The Abbott Government

[Smurf1976]

It is a bit like the situation in W.A.

And don't forget the other 2 x 120MW that could fire two fuels.

At the risk of making another "electrical" post in an unrelated thread, the situation with energy generally in WA is actually a very good example of all that ails Australia at the moment.

In short, what they've done is:

1. Have the private sector build a massive amount of new generating capacity that isn't actually needed and in some cases is prohibitively expensive to run (far more so than the existing plants being closed).

2. Become overly reliant on one particular fuel (gas) via a single pipeline which didn't work out too well when a gas processing plant blew up a few years ago. The response to that was to re-commission 4 x 50 year old units at Muja power station which had been shut down. That cost an outright fortune and 2 of those units still aren't generating power and likely never will.

3. To address the over-supply, they've shut down Kwinana Power Station, the second largest plant in WA and the most flexible in fuel supply (coal, oil, gas can be used interchangeably in 4 of the 6 units, the other two being oil or gas). Whilst closing KPS has saved some money as such, it would be far cheaper to have not built all those new plants in the first place.

4. Now the cost of mining coal is going up, first sending the mining companies broke and in due course once the price is passed on, making the coal-fired plants less economic to operate.

5. Mining costs are rising because the best and most easily accessed coal has already been used and what remains is more costly and inferior. In short, that's resource depletion staring you right in the face. And the proposed solution? Ramp up production and export the coal, thus accelerating depletion.

6. And then there's gas. WA has heaps of it but it's actually somewhat scarce locally given that the vast majority is now committed to export. Scarce to the point that there's a government report that suggests importing coal from Indonesia as one possible workaround. Yep, that's right, export the coal we have and then import more.

It's a sad tale the whole thing and it's costing the state over $50 million a month in losses to my understanding, a figure that is increasing and won't be going away anytime soon. Meanwhile WA keeps muttering something about wanting their share of GST to fill the self-inflicted black hole.

My point here is not really about keeping the lights on in Perth. It's about the incredibly stupid way we're running things in this country. A lack of foresight that has to be seen to be believed, failing to see what's obvious and staring our supposed leaders in the face. Unfortunately this situation is not confined to WA and it is not confined to the energy industry. Rather, it's a broad problem facing practically everything we're doing at the moment, the WA power industry being just one example (albeit one with fairly broad consequences economically).

 

[sptrawler]

And don't forget the other 2 x 120MW that could fire two fuels.

At the risk of making another "electrical" post in an unrelated thread, the situation with energy generally in WA is actually a very good example of all that ails Australia at the moment.

In short, what they've done is:

1. Have the private sector build a massive amount of new generating capacity that isn't actually needed and in some cases is prohibitively expensive to run (far more so than the existing plants being closed).

2. Become overly reliant on one particular fuel (gas) via a single pipeline which didn't work out too well when a gas processing plant blew up a few years ago. The response to that was to re-commission 4 x 50 year old units at Muja power station which had been shut down. That cost an outright fortune and 2 of those units still aren't generating power and likely never will.

3. To address the over-supply, they've shut down Kwinana Power Station, the second largest plant in WA and the most flexible in fuel supply (coal, oil, gas can be used interchangeably in 4 of the 6 units, the other two being oil or gas). Whilst closing KPS has saved some money as such, it would be far cheaper to have not built all those new plants in the first place.

4. Now the cost of mining coal is going up, first sending the mining companies broke and in due course once the price is passed on, making the coal-fired plants less economic to operate.

5. Mining costs are rising because the best and most easily accessed coal has already been used and what remains is more costly and inferior. In short, that's resource depletion staring you right in the face. And the proposed solution? Ramp up production and export the coal, thus accelerating depletion.

6. And then there's gas. WA has heaps of it but it's actually somewhat scarce locally given that the vast majority is now committed to export. Scarce to the point that there's a government report that suggests importing coal from Indonesia as one possible workaround. Yep, that's right, export the coal we have and then import more.

It's a sad tale the whole thing and it's costing the state over $50 million a month in losses to my understanding, a figure that is increasing and won't be going away anytime soon. Meanwhile WA keeps muttering something about wanting their share of GST to fill the self-inflicted black hole.

My point here is not really about keeping the lights on in Perth. It's about the incredibly stupid way we're running things in this country. A lack of foresight that has to be seen to be believed, failing to see what's obvious and staring our supposed leaders in the face. Unfortunately this situation is not confined to WA and it is not confined to the energy industry. Rather, it's a broad problem facing practically everything we're doing at the moment, the WA power industry being just one example (albeit one with fairly broad consequences economically).

The result of deregulation and desegregation by Labor, to make electricity cheaper. lol,lol,lol
Break up Western Power, so they can't cross subsidies.
Then encourage private enterprise, by paying them availabilty payments for installed capacity, whether they generate or not.lol,lol,lol
In the end you have to shut down public owned, efficient plant, to make the others generate, next we will have to pay the higher price of generation.

