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2014 Victorian Election

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Knobby22

Knobby22

Mmmmmm 2nd breakfast
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Well it looks like the maverick ex Liberal MP of Frankston is going to take down the Napthine Victorian Government.

It is very unfortunate as this Coalition government has been, in my view, the best Victorian State Government in living memory and that includes Kennett's. In the short time they have been in power they have achieved an amazing amount and the last thing we need is the Public Sector Union controlled State Labor Party back in power.

Normally their success would be rewarded however the Federal Coalition incompetency will probably mean they will get voted out. Really unfortunate timing for Victorians.
 
They have bargained hard with the Unions allowing them to build up a war chest and have announced major infrastructure works as a consequence including a railway to the airport and other major train infrastructure. Major roads that are desperately needed as Melbourne's population is growing so strongly are also being planned. Finally they are installing lots over underpasses/overpasses across railway crossings. Generally managed things well with a bit more honesty and transparency than Labor gave.
 
Good to hear...

Offenders who commit a range of serious crimes will spend more time in jail under far-reaching baseline sentencing reforms passed by Parliament on 5th August. Those found guilty of murder, child sex offences, large-scale commercial drug trafficking and culpable driving causing death will all face big increases in sentences. The new law will require courts to set higher sentences not just for the most serious instances of those offences, but across the sentencing range.

This legislation is the first stage of the Napthine Coalition Government’s introduction of baseline sentences, under which the community through Parliament will be able to specify not just the maximum sentence that can apply for an offence, but the average, or median, sentence that Parliament requires the courts to apply. The new law will also require that courts must order offenders sentenced for baseline offences to spend no less than a specified minimum proportion of their sentence actually in jail before they can become eligible for parole.

These reforms add to the range of significant sentencing reforms already introduced by the Coalition Government to ensure stronger and more effective sentencing in Victoria.

http://goo.gl/pqZXAT.
 
The soccer world woke up when Liverpool made stupendous amounts of money playing in Melbourne charging fans amounts they could only dream of at home.

With government subsidies also adding to the money being made, other European teams are seeing the opportunity to increase profits for their owners also.

That said, it is money better spent than on the Australian Grand prix.

In Australia we are used to paying over the odds (look how much the Rolling Stones are charging), so I predict we will see many more teams coming over next year also.
 
I always like reading Jeff Kennett's input.

Voters’ duty is to keep Victoria strong in every way

AS you read this, there are only 93 days to the state election, but most Victorians have not yet exercised their minds as to how they will vote.

Of course, there will be the committed who will vote for their preferred party automatically. That might account for 80 per cent of all eligible voters, being 35 per cent for the Liberal and Labor parties, 5 per cent for the Nationals and 5 per cent for the Greens.

The other 20 per cent, in the main, are not committed and perhaps not interested in politics. Their vote may not be decided until they put pen to paper in the polling booth.

As we go into this election, Victorians have observed what has occurred in the federal Parliament in recent years and what instability a formally party-selected member can cause when he elects midterm to become an independent, as happened with Geoff Shaw.

So I’d urge all Victorians to think seriously about how they vote on November 29. It is simply not in our interests to elect a government that does not have a clear majority.

Without governments with clear mandates, the opportunity to put communities in the best position to meet challenges are much reduced.

So I want to highlight Victoria’s strengths and next week outline the issues that I believe we should consider when we vote, issues that if considered and addressed will allow Victoria to grow as a vibrant and exciting state.

I believe we have five key strengths that must be preserved.

A harmonious society: For generations Victorians have been a generous community of increasingly diverse backgrounds. In the main, our approach to multiculturalism has enjoyed bipartisan support and has been a great asset.

Yes, there has been the odd incident, but our cohesiveness has served us very well. We must continue to respect each other, support each other and to recognise our similarities and differences.

Our economy: Victoria has a diverse economy. Agriculture, manufacturing, education, medical sciences, retailing, service industries and so on.

With the exception of the gold rush period in the 1880s, that diversity has been our greatest strength, helping us to avoid the peaks and troughs that occur in states such as WA and Queensland.

While Victoria is experiencing some readjustment within its manufacturing sector, such readjustment is part of the history of any modern society and Victoria is well placed to produce and develop the next wave of activity.

Our finances: Victoria’s finances are in the healthiest of any Australian state or territory ”” even the federal Government. We are the only state or territory with a triple A stable credit rating.

That’s important because it means the state pays a lower interest rate on its borrowings than elsewhere.

