The ELECTION Thread

[r3830]

Crikey!!!! I'm setting my alarm for 0100am! Seems to be when this place comes very much alive! GOOD MORNING ALL!

wyzeguy - I didn't know you were a WAussie! THANKYOU for your explanation of how the taxation on mining works. Living 5000K's away from somewhere does impede an understanding of local conditions and opinions somewhat. That's what I meant earlier where I mentioned being far removed from this issue. The people who live with this thing in their own backyard certainly will have a far better understanding of the whats, wheres and whys.... and its their input that is important moreso than a person who isn't living the experience.

Now if you over tax mining they will go elswhere, down size or restrict their activities and 10's of thousands of jobs will go with it. Blind freddie can even see that.

loco seeks your permission to apply for the position of 'blind freddy'! LOL . Because the above statement appears to be precisely what is happening (from my perspective) ATM. Uncertainty is undermining development - and this certainly will cost us all in the long run. (loved your letter by the way!)

The mining companies do underpin our economy.  I'm no economist (although I did do economics as part of my MBA), but I suspect the only reason Australia did OK in the financial crisis was because of our mined wealth.

Yes without a doubt,  mines do sometimes put their workers health in danger...  but so do many and most other companies.  That is why we have OH & S laws.   

fluffy - agree completely with these two statements. I believe that their contribution to our economy has on many occasions kept this country out of trouble. I note rebel's comment earlier - that even unexploited, these resources are valuable. But it seems to me that potential income doesn't pay actual bills. (I'll check with the bank on that as applies to the mortgage - although I'm doubtful they'll go for it!  )
 
MM - regarding safety..... Mining is a risky activity, and people certainly can be killed or injured. That probably explains a lot to do with the high rates of pay. The Tasmanian cave-in some years ago was blamed on an earth tremor, and limited follow-up by the company. OHS is a most important matter for any organisation. But, unfortunately, many employees are deliberately negligent in this area as well as employers. Shortcuts can be dangerous. Like putting on a seatbelt in a car.... some regard that five seconds as a waste of time - until a tree jumps out in front of them.

And - 20,000 Aboriginal people employed. That is quite a marvelous thing from where I sit. 40% of the way to target!

[r3830]

GAWD bnwt! I hope Mr Rudd didn't leak under general during his operation! 

[*smee*]

he wouldnt have the gall to leake would he ?

[r3830]

You're right - as usual smee! 

[bnwt]

Parental leave levy won't push up prices: Coles

The head of Coles says he does not believe having to pay a levy to fund the Coalition's proposed paid parental leave scheme would push prices up for consumers.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/31/2969672.htm

[bnwt]

Gillard accused of disregarding national security


A new leak has emerged, alleging that Prime Minister Julia Gillard has a disregard for national security.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/31/2969711.htm?section=justin

[r3830]

smee! Appears we were both wrong..... just keeps getting worse... doesn't it!


Babyland turns against Julia Gillard

NO ONE minds that the Prime Minister is a woman. In fact, they like it. A lot. Nor are people bothered that Julia Gillard doesn't have children. They understand how much her career has meant to her.

But out in Babyland, news that Ms Gillard apparently tried to kill off Labor's paid parental leave scheme, and at the same time tried to limit increases to the age pension, has been met with outright hostility.

Many young families are wondering if she's sneering at them.

They see her stance on parental leave as evidence of a person whose personal choices have left her coldly disconnected from their reality.

http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/why-young-families-have-already-lost-faith-in-julia-gillard/story-e6frfllr-1225899241313

[shyer]

The REAL DANGER is the greens long article worth reading.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/the-watermelon-party-20100730-10zsb.html

Over 90% of australians can see through the greens but 9% are fooled be the green outside.

Greens are watermelons - green on the outside, red on the inside.............

(from aLabor polititian)Rhiannon, he reminded Parliament, was a former member of the Socialist Party of Australia, a pro-Moscow breakaway from the disintegrating Communist Party of Australia.

"Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Ms Lee Rhiannon has led an absolute takeover of the NSW Greens. This attack is aimed at consigning the legitimate environmentalists to political limbo."
.........
THE REAL GOAL


......Economic levers would include cap-and-trade systems, resources would be taxed as they were extracted and income taxes reduced. A carbon tax would be introduced.

Single-use products would disappear, as would short-lived tech products. Public transport is increased, air travel is heavily restricted.

Expensive consumer items are leased and their owners responsible for recycling or reusing their raw materials.

Those on lower incomes would be subsidised to compensate for the higher cost of products and services. The range of incomes would be shrunk to "reward contributions" rather than "multiplying privilege".

Incomes are lower but working hours are reduced.

The credit/debt system is phased out; consumers and investors must save.

Population growth is retarded; the average age increases.

THIS means the Goverment controls everything

Wages, prices, money, goods available and fertility is controlled by Government THAT is COMMUNISM

COMMUNISM does not work only BLIND FOOLS are still true believers.

[bnwt]

Labor at it's Best

It's hopeless, give up Kristina

An even greater insight into the madness of state Labor came yesterday with revelations that Premier Keneally has called a special Cabinet meeting for next Tuesday at which every government minister will present their five ideas to fix NSW.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/its-hopeless-give-up-kristina/story-e6frezz0-1225899204158

[mandurahmum]

shyer - is it really necessary to use such a large font - it seems childish to me

[bnwt]

I don't get it ??

why do the Labor party want krudd to appear on the campaign trail? ........ he's a dud, that's why Labor had to remove him

now they are saying he such a great bloke we want him to campaign nationally .... whose the PM ??

Labor are completely out of control

[mandurahmum]

I will ask again - why are the two wars we are currently involved in no longer election issues.

We have just seen 90,000 pages of confidential info leaked by someone in the US armed forces - yet we have no seen any coverage of this on our news.

Apparently this leak will put our solidiers at risk - according to the US government.

When will we have the balls to say to them - no more.  We will no longer put Aussie lives in danger because we no longer trust the USA.  We invaded Iraq because of WMD - on faulty intelligence.  I have no idea why we are still n Afghanistan - according the many US news services and some of the pages that were leaked - Al Quaida is probably in Pakistan.

Bloody hell - we have muslim schools over here that are sending money (yes they have been charged) over to Pakistan schools.  Money that was obtained fraudulently - that for all we know could be helping al quaida.  

Have we just resigned ourselves to the fact that we are in unwinnable wars for as long as it takes?  We have budgeted for 26.6 billion dollars on defence this year - most of that will be spent overseas on our war efforts.

Imagine how many hospitals/schools/road etc that could be built over here with that money.

[bnwt]

what do you mean TWO wars ??

Australia has no involvement in Iraq

[bnwt]

[mandurahmum]

bnwt - your right - I was wrong about troops in Iraq

[r3830]

A scoop! An article about Tony Abbott!

I'm still the underdog, says Tony Abbott



http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/im-still-the-underdog-says-tony-abbott/story-e6frfllr-1225899382738

[bnwt]

Labor demonstrates the dangers of taking it one poll at a time

A government that has lived by polls is now dying by them.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/labor-demonstrates-the-dangers-of-taking-it-one-poll-at-a-time-20100731-110pu.html

[bnwt]

Alexander Downer accuses Kevin Rudd of Labor betrayal


“I don't use the c-word, but I do use the f-word pretty freely, and I can tell you that Kevin Rudd is a f…ing awful person,” he said.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/alexander-downer-accuses-kevin-rudd-of-labor-betrayal/story-fn59niix-1225899504122



infamy infamy ............. they've all got it in for me

[bnwt]

The Rudd we never really knew


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/the-rudd-we-never-really-knew/story-e6frezz0-1225899480960


let's all stick the knife in and twist it a few times

[HellWest'nCrooked]

Wonder if he deserves this.........I may live under a mushroom but has anything as bad as this been written about previous PM's...........I guess so.

Very scathing ....and one will never know if it is "right or wrong"