The Gillard Government

[Julia]

Thanks, Sails. Wilkie, according to radio news today, has decided to back the levy.
Nick Xenophon is still holding out for making Qld take out disaster insurance a condition of his support. This seems very reasonable.
I hadn't realised Qld had no insurance. The other States and Territories do. So effectively the rest of Australia is subsidising Qld's lack of proper management which is just wrong.

 

[Knobby22]

Julia, it seems to be the reverse with funds being re-instated for national rent affordability. Here a the lateline transcript: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2011/s3141957.htm




I have no problem with rent affordability being reinstated, but it's the way it's done by "buying" votes that annoys me. It seems that "whatever it takes" will be thrown at this levy.

Oakeshott, Windsor, Wilke are apparently still to make up their minds. Hmmmm wonder what that will cost the taxpayer...

The greens didn't want the rent affordability scheme slashed so they gave their vote on that condition. I see nothing wrong with that. It is called democracy.

It could have just as easily been the Liberals demanding a change so it would get their support.

 

[Logique]

You are right Sails and Knobby,
and I apologize to the Greens for misrepresenting their position on the National Rental Affordability Scheme, which they in fact defended from cuts. http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2011/02/18/greens-to-support-flood-levy/

However it's still $100M of solar:

Senator Brown said $100 million would be returned to the solar flagships program, with $60 million for the current program and $40 million from the 2014/15 financial year.
"The rest of the program will then be funded after the forward estimates," he said.

And there is a deferral of National RAS funding until 2015:

The $264 million cut to the National Rental Affordability Scheme had been restored but the funds had been deferred until after 2015 so the industry could get the program back on track, Greens housing spokesman Senator Ludlam said.

 

[IFocus]

The greens didn't want the rent affordability scheme slashed so they gave their vote on that condition. I see nothing wrong with that. It is called democracy.

It could have just as easily been the Liberals demanding a change so it would get their support.

Everyone seems to have forgotten a bloke called Brian Harradine and how much he cost the Howard government each time his vote was required.

 

[Julia]

The $264 million cut to the National Rental Affordability Scheme had been restored but the funds had been deferred until after 2015 so the industry could get the program back on track, Greens housing spokesman Senator Ludlam said.

What??? Why on earth would it take until 2015 to 'get the program back on track'.
What utter rubbish.
Clearly this is part of the deal done with the government.

 

[Calliope]

Paul Howes, national secretary of the AWU who is 29 years old, started work for the union at 17, and has never had a real job in his life, is part of the cabal which selects our Labor PM.

Now this clown, drunk with unearned power, has decided to declare a class war against the big mining companies which are the backbone of Australia's economy. In this stupidity he and his boss Bill Ludwig have the support and encouragement of Mr Swan, our treasurer and deputy PM.

And yet the national press gallery, and the usual suspects on this forum are more interested in finding fault with the opposition.:dunno:

 

[-Bevo-]

Retailers brace for bonanza
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/02/12/207201_news.html

Went to centrelink the other day to collect the free 1000 bucks because I lost power for more than 48 hrs due to Yasi, I can say now I totally understand why this government needs more taxes, here in Townsville I think that there would be few people that faced hardship due to Yasi yet this government were just throwing money around like it means nothing most people I know couldn't believe they just recieved that amount of money for what was really a small inconvenience, I reckon flatscreen TV's, iphone's and other popular gadgets sales will do well here over the next couple of weeks.

Well just an update on this as it has become even more bizzare, there were a number of people who didn't loose power for more than 48 hours they are not happy when they see family and friends with free 1000 bucks lol so on the application form there is another box which says "a person is stranded in their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more" so now everyone else apparently is claiming they couldn't leave home for more than 24 hours and get the 1000 bucks too lol, wonder if centrelink is going to follow up on these claims.

 

[Julia]

"a person is stranded in their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more" so now everyone else apparently is claiming they couldn't leave home for more than 24 hours and get the 1000 bucks too lol, wonder if centrelink is going to follow up on these claims.

Well, whacko, I hardly think there'd be a person in all of Queensland, maybe parts of NSW and Victoria also, who were not confined to their homes at the height of the downpour.
That is just utterly ridiculous to be offering $1000 in such a circumstance.

Every time I think this government has pushed the bounds of credibility to the ultimate, they manage to come up with yet another way to waste taxpayer funds.

 

[joea]

For some reason the Labor goverments believe if they waste money to the public,
then the public will spend it. Labor supporters I have interaction with, sincerely think debt is good. They believe that the economy will move upwards from there.
For instance as our country is suffering, and trying to recover from floods, cyclones and
Rudd implemented programs you will see Labor backed unions pushing for wage increases.

Or better still Paul Howes starts talking war with miners.

Gee! the media loved Labor coming into the 2007 election, and the love affair continues.

Cheers

 

[Knobby22]

Well just an update on this as it has become even more bizzare, there were a number of people who didn't loose power for more than 48 hours they are not happy when they see family and friends with free 1000 bucks lol so on the application form there is another box which says "a person is stranded in their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more" so now everyone else apparently is claiming they couldn't leave home for more than 24 hours and get the 1000 bucks too lol, wonder if centrelink is going to follow up on these claims.

