Abbott and the Murdoch, Rinehart, Pell connection

Voters need seriously to contemplate what it would be like to have an Abbott Government. They need to dig deeper than the slick slogans, the oft repeated mantras, the weasel words, the deviousness, and the blatant lies that escape Abbott’s lips day after day. They need to ask what makes this man tick? More importantly, voters need to ask who influences Abbott, and how those influences shape the attitudes, the ideology, the behaviour, and the actions of this potential Prime Minister of our nation.

For immediate answers, voters need not look much beyond a momentous event last week – a Gala Dinner to mark the 70th Anniversary of the foundation of the Melbourne-based Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), a right wing organization that grew up in 1943 after the collapse of the conservative United Australia Party. How much will those attending the Dinner shape and mould the nation’s alternative leader? To what extent will Abbott be clay in the hands of the many potters who attended?

The IPA describes itself as “an independent, non-profit public policy think tank, dedicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of economic and political freedom". It claims that it “has been at the forefront of the political and policy debate, defining the contemporary political landscape.” To get a feel for its political orientation, read its 75 radical ideas, and note those already adopted by the would-be PM, Tony Abbott. In his address at the Gala Dinner, Abbott heaped praise on the organization: ”The IPA, I want to say, has been freedom’s discerning friend.” He lauded its director, John Roskam, previously a Liberal staffer who once ran for Liberal pre-selection.

The IPA was influential in the formation of the Liberal Party. There is no doubt about its ultra conservative orientation, and its support of the Liberal Party.

It says it is ”funded by individual memberships and subscriptions, as well as philanthropic and corporate donors.” We know Rupert Murdoch is a large donor, as was his father, but outsiders can only guess whom the others are. We are told that ‘big business’, and perhaps ‘big tobacco’ is among them, but the list is kept under wraps.

The list of invitees to the IPA Gala Dinner is not public, but we do know that the guest of honour and keynote speaker was Rupert Murdoch, that Gina Rinehart was a distinguished guest and speaker, and that Andrew Bolt was Master of Ceremonies. Apart from Tony Abbott, other Liberal luminaries were there: Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, and Shadow Attorney General George Brandis. None of these names are surprising. What I expect though came as a surprise to many outside the IPA was the presence of the most senior Catholic in Australia, Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney. What does his presence mean?

This piece suggests that among the many influential people present, none will exert more influence on the man who wants to be our Prime Minister than Rupert Murdoch, Gina Rinehart and George Pell; no others, not even party members, have shaped, and will shape Abbott’s clay more decisively than these master potters.

Let’s deal first with supremo Rupert Murdoch. Is there anyone with eyes to see and a brain to reason that would deny that Murdoch is intent on removing the Gillard Labor Government and replacing it at the September election with a Coalition Government led by Tony Abbott? All his utterances, all the inflammatory words his tabloids use, make this abundantly clear. It is really not worth spending more words ‘proving’ this assertion; just glance at his rabid, malevolent News Limited tabloid headlines, day after day, and at the subtler broadsheet articles that Murdoch uses to influence the business community.

Where does Abbott stand? Of course he is rapt with Murdoch’s objective. Why would he not be? When he first met Murdoch over lunch in New York shortly after he became Opposition Leader, Abbott said: “I hope he liked me”. Whatever else his critics say about him, Abbott cannot be accused of being stupid. He knows on what side his bread is buttered. Around the time of that meeting, Abbott instructed Malcolm Turnbull to ‘demolish the NBN’. Was that a coincidence, or was it carrying out Murdoch’s instructions? The threat to Murdoch’s empire that the NBN constitutes is acknowledged. What will happen to Foxtel when real-time viewing of movies and other TV content online via the NBN is a reality? One thing Murdoch does very well is to protect his interests. What Abbott does very well is to obey his master’s instructions.

With Murdoch supporting Abbott and the Coalition’s push for power, Abbott will obsequiously go along with him. Why would he knock back all the muscular support Murdoch can provide?

Murdoch is the master potter; Abbott is eager clay in his hands.

Abbott’s obsequiousness screams out in the words he uttered in his IPA address last week: ”John Howard has said that Rupert Murdoch has been by far Australia’s most influential international businessman; but I would like to go a little further. Along with Sir John Monash, the Commander of the First AIF which saved Paris and helped to win the First World War, and Lord Florey a one-time provost of my old Oxford College, the co-inventor of penicillin that literally saved millions of lives, Rupert Murdoch is probably the Australian who has most shaped the world through the 45 million newspapers that News Corp sells each week and the one billion subscribers to News-linked programming.” Abbott went on to say of Murdoch: ”For our guest of honour, as for anyone deeply steeped in reporting, experience trumps theory and facts trump speculation. His publications have borne his ideals but never his fingerprints. They’ve been skeptical, stoical, curious, adventurous, opinionated yet broad minded. He’s influenced them, but he’s never dictated to them…”, which shows just how far Abbott will stray from the truth to stroke his master. Those who have written books about Murdoch’s commercial life testify that his editors know exactly what their master wants, and to keep their jobs, give him just that.

Who can dispute Murdoch’s influence?

What about Gina Rinehart?

She too knows how important the media is in politics, how one’s objectives can be better achieved using the power of the media. She has large shareholdings in Channel Ten where she is on its Board, and was instrumental in the creation of the ultra right wing Bolt Report. She also has shareholdings in Fairfax, where she seeks to increase her influence via Board membership, something she has not yet accomplished because of her insistence that she be able to exercise oversight of editorial orientation.

But apart from any media influence on Abbott, she clearly influences him on mining issues and minerals policy. She joined with Twiggy Forrest in public protests against the minerals tax, and in support of Abbott’s promise to abolish it. He embraces her anti-minerals tax efforts. He would give her whatever she wanted for her political support. He fawns over her when they meet. Look at the visuals here.

Their ideas about the development of an economic zone in the North match. Did Abbott embrace Rinehart’s ideas, which would be to her enormous commercial advantage, or was that just a happy coincidence?

Some of Abbott’s shadow ministers are already in her debt – in 2011 Rinehart flew Julie Bishop and Barnaby Joyce in her private jet to an extravagant three-day wedding of a prominent Indian industrialist in Hyderabad. Martin Ferguson was also invited, but declined, indicating that his attendance would have been inappropriate. But the Coalition shadow ministers obviously thought it was appropriate for them and the Liberal Party.

Does anyone doubt the profound influence Rinehart has on Abbott? He is malleable clay in her hands.

So we have master potter Murdoch moulding Abbott ideologically, philosophically, economically and commercially, and Rinehart moulding him in crucial areas of the economy, mining and development of the North.

What about Cardinal George Pell?

To me, his influence is the most alarming. No one would criticize Pell for receiving an invitation, but why would this most senior Catholic clergyman be willing to associate himself publically with an ultra conservative think tank that works hand in glove with the Liberal Party. Pell is entitled to his own political preferences, but what is he saying to his ‘flock’ when he fronts at this IPA event? Is this his way of saying to his people that Tony Abbott, the Coalition, and its conservative IPA-oriented ideology, is now ‘right’ for this nation?

I am reminded of my early days when Daniel Mannix was Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, a position he held for 46 years. He exercised enormous influence politically. His sway over his flock was profound; there was many a story of how he used his clerical authority to persuade his parishioners towards his political viewpoint. In those days, his stature was a powerful inducement for his supporters to follow his lead; they had little else to guide them.

Whether Pell could exert such power over his flock today is debatable, especially with the aura of priest pedophilia and abuse that permeates the Catholic Church, a scandal that is driving Catholics away from it in droves.

Mannix's best-known protégé in his later years was B A Santamaria, a Catholic most admired by Tony Abbott, a man whose writings Abbott acknowledges still influence him profoundly.

Abbott concedes that George Pell is one of his most prominent mentors, although on one infamous occasion on the ABC’s Lateline, in the lead up to the 2004 election, Abbott lied to Tony Jones about a meeting he had had with Pell, and was subsequently caught out. Why was he so keen to deny the meeting? Perhaps to neutralize any charge that Pell was influencing him?

Abbott still consults regularly with Pell, whom he considers to be ”one of the greatest churchmen Australia has seen.” Abbott is a good Catholic boy. He attended primary school at St Aloysius' College at Milson's Point before completing his secondary school education at St Ignatius' College, Riverview in Sydney. Both are Jesuit schools. He takes his religion seriously but claims that he is able to keep politics and religion separate, something many in the health field would question. Read though the words he spoke at the Gala Dinner: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is the foundation of our justice. “Love your neighbour as you love yourself” is the foundation of our mercy. Faith has weakened but not, I’m pleased to say, this high mindedness which faith helped to spawn and which the IPA now helps to protect and to promote.” As readers reflect on the behaviour Abbott exhibits day after day, some will smile at his ‘Do unto others’ proclamation, but that’s another matter.

It seems as if faith is important to Abbott. That is understandable and acceptable, but it does highlight the potential for Abbott being influenced politically by his religious mentors. That is worrisome. What is Pell’s agenda? To what extent is Pell a devotee of the IPA and its extreme conservative agenda? We know he shares the IPA’s skepticism about global warming. Will Pell exert his influence on contemporary politics, not directly over his flock as did Archbishop Mannix, but via his pupil Tony Abbott, a Jesuit boy, a past seminarian who once studied for the priesthood, but now in the supremely powerful position of aspirant for the highest political office in town – Prime Minister of Australia? We shall probably never know, but we are entitled to be suspicious and deeply apprehensive about this prospect.

This piece suggests that three of the most influential people in Abbott’s political life are media mogul Rupert Murdoch, mining mogul Gina Rinehart, and Catholic Cardinal George Pell, all of whom coalesced at the 70th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the ultra conservative Institute of Public Affairs, which openly boasts about its political influence, which in truth is its raison d'être. This is not an inexplicable coincidence.

In the run down to September 14, we can expect these three to redouble their efforts. Murdoch and Rinehart will exercise their influence overtly. These master potters will fashion the soft malleable Abbott clay shamelessly to suit their own ends, commercial and ideological.

We can anticipate too that Cardinal Pell will continue to exercise his influence, yet subtly and covertly. This master potter will mould Abbott with as much authority as the others, perhaps even more profoundly. Yet we, the voting public, will likely never be the wiser. Therein lies our predicament.


What do you think?

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rosellajam

8/04/2013This IPA event has really shown Abbott for what he is - a puppet and play thing of some very nasty neo-cons hell bent on shaping this country for their own ends. It is pretty scary really especially when the MSM paid such scant attention to it and to Abbott's speech.

Tom of Melbourne

8/04/2013Speaking of a puppet and a puppet master… http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/02/18/1226580/710517-130219-bill-ludwig-julia-gillard.jpg

Ad astra

8/04/2013rosellajam It is indeed a case of what puppeteers are pulling Abbott's strings. We know at least three - who are the others? What is the electorate being offered - Abbott, warts and all, or a puppet dancing to the tune of his masters? The MSM will never tell us.

Ken

8/04/2013Ad Good article about who will really be running the country if Abbott is elected. If only this information could be presented to [u]all[/u] voters. I agree about the infleunce of the IPA on conservative politics because I did a paper during the Howard years that looked at the IPA approach to Aborginal affairs and how that was influencing government policy. (As a side note, if you want to know where government policy re the economy and jobs will head in the future, check out the OECD website for reseach and working papers. Over my years as a Public Servant I found it a useful guide for future Government policy, both Liberal and Labor!!) I must admit I have a soft spot for Mannix because he supported the Irish Uprising in Dublin in 1916 and opposed conscription but, otherwise, I agree with your sentiments and particularly the role that Pell may play. I find it ironic that the media and a large slice of the public (i.e. of the voters) decry the union influence on Labor but have little or nothing to say about the influence of "big business" on the Liberals. The other issue is that big business leaders operate in circles, behind the scenes, that allow them to exert undue influence on policy of governments, both Labor and Liberal. It is part of the "old boys network" which reaches into government, including the upper echelons of the Public Service. Vote Abbott - elect Murdoch, Rinehart and Pell!

DMW

8/04/2013Hi Ad, possible correction needed [i]... B A Santamaria, the cleric most admired by Tony Abbott,[/i] to my knowledge Santamaria was not a cleric. Wikipedia (which can be inaccurate on occasion) says Santamaria [i]was an Australian political activist and journalist.[/i] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_A_Santamaria

Pikiranku

8/04/2013Excellent post again, AA. The ramifications of a Liberal victory are truly frightening and I just can't believe that the Australian electorate will be so disengaged and naive in September that they will allow that to occur. Australians generally don't seem to like extremism of any variety and unless the press can keep a very tight lid on Abbott's real nature and philosophy, I can't see him succeeding. Yes, Ken, it's ironic isn't it that apparently only unionists can be "faceless men".

Ad astra

8/04/2013Ken, Pikiranku Yes, it's OK for Abbott to be influenced by his supporters from big business and the Church, but Labor must not be influenced by the dreaded unions! DMW Thanks - correction made.

DMW

8/04/2013Pikiranku, [i]Yes, Ken, it's ironic isn't it that apparently only unionists can be "faceless men".[/i] ... and THUGS

Tom of Melbourne

8/04/2013[i]... and THUGS[/i] Is there anyone who still thinks the relationship between the ALP and affiliated unions is healthy? That unions don’t hold disproportionate power within the ALP? When figuring out what is strangling the ALP, you don’t need to look further than the internal structure that is killing it.

TalkTurkey

8/04/2013:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcXi-VYy_Yw

lyn

9/04/2013Today’s Links Jacksonville 45: She don’t like… by @madwixxy this is a woman who Tony Abbott himself has praised on the floor of parliament http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/jacksonville-45-she-dont-like/ Workers as property: Assessing the implications of IPA policy by @newsfliporg Assessing the function of welfare programmes helps us understand why their abolition under Abbott would be so costly to Australian society http://www.newsflip.org/2013/04/workers-as-property-assessing.html $90bn NBN? WRONG: Oakeshott tells Coalition by @renailemay you can’t just make statements like the NBN will cost double what the Government says it will without some kind of supporting evidence to back your claims. http://delimiter.com.au/2013/04/08/90bn-nbn-wrong-oakeshott-tells-coalition/ Ninety billion maybes: 13 questions about Turnbull’s NBN by @stilgherrian Has Turnbull done the honest thing, and updated all of NBN Co’s estimates with new data based on experience and appropriate risk calculations? Or has he picked every worst-case figure he can find and screeched “cost blowout”? http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/04/08/ninety-billion-maybes-13-questions-about-turnbulls-nbn/ All eyes on Turnbull's NBN revelations by @SupratimA designed to ratchet up the rhetoric and talks of a $90 billion price tag for the Labor NBN is exactly the sort of scare mongering that Turnbull hopes will sway the masses to hedge their bets with the Coalition http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/4/8/technology/all-eyes-turnbulls-nbn-revelations#ixzz2PrkFyVAn An NBN Alternative: The Coalition Prepares Their Rebuttal by @Cheaper_Rubies This issue of copper being unable to cope with higher speeds is one of the fundamental reasons behind the upgrade to fibre http://cheaperthanrubies.com/2013/04/08/an-nbn-alternative-the-coalition-prepares-their-rebuttal/ On the eve of a Coalition policy announcement by @MigloMT another one of those “the Coalition says . . .” scoops. Please ignore the fact that it was denied by Senator Conroy, the prime Minister and the Auditor General. Goodness, as if they‘d know. http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/on-the-eve-of-a-coalition-policy-announcement/ What happened to honest politics in Queensland? Scott Driscoll shames Newman by @Qldaah http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/category/authors/david-marler/ Stop the Press! Long live the Press! by @btckr It’s generally regarded to be an undisguised campaign for regime change http://truthinmediaresourcecentre.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/stop-the-press-long-live-the-press/ “Carbon tax” repeal- rhetoric and reality by @guyberes “Tell it like it is” Tony is “telling it like it isn’t” on this issue http://larvatusprodeo.net/archives/2013/04/carbon-tax-repeal-rhetoric-and-reality/ Australia: still officially the safest place for mining investment in the world by @BernardKeane & Glenn Dyer Despite the apocalyptic rhetoric from the mining industry and the opposition, Australia continues to be ranked as the world’s safest place for mining investment http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/04/08/australia-still-officially-the-safest-place-for-mining-investment-in-the-world/ What’s your problem with public transport, Mister Abbott? by @MelbUrbanist Coalition’s decision to abolish federal funding for urban rail projects will have an enormous impact on Australian cities if an Abbott government is installed in Canberra on 14 September http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/04/07/whats-your-problem-with-public-transport-mister-abbott/ Read the news today, oh boy by @watermelon_man Little or no information, in fact often deliberately misleading information through the stunts and slogans, http://davidhortonsblog.com/2013/04/08/read-the-news-today-oh-boy/ Department of the Treasury - Australian Government : Tony Abbott's $4 Billion Superannuation Tax Raid http://www.4-traders.com/news/Department-of-the-Treasury-Australian-Government-Tony-Abbott-s-$4-Billion-Superannuation-Tax-Rai--16609149/ Announcements end superannuation budget speculation? The Government’s overall intent in making these changes was to ‘improve the fairness, sustainability and efficiency of the superannuation system’. http://parliamentflagpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/announcements-end-superannuation-budget.html#more Coalition candidate at odds with Tony Abbott over Medicare Locals Tanya Plibersek As for Peter Dutton, his hypocrisy is breathtaking. He announces publicly he would abolish Medicare Locals and then goes and tells the people he wants to sack they are doing a good job. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr13-tp-tp024.htm Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 9 April 2013 http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

lyn

9/04/2013Good Morning Ad, One of the links died in transit. Here is a new link to Tony Abbott's 4 Billion plan: http://www.4-traders.com/news/Department-of-the-Treasury-Australian-Government-Tony-Abbott-s-$4-Billion-Superannuation-Tax-Rai--16609149/

bob macalba

9/04/2013Ding Dong, the witch is dead http://www.youtube.com/v/3GwjfUFyY6M

bob macalba

9/04/2013Maybe the IPA can raffle off a ticket to her funeral

Michael

9/04/2013Lyn, good morning. I'll have a go too to get this link 'live'. http://www.4-traders.com/news/Department-of-the-Treasury-Australian-Government-Tony-Abbott-s-$4-Billion-Superannuation-Tax-Rai--16609149/

Michael

9/04/2013OK, the last half refuses to play ball. Copy and paste http://www.4-traders.com/news/Department-of-the-Treasury-Australian-Government-Tony-Abbott-s-$4-Billion-Superannuation-Tax-Rai--16609149/ into your browser's search window. It's worth the visit

2353

9/04/2013Bob - Thatcher is held (along with Reagan in the US) as a pinnacle in conservative economics. What she effectively did to the UK was make millions suffer while privatising the profits and reducing or eliminating whatever she couldn't flog off. Short term gain (on the bottom line) for long term pain. Having said that - her family are suffering a loss and to them I would extend my sympathies, to the same extent that I would extend my sympathies to any family that lost a close family member yesterday.

Sir Ian Crisp

9/04/2013[quote][b]Speaking of a puppet and a puppet master… resources1.news.com.au/.../...ig-julia-gillard.jpg Tom of Melbourne [/b][/quote] Yes indeed Tom, what a repugnant photo. The bird of paradox paraded around like a trophy; a captive of the unions. As if to show how to act with dignity, the NSW Premier, a female, said she was "nobody's gal" but the bird of paradox failed to get the message.

Michael

9/04/2013This what you'll find at http://www.4-traders.com/news/Department-of-the-Treasury-Australian-Government-Tony-Abbott-s-$4-Billion-Superannuation-Tax-Rai--16609149/ Department of the Treasury - Australian Government : Tony Abbott's $4 Billion Superannuation Tax Raid 04/07/2013| 07:38pm US/Eastern NO.042 Opposition Leader Tony Abbott should immediately reverse his stated policy of slugging Australians with a $4 billion superannuation tax hike. Yesterday, Mr Abbott again confirmed he will hit the super savings of 3.6 million Australians - including 2.1 million women - earning up to $37,000 by scrapping the Low Income Superannuation Contribution if he's elected. The Gillard Government put in place the Low Income Super Contribution from 1 July last year, providing a super tax cut of up to $500 per year to help low income earners save for their retirement. Mr Abbott's policy will target 3.6 million workers on low incomes, compared with around 16,000 people impacted by the Government's reforms. If Mr Abbott calls the Government's reforms "a $1 billion hit on people's retirement savings" as he did on Friday, what does he call his own policy that hits 225 times as many people and is four times the size? Tony Abbott has spent the last two weeks fuelling rumours about the Government's superannuation reforms to try and keep his $4 billion raid on superannuation a secret. He must front up to the Australian people and explain why he would slug 3.6 million low income workers with a $4 billion tax hike, but continue to defend the excessively generous tax breaks of 16,000 of Australia's most wealthy superannuants. Under Tony Abbott's plan to reverse the Low Income Superannuation Contribution, super taxes will be jacked up by up to $500 a year for the following people: * NSW - 1,131,000 people * VIC - 910,000 people * QLD - 800,000 people * SA - 260,000 people * WA - 358,000 people * Tas - 90,000 people * NT - 30,000 people * ACT - 50,000 people Tony Abbott has also repeatedly refused to guarantee the Liberals' support for the Government's proposed increase to the cap on concessional contributions for older Australians to $35,000. This means he is refusing to support 160,000 Australians aged 60 and over who want to put up to an extra $10,000 a year into their super. The Labor Party introduced and increased superannuation, and unlike the Coalition, the Labor Party will always protect and grow superannuation and keep the system fair. 8 April 2013

bob macalba

9/04/20132353... ding dong the witch is dead, you really think her family cared about those who suffered under her watch, croc tears DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD

Ad astra

9/04/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Ad astra

9/04/2013Hi Lyn I managed to fix the link on 'Tony Abbott's $Billion plan on LYN'S DAILY LINKS, buy I can't fix it here. But I see Michael has kindly pasted the text of the article on '4-traders' above at 8.18 AM.

bob macalba

9/04/2013Business career of a thatcher offspring, loan sharking, and attempted takeover of a democratic African country, such a caring man http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Thatcher

lyn

9/04/2013Hi Michael, You little beauty, thankyou very much :):)

Tom of Melboune

9/04/2013 Does anyone still think coal mining should be part of the English landscape? Or that the over manning in public transport should have been preserved? Or that public debt should be higher? There’s plenty of detail to disagree with Thatcher about, but on the broad sweep of economic policy, time has shown her direction to be the correct one.

