Federal Coalition discussion

[MrBurns]

I notice Abbott has been changing emphasis, trying to be a bit less of a nay sayer but to the public (and me) he appears to be a regressive politician. Old Howard policies, old has been ministers, climate change denier etc.

He needs to show some vision, make some forward looking statements. He will then the look like a waiting Prime Minister. That's all the Rudd is really doing. It won't take much to make him more electable than Rudd. Slogans such as "Stop the Boats", isn't going to cut it.

Admittedly he doesn't present too well but I think he will stop/reduce the boats, just wait for it and as far as climate change goes, I don't think he's comfortable with Australia trying to take the lead on this, if we stopped all emissions tomorrow it wouldn't help without the rest of the world doing likewise, it needs an international approach not just country by country.

 

[Knobby22]

It was more an example. He needs to be a bit progressive rather than regressive.

 

[MrBurns]

It was more an example. He needs to be a bit progressive rather than regressive.

It doesn't seem to be his style...

 

[sptrawler]

It was more an example. He needs to be a bit progressive rather than regressive.

The problem with progressive, when you have a small economy, is you can end up with non productive debt.
Sometimes it is better to build on and streamline, what already exists, than try and give birth to a whole new economy.
There is always a chance it will be still born, as is unfolding, with a lot of Labor expenditure.
There has been minimal money invested in productive infrastructure, just increased tax base to fund increased social infrastructure and systems.

We are yet to see any explosion of new technology jobs credited to NBN, in fact we are still hearing of outsourcing overseas, in the technology sector.
We are yet to see any of the 'brown coal power stations' close, in fact they are talking about expanding the mining of it.

It all sounds great' the hype and bling' of progressive government, I'm yet to be convinced it results in better outcomes.

 

[Knobby22]

Progressive means going somewhere.
For instance, he could look at how he can make the economy more efficient by ensuring Australians get world prices for gas, not the rip off prices we presently get. We export the stuff yet we charge locally extremely high prices. This caused the closure of Planet Lighting glass plant recently leading to the loss of many jobs.

Another progressive policy would be to plan some infrastructure projects to make the ports more efficient.
Melbourne is going to choke in trucks, get the east west rail link built. (Unfortunately he has already rejected this, for no good reason I can see.)

There are plenty of progressive policies he could take up.
That's why Turnball is popular. he gives the impression he has vision.

 

[Some Dude]

Progressive means going somewhere.

Progressivism is a general political philosophy advocating or favoring gradual social, political, and economic reform through government action. Modern Progressivism emerged as part of a more general response to the vast social changes brought by industrialization.

It is left of center in the political spectrum and is to be contrasted with conservatism on the right and the revolutionary left, the former generally resisting changes it advocates and the latter rejecting its gradualism.

Link.

 

[sptrawler]

Progressive means going somewhere.
For instance, he could look at how he can make the economy more efficient by ensuring Australians get world prices for gas, not the rip off prices we presently get. We export the stuff yet we charge locally extremely high prices. This caused the closure of Planet Lighting glass plant recently leading to the loss of many jobs..

Agree absolutely and the government should tell the gas companies, unless they process onshore, leave it in the ground.

Another progressive policy would be to plan some infrastructure projects to make the ports more efficient.
Melbourne is going to choke in trucks, get the east west rail link built. (Unfortunately he has already rejected this, for no good reason I can see.)
.

+1
So is Perth and take a look at Geraldton, where all the mid west iron ore is shipped through a tiny port facility in the middle of town.
You are spot on, we need to be upgrading infrastructure, before we waste money on try to beat China at manufacturing.

 

[Tink]

In retrospect you're right, they didn't like him before so it wont take long for them to reach that conclusion again.

The only question is, do they like Tony any better ?
I hope they can see through the awkwardness and let him have a go, certainly any dysfunctional rabble under Rudd wont get us anywhere.

Agree Mr Burns and here is hoping too.

Labor needs to go out and rebuild.
With no money in the coffers, unemployment getting higher, 8% in Tasmania.
For such a young country like Australia, its a worry.
I have more faith in the Lib line up than Labor.

 

[basilio]

Interesting story story breaking on the plot to destroy Peter Slipper as Speaker (and of course the Gilliard government).

Some might remember that when the sexual harrassment case against peter Slipper finally reached the court it was summarily thrown out by the judge. Part of the final statement by Judge Meres is noted in the following comments

When Rares threw out the case against Slipper – the December 2012 decision now under appeal – he castigated Brough. Rarely do courts reproach politicians so bluntly. The judge found Ashby had not been harassed and the true purpose of bringing the case against the Speaker was political.

“Mr Ashby acted in combination with Ms Doane and Mr Brough when commencing the proceedings in order to advance the interests of the LNP and Mr Brough, the judge said, “and the evidence also established that the proceedings were an abuse of the court.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Slipper was to be given no warning. Harmers argued the matter was too urgent to take the usual first step of seeking conciliation. Rares would find “no basis” for such a claim.

And the case would be timed to break while the Speaker was out of the country. All in all, Rares concluded that the Harmers strategy for commencing the proceedings was designed “to expose Mr Slipper to the maximum degree of vilification, opprobrium, sensation and sandal and cause maximum damage to his reputation to the political advantage of the LNP and Mr Brough”.

Full story on how Mal Brough torched Peter Slipper to get back into parliament can be found at ;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/12/ashbygate-peter-slipper-james-ashby

 

[tech/a]

Before elections there are endless---we're gunna do this
Gunna do that. Youve all heard it.
Looks great---sounds great.

Then when in power there is the Actual---what we did.
So lets look at the Labor Party pre last election and NOW-----------

Rudds at it again---pre election.
Their record stands.

Need i say more?

 

[Calliope]

Interesting story story breaking on the plot to destroy Peter Slipper as Speaker (and of course the Gilliard government).

Nothing new here but a bit of David Marr spite.

 

[basilio]

Nothing new here but a bit of David Marr spite.

David is very cutting - but it was Judge Meres who threw out the Peter Slipper case as simply a political witch hunt and and castigated Mal Brough and associates by name.

It will be interesting to see if Mal's character becomes a question during the election campaign (or before hand) . With the election looking like a line ball result the Libs don't need sustained attacks on individual candidates.

 

[Calliope]

It will be interesting to see if Mal's character becomes a question during the election campaign (or before hand) . With the election looking like a line ball result the Libs don't need sustained attacks on individual candidates.

There are plenty of muckrakers around. But I doubt if you and Marr and The Guardian can make it stick. Brough is home and hosed in Fisher. Low-life Slipper is well and truly despised here, as are his apologists.

 

[Julia]

A State issue in Qld doesn't seem to have attracted any attention here. MPs are to be awarded huge pay increases, around 42% of their current salary.

When this was announced Premier Newman was away on holiday and Deputy Jeff Seeney asserted they had absolutely no choice in the matter, that it was a legal obligation to accept the salary increase.
What???
Who makes the legislation, Mr Seeney?

A couple of days ago Premier Newman returned to the fray and actually acknowledged that he had known about this impending rise sixteen months ago! Plenty of time to have altered the legislation if they so desired.

He has now gone into damage control in the wake of outrage from the public. The outcome of his distress remains unknown at this stage but he has generously promised an announcement on this in about three months.
Which is, of course, time for the Federal election not to be compromised by the inevitable and totally justified accusation of snouts in troughs by Liberal National members.

The Federal Labor Party cannot be blamed if they suggest similar lack of principle applies to the Federal Opposition.

What a sickening bunch they all are.

PS Any Queenslanders prepared to spend two minutes of their time might like to protest to their local member or Central State government. It has been shown that intense public pressure is felt. Here is link to State Government Head Office:
http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/tools/contact.aspx

 

[sptrawler]

Obviously with Federal and State politicians giving themselves a 40% payrise, it tells where treasury thinks inflation is going.lol

 

[Calliope]

The Federal Labor Party cannot be blamed if they suggest similar lack of principle applies to the Federal Opposition.

Only if they have clean hands.

 

[springhill]

A nice backhander delivered to the face of Labor & the Greens today.

After months and even years of decrying the Coalition's tow-back policy for asylum seeker boats, the Indonesian Foreign Minister comes out with this.....

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1789236/Indonesia-considers-tow-back-boats-plan

A clear sign that towing boats back is now indeed in play as part of the regional solution on asylum seekers entering Australia via the back door.

Unfortunately for Rudd he has been so anti this policy, he would look like a damn fool if he backflipped on it.

I guess we don't need the Coalition to make him look like a mug, our friends to the north are doing a fine job of that.

 

[Zedd]

A clear sign that towing boats back is now indeed in play as part of the regional solution on asylum seekers entering Australia via the back door.
...
I guess we don't need the Coalition to make him look like a mug, our friends to the north are doing a fine job of that.

I wouldn't go that far. Open for discussion providing actions are bi-lateral is far from agreeing to it. It's support for Rudd calling for bi-lateral action, while giving the opposition room to argue their solution is possible. Given the Coalition's stance on tow backs it allows for further talk, no action, and removes the need for any aggressive talk directed at Indonesia. Well played politics is all it is.

Even in the event an agreement is reached, I'd bet that it would require the asylum seekers to be on their original Indonesian vessel when they arrived back in port. Solution - they scuttle the boat as soon as an Australian vessel is within sight. Chances of Indonesia accepting asylum seekers off an Australian vessel is extremely unlikely.

 

[sptrawler]

I wouldn't go that far. Open for discussion providing actions are bi-lateral is far from agreeing to it. It's support for Rudd calling for bi-lateral action, while giving the opposition room to argue their solution is possible. Given the Coalition's stance on tow backs it allows for further talk, no action, and removes the need for any aggressive talk directed at Indonesia. Well played politics is all it is.

Even in the event an agreement is reached, I'd bet that it would require the asylum seekers to be on their original Indonesian vessel when they arrived back in port. Solution - they scuttle the boat as soon as an Australian vessel is within sight. Chances of Indonesia accepting asylum seekers off an Australian vessel is extremely unlikely.

We'll have to add that to the Labor Party laminated 'Asylum seeking 101' starter pack.lol

 

[Zedd]

We'll have to add that to the Labor Party laminated 'Asylum seeking 101' starter pack.lol

Labour or Liberal, I'd say all boats will be advertised with a free axe for every customer if tow back is implemented...