Unbelievable!!
I hope they have defined stranded as being unable to leave because the whole area was flooded so every man and his dog doesn't get it. Even so, I agree, what is wrong with people living with some discomfort with being financially awarded? What if it happens again next year? Stupid.

 

[todster]

Unbelievable!!
I hope they have defined stranded as being unable to leave because the whole area was flooded so every man and his dog doesn't get it. Even so, I agree, what is wrong with people living with some discomfort with being financially awarded? What if it happens again next year? Stupid.

And then the people on ASF who missed out on the 1k handout have a whinge too

 

[trainspotter]

And here is the link ....... http://www.kinections.com.au/Flood_Response/Financial_Assistance.aspx

C'mon you know you want to make a claim ....... don't you ?

As of 18 February 2011, the population of Queensland is an estimated 4,574,331

Lets say that 50% are adults and 50% are children so therefore:

2,287,165 x $1000 (adults) = $2,287,165,500 (yes that is 2.287 + some BILLION DOLLARS)

2,287,166 x $400 (children) =$914,866,400 (yes that is nine hundred and fourteen million dollars + some)

SO the "possible" claim is 3.2 BILLION DOLLARS (I kept the leftover 2 million)

GOSH ......... this is becoming implausible ......... a billion here and billion there ....... pretty soon they will be talking in real money.

P.S. This is before they even begin to rebuild the infrastructure (not peoples houses)

 

[-Bevo-]

Unbelievable!!
I hope they have defined stranded as being unable to leave because the whole area was flooded so every man and his dog doesn't get it. Even so, I agree, what is wrong with people living with some discomfort with being financially awarded? What if it happens again next year? Stupid.

I can only talk about what has happened in Townsville, areas such as Tully, Cardwell, Ingham etc are different the only flooding I'm aware of was in some low lying areas due to storm surge the claim been made here for been stranded for 24 hours is from not been able to go outside or leave the house as it was unsafe to do so due to the cyclone and police had advised people to stay indoors, I went out to my parents house at 11am before Yasi hit there was alot of traffic on the roads, went out again 10 am the next morning after the winds began to die down and there was alot of traffic sight seeing around then so might not have been 24 hours but what the hell people are claiming the 1000 bucks, funny how Labor got a flogging in Queensland at the election and now are throwing money at people which in most cases is not been spent on anything to do with the cyclone its been spent on pokies, brothels, beer, holidays, flatscreen TV's and we don't have to pay flood levy either.

 

[Knobby22]

I can only talk about what has happened in Townsville, areas such as Tully, Cardwell, Ingham etc are different the only flooding I'm aware of was in some low lying areas due to storm surge the claim been made here for been stranded for 24 hours is from not been able to go outside or leave the house as it was unsafe to do so due to the cyclone and police had advised people to stay indoors, I went out to my parents house at 11am before Yasi hit there was alot of traffic on the roads, went out again 10 am the next morning after the winds began to die down and there was alot of traffic sight seeing around then so might not have been 24 hours but what the hell people are claiming the 1000 bucks, funny how Labor got a flogging in Queensland at the election and now are throwing money at people which in most cases is not been spent on anything to do with the cyclone its been spent on pokies, brothels, beer, holidays, flatscreen TV's and we don't have to pay flood levy either.

Thanks, well if we find that this money is given away willy nilly without checks, how can Labor expect support from the populace, especially in the other states? Maybe it is being administered properly.... it better be.

 

[todster]

Paul Howes, national secretary of the AWU who is 29 years old, started work for the union at 17, and has never had a real job in his life, is part of the cabal which selects our Labor PM.

Now this clown, drunk with unearned power, has decided to declare a class war against the big mining companies which are the backbone of Australia's economy. In this stupidity he and his boss Bill Ludwig have the support and encouragement of Mr Swan, our treasurer and deputy PM.

And yet the national press gallery, and the usual suspects on this forum are more interested in finding fault with the opposition.:dunno:

So is it okay to be ageist when it suits you.

 

[Calliope]

So is it okay to be ageist when it suits you.

This guy's stupidity has nothing to do with age, His shortcomings stem from lack of experience in life.

 

[todster]

This guy's stupidity has nothing to do with age, His shortcomings stem from lack of experience in life.

Sorry mate it was the bit where you mentioned that he was 29 that confused me.

 

[Calliope]

Sorry mate it was the bit where you mentioned that he was 29 that confused me.

I have noticed that most of your posts are criticisms of other people posts. If you have something positive to say about Paul Howes why don't you come out and and say it, instead of niggling about my posts?

 

[trainspotter]

You might have a stalker Calliope OR todster might just be trying to be friendly with his scintillating wit? Some of his riposte's are quite funny. Well I think so anyways.

 

[todster]

I have noticed that most of your posts are criticisms of other people posts. If you have something positive to say about Paul Howes why don't you come out and and say it, instead of niggling about my posts?

My mum used to tell all my sisters friends that if i was picking on them that really I fancied them: