Australian Politics General...

[MrBurns]

Was holidaying in Tokyo last month. Was flabbergasted by the high level of make work jobs.
Japan rail seems bloated with staff. 2 or 3 walking through trains on to top the driver. Someone on the platform waving their baton as the gates open and closed for the bullet train. So many old man standing at the entrance to construction sites it makes the CFMEU look like they under staff.
Best to have an efficient economy, and I do hope some companies decide that Australian staff give them a competitive advantage.
.

This was on Channel One last night, if you have the time you should watch it to see how downright slack Australia is by comparison......

[video=dailymotion;x12ww8o]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12ww8o_worlds-busiest-train-station-shinjuku-full_travel[/video]

 

[Junior]

Was holidaying in Tokyo last month. Was flabbergasted by the high level of make work jobs.

At ssom busier intersections you'd have old people conducting the traffic, but but there's traffic lights doing it already. Some of the large department stores had staff conducting taxis and cars. Japan rail seems bloated with staff. 2 or 3 walking through trains on to top the driver. Someone on the platform waving their baton as the gates open and closed for the bullet train. So many old man standing at the entrance to construction sites it makes the CFMEU look like they under staff.

Best to have an efficient economy, and I do hope some companies decide that Australian staff give them a competitive advantage.

My employer was bought out a couple of years ago and new management off shored most of the staff in Melbourne, losing a decade or more of experience. I know we lost a lot of corporate customers, but the bean counters must have decided the cost savings were worth the brand damage.

They are obsessed with delivering high quality service and obsessed with presentation in Japan.

Walk into a department store and you'll hear all of the staff repeatedly yelling 'irashaimase!' (welcome) and smiling at you.

A lot of old people in very boring, repetitive jobs - working hard, long hours and immaculately presented.

Japan could learn from Australia as far as how to cut labour costs, but we could learn a lot from them when it comes to service, presentation and work ethic.

 

[SirRumpole]

I don't know about Tokyo, but I walked up to a counter in a once great Aussie Department store, and placed an item worth around $400 on a counter where there were 4 salesgirls having a natter. After being completely ignored for 5 minutes I walked out in disgust.

That's why this country is going downhill fast.

 

[noco]

This was on Channel One last night, if you have the time you should watch it to see how downright slack Australia is by comparison......

[video=dailymotion;x12ww8o]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12ww8o_worlds-busiest-train-station-shinjuku-full_travel[/video]

Very interesting but lets get things into perspective.

Japan is about the size of New Zealand and has about 150 million people.

Australia has 23 million people and vastly different in area so I think you are being a bit harsh on Australia.

 

[noco]

I don't know about Tokyo, but I walked up to a counter in a once great Aussie Department store, and placed an item worth around $400 on a counter where there were 4 salesgirls having a natter. After being completely ignored for 5 minutes I walked out in disgust.

That's why this country is going downhill fast.

So Australia is going down hill fast because on a rare occasion 4 girls did not serve you.

It happened to me once so I went up to a girl and asked for the Department store number...I rang the number on my mobile in front of the girl and asked for the manager......The managed answered and I asked him was it possible to get some service in his store......I would hazard a guess that girl don't work in that store any more.

 

[Tisme]

Very interesting but lets get things into perspective.

Japan is about the size of New Zealand and has about 150 million people.

Australia has 23 million people and vastly different in area so I think you are being a bit harsh on Australia.

I spend a lot of time overseas and I haven't seen the side of Japan that others seem to have. Service, I have observed, is pretty much the same the world over, with the good ones and the bad ones.

I wouldn't advocate adopting a fair amount of Japanese lifestyle and custom, but they do like a drink or two and the young people are obsessed with Kpop.

 

[sptrawler]

I don't know about Tokyo, but I walked up to a counter in a once great Aussie Department store, and placed an item worth around $400 on a counter where there were 4 salesgirls having a natter. After being completely ignored for 5 minutes I walked out in disgust.

That's why this country is going downhill fast.

Yup, we have become fat and lazy after 30 years`of cream.

Big Shock coming.IMO

Unless someone can bring us to our senses, I don't think Bill and Tony, are the ones to do it.IMO

 

[trainspotter]

*BREAKING NEWS*

Liberal, Labor and the Greens get together at CHOGM meeting to discuss future of Australian Politics ...

 

[trainspotter]

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he
asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money
from you, I'm doing community service this week.'
The florist was pleased and left the shop.
When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a
'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill,

the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing
community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.
The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank
you' card and a dozen doughnuts waiting for him at his door.
Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to
pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from
you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Parliament
was very happy and left the shop.
The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen
Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between
the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

 

[dutchie]

Bronwyn Bishop has to go.

So should all the other politicians who have abused the obscenely lucrative entitlements system.

This would result in what was left of the parliament being able to hold it's sittings in one of the small offices in parliament house.

It would also be possible to lease/rent out the rest of parliament house for concerts, restaurants and backpacker accommodation.

Win - Win for the Australian taxpayer!

 

[MrBurns]

Bron has to go she's in too deep to get out of this.....but I now have nothing but distain for a political system that is wholly engrossed in pulling the other side down....that's all they do all day.

 

[sptrawler]

Most of the 120 Australians, who have joined the Islamic State fighters, have had their welfare payments stopped.


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscri...tory-fnpp4dl6-1227471735104&memtype=anonymous

 

[Tisme]

Most of the 120 Australians, who have joined the Islamic State fighters, have had their welfare payments stopped.


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscri...tory-fnpp4dl6-1227471735104&memtype=anonymous

Can't see the article because of subscription issues, but hooray if that's the case. Do their families loose their benefit's too or do they get extra money for being deserted?

 

[SirRumpole]

Can't see the article because of subscription issues, but hooray if that's the case. Do their families loose their benefit's too or do they get extra money for being deserted?

Seems to be some correlation between sitting around on welfare doing nothing then deciding to go and kill people.

Perhaps if work for the dole was more strictly enforced, these people would not have the time to turn terrorist.

 

[noco]

Brothers....peace be with you today for tomorrow will be different.......


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...471818677?sv=f3cfb71275f6d20828e4f9bd1ffa526a

The major parties are now seeking a peace treaty as they admit the danger of escalating the attacks on each other when there are senior figures on both sides with expenses that breach the spirit of the system, if not the letter of the law.

A halt to family holidays such as Mr Burke’s trip to Uluru appears* imminent as all sides try to ease the public vitriol by stopping egregious expenses.

Oh my Gawd.

 

[SirRumpole]

Looks like Burke has admitted that he went over the top with his family's trip to Uluru. Confession after the fact is a bit weak weak of course, but at least he isn't trying to defend the indefensible.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-...department-to-review-his-entitlements/6676672

 

[Tisme]

Looks like Burke has admitted that he went over the top with his family's trip to Uluru. Confession after the fact is a bit weak weak of course, but at least he isn't trying to defend the indefensible.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-...department-to-review-his-entitlements/6676672

The haves and have nots Rumpole.

 

[sptrawler]

Apparently Burke has to pay back $90 of the $12,000, poor sod.

 

[noco]

When you come to think about it, politics has reached a very low standard and politicians in general are getting away with too much.

We need a system strong enough with a very strong leader with a 38 in his holster who is game enough to point between the eyes of a pollie who steps out of line.

I think a well trained Fabian could do the job with expertise.

NOCO IS BACK

 

[Tisme]

When you come to think about it, politics has reached a very low standard and politicians in general are getting away with too much.

We need a system strong enough with a very strong leader with a 38 in his holster who is game enough to point between the eyes of a pollie who steps out of line.

I think a well trained Fabian could do the job with expertise.

NOCO IS BACK

I don't think we need to pull out the Fabian big guns yet Noco, although Canberra jingoism is not a soft target by any measure...... it's an almost secret society which works on the "nods as good as a wink" rule that transcends party politics.

Even Chris Pyne is defending Tony Burke, albeit with a wet fish slap wrapped up in the spin.