Pappinbarra Fox

9/04/2013Should coal mining (and other types of mining (eg coal seam gas)be part of the Australian Landscape? should efficient public transport prevail over road funding? Should public debt be utilised as a budget strategy when the economikc conditions suggest it should?

ian

9/04/201330 seconds after Thatcher took her last breathe this planet got a lot cleaner and hell got a lot dirtier. May she rot like the pure evil she was.

TalkTurkey

9/04/2013[u][b]Do It ONCE, Do It RIGHT, DO IT FIBRE![/b][/u] - The Hon Tony Windsor MHR Do you want to drive on freeways? Or with stop-start traffic lights? To catch an airline flight direct, Or take short hopping flights? Comrades, that begs the question, But as I've said before, Australians will want the best Of that you can be sure! Do you want a Telemonster thing By the side of every road? An sort of [i]Anti-Tardis [/i]thing Called Fibre~To~The~NODE? Whose job it is to [i]slow you down[/i] From the road to your abode - And Turdball says it's good enough For Yous! - The slimy Toad! But we'll reject FTTN, Turdball has lost the fight. His speed's around the speed of sound ~ Ours is the speed of [i]*L*I*G*H*T*!*[/i] As our dear wise Tony Windsor ~ A man of far foresight ~ Advised us: [i]Do It Fibre! Do It Once,[/i] and [i]Do It Right![/i] Or DIO, DIR, DIF for short! I've always said that Australians will want the best, namely fibre to the home, and that is one on the most important reasons I have never wavered in my belief that we will win in September. I firmly believe in the power of Aussies' self-interest! But it is anyway the clever thing to do in every distance into the future, short medium and longterm, and the faster the quicker! And the Coalition has backed a donkey* here. It still either doesn't understand, or doesn't want Australians to. Probably both. Copper is degrading all the time. It slows down every communication, in varying degrees. It will all have to be replaced in the long run, it's crazy not to go with fibre in the first place. And the People know it. We want the best anyway, never mind the cost, we know we will not be content with less. Abborttians are seriously buggered here, & of course it's their own fault. Lying egregiously about the price of FTTH is not going to help their cause. The experts, and experts overseas, are virtually unanimous that DIO DIR DIF is the go. And it's a decider for many - and they are in demographics to which we have access through this medium. *[Oh there's a nice mental pic: Labor offering shiny sports saloons on our side of the street, Abborttians sad broken down old donkeys chained to boxes all along their side, Wish I were clever at cartooning!(as I often wish.)]

Truth Seeker

9/04/2013Ad, another fine piece, outlining the true nature of those that will be running the joint if Abbott gets the keys to the Lodge. The LNP should come lean (not a good expression when talking about the LNP) about their ties to the IPA (Institute for Political Arse-wipes). The IPA should also be made to disclose their financial backers/donors, so that we can see who they represent, cos it sure as hell ain't us! Ian and Bob, I'm with you as far as Thatcher is concerned, but the scary thing for us is that Abbott will follow the same ideological path, given half a chance. Her legacy has now come to fruition, but the stupid Tory's like our own LNP, just never learn. Cheers :-) :-)

Curi-Oz

9/04/2013Fasinating that Germaine Greer's reaction on QandA last night was "now we might get to the bottom of some of the cover-ups and corruptions that Mrs Thatcher may have been involved in". In fact, both the UK based panelists seemed relieved that Mrs Thatcher had departed at last. Not sure how I feel about her departure, except that UK might not be in such a mess now if she hadn't been in in politics, used and dumped as is the wont of female politicians every where. Regards,

nasking

9/04/2013 ANOTHER EXCELLENT POST AD. SPOT ON! TONY ABBOTT HAS PRAISED MAGGIE THATCHER FULLBORE. DOES THIS MEAN THAT FOLLOWING THATCHER'S LEAD TONY ABBOTT IF HE BECOMES PM WILL JOIN MURDOCH IN AN ATTACK ON COAL MINERS AND BRING IN NUCLEAR ENERGY? AND GO CRAZY OVER GAS? ARE THE AUSSIE PUBLIC BEING LIED TO BY TONY ABBOTT... BEING LED DOWN THE GARDEN PATH TO NUCLEAR ENERGY AND RAMPANT GAS LAND? N'

nasking

9/04/2013 I WAS BORN IN LONDON... LEFT WHEN 4.. AT AGE 19 IN 1980 AND AGE 24-25 IN 1985/1987 I RETURNED AND WORKED IN THE UK WHILST VISITING MY DAD AND GRANDPARENTS. THIS WAS THE THATCHER ERA. WAGES WERE DESPICABLE...TOFFS OWNED TINY BED-SITS THAT MANY LIKE MYSELF RENTED TAKING UP FAR TOO MUCH OF OUR PAY... UNDER THATCHER MANY EMPLOYERS AND TOFFS THOUGHT THEY COULD TREAT AVERAGE WORKERS LIKE SERVANTS...NO RESPECT...NO EMPATHY...A COLD, DIVISIVE ATMOSPHERE TO WORK IN. AGED PENSIONERS WERE LEFT TO FREEZE TO DEATH BY A STUBBORN LADY. IF YOU HAD MONEY IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE...OTHERWISE YOU FELT LIKE A SERF. YES, THATCHER DID THE RIGHT THING BREAKING SOME OF THE CORRUPT UNION LEADERS AND PUSHING THE COUNTRY TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE... BUT IT WAS DONE IN A REPULSIVE WAY WHERE MANY FELL THRU THE CRACKS, THEIR NEEDS IGNORED, TREATED LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS. IT WAS THATCHER'S CLASS-RIDDEN SOCIETY THAT HELPED ME TO APPRECIATE MORE THE LESS CLASS-RIDDEN AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY...MORE LAID BACK...MORE FAIR-GO...AND RESPECTFUL OF AVERAGE WORKERS. I RETURNED TO OZ IN 87 AND WAS ABLE TO AFFORD TO GO TO UNI...AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT TONY ABBOTT DOES NOT CONTINUE THE HOWARD APPROACH THAT FLOODED MONEY TO THE RICH DYNASTIES WHICH HAS CREATED MORE CLASS DIVISION...IF HE BECOMES PM... BUT SADLY, IF RUPERT MURDOCH HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT AUSTRALIAN WORKERS WILL BE FOOLED INTO VOTING AGAINST THEIR OWN INTERESTS...AND THE RICH WILL GET RICHER...AUSTRALIA LESS FAIRER. MAGGIE AND MURDOCH WERE A REAL PROPAGANDA TEAM...AND THEY HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING THEIR REIGN OF TRANSFORMATION AND TYRANNY. I BELIEVE ABBOTT WILL DIVIDE THIS GOOD COUNTRY LIKE NO OTHER PM... HE IS A DIVISIVE RELIGIOUS FANATIC DESPISED BY MANY DUE TO HIS HISTORY OF ANTAGONISM... WHO HOPES TO BASH THE WORKERS' PROTECTORS AND WITH RUPERT MURDOCH'S NEWS LTD AND THE SHOCK JOCKS TRY TO DESTROY ANY OPPOSITION VOICES. A CULTURE WARRIOR LIVING IN THE PAST...WITH MANY MANY ENEMIES...AND POLITICAL, MEDIA TYPES WHO HAVE NO RESPECT FOR HIM. THIS COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD TO BE SO DIVIDED. I WOULD HATE TO SEE RIOTS AND ANGRY PROTESTS LIKE I SAW IN THE UK...CAUSED BY A STUBBORN PM WHO FAILED TO SEE HOW MUCH PAIN SHE WAS CAUSING...SO MANY. CHANGE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SO...MEAN. N'

Bacchus

9/04/2013www.4-traders.com/.../Department-of-the-Treasury-Australian-Government-Tony-Abbott-s-$4-Billion-Superannuation-Tax-Rai--16609149/ put through TinyURL gives: http://tinyurl.com/cjclab2

nasking

9/04/2013 BY GETTING RID OF THE MINING TAX AND DECREASING CORPORATE TAXES TONY ABBOTT WILL ENSURE THE RICH GET RICHER WHILST WE PAY MORE FOR A SECOND RATE NBN. ABBOTT AND TURNBULL...PROTECTING THE RICH...MAKING THE AVERAGE FAMILY PAY AGAIN. WHILST THE RICH LIKE MURDOCH AND MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS THAT ARE THE LIBERAL'S CHOSEN FEW WILL SUCK UP THE MONEY FROM BROADBAND USERS. N'

nasking

9/04/2013 ABBOTT IS GOING TO LET TELSTRA GET AWAY WITH WHATEVER THEY WANT. IT WAS THE HOWARD GOVT WITH ABBOTT IN IT THAT LET TELSTRA KEEP OWNERSHIP OF THE COPPER WIRING WHICH HAS CAUSED UNTOLD EXPENSE FOR CUSTOMERS, THE NBN...AND COMPETITORS. N'

nasking

9/04/2013 ABBOTT HAS JUST NAMED TURNBULL FUTURE "MR. BROADBAND"... HE HAS JUST TURNED TURNBULL INTO A FUTURE SCAPEGOAT FOR A DUD BROADBAND PLAN. VERY SNEAKY. N'

nasking

9/04/2013 THE FACT THAT ABBOTT AND TURNBULL STOOD IN FRONT OF A HUGE FOX SPORTS LOGO TELLS YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT WHO THIS LIBERAL TEAM HAVE SOLD THEIR POLITICAL SOULS AND INTEGRITY TO. THEY HAVE SOLD THE PUBLIC OUT TO MURDOCH... AND TELSTRA. PART OWNERS OF FOXTEL. SHAME ON THEM. PUBLIC INTEREST COMES LAST...MURDOCH FIRST. N'

nasking

9/04/2013 Ad WROTE THE FOLLOWING ABOVE: [b]Where does Abbott stand? Of course he is rapt with Murdoch’s objective. Why would he not be? When he first met Murdoch over lunch in New York shortly after he became Opposition Leader, Abbott said: “I hope he liked me”. Whatever else his critics say about him, Abbott cannot be accused of being stupid. He knows on what side his bread is buttered. Around the time of that meeting, Abbott instructed Malcolm Turnbull to ‘demolish the NBN’. Was that a coincidence, or was it carrying out Murdoch’s instructions? The threat to Murdoch’s empire that the NBN constitutes is acknowledged. What will happen to Foxtel when real-time viewing of movies and other TV content online via the NBN is a reality? One thing Murdoch does very well is to protect his interests. What Abbott does very well is to obey his master’s instructions. With Murdoch supporting Abbott and the Coalition’s push for power, Abbott will obsequiously go along with him. Why would he knock back all the muscular support Murdoch can provide? [/b] ABBOTT AND TURNBULL TODAY...AND ONCE AGAIN...PROVED THEY ARE MURDOCH SYCOPHANTS... AND IN THE UK PUBLIC KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU LET RUPERT AND HIS TEAM GET TOO CLOSE TO POLITICIANS AND OTHER AUTHORITY FIGURES. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AUSTRALIA. N'

Michael

9/04/2013At the Coalition's broadband 'policy' announcement Abbott looked like Uriah Heep after the third visit too many to his local tanning salon, and Turnbull, rising up off his heels like a vaudeville caricature of a Rumpole-wannabe UK barrister, looked like he always looks - smug, and in that smugness, deep deeper deepest stoopid. As to the policy? Whatever happened to Dud Leader's directive to Turnbull to "demolish the NBN"? Enacted today before our eyes, as with all Coalition policies, one line of BS before an election, a review/commission/audit backflip after? "How cynical of you to suggest such a thing of so fine a line-up as the Coalition presents to us as a 'government in waiting'." (This is a rhetorical statement, ToM, in case you were wondering.) Well, no. Not cynical - clear-eyed. Abbott and Turnbull resembled manqué snake-oil salesmen with a secondary line in cheap Bibles. Two fakes too fake to even look truly fake.

jane

9/04/2013The world is well rid of that appalling creature Thatcher. Now we have to wait for the wizened foreigner to pop his clogs. Won't there be a weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Liars when that joyful event occurs?

Tom of Melboune

9/04/2013Yeah Jane, if only those coal mines were still scattered across the English countryside. Hasn’t time illustrated that Arthur Scargill was right and Margaret Thatcher was wrong?

Jason

9/04/2013Leigh Sales‏@leighsales4m My guest tonight is the Shadow Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull on the coalition's NBN policy #abc730

Rosella

9/04/2013Good article, Ad. I think that this perspective, ie who controls, influences, moulds Abbott is an important one to scrutinise and talk about. Australians may have been dumbed down and misled by MSM, but I think they'll smell something fishy if they can see that it is the mega rich who will be in charge and fulfilling their own agenda if Abbott gets over the line in Sept. Surely some deeply buried rebellious spirit would stir in them.

Ad astra

9/04/2013Truth Seeker, nasking Thank you for your remarks, and your comments about Margaret Thatcher and her ideology, one that Abbott endorses. He claims that John Howard was a Thatcherite, and that her ideology was in his DNA too. We can expect that Abbott will take the same hard line if he gets his hands on the levers of power. Already leaked parts of his IR policy show that he will move back towards the restrictive aspects of WorkChoices. Abbott is an IPA devotee and a Thatcherite and Reaganite. Expect the worst. His NBN policy offers a second rate alternative at what Turnbull says are bargain basement prices. They insult Australian householders and businesses by offering a poorer service, one they claim is ‘good enough’ at 25 megabits per second download speed, with a ‘promise’ of higher speeds later. What seems to be lacking is any vision of what applications might be available in the future that will depend on super fast speeds for both download and upload. They are offering us an uninspiring vehicle that will be passed in the straight by other countries, leaving us behind. Yet service industries that depend on fast broadband are our future as our manufacturing struggles. The Coalition NBN plan is shortsighted and mean. And all the talk of cost is spurious. The only cost to the taxpayer is interest payments on money borrowed by NBN Co. a fully owned Government entity. This is all that is included in the budget. The full cost will be recouped, with 7% interest when the NBN rollout is completed and fully operational. And the Coalition cost of $29.5 billion is not far short of the $37.4 billion for the Government’s NBN. Of course, the Coalition has inflated the cost to the Government of its NBN to $90 billion, with no numerical data to back their claims. In short we are being sold a pup and a pack of lies by the Coalition, as usual.

Ad astra

9/04/2013Rosella Welcome to [i]The Political Sword[/i] family and thank you for your comment. Do come again. You are right. Abbott’s IPA-oriented ideology will see that the mega rich will prevail. They will control and profit, while the plebs languish. As Nick said at the very end of [i]The Great Gatsby: “The rich get richer, and the poor get laid off”[/i]

MWS

9/04/2013#Fraudband is trending well on Twitter. It's a pity that only a minority of Australians will read the Twitter comments. I note that the LNP announced its "Broadband" policy in a FoxSports studio and handed out copies of the Daily Telegraph to journalists as their policy statement. So Murdoch's fingerprints are all over this so-called "policy." I wouldn't be surprised if it was written by News Ltd - can anybody find out the author of any electronic files sent to journalists - the same way the Tony Abbott press release was time stamped before the news became public re Slipper/Ashby?

nasking

9/04/2013 [b]Yeah Jane, if only those coal mines were still scattered across the English countryside. Hasn’t time illustrated that Arthur Scargill was right and Margaret Thatcher was wrong?[/b] SO TOM...IS IT THE INTENTION OF THE COALITION TO GET RID OF THE COAL MINES? IF SO, SHOULDN'T THE ABBOTT TEAM TELL THE PUBLIC? I HAVE NO DOUBTS THAT MURDOCH IS DRIVING ABBOTT TO GO NUCLEAR. WHEN WILL THEY INFORM THE PUBLIC? MAGGIE LOVED HER GAS TOO. WILL ABBOTT EMBRACE IT TOO? HIS BUDDY JOYCE SEEMS TO LOVE GAS. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE COALITION'S ENERGY POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT... SO MUCH HARDER WHEN YOU HAVE TO SELL POLICY TO THE VOTERS AND CAN'T JUST SAY NO NO NO NO NO... N'

nasking

9/04/2013 [b]Abbott and Turnbull resembled manqué snake-oil salesmen with a secondary line in cheap Bibles.[/b] INDEED MICHAEL...AND THEY SAY THE ALP HAVE PROBLEMS COMMUNICATING. AT ONE POINT TURNBULL CAME ACROSS LIKE MURDOCH DEALING WITH IRRITABLE SHAREHOLDERS... N'

MWS

9/04/2013There is a summary of the Coalition's "Broadband Plan" here: http://michaelwyres.com/2013/04/credibility-and-the-alternate-nbn/ The Government's plan is called the "National Broadband Network" or "NBN." Can the Coalition also call their plan the "NBN"? Surely it's false advertising to claim that the two plans are equivalent?

Pappinbarra Fox

9/04/2013May I?? Is this the legacy we want for Australia? [b]The scars of Maggie's Legacy are still vivid[/b] by Mike Lockley Huntington, a grimy ribbon of homes on the fringes of Cannock Chase, has never recovered from the kicking Margaret Thatcher gave it. It was spawned by coal. The black stuff fed and clothed families. Littleton Colliery provided work for the majority of men who would emerge, black-faced, from the earth’s bowels and into pit pubs The Littleton Arms and White Lion. Huntington’s foundations were built on coal. The miners’ cottages, dubbed ‘Monkey Row’, remain. The coal and the men who gouged it from the ground do not. Littleton Colliery closed in 1993, the last of Cannock Chase’s many mines to succumb to Thatcher. The site where it churned and belched smoke day in, day out has long been levelled and studded with homes. The pit mound has been transformed into a woodland leisure park. The Union Jack that flutters at its peak seems to symbolise Thatcher’s victory over the village’s tough band of pit workers. Only a pit wheel remains, a polished symbol of Huntington’s proud past. When Maggie closed Littleton, casting some 2,000 men adrift, she closed Huntington. I know. I was there as editor of the Chase Post, the weekly newspaper which served the parish. And I still find it very hard to forgive Maggie for that. The army of unemployed became cabbies, market traders, driving instructors, store workers, even hairdressers to earn a crust. But they will always be stained by coal. They will always shoehorn ‘I used to work at Littleton’ into their introductions. When Maggie closed Littleton, she closed Huntington. In the vacuum left behind, the sense of community splintered, while petty crime and drug deals escalated. Littleton was never a militant pit. Yes, there were battles and arrests in 1984-85, but most men did cross the picket line. And there were no visible displays of anger from those miners when the pit officially closed on December 10 – only speeches and tears. The bile came later as men realised the camaraderie created by coal could never be replaced. When the Government dumped Littleton, it dumped Huntington – from a great height. Former parish council chairman Jeff Ashley, a worker at nearby Lea Hall Colliery, stressed Huntington is battling back to health, but it has taken years. “It has been very difficult for many mining families, but we are getting back on track. Some nearly 30 years on - a full generation, lost souls The scars created on the very soul of Huntington and neighbouring Cannock – a town littered with chipboard covered empty shops – are still vivid. They still sting. Maggie’s ‘victims’ won’t forget. For that reason, they won’t mourn.

Janet (jan@j4gypsy)

9/04/2013 Ad: thank you for brilliant analysis of the power triumvirate: Pell, Rupert & Rhinehart. Terrifying. Nasking: spot on with all comments and good to see you playing here today. Michael: Thank you for this: 'Two fakes too fake to even look truly fake'. Bingo! :-) TT: Agree absolutely: the #NBN policy could swing this election to ALP. Today's presser was reptilian and extraordinary. Ugh. The Twitterati has run wild and witty (and a bit serious) on the LNP 'MBM' (NBN) policy presser - so, just bringing you lots of comments and no further reading today. Enjoy :-) [i]Bernard Keane ‏@BernardKeane[/i] So it's fair to say this is a Coalition-News Ltd broadband plan, no? Free advertising by the Tele and The Oz, hosted by Fox Sports. [i]sortius ‏@sortius[/i] There it is people: @TonyAbbottMHR confirms the LNP intend to sell off the #NBN. No doubt to NewsLTD or Telstra #NBN [i]Adrian B ‏@Volvo_of_doom[/i] So now we know what we already suspected - Rupert Murdoch can make Tony Abbott catch a frisbee in his mouth #LNP_NBN_Lackey [i]Salim Pickens ‏@SalimPickens[/i] Doesn't launching #fraudband in front of a Fox Sports banner make it a bit obvious who's got your nuts in his pocket? #auspol [i]James Jeffrey ‏@James_Jeffrey[/i] I thought "copper to the home" was when the police came and kicked your door in. [i]Glowworm ‏@Glowworm532[/i] @MrDenmore That's the problem with Labor policies, they need the brain to be engaged. Coalition slogans appeal to the disengaged. [i]Peter Bowditch ‏@RatbagsDotCom[/i] Following Turnbull's presser on the NBN, tin can and string futures jumped 37% on the ASX. [i]Clive's PA ‏@PAforClive[/i] 'I want a lover with fast broadband' #broadbandsongs [i]Ben Eltham ‏@beneltham[/i] All Fibre to the Cabinet! [i]AshGhebranious ‏@AshGhebranious[/i] Looking forward to this weekend when the Daily Tele does an indepth interview with Abbott's family on how they use the internet #nbn #auspol [i]Tony Wilson ‏@byTonyWilson[/i] It must be a turkey. The nerds haven't been this angry since Star Wars was recut. #fraudband #NBN [i]Jennifer ‏@conceravota[/i] RT @Tadlette: Lucky Liberals were not in power when govt put in pipe, we'd have ended up w a tap, a dunny at end of every street #fraudband [i]chris murphy ‏@chrismurphys[/i] From the Dept of Daft Ideas Tony Abbott's brings us copper wire #frauddband? What's next? Re-ntroduce Hitler's Volkswagon? #auspol [i]Le Grace ‏@bow_and_arrow [/i] Dear @AustralianLabor - just show parts of the press conference with a laugh track over it and use it as an ad #fraudband [i]Mark Mitchell ‏@twittmar[/i] @Qldaah @ABCNews24 A bequest to follow the death of future Australia-wide interconnectivity. [i]CoatTales ‏@CoatTales[/i] @BernardKeane Turnbull the surprise performer. He was so bloody bad it was hilarious. [i]Stephen C. ‏@2FBS[/i] With the original copper to stay I will get 25Mbps on sunny days & 0Mbps when it rains. Personally guaranteed by @TurnbullMalcolm #fraudband [i]David Marler ‏@Qldaah[/i] "Tony and I are inheriting the NBNCo," says Turnbull. Was there an election? @ABCNews24 [i]Stephen Feneley ‏@feneleyandco[/i] #fraudband MT @seearjay: @feneleyandco It's been years since a policy announcement went so badly...John Hewson's GST on a birthday cake? [i]Greg Jericho ‏@GrogsGamut[/i] Guessing all those yesterday bemoaning the govt's investment in outdated industries are loving this praise of copper. [i]sortius ‏@sortius[/i] Hahaha, @TurnbullMalcolm trying to explain pair-gains systems. Like watching a dog attempting algebra #NBN [i]Stephen ‏@TheAviator1992[/i] The difference between Labor and Liberal on the internet is that the Libs think it's a toy, while Labor sees it's economic potential #auspol [i]Heather ‏@HEB2205[/i] No wonder the LNP are keeping their 'policies' under wraps. First policy launch LNP #NBN is a crack up. 1/4 the speed at 3/4 the cost! [i]CoatTales ‏@CoatTales[/i] My favourite thing about this press conference is how @JuliaGillard is going to rip these idiots a new one when she sees it. #auspol [i]sortius ‏@sortius[/i] By "flexible", @TurnbullMalcolm means "you pay $10k to get FTTH" #NBN [i]Stephen Koukoulas ‏@TheKouk[/i] Interesting to follow @TonyWindsorMP tweeting on NBN. As someone closely involved in its creation, he seems to know a bit about it [i]margo kingston ‏@margokingston1[/i] Would you have a one lane road when you could have a Very Fast Train - Christine Milne on Abbott's broadband plan. [i]Victoria Collins ‏@HillbillySkill[/i] Abbott and the Coalition fell just short of the line in 2010 due to their poor policy formation. It looks like nothing has changed. [i]Stephanie Philbrick ‏@Steph_Philbrick[/i] Great to see the law of relatively being challenged here to defend a second-rate policy #NBN [i]Adam Fletcher ‏@ad_fletch[/i] So good speeds should be reserved for the rich - real agenda becoming clear #nbn #auspol [i]AshGhebranious ‏@AshGhebranious[/i] Prime Minister Gilliard has just won a second term #nbn #auspol

MWS

9/04/2013Take-home quote from the above link: [quote]But most of all, when you add the $29.4 billion announced today, along with the $11 billion value of the Telstra agreement, and throw in the estimated $21 billion it would cost for a later upgrade to FTTP, an upgrade that even Turnbull agrees is required eventually, the Coalition may have just committed us to $61 billion of broadband expenditure to reach the same result the current plan would give us for $37 billion, and sooner. Maintenance of the current copper network is estimated at around $1 billion per year, with expected savings of around $600 million per year by switching technologies – an amount Turnbull doesn’t believe is “material” in the debate.[/quote] This article also notes why the Ltd News came out yesterday with the claim that the NBN will cost $90b. Apparently Turnbull had said earlier that his plan would be one-third or one-quarter the cost of the Government's NBN. Because the LNP plan is supposed to cost nearly $30b, compared to the NBN's $37b, then the only way that Turnbull's statement could be true is if the figures were "massaged" vigorously, to make the NBN cost $90b. I suppose we should be grateful they didn't go for the "one-quarter" figure, which would mean the NBN would cost $120b! Looks like they came up with the $90b cost first, then looked for "evidence" to support their claim.

