch him up.

Calling it a double standard just doesn't come close. :mad:

[Worrals in the wilds]

+1 on that. I thought it was just me. Of course I don't want to see a 14 YO boy sent to Kerbokan and I hope they get him back (and kick his arse), but there has not been one word from the pollies or media about the negatives re a juvenile buying pot, particularly in Asia. Like, is it a bad idea or what?:ugh: Like, should people have a tiny respect for the law of the country they're vsiting, lest they end up in a violent fleapit? Second nasty, grumpy person question; what were his parents doing while he was wandering around buying drugs?

Anyway, when it comes to Rudd, with friends like that...buy a dagger proof coat.:E

[zac21]

my sentiments exactly :D

[Frank Arouet]

If Rudd succeeds, what will he do with the Independants and Greens who have made personal deals with Jules?

Even if he ditches every dumb gambling/carbon/illegal immigrant agenda, and addresses more serious matters like the economy, will he have the numbers without that back up, both in the House of Representatives and The Senate.

Without an election, he is as stuffed as both Gillard or Abbott in The Senate.

It may be pointing to an election either way.

[Captain Sand Dune]

This from news.com.au:
Psychiatrist Dr Danny Thong, who visited the boy yesterday, said he admitted using marijuana occasionally in the presence of friends over the past two years.
The high-profile Bali psychiatrist, who treated Corby and members of the Bali Nine, visited the boy at the request of his lawyers.
"He admitted that he took some marijuana since two years ago, not regularly and usually in the presence of friends - that's all,"
Dr Thong said. "I can only classify him as a very light user. He is only using it in company, not by himself."
Hey so that’s OK then, he’s only been smoking the stuff SINCE HE WAS 12! Oh, but it’s only irregular use. Hey d!ckhead – IT’S STILL AN ILLEGAL DRUG IN INDONESIA!!:mad:
The way the media is portraying this is sickening. Let’s ignore the fact that the little twerp purchased an illegal drug in a country where he knew full well it carries heavy penalties. Oh, and don’t try and tell me he didn’t know because:
Friends say the boy and his family had been to Bali several times. "They go away a lot," friend Lili Lemesurier, 16, said
No, let’s ignore this rather important FACT and move Heaven and Earth and try and get him back. What message does this send to the feral bogans that go overseas? Hey do what you want in another country, no need to respect their laws coz the Australian gummint will bail you out.:yuk:
And what message does this send to other countries? That Australians have no respect for their laws because they believe that Australian law travels with them and that their government will bail them out regardless of what they’ve done.
However the overriding factor is that this little toe-rag has become a pawn in the delusional Rudd’s greater game. Why not let the ambassador to Indonesia run with it? Nope, far better to grandstand and toy with this kid’s life in order to score points over Gillard.
If the opposition are smart they’ll zip their lips and let this bunch incompetents continue to dig themselves even deeper.
I think I need a beer.................

[Andu]

The women's magazines like No Idea and Women's Daze, along with the 6.30pm "30 minute-advertisements-that pretend-to-be-current affairs-shows" will all be falling over themselves to get this kid and his parents as their celebrities of the moment, where they've be fawned over and damn near drowned in fake sympathy.

If there was any common sense left in this world, he should be given a serious kick in the arse with a hob nailed boot and then be presented with the bill for all his incredible stupidity will end up costing the Australian taxpayer.

Meanwhile, Kevin11 will want to give the kid a sainthood, because he's given said Kevin11 a chance to look like a statesman - and more importantly, a wonderful chance to upstage Juliar.

[CoodaShooda]

because he's given said Kevin11 a chance to look like a statesman

or possibly not, given the consistent reaction from this hotbed of rednecked, conservative thought.

I'm sure there are other voters outside Ppruneland who share these thoughts.

Just as there are inevitably others with a contrary view. :E

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

The women's magazines like No Idea and Women's Daze, along with the 6.30pm "30 minute-advertisements-that pretend-to-be-current affairs-shows" will all be falling over themselves to get this kid and his parents as their celebrities of the moment, where they've be fawned over and damn near drowned in fake sympathy.


Pass me a latte, Andu...I think we've just found common ground!:eek:

[jas24zzk]

I hope KRUDD does get the leadership back. Like others I can only see the 'greens' deal falling on its arse and taking us back to the polls. BRING IT!!

Might be time for the libs to lob in a new candidate to make it not a white wash, but a total drubbing :D

[bob johns]

Been away from informed comment for a while and due to the sh!t storm over my comments re That Creature in CB. I still dont know why Ban Kai Moon (or whatever )was doing in Australia! And as for that little sh!t in Bali --leave the little bastard there as former posters have got it spot, on, the media will be all over him as some sort of hero .

