Australian Politics General...

[mullokintyre]

They should have taxed coal and gas exports to pay for subsidies.

don't they already have royalties?
The PRRT has existed since 1980's (see ATO

PRRT has applied to offshore petroleum projects (except for the North West Shelf project and the Joint Petroleum Development Area) since 1987. The Bass Strait project has been subject to PRRT since 1990.

In 2012, the PRRT regime was applied to onshore petroleum projects and the North West Shelf project but not to the Joint Petroleum Development Area.

From 1 July 2019, onshore petroleum projects were removed from the scope of the PRRT. As a result, provisions that relate to initial amounts of starting base expenditure and the consolidation single entity rule were repealed.

In addition, from 1 July 2019, new uplift rates apply to certain categories of carried-forward expenditure.

State governments (WA, Queensland Victoria and NSW ) apply coal royalties as well.
So that part is already under way.
Queensland alone is expected to get nearly 6 billion of petroleum royalties over the next 5 years ( see APPEA ).
And that does not include any Company taxes paid when these entities make profits even after the royalties.
The question is, what are the various levels of government doing with that money??
Mick

 

[mullokintyre]

I wonder if the Feds who are so keen on a national IBAC would be so keen if someone from decided to refer to it the scenario outlined in The Evil Murdoch Press

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s hand-picked head of Queensland’s Department of Resources publicly declared “the world needs silica sands” to help fight climate change as his staff assessed the expansion of a controversial Labor-linked sand mine proposal on Cape York.
Mike Kaiser, a former ALP state secretary and MP, angered traditional owners who oppose further sand mining on Cape York when he posted on social media last year after a visit to the Hope Vale Aboriginal community of which he is “government champion”.

At the time, Mr Kaiser was director-general of the Department of Resources, which was then assessing three applications from silica sand mine proponent Diatreme Resources to grant new or extend existing exploration permits just near the community.
“The world needs silica sands to make the equipment we need to fight climate change and locally that means jobs, indigenous ownership and opportunity,’’ Mr Kaiser said on his LinkedIn page in September last year.

For those who may have forgotten, Kaiser was nailed in the Shepherdson Inquiry into ALP Branch Stacking ( see Sheperdson Inquiry report ),
He was quietly reintegrated into the upper echelons of the ALP, (see In Queensland ), until he also became emboiled in the problems that Qld Premier has with lobbyists, particularly after the Coldrake report was issued, and his association with KPMG.

Within a month, two of the permit applications were granted and the third secured last month by Diatreme, which intends to supply silica for Chinese-made solar panels. Diatreme has the lead on two smaller sand mine proposals near the world’s biggest silica mine at Cape Flattery, owned by Mitsubishi, which opened in the late 1960s.

The Palaszczuk government forced the closure of Queensland’s only other sand mining operation on Stradbroke Island, off the coast of Brisbane, in 2019.
ALP federal president and former deputy prime minister Wayne Swan was appointed Diatreme’s chairman in November last year.

Wayne Swan, the worlds greatest Treasurer, is Chairman of the company.
The Chinese must be laughing themselves stupid over how easy it is to tie up exclusivity in resources in Australia, geez there are some governments actually encourage it.
Mick

 

[sptrawler]

Leave the voting age at 18.

It's only two years and there will be more wisdom gained in two years. Studies show that the human brain matures at about 25, but that's too long to wait.

Let them vote at 16 because they know what they are doing, but don't treat them as adults when they commit a crime, because they don't know what they are doing.
Australia the land of mixed messages, especially when we talk Federal politics. ?

In the Northern Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland, children are dealt with in the adult criminal system once they turn 17. In all other States, in the ACT and under federal criminal law all children are juveniles for the purposes of the criminal law, that is until they turn 18.

 

[SirRumpole]

Let them vote at 16 because they know what they are doing, but don't treat them as adults when they commit a crime, because they don't know what they are doing.

If children under 17 commit a crime, it's their parents/guardians who should be in jail for not supervising them properly.

 

[macca]

If children under 17 commit a crime, it's their parents/guardians who should be in jail for not supervising them properly.

Unfortunately not possible in today's world, children have "rights" and after about 14 years they can do whatever they like.

If the parents try to discipline them the kids can go to the Dept and get money to leave home.

