***G20***

[Calliope]

I'm happy if it puts Brissy on the map

As a Canadian I am sure you remember how the G20 put Toronto on the map in 2000.

 

[Calliope]

Why does America go to such extraordinary lengths to protect the person of their president? Surely this pathetic little guy would be as easily replaced as any soldier kiilled in Afghanistan.



Actually it is just symbolism, as a demonstration of America's might and power. It cuts no ice with Russia or China.

 

[Julia]

Cost to Australia of hosting the G20 is around $450 million. One would have to hope that the resulting policies, if any, will represent value for money.

The actual event is very brief, you'd have to think largely a photo op, and presumably much of the actual work is already done by public servants behind the scenes.

How important is it for these world leaders to actually be physically together, bearing in mind the massive security and general inconvenience involved?

 

[SirRumpole]

Cost to Australia of hosting the G20 is around $450 million. One would have to hope that the resulting policies, if any, will represent value for money.

The actual event is very brief, you'd have to think largely a photo op, and presumably much of the actual work is already done by public servants behind the scenes.

How important is it for these world leaders to actually be physically together, bearing in mind the massive security and general inconvenience involved?

They could have a teleconference on Skype and achieve as much as they will in this silly shambles.

 

[noco]

One thing I hope comes out of this G20 meeting is to plug the hole of large corporate tax evasion.

 

[SirRumpole]

One thing I hope comes out of this G20 meeting is to plug the hole of large corporate tax evasion.

Would be good if they did.

Agreement to reduce worldwide arms levels would also be good, but that is in the world of fantasy.

 

[luutzu]

Cost to Australia of hosting the G20 is around $450 million. One would have to hope that the resulting policies, if any, will represent value for money.

The actual event is very brief, you'd have to think largely a photo op, and presumably much of the actual work is already done by public servants behind the scenes.

How important is it for these world leaders to actually be physically together, bearing in mind the massive security and general inconvenience involved?

Yea, scanning the headlines and I noticed there's the APEC, ASEAN, G20, all in November, all within two weeks or so.
There's the G8, soon the TPP, the BRICS, Davos... Whatever happen to them just getting together in a parliament house or something.

 

[Wysiwyg]

How important is it for these world leaders to actually be physically together, bearing in mind the massive security and general inconvenience involved?

Body language indicated to me that some of them will be glad when it's all over. Security procedures, set itinerary, hotel beds, other country leaders you don't like, english not native tongue, Tony Abbott, policies your country doesn't agree with, media cameras (fans okay), cold shoulder treatment (Vlad) and stinking hot weather (must be anthropomorphic).

Favourite leader - Angela Merkel for her openness shown by walking Caxton street.

 

[Calliope]

Body language indicated to me that some of them will be glad when it's all over. Security procedures, set itinerary, hotel beds, other country leaders you don't like, english not native tongue, Tony Abbott, policies your country doesn't agree with, media cameras (fans okay), cold shoulder treatment (Vlad) and stinking hot weather (must be anthropomorphic).

Favourite leader - Angela Merkel for her openness shown by walking Caxton street.

I'm afraid the G20 is a minus for Tony Abbott. He was flipped off today by a lame-duck President Obama on climate change before a very compliant audience of U of Q students. To Abbott's dismay and the ABC's delight Obama put GW firmly back on the agenda, with help from Ban Ki-moon of course.

 

[IFocus]

I'm afraid the G20 is a minus for Tony Abbott. He was flipped off today by a lame-duck President Obama on climate change before a very compliant audience of U of Q students. To Abbott's dismay and the ABC's delight Obama put GW firmly back on the agenda, with help from Ban Ki-moon of course.

Couldn't disagree more I think Abbott be-dazzled them all by talking about the $7 co-payment amongst other domestic issues

 

[drsmith]

Couldn't disagree more I think Abbott be-dazzled them all by talking about the $7 co-payment amongst other domestic issues

What I find interesting is that if we had a progressive government touting domestic social policies as an example to the world at such a forum, the reception from the ABC and Fairfax at least would be far warmer.

Measures to balance the books from a conservative government however receive a far cooler response despite the lessons Europe post GFC has to offer.

 

[Calliope]

Couldn't disagree more I think Abbott be-dazzled them all by talking about the $7 co-payment amongst other domestic issues

On the other hand our silly Billy would take a different tack;

Speaking at a media conference in Melbourne, Mr Shorten was asked what he would say to Mr Putin if he met him at the G20 in Brisbane this weekend.

"Nothing," Mr Shorten responded.

Billy never misses an opportunity to say something inane. He is the guy who once said he would believe anything Gillard said, even if he didn't know what she said.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-polit...ay-nothing-20141112-11kv6b.html#ixzz3JBgnW5oq

 

[Smurf1976]

Measures to balance the books from a conservative government however receive a far cooler response despite the lessons Europe post GFC has to offer.

We just spent $450 million, plus the impact on businesses and individuals of the disruption, on a meeting for a handful of elites.

If there's money to throw around like that then it's no wonder there's opposition to measures to "balance the books", particularly when doing so is being achieved by harming those already in less fortunate situations.

 

[drsmith]

We just spent $450 million, plus the impact on businesses and individuals of the disruption, on a meeting for a handful of elites.

The cost of the G20 is excessive in my view but if we want to make comparisons, we spent $12bn and condemned over 1000 to drown at sea by Labor and the Greens handing asylum policy to illegal people smuggling operations and it is still costing billions to deal with the legacy.

The G20 at least has the potential to deliver something more positive than that.

If there's money to throw around like that then it's no wonder there's opposition to measures to "balance the books", particularly when doing so is being achieved by harming those already in less fortunate situations.

There's nothing wrong with debating the nature of measures that need to be taken but of the many fronts Labor weakens its position, one is not even adopting the cuts it took to the lase election.

The Libs have their weakness to but not to the same extent as Labor.

 

[Calliope]

We just spent $450 million, plus the impact on businesses and individuals of the disruption, on a meeting for a handful of elites.

It was Gillard who foisted this expensive fiasco on Brisbane. Wasting taxpayer's money is what she did best.

 

[Tisme]

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has praised the Australian government for the atmosphere at the G20 summit in Brisbane.

“(Our) Australian partners created an extraordinarily welcoming atmosphere for work. I was surprised by the warmth with which normal Australian citizens received our delegation,” Mr Putin told a forum of supporters in Moscow, according to an official transcript.

Mr Putin also added praise for Prime Minister Tony Abbott.


Perth Times

 

[dutchie]

Rare footage of Putin in his teenage years playing table tennis (he is in blue).

[video]http://www.news.com.au/sport/teenage-russian-table-tennis-player-loses-it-after-losing-game/story-fnaqgujp-1227129479020#[/video]