Tom of Melboune

9/04/2013Nasking, should those coal mines still be open? Arthur Scargill wouldn’t contemplate compromise or closure. Remember him saying – [i]“they’re not our jobs, they’re the jobs of our children”[/i] Scargill would still have had youth of Britain still working in Yorkshire coal mines! That’s the mentality of the unions that were opposed to Thatcher. The nationalised coal mines relied on government subsidy for survival. Nasking is subsidising an inefficient coal mine good use of government funds?

bob macalba

9/04/2013Pappinbarra Fox....thankyou, a good read, cheers

nasking

9/04/2013 END THE MYTH... FROM GUY RUNDLE @ CRIKEY: [quote]So, in all the assessments of Thatcherism pinging around—including a truly bizarre ding dong on Newsnight as I write—a central and fictional account of Thatcherism has been established. That fiction is that she restored the UK to prosperity, but created division in the process. Division she certainly created; poverty went from 14% to 24%, and the Gini inequality coefficient from 0.28 to 0.4, taking it far outside all West European nations. But the necessary prosperity is more elusive. There was no growth outside of a flattened post-Keynesian norm. The country which had had trade surpluses for 33 out of 35 years since 1945 was thrown into trade deficit, and has never been in surplus again. House-building, both public and private, flatlined, so now rent takes a huge, disabling bite out of people’s income. Manufacturing only declined moderately by sector returns—from 18% to 16%—but this hid high unemployment and deflation from productivity gains, and the failure to re-employ laid-off workers. Those workers who were re-employed found a net loss of 4,000 pounds p.a in their wage. Germany and other countries had had the same productivity turnover. But through reinvestment, greater R&D (5% of industry totals rather than 2%) and access to higher education, they retooled their economies as a value-added/knowledge/service mix. The result? Poverty rates below 10%, inequality below 0.3 Gini, and trade export surpluses. Thatcherism is being presented on the basis of a half-truth that is all lie: that the structural adjustment that every Western economy required could take only one path and “there is no alternative”. Only the closed circle of centre-Right debate in the Anglosphere, combined with the nostalgic attachment of what remains of the Left to the class politics of the 70s, prevents the case from being argued: [b]Thatcherism was a second-rate, shoddy job of post-war economic transformation, the easiest possible version of it. But around and round it goes on TV, the montages of bankers with big phones, and girls in eyeliner drinking champagne to the Pet Shop Boys. The imagery reinforces the idea that history could not have been otherwise. Yet every time one steps off the train in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Stockholm one sees how it could have been—low poverty, social cohesion, without any loss of energy or dynamism. It is not the past that Thatcher should be compared to, but its parallel present.[/b][/quote] http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/04/09/rundle-a-baroness-dies-the-fiction-of-thatcherism-lives/ SPOT ON. N'

nasking

9/04/2013 JANET, THNX FOR THE TWEETS...YOU AND LYN DO A MARVELLOUS JOB ON HERE KEEPING READERS INFORMED. BERNARD KEANE SAW THRU THE BS...AS DID MANY OTHERS: [b]So it's fair to say this is a Coalition-News Ltd broadband plan, no? Free advertising by the Tele and The Oz, hosted by Fox Sports.[/b] ABBOTT'S TEAM ARE NOT A VALID OPPOSITION...THEY ARE SPRUIKERS FOR A CORPORATE ELITE...PARTICULARLY THE MURDOCH EMPIRE. NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PUBLIC GOOD. ABBOTT DISGUSTS ME. TURNBULL HAS HIT A LOW. SOON ABBOTT WILL BE SO FAR UP MURDOCH'S DERRIÈRE THERE WILL ONLY BE ONE BIG EAR POKING OUT. LISTENING OUT FOR THE NEXT SET OF COMMANDS. N'

nasking

9/04/2013 INDEED: [b]Stephen Feneley ‏@feneleyandco #fraudband MT @seearjay: @feneleyandco It's been years since a policy announcement went so badly...John Hewson's GST on a birthday cake? Greg Jericho ‏@GrogsGamut Guessing all those yesterday bemoaning the govt's investment in outdated industries are loving this praise of copper.[/b] THE COALITION ARE A JOKE... BUT WE'RE NOT LAUGHING. N'

nasking

9/04/2013 BEGINNING TO THINK SAME AFTER THAT FIASCO OF AN ALTERNATIVE NBN ANNOUNCEMENT: Victoria Collins @HillbillySkill [b]Abbott and the Coalition fell just short of the line in 2010 due to their poor policy formation. It looks like nothing has changed.[/b] IMAGINE WHAT THEY WILL DO TO THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME IF THEY GET THEIR GRUBBY CORPORATE SPRUIKING HANDS ON IT? N'

nasking

9/04/2013 THUMBS DOWN TO: [b]DIRECT ACTION PLAN ALTERNATIVE NBN PLAN NANNIES FOR CITY PRIVILEGED COSTLY MATERNITY LEAVE SCHEME BUDGET BLACK HOLE THE BOATPHONE NO FUNDING FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT REPEAL OF MINING TAX [/b] HOW MANY TIMES HAS ABBOTT GOT TO STRIKE OUT BEFORE THE VOTERS GIVE HIM THE [b]OUT!!![/b] THE MAN IS AN ECONOMIC [b]MORON[/b]. N'

Janet (jan@j4gypsy)

9/04/2013 Critical piece just posted from @sortius on LNP #'NBN' fiasco press conference: 'Coalitions NBN plan to stop consumers taking control of media' http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/coalitions-nbn-plan-to-stop-consumers-taking-control-of-media/

jaycee

9/04/2013It must by now be realised that the LNP. coalition is a three-legged stool, one leg being the MSM. with a now very wobbly joint!

nasking

9/04/2013 YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHEN THE COALITION HAVE SCREWED UP... THEY TURN BACK TO THE SAME OLD DOG WHISTLING OVER ASYLUM SEEKERS... PROBLEM IS... VOTERS WILL BE JUDGING THE COALITION ON VARIOUS POLICIES... FINGER-POINTING AND FEAR-MONGERING JUST WON'T WASH THIS TIME... NOT WHEN THEY REALISE THAT NOT ONLY DOES ABBOTT'S TEAM HAVE BADLY THOUGHT OUT POLICIES... AND THEY WILL PROBABLY BE PLANNING TO PUT UP THE GST... AND BRING IN UGLY AUSTERITY MEASURES WHILST CUTTING CORPORATE TAXES FOR THE LIKES OF GINA AND RUPERT... AND COULD PUT THE LOW INTEREST RATES AT RISK... AND WILL PERMIT RELIGIOUS MORALISERS TO STUFF THEIR VIEWS DOWN THE VOTERS' THROATS... AND WILL SABOTAGE THE NBN WHILST GIVING MORE POWER TO THE MURDOCH EMPIRE AND TELSTRA... AND WILL LINE UP WITH LNP STATES TO UNDERMINE MANY WORKERS' WAGES AND CONDITIONS AFTER SOMEONE LIKE PETER COSTELLO STATES WE HAVE TOO MUCH DEBT... AND THROW THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND HEALTH SYSTEM INTO THE HANDS OF PRIVATE INTERESTS... BUT ABBOTT'S TRACK RECORD MEANS HE WILL SLOWDOWN DISABILITY REFORMS...AND SPEND A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TRYING TO BREAK UNIONS WITH THE HELP OF THE RENOWNED HATER OF UNIONS RUPERT MURDOCH... SLOWING THE ECONOMY... AND CREATING A BADLY DIVIDED SOCIETY. A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. THAT NO DOG WHISTLING DIVERSIONARY TACTICS WILL HIDE. YEARS AGO MURDOCH AND THE TORIES TRIED THIS APPROACH BY DOG WHISTLING OVER GYPSIES ETC... LABOUR LED BY BLAIR WON THE ELECTION. THE VOTERS IN THE END RECOGNISE A DUD. N'

Janet (jan@j4gypsy)

9/04/2013From Crikey: no comment: too angry. [b]Fairfax cuts Manning loose after scathing Crikey op-ed[/b] MATTHEW KNOTT Crikey media journalist AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW, FAIRFAX, GARRY LINNELL, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD The journalists' union has held last-ditch negotiations with Fairfax management in a bid to save the job of Paddy Manning, a business journalist sacked yesterday after blasting his employer in an article for Crikey. Manning -- who criticised The Australian Financial Review for being too cosy with big business -- was fired late yesterday afternoon by Fairfax Metro Media editorial director Garry Linnell. According to sources at The Sydney Morning Herald, he was told to clean out his desk immediately and was unable to access his work email on his laptop. "He had tears in his eyes, he was shaking," one senior Herald reporter said. "He was devastated, absolutely devastated." Representatives from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance met with Linnell this morning in a bid to have Manning reinstated. A pre-planned stop work meeting will be held this afternoon at The SMH, with the paper's house committee expected to make a statement on Manning's axing. Several Fairfax staffers told Crikey management should have disciplined Manning -- with, say, a first and final warning -- but that firing him was a step too far. "Fairfax has made a f-cking mess of the whole thing and made the guy a martyr," an AFR journalist said this morning. "The sad thing is he's right and instead of self-reflection they just sack him," said one SMH scribe. And another Herald reporter: "It was a total over-reaction. They could easily have taken the higher path and just ignored it, or written a reply or any number of thick-skinned, mature options." The departure of Manning, who has a young family, capped off what was already an emotional and distressing day for many at Fairfax's Pyrmont HQ. The memorial service for former SMH sports editor Rod Allen, who fell to his death last week, was held yesterday afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In his piece for Crikey yesterday, Manning blasted the publication of "rubbishy" sponsored content in the AFR and criticised the merger of the SMH/Age business teams and the Australian Financial Review Group into one division. The merger, he argued: [i]"... tramples on the legacy of quality, independent, consumer- and reader-driven business journalism established at The SMH and The Age. Both papers will be much poorer for it."[/i] AFR editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury and Garry Linnell both declined to comment this morning. A reporter at The Fin told Crikey many at the paper, including in the Canberra bureau, were "really pissed" when they read Manning's article because it "sledges everyone in the paper". But the source added: "All the things he said about the business stories were right. "Business journalists should be pro-market. Now we're a paper that's in bed with business; what we should be is pro-market. That's what Brett [Clegg, AFR Group CEO] doesn't get." A former senior SMH business reporter, who left in last year's redundancy round, says they're stunned by Fairfax's decision to fire Manning. But they concede the trend towards sponsored content is unstoppable given the dire financial state of the media industry. "Anyone who thinks subscriptions and display advertising will bring in enough revenue are kidding themselves," the veteran reporter said.

doodlepoodle

9/04/2013Just returned from 4 weeks OS. We sure live in the lucky country but not too many of us seem to be aware of it. Have been trying to catch up on some of the articles and postings while I was away. AA I really enjoyed the Leigh Sales article. Just watching her each evening she always seems to have a venimous look on her face. Thought you might like to read the IPA's 75 point list for Abbott. My apologies if it has already been posted. https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/generous/2013/help-fight-the-good-fight?t=dXNlcmlkPTEzNzUzNTUsZW1haWxpZD0xNTIx

nasking

9/04/2013 YET ANOTHER ABBOTT TEAM FAIL: [b]Tony Abbott confirmed again yesterday he plans to scrap the Low Income Superannuation Contribution worth up to $500 a year for people earning up to $37,000. Under Tony Abbott's plan 3.6 million low income earners, including 2.1 million women, would pay $4 billion more tax while people with millions in their super accounts would pay no tax.[/b] (ALP) ABBOTT COULD TURN OUT TO BE A DISASTER FOR THE COALITION. N'

Ad astra

9/04/2013Janet What an asset you are. Your Twittertalk is so informative and posting the Manning sacking article has brought us up to date with the machinations at Fairfax. There are troubles ahead for Fairfax when they take such a high-handed approach. The Coalition’s NBN launch has not gone well. Turnbull is hopeless when he doesn’t believe what he’s saying, which was the case today. More fallout will occur.

jane

9/04/2013[quote]The difference between Labor and Liberal on the internet is that the Libs think it's a toy, while Labor sees it's economic potential[/quote] Janet, I think that succinct sentence says everything we need to know about the respective attitudes to communications policy by both parties and by extrapolation which party has the answers to the future needs of this country. The Liars don't even know what the question is. NAS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO FEED THE MASSES, SO WILL READ MORE LATER. BUT WHAT I HAVE READ, SHOWS YOU'RE ON THE MONEY.

Ad astra

9/04/2013Janet What an asset you are. Your Twittertalk is so informative and posting the Manning sacking article has brought us up to date with the machinations at Fairfax. There are troubles ahead for Fairfax when they take such a high-handed approach. The Coalition’s NBN launch has not gone well. Turnbull is hopeless when he doesn’t believe what he’s saying, which was the case today. More fallout will occur.

Ad astra

9/04/2013nasking You are running hot today. You have your finger on the media pulse. What have you heard today on radio or TV about today’s [i]Newspoll[/i]? Margaret Thatcher’s death pushed it to a slim Shanahan column in [i]The Australian[/i] headed: [i]Labor steadies but rout is ahead[/i], and I have heard nothing on ABC radio, although I believe there was a mention earlier today. Jon Faine remarked to Greg Sheridan this morning on Melbourne 774 radio that it seemed strange to him that when [i]Newspoll[/i] was more favourable to PM Gillard and her Government there had been practically no mention of it, nor was there much mention of her successful overseas tour. Sheridan brushed this aside with an arrogant reference to a Labor rout. The hubris is growing. Compared with the two days of screaming coverage given to the last [i]Newspoll[/i] that was adverse to the PM and her Government, to me today’s silence is diagnostic of the pathology that inflicts our media. It’s called obsessive-compulsive disorder with a fixed delusion that anything that is adverse to the Government is true and must be shouted from the rooftops, while anything positive is untrue and must be suppressed. It’s obvious. It’s pathetic. It’s probably incurable.

Michael

9/04/2013How much time did the Channel Nine 6 o'clock news, Sydney's most popular, allocate to reporting the Coalition's alternate broadband policy announcement? You want it in minutes? Seconds? Bytes, maybe? Answer - all the same. Zero. Not a millisecond, not a word, not a hint of it ever having happened. Which says a lot. A lot. Just who's facing the sack in Abbott's and Turnbull's office? Start at the top. And then ask yourself why Nine kept silent. Not to expose the Libs to ridicule, perhaps? Doing Abbott and Turnbull a favour? Or just making a judgement about a lemon? (PS There WAS a mention of "broadband" during the Nine News. An NBN Co advertisement, touting the advantages and the great prices of the Network. Think that through, too.)

Ken

9/04/2013Did anyone else notice Liar Abbot's phrase about his boradband plan - "faster and cheaper" than the Government's NBN. He meant it will be rolled out more quickly and at less cost but "faster" is more commonly used in this debate to refer to the download speed. I have little doubt that there will be quite a few susceptible voters out there who interpret his phrase as meaning his broadband service will be faster than the NBN. He could have spelled out what he meant but he focused on his "catch -phrase". Obviously, he can legitimately deny that he ever intended to imply that his broadband service would have a faster speed but he has used a [u]deliberate ambiguity[/u] to try to sell his policy. I am gratified, however, that this "launch" has received little coverage from the "usual suspects". It bodes well for the future - his policies will sink without trace which eventually will also sink in with the electorate.

TalkTurkey

9/04/2013 Do It ONCE ~ Do It RIGHT ~ DO IT FIBRE! We need to go by bullet train not Ghan! So I say to You, Hon Tony Windsor Eh, Comrade Tony,You Da MAN! Looking at the Turdball&Abborrrt double act today - so pathetically obviously flailing - We punctured da punks! We'll extinct 'em da skunks! Terminly disfunction 'em & Extremely Unction 'em Em not even fit 2B MONKS!

KHTAGH

9/04/2013AA Another great article:- [quote]Abbott concedes that George Pell is one of his most prominent mentors, although on one infamous occasion on the ABC’s Lateline, in the lead up to the 2004 election, Abbott lied to Tony Jones about a meeting he had had with Pell, and was subsequently caught out. Why was he so keen to deny the meeting? Perhaps to neutralize any charge that Pell was influencing him? [/quote] My suspicion is that he will use his influence to change the terms of reference into the royal commission into child abuse to yet again protect the church. If Abbott gets elected I'll put money down, not one member of the clergy will be held to account.

Pikiranku

9/04/2013TT, you're on fire today! Love all that verse! Thanks for the news on Manning, Janet. Reprehensible though unsurprising behaviour from those who, only a couple of weeks ago, were vociferous to the point of hysteria in defending freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Obviously they only believe in the freedom to say the things they agree with.

