Who are you voting for?

[Julia]

You must be doing OK with the stock market. Can you give us a few tips. I mean if six or seven billion is insignificant to you then you are doing better than most of us.

Nioka,
That comment is rather unworthy of you.
I'm not sure on what basis you assume that I am "doing OK with the stockmarket". I don't recall commenting on the performance of my p/f.

The last I heard was that the difference was about 2 billion, i.e. The Coalition's promises (at that stage) were up around $49B and Labor's were about $47B. That was on Radio National ABC. I think that was before the "Launch" of both parties.

To draw comparisons between what Federal political parties are promising to the nation, and my paltry investment in the stockmarket is specious to say the least. I really can't think of a more silly comparison.
Fairly obviously, the point I - and many others - have been trying to make is that both sides are being irresponsible with spending in an already overheated economy and that Labor is in no real position to take the moral high ground on this.

 

[noco]

It's called a random sample. The ASF poll is clearly not a random sample - it is biased towards internet users who invest (or trade?) in stocks with an interest in discussing politics. That is clearly not a random sample.

Morgan, Newspoll, ACNielsen and Galaxy all poll random samples. You might believe that they are rigged, but it is quite a coincidence that all four have consistently been within 4-5% of each other all year. The consistency of polls this year have been quite remarkable.

I think it's far more likely that the bias lies within you rather than the polls.

You are obviously a Labor supporter from your comments.
Suggest you log in to the Courier Mail poll! At 8am this morning the poll taken from 17504 voters in Queensland was Labor 32% and the Liberals at 58%.
Is it any wonder the result is such as it is, after the shocking way Labor has handled the affairs of Queenslnd over the past 11 years. Sure need a change of Government up here and with good reason. Too hard for Beattie to handle. Yes ! he would say I have stuffed up, but I'll fix it. He said he would fix the hospitals 3 years ago, but they are worse than ever. I'll stay with the Libs. Why try to fix something if it ain't broke.

 

[numbercruncher]

Noco,

This site poll is obviously is obviously Biased towards people who invest in stocks and use the internet.

Just as the courier mail survey is biased towards Internet users from Brisbane.

Just as the stamp collectors almanac's political survey is biased towards stamp collectors.

I would suggest that liberal supporters can see this as well ? surely its not just Labor supporter's who excercise commonsense ?

Why try to fix something if it ain't broke.

Clearly something must be broke for the coalition to be losing so much support from middle Australia.

And if you so dissappointed with Qld STATE government, how is retaining the same Federal Gov going to alter things ? Johnny is obviously not providing the required Federal support for Australias states and territories.

 

[Rafa]

The last I heard was that the difference was about 2 billion, i.e. The Coalition's promises (at that stage) were up around $49B and Labor's were about $47B. That was on Radio National ABC. I think that was before the "Launch" of both parties.

Well, after the launch the difference is easily above 7bill... that is approaching 1% of GDP, which is quite significant Julia.

But its also the difference in the spending, beyond the base 40billion in tax cuts/aged pensions. Most of the the further Liberal spending is in handouts under to guise of letting the people decide where they want to spend their money rather than the govt... whereas the labour spending is directly in infrastructure, equipment or personell.

Julia, surely you agree handing back money directly back to the people, be it baby bonuses, FHOG, and now education rebates is more inflationary that actually pumping it into services and infrastructure where you are atleast getting some output for it?

 

[moXJO]

Well, after the launch the difference is easily above 7bill... that is approaching 1% of GDP, which is quite significant Julia.

But its also the difference in the spending, beyond the base 40billion in tax cuts/aged pensions. Most of the the further Liberal spending is in handouts under to guise of letting the people decide where they want to spend their money rather than the govt... whereas the labour spending is directly in infrastructure, equipment or personell.

Julia, surely you agree handing back money directly back to the people, be it baby bonuses, FHOG, and now education rebates is more inflationary that actually pumping it into services and infrastructure where you are atleast getting some output for it?

One of the businesses shows I was half watching Sunday suggested both parties are spending close to a trillion in promises in the upcoming years, so it really was only a token effort. Still his ability to capitalize on looking like an economic conservative when really he is far from it gained kudos.

 

[Julia]

Well, after the launch the difference is easily above 7bill... that is approaching 1% of GDP, which is quite significant Julia.

But its also the difference in the spending, beyond the base 40billion in tax cuts/aged pensions. Most of the the further Liberal spending is in handouts under to guise of letting the people decide where they want to spend their money rather than the govt... whereas the labour spending is directly in infrastructure, equipment or personell.

Julia, surely you agree handing back money directly back to the people, be it baby bonuses, FHOG, and now education rebates is more inflationary that actually pumping it into services and infrastructure where you are atleast getting some output for it?

Rafa, thanks for providing the correct figure. And yes, I agree that 7b
is significant.
Has Labor said they will discontinue the baby bonus, FHOG?
Let's not forget that, at least in the beginning, everything the Coalition promised, they echoed that they would do the same.

You won't get any argument from me about some of the promises made by Mr Howard. I mentioned earlier in this thread (I think) that he lost me with that TV grab of $500K to save the orangutangs in Borneo where he went to visit the disabled child who had written to him (supposedly) about it.
And so many other things the Libs have come out with in the last few weeks -complete bribery.

To be quite honest, I am so fed up with all of them that most of the promises have just gone over my head so if you - or anyone - could clarify for me what Labor has actually promised to do in terms of services and infrastructure and the approximate value of those promises, I'd be grateful.

Are they, e,g, going to do something to help with our dwindling water supply?
This is a problem now in most of our capital cities.

And health/aged care? My local member (National) has sent out a leaflet saying they will establish 24 hour medical clinics in all regional cities.
There is no stated amount for funding this. I phoned to ask how they are planning to staff these clinics because all the local GP's are overworked now and people new to the district find it very difficult to get a doctor. The person I spoke to didn't know but promised to find out and get back to me. She hasn't. This is the sort of thing which makes me so cynical about both sides. It's just so easy to say "we will do this" but often not so easy to actually implement the policy. Ditto aged care - we will provide additional aged care beds. OK, fine. They can't get sufficient staff for nursing homes now, where are all the extras going to come from?

I do recall hearing Mr Rudd announce that Labor will reinstate the Commonwealth Dental Scheme. Great. Very much needed.
But there is also a shortage of dentists. The local State funded and run free dental clinic here (Qld) has a 6 year waiting list. The staff say that is because they just cannot attract the required number of dentists to service the demand. So where are all Mr Rudd's extra dentists going to come from?

And then there's mental health. We shouldn't be saving apes when we have mentally ill people who are homeless and being abused in miserable caravan parks. Is either side going to do anything for these poor souls?

Obviously some of these questions are rhetorical just to illustrate my complete lack of faith in both sides. But the infrastructure ones, e.g. water may be something someone can answer.

 

[numbercruncher]

And health/aged care? My local member (National) has sent out a leaflet saying they will establish 24 hour medical clinics in all regional cities..

Oh my goodness, there are lies and then there is damned Lies.

How on earth could they roll out 24hr clinics in every regional city, I assume they are saying Independant to hospitals ? Hell there is already a huge shortage of Doctors and Nurses, gawd could you imagine the cost.

Surely 24hr mobile call out doctors would be an obvious and far far cheaper alternative.

 

[Rafa]

Julia, this has been the most disappointing campaign i have ever witnessed...

 

[numbercruncher]

At 8am this morning the poll taken from 17504 voters in Queensland was Labor 32% and the Liberals at 58%.
.

I checked out that poll the difference is far too massive to be real.

I expect an army of Liberal blogger's where voting, clearing cookies and revoting, only logical explanation as the difference is way to massive

Labor 32% (6442 votes) Liberal 57% (11493 votes) National 3% (611 votes) Greens 3% (771 votes) Democrats 0% (69 votes) Independent 0% (113 votes) Other minor party 0% (93 votes) Undecided 1% (284 votes) Sum votes: Total votes: 19876 votes so far

This numbers all round just look dodgy.

 

[Julia]

Julia, this has been the most disappointing campaign i have ever witnessed...

