The Abbott Government

[sptrawler]

I have to say the $7 co paymentG20 leaders was a bit ordinary, but the fumbling linked arms handshake has to go down as more cringe worthy than Menzies "did but see her passing by" episode.

Seems the LA Times isn't all that fussed about us yokels and hicks either:

http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-australia-parochial-20141116-story.html


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Wow I wonder where they got the "pimply youth moment" and quoting Peter Hartcher, from.

Might be the SMH or another newspaper that can't wait to spread the word. lol

Funny they aren't complimenting Abbott, on the free trade agreement with China and he can't even speak Mandarin.lol

Maybe the fact, he is a Prime Minister, that can keep rodents and sex out of his rhetoric about China helped.

But lets just forget about that, because Abbott didn't say it, best we move on. lol

 

[Smurf1976]

Wasn't that said of Japan in the '80s?

From what I recall, general thinking back then was that Australia could learn a lot from Japan economically (noting that unemployment was relatively high in Australia during much of the 1980's as manufacturing shed jobs).

 

[sptrawler]

From what I recall, general thinking back then was that Australia could learn a lot from Japan economically (noting that unemployment was relatively high in Australia during much of the 1980's as manufacturing shed jobs).

Also people had a general preference for U.S, U.K and Aust, over Jap 'crap'.

Now we have, who gives a rats where it's made, I'll throw it away and buy a new one.

This is where the 'Global Economy' is accelerating the decline of our economy.
We now move our manufacturing to where it is cheapest to produce, meanwhile everyone at home is desperate to buy the cheapest, no matter where it is made.
This is because our wages relative to theirs, lets us by more of their crap, there is always a time lapse as economies decline and others rise.

At least with the FTA with China, we have a time lapse between the reduction tarrifs for our agricultural exports, and China's access to our agricultural land.

 

[Julia]

From what I recall, general thinking back then was that Australia could learn a lot from Japan economically (noting that unemployment was relatively high in Australia during much of the 1980's as manufacturing shed jobs).

Yes, I remember how Japan was the envy of the world. Today it is officially back in recession.

 

[noco]

This link is for all those Andrew Bolt haters who have always maintained he is anti Labor and pro Liberal.

If this link does not prove he is impartial to his haters, then I don't know what will.

It is a pity the ABC did not do the same...

Bolt has been most critical of the Liberal Government and perhaps it is well warranted given the state of the polls ATM......it is hard to follow the reason after the economic mess left behind by Labor......do voters want more or Labor's mismanagement?.....God help the country if they do......let us trust that perhaps the Liberal Government will take notice and change their strategy.


http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/...|heading|homepage|homepage&itmt=1416251575128

 

[Logique]

Just looked at the Age and the Trade deal is front page!
The success of the G20 summit is pages 2 and 3.
Not sure what's going on with the SMH.

They need to get a grip at the SMH.

4th was as high as the China Free Trade Agreement got in the SMH.

Today's 2nd SMH story is 'PM confuses China with Tasmania..', which when you read it, is an innocuous slip of the tongue, made by most of us on a daily basis.

 

[noco]

They need to get a grip at the SMH.

4th was as high as the China Free Trade Agreement got in the SMH.

Today's 2nd SMH story is 'PM confuses China with Tasmania..', which when you read it, is an innocuous slip of the tongue, made by most of us on a daily basis.

Yes and you can bet your boots the ABC and the AGE will flog that slip of the tongue to death.....the ABC have already exploited it this morning.....anything to discredit Abbott......they won't be happy until Abbott is replaced.

 

[Knobby22]

They need to get a grip at the SMH.

4th was as high as the China Free Trade Agreement got in the SMH.

Today's 2nd SMH story is 'PM confuses China with Tasmania..', which when you read it, is an innocuous slip of the tongue, made by most of us on a daily basis.

That didn't even make the Age, or at least I can't find it. Sounds tabloid.
Has the SMH got a new editor?

The third story in the AGE though was that Canada is backing the United Nations Climate Fund based in South Korea. This puts our Government out in the cold as it looks like we will be the only ones not contributing. Japan, USA etc. have made substantial contributions. The saving of Abbott, that I think he is counting on will be the Republicans resisting it.

 

[noco]

That didn't even make the Age, or at least I can't find it. Sounds tabloid.
Has the SMH got a new editor?

The third story in the AGE though was that Canada is backing the United Nations Climate Fund based in South Korea. This puts our Government out in the cold as it looks like we will be the only ones not contributing. Japan, USA etc. have made substantial contributions. The saving of Abbott, that I think he is counting on will be the Republicans resisting it.

If the Labor Party had left enough money in the kitty we may well have been able to afford it.....How we would like that $11 billion RUDD/GILLARD/RUDD wasted on their open border policy...we could have given a cool billion to the fund without any worries......and don't forget those $900 cheques Rudd sent you...that was just a loan and now we must pay it back.

Canada has a far more healthier economy than Australia has.

 

[Tisme]

This link is for all those Andrew Bolt haters who have always maintained he is anti Labor and pro Liberal.

That's a joke right? I got half way down his blog and read "all digs at bipartisan Abbott and his policies" and that was enough for me!

Noco you make no secret you in no way will ever consider politicians and political parties on their objective merits or demerits. Bolt is merely having a capricious moment which will subside in the highly predictable schoolyard snitch antics against his sworn enemies (anything not badged LNP) he is prone to.

 

[sydboy007]

Tony had better have a chat to his conservative colleges in QLD and WA before they shred the federal budget even more for him.

In Queensland Newman is going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help build infrastructure to support Adani's rail line construction from the Galilee Basin to the coal port of Abbott point. The question is why is hte state Govt helping to fund a project that has a $100 break even cost in a market where thermal coal is currently selling at around $64 a tonne and 40% of current production is losing money? At best Adani will cause lower cost coal producers in Australia to shut down, at worse we'll see continual falls in the thermal coal market resulting in less income for the country as all coal exports drop in price.

Then we have ANZ teaming up with the WA Govt and the China Development bank to fund Baosteel and Aurizon Holdings’ push to establish a big Pilbara iron ore business. Another 40 million tonnes of supply along with a new port an Anketell. Once again, why would we support increasing production at the high end of the cost curve in a market already seeing prices in relative free fall due to massive over supply. With the Chinese reluctant to become too dependant on imports that means Australia is likely to bare the brunt of supply closures.

So why are conservative state Governments acting like centrally planned states? Why are they forcing through investments to increase supply of commodities already in over supply. I could understand if the projects could stand on their own with depressed prices, but both are likely to be at the upper end of the cost curve. The impact on the federal budget will be even bigger as the company tax revenue plummets due to the continued fall in these major exports.

 

[Julia]

From yesterday's "The World Today", ABC Radio:

The Federal Government is trumpeting the G20 Summit and its global growth target of more than 2 per cent, but economists say don't hold your breath for signs of that growth.

Professor Fariborz Moshirian of the Institute for Global Finance at the University of New South Wales spoke to our business editor Peter Ryan

The professor seems like a realist. Here is the transcript, with longer version available on the ABC website:
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2014/s4129942.htm

So much frenzy about what is aspirational in both climate change and economic goals, especially Obama with a hostile congress. He can grandstand as much as he likes. Won't make anything happen in the US with the Republicans running things.

 

[Calliope]

So why are conservative state Governments acting like centrally planned states? Why are they forcing through investments to increase supply of commodities already in over supply. I could understand if the projects could stand on their own with depressed prices, but both are likely to be at the upper end of the cost curve. The impact on the federal budget will be even bigger as the company tax revenue plummets due to the continued fall in these major exports.

I suppose it's because they don't have someone as smart as you to advise them. Pity really, since your expertise is so freely available.

 

[sydboy007]

From yesterday's "The World Today", ABC Radio:


The professor seems like a realist. Here is the transcript, with longer version available on the ABC website:
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2014/s4129942.htm

So much frenzy about what is aspirational in both climate change and economic goals, especially Obama with a hostile congress. He can grandstand as much as he likes. Won't make anything happen in the US with the Republicans running things.

I wouldn't be so sure. I was listening to Senator Rand Paul (R) yesterday talking about various issues and he seems to be supportive of doing something about climate change. He's also running for President in 2016.

For a republican he seems very centrist in a lot of ways.

Will be interesting to see hwo things pan out

I'd just be happy to see the Govt stop trying to be a spoiler about taking action on climate change. If the argument is we shouldn't do anything until the major economies do it, then why couldn't Abbott have made it a central theme at the G20 to try and put pressure on the major emitters to come up with some binding targets?

 

[sptrawler]

I wouldn't be so sure. I was listening to Senator Rand Paul (R) yesterday talking about various issues and he seems to be supportive of doing something about climate change. He's also running for President in 2016.

For a republican he seems very centrist in a lot of ways.

Will be interesting to see hwo things pan out

I'd just be happy to see the Govt stop trying to be a spoiler about taking action on climate change. If the argument is we shouldn't do anything until the major economies do it, then why couldn't Abbott have made it a central theme at the G20 to try and put pressure on the major emitters to come up with some binding targets?

I doubt the major emmitters, would take any notice of anything we told them to do.
All it would have achieved, is to make us look like a bunch of self opinionated twits. No doubt the Fairfax media and ABC would have had a field day.

But it would have been economic and diplomatic suicide.

Having said that, I could imagine Rudd or even Gillard saying something, out there.

 

[sydboy007]

I doubt the major emmitters, would take any notice of anything we told them to do.
All it would have achieved, is to make us look like a bunch of self opinionated twits. No doubt the Fairfax media and ABC would have had a field day.

But it would have been economic and diplomatic suicide.

Having said that, I could imagine Rudd or even Gillard saying something, out there.

By that logic Abbott and Joe were just sprouting hot air for a couple of days because no one was taking any notice.

Hmm... You could be on the nose with that

 

[sptrawler]

By that logic Abbott and Joe were just sprouting hot air for a couple of days because no one was taking any notice.

Hmm... You could be on the nose with that

Well for all the sprouting and self sacrifice, we did in the name of saving the world, under Labor.

It counted for nought, because no one was taking any notice then also.
Maybe we are getting off topic.

 

[Julia]

I doubt the major emmitters, would take any notice of anything we told them to do.
All it would have achieved, is to make us look like a bunch of self opinionated twits. No doubt the Fairfax media and ABC would have had a field day.

But it would have been economic and diplomatic suicide.

Agreed. Australians have an unrealistic notion of how important we are in a global perspective.

 

[Wysiwyg]

Tony Abbott says the Indian P.M. is more than almost a kindred spirit, but almost a brother. After less than a week of meeting the bloke in his role as Indian P.M., Abbott comes up with a shallow statement like that to grow a stronger trading partner.

 

[sptrawler]

Tony Abbott says the Indian P.M. is more than almost a kindred spirit, but almost a brother. After less than a week of meeting the bloke in his role as Indian P.M., Abbott comes up with a shallow statement like that to grow a stronger trading partner.

Well it certainly, is better than Kev's description of the Chinese.
Kev's pre election begging of Bang Bam, to tell Tony not to turn back the boats, that was another classic moment in Australian diplomatic history. lol

I think Abbott being shallow, is probably better than Rudd's, back of the napkin diplomacy, policy development and border protection policy.