Casablanca

9/04/2013Obituary: Archbishop Pell's tribute to B.A. Santamaria - The following is the full text of Archbishop George Pell's homily at the Solemn Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial and State Funeral for B.A. Santamaria, on Tuesday, 3 March 1998. We are told that the sure mark of the false prophet is that all people speak well of him. In death, as in life, Bob Santamaria has triumphantly escaped such a fate. Bartholomew Augustine Santamaria was born in 1915 in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick, the first of six children of Joe Santamaria and Maria Terzita, who had migrated here from the Aeolian island of Salina to escape poverty just before the First World War. He was educated by the Christian Brothers, ultimately at St Kevin’s College where he was dux of the school, then winning his way to Melbourne University through a scholarship like three other members of his family. To me, he always retained something of the self-confidence, directness and instinct for struggle and competition that then characterised the Brothers’ schools. [b]Catholic Cultures[/b] His personal story is a wonderful example of the openness of Australian society, of the interplay of two different Catholic cultures; of the capacity of the Irish Australian Catholic education system, then without government funds, to promote social mobility and build on the strengths of Italian faith and family. He himself wrote, "I have never had any doubts about my identity. I was born in Australia. It is my country and I owe my primary loyalty to it. About this there is no room for confusion. The rest of me is Aeolian, my blood, my background, my earliest memories." When he visited Salina as an adult he marvelled that those tiny islands could have bred so sturdy a people with their "instinct for stability" which he so prized. It was his Aeolian background, he claimed, which gave him his values; the sense of family, the necessity of religious belief, the importance of accumulating some modest property for a degree of independence and the love of Italy and the Italian way of life. The Italian-Australian community has made many wonderful contributions to Australian society. We are especially in their debt for B.A. Santamaria. Bob grew to manhood in the Brunswick of the Depression. He saw unemployment and poverty. The brothers at St Kevin’s gave him reasons for believing and in the Campion Society, as he was introduced to the Catholic intellectual tradition, he came to realise that ideas are powerful, that ideas provoke consequences. Dr Daniel Mannix was then Archbishop of Melbourne and Pius XI was the Pope, a great champion of lay Catholic involvement in the world (Catholic Action), a strong opponent of capitalism, communism and fascism and a regular advocate of the application of Catholic principles to public life. All agreed that he was a strong, perhaps even a tough Pope. However, these were important background factors rather than the defining issue of Bob’s long career, which was the Spanish Civil War between Franco and the communists. The great English historian A.J.P. Taylor wrote that "The Spanish question far transcended politics in the ordinary sense. The controversy provided for the generation of the thirties the emotional experience of their lifetime." In Australia, Bob himself wrote that the Spanish Civil War reshaped his own priorities and that his primary concern was the freedom of religion from persecution by the State. Here the fire was lit. A panegyric is not the occasion to list all Bob Santamaria’s achievements and disappointments. It would be difficult to attempt this without appearing partisan and quite impossible to identify them without being controversial, but I want to focus a little longer on this Spanish theme because it reveals the crucial motivation and something of the style and passion that characterised his long public life. The debate in March 1937 in the Public Lecture Theatre at Melbourne University on the topic "That the Spanish Government is the ruin of Spain" has entered into Catholic legend. Manning Clark wrote about it a number of times. It was held before a packed, rowdy audience of at least 1,000 people, two-thirds Catholic, many of them working class militants from the Catholic Young Men’s Society. Bob Santamaria was part of the three-man affirmative team and he provoked uproar as he declaimed, "When the bullets of the atheists struck the statue of Christ outside the cathedral in Madrid, for some that was just lead striking brass, but for me those bullets were piercing the heart of Christ my King." The good Catholic turn-out ensured that, when the motion was put, it was carried amid "unparalleled scenes of enthusiasm" as one report described it. Santamaria’s cry of "Long live Christ the King," a phrase coined first in the Mexican persecution of the Christians, also drew thunderous applause. It therefore comes as no surprise to us now that soon afterwards Archbishop Mannix offered young Bobby Santamaria, a new graduate in law and arts, a position in the recently formed National Secretariat of Catholic Action. Bob Santamaria (few called him Bobby except his parents and Manning Clark) struggled, indeed flourished, in the hard world of Australian politics for sixty years. The verdicts of his friends and enemies are various and conflicting, not only on his strengths and weaknesses, but even on his successes and failures. More than ever then, commentators today find it difficult to accept that the engine of his life, the central unifying motivation was his Catholic faith; but Spain is a help in understanding this. He had decided, like St Paul in today’s letter to the Romans to be on God’s side and he worked tirelessly to ensure that nothing - no power, height or depth - came between him and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus. In faith, and of necessity and from long experience, he came to realise that if he was to triumph at all it was through the trials which beset him. He went to daily Mass and his religious devotion was deep, reserved and conventional. He had huge and hidden reservoirs of compassion for individuals, which never obscured his clarity of mind about principles and issues. It was Thomas Carlyle who wrote last century that "a man who does not know rigour cannot pity either." He well knew the hazards of working with the leadership of the Church as he had in fact lost his first pay packet playing cards with an Irish Australian priest friend! And many times he experienced the wrath of Church opponents as he espoused unpopular doctrines and practices. [b]Christian hope[/b] Nor do I believe that his well known pessimism can be completely understood without a background of Christian hope. It is true that he did recently tell his grandson who was organising a seminar on "Signs of Hope" that there were no such signs. He did believe strongly in the consequences of original sin, that flaw or fault-line that runs through every community and every human heart and that makes all improvement costly and difficult. But he also believed that our good and just God would implement in the next life the promises outlined in the beatitudes by his Son; and balance things up, even things out for the poor, oppressed and suffering. Then the Lord of hosts will prepare a rich banquet for all peoples, wipe away every tear, remove our shame, put aside the burial shroud. These deep convictions of his were not retained without struggle. He knew the enticement to agnosticism, to set the great issue of God to one side was too difficult. He spoke of the silken thread which sustained personal faith, but for him it was a thread which never broke and which strengthened him magnificently in his last illness. He died a beautiful Christian death. The Catholic community in Australia owes B.A. Santamaria a great debt for his leadership in the fight against communism in the unions; for his indispensable contribution in obtaining financial justice for all Christian schools from state and federal governments; for his authorship of fifteen of the Bishops" statements on social justice; for his brilliant alliance with Archbishop Mannix, where he progressed from the status of a young disciple to being suspected, inaccurately, of exercising an excessive influence over an ailing and declining archbishop. However, some would believe that his greatest religious contribution has been during the last ten or fifteen years as different forces contended for the soul of Catholicism. Here B.A. stood squarely With the Holy Father No other person had the intellectual skills or organisational ability nation-wide to inform Australian Catholics of the nature of the challenge they faced. It was his last great struggle and the issue is far from settled. There are minority forces in Australian Catholicism who want to subordinate gospel morality to individual conscience. Some want to use this to expand beyond recognition the limits of proper sexual activity. Some reject not only particular Papal teachings, but would like to sideline Papal authority itself. Others see the ministerial priesthood as one relic of a vanished clerical age. Even more seriously some do not see Christianity as a revealed religion. So the divinity of Christ is impugned, the Trinity redefined and the worship of the one true God relativised and minimised. It is increasingly hard work to convince our youngsters of the evils of abortion and euthanasia, let alone contraception. Thanks to Bob Santamaria much more of this struggle is now in the open, with the issues available to public scrutiny. This represents progress. He could not remove or much deflect the mighty forces damaging faith and morals in the Western world, but he has managed to alert an increasing number of us to the folly of embracing the forces seeking our destruction. Once again, Bob was an effective agent of God’s provident concern for our community. He changed the course of Australian religious debate on both faith and family. He inspired many of us to join him in the long twilight struggle between good and evil, between faith and unbelief. We thank God for this. [b]Legacy[/b] Bob Santamaria was a great Australian, and a saintly Catholic. He would be annoyed if we did not pray during this Mass that he be loosed from his sins. And I do this willingly, but without deep conviction about the need. He did know the attractive force of the principle that the end justifies the means. But he rejected this. He loved greatly his Church, his family, his nation and because of that he knew God’s love and forgiveness. He has left us, but his legacy remains. As we await the resurrection of the body we also have to keep up the struggle with hope and strength. His close friend, the distinguished Australian poet James McAuley has pointed our way: It is not said we shall succeed, Save as his Cross prevails; The good we choose and mean to do Prospers if he wills it to. And if not, then it fails. Nor is failure our disgrace: By ways we cannot know He keeps the merit in his hand, And suddenly as no one planned, Behold the kingdom grow!

TalkTurkey

9/04/2013Tansy England‏@dream_tansy4m said So, #TonyAbbott makes #MalcolmTurnbull present the lemon to wreck his ambitions, and MT agrees to do it to wreck TA's. That's true, and it's very funny.

KHTAGH

9/04/2013Jane [quote]The world is well rid of that appalling creature Thatcher. Now we have to wait for the wizened foreigner to pop his clogs. [/quote] They would both be fighting over a leadership challenge to hold the pitchfork, to depose the Devil as being lowly qualified in comparison. AA Would it be possible to have TPS code changed so clicked links would appear in a new page please? if possible.

nasking

9/04/2013 CHEERS JANE. KEEP THE FIRES LIT BRIGHT. :) [b]Compared with the two days of screaming coverage given to the last Newspoll that was adverse to the PM and her Government, to me today’s silence is diagnostic of the pathology that inflicts our media. It’s called obsessive-compulsive disorder with a fixed delusion that anything that is adverse to the Government is true and must be shouted from the rooftops, while anything positive is untrue and must be suppressed. It’s obvious. It’s pathetic. It’s probably incurable.[/b] Ad, WELL SAID. I BELIEVE THO THAT ABBOTT AND TURNBULL MADE A BIG MISTAKE TODAY SPRUIKING THE MURDOCH EMPIRE SO MUCH DURING THAT DUD BROADBAND PLAN ANNOUNCEMENT... I BET MORE THAN A FEW NEWS LTD COMPETITORS WERE PISSED...OR ARE NOW HAVING DOUBTS ABOUT ABBOTT'S ABILITY TO SELL REAL POLICY. FRANKLY, IT WAS ONE OF THE SHONKIEST PERFORMANCES I'VE EVER SEEN CONSIDERING THE MONEY INVOLVED AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE MATTER... IT CAME ACROSS LIKE A BAD AWARDS CEREMONY PUT ON BY FOXTEL. IT HAS MADE ME MORE DETERMINED TO TRY AND STICK IT OUT FOR THIS ENTIRE ELECTION CAMPAIGN...REGARDLESS OF MY EYE PROBLEMS WHICH THE SPECIALIST CONFIRMED A FEW DAYS AGO HAVE WORSENED TO THE POINT I CAN ONLY SEE IN A SLIGHTLY BLURRED WAY THRU ONE EYE...THE OTHER IS KAPUT FOR NOW... BUT I'M DETERMINED TO SEE THIS SHONK ABBOTT...THIS SNAKE OIL SALESMAN FOR MURDOCH AND RINEHART AND TELSTRA GO DOWN... AND LET ME REMIND THE ALP SABOTEURS, WHINERS AND DOUBTERS WHO SHOULD KNOW A DAMN SITE BETTER... THE PM CAN WIN THIS ELECTION...I HAD MY DOUBTS TOO...BUT GILLARD IS GIVING IT HER ALL UNDER INCREDIBLE PRESSURE...SHE HAS GROWN IN MY ESTIMATION... AND HER TEAM OFFER A MUCH MORE POSITIVE FUTURE THAN THIS ABBOTT MUG AND HIS MOTLEY CREW. IT'S TIME THAT DIFFERENCES WERE PUT ASIDE...AND THE ALP WORKED TOGETHER USING ALL OF ITS BEST ASSETS...AND THERE ARE PLENTY... TO TAKE THIS AWFUL COALITION TEAM DOWN... THE PUBLIC DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS SHONKY LNP LOT... YOU KNOW IT IN YER HEART OF HEARTS. AS DO MANY IN THE CONFLICTED MEDIA. DON'T LET MURDOCH AND HIS MINIONS INFLICT ON THIS COUNTRY A SHONK...ANOTHER ONE OF HIS PUPPETS. IF A FELLA WITH ONE EYE BARELY WORKING CAN STAND UP AND FIGHT AGAINST THIS MURDOCH BEAST AND ITS BROWN-NOSERS... SO CAN YOU. GIVE IT YER ALL. NEVER SAY DIE! DON'T LET THE LIGHT GO OUT. N'

MarkatPort

9/04/2013Hi swordsters. Interesting session on Facebook with RN Drive poll regarding Turdbulls alternative broadband plan. Only small poll so far (about 300) but quite decisive ! Would you like to know what the result is so far? I think you'll like it a lot

MarkatPort

9/04/2013RN Drive Facebook poll................................Govt. NBN 287 votes. Turdbull et al 18 votes as of 9pm. That's a MASSIVE 6.3% support for shite !

Bacchus

9/04/2013[quote] Would it be possible to have TPS code changed so clicked links would appear in a new page please? [/quote] KHTAGH, Try using "middle click" on your mouse to open links. On an android device, hold your finger on the link for a couple of seconds - you should be given the option to open in q new window. Not sure about Idevices though...

Casablanca

10/04/2013[b]Abbott's big bold plan much too short on detail[/b] April 9, 2013 Tim Colebatch Comments 749 I anticipated that Tim, as The Age's economic editor, would be writing about the Coalition's [i]Nearly National Broadband Network [/i]announced today. Instead he writes about radical changes that Abbott will implement in many areas of governance if elected. Tim also compares Abbott with Howard & observes that whereas Howard's [i]tribe was small business,....part of him was the tracksuit-wearing patriot who wanted to be (and was) prime minister for all of us. Abbott's tribe is affluent Catholic traditionalists.[/i] [i]Abbott is different. His tribe is a smaller one: affluent Catholic traditionalists. Since student days, he has defined himself more by what he is against than by what he is for. He is for the monarchy, and the church, and traditional values, but he decided long ago not to tie his political career to them. Howard once called him an ''arch-pragmatist'', and he is. [b]Rule one for an Abbott government will be: do no harm to his chances of winning the next election.[/b] Abbott's loyalty is to private schools, private hospitals, private transport and to private provision of government services. If Abbott holds back his policies until the campaign, it leaves the way open for Labor to run its own scare campaign by filling in the blanks for us.[/i] Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/abbotts-big-bold-plan-much-too-short-on-detail-20130409-2hhun.html#ixzz2PyRzIQpH

Casablanca

10/04/2013MarkatPort @ 9.31pm. The SMH poll which I guess must have been posted today after the announcement and was certainly closed by mid-evening when I saw it is very encouraging. The poll question was unusually straight forward: [b]Which NBN Policy do you prefer? [/b] There were 19,480 responses and of those 76% (14,804) voted for Labor's NBN while only 24% (4,675) voted for the Coalition's copper/fibre variant. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/all-that-glitters--abbott-and-mr-broadband-hawk-the-copper-option-20130409-2hj57.html

Casablanca

10/04/2013AA KHTAGH said: [quote]Would it be possible to have TPS code changed so clicked links would appear in a new page please? if possible.[/quote] I second KHTAGH's request. Bacchus said: [quote]Try using "middle click" on your mouse to open links.... you should be given the option to open in a new window.[/quote]. This option requires more clicks and is therefore more tedious. In google, for example, I have to (1) right-click on the hyper-link, (2) left-click on 'Copy link location'. (3) left-click to manually open another TAB, then (4) right-click again to place the cursor in the URL window and (5) left-click to select 'Paste & Go' It's often the case that I might follow a link from the original article to one or more other articles. Then I will either open up another TAB for TPS so that I can read from a couple of articles at once. If I am also composing a comment I may do so in Word or otherwise open another TAB for TPS. It is a lot of mucking around. If anyone has a more stream-lined method I'd be pleased to learn about it. The TAB options at Tools/Options/Tabs do not seem to be able to over-ride the coding from some sites.

Casablanca

10/04/2013NASKING, YOU SAID: [i]I BELIEVE THO THAT ABBOTT AND TURNBULL MADE A BIG MISTAKE TODAY SPRUIKING THE MURDOCH EMPIRE SO MUCH DURING THAT DUD BROADBAND PLAN ANNOUNCEMENT... I BET MORE THAN A FEW NEWS LTD COMPETITORS WERE PISSED...OR ARE NOW HAVING DOUBTS ABOUT ABBOTT'S ABILITY TO SELL REAL POLICY. FRANKLY, IT WAS ONE OF THE SHONKIEST PERFORMANCES I'VE EVER SEEN CONSIDERING THE MONEY INVOLVED AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE MATTER... IT CAME ACROSS LIKE A BAD AWARDS CEREMONY PUT ON BY FOXTEL.[/i] I AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE ABBOTT/TURNBULL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NOT NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK - NNBN. BUT WE ARE OUT OF STEP WITH AT LEAST ONE MSM HACK, HEATH ASTON, WHO ASSESSED THE ‘POLITICS’ OF THE LAUNCH: [i]THIS WAS NOT YOUR AVERAGE ELECTION POLICY LAUNCH. THIS WAS A TONY ABBOTT MEDIA EVENT MINUS THE FLUORESCENT VEST AND SAFETY GLASSES BUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF STEVE JOBS-TYPE SALESMANSHIP. IT'S QUITE A FEAT THAT TEAM ABBOTT COULD PRESENT AS THE TECH-SAVVY COMBINATION WHEN IT WAS THE COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER WHO WAS PUTTING FUTURISTIC CABLE INTO THE GROUND. FIBRE THAT WOULD TURN AUSTRALIA INTO ONE OF THE LEADING NATIONS ON EARTH FOR INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE - SOMETHING THE COALITION IS NOT OFFERING. IT'S JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE GOVERNMENT HAVING SOMETHING TO SELL BUT GETTING T-BONED BY THE OPPOSITION'S PR JUGGERNAUT.[/i] [b]All that glitters ... Abbott and 'Mr Broadband' hawk the copper option[/b] Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/all-that-glitters--abbott-and-mr-broadband-hawk-the-copper-option-20130409-2hj57.html#ixzz2PysdWjjt PS SORRY THAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUCH EYE STRAIN.

Casablanca

10/04/2013Seems that Julian Assange has not just lazed about in the Equadorian Embassy. [b]PLUS D: 'What Google should be like'[/b], says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/plus-d-what-google-should-be-like-says-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange/story-e6frfro0-1226615344710#ixzz2PyybbcvO [b]Plus D. Public Library of US Diplomacy[/b] http://wikileaks.org/plusd/index.php?qproject[]=ps&qproject[]=cg&q=Albrechtson&s=&qfconcept_hid=&qfconcept=&qftags_hid=&qftags2_hid=&qftags=&qforigin_hid=&qforigin=&qfdestination_hid=&qfdestination=&qfofficeorigin_hid=&qfofficeorigin=&qfofficeaction_hid=&qfofficeaction=&qfoclass=&qforiginalhandlingrestriction=&qfcclass=&qfexecutiveorder_hid=&qfexecutiveorder=&qfmarkings=&qftype=&qfenclosure_hid=&qfenclosure=&qfserie=&qflocator=&qfsigncount=&qtfrom=1966-01-01&qtto=2010-12-31&qsort=tdesc#result [b]GILLARD: ON TRACK TO BECOME AUSTRALIA’S NEXT PRIME MINISTER[/b] 2009 June, 10 22:19 (Wednesday) Several Rudd confidantes have told us that Rudd appreciates Gillard and sees her as a possible PM, but that he wants to avoid anointing her to head off a possible leadership challenge when his poll numbers inevitably sag. The PM's brother Greg told us in April that Rudd wants to ensure that there are viable alternatives to Gillard within the Labor Party to forestall a challenge. Mark Arbib once told us a similar story, though he stressed that Rudd appreciates Gillard's strengths. However, another Rudd advisor told us that while the PM respects Gillard, his reluctance to share power will eventually lead to a falling out, while Gillard will not want to acquiesce in creating potential rivals. In the meantime, Gillard has proven her value to the Prime Minister and we expect her to remain the most important member of the Rudd Government, after the Prime Minister himself. https://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09CANBERRA545_a.html [b]Cable dated 25 February 2009[/b] Two ALP Right factional leaders we have spoken to, AWU President Joe Ludwig and Senator Don Farrell, former head of the SDA in South Australia and the most influential powerbroker in that state, both agreed that Rudd's political power in the ALP is now unchallenged, but they opined that the factions would reassert themselves once Rudd's popularity declines. Although Gillard is currently Rudd's heir apparent, factional maneuvering could ultimately deprive her of the leadership. Right-wing powerbrokers, the key to winning the leadership, are likely to prefer one of their own - such as the leader of the Victorian Right, Bill Shorten - for the job. http://trevorcook.typepad.com/weblog/2013/04/gillard.html

Keith D

10/04/2013Casablanca, another way is to hold down the shift key and left click as normal.

Bacchus

10/04/2013"Middle click" is one click Casablanca :-) On the Samsung tablet, holding my finger on the link opens up a dialog box with an option to "Open in new window" What operating system are you using? Windows, Android, or IOS?

Bacchus

10/04/2013As an aside, in Windows, "middle click" also closes an open tab in a browser...

lyn

10/04/2013Today’s Links Coalition boosts commitment to broadband network by Emma Griffiths, Video Malcolm Turnbull holds a feisty news conference with journalists as they grill the Coalition over its broadband plans. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-09/conroy-hits-out-at-coalition-policy/4618232 Coalition NBN policy branded a lemon by Sky News Mr Abbott said 25Mbps was more than enough to cater to the average household's broadband needs. http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=861977&vId Australia’s broadband future: The Labor and Coalition plans compared by Oliver Milman Turnbull said that the plan – which would provide 25 megabits per second, much slower than Labor’s alternative – was “consistent with the best practice around the world”. http://www.startupsmart.com.au/technology/australias-broadband-future-the-labor-and-coalition-plans-compared/201304099414.html Credibility And The Alternate NBN by @mwyres Remarkable then that $29 billion is almost exactly one third of $90 billion, isn’t it? I wonder how they calculated that figure?Setting up the “facts” to suit the argument? http://michaelwyres.com/2013/04/credibility-and-the-alternate-nbn/ Coalitions NBN plan to stop consumers taking control of media by @sortius Turnbull was combative, if not outright belligerent http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/coalitions-nbn-plan-to-stop-consumers-taking-control-of-media/ Coalition releases long-awaited rival NBN policy by @renailemay http://delimiter.com.au/2013/04/09/coalition-releases-long-awaited-rival-nbn-policy/#more-142641 A tale of two NBNs: the Coalition’s broadband policy explained by Karl Schaffarczyk Coalition policy can be described as quick and dirty: the network will be available to more Australians earlier, and will cost less up-front, but will attract ongoing maintenance costs, http://theconversation.com/a-tale-of-two-nbns-the-coalitions-broadband-policy-explained-13304 The NBN. Speeding up to stand still. by @YosefAlbric A disaster waiting to happen. But then everything about Abbott is a disaster waiting to happen. http://yosefalbric.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/the-nbn-speeding-up-to-stand-still/ The Pillock Chronicles II! by @knarfnamduh NO Coalition’s announcement of their slothful ‘kind-of internet broadband but not really’ important http://deknarf.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/graphical-manipulations-29-the-pillock-chronicles-ii/ Still lying! by @MigloMT I often wonder whether Tony Abbott has problems listening to what people tell him, or problems with the truth. http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/still-lying/ Rupert Murdoch — the absentee landlord by @ngungun RUPERT MURDOCH’S chat with a young reporter at Darwin airport the other day was very revealing. I would hardly call it an interview; and it was too short to be a conversation http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/business/rupert-murdoch-the-absentee-landlord/ Society buckled and is damaged but has never disappeared @billy_blog She was always a liability to the prosperity of the British people and despite her obsession with incentives and individual action, she undermined both by wrecking the macroeconomy in Britain http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=23353#more-23353 CONSERVATIVE POLITICS Thatcher’s Dead But Thatcherism Thrives By @beneltham Abbott then praised Murdoch as a man who “never changed his fundamental principles”, which he lists as “greater personal responsibility, smaller government, fewer regulations and support for open societies that don’t build walls against the world” — in other words, Thatcherism. http://coffsoutlook.com/conservative-politics-thatchers-dead-but-thatcherism-thrives-by-ben-eltham/ Margaret Thatcher divisive in death, attacks and celebrations unsavoury by Matthew Donovan, @MigloMT We can express our opinions without personal, vitriolic attacks. We’re smarter than that http://theaimn.com/2013/04/09/margaret-thatcher-divisive-in-death-attacks-and-celebrations-unsavoury/ The debate around dead leaders appears terminal by @fakeedbutler Now is the time to speak about her legacy, what she did, and whether it had merit. Not whether she, the person, was someone you wanted to see dead. http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/04/09/the-debate-around-dead-leaders-appears-terminal/ Remembering the awful things someone did whilst alive is not the same as gloating ghoulishly about their death by @jeremysear http://anonymouslefty.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/remembering-the-awful-things-someone-did-whilst-alive-is-not-the-same-as-gloating-ghoulishly-about-their-death/ Kim Jong-morrison by @archiearchive The Opposition has painted Australia into a corner and, after the Navy refuses to accept illegal orders to turn sinking boats back, there will be only one place left to go. http://archiearchive.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/kim-jong-morrison/ Paddy Manning pays the whistleblower’s price by @margokingston1 What Paddy did was to write a critical piece about his employer in a rival publication, and that’s a cardinal sin. http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/paddy-manning-pays-the-whistleblowers-price/ Fairfax journalist Paddy Manning fired over opinion piece by @mumbrella Paddy Manning has been dismissed in the wake of penning a 600 word critique for rival outlet Crikey on the company restructure http://mumbrella.com.au/fairfax-journalist-paddy-manning-fired-over-opinion-piece-149700 1975 as the mirror image of 2013 by @JohnQuiggin2 Once again the dominant ideology has led to economic crisis (now about 4 years old), but attempts to break away from it (such as the initial swing to Keynesian stimulus) have been http://johnquiggin.com/2013/04/ What will come of the Coalition's CEFC bluster? by Noni Shannon If the CEFC is disbanded, there are likely to be transitional arrangements that would need to be managed given that the CEFC has indicated it has legal obligations to continue operating http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/4/9/policy-politics/what-will-come-coalitions-cefc-bluster#ixzz2PwpDpgvw British Public’s Memories Of Margaret Thatcher To Be Carved Up And Sold Off by @The_Shovel_ Baroness Thatcher has, on her deathbed, asked that all public memories of her be privatised. http://theshovel.com.au/2013/04/09/memories-of-margaret-thatcher-to-be-carved-up-and-sold-off/ Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 10 April 2013 http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

Truth Seeker

10/04/2013Morning swordsters, My latest post is an in depth look at Tony Abbott's much touted "Our Plan" booklet. "If Abbott and the LNP are the answer, what is the question?" :-) http://truthseekersmusings.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/if-abbott-and-the-lnp-are-the-answer-what-is-the-question/ Cheers :-) :-)

Michael

10/04/2013Still amazed that last night's populist Channel Nine 6 o'clock News told us nothing about the Coalition's tin can broadband plan. What does that tell us?