That is why a balanced Budget or surplus Budget is important. It indicates a disciplined approach and it allows the government to invest in services for its community, maintenance of its assets infrastructure for its future.

Between now and November voters should consider the financial policies of the parties clinically and ask whether we can afford them.

Culture: We enjoy a great diversity in the cultural arts and in that I include not only music, dance, film, visual, architecture and so on, but also sport. Major events, whether arts or sport, have built our reputation in Australia and around the world.

Since Sir Redmond Barry in the 1880s committed Victoria to institutions such as our State Library, museum, Melbourne University and Melbourne Hospital ”” for populations much bigger than existed at the time ”” Victoria has kept ahead of the curve.

Our cultural heart remains one of our greatest assets and should never be taken for granted.

Essential services: While we often hear of a failure in essential services such as education, health, police, fire, ambulance, SES, paramedics and so on, little coverage is given to the tens of thousands of responses that have been efficient and on time.

Good management of our economy has allowed us to invest in a new children’s hospital and the new cancer hospital.

The same applies to the other services we receive in return for the taxes we pay.

So we go into the election in a privileged position. Victoria is certainly not broken but politicians must not go into this election promising not to do things. That’s putting short-term popularity before responsible government and diminishing the levers available to manage our affairs.

Lastly, I hope we Victorians recognise the responsibility we have to the state’s future and don’t waste votes on those who if elected will not be able to govern and might prevent the party with the most elected representatives governing effectively.

I believe the election will be more about the maturity of the electors than those we elect.

We need to vote in a government with a clear majority.

Next week I will outline how and upon what criteria I will judge the major parties.

Have a good day.

Jeff Kennett is a former premier of Victoria.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/op...ong-in-every-way/story-fni0ffsx-1227037874427
 
Yea, it's a joke Tink.
And the main reason that Labor they will break the contract is that they are worried about losing these seats to the Greens. Fuming.
 
Agree, Knobby.

He is too busy listening to the Greens.
They think tradesmen, with their equipment, go to work on a bike.
Shipping containers come in on a bike.
Unbelievable.

Leaving anything for Labor to do is costly.

Interesting information -

Andrews could end up even losing his own seat if the backlash against his decision is big enough.
Given he represents Mulgrave - which has both Eastlink and the Monash running through it, you would have thought he would have consulted with the people that elect him before he took the position he has.
However, given that he only holds the seat by 2% after the re-division it would only take a small swing to unseat him.
 
Tink said:
Two councils use more than $100K of ratepayers’ cash to fund Link battle

TWO militant councils have splurged more than $100,000 of ratepayers’ cash on a marketing campaign opposing the State Government’s East West Link.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi.../story-fni0fit3-1227058310579#social-comments

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/labor-and-the-leftist-loonies/story-fni0ffsx-1227058241010
Click to expand...

Good to see these Councils have top priority, after all the marching we saw down Sydney Rd.

No CCTV in Moreland Council 18 months after Coalition provided $250k

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/op...angs-by-a-thread/story-fni0ffsx-1227061986281
 
Moreland are the worst council in Victoria.
They have been sacked so many times yet the people seem to re-elect more hopeless cases.
They even have links to the mafia.

Their nickname is the People's Republic of Moreland. 774 ABC always call them that.

Evan locals like Catherine Deveny call it the People's Republic of Moreland.

Some examples:


http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/20/1092972745888.html
http://catespeaks.wordpress.com/201...es-republic-of-moreland-election-shenanigans/

I feel sorry for anyone who lives in that area.
 
Surrender to the gambling industry

This subject could go in several threads , or one of it's own, but I've put it here because of this:-

The parliamentary debate was notable for the resort to weasel words, such as those from Labor frontbencher Senator Claire Moore that "we have decided, because of the sensitivities, the pain and the frustrations, not to continue with the measures that were in place and which had not received full commitment across all of the various interests in this area".

It would have been much simpler to say that the clubs had waged a highly misleading campaign that scared the hell out of Labor MPs in marginal seats. Greens Senator Richard Di Natale summed it up when he said that Labor's surrender "represents everything that is wrong with politics in Australia".

But that also has not been the last of the retreats on gambling reform. Last month the Victorian Government extended the licence for James Packer's Melbourne Crown Casino by 17 years to 2050 and approved an expansion of its operations, including 128 more poker machines.

Emboldened by its comprehensive political victory, the clubs industry is looking for fresh fields.

The pokies will have to be bought from Victorian clubs and pubs, thus not adding to the state's total of almost 30,000 machines. But according to one estimate, they will generate at least three times as much income at Crown as at suburban venues.

The new agreement with Crown contains an additional, quite remarkable, provision - the Government will have to compensate Crown for any measures taken between now and 2050 to tackle problem gambling. That covers all the proposals and plans that were canvassed by Wilkie and the Gillard government, including $1 dollar limits on bets, mandatory pre-commitment and restricted access to ATMs.

This surely must set a new low standard in political surrender to vested interests. Why did the Government decide to extend a licence that was not due to expire for another 19 years, let alone agree to what is close to a veto over gambling reform for the next 3 ½ decades?

First to placate an angry Packer after poker machine taxes were increased in the last state budget. Second because Crown will make payments to the Government of up to $910 million as part of the agreement, including $250 million this election year.

You might think an opposition, particularly one in a parliament where the numbers are precarious, might want to try blocking such a deal, since it requires legislation. To the contrary: Labor says that, despite misgivings, it will not oppose the bill. It is as anxious to placate Packer as the Government.

Emboldened by its comprehensive political victory, the clubs industry is looking for fresh fields. Clubs Australia has suggested to a Productivity Commission inquiry that, in return for tax concessions, clubs would be in a good position to provide childcare facilities.
Click to expand...

Full story at
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-...-will-crumbles-under-the-pokies-power/5754720

What the hell is going on in this country when magnates like Packer can twist even more money out of the chronic gambler and then charge the rest of us for the damage he causes ?

Does anyone have any doubts that we are a plutocracy ?
 
Thanks, Knobby.

It is not my Council, but I think its pretty poor after all Victorians pretty much had their say.
Labor has always been pathetic with crime.
The Coalition is making changes in deterring crime in Vic, and I am happy with the changes I am seeing.

I am right behind them making people accountable for their actions.

What annoys me with these protesters, Greens/ Labor, is how many are now travelling on CityLink after all they did last time? Chaining themselves to the equipment.

Don't waste our money, we need both.
Road and rail, which the government is intent on doing.

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/videos.html

Tradesmen can't go to work with all their equipment on trains, do these people live in the real world?
How does food get transported to shops, not by train.

I hope people haven't forgotten the mess we had the last time they were in.
 
Thanks, drsmith.

I find it annoying that they don't let them answer questions, and cut them off.

I am hoping that the electorate aren't silly enough to let in a Labor/Greens/Union Government back in, after 11 years we had nothing.

The Liberals are not perfect, but are way better and getting on with the job, there is movement in Vic.The Labor Greens will make a bad situation worse every time.

I am going to bring up the Victorian Bushfires also, as I have never seen Council/Government move so fast, AFTER the event.

This was taken August 14-15, 2014

Who do you think would make the better Premier?

Denis Napthine ....... 41
Daniel Andrews ...... 33
Uncommitted .......... 26

Which leaders, Denis Napthine or Daniel Andrews would be the best choice for protecting Victorian jobs?

Denis Napthine...........39
Daniel Andrews...........38
Uncommitted................23

Which leaders, Denis Napthine or Daniel Andrews would be the best choice for keeping the CFMEU in check?

Denis Napthine...........47
Daniel Andrews...........23
Uncommitted...............30

Do you think that Victoria is heading in the right direction or the wrong direction?

Right direction .........51
Wrong direction .......37
Uncommitted ...........12

Which one of these projects do you think the state government should give the
highest priority?

Removing Victoria’s worst 50 level crossings ........ 62
Building the East West Link .................................. 28
Uncommitted ......................................................... 10

Does the performance of the Abbott government make you more or less likely to vote for
Denis Napthine in the forthcoming state election?

More likely to vote for Napthine ... 15
Less likely to vote for Napthine ... 33
Not influence vote ........................ 47
Uncommitted ................................ 5
 
Thanks, drsmith.

The Greens wouldn't be too happy, but as I said, how many are now travelling on CityLink.
Good news for Melbourne, and Victoria.

Just regarding my last post, saying I had never seen the Councils move so fast, I just wanted to clarify, that the Council trucks were out and about, trimming and cutting trees, cleaning foliage, debris etc. I couldn't believe it.
I have mentioned before, that we didn't hear from the Greens for a while, they went quiet at that time.

Giving them any power is a tragedy to this State, you just have to look at Tasmania, and what they have done.
These protesters are a problem wherever there is work to be done, especially when it concerns peoples safety e.g - adding an extra bridge so people can get out of an area if something were to happen etc.
 
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