The Albanese government

[sptrawler]

I will be saving my fulsomeness(sic) for a few months in if warranted.

Listening to QandA last night, there was no evidence of this new magnanimity from the minions

With a bit of luck he wont cowtow to the overpaid loonies in the media.

 

[SirRumpole]

I will be saving my fulsomeness(sic) for a few months in if warranted.

Listening to QandA last night, there was no evidence of this new magnanimity from the minions

Glad that arrogant twit Downer isn't still in Parliament though.

 

[wayneL]

Glad that arrogant twit Downer isn't still in Parliament though.

He wasn't the one I wanted to punch in the face.

 

[SirRumpole]

He wasn't the one I wanted to punch in the face.

So who was it ?

 

[wayneL]

So who was it ?

Let's put it this way, I was brought up to never hit girls, and I fully embrace and live that.

 

[SirRumpole]

Let's put it this way, I was brought up to never hit girls, and I fully embrace and live that.

I know what you mean.

 

[sptrawler]

It will be good to see this crap sorted out, at last.

Google Australia’s tax bill just $85 million despite profit rise

Search giant Google paid $85 million in tax in 2021 despite earning more than $7 billion from the local economy, shifting the majority of earnings to an international subsidiary.

www.theage.com.au

Search giant Google paid $85 million in tax in 2021 despite earning more than $7 billion from the local economy, shifting the majority of earnings to an international subsidiary which reduced the size of its profits.
Financial accounts lodged on Thursday with the corporate regulator for the 2021 calendar and financial year show Google’s gross revenue in Australia grew 38 per cent to $7.2 billion in 2021, a major increase and a fresh high. Advertising revenue hit $6.1 billion, up from $4.4 billion the previous year.

 

[moXJO]

It will be good to see this crap sorted out, at last.

Google Australia’s tax bill just $85 million despite profit rise

Search giant Google paid $85 million in tax in 2021 despite earning more than $7 billion from the local economy, shifting the majority of earnings to an international subsidiary.

www.theage.com.au

Search giant Google paid $85 million in tax in 2021 despite earning more than $7 billion from the local economy, shifting the majority of earnings to an international subsidiary which reduced the size of its profits.
Financial accounts lodged on Thursday with the corporate regulator for the 2021 calendar and financial year show Google’s gross revenue in Australia grew 38 per cent to $7.2 billion in 2021, a major increase and a fresh high. Advertising revenue hit $6.1 billion, up from $4.4 billion the previous year.

Google is trash. Hope they tax them into the dirt.

 

[sptrawler]

Google is trash. Hope they tax them into the dirt.

As far as Im concerned, you can throw facebook and twitter into the same trash can, along with most of the media which is competing in the race to the bottom of the cess pit IMO.
The problem is, having a nice platform where most comments are positive, doesnt drive repeat postings, only negative nasty $hit drives emotion and breeds ongoing combat.
So what do all these forms of interactive media promote?
Only FW's partake IMO.

 

[SirRumpole]

As far as Im concerned, you can throw facebook and twitter into the same trash can, along with most of the media which is competing in the race to the bottom of the cess pit IMO.
The problem is, having a nice platform where most comments are positive, doesnt drive repeat postings, only negative nasty $hit drives emotion and breeds ongoing combat.
So what do all these forms of interactive media promote?
Only FW's partake IMO.

More credit to a platform like this where we can discuss differences respectfully.

HC is a hotbed of random thoughts, trolling and a general lack of respect, even though the turnover is a lot higher.

 

[Smurf1976]

As far as Im concerned, you can throw facebook and twitter into the same trash can, along with most of the media which is competing in the race to the bottom of the cess pit IMO.

If there's one thing really missing at present in mainstream society it's sensible, intellectual discussion.

Look at the overall standard of debate in recent times, on any subject, and to be blunt it's a fair way below what would've been considered acceptable at even a high school debating exercise sort of level in the past.

It's at the point now where those who actually could make a strong contribution, on any subject, have simply walked away. Pick any subject and just observe not what's being said but who's saying it and what their credentials are. Those with academic qualifications, practical experience or other real, actual knowledge have largely walked away and left the masses to keep yelling at each other.

Just pick a subject and take a look. It's no longer Professor X from the University of 123, it's no longer Mr Y expert who's been doing something for 30 years, it's no longer Ms Z the CEO of big company whose entire business revolves around the subject being discussed. Those people have gone and now it's at best someone who's educated in a completely unrelated field, at worst it's someone who failed grade 10. But hey, they're an instant expert on everything from zoology to traffic engineering to Aboriginal art and they're armed with the full transcript of a 10 minute YouTube video that taught them all they know on the subject.

Of all things the new PM could achieve, raising the standard of public discussion, at least making it polite enough to bring back those with real knowledge, would be a good one.

 

[SirRumpole]

If there's one thing really missing at present in mainstream society it's sensible, intellectual discussion.

Look at the overall standard of debate in recent times, on any subject, and to be blunt it's a fair way below what would've been considered acceptable at even a high school debating exercise sort of level in the past.

It's at the point now where those who actually could make a strong contribution, on any subject, have simply walked away. Pick any subject and just observe not what's being said but who's saying it and what their credentials are. Those with academic qualifications, practical experience or other real, actual knowledge have largely walked away and left the masses to keep yelling at each other.

Just pick a subject and take a look. It's no longer Professor X from the University of 123, it's no longer Mr Y expert who's been doing something for 30 years, it's no longer Ms Z the CEO of big company whose entire business revolves around the subject being discussed. Those people have gone and now it's at best someone who's educated in a completely unrelated field, at worst it's someone who failed grade 10. But hey, they're an instant expert on everything from zoology to traffic engineering to Aboriginal art and they're armed with the full transcript of a 10 minute YouTube video that taught them all they know on the subject.