TalkTurkey

10/04/2013Wonderful how [i]Abborrrtt aborted Turdball[/i] and equally [i]Turdball turdballed Abborrrrt [/i] yesty ... They have given the Government the key to ridiculing the whole LNP. Conroy's credibility has increased as the inverse cube of the decrease in theirs, he is now The Authority (and he is) and they are the Mugs. Geeks [i]know[/i] FTTN is bullshit, (Abborrrrrt hasn't got a clue); [i]Turdball himself [/i]does not believe it! Tell me, [i]YTF would You?![/i] [b]Do It Once ~ Do It [i]Right[/i] ~ Do It [i]FIBRE[/i].[/b] [Good man Tony Windsor. President someday.] DIO,DIR,DIF. Chant this with one fist clenched : [i]Once.Right.Fibre. Once.Right.Fibre. Now The Boot Is On OUR Foot! Kick 'Em Up The Khyber! [/i] We've got 'em on this one, and [i]through this one we can force them either into the open on EVERYTHING[/i], hee hee, or make them run so far and fast and bury themselves so deep their invisibility will be like a big black cloud in a clear blue sky. That will make the Media very hungry suddenly. Every time either Turdy or PiG~THiNG appear from now on they will be peppered with FTTN questions. Abborrrrt won't know what to say at all, (he'll try to get off saying he's not a tech-head, that won't be good enough from now on) and Turdy will be assailed mercilessly. And then the Media must at last start asking serious questions about funding and maybe even a bit of policy. Especially funding, they don't really understand policy and it's boring, but money, (that they always want to know about if it's Labor), h'mmm, maybe they can finally get interested in Hockeynomics ... They're not going to like it ... Dismay for Them Ab[b]borrr[/b]ttians. Delight for Us [i]*J*U*L*I*A*s ![/i] [b]VENCEREMOS[/b]!

Bacchus

10/04/2013Apparently, "middle click" can be setup in OSX... http://arnab.org/blog/getting-middle-click-work-tab-browsing-mac-os-x

KHTAGH

10/04/2013Jane [quote]The world is well rid of that appalling creature Thatcher. Now we have to wait for the wizened foreigner to pop his clogs. [/quote] They would both be fighting over a leadership challenge to hold the pitchfork, to depose the Devil as being lowly qualified in comparison. AA Would it be possible to have TPS code changed so clicked links would appear in a new page please? if possible.

2353

10/04/2013It seems that the Government is having a good week. The PM's agreement with China to have annual Leaders Meetings is a masterstroke and shows that despite the crap thrown at her (by her own side as well) significant policy advances can be made. This particular policy puts Australia on the same level as the EU, Germany and the US - certainly not a result that would be expected of a 2nd rate Government that Abbott claims we have. ABC taking heads on their Breakfast Show (both in Melbourne and China) were calling this announcement a masterstroke. The LNP's internet policy release yesterday was disastrous. The ABC and Fairfax have both reported its failings, questioned the numbers and pointed out the obvious problems. Fairfax even demonstrates how Abbott could have killed it stone dead after an election - but not he can't without repudiating his own policy (the implication being that his infrastructure plan is 2nd rate anyway - he would have to do it). The best comment I heard this morning is that Turnbull was wooden - like he believed it would never happen. So who is setting the other up for a massive fall here - Abbott or Turnbull? Now all we need for the ALP to shut up and support their leadership - it can't be too hard, can it?

Bacchus

10/04/2013Casablanca said, "[i]This option requires more clicks and is therefore more tedious. In google, for example, I have to (1) right-click on the hyper-link, (2) left-click on 'Copy link location'. (3) left-click to manually open another TAB, then (4) right-click again to place the cursor in the URL window and (5) left-click to select 'Paste & Go'[/i] When you [i]right-click on the hyper-link[/i], why not just select "Open Link in New Tab" or "Open Link in New Window" if you can't use the simpler middle click?

2353

10/04/2013"calling this announcement a masterstroke." should be "calling this announcement a masterstroke and describing how it was done." "but not he can't" should be "but now he can't As you've probably guessed - proof reading is not my strong point. While people are asking for changes to the software used on this blog - an "Edit my Post" button would be nice but I realise that there are a lot of issues involved in providing the facility.

Ad astra

10/04/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Michael

10/04/2013Simple 'open new tab' option for Mac users. Hold down the Control Button when you click on a link on TPS page - a small window appears, select the 'Open in New Tab' option, and... the linked to page appears in a new tab. (Does in Firefox, anyway.)

jaycee

10/04/2013Interesting Euro forum on damaged FTTN. cabinets..also shows the chaos when private sector takes over. http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/virgin_cable/4210624-damaged-green-cabinets.html

LadyInRed

10/04/2013Hi ad astra. Couldn't agree more with your article. TAbbott's links to the IPA (I say links I mean steering wheel) and the amount of religiosity on show are scary indeed. And how about that fraudband policy. Another nail in their election coffin I would say. This will be a hard sell even for Turnbull's silver tongue.

DMW

10/04/2013I know it is dangerous but I've thinking (again) ... [i]The average family only needs ...[/i] The average family uses the family car mostly just to travel around town, to the shops, off to work, drop the kids to sport. The average upper speed limit around town is probably 50 kph. By the way the average travel speed around town is about 35 kph. The average family has 2.3 kids. Therefore all average family cars should have 2.3 seats in the back and be speed limited to 60 kph. The upper limit of 60 kph would be needed so that we could still average 35 kph, though so transport economist might be able to work out a better number, say, 58.5 kph. Nothing like using averages to set limits. Isn't that what those evil commies and socialists do? Use the average to limit society?

DMW

10/04/2013Michael @ 7:52 AM, apparently the commercial networks, 7, 9 & 10 could not get their cameras into Fox Studios to 'film' to fraudband announcement (not sure about ABC/SBS but probably not). Could Nine be saying [i]If you won't let us film your stunts, we won't report them?[/i] Just a thought.

Pappinbarra Fox

10/04/20132353 Said (at 9.00 am) [quote]As you've probably guessed - proof reading is not my strong point. [/quote] Hey - Proofreaders Rule!! OQ!

DMW

10/04/2013Hey 2353, I just figured out why someone accuses us of being the same person. We both lack a skill in accurate proof reeding :P

Ad astra

10/04/2013Truth Seeker Great article and good questions. But who will ask them? Most journos would not even think of such questions, let alone ask them lest they anger their proprietors or their editors.

Ad astra

10/04/2013KHTAGH, Casablanca As you have probably discerned, whether a separate page opens up, or simply replaces the [i]TPS[/i] page when you click a link posted in comments, is not a function of the website. It is function of your browser and your mouse. I use Safari and if I left click a link the new page replaces the [i]TPS[/i] page (and I click 'Back' to get back to [i]TPS[/i]); if I right click, it opens up a new tab (or window) with the linked page displayed, which needs to be closed when read. As suggested by others, experimenting with your mouse may offer other options.

KHTAGH

10/04/2013AA I only ask because if I go to other sites like tweeted times any link opens in a new page (as set in my browser firefox) but TPS doesn't so my assumption was that it is a function of the site.

Sir Ian Crisp

10/04/2013A speech from the vault that sees G Pell praise BA Santamaria makes for interesting reading. Here's a criminal from a bygone era receiving praise from RJ Hawke which comes as no shock considering the interesting info coming out of the ICAC hearing in NSW. [quote][b]Hawke heaps praise on disgraced Bond Former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke has praised disgraced tycoon Alan Bond, describing him as an "outstanding Australian". Mr Bond was jailed in the 1990s for what was described as Australia's biggest corporate fraud, with many small investors losing money. For a time he was the nation's largest brewer, and he also won the America's Cup and set up Australia's first privately funded university. Mr Bond has recently returned to the nation's boardrooms after a long absence. In an extended interview to mark the 30th anniversary of Mr Bond's famous win against the US in the America's Cup yacht race, Mr Hawke acknowledged the contribution of the 74-year-old. At the time of the win, Mr Hawke was the newly elected prime minister, and he memorably described as a "bum" any boss who sacked anyone for not going to work on the day of the spontaneous victory celebrations around the nation. The interview with Mr Hawke is included in a two-part Australian Story program on the Cup commencing tonight. "I think Alan Bond is owed a great deal of gratitude by the Australian people. The way he helped to lift the Australian spirit as a result of that great historic victory of 1983 was great for our country," Mr Hawke said. "May I say by way of postscript, while he served and was found guilty appropriately I like the way he faced up. He didn't, like others, try to run away. He was a model prisoner. "He tried to run education programs for his fellow prisoners. I think in many ways he's been an outstanding Australian." Mr Bond was declared bankrupt in 1992. In 1997, he served four years in prison for defrauding $1.2 billion from his then publicly listed Bell Group. He was bankrupted for $622 million, which still stands as the second-largest personal bankruptcy in history. After a 19-year absence from the nation's rich list, Mr Bond resurfaced in 2008 with a personal fortune estimated to be worth $265 million. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-08/bob-hawke-praises-alan-bond/4613034 [/b][/quote] What is it that attracts ALP "luninaries" (cough cough) to the seedier side of life? Has anyone got a transcript of RJ Hawke praising Deng Xiaoping? Wasn't it Xiaoping who ordered the tanks to crush the protest in Tiananmen Square? I think hundreds died during the 'tank maneuvers' in Tiananmen Square. Gotta love the ALP 'progressives'.

Pikiranku

10/04/2013Casablanca You've hit on a very neat and succinct way of differentiating between the two schemes: the NBN and the NNBN (Nearly National Broadband Network). Very good. Thanks for that. I'll use it.

Ad astra

10/04/2013KHTAGH Blog Engines vary. I tried several sites just now and they all opened by replacing the web page I was on. This blog engine has that default. I use my mouse to open a separate page. Can you point me to sites that open a separate page.

Ad astra

10/04/2013LadyinRed Thank you for your comment. The Coalition’s NBN plan is second rate; its launch resembled two snake oil salesmen trying to con the public into buying their ‘cheap’ but ‘good enough’ oil. And the public knows it is being conned. While acknowledging the unreliability and bias of online polls, in the one in the [i]SMH[/i] yesterday that attracted almost twenty thousand votes, three quarters preferred Labor’s NBN. Unreliable or not, that will strike fear into Abbott and Turnbull. Turnbull is a poor advocate for something in which he does not have his heart, for which he has to use arguments that are contrary to his inner feelings. It shows. It showed yesterday, and again this morning on Jon Faine’s ABC radio show. When Faine assailed him with several media comments: ‘a lemon’, ‘NBN-lite’ and so on, he became testy. He accused Faine of an ‘unfair’ introduction, insisted on quoting some favourable commentors (whom Faine labelled as ‘the cheer squad’), and then adopted a now common technique (originated by the US Tea Party and used extensively on Fox News) of talking over Faine, bullying his way into the conversation, and protesting that he was not being given a fair hearing, not allowed to finish what he was saying. Turnbull does not like losing or being contradicted. Judging from the hundreds of text messages that Faine received, his listeners were predominately in favour of Labor’s NBN. I have noticed how Coalition people are becoming more aggressive on radio and TV. Scott Morrison has long used the bullying ‘keep talking until your questioner is silenced’ approach. Barnaby Joyce babbles over his questioner. Yesterday Tony Abbott became testy when Rafael Epstein confronted him with the untruthfulness of one of his assertions. He rebuked Epstein for not showing him respect! This from a man who shows no respect at all for his opponents! Expect Coalition members to exhibit more aggression, more testiness and more complaints about ‘unfair treatment’ as the pressure goes on them to explain their policies, justify them and explain how they will pay for them. They have had a free ride from the media so far and allowed to get away with no policies, flimsy policies, no costings, paltry attempts at costings, and flawed explanations. The heat is now on Abbott and Co. and they don’t like it.

MWS

10/04/2013Thanks everybody for the different ways to open a link in a new tab (or window). I've always done a right-click and selected "open in new tab", but experimenting, <Ctrl> and left-click performs "open in new tab" in Google Chrome. For those not tech-savvy, "open in new tab" creates a new tab in the same browser. "Open in new window" starts another copy of the browser program, with the link as the first tab in it. For those who missed it the first time I posted, to avoid scrolling down to the end-of-page when there are many comments (especially tedious with a tablet), go to the left hand side of "The Political Sword" home page and click on the first "Recent Comments." This takes you all the way to the last comment!!!

JewelNature

10/04/2013Another important article from The Political Sword - a must-follow. Voters should be made aware of Abbott's agenda - he is trying to con Australians into thinking he's harmless when he has the potential to be do a lot of harm to people doing it toughest in this nation - which would go backwards under an LNP led by him. He has a very dark aura and intent, despite claiming to be Christian. Jesus would've branded him a power-mad Pharisee, along with his mates Murdoch and Pell.

MWS

10/04/2013By the way #Fraudband is now trending at number 2 on Australian Twitter trends. I don't know who coined "Fraudband", but I'd like to thank them. "Fraudband" has also entered the MSM, with Channel 7 highlighting it in one of their news bulletins.

MWS

10/04/2013#Fraudband is now number 1! That was fast!

LadyInRed

10/04/2013Ad yes the cracks are starting to appear and finally some scrutiny of Abbott's leadership skills and his lack of direction for a positive future are being delved into, at least by some in the media. Thus far his whole campaign has been about keeping the pressure on the government, and the chaos theory, as being his sole route into the lodge. The result is he has a lazy good for nothing front bench, no solid policies, and no vision. The idea that he even wants to sell this NBN policy to the Australian people shows you just how much he actually holds the average punter in disdain. He really believes most of the electorate are ignorant when it comes to technology. He believes all it will take is the silver tongue of Turnbull to convince the electorate that they do not need FTTH now.... oh and by the way you ignorant lot you probably will never require very fast broadband. From this I can only assume he has NO aspirations for the average Australian, the average Aussie can simply remain technologically ignorant (and his education policy feeds into this as well). As far as he is concerned it suits the conservative agenda, that they should keep the population as ignorant as possible, thereby protecting Murdoch's power.

42 long

10/04/2013Something that really got to me was on 2GB last friday night when a phone in person called The prime minister "IT". ( as if "she" (Pyne) and all the other derogatory terms are not showing enough disrespect for the office. The host (mark someone? did not oppose the term (IT) but I got to thinking would a man have been labelled similarly?? This show is sponsored by North Shore BMW and penetrates into Germany.. Commented on by the host. BMW stopped sponsoring the station over Jones's "died of shame comment" relating to Julia's father . In my view this is at as bad. Why not let BMW know?? I would be hardly likely to flash my BMW keyring around IF people who find that comment OK also have them. What target audience do they want for their cars and bikes? EMAIL BMW AND LET THEM KNOW. THEN THEY WILL ACT>

Curi-Oz

10/04/2013The NNBN (I like it too) or #Fraudband is less expensive and less ambitious and thereby less threatening to those who think they are in positions of power. It is interesting reading all the blogs/articles about Thatcher. It brings back something of the times I lived in as an unaware teenager before migrating to Australia. But what I am finding odd is the sneaking suspicion that the current situation here has the same flavour. Abbott and his cronies seem to think that they are in a similar position to Thatcher and have to 'destroy the unions' not realising that they are at this end of history! Except that they have recognised that better access to information, via a real NBN, and better educated masses who can use it more effectively, would actually permit the gapping holes in their arguments to be spotted and flagged more quickly. I some respects I am coming to the belief that the LNP (and their backers) are relying on the fact that most people are not interested in politics, are too busy and worried about their own lives to actually think about how they are governed, and easily distracted by the next shiney thing being advertised to really pay attention to how our society is being controlled. Regards,

Curi-Oz

10/04/2013JewelNature ... I think that Pell, Murdoch et al could probably be classed as both Pharasees and Saducees, as they like to stick to the letter of the law just so long as they can cover it in g(u)ilt and claim it as theirs. Regards,

MWS

10/04/2013I've just stumbled across a quote from Bill Bryson (in [i]Down Under[/i]) about John Howard: [quote]Imagine a very committed funeral home director someone whose burning ambition from the age of 11 was to be a funeral home director. Then halve his personality and halve it again, and you have pretty well got John Howard.[/quote] It's in an article on Independent Australia by Sandi Keane about John Howard's lack of remorse for the Iraq War: http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/john-howard-lazarus-lying/

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10/04/2013JewelNature Welcome to [i]The Political Sword[/i] family and thank you for your comment. Do come again. I like your colourful Gravatar. You are right about Abbott: [i]“He has a very dark aura and intent, despite claiming to be Christian.”[/i]

jaycee

10/04/2013Reflecting on the events of this week, what with the NBN. balls up, the wonderful success of the PM.’s China trip and the oppn’s lying over the super’ sceme..one really has to say that the Opp’n is in no way ready to govern….the LOTO. is in no way suitable OR ready to govern. The shadow cabinet (IS there a shadow cabinet?) is in no way ready to govern…the Libs’ better bite the bullet and let this election go through to the keeper!

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10/04/2013Curi-Oz I do like your new Gravatar. I like your analogy using the Pharisees, the sticklers for tradition with their pretensions to superior sanctity, and the Sadducees, of upper social and economic echelon of Judean society. It fits Pell, Murdoch and Rinehart.

KHTAGH

10/04/2013AA [quote]Can you point me to sites that open a separate page.[/quote] Blog sites no, I didn't realise there was a differentiation between blog engines & sites like http://tweetedtimes.com its not a problem as I nearly always use right click open new tab too just sometimes I forget & have to reload TPS again. Then find where I was in the comments & Lyns links. My apologies Ad I was just being a bit pedantic.

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10/04/2013TT You are right. First Abbott asked Turnbull ‘to demolish the NBN’, but he couldn’t and didn’t. FAIL. Abbott and Turnbull called it an ‘enormously expensive White Elephant’, in other words useless and too costly, but now he’s adopting an NBN himself. FAIL. Turnbull came up with a second rate NBN, which the people do not want – it insults them. FAIL. Inappropriately, Abbott and Turnbull try to sell it from a Foxtel studio, giving the ‘we are in the Murdoch pocket message’. FAIL. They sell it poorly – looking like snake oil salesmen, but lacking the panache and slickness of snake oil men. FAIL. They react testily to the few probing questions the media asked. FAIL. Next day they are still reacting testily to questions and feedback from the media and the public that gives their NBN-lite the thumbs down. FAIL. Seven FAILS on just one policy – their first exposed to public gaze. Not a great start. Maybe it’s a portent of what will happen when they present their other conservative policies. [b]VENCEREMOS![/b]

Truth Seeker

10/04/2013Ad, thanks for your comment and kind words regarding my article :-) The questions were primarily ones that I thought were applicable, without thinking too much about who might ask them, but my main hope is that these are questions that the voters might not ask out loud, but might be prompted to require answers to, and start to question the questioners. I figure that if the general public get an idea in their heads about what should be asked, then their expectations may be raised somewhat, and then might start to see through the lies and spin. Cheers :-) :-)

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10/04/2013Hi Lyn I’ve just finished your marvellous links. There’s not much joy there for Abbott or Turnbull about their NBN-lite, even from their official organ, [i]The Australian[/i]. This experience will not give them much confidence for the next policy announcement. What a change to see them in the firing line!