Yes, I completely agree. I have genuinely been trying to find something about which to feel positive but just can't. Honestly can't find a single person on either side in whom I could feel trust and optimism that they genuinely have the interests of the country at heart rather than self aggrandisement.

 

[numbercruncher]

Bit of a shock development .....

THE Liberal Party has claimed 13 Labor candidates are ineligible to stand in Saturday's election. The shock development threatens to create a major distraction for Kevin Rudd's run to the poll.

According to Liberal Party headquarters, the 13 hopefuls are all ineligible because they failed to resign from Commonwealth jobs before nominating for parliament.

Legal advice suggests the ALP candidate for Wentworth, George Newhouse, may be ineligible for parliament and has compounded the problem by refusing to release relevant documentation.

Twelve other ALP candidates may be similarly affected, the Liberals claim.

- More to come

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22790990-5005961,00.html


could make things a bit juicy ?

 

[Wysiwyg]

Honestly can't find a single person on either side in whom I could feel trust and optimism that they genuinely have the interests of the country at heart rather than self aggrandisement.

Politics is a stupid game, run by stupid people that have the same self interests as the rest of us.Money.

 

[Rafa]

Yes, I completely agree. I have genuinely been trying to find something about which to feel positive but just can't. Honestly can't find a single person on either side in whom I could feel trust and optimism that they genuinely have the interests of the country at heart rather than self aggrandisement.

There is only ONE WINNER out of all this... the POLITICIANS....
and ONE LOOSER..... US!!!

But I won't be casting on donkey vote, I am voting labor, cause I have had enough of the Liberals and their lies and deciet.

Plus a rotating govt is the best way to get a reasonable overall outcome for all. I think most Australians know this, which is why they give most parties 3-4 terms at a time.

 

[Aussiejeff]

RIGHT!!! That's IT!!!! I've HAD IT UP TO HERE!!!!

I'm gonna vote for the Political Party that BANS ALL UN-SOLICITED POLITICAL PARTY ADVERTISING from TV and radio!!

Fair dinkum, these crappy UNSOLICITED SPAM POLITICAL ads are DRIVING ME NUTS! Grrrr.....

Geez, we have LAWS to stop idiots from SPAMMING us through phone and e-mail... so what about similar laws regarding this RUBBISH.

Honestly, pollies have plenty of air time on the TV and radio channels to talk/debate endlessly about their "policies" - so WHY ARE THEY SPENDING ZILLIONS TO HAMMER US WITH PROPOGANDA ADS??????? The current un-regulated situation is just plain ridiculous.....

So, can someone point me in the right polling booth direction???


AJ

 

[chops_a_must]

Are they, e,g, going to do something to help with our dwindling water supply?
This is a problem now in most of our capital cities.

And health/aged care? My local member (National) has sent out a leaflet saying they will establish 24 hour medical clinics in all regional cities.
There is no stated amount for funding this. I phoned to ask how they are planning to staff these clinics because all the local GP's are overworked now and people new to the district find it very difficult to get a doctor. The person I spoke to didn't know but promised to find out and get back to me. She hasn't. This is the sort of thing which makes me so cynical about both sides. It's just so easy to say "we will do this" but often not so easy to actually implement the policy. Ditto aged care - we will provide additional aged care beds. OK, fine. They can't get sufficient staff for nursing homes now, where are all the extras going to come from?

I do recall hearing Mr Rudd announce that Labor will reinstate the Commonwealth Dental Scheme. Great. Very much needed.
But there is also a shortage of dentists. The local State funded and run free dental clinic here (Qld) has a 6 year waiting list. The staff say that is because they just cannot attract the required number of dentists to service the demand. So where are all Mr Rudd's extra dentists going to come from?

And then there's mental health. We shouldn't be saving apes when we have mentally ill people who are homeless and being abused in miserable caravan parks. Is either side going to do anything for these poor souls?

Obviously some of these questions are rhetorical just to illustrate my complete lack of faith in both sides. But the infrastructure ones, e.g. water may be something someone can answer.

Don't forget Julia, that rainfall is always higher under federal Labor.