[osmosis]

It's not just the kids in Bali, young adults are far worse. I've been there just once, recently, and only passed through Denpasar and Kuta on my way from, and later to, the airport. As we passed a police roadblock there was a long line of boardshort-&-fosters-singlet-wearing bogans pulled over on their hired scooters; according to our driver, for not wearing helmets and not having licenses, a common theme apparently. Young Australians seem to leave their friggin' brains behind when they travel and I confess to being ashamed from time to time.

As for Krudd, Graeme Richardson, a senior minister for the Hawke & Keating labour governments, is now publicly accusing the little bastard of having a glass jaw.

First, the nation elects Krudd in, then
His party removes him, and
Replaces him with Jooliar. Now
The nation wants him back again.

Is Australia it's own worst enemy? Mmmm, lemme think about it.

[Worrals in the wilds]

I know it's wrong on so many levels but... I love Richo. :ok:
He's gone rogue on them and is saying what so many voters-formerly-known-as-ALP-supporters are thinking, just more eloquently and a lot more publicly. Of course it's doing his media career the world of good, but still... good for him for speaking out against the machine. Whatever his sins (and they'd be many:E) he's forgotten more about political manoeuvring than these guys will ever begin to know.

[Andu]

Some would say that, as a media commentator, in sticking it to Jools and Kev, Richo is sticking to the very same adage that ruled his political life - "Whatever It Takes".

[Worrals in the wilds]

Machiavelli 101. I always liked his stuff too. :E

The thing with 'Whatever it takes' as a philosophy is that it requires a constant assessment of what people want. In Machiavelli's time it was 'what does the Prince want'? In our own time it's 'what do the voters want'? Not what the Greens want, not what the media want, not what the focus groups and opinion polls want (where opinion poll is defined as the five hundred people out of 14 million who didn't say ':mad: off and die' when some random person rang their landline while dinner was turning into mushroom custard :ugh:.

Either way, it involves a constant assessment of stakeholder views. IMO this is something the current government has consistently failed to do, and that's why they're as consistently popular as herpes (and seemingly as hard to get rid of :sad:). They see the Greens and the Independents as stakeholders, which is probably right in the short term, because after all, there's a chance they might all pull their support and back the Libs. There's also a chance that a donkey might win the Melbourne Cup, but forgive me if I don't put money on it. :}

However, their long term stakeholders are roughly half of the voting public that vote Labor, as opposed to the other roughly half that vote Lib/Nat/FF. If too many of that half in the marginal seats get annoyed enough, doing deals with Bob and the Gang becomes irrelevant relatively quickly. The difference between the voters and Bob and the Gang is that while the Independents become part of the landscape the moment the balance of power is assured (either way), the annoyed voters are still important, because marginal seats tend to stay marginal. A better long term goal may be to retain a degree of integrity with the voters, rather than this week's balance of power polititard.

Many years ago, the Queensland Coalition learned this the hard way when they threw in their lot with Liz Cunningham of Gladstone. Years on, Liz is still there praying for Gladstone but the Coalition have spent so long in the wilderness that Bear Grylls is putting them on his show.

[Fubaar]

and that's why they're as consistently popular as herpes (and seemingly as hard to get rid of ). Listening to the news this morning, I heard that both the Assad (Syrian) government and Ghadaffi's last die-hards are still holding out - and couldn't help but compare that with what's happening here in Oz.

Maybe it will take an 'Oz Spring'? We (the blue rinse set and the truckies) tried that with the Canberra rallies and were either thoroughly ignored or denigrated as small, crazy fringe groups, both by governemnt and the MSM.

Maybe it's because we're too damned polite? Left wing demonstraters are allowed to run riot, almost as if it's expected of them, but if anyone on the Right even gets out a placard, the left-loving MSM, especially the ABC, almost have conniptions pilloring the demonstrators and saying that "they should know better".

Perhaps it will come down to any and every time Ms Gillard shows her face in public, she is repeatedly requested with a clear and unamgiguous message from a long succession of people telling her she should go. It should be a catchy one-liner, so that the message gets through and so that everyone knows it word perfect, a bit like the way everyone now knows and can repeat "There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead".

Suggestions for the catchy one-liner?

[sisemen]

Well, Ditch the Witch, has a certain ring to it. Or perhaps, See yar Joolyar might avoid the expected upset from the feminist left.

PS Woohoo! Can access PPRuNe when we're close to land!:}

[Captain Sand Dune]

That'll get a bite!:E

Especially since it's true.................:{

[Lex Talionis]

In a democracy they can live comfortably, enjoy the high quality of life which they did not build and work for, they don’t have to be productive and earn a living, they can be wild, and break the law, exploit the social services, wear Burkas and make a mockery of our Police and Courts and generally bite the hand that feeds them.
After reading your post DK who has upset you enough to make a post like that?
The Arabs are not happy
How do you know that ALL Arabs are not happy in their own countries?