Of all things the new PM could achieve, raising the standard of public discussion, at least making it polite enough to bring back those with real knowledge, would be a good one.

Yes, we have politicians designing power grids now instead of engineers.

 

[Smurf1976]

Yes, we have politicians designing power grids now instead of engineers.

That industry and many others.

Nothing wrong with government deciding on the outcome required but we need competent people actually doing things.

Much as the marketing, scheduling and finance people at an airline will decide what destinations they ought fly to and from but they leave the pilots to fly the planes as such.

 

[frugal.rock]

Certainly saw a different face on Albanese apon victory.
I'm dubbing it;
"The Albanese Cheesy Greasy"

 

[sptrawler]

And Albo's real battle begins.

Greens have mandate to stop new oil and gas projects: Bandt tells Labor

A significant number of voters backed the Greens or independents who called for stronger action on climate change – and Adam Bandt says Labor needs to recognise it.

www.smh.com.au

Greens leader Adam Bandt says the party has a mandate to stop new coal and gas mines and warned the Labor government that it will use its balance of power in the Senate to introduce legislation to block new mines.
The Greens look set to quadruple their lower house representation by robbing the LNP of their Queensland seats of Brisbane and Ryan and booting Labor frontbencher Terri Butler from the seat of Griffith.

 

[sptrawler]

It sounds as though the Melbourne rail loop Federal funding isn't a done deal.

Andrews and Albanese set for showdown on Melbourne’s rail loop funding

The Andrews and Albanese governments are on a collision course over the Suburban Rail Loop project, as federal cash will hinge on an independent assessment of the plan.

www.theage.com.au

From the article:
The Andrews and Albanese governments are on a collision course over Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop project, according to infrastructure experts, who expect federal cash to hinge on an independent assessment of the plan.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged $2.2 billion before this month’s federal election as an initial investment in the first stage of the 90-kilometre orbital railway through Melbourne’s middle suburbs.
But the commitment – Labor’s largest pre-election infrastructure pledge – is well short of the $11.5 billion Victoria wants from its federal colleagues to build the loop’s first eastern leg. The first stage connecting Cheltenham to Box Hill is set to open by 2035 and cost between $30 billion and $34.5 billion.

Infrastructure experts said further federal funding would be complicated by federal Labor’s pre-election pledge of restoring the role of independent advisory Infrastructure Australia, which Albanese established as infrastructure minister in the Rudd government in 2008 to guide spending decisions.
An Infrastructure Australia spokesman said it was currently evaluating an early-stage submission on the project, which is the first step in a three-stage assessment process.

The Andrews government had asked the former Morrison government for $11.5 billion over 10 years while former Labor leader Bill Shorten promised $15 billion over 15 years ahead of his failed 2019 bid for prime minister.

 

[PZ99]

90 kilometres ? Hehehe... how about $50billion + inflation + delays + blowouts ?



Chinese_hysterical_laughter.wav

 

[sptrawler]

90 kilometres ? Hehehe... how about $50billion + inflation + delays + blowouts ?



Chinese_hysterical_laughter.wav

Yes there would be a lot of businesses salivating on that gravy train, once it's Govt it's a license to print money, "but minister", "just pay it I don't want any problems, it isn't as though it's our money". ?

 

[basilio]

Seems like Labour has reached the 76 seats for a majority in the Lower House.
Passing legislation through the Senate however will require support from either The Greens or the Libs.

Anthony Albanese and Labor to form majority government

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese looks set to form a majority Labor government, with the ABC projecting victory for sitting member Josh Burns in the Melbourne seat of Macnamara.

www.abc.net.au

 

[basilio]

I hope the Labour Government does appoint and independent speaker. I think Andrew Wilkie would be a great choice. I have always believed he was even handed in his approach to politics

Independent Andrew Wilkie prepared to discuss Speaker role in new Labor government​

Tasmanian MP says having an independent Speaker ‘would send a powerful and positive message’ after voters elected large crossbench

• Election 2022 results: live votes tracker and federal seat counts
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Andrew Wilkie said if Labor was ‘fair dinkum’ about restoring trust in politics an independent Speaker was worth contemplating. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Katharine Murphy Political editor

@murpharoo
Mon 30 May 2022 09.57 BSTLast modified on Mon 30 May 2022 11.15 BST


The Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie says he is prepared to “have a conversation” with Anthony Albanese about being the Speaker of the lower house in the event Labor seeks a presiding officer from outside its own ranks.

Wilkie said on Monday he thought an approach from the new prime minister was unlikely because, in his view, Labor was on track to win 77 seats. The new government reached 76 seats on Monday night after Macnamara was called.

But the veteran independent said even if Labor had a clear majority there were “rational reasons” for the government to seek a Speaker from the crossbench.
“Even if Labor gets to 77 it would send a powerful and positive message to the community [for Albanese] to seek out an independent Speaker,” Wilkie told Guardian Australia, adding it need not necessarily be him.

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...-religion-and-more-traditional-liberal-policy
Wilkie said if Labor was “fair dinkum” about using the new parliamentary term to restore trust in politics, then such a gesture would be worth contemplating, given Australians had put their faith in a new and significantly larger group of independents.

Independent Andrew Wilkie prepared to discuss Speaker role in new Labor government

Tasmanian MP says having an independent Speaker ‘would send a powerful and positive message’ after voters elected large crossbench

www.theguardian.com