Like I have said, if you trash the education system like has happened, this is the result. I'd hazard a guess that Labor will increase the number of places at Universities, because of the different funding arrangements and agreements. But the damage is going to be present, like you have listed above, for the next 10 years, until the the balance is brought back and essential service places in Unis are increased.

AWA's have totally f*cked the aged care industry, due to the linking of funding and licensing to the staffing arrangements. Not nurses, but carers etc. Ala TAFEs and child care centres. It's not really a wonder therefore that they can't get people to staff them.

Rudd promised here (Perth) to develop a centre for water excellence, I believe in collaboration with the ISTP (Institute for Sustainable Terchnology and Policy), where I am a student, to develop technology and implement water plans and policy for the rest of Australia. It went totally unreported as far as I'm aware.

Hope this helps:

A Rudd Labor Government will invest $20 million to establish a National Centre of Excellence in Water Desalination to help secure Australia’s permanent drinking water supply from the dangerous effects of climate change.


Located in Perth, Federal Labor’s National Centre of Excellence in Water Desalination will be a world class facility developing and commercialising new water technology.


The existing desalination skill and technology base that already exist in Western Australia means Perth is the most logical place to host Federal Labor’s Desal Centre.


Federal Labor’s National Centre of Excellence in Water Desalination will help secure Australia’s water supply from the dangerous effects of climate change by:


Investigating ways of optimising and adapting desalination technology for optimum use in Australia’s unique circumstances;
Expand on research into the use of desalination technology in rural and regional areas; and
Researching ways of efficiently and affordably reducing the carbon footprint of desalination facilities.
Accelerating ground breaking research on energy efficient bulk water supply technology being developed in Australia;

Under Federal Labor’s plan Australia will become a research hub for new water technology and ensure Australia is a water technology maker, not a technology taker.


Under Federal Labor’s $20 million five year plan universities, government agencies and other interested stakeholders will be asked to develop collaborative bids to competitively bid for the opportunity to be part of the Centre.


The National Centre of Excellence in Water Desalination is part of Federal Labor’s $1 Billion National Urban Water and Desalination Plan.





Perth to host the National Centre of Excellence in Water Desalination
Western Australia is a proven leader on desalination and is the most logical state to host Australia’s first National Centre for Excellence focused on the research and development of Desalination Technology.


Western Australia has the runs on the board with the first major desalination plant for public drinking water in Australia already built and operating at Kwinana, and a second plant on its way.


The Kwinana Desalination Plant already turns water from the Indian Ocean into nearly 40 million gallons of drinking water a day. The reverse-osmosis plant is powered by the Emu Downs Wind Farm, with 48 wind turbines.


Federal Labor’s National Centre of Excellence in Water Desalination will mean more high tech jobs for Western Australia, and will significantly increase skills in the area of water service provision for all Australian states and territories.


Other desalination plants are at various stages around Australia including in: Sydney, the Gold Coast and the Spencer Gulf in South Australia

Cheers.

 

[professor_frink]

Due to a complete lack of attention from both major parties in my seat, I choose not to vote. Not one single ad has been run by either candidate on television in my area. I won't be voting for the labor candidate because I have absolutely no idea what he will do for the area. I won't be voting for the liberal candidate because I don't even know who he is.

 

[Rafa]

In regards to water, did anyone see the 7:30 report last night...

Turnbull found 10m to give to some company (partly owned by one of his biggest capmpaign donors) to investigate some new, unproven technique of creating clouds out of thin air...

all the while refusing to give any grants to existing cloud seeding research and trials that have shown must better success rates!

 

[Julia]

In regards to water, did anyone see the 7:30 report last night...

Turnbull found 10m to give to some company (partly owned by one of his biggest capmpaign donors) to investigate some new, unproven technique of creating clouds out of thin air...

all the while refusing to give any grants to existing cloud seeding research and trials that have shown must better success rates!

Yes, Rafa. I saw that item.
Sigh!

 

[noirua]

It does look as if there has been a late swing to the Liberals. Probably the thoughts are either, "the devil you know" or "a safer pair of hands".

 

[arminius]

and you are still voting for these people julia? after everything that you've seen you are encourageing them to do it again? condoning their actions?
all because you're afraid of what might happen?
bizarre.