What proof can you show us to back up your statement?
Is it Arabs that seem to have gotten under your skin or is it Muslims?
Australian Muslims make up less than 3% of our population yet our Government is fixated on pandering to them...
So what exactly has happened to you personally that has made you apparently so anti one entire culture or religion?
Do you consider yourself and all other Australians the same group?

If some idiot who happens to be a vegemite eating,card carrying surf club member Australian and is called Johnno or Stevo (3rd or 4th generation by birth if that makes you happy) does something very stupid and who milks the welfare system (as many do) at every opportunity do you include these as in your group because they have not migrated to Australia or arrived as a refugee ?

Would you be happy to have yourself and ALL Australians regarded as the same just as you have with all those who are Arabic?

Your posts seem to be all but consumed with a Xenophobic theme that I for one find disturbing.

With regard to the 14 year old allegedly in possession of 6.9 grams of cannabis in Bali.
I have no problem with him facing the legal system of any country if he was an adult but he is not.There are a few points to be raised here though.

First,is there one of us who did not do anything stupid when we were 13 or 14 and were lucky to get away with it?

Second,to suggest that he had no right at 14 to be walking down the beach without his parents is ridiculous.Anyone here not walk down the beach or there shops at that age in Bali or any holiday destination on their own?

Third,we are hearing reports from the media about his alleged history and behaviour and most here seem to be accepting this as the gospel truth when as anyone involved in aviation and other areas of employment know that the media can and frequently do print or report stories that are patently false or at best exaggerated.

It has been suggested that his Indonesian legal representation has advised that it would be best for him to state that he is a known user of cannabis for personal reasons rather than as an alleged dealer.How do any of us know that these stories are the complete truth.

We have a situation where an Australian 14 year old is facing the indonesian legal and justice system which can be described as an oxymoron at best and a quagmire of duplicitous decisions at worst.It is a widely known rumour that the Bali dealers work with the so called intel police and give up their customers who are then arrested and the goods returned to the dealer to sell again and so the process goes on and on.

We see a legal system which if enforced could see this 14 year old locked up for 12 years but an Indonesian Airline captain who was responsible for the deaths of many people basically walked away a free man.

I'm not condoning drug use in any way but to leave a 14 year old in this situation is not acceptable to me and if any of us had a son or daughter in the same situation we would be doing everything possible to get them home and if the charges true true then dealing with them when they got home.

[gupta]

Lex you do need to be consistent

What proof can you show us to back up your statement?


vs
It is a widely known rumour
Which one is it to be ?

[Frank Arouet]

With regard to the 14 year old allegedly in possession of 6.9 grams of cannabis in Bali.

Bugga, and those poor 18 year sods at Christmas Island can't have a cigarette in a plain pack because they are "under age".

[Andu]

Methinks, in an effort to showeth thy Political Correctness quotient is at the required level, thou protesteth a teesh too loudly, Lex.

One quick example: we all know everyone in Melbourne (except Collingwood supporters) hates Collingwood with a passion. Every ask why this is so? It's the Melbourne version of Celtics versus Rangers - i.e., Catholics versus Protestants.

It's roots lie well in our colonial (and early Federation) past, when, to mainstream Establishment (i.e., Protestant) Australia, the (Catholic) Irish were the Muslims of the day. Because, in large part, the Catholic Irish have proven not to be the threat to our way of life that many if not most non-Catholic Australians (including 'the father of Australian Federation', Henry Parkes) expected them to be, most of those old hatreds have dissolved - or are so far below the surface, they can be more or less ignored today.

The exception has been in the 'Collingwood versus the Rest' among Melbourne footy fans. Even though most footy fans have long forgotten why they hate Collingwood, they just do - and whether you like it or not, it all goes back to the Prods hating those bloody Roman Papists.

So, given that there was certainly no Political Correctness involved back in Henry Parkes' days, and having read the history lesson, can I ask you what you believe the reaction if a suburban Melbourne Council was to have curtained off a swimming pool back then so that Catholic women could bathe in private? (Not that there were any public swimming pools back then, but you know the point I'm attempting to make.) And then ask what it would be today if you deleted 'Muslim' and inserted 'Catholic' or 'Anabaptist' or 'Exclusive Brethern'.

I can't tell you how much I hope the Muslim 'threat' so many of us see to our way of life proves to be as ill-conceived as the Catholic threat has proven to be. I think the big difference was that the Catholics, if they wanted to make a living, simply had to fit in. Ill-conceived Political Correctness today is not only allowing Muslims not to fit in, but encouraging them to remain separate, reinforcing the ghetto mentality while (what many would see as too generous) government handouts allow them to exist in a separate state within a state at a standard of living quite acceptable to many of them, even if it might not be acceptable to many Australians not born in the Third World.

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

Dark Knight...are you talking about Arabs or Muslims?

Not all Muslims are Arabs.

Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim population, is the world's third most populous democracy, and yet they don't appear to be beating a path to our back door.:confused:

[Frank Arouet]

A copy of a letter to The Editor of a WA newspaper outlining the failures of both parties posed the following to the present Prime Minister. He provided the answers to those initiatives as he saw them, but I reproduce them here for those who seem intent on diverting the argument away from the Labor mess.


Feel free to involve yourselves by giving answers. I've started with the first;


INITIATIVES. /OUTCOMES.


Carbon tax / There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead.
NBN
BER
Home insulation plan
Citizens Assembly
Hospital reform
Digital set top boxes for seniors
Emmissions trading scheme
Mining super tax
Indonesian livestock ban
Detention centres
Malaysia solution
Computers in schools
Cutting red tape
Green loans
Solar homes and communities plan
Solar credits scheme
Childcare centres
Reducing the public sector
Murray-Darling basin plan
2020 summit
Fuel watch
Grocery watch
Stimulus package $900
Solar hot water system rebate
Defence family local health clinics
National education curriculum
Indigenous housing program
Better defence uniforms
New submarine fleet


And lastly an update on how you are redressing the $90 billion surplus left to you as a legacy from the previous government that somehow you managed to turn in to a $250 billion defecit.

EDIT. Not all Muslims are Arabs

As it was in Egypt. However I wouldn't like to be a Coptic Christian there right now.

[Stan van de Wiel]

Frank
Feel free to involve yourselves by giving answers. I've started with the first;

Red Tape: This has definitely been cut, but lengthwise not across as intended
this has permitted a doubling of regulations at no extra tape cost.

There were 2 extra points not listed:
Federal Whistleblowing provisions: Dreyfus Report well done and then shelved because it was too damning of past and present burocrats.

Changes to Accountability and Transparency: Citizens are now more accountable and our affairs are more transparent (big Brother)

[Frank Arouet]

The Author's answer was;

Red tape. 58 repealed but 12,835 new ones. That probably means regulations.

[Andu]

A few letter writers here not enamoured at the thought of Krudd getting his hands on the reins again.

The country can't afford to have Kevin Rudd back | The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/the-country-cant-afford-to-have-kevin-rudd-back/story-fn558imw-1226162474451)

[Blanik3]

but then I guess it depends on the bias with which one wishes to rewrite history or your version of it. So Dark Knight are you feeling a little silly now?

And then ask what it would be today if you deleted 'Muslim' and inserted 'Catholic' or 'Anabaptist' or 'Exclusive Brethern'. Couldn't agree more Andu. Imagine if he had used Jew and not Arab in that diatribe? Regardless of of which race was inserted it would always be inaccurate,ignorant and belittle all of us as humans.

That'll get a bite!http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/evil.gifIt has,but is it worth the bytes?

[MTOW]

Could you be just a little guilty of purposely not getting the point Andu was trying to make, Blanik3?

The last paragraph bears repeating:

I can't tell you how much I hope the Muslim 'threat' so many of us see to our way of life proves to be as ill-conceived as the Catholic threat has proven to be. I think the big difference was that the Catholics, if they wanted to make a living, simply had to fit in. Ill-conceived Political Correctness today is not only allowing Muslims not to fit in, but encouraging them to remain separate, reinforcing the ghetto mentality while (what many would see as too generous) government handouts allow them to exist in a separate state within a state at a standard of living quite acceptable to many of them, even if it might not be acceptable to many Australians not born in the Third World.

[Metro man]

Catholics weren't asking for a separate legal system (Sharia Law). As mostly white, Christian, English speakers who expected to do a days work in order to eat they would have fitted in.

[Saltie]

You're right about the Catholics, Metroman, but at the time, as Andu said, Parkes and many others saw them as a real threat to society, not far behind the Chinese. If you read some of his speeches about 'the Papists', he made Pauline Hanson seem to the left of 'Watermelon' Lee Rhiannon in comparsion.

As late as the 1960s, there were numerous cases in Australia of sons or daughters being disowned by their parents for marrying across the Catholic/Protestant divide.

As a child, (late 50s, possibly very early 60s), I can recall our family being invited to a wedding "in the wrong church" and our parish priest forbidding my mother from attending the service. She ignored him, but I think we both looked up to the rafters when we walked into that church expecting the roof to come tumbling down on top of us!

The Catholic church's insistence that all children of "mixed marraiges" be brought up Catholics wasn't too far removed from the present day Muslim insistence that any non-Muslim male marrying a Muslim woman converting to Islam. (Funny how they don't insist on the same thing when the genders are reversed.)

[Captain Sand Dune]

Catholics weren't asking for a separate legal system (Sharia Law). As mostly white, Christian, English speakers who expected to do a days work in order to eat they would have fitted in.
Neither did Protestants, Jews, Jehovahs Witnesses, Buddhists, Hindus, etc.