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I'm happy if it puts Brissy on the map
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?
One thing I hope comes out of this G20 meeting is to plug the hole of large corporate tax evasion.
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?
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).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.
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.
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.Couldn't disagree more I think Abbott be-dazzled them all by talking about the $7 co-payment amongst other domestic issues
Couldn't disagree more I think Abbott be-dazzled them all by talking about the $7 co-payment amongst other domestic issues
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.
Measures to balance the books from a conservative government however receive a far cooler response despite the lessons Europe post GFC has to offer.
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.We just spent $450 million, plus the impact on businesses and individuals of the disruption, on a meeting for a handful of elites.
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.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.
We just spent $450 million, plus the impact on businesses and individuals of the disruption, on a meeting for a handful of elites.
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