Is Australia its own Worst Enemy?

[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.

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. Obviously the Australian cattle export industry wasn't Australian enough for Juliar and Co.

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.

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

[Captain Sand Dune]

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.

[Blanik3]

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

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

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)

[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 power

If 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

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]

media release.

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.

[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.