 

[mullokintyre]

The Brittany Higgs affair has become more and more a manipulation by the team Brittany.
Despite not being in sufficient mental state to go through a retrial, she has stated that she will take the stand in support of anyone sued by her alleged rapist bruce Lehrman.
Because of the statute of Limitations , Higgins was unable to sue her former employers, Senators Cash and Reynolds and the fedral government unless she had filed papers prior to March 2022.
For reasons that escape me, Senator Reynolds agreed to waive the time limit till Dec 6th, and Cash and the Commonwealth until February.
Reynolds wanted the accusations tested in court so she could her version of events, but events have overtaken.
From Evil Murdoch press

It looks like the two senators have been out lawyered.
The federal government was always going to waiver its rights right to the time limit, its great politics, keeps the limelight on the opposition, and makes them look among the metoo set.
As for the two senators, maybe they foolishly thought that by waiving the time limit. they would get some brownie points.
fat chance.
So, I am going to bet that in the mediation process, a compliant Federal government will say that the previous federal government behaved appallingly, offer a payoff for a tidy sum to MS Higgins (and of course her lawyers), and she will walk away without anything even being revealed to the public, and Reynolds and Cash will be left high and dry.
A cynic would suggest that it was all planned this way.
Mick

And right on Cue Brittanys lawyer has reached a conclusion in the mediation. The commomnwealth, on behalf of the tax payers, has reached a settlement with Ms Higgins.
of course its all confidential. No admission of liability. No admission of guilt. Just hand over an undisclosed amount.
nice work if you can get it.
mick

 

[SirRumpole]

And right on Cue Brittanys lawyer has reached a conclusion in the mediation. The commomnwealth, on behalf of the tax payers, has reached a settlement with Ms Higgins.
of course its all confidential. No admission of liability. No admission of guilt. Just hand over an undisclosed amount.
nice work if you can get it.
mick

Yes, it would be interesting to know why the public purse is liable for an act between two individuals which has not been proven, at a location where the alleged participants were authorised to enter.

It's as incomprehensible as the reason that the public had to pay out for misbehaviour by Alan Tudge. It looks like Canberra is a gravy train for litigants.

 

[sptrawler]

Looks like the first half of the rape case is over, just need the second half and then it can be put to bed.
It has certainly been an expensive tax payer funded after work booze up IMO. ?

Higgins, Commonwealth reach settlement in compensation case

Lawyers for former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins confirmed they have settled with the Commonwealth after launching a civil case.

www.smh.com.au

From the article:

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has settled a compensation claim with the Commonwealth after launching civil legal action.

Her legal team confirmed the parties settled the claim on Tuesday night after a day of mediation.

“At a mediation held today, the Commonwealth and Ms Higgins settled her claims,” Blumers Lawyers said in a statement.

“At the request of Ms Higgins, the parties have agreed that the terms of the settlement are confidential.”

This masthead revealed on Sunday that Higgins was seeking more than $3 million in compensation: $2.5 million for future economic loss, past economic loss approaching $100,000, general damages of $100,000, future assistance with domestic duties of some $200,000, and past and future out-of-pocket expenses of a further $150,000 approximately.


Well almost put to bed.
The decision by the Commonwealth to settle the case comes as ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr prepares to order a formal inquiry into the trial of Lehrmann after an extraordinary war of words erupted between the territory’s director of public prosecutions and police.

Barr said ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury and the Director-General of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate briefed cabinet on Monday afternoon “regarding the issues raised by the actions of authorities involved in the Lehrmann trial”.

 

[SirRumpole]

Looks like the first half of the rape case is over, just need the second half and then it can be put to bed.

Higgins, Commonwealth reach settlement in compensation case

Lawyers for former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins confirmed they have settled with the Commonwealth after launching a civil case.

www.smh.com.au

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has settled a compensation claim with the Commonwealth after launching civil legal action.

Her legal team confirmed the parties settled the claim on Tuesday night after a day of mediation.

“At a mediation held today, the Commonwealth and Ms Higgins settled her claims,” Blumers Lawyers said in a statement.

“At the request of Ms Higgins, the parties have agreed that the terms of the settlement are confidential.”

Seems the public has no say in how their money is spent.

 

[wayneL]

This is why tax is theft, Horace.

The old Maxim is that taxation without representation is theft, and we truly do not have representation in any sense outside of the notional.

 

[sptrawler]

This is why tax is theft, Horace.

The old Maxim is that taxation without representation is theft, and we truly do not have representation in any sense outside of the notional.

Recent history is littered with poor decisions, being covered by ridiculous Gov payments, because there is no consequence.
The real funny part is, now it is going to get worse, as the media aren't holding either party to account.
Time the ABC got off its high horse and started doing what they are actually funded for, asking questions that affect everyone, not just the purple circle of protected species.
There are heaps of issues around the reasons that the grid is collapsing, but no one wants to prick the bubble and the ABC could have a field day if they decided to do some real investigative reporting.
Same as the NBN writing off $30b, that the telecommunication companies were meant to repay, don't follow that up because it was a brain fart to start with.
No just keep feeding the chooks. ?

 

[wayneL]

Recent history is littered with poor decisions, being covered by ridiculous Gov payments, because there is no consequence.
The real funny part is, now it is going to get worse, as the media aren't holding either party to account.
Time the ABC got off its high horse and started doing what they are actually funded for, asking questions that affect everyone, not just the purple circle of protected species.
There are heaps of issues around the reasons that the grid is collapsing, but no one wants to prick the bubble and the ABC could have a field day if they decided to do some real investigative reporting.
Same as the NBN writing off $30b, that the telecommunication companies were meant to repay, don't follow that up because it was a brain fart to start with.
No just keep feeding the plebs. ?

Chuck in some heterodox economics, MMT etc... and the taxation/expenditure equation becomes a very interesting conversation.

 

[sptrawler]

Chuck in some heterodox economics, MMT etc... and the taxation/expenditure equation becomes a very interesting conversation.

I don't know what heterodox is, sounds like something you give a horse and there is no way I will look look up MMT, the missus might check my browsing history. ?

 

[SirRumpole]

I don't know what heterodox is, sounds like something you give a horse and there is no way I will look look up MMT, the missus might check my browsing history. ?

Modern Monetary Theory.

Modern monetary theory - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[sptrawler]

Modern Monetary Theory.

Modern monetary theory - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Way above my pay grade. i'm a kiss guy, that will probably cause a stir.

 

[PZ99]

Modern Monetary Theory.

Modern monetary theory - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yeah well.... rising interest rates put paid to that theory didn't it ? LOL

 

[wayneL]

Hetero - different

Dox - sense

Outside what is considered orthodox.

 

[Knobby22]

Hetero - different

Dox - sense

Outside what is considered orthodox.

If you are ortho, then you are a square.

 

[mullokintyre]

According to The Evil Murdoch press , the Albanese government muzzled both Reynolds and cash , threatening their coverage of legal liability.

The Albanese government muzzled former Liberal minister Linda Reynolds in her defence against Brittany Higgins’ multimillion-dollar lawsuit, threatening to tear up an agreement to pay her legal fees and any costs awarded unless she agreed not to attend a mediation.
Ms Higgins reached a confidential settlement with the commonwealth, believed to be worth up to $3m, at the mediation on Tuesday over the former staffer’s claims she was not supported by Senator Reynolds or Liberal Party frontbencher Michaelia Cash after the alleged sexual assault by Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House.
Senator Reynolds is understood to have been determined to defend herself against Ms Higgins’ allegations but in correspondence obtained by The Australian, the commonwealth’s lawyers told her she could not take part in the mediation.
Senator Reynolds was therefore unable to dispute any of Ms Higgins’ allegations about a failure to support her or properly investigate the incident, some of which were contested at Mr Lehrmann’s trial.
The Australian understands Senator Cash was also sent a letter muzzling her and instructing her not to attend the mediation in return for her legal fees being paid by the commonwealth.

Neither Senator Reynolds nor Senator Cash was asked for evidence that contested Ms Higgins’ claims.

The taxpayer-funded settlement was revealed by Ms Higgins’ lawyers in a late-night statement on Tuesday apparently designed to minimise media coverage.

Legal sources have expressed astonishment that such a complex and expensive settlement was resolved in a single sitting.

Senator Reynolds said she was unable to comment on the matter. “I did not participate in the mediation and I have not been informed by the department of the outcome,” she said.


Her lawyers, Clayton Utz, in a letter dated December 9, 2022, accused the government of seeking to hamper her ability to defend herself against Ms Higgins’ claims and of not meeting Legal Services Directions.

“We find it difficult to see how, without any further particularisation of the causes of action that Ms Higgins seeks to rely on and any evidence in support of the same, the commonwealth could possibly be satisfied of the criteria for settlement on the basis of legal principle and practice and ‘a meaningful prospect of liability being established’ in accordance with those directions,” they said.

Clayton Utz partner Ashley Tsacalos noted a provision in the Legal Services Directions that “settlement is not to be effected merely because of the cost of defending what is a spurious claim” and must be on the basis of written advice from the Australian Government Solicitor “that the settlement is in accordance with legal principle and practice”.

Anyone who still thinks this issue is all about seeking justice for an alleged rape is dreaming.
As I said, its all about the politics.
Mick

 

[SirRumpole]

As I said, its all about the politics.

Definitely , and appearances.

If the Govt allowed the case to be contested they would be accused of putting more pressure on Brittany whose mental state is not good from all accounts.

So she gets a taxpayer payout to shut her up and get the matter off the books.

Meanwhile the taxpayer has no idea of how much she got paid or why, and Reynolds and Cash are made out to be bad girls. (They may be but at least they should be allowed to defend themselves).