Absolute dickwits, why would you vote Labor, they don't sell your electricity system just make you pay for nothing.

 

[Logique]

Wow, Scott Morrison will need a thread of his own soon.

Scott Morrison, the sharpest pencil in the box, puts it right - April 4, 2015

Peter Hartcher, SMH: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/scott...in-the-box-puts-it-right-20150403-1mea4p.html

..."He [Morrison] has enormous ability, he's on top of his portfolio, he doesn't need advisers around him to tell him what to say.

" Xenophon has had a lot of dealings with many ministers who have sought to win passage of their legislation through the Senate.

His conclusion? "Other ministers could learn from him, including the prime minister."...

 

[noco]

Wow, Scott Morrison will need a thread of his own soon.

Morrison is the most capable and efficient member of cabinet and must surely be the best candidate to become Prime Minister.

 

[banco]

Wow, Scott Morrison will need a thread of his own soon.

That story is called a source greaser (for which Hartcher is notorious for). He slobbers all over Morrison so he can use him as a source in future.

 

[Ferret]

That story is called a source greaser (for which Hartcher is notorious for). He slobbers all over Morrison so he can use him as a source in future.

Maybe, but it is still music to my ears. The country desperately needs a good leader.

 

[sptrawler]

Wow, Scott Morrison will need a thread of his own soon.

When the question was posed, "who would replace Abbott"?

Morrison was suggested by a few.

Definitely a better performer, under pressure, than Turnbull or Bishop.IMO

Also would have no trouble with Shorten.IMO

 

[IFocus]

Mean while back at the ranch as the fire rages out of control in the home stead and the heard stands around looking stunned (what, punters don't understand the Coalitions right of arrogance to rule and rip off the low life working poor to fund greater profits for the corporate gods = Coalition donors).

Lose the West and its all over for the Coalition so much for Gina's bag lady Bishop.

Coalition's primary support in WA sinks to 14-year low, Newspoll analysis reveals

The Abbott government’s primary vote in Western Australia has slumped to 38% in opinion polling, the lowest in the Liberal stronghold state since 2001.

WA had the highest Coalition primary vote at the federal election in 2013. That has fallen more than 13 percentage points to stand at 38% in the March quarter.

Abbott will have to past some more draconian security laws to address this

Nationwide, just 27% of respondents are satisfied with Abbott’s performance as prime minister, compared with 65% who are dissatisfied.

No doubt the Coalition extreme right will have Morrison dancing around with more kindy kids ready for the knife fight for control of the Liberal party.............of course they would have missed the fact a conservative just won an election for reform playing to the middle............thats right Malcolm sits around there too.............the Coalition extreme right and their supporters would rather eat their own children than back Malcolm.


One Term Tony...........three worded slogans seem to work there days don't they?

Labor leads 55% to 45% in two-party preferred terms.

 

[SirRumpole]

The result of deregulation and desegregation by Labor, to make electricity cheaper. lol,lol,lol
Break up Western Power, so they can't cross subsidies.
Then encourage private enterprise, by paying them availabilty payments for installed capacity, whether they generate or not.lol,lol,lol
In the end you have to shut down public owned, efficient plant, to make the others generate, next we will have to pay the higher price of generation.

Absolute dickwits, why would you vote Labor, they don't sell your electricity system just make you pay for nothing.

You were talking about WA weren't you ?

Who is in power there at the moment ?

(I believe it's the Libs)

 

[Tisme]

So some self appointed business groups have come out in an union to denounce the Abbott govt for lack of whatever it takes to drive and direct the country's prosperity .... where were they when the Libs elected Tony as there boss nearly six years ago? Anyone with half a wit could see the man was a walking cliché of negatives who could (and has) white ant our nation into stagnation.

On the weekend the news shows were featuring Bill Shorten for his advice on all things a Govt minister(s) should have been espousing. I'm guessing even the commercial channels are getting fed up with "Labor's Mess" and the big black hole of talent within the LNP camp. I have no doubt our snide finance minister and shrinking violet treasurer will be out and about this morning priming the electorate for a useless budget and blaming Shorten and Labor for a backsliding economy.....useless t1ts both of them playing with our wealth, our savings our prosperity.

I know brand loyalty is a hard nut to crack, but surely Lib voters should be joining up to local branches and demanding talent be incorporated into cabinet?

 

[SirRumpole]

I know brand loyalty is a hard nut to crack, but surely Lib voters should be joining up to local branches and demanding talent be incorporated into cabinet?

The less competent that the current leadership is , the less they want bright sparks in Cabinet showing them up.

That's the crux of the current problem, keep the competition in Cabinet down by appointing yes men and drones.

If we want a talented Cabinet, the first step is talented leadership, so obviously, the current leadership must go.

 

[noco]

The less competent that the current leadership is , the less they want bright sparks in Cabinet showing them up.

That's the crux of the current problem, keep the competition in Cabinet down by appointing yes men and drones.

If we want a talented Cabinet, the first step is talented leadership, so obviously, the current leadership must go.

And what do you say about comrade Shorten?

 

[sptrawler]

You were talking about WA weren't you ?

Who is in power there at the moment ?

(I believe it's the Libs)

Yes it is, and as usual have to sort out the mess Labor left them.
Labor broke up Western Power and to encourage so called competition, paid the private sector capacity payments for installed generating capacity, whether they ran it or not.

Barnett is going to make the private generators run their plant, we are paying for it anyway, might as well get something for your money.

 

[SirRumpole]

Yes it is, and as usual have to sort out the mess Labor left them.
Labor broke up Western Power and to encourage so called competition, paid the private sector capacity payments for installed generating capacity, whether they ran it or not.

Barnett is going to make the private generators run their plant, we are paying for it anyway, might as well get something for your money.

I suppose the next NSW Labor gov't will have to pick up the pieces after Baird sells our poles and wires. They are just as bad as each other.

 

[noco]

I suppose the next NSW Labor gov't will have to pick up the pieces after Baird sells our poles and wires. They are just as bad as each other.

Lease ..not sell.....Pleased to see the NSW voters have got more sense than Victoria and Queensland....The voters of NSW did not fall for Labor's lies.

Have to admire some of the true Labor people like Martin Ferguson and 3 or 4 others who put the weights up on Foley and now they want to expel Ferguson....Just goes to show the Labor Party are full of puppets....Speak your mind adversely and you are out.....The Green/Labor left wing socialists do not believe in democracy.

 

[sptrawler]

Mean while back at the ranch as the fire rages out of control in the home stead and the heard stands around looking stunned (what, punters don't understand the Coalitions right of arrogance to rule and rip off the low life working poor to fund greater profits for the corporate gods = Coalition donors).

Lose the West and its all over for the Coalition so much for Gina's bag lady Bishop.

Coalition's primary support in WA sinks to 14-year low, Newspoll analysis reveals



Abbott will have to past some more draconian security laws to address this



No doubt the Coalition extreme right will have Morrison dancing around with more kindy kids ready for the knife fight for control of the Liberal party.............of course they would have missed the fact a conservative just won an election for reform playing to the middle............thats right Malcolm sits around there too.............the Coalition extreme right and their supporters would rather eat their own children than back Malcolm.


One Term Tony...........three worded slogans seem to work there days don't they?

You don't think it coincidental that the news corp poll, comes out after Murdoch spat the 'chewy', over Turnbull's threat to change media ownership rules.

They are all circling the carcass of channel 10 and from my understanding, unless the cross media ownership laws are changed, Murdoch and friends will end up taking it.

IMO it seems we have a full court press against the coalition, Fairfax and now Newscorp.
Looks like poor old Tony is between a rock and a hard place.

Better get Bill in then the electricity tax can be re introduced, at least then we can get more tax money out of people.

 

[IFocus]

You don't think it coincidental that the news corp poll, comes out after Murdoch spat the 'chewy', over Turnbull's threat to change media ownership rules.

They are all circling the carcass of channel 10 and from my understanding, unless the cross media ownership laws are changed, Murdoch and friends will end up taking it.

IMO it seems we have a full court press against the coalition, Fairfax and now Newscorp.
Looks like poor old Tony is between a rock and a hard place.

Better get Bill in then the electricity tax can be re introduced, at least then we can get more tax money out of people.

The numbers reflect the absolute failure of the Abbott government at all levels.......except when they were allowed to be nasty to the boat people which I think they were very successful.

As for the press coverage Abbott has had an incredible free ride compared to Gillard.

Abbott gives no real press interviews out side the lovies and wont answer questions at door stops.

 

[drsmith]

The numbers reflect the absolute failure of the Abbott government at all levels.......except when they were allowed to be nasty to the boat people which I think they were very successful.

I thought the only remaining gripe you had with this government's border protection policies was the secrecy which itself was essential to not be providing a shipping news service to people smugglers as was the case under Labor. It's easy to see however in the above backhanded praise that you still cling to the other discredited ideals you've long held.

There remains nothing nastier on this than encouraging people to die at sea which is what Labor and the Greens wanted and still want to continue to allow in preference to stopping the boats.

 

[IFocus]

I thought the only remaining gripe you had with this government's border protection policies was the secrecy which itself was essential to not be providing a shipping news service to people smugglers as was the case under Labor. It's easy to see however in the above backhanded praise that you still cling to the other discredited ideals you've long held.

There remains nothing nastier on this than encouraging people to die at sea which is what Labor and the Greens wanted and still want to continue to allow in preference to stopping the boats.

Hang in there DR it can only get worse for this current woeful non government.

A good morality test of the border protection polices is the speed at which Morrison is distancing himself from them.................

 

[drsmith]

A good morality test of the border protection polices is the speed at which Morrison is distancing himself from them.................

In case you haven't noticed, he's in a different portfolio now.