42 long

10/04/2013It would be interesting to watch them in government but I don't think the world or the australian people deserve that. ( Well, pehaps the zombie voters who swallow the bunkum do , but they have certainly been subjected to an unprecedented barrage of misinformation. Back in the jungle those who are so unaware of reality would have been eaten by something. Greed and preservation of power drives the lot. Corruption abounds, ( but you already knew that). Never before in history has the survival of so many relied on wisdom which appears non existant in the ranks of the LeiNP. All they want is to "get IN". Being in opposition is agony ( poor dears) but they need more time there, because they don't deserve anything better. As an opposition what have they contributed to the running of Australia? Zilch. They actually cause it damage at every opportunity they can find. Gillard BAD Abbott GOOD, because they SAY so. I know which mob I would prefer for neighbours. Australia operates with less than 2 weeks reserve of liquid hydrocarbon fuel. Things like that need attention. At least the Labor party have tackled the tough questions. You have to give them credit for that and the LOTO has more to fear from scrutiny, WHICH HE RUNS AWAY FROM . What a man! Now the THIRD fastest runner in the Lower House. Shorten, the gazelle (Pyne) and Tones.

lyn

10/04/2013Hi Ad, Thankyou very much for another wonderful article & thankyou for belonging to us Ad Astra. [quote]Abbott and the Murdoch, Rinehart, Pell connection[/quote] They sure confirmed their attachment to Murdoch, fancy using Fox Studio's, plenty of pictures being spread around of Abbott kissing Rinehart so no doubts there. Did you see I listed the Video of Turnbull & Abbott announcing their fraudband, the reason for posting was, I have never seen such a ridiculous presser before. Abbott was watching Turnbull, appeared as though Abbott didn't understand a word Turnbull was saying. As a matter of fact Abbott looked goofy and Turnbull tormented. Notice the MSM are concentrating on the Boat arrival, seems like they are trying to cover up the goofiness of the fraudband. Space Kidette ‏ Tell Skynews what you think of #fraudband. Vote here: http://www.skynews.com.au/home This Video is worth watching and the article worth a read:- Twitterati cry foul over 'fraudband' new Twitter hashtag – ''fraudband'' – is being used to aggregate mockery of the Coalition's NBN. By Wednesday morning a new ''fraudband'' message was appearing on Twitter every minute http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/twitterati-cry-foul-over-fraudband-20130410-2hkdq.html#ixzz2Q2J0eWkN chris murphy ‏@chrismurphys 1h #fraudband Kohler smashes Abbott."Making last bit of fibre user pays..is a dumb,short-sighted decision"#auspol http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-10/kohler-how-malcolm-turnbull-saved-the-nbn/4619868 … … :):):)

Curi-Oz

10/04/2013I am reminded by a recent tweet that many of these web-polls are predicated on leaving a cookie in one's browser to ensure that only one vote is cast ... I have three browsers on four computers in my house *very evil grin* Not that I would [b]EVER[/b] think of encouraging others to influence polls unduely *attempts to look innocent* :angel:

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10/04/2013Hi Lyn Thanks your kind words and the additional links. There's not much joy there either for Abbott or Turnbull, even from Coalition supporter Alan Kohler.

Bacchus

10/04/2013:D Curi-Oz :D If you use the "Private Window" or "InPrivate browsing" or "New Incognito tab" function on the various browsers, all you need to do to clear the cookie & vote again, is to close & repoen the window. ;-)

Pikiranku

10/04/201342 Long "Back in the jungle those who were so unaware of reality would have been eaten by something." That's exactly what's going to happen here, too. Trouble is we're all going to be gobbled up with them! AA, there's an AFR article (sorry, I can never manage to copy those addresses!) with information you could add to your list of FAILS. Abbott said this morning that they'd be building about 20,000 street-corner boxes, while somewhere else Turnbull was saying they'd need about 60,000! They've really thought this one through! (Not!)

Catching up

10/04/2013How can one forget Santamaria. Not that I think anyone influences Abbott. Seems able to change with whatever way the wind blows. What drives Abbott, is his belief he was born to be PM. I feel he has given little thought about what he will do, if he achieves, what his parents promised. That is what makes him dangerous, Not establish values, but lack of them.

2353

10/04/2013When Skynews can't even get the poll on the NNBN (I like it too) to be positive - you know Abbott has a problem. DMW & P Fox - thanks for the support about proof reading skill - I think I hit a new low today. DMW - I agree about the confusion - given for a start that it's well known I'm in Brisbane and you're in Canberra, it shows the low limit of their comprehension and understanding of even basic information. This is becoming an interesting week. The PM nails it - the LOTO stuffs it. May there be many similar weeks. Please ALP - just shut up. Let LOTO & Turnbull wallow in their own stuff up without someone giving them a chance to point and yell "look over there".

Sir Ian Crisp

10/04/2013In a sign that the Australian Liars Party can't get it right the fanfare surrounding its Gonski education reform has been reduced to a discordant cacophony and is now no more than a Conski. From bats to boats the ALP seems to be a lost cause.

paul walter

10/04/2013I'm naturally not going to quarrel with the article when the Abbott as puppet of Murdoch theory is mine also. Also the photo doing the rounds at the mo of the Abbott sucking up to Jabba the Hutt means little further comment is required as to it. Mannix was a divisive old pest who came from the rough era of true sectarianism, of the (Irish) catholic underclass, of suspicious protestantism and shadowy masonic lodges for the nobs. Mannix is best left in his grave, like Murdoch and Thatcher, less use than a hip-pocket on a singlet.

nasking

10/04/2013 CASABLANCA, CHEERS! I READ THAT ARTICLE YOU LINKED TO (SORRY LATE GETTING HERE...HAD FIVE YR OLD BUNDLE OF ENERGY NEPHEW STAY OVER LAST NIGHT SO JUST DID QUICK FACEBOOK)... NOW, SEEMS GOING BY THE POLL ON THERE THAT 76% OF PEOPLE SAW THRU THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS PROVIDED BY FOX SPORTS STUDIO HOSTING THE SHONKY TWINS ABBOTT AND TURNBULL. I RECKON THE SHONKY TWINS STUFFED UP BIGTIME...SELLING THEIR INTEGRITY TO THE MURDOCH EMPIRE... RUPERT WILL KEEP THEIR POLITICAL SOULS IN A BLACK BOX SITUATED IN A SUBTERRANEAN VAULT SOMEWHERE IN NEW YORK... NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN. ABBOTT AND TURNBULL'S FACES WILL GRADUALLY TRANSFORM INTO THOSE OF THE TORTURED AND HAUNTED... LOOKING LIKE THEY HAVE CONSTANT PAINFUL HEMORRHOIDS (IT'S OBVIOUS ABBOTT'S SOUL HAS BEEN IN THE VAULT FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW)... OCCASIONALLY A MASK APPEARS THAT REPLACES THE PAINED LOOK WITH INSANE FANATICAL GLEE AND GRANDIOSE ARROGANCE... OR MEAN DEMON... HUMOUR IS REPLACED WITH SICK WIT...MOCKING MENACE... AND SOON ANYTHING RESEMBLING COMPASSION, EMPATHY AND HONESTY WILL VANISH LIKE A CELEBRITY OR CRIME VICTIM'S MOBILE PHONE MESSAGES... INTO THE BLACK VOID THAT IS MURDOR. N'

Miglo

10/04/2013I know with Wordpress, you can set an option to have a separate page open when you click on a link.

lyn

11/04/2013Today’s Links A lesser future by @awelder Abbott is trying to get people to vote Liberal in the name of economic responsibility, while also retaining the belief that any spending cuts won't really affect them. http://andrewelder.blogspot.com.au/ Megapoll – Full Breakdowns by Possum @Pollytics For those of you that haven’t heard, the largest scientific political poll undertaken in Australian history has just been released http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/2013/04/10/megapoll-full-breakdowns/ Bias Against Female PM Replicated in Boardrooms Across Australia (Canberra) by JASON SCOTT AND MATTHEW WINKLER The press do give Julia a hard time and I think probably harder than if there'd been a male in that position," http://www.northjersey.com/news/international/202347271_Bias_Against_Female_PM_Replicated_in_Boardrooms_Across_Australia__Canberra_.html Coalition Policy Fails Basic Honesty Tests by @sortius the $90b figure comes from poorly formed assumptions, & all assumptions of a complete disaster with the NBN, while ignoring reality. The four assumptions are: http://sortius-is-a-geek.com/?p=2870 Coalition NBN will suffer in the long term: Experts by @mwyres “fast, affordable” broadband is a quick-fix strategy, which is likely to cost more and be less reliable long-term, according to experts http://michaelwyres.com/newsdesk/article.php?hash=022be19cd99fcf7112517b8706fffaa2 “You cannot change the laws of physics Jim! “ by @AshGhebranious To get the maximum speed on copper, you need much more electricity. http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/you-cannot-change-the-laws-of-physics-jim/ The Coalition’s NBN policy is a triumph of short-termism over long-term vision by Author Peter Gerrand Honorary Professorial Fellow in Telecommunications at University of Melbourne it was sad to see the number of debating tricks employed in launching his national broadband policy. http://coffsoutlook.com/the-coalitions-nbn-policy-is-a-triumph-of-short-termism-over-long-term-vision/ Coalition NBN will suffer in the long term: Experts @renailemay Coalition would run into major delays with its “faster” rollout, like having to renegotiate with Telstra. “I don’t personally see them being able to negotiate with Telstra in under two years,” Dr Gregory said. “ http://delimiter.com.au/2013/04/10/coalition-nbn-will-suffer-in-the-long-term-experts/ User-pays for fastest internet access under Coalition plan by @LizMinchin If current trends continue, NICTA forecast that by 2020 it was conceivable some users would consume 1000 megabits per second. http://theconversation.com/user-pays-for-fastest-internet-access-under-coalition-plan-13328 Coalition's NBN do-over won't be fast or cheap, says Internode's Hackett by Adam Bender In the end, the decision may be “entirely at the whim of Telstra,” because the Coalition would have to renegotiate the contract the big telco signed with Labor, said Hackett. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/458559/coalition_nbn_do-over_won_t_fast_cheap_says_internode_hackett/?fp=16&fpid=1 Turnbull’s NBN Cheaper but Slower by @gabriellechan Labor has the National Broadband Network. The Coalition has just released NBN lite. http://thehoopla.com.au/nbn-lite/ Online connections are critical for rural and remote health and healthcare #NBN by Melissa Sweet In the wake of the Coalition’s NBN policy launch yesterday, conference delegates have been directing some pointed tweets to @TurnbullMalcolm http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2013/04/10/online-connections-are-critical-for-rural-and-remote-health-and-healthcare-nbn/ OMG! Forget the Tech, #Fraudband is an #NBN Fail! by @YaThinkN I need speed of delivery, my clients need speed of delivery, I want to help clients utilise cloud functionality to improve their work productivity, I want to use new technology http://yathink.com.au/article-display/omg-forget-the-tech-fraudband-is-an-nbn-fail,64 Add the NBN to Medicare and compulsory superannuation by @tcookAU Poor old Malcolm, usually so urbane and confident looked a little like Peter Shack yesterday - out of his depth and trying to flog a crock. http://trevorcook.typepad.com/weblog/2013/04/add-the-nbn-to-medicare-and-compulsory-superannuation.html Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage around Australia by @GrogsGamut My Drum piece this week makes use of the census data released by the ABS a couple weeks ago that makes use of the Indices of Relative Advantage and Disadvantage http://grogsgamut.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/drum-piece-socio-economic-advantage-and.html John Howard — Lazarus lying by @Jarrapin Abbott’s strategy of evoking memories of John Howard as the symbol of ‘trust’ has the makings of a Romney-like campaign blunder. http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/john-howard-lazarus-lying/ Abbott and the trivialising of Western culture by @newsfliporg Tony Abbott’s rhetorical use of the ‘Western canon’ shows a clear preference for a specific historical revisionism that says the destiny of Western culture is to be superior, http://www.newsflip.org/2013/04/abbott-and-trivialising-of-western.html The Guardian signs up left-wing heavyweight David Marr ahead of Australia launch by Brendan Coyne The Guardian is pulling together a heavyweight editorial roster ahead of its much trailed Australia launch. The latest big name to sign up to the left-leaning organ is David Marr. http://www.adnews.com.au/adnews/the-guardian-signs-up-left-wing-heavyweight-david-marr-ahead-of-australia-launch The Post-Mortem on Journalism Reform: What Happens Now? Live Blog by @Kevin_Rennie The Chair of the Australian Press Council, Julian Disney, will outline future directions, followed by a panel discussion with ABC Media Watch presenter Jonathan Holmes http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/the-post-mortem-on-journalism-reform-what-happens-now-live-blog/ Today’s Front Pages Australian Newspaper Front Pages for 11 April 2013 http://www.thepaperboy.com/australia/front-pages.cfm

Michael

11/04/2013Today's editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald: Coalition lacks vision with its cheap NBN Date: April 11 2013 The Labor government's 2009 plan of a national broadband network, serving everybody with super-fast internet speeds of 100 Mbps via a fibre-optic cable, was visionary. Australia for decades to come would be equipped for the enormous increases projected for internet usage, and regional areas would be as well serviced as cities at no extra cost to consumers. It would be expensive - $37.4 billion and rising - but brave. The NBN would be applauded by future generations. The Coalition has crimped that vision. In the name of efficiency, it wants to curb the NBN rollout so that, for most homes, the fibre-optic cable now being installed would end at the street corner. The last few metres, from the street to individual premises, would rely on Telstra's copper cables, installed decades ago for phone services. The Coalition's plan hobbles the network at the last point in the chain. This is not the way to build a great nation. The productivity improvements that unquestionably would have flowed from near-uniform super-fast speeds on a fibre-optic network are, under the Coalition's plan, measured against government savings. The Coalition's plan is certainly cheaper, costing taxpayers $20.4 billion (rising to $29.5 billion after renegotiating certain NBN contracts). And the Coalition says high speeds of 25 Mbps - not super speeds - could be achieved by 2016, five years earlier than the NBN's stated completion date. While later improvements may lift speeds to 50-100 Mbps by 2019, the Coalition says 25 Mbps is ''enough'' for Australian homes. Anyone wanting faster broadband can pay their own way - thousands of dollars - to replace the copper wires with fibre. What a depressingly shortsighted approach this is from the Coalition. It trades quality for savings, and in so doing risks undermining the point of an NBN, which was not about what individuals might want; its purpose was to cater for the entire spectrum of business, educative, personal and entertainment opportunities so that all of us - as a nation - would benefit, productivity would be improved, and the resilience of the network (in terms of speed and utility) would not be jeopardised by lumpen technology. If it has got to be done, it must be done properly. For the sake of $17 billion or so - we are not saying that is small money, mind you - and a few extra years, we could have the NBN intact with first-class technology. We have already waited a long time for something like this. Too many years were wasted under a Coalition government that shied away from implementing anything like a major broadband network. The Coalition can harangue all it likes about the NBN's costs, but if it had started something eight years ago, a lower-cost version would already be well under way. All sides of politics agree we need a national broadband network, and quickly, because of the fundamental role the internet plays in industry and our society. It would be a travesty to botch this historically important project. The Coalition, though, has failed the test of true vision. "crimped" "depressingly shortsighted" "travesty" "botch" "failed the test of true vision" A quick grab of quotes from the article. They actually sum up Coalition 'policy' and the utterances of Dud Leader overall. But will the pennies all drop, or is Australia re-entering the "golden age" of Howard when vision was anathema? (Which is a Latin word that in Shouldabeen-speak translates as 'too hard'.)

2353

11/04/2013This piece from John Birmingham in the Brisbane Times only went up an hour or so ago and probably missed Lyn's cut off. It's worth a read - and no one so far in the comments is defending Turnbull -> http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/blogs/blunt-instrument/free-floppies-a-policy-flop-20130410-2hldq.html [quote]The Opposition Leader promised today that every Australian household would receive a free floppy disk drive and monochrome monitor under an Abbott-led government. Launching the Coalition’s long awaited response to the government’s National Broadband Network program, Mr Abbott denied that providing a floppy drive and monitor without the computing box to plug them into would leave Australian households with a second best solution. “If people want that extra functionality,” he said, “they can spend a few thousand dollars to upgrade to a very fast 386 or even 486 computing box.”[/quote]

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11/04/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

TalkTurkey

11/04/2013Labor is the Party for the Future! The Liberals are the Party of the Past. (That's good :)) Broadband speed or highspeed rail, Abborrt's mob are FAIL FAIL FAIL! With *J*U*L*I*A* we're [i]First[/i] - and Rising Fast! But I don't think I can fit 'er On Twitter.

42 long

11/04/2013The NO alitions lack of talent, vision and comprehension is on show. Years of dummy spitting and loathing their undeserved (in their view) occupancy of the opposition benches has made them bitter and nasty and litle else. There is not much to abbott and his crew.

Catching up

11/04/2013I wonder how reliable the hybrid system proposed by the Opposition will be. Will the unreliable services that copper wire delivers, continue after they take over the copper for the last few metres. I do not believe there is a region in this nation, that many complain about the service they are now getting. I cannot understand why one would take the state of the art fibre, which will meet the nation needs for the next century, and hook it onto crapped out copper, ensuring it will not deliver as it should. The savings do not justify a second class outcome. The present NBNCo, is still the cheapest system in the long term. Long term, meaning less than a decade. One can have better, at less overall cost, than the hybrid system, with all it's draw backs that the Opposition is proposing. Prudent economies, says we continue the way we are now. Why throw the baby out with the bath water. At least Turnbull has convinced Abbott for the need for faster broadband. Pity he could not convince him, that this might be the time to show some bipartsanship. That one does not have to oppose everything.

Catching up

11/04/2013Turkey, Labor builds, Liberals demolish. We need to fear that giant wrecking ball.

42 long

11/04/2013They ( the LeiNP) are totally unable to admit that Labor can do anything good, as they are unable to admit THEY (the LieNP) are not the answer to everything. They HATE Labor and those who would vote for them. Class war? Heavens NO. Just the way things are. ( As MY GOD ordained)

Michael

11/04/2013http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4622176.html Some of the Coalition's usual trolls clutter up the comments section, but you'll find a useful exposition of the $90 billion claim made by the Dud Leader and Mister Mendacity (forget Mister Broadband) Malcolm Turnbull for Labor's costing of an NBN. Incidentally, the original presenting of that figure was from Joe Hockey and out of the air around him. He makes things up, folks.

Jason

11/04/2013Mark Latham Gillard right in rejecting Labor roosters http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/gillard_right_in_rejecting_labor_ncDOev5kQ8G9J86Oy4N3BN

nasking

11/04/2013 TOP LINKS LYN... FROM TREVOR COOK: [quote] Broadband seems now to be up there with health and super as something most Australians seem to believe most people should have good access to no matter where they live, or how wealthy they are. We Aussies believe in freedom with a bloody strong and wide safety net. One problem for the Libs is that their efforts at a 'private' solution on broadband access were tried during the Howard era and like Shack's health policy it just didn't add up. They just couldn't get it to work. Like health for everyone, they discovered, broadband for everyone actually costs money. Turnbull's new broadband policy is an attempt to have an NBN by any other means. Poor old Malcolm, usually so urbane and confident looked a little like Peter Shack yesterday - out of his depth and trying to flog a crock.[/quote] http://trevorcook.typepad.com/weblog/2013/04/add-the-nbn-to-medicare-and-compulsory-superannuation.html CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT MURDOCH...WHOOPS...TELSTRA...WHOOPS...RINEHART...WHOOPS...SINGLETON...WHOOPS... IPA...WHOOPS...PUPPET MASTERS...WHOOPS...ABBOTT COALITION POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT. N'

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11/04/2013Hi Lyn Your links this morning reinforce what we were saying yesterday – that the Abbott/Turnbull NBN-lite promises to be a lemon of gigantic proportions. It will be an albatross that will hang rotting around the Coalition’s neck while the voters hold their nose. No amount of sweet-talking, no amount of obfuscation, no amount of testiness will avert the public’s gaze from this failed policy. Now that the media have the NBN-lite in their sights, Abbott and Turnbull will be their target.

Janet (jan@j4gypsy)

11/04/2013 Jason has already put the link up, but here it is in full becos it's a 'must-read' Latham 'back-story' cum 'behind-the-scenes' rant. [b]Gillard right in rejecting Labor roosters[/b] [i]MARK LATHAM[/i] Unlike Labor, despite its many dramas, the Coalition doesn’t have a ‘philosophical structure of its own,’ says former Labor leader Mark Latham. One of the amusing traditions of Australian politics is to watch right-wing commentators embrace Labor dissidents. A month ago Simon Crean and Martin Ferguson were bumbling, uninspiring, middle-ranking ministers. Today they are heroes of truth and foresight, having criticised Julia Gillard for not following “the Hawke-Keating model”. This ritual says a lot about the anti-progressive side of conservative politics. It has no philosophical structure of its own, hence its fascination with Labor ideology. Australian conservatism is anti-equality and anti-environment. Tony Abbott is the perfect leader of this “anti” movement – a politician so devoid of ideas he regularly poses for the media with a twee book of Liberal Party platitudes in front of him, like a child holding the class-board in primary school photographs. The right-wing commentariat love the Crean-Ferguson message because it de-legitimises Labor in government. Given their role in trashing the Hawke-Keating economic legacy after Labor’s 1996 election defeat, it cannot be on the question of open industry competition that Crean and Ferguson want a return to the policies of the 1980s and ’90s. Rather, when these two protectionists talk about the Hawke-Keating model, they are referring to the myth of consensus politics – or as they put it, “governing for all Australians”. [i]PUSHING AGAINST THE DEAD HAND OF CONSERVATISM[/i] In truth, Bob Hawke’s rhetorical appeal for consensus was of limited use to Labor. By the time of the rancorous 1985 tax summit, it was dead as a philosophy of government. Hawke’s successor, Paul Keating, delighted in telling his caucus of how he was in “the conflict business” – pushing through big picture reforms against the dead hand of conservative opposition. This is the authentic Labor tradition. To have sat around in the current term of parliament pleading for national consensus would have meant no action on climate change. If Gough Whitlam had sought consensus in the 1970s, he would not be remembered today for universal health insurance, needs-based schools funding and recognising China. If Keating had listened to every pet shop galah opposed to micro-reform, he would never have built Australia’s miracle economy. Conservatives hanker for a broad-based consensus because it means inertia, propping up their ruling class values. The challenge for Labor is to adapt to the political consequences of the Hawke-Keating economy. The unprecedented wealth creation of the past 20 years has made large parts of Australian society self-sufficient. The old left-wing organisational model – centred on working class solidarity and mass unionism – is moribund. [i]NEED TO GET RID OF OLD BAGGAGE[/i] The modernisation of the party will only be achieved by reformers free from the institutional baggage of old Labor. As former ACTU presidents and sons of parliamentarians, Crean and Ferguson are part of Labor’s internal ruling class. With their exit from the ministry, the party’s frontbench, for the first time since 1983, is void of second-generation MPs – something Abbott should welcome, given his longstanding complaint about “Labor’s hereditary peers”. An interesting feature of Gillard’s prime ministership has been the way she has fallen out with the hereditary sub-faction: former cabinet ministers Crean, Ferguson, Joel Fitzgibbon and Robert McClelland. Contrary to the right-wing media stereotype, Gillard is her own person. She is often fitted up as a puppet of the union movement but, in practice, union leaders have supported her mainly because of their hatred of Kevin Rudd. There is a detailed back-story to her split with Crean, Ferguson, Fitzgibbon and McClelland but in each case Gillard rejected their sense of entitlement, their born-to-rule belief in holding positions of influence beyond their ability. Crean wanted to be the government’s chief strategist and when this became unachievable under Gillard, he flipped over to wanting to be Rudd’s deputy. Ferguson was once the head of Labor’s “soft left” faction but lost control of his group to Gillard in 2003 – a lingering source of resentment. After last year’s Labor leadership ballot, Fitzgibbon thought he was entitled to Mark Arbib’s ministerial vacancy. When this went to Bob Carr, the chief government whip became the chief government leaker. So too McClelland has never recovered from being dumped from cabinet, planting the poison of the ancient AWU matter in a parliamentary speech in June 2012. Gillard has done the right thing with these four roosters. Whereas weaker politicians would have caved in to them, she has displayed the essential ingredient of leadership: strong-willed independence.

Gravel

11/04/2013Ad Astra It will be a disastrous and scary future for every Aussie if they get in at the next election. A topic you might like to keep in mind if the awful does eventuate. What policies can they actually change without going through Parliament? Fraudband is the only description for their policy. How to hold the country down and we'll end like a third world country if it happens.

GrannyAnny

11/04/2013Catching Up I it was a fairly logical step for the conservatives to propose a half baked version of the NBN. Their whole strategy has been to denigrate everything about the Goverment. This effort was entirely about exagerating problems and costs of the real NBN and then trying to show that they could do much better. It had nothing to do with providing the country with broadband services. They are so thick that they chose a highly technical issue to try to compare themselves with the Government and made such a mess of it that they are now being laughed at. I think the real consequence of this debacle will be that we will see no more detailed policy from the conservatives before September the 14th.

Gordon WA

11/04/2013If I remember correctly Tony Abbott appointed Malcolm Turnbull to "destroy the NBN". Essentially he was saying there will be no NBN under a government that I lead. He claims he is now going to build an NBN. So did he lie? Perhaps he just changed his mind due to the changing circumstances (that is, Labor's NBN is too damn popular). But, of course, he didn't lie. If he gets elected in September he will effectively destroy the real NBN by foisting his second rate lemon on to us.

KHTAGH

11/04/2013 I have said it before & I'll say it again, had the Lieberals not crapped on the NBN last election they would have won, they have not learnt a thing, this will again cost them the election. It is in their Lieberal DNA, ON-ONE gets anything for free unless is our mates in this country. Unfortunately with this announcement being such a debacle we will see the rest of their policies around September 12-13.

KHTAGH

11/04/2013These are the type of speeds that are coming & the LNP will stop with their snailnet. [quote]Joel Carpenter and Ben Eggleton from the University of Sydney, managed to transmit a signal of 10 terabits per second (Tb/s) more than 850 km (528 miles) using the new technology.[/quote] http://www.gizmag.com/cudos-fiber-optic-network-capacity/26969/

Tom of Melbourne

11/04/2013[i] Gillard right in rejecting Labor roosters
 MARK LATHAM[/i] So…is Latham right, or are people here just going to just cherry pick the pieces of his article they agree with?

nasking

11/04/2013 THIS GOT STACE AND I LARFING AND NODDING: [b]TONY ABBOTT - I'M AGAINST IT[/b] http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=fdZeGYCOkXM&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DfdZeGYCOkXM%26feature%3Dyoutu.be N'

Jason

11/04/2013ToM, "So…is Latham right," Yes! It's time some of the time servers such as the "roosters" Latham named moved on!

Tom of Melbourne

11/04/2013Fine Jason. Look at the facts. For example… [i] The modernisation of the party will only be achieved by reformers free from the institutional baggage of old Labor.[/i] …ie affiliated unions [i] Paul Keating, delighted in telling his caucus of how he was in “the conflict business” – pushing through big picture reforms against the dead hand of conservative opposition. This is the authentic Labor tradition.[/i] …which isn’t a fact. Keating’s Prime Ministership was cruelled by the dead hand of self interst, mainly unions, and Keatings attempts to pacify them. [i] If Gough Whitlam had sought consensus in the 1970s,[/i] …he might have listened to some decent economic advice, and therefore leaving a legacy of reform and economic success. [i] If Keating had listened to every pet shop galah opposed to micro-reform,[/i] …he did in the final year, and that’s why his government was stymied by sectional interests. His government lost its reform zeal. [i] She is often fitted up as a puppet of the union movement[/i] …because she is. Who can forget Paul Howes boasting on Lateline that Rudd was finished,

Jason

11/04/2013ToM, If Crean Mcclelland Fitzgibbon et al aren't "old Labor" what is? But don't dazzle me with quotes, put a few names to it! Anyway what do the "sons" of former "Whitlam ministers" have to offer today? Forget about Howes "big noting" on Lateline he also has an electorate to service,and since it's Shorten and the shoppies that have the say Howes is just another of your diversions

nasking

11/04/2013 INTERESTING THAT ABBOTT WANTS TO SPEND BILLIONS ON DRONES THAT COULD BE SEEN BY NEIGHBOURS AS DEADLY INTRUSION... AND HE WANTS THE NAVY TO STOP BOATS WHICH PUTS SEAMEN AND OTHERS AT RISK... BUT HE WON'T SUPPORT A MALAYSIAN SOLUTION. SO, HE'D RATHER PUT AT RISK OUR SAILORS AND COAST GUARD BECAUSE HE PRETENDS HE'S WORRIED ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF REFUGEES IN MALAYSIA??? WHAT A LOAD OF BS. ABBOTT IS JUST PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES...AND SHOULD BE STOMPED ON FOR IT. HIS STUBBORNESS HAS LED TO THE LOSS OF MANY LIVES AND CAUSED A BIG FINANCIAL COST. AND IT SEEMS HIS DOPEY PLANS COULD TURN US INTO PIRATES ON THE HIGH SEAS: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-11/turning-back-boats-an-act-of-piracy/4623590 THE LIBERAL PARTY WILL RUE THE DAY THEY PUT THIS NEGATIVE MORON IN AS LEADER... SOMEONE NEEDS TO SEND HIM AND HIS BOATPHONE TO A MUSEUM...PUT THEM ALONGSIDE INVENTIONS THAT FAILED. N'

nasking

11/04/2013 ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH DRONES IS THE REPUTATION THEY HAVE IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES LIKE PAKISTAN...HOW MANY MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THEM? OUR NEIGHBOURS IN INDONESIA HAVE PLENTY OF MUSLIMS. COULD THE CONSTANT USE OF DRONES BY AUSTRALIA INCREASE MUSLIM RADICALISM IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES LIKE INDONESIA? N'

Pikiranku

11/04/2013If we've got $1.5 billion to throw around (the price tag of the proposed drones) why not spend it in a more humane, caring and constructive way? $1.5 billion would feed/house/re-train an awful lot of refugees and we'd gain some worthwhile, productive and hopefully happy, citizens out of it. What will we - or the world - gain from us buying drones?

TalkTurkey

11/04/2013Just think of the party Aussies can have when the Lying Rodent follows Thatcher to his reward heh heh heh, And if any folks think I'm about to apologise for that, Well I 'll rejoice when they do too. I'd rather be ungracious than hypocritical.

Tom of Melbourne

11/04/2013[i] If we've got $1.5 billion to throw around (the price tag of the proposed drones)[/i] Spoken by someone who disparages indigenous people who don’t share her political perspective. How much does it cost to operate a detention centre?

Paul of Berwick

11/04/2013"I am confident that it gives Australians what they need," Abbott said. Does this sum up the approach of a potential Abbott Government - we will tell the people what they need & they will be happy with it. http://www.zdnet.com/au/abbott-25mbps-broadband-more-than-enough-for-australia-7000013721/

nasking

11/04/2013 IF HOWARD BELIEVED HE'D STOPPED THE BOATS WHY WAS HE EXPANDING THE CHRISTMAS ISLAND DETENTION CENTRE? N'

lyn

12/04/2013Today’s Links The truth behind our ‘dangerous’ public debt levels by Philip Soos these criticisms over public debt have nothing to do with either political party being good or bad economic managers, but rather, is the result of cheap political point scoring, hoping the public doesn’t do its research http://theconversation.com/the-truth-behind-our-dangerous-public-debt-levels-13245 Coalition Gaffe: Turnbull And Abbott Wrong On Geelong NBN Claim by @mwyres You either lied / tried to mislead people, or you were too lazy to check your facts. http://michaelwyres.com/2013/04/coalition-gaffe-turnbull-and-abbott-wrong-on-geelong-nbn-claim/ $94 billion NBN? It’s a nice, unproven, soundbite by @renailemay facts are that the Coalition’s own workings (PDF) do not assume the $94 billion mark to be the eventual case for the NBN; and it’s http://delimiter.com.au/2013/04/11/94-billion-nbn-its-a-nice-unproven-soundbite/ @NoFibs NBN policy articles curated by citizen journo @pascalg15 My goal is to collate the articles I’ve read about the NBN Co’s FTTH or the LNP’s FTTN alternative in one place. I’ll regularly update this list. http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/nofibs-nbn-policy-articles-curated-by-citizen-journo-pascalg15/ The Real Abbott Agenda by David Griffiths Will a Federal Coalition Government seek to destroy Australian solidarity and mutuality through these policies: http://www.australiasmassmedia.com/ Tony Abbott's $4 Billion Superannuation Tax Raid by @DavidBradburyMP Mr Abbott again confirmed he will hit the super savings of 3.6 million Australians http://assistant.treasurer.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2013/042.htm&pageID=003&min=djba&Year=&DocType= Future generations won't go quietly into that good night by @timdunlop Upcoming generations of the elderly are going to have completely different demands and expectations about what retirement is http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4622732.html Is Tony Abbott the new Gough Whitlam? by Alan Davies Here’s the ‘Crash or crash through’ program the IPA hopes he will implement forthwith http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/04/11/is-tony-abbott-the-new-gough-whitlam/ The NBN proposals in plain speak by @chakko Tony, please don’t sink my tax dollars into a half-baked alternative, based on a decaying copper wire just because you want to win an election http://www.thevine.com.au/life/tech/the-nbn-proposal-in-plainspeak/ Abbott’s End –Lights, Camera, Oops by Bob Ellis a shift in the polls of a quarter of a million voters back to Labor, two party preferred http://coffsoutlook.com/15537/ China, Australia to collaborate on carbon market by David Twomey Australia’s Labor Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced during her visit to the Chinese capital, Beijing, that Australia and China had agreed to new arrangements to strengthen their http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/china-australia-to-collaborate-on-carbon-market/ Margaret Thatcher and neo-liberal sovereignty by @MarkBahnisch Alastair Campbell, rightly, said that MPs should debate Thatcher’s legacy, “not just pay tribute”. http://larvatusprodeo.net/archives/2013/04/margaret-thatcher-and-neo-liberal-sovereignty/ House Of Fun by @madwixxy Coalition have always been known for their ability to sell off public assets, even after they have criticised the former Labor government for considering it, http://wixxyleaks.com/2013/04/11/house-of-fun/ Speaking ill of the Dead by Lucy Clark, On Twitter today (since deleted) Ms Bishop went further and said “no witness to alleged conversation, only raised after her death, http://thehoopla.com.au/speaking-ill-dead/ The Third-Way and the 'centralisation' of politics to the Right by @newsfliporg The ‘centralisation’ of politics in the ‘Anglosphere’ does not represent a political compromise between Right and Left. http://www.newsflip.org/2013/04/the-third-way-and-centralisation-to.html?spref=tw Said the Abbott to the Bishop… by Truth Seeker Abbott lovers and right wing nut jobs, look away NOW! http://truthseekersmusings.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/said-the-abbott-to-the-bishop/ Gina to take the stand as journos ratchet up press freedom battle by @andrewjcrook Billionaire mining heiress Gina Rinehart looks set to be cross-examined by her kids’ lawyers later this year http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/04/11/gina-to-take-the-stand-as-journos-ratchet-up-press-freedom-battle/ The Chaser's YES WE CANBERRA! has a message for the Coalition's proposed National Broadband Network Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGzleHwzmTQ Diary of an FTTC Install http://beusergroup.co.uk/technotes/index.php?title=Diary_of_an_FTTC_Install Today’s front Pages Australian Newspaper Front Pages for 12 April 2013 http://www.thepaperboy.com/australia/front-pages.cfm

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12/04/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Martin Spalding

12/04/2013ToM - You can go on all you like about Labor and its links to unions & factional warlords, but let's get back to what the original post was about: Abbott and his heavy influence from 3 individuals: Murdoch, Rinehart & Pell. Please demonstrate to is how those are more benign than the Labor Party's supposed influencers. It's something you studiously avoid.

2353

12/04/2013Martin Spalding - of course you know he can't, but the "look over there" campaign has worked so well for the LNP over the past few years. That's why hardly anyone responds to the Troll of Melbourne any more :) I see the PM has invited Howard to go to Thatcher's funeral. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-12/howard-to-represent-australia-at-thatcher27s-funeral/4624658

TalkTurkey

12/04/2013 Labor must go on the attack on the subject of Asylum Seekers. The line must be: [i]"NOBODY likes the situation at the moment - except the Coalition, who have a cynical political interest in fomenting strife. They speak of turning back boats, a course of action which would constitute piracy and would be unacceptable to the international community, not to mention honourable members of the Australian Navy. Labor wants DECENT NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS with neighboring regional governments, including Malaysia and Indonesia. Labor's reasonable proposals for such arrangements were torpedoed by the opposition of the Coalition on the Right, the Greens on the Left, and the High Court's judgment in the middle. Labor has been hamstrung and forced to accept the only option left, namely, the horrors of Manus Island and Nauru. We remain committed to negotiating more humane and satisfactory arrangements but we must be given a clear majority in the House of Representatives. Only then can we claim a mandate for our regional plans, in order to convince the Greens that Labor's is the only possible decent course of action."[/i] If Labor gets on the front foot with AS, Abborrrtt will be bereft of all major gripes. The line of reasoning above is all we need to emphasize. Greens hate to admit it but they know as well as we do that their interventions in Labor's regional arrangements have cost many lives already and will inevitably cost more, and that it is their intervention too that has led to the people so shamefully incarcerated in horrible conditions. Labor, the scapegoat in all this, is the least to blame. It is just our misfortune to have to cope with the problems. But we are Labor, and we will do our best. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-11/abbott-needs-to-tell-whole-story-on-boat-arrivals3a-katter/4623868

Tom of Melboune

12/04/2013[i] Labor, the scapegoat in all this, is the least to blame. It is just our misfortune to have to cope with the problems.[/i] What a lot of crap. Did Gillard mean it when she said – [b]Another boat, another policy failure[/b]? Is there any sense that the government has not joined the Liberals in the race into the political scum, chasing the redneck vote with equal vigour? The ALP, and Gillard’s comment about policy failure has politicised asylum seekers as much as the Liberals. Rudd said the election of Gillard would result in a lurch to the right on asylums seekers, he got that one right.

Ad astra

12/04/2013Hi Lyn Thank you again for your wonderful set of links, several of which have been of value to me in composing my piece for next week: [i]Policy making through the rearview mirror[/i], an account of Abbott's lack of vision, most recently manifest at the launch of his NBN-lite. We are getting on the road to Melbourne now. I'll be back tomorrow.

Catching up

12/04/2013Tom, it is a long time and many governments since the PM voiced those words. Suspect the situation has change much today. Tom, let us in on your superior brain, and tell us what needs to be done now. No, not bring Abbott back. What do you expect Abbott to do. I suggest, you do not have any more answers, than anyone else. What needs to be done, is the full implementation of the Housten Plan.

2353

12/04/2013Hear on a commerical radio news broadcast a few hours ago that Abbott is now under some internal pressure from within the LNP on his stop the boats slogan. Some, apparently including Philip Ruddock are claiming that the geo-political situation in places like Sri Lanka and the middle east will conspire to make the "promise" difficult to achieve. Another lie in the making???

Sir Ian Crisp

12/04/2013I see that Margaret Thatcher has been praised by the actress who portrayed her. [quote][b]Meryl Streep has paid tribute to Margaret Thatcher, who died yesterday after suffering a stroke. Streep — who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Britain's first female Prime Minister in 2011 film The Iron Lady — praised Thatcher's strength and determination "Margaret Thatcher was a pioneer, willingly or unwillingly, for the role of women in politics," Streep told the UK's Daily Mail. "To me she was a figure of awe for her personal strength and grit. To have come up, legitimately, through the ranks of the British political system, class bound and gender phobic as it was, in the time that she did and the way that she did, was a formidable achievement. [/b][/quote]

Sir Ian Crisp

12/04/2013I note that Margaret Thatcher has received praise from Obama. Even Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, taking time out from his second job of designing helicopters, had kind words to say about Margaret Thatcher. [quote][i]World leaders express praise and admiration for Thatcher, 'a great Briton' Published on Apr 09, 2013 LONDON (AP) – [...] Across Europe and the world, leaders lauded Mrs Thatcher for her steely determination to modernise Britain's industrial landscape - even at the cost of violent strikes and riots - and to stand beside the United States as the west triumphed in the Cold War versus the Soviet Union. President Barack Obama said she was both a great champion of freedom and an example to women everywhere. In a statement issued Monday by the White House, Mr Obama said Britain's first woman prime minister showed "our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can't be shattered." Mr Obama said many Americans remember Mrs Thatcher standing "shoulder to shoulder" with President Ronald Reagan during the Cold War. He says she showed then that leaders don't have to be swept along by the currents of history, but can shape them "with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will." In Poland, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said his country should erect a statue of the British leader. In a tweet he praised Mrs Thatcher as "a fearless champion of liberty, stood up for captive nations, helped free world win the Cold War." Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who ousted the Conservatives from power seven years after Mrs Thatcher's resignation, conceded that Mrs Thatcher had been right to challenge labor union power - the traditional bedrock for Mr Blair's own Labour Party. "Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a leader. Her global impact was vast," said Mr Blair, who credited Mrs Thatcher with being "immensely supportive" despite their opposing views on many issues. "You could not disrespect her character or her contribution to Britain's national life," Mr Blair said. Britain's pop culture icons past and present also sounded off about the woman who dominated British political landscape through the 1980s. "Thinking of our 1st Lady of girl power, Margaret Thatcher, a green grocer's daughter who taught me anything is possible," tweeted a former member of the Spice Girls band, Geri Halliwell. [/i][/quote]

Jason

12/04/2013Sir Ian, And may the old bitch rot in hell!

Tom of Melbourne

12/04/2013Catching Up, I've perviously posted a range of more humane policy approaches on asylum seekers. Ones which the government could try before it shunts people off to foreign hell holes. I see no need to repeat them for you now.

Sir Ian Crisp

12/04/2013JGuy, let's hope she is soon joined by that vile piece of rubbish known as EG Whitlam. Keep those fires burning Satan.

Ken

12/04/2013Tom (and in passing to rotten borough Crisp, who deserves no more) The Whitlam government's economic credentials were recently rated much more highly than the Howard government which was identified as the most profligate. Whitlam gaced the first "oil crisis" and stagflation was spread across most developed economies. Who remembers "stagflation" - high inflation coupled with low or no ecomonomic growth, something which shouldn't have been happening according to the economic theories of the time. Not an easy time for any government when the economic experts don't have a clue as to what is happening!! And for others, another view on the death of Thatcher from An Phoblacht: http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/22919 Sorry I couldn't get this as a hyperlink but you should be able to copy and past. I might have another go.

Ken

12/04/2013Opps, it did work!!

Catching up

12/04/2013I beleive that the legacy of Whitlam will be remembered long after Howard has disappeared into history. The fact that so much still remains after forty years tells it all. Please remind me what Howard will be remembered for. GST and taking us into unnecessary war. That is about it.

nasking

12/04/2013 REMIND YOU OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTRALIA?: [b]Two IT contractors from India who worked at RBC in Toronto said their lives were tightly controlled by their multinational employer, while they took over the jobs of Canadian bank workers. "They have a rotation policy, and they make sure you don’t get settled here," said one of the ex-iGATE employees. “You are always threatened that at any time you will be sent back [to India]." The men, who now have permanent resident status in Canada and new jobs, spoke to the CBC's Go Public under the condition they would not be identified. Go Public first broke the story Saturday of dozens of employees at RBC who were losing their jobs to temporary foreign workers. iGATE's operations are mainly in India. The company billed RBC more than $100 million for services in 2012. (iGATE/YouTube) The men said they were among a group of approximately 200 Indian nationals shuttled back and forth between Canada and India, while doing work for Canada’s largest bank between 2008 and 2012. “That threat is always there, so in a way you will not be able to even concentrate on your work." One of the workers said, at one point, he and his family were forced to get on a plane to India with little notice, right after his wife had given birth. "That manager was very blunt and rude, he didn't even give me much time to explain," he said. The workers said Canadian bank employees lost their jobs in the process and they felt badly about that. Didn't come to take jobs “We used to hear about people getting sacked. We as persons didn't come to snatch anybody's job,” said one of the men. “I can put myself in their shoes. It is like someone coming into your home and taking over.” They both said their employer brought them to Canada under the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker Program. [/b] http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/04/11/bc-igate-workers.html?cmp=fbtl AS SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS A WELL-REGULATED WORK VISA SYSTEM THAT HELPS A COUNTRY TO FILL IN THE SKILLS' GAPS...I DETEST IT WHEN OUTSOURCING LEADS TO EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS BY EMPLOYERS WHO ACT LIKE TYRANTS AND DON'T TREAT THEIR WORKERS WITH RESPECT AND COMPASSION. WE ARE NOT FREAKIN' ANDROIDS! N'

lyn

13/04/2013Today’s Links how & why the Coalition’s NBN policy is designed to fail by @sortius who benefit from slower broadband speeds are legacy content providers like Foxtel. With over 70% of the population covered (but only 30% subscribed) to Foxtel’s pay TV service, the NBN is a direct threat to their business model. http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/3204/ The NBN needs vectoring – or is Turnbull just hectoring by Robin Braun The government’s NBN investment as it currently stands is a way of future-proofing us, plain and simple. http://theconversation.com/the-nbn-needs-vectoring-or-is-turnbull-just-hectoring-13455 NBN AND THE attack of the Luddites. Part Two. by @saint13333, @MigloMT He’s not a policy-driven person; he sees politics as a game – you say or do whatever you have to win, and if you have to change your view, you do. His strategy is to be provocative, http://theaimn.com/2013/04/12/nbn-and-the-attack-of-the-luddites-part-two/ Tony Abbott Wants Australia To Have A Billion-Dollar Drone Program, But Why? by @lukehopewell If I had $1 for every time Tony Abbott had said “stop the boats” in the last four years, I’d probably have enough cash to fund his latest proposal http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/04/tony-abbott-wants-australia-to-have-a-billion-dollar-drone-program-but-why/ Losing the unloseable election by Bruce Whiteside @independentaus People are growing tired of the nodding head and the mantra:‘This is a bad, bad government’. Where is the dynamic enthusiasm of a prime minister in waiting? http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/losing-the-unloseable-election/ These lies MUST stop! by @AshGhebranious we have NOT lost control of our borders. The media must report the truth http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/these-lies-must-stop/ Gillard Says Bitter Opponents Deriding Julia Set to Fail by Matthew Winkler & Jason Scott Gillard has five months to revive Labor’s popularity. The party rose 3 percentage points to 45 percent on a two-party preferred basis, while Abbott’s coalition fell 3 points to 55 percent, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-11/gillard-says-bitter-opponents-deriding-julia-won-t-be-successful.html The hidden cost of the NBN street cabinets by Vincent O'Donnell 60,000 nodes required to implement the Coalition’s model are power guzzlers. Some may use solar power; however it is more likely that most of the 60,000 additional nodes will be drawing power from the grid. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/4/12/technology/hidden-cost-nbn-street-cabinets#ixzz2QDjNIyyV Expert Support For Coalition NBN Proposal: Political, Not Technological by @cyenne40 Ultimately, Morgan’s position on the NBN can be described in his own words: Not economic, not technological, pure politics http://tom-cummings.blogspot.com.au/ Why the NBN will win Labor the 2013 election by @davrosz This story was originally published on 28 June 2011 http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/why-the-nbn-will-win-labor-the-2013-election/ Turnbull openly “lying” about NBN, says Conroy by @renailemay This is a very serious & disturbing thing for someone high-profile as Turnbull to do http://delimiter.com.au/2013/04/12/turnbull-openly-lying-about-nbn-says-conroy/#more-142794 Broadband policy a bad idea: Jones by Steve Green like putting a T-Model ford motor in a brand new car, it’s just sort of crazy.” http://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/1427348/broadband-policy-a-bad-idea-jones/?cs=1523 Why I Am Not A Conservative (Any More) by @rgcooke conservatives thinking they wanted government so small it could drowned in a bathtub http://www.themonthly.com.au/blog/richard-cooke/2013/04/11/1365657734/why-i-am-not-conservative-any-more Today’s Front Pages Australian Newspaper Front Pages for 13 April 2013 http://www.thepaperboy.com/australia/front-pages.cfm

Sir Ian Crisp

13/04/2013The Gillard jokes are coming thick and fast. Here's one: [quote][b]The seven dwarfs always left to go to work in the mine early each morning. As always, Snow White stayed home doing her domestic chores. As lunchtime approached, she would prepare their lunch and carry it to the mine. One day as she arrived at the mine with the lunch, she saw that there had been a terrible cave-in. Tearfully, and fearing the worst, Snow White began calling out, hoping against hope that the dwarfs had somehow survived. 'Hello. Hello!' she shouted. 'Can anyone hear me? Hello!' For a long while, there was no answer Losing hope, Snow White again shouted, 'Hello! Is anyone down there?' Just as she was about to give up all hope, she heard a faint voice from deep within the mine, “Vote for Julia Gillard”.... Snow White fell to her knees and prayed, 'Oh, thank you, God! At least Dopey is still alive![/b][/quote]

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13/04/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Jason

13/04/2013Sir Ian, Some music to brighten your day! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMFjFoq6T9M

Sir Ian Crisp

13/04/2013Thanks JGuy. Let's hope hell has enough room for that piece of purtrid filth Whitlam and his gigantic ego.

Sir Ian Crisp

13/04/2013I see that the so-called ‘progressive’ Australian Liars Party is still hemorrhaging and riven by dissent. Elder ALP ‘luminary’ Simon Crean has used the Sydney Morning Herald to pasquinade the bird of paradox. Crean doesn’t paint a picture of a bluestocking in a never ending agon with her talent and gift. Instead Crean calls on the bird of paradox to transcend the grubbiness of her government’s character and for her to return to established Australian Liars Party traditions of decency, honesty and an inclusive government. Crean seems frustrated by the fact that the bird of paradox doesn’t lead an eclectic team; rather her team comprises adherents of echopraxia. As if that isn’t the end of the bad news WikiLeaks informs us that the Australian Liars Party was considered by the yanks as a spy nursery. One of the most highly placed American spies was Bob Hawke. Considering the anti-American feelings expressed here at TPS I hope those who hold those views kick Hawke.

TalkTurkey

13/04/2013Wonderful links this morning Lyn, there is a different flavour to them it seems to me since the Fantastic #Fraudband Fiasco. A bit as Art Deco has a sort of flavour, not quite definable but distinct: the political commentary suddenly seems more thoughtful, sort of sober and *forensic*, because here at last there is clear difference between the sides where the Government's side is seriously preferred . It is very important, because [i]all[/i] the commentariat, the Fighting Fifth and the Flailing Fourth alike, is well aware that FTTN is rubbish and the way of the future is most certainly Fibre all the way. [i]Everybody[/i] hates download delays and interruptions, and the more literate people are the more it matters to them. Even the MSM, nicely wedged now. And critically, [i]rural people [/i]know that Turdball is trying to sell them a pup - that is really a lemon. And you can bet they believe and applaud Tony Windsor in his 3x3 word slogan : Do it Once ~ Do it Right ~ Do it FIBRE! This puts the LNP into an amazing bind. They can't change their policy now, and to many people it is a vote-determining issue. That's all very starkly obvious, and a great boon in itself. But it is in contemplating the [i]knock-on effects[/i] of Abbortt-&-Turdball's joint loss of credibility - so beautifully presented to us in their double act the other day - that I derive the most joy. Their claims of FTTH costing $94 Billion have been greeted with disbelief and derision, and now their costings in all their projections will be questioned. And about time. This aspect of the fight goes right to the wire, and is and will be a winner for us all the way. As I write Bananaby is throwing his hat into the New England ring to try to topple Tony Windsor. Fascinating fight, it will be a measure of Australians' nous, and of our *democracy*. A redneck Nincompoop or a visionary Sage? It is already a measure of Us that there could even be an eyeblink of an issue. Nincompoop or Sage? Simple as that. Tony Windsor would be my bet and hope for first President of the Republic of Australia. Even if he were to lose.

2353

13/04/2013As a Queenslander - bye bye Joyce - don't let the door hit you on the ares on the way out. On a general note - Lyn has a link from Bloomberg this morning relating to an interview with the PM. If you don't have time to read it scroll to the bottom where the reporter and editor's email addresses are given. Now that is accountability in the media.

2353

13/04/2013D'oh - ares should read arse. Maybe I should have used the word I was planning on originally - backside.

MWS

13/04/2013Mike Carlton in the SMH today referred to Rupert Murdoch as "Lord Copper" (a reference to Evelyn Waugh's book [i]Scoop[/i]). The play on words, of favouring the copper network over optic fibre, and the character Lord Copper the owner of the [i]Daily Beast[/i] newspaper is delicious. I love the line "Up to a point, Lord Copper" which was the closest an underling could come to disagreeing with his boss. Well worth a read if you haven't read it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoop_(novel)

lawriejay

13/04/2013Sir Whatever …."WikiLeaks informs us that the Australian Liars Party was considered by the yanks as a spy nursery…." While enjoying my Crispies this morning I was reading Crispie Ian's comments which highlighting the above pearler and I reflected on other Yankie fountains of information - I was reminded immediately of Weapons of Mass Destruction credited to have been in the possession of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi military ?? In reality their fire power was considerably less than that witnessed every New Years eve on Sydney Harbour Bridge. Good one Crispie ??

bob macalba

13/04/2013I live in NSW and we DONT want him we have enough idiots already, please dont let him come here cheers

TalkTurkey

13/04/2013I derive acute pleasure, when dissing the Trolls, Contemplating how smartly Miss Scrolly~Mouse scrolls! For one of the things that I most adore Is how Little Miss Scrolly~Mouse treats Trolls with Ignore!

Ad astra

13/04/2013Hi Lyn Thank you for feeding us even on a Saturday. You have found another great set of articles about NBN-lite. You are a great help to me in formatting my pieces. The next one: [i]Policy making through the rear view mirror[/i] is nearing completion.

bob macalba

13/04/2013Ding Dong the myths are dead http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/11/throw-out-myths-margaret-thatcher

bob macalba

13/04/2013Glass jaws tory[bastards] wear http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/apr/12/bbc-caves-thatcher-song-ding-dong ding dong, just luv it

Ken

13/04/2013Why is it that every time Labor has a good news week (the China visit by the PM and the disastrous LNP fraudband launch) someone or something comes along to steal the limelight and throw the good message aside. Crean as a supposed "elder statesman" of the Party should know better. The problem seems to be a bit of a dummy spit because no-one is listening to him. He has become an elder statesman who is no longer relevant. He keeps harking back to the Hawke-Keating days but this is not the 1980s. There are some points in what he said that probably need consideration but surely that is an internal party matter and Crean knows that - why does he keep airing his opinions publicly. If he wants his Party to win the election, he has a funny way of showing it. Perhaps it is time he announced his retirement at the next election. A late thought - perhaps that's the point. Perhaps he is expecting a tap on the shoulder to say it's time to go but any retirement announcement after making these public statements will obviously be seen as deliberately forcing him out. It may simply be his way of hanging on - hasn't he already been there long enough for a full parliamentary pension???

Algernon

13/04/2013I see that the Nats of New England have endorsed a Liberal from Queensland as their candidate. Barking Barney, that should just about hand New England to Windsor on a plate, If it wasn't his already.

Ad astra

13/04/2013Ken My feelings are similar. I've emailed Simon Crean through TPS M@IL.

2353

13/04/2013Sorry Bob - Joyce is coming your way. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-13/joyce-wins-nationals-preselection/4627248 Hopefully he fails abysmally.

Catching up

13/04/2013Earlier in the week, we had the Telegraph trying to raise the so called Rudd attempt at leadership again. What is becoming apparent, that Crean could have fed the previous media reports that Labor was looking at someone like himself, as an alternative option to Rudd. If Crean is acting as reported, I suspect he will not have much support within caucus.

nasking

13/04/2013 CREAN IS ACTING LIKE A DICKHEAD. PETER HARTCHER IS A SMUG SUIT. BOTH HAVE ENUFF MONEY AND PRIVILEGE TO ACT LIKE WE STARTED THE CLASS WAR... WHEN IN FACT IT'S THE LIKES OF COSTELLO WHO LET THE THE MEGA-WEALTHY CORPORATIONS AND DYNASTIES SCREW US. WHERE THE HELL WAS PETER COSTELLO WHEN WE NEEDED A DECENT MINING TAX DURING HIS 11 YEARS AS TREASURER? IN A HAMMOCK DOIN' STUFF ALL: [b]LATELINE - EMMA ALBERICI: Let's start with Norway. That country taxes its oil and gas companies at a rate of some 78 per cent. Really puts our mining tax to shame, doesn't it? PETER COSTELLO: Well, Norway, of course, has decided, I think, very wisely that it will make sure that a resource which can be depleted will be set aside for future generations and it has built a very, very large Sovereign Wealth Fund as a consequence and I pay credit to them for doing it. I think it is a lesson to Australia that we should have done a lot more about putting aside something for future generations particularly out of the record terms of trade that we currently have, but you've got to say that Norway, I think, has taken a much more prudent approach to these things. EMMA ALBERICI: We had a fairly robust terms of trade situation when you were Treasurer and in government for some 11 years. As Paul Cleary makes the point in Philip Williams' piece, future generations in Australia will see lots of holes in the ground and nothing to show for it.[/b] http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3736274.htm LET'S FOCUS ON THE REAL WARMONGERS SIMON. N'

Tom of Melbourne

13/04/2013So the deeply divided ALP deserves support? • Cruel policy on asylums seekers • Most of the talent on the backbench • Front bench of non performers and L platers • Dishonest leader • A party run by hacks and warlords But whatever happens, those here will admit no failing of the party of its leader.

Ken

13/04/2013ToM Guess who? 1. Cruel and illegal (piracy on the high seas) policy on asylum seekers 2. Little or nor talent on the backbench 3. No talent on the frontbench. 4. Dishonest, smug and arrogant leader 5. A party run by Rupert, Gina and the IPA The list could go on and on but just thought I would play "snap".

Tom of Melbourne

13/04/2013Fine, then don't vote for them. I don't. But people here are vigorously and enthusiastically endorsing a failing party, with unethical policies and a dishonest leader. There is NO examination of the weakness of the ALP, but this is supposed to be a site that “puts politicians…to the verbal sword”

Jason

13/04/2013ToM, Blah Blah Blah! Do you know any of the band members of "The living end"? they wrote a song about you and your repetitive posts! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QskZwT1psEc

Sir Ian Crisp

13/04/2013[quote][b]Why is it that every time Labor has a good news week (the China visit by the PM and the disastrous LNP fraudband launch) someone or something comes along to steal the limelight and throw the good message aside. [...] Ken [/b][/quote] Should we rejoice that the bird of paradox actually found China? Is that the good news?

jane

13/04/2013[quote]Thatcher was sustained only by one extraordinary piece of luck. Almost the moment she stepped over the threshold of Downing Street the economy was engulfed in an oil bonanza. During her time in office, government oil receipts amounted to 16% of GDP. But instead of using this windfall to boost investment for longer-term prosperity, it was used for tax cuts. Public investment was slashed. By the end of her time in office the military budget vastly exceeded net public investment.[/quote] Does this quote from Ken Livingstone's article [i]Throw out the Myths about Thatcher[/i] have a familiar ring? Brilliant link, Lyn. It exposes all the nonsense about Thatcher's leadership and style of government. Well worth the read and extremely pertinent to the here and now in this country, where we have the Liars Party in 5 states and territories laying waste to their economies and the lives of ordinary people. And by implication, what we can expect from a Liealot government. We elect a Liars government at our economic and social peril.

Sir Ian Crisp

13/04/2013[quote][b]Sir Whatever …."WikiLeaks informs us that the Australian Liars Party was considered by the yanks as a spy nursery…." While enjoying my Crispies this morning I was reading Crispie Ian's comments which highlighting the above pearler and I reflected on other Yankie fountains of information - I was reminded immediately of Weapons of Mass Destruction credited to have been in the possession of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi military ?? In reality their fire power was considerably less than that witnessed every New Years eve on Sydney Harbour Bridge. Good one Crispie ?? lawriejay [/b][/quote] Lewd Whatever Are you saying Hawke was a double agent; playing the Iraqis off against the yanks for some form of gain? Or are you saying that Hawke lied when he fed the yanks the line that Iraq had an arsenal of WMDs? Hawke must have been grounded in the art of lying during his time with the Australian Liars Party. Two things for you to consider: you are supposed to ignore me so don't go breaking TPS omerta. The second thing is keep both hands ABOVE your desk when you compose your posts. I think I know why one of your hands is below the desk. Nice one Lewdie.

Jason

13/04/2013Insiders ABC‏@InsidersABC2h . @PGarrettMP joins #Insiders plus panel Niki Savva, David Marr & @markgkenny 9am tomorrow ABC1 & @ABCNews24 #auspol #Gonski #coag

Bilko

13/04/2013Bananby for New England, what a Joke, some deadheads will succeed him and Boswell QLD's gain?? As a Senator he did not need to seek election just forced his way onto the ticket, now not only will he have to campaign but will need to tell the voters he endorses Abbort's nbnlight and have to explain their policies when they find some. Tony Windsor should be a shoe in, a member who looks after his constituents and a further bonus for us all no bananaby in the senate two wins. By the way I thought to be eligible for pre-selection one had to live in that state or even in the electorate.

Miglo

13/04/2013Happy birthday, Jason. Party hard.

Ken

13/04/2013To "rotten borough" Crispbread I normally wouldn't bother with a response but I wonder whether you have found China yet on a map, or North Korea, perhaps even Canberra - you know the capital. Perhaps you haven't but it's between Sydney and Melbourne, on the east coast, you know, the east coast of Australia - if haven't you found that yet. By the way, which rotten borough do you represent? Or perhaps you are a ring-in from an episode of Star Trek, or perhaps a Martian - I will have to re-read War of the Worlds and check!

Sir Ian Crisp

13/04/2013[quote][b]To "rotten borough" Crispbread I normally wouldn't bother with a response but I wonder whether you have found China yet on a map, or North Korea, perhaps even Canberra - you know the capital. Perhaps you haven't but it's between Sydney and Melbourne, on the east coast, you know, the east coast of Australia - if haven't you found that yet. By the way, which rotten borough do you represent? Or perhaps you are a ring-in from an episode of Star Trek, or perhaps a Martian - I will have to re-read War of the Worlds and check! Ken [/b][/quote] Keg, lay off the sauce.

Jason

13/04/2013Ken, Forget the rantings of whoever! watch and enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDtClJYJBj8&feature=youtu.be

Sir Ian Crisp

13/04/2013Just when we thought the Australian Liars Party had reached its nadir comes news that the ALP plans to starve higher education. Juxtapose that news with the baffling plan by the bird of paradox to give AUD$21.6 million to the Disney Corp to make a movie in Australia. Forbes magazine estimates the Disney Corp market value at US$77.4 billion. Didn’t the ALP accuse people like Twiggy Forrest of being greedy? Why is it OK for the Disney Corp to accumulate wealth but not Twiggy Forrest? Should Twiggy Forrest use one of his mines as a backdrop for a movie? Would he receive AUD$21.6 million from the Australian taxpayer? [quote][b]TOUGH budget cuts that will gouge $2.8 billion from universities and students to give the money to the nation's schools were announced by the Gillard government today. The surprise announcement today of savage cuts to the university sector was delivered by Wayne Swan and Higher Education Minister Craig Emerson. The savings include scrapping discounts for families that pay HECS fees upfront from 2014 and forcing recipients of Student Start Up Scholarships (SSS) to pay back the money through an income contingent loans scheme. [...] http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/gillard-government-to-announce-tough-budget-cuts-to-fund-multi-billion-dollar-bill-for-schools/story-e6frfkp9-1226619685401 [/b][/quote] As if the higher education news isn’t bad enough the bird of paradox, fresh from her tour of Sydney’s Western Suburbs, has turned her back on the health needs of people who live in the ALP heartland. She has decided to spend AUD$21.6 million on a movie rather than spend money on an MRI machine for Mt Druitt Hospital. I wonder what astucious argument was mounted by the Australian Liars Party to enable the great unwashed to make sense of the decision. To describe the ALP’s policies as laxist is being kind. A message to Ed Husic and his constituents from the ALP: get lost. [quote][b]A LABOR backbencher has attacked Government funding of film production while his western Sydney hospital has long needed an MRI medical scanner. Ed Husic, MP for Chifley, let loose his frustrations after hearing the Government would spend $20 million on production of a film "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". "I don't need 20,000 Leagues of Sea. I need an MRI at," he told Sky News.His outburst is an indication Labor MPs in seats which could change hands on September 14 are tending more to local issues in a bid to survive, rather than hope for Prime Minister Julia Gillard to get them through the election. [...] http://www.news.com.au/national-news/mp-wants-an-mri-machine-not-a-20-million-film/story-fncynjr2-1226611710231 [/b][/quote] [quote][i]Disney At a Glance • Industry: Broadcasting & Cable • Founded: 1923 • Country: United States • CEO: Robert Iger • Website: corporate.disney.go.com • Employees: 156,000 • Sales: $40.96 B • Headquarters: Burbank, California Forbes Lists #13 World's Most Powerful Brands #121 Global 2000 • #211 in Sales • #109 in Profit • #310 in Assets • #80 in Market value http://www.forbes.com/companies/walt-disney/ [/i][/quote]

Jason

13/04/2013"Why is it OK for the Disney Corp to accumulate wealth but not Twiggy Forrest?" I was unaware that Twiggy or any of the other profitable miners with all the tax payer subsidies they get probably to the detriment of "other" industries put the minerals in the ground in the first place. They belong to the people Sir Ian, and if Twiggy et al are happy to do business in the "Congo Saomalia" and any other war torn corupt country they can go the minerals will still be here when they come back!

jaycee

13/04/2013'Allo, Allo!..Sir Ian Crisp backed Black Caviar...to lose!!! dickhead!

Ad astra

13/04/2013Jason Happy, Happy Birthday.

DMW

13/04/2013[b]Follow up to Simon Crean interview[/b] Steve @ Opinion Dominion http://opiniondominion.blogspot.com/2013/04/follow-up-to-simon-crean-interview.html

jane

13/04/2013Bilko did you know that Barnyard's mum votes for Tony Windsor? I suppose she has to perform some penance for inflicting Barnyard on us. :) https://twitter.com/btckr/status/323000702857277440 SIC, Twiggy et al can accumulate wealth to their heart's content, but not at the expense of this country and its citizens. As Jason says, they can bugger off to a third world country to do business, but even you should know that dealing with corrupt dictatorships is fraught with danger to life, limb and multi $bn investments. If Twiggy, Gina or any other mining magnate thinks we'd put our hands in our pockets to bail them out in that instance, they're in for a nasty surprise. Happy birthday, Jason and many more to come. An article by Dennis Atkins in the Courier Mail wrt allowing Australia to trade directly in the yuan, rather than having to convert the $AUD to $US in order to trade with China. This coupled with "a swag of bilateral agreements" and a carbon trading agreement among other things, has Atkins singing Swan's praises. So should the rest of the country. The PM & Swan have pulled off a great coup which will save exporters a lot of money and time. We work in an industry involving live exports to China and this agreement will make life a lot easier for the entire industry. It also has enormous implications for getting our communications networks spot on. We shouldn't be spoiling the great opportunity we've been handed by adopting a second rate http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/despite-the-knockers-the-reality-is-that-treasurer-wayne-swans-worth-his-weight-in-gold/story-e6frerc6-1226617670641

Patriciawa

14/04/2013Bilko - for you! You know the tune! [b]Song of Joyce? National(s) Anthem?[/b] So lefties all let us rejoice! For they have Barnaby! He’s out there now with charts to show How one and one make three. Queensland has given such a gift, A talent rich and rare. No need to rage, at every stage Their Barnaby is there! As Nationals strain to make some gains Their Barnaby is there!

TalkTurkey

14/04/2013http://www.cannabisnews.org/poll-breaks-for-legalized-mj-what-happens-now/2013/04/13/ Recaptcha: easy-growing herebpac No kiddin'!

DMW

14/04/2013What are the chances for [i]Second Choice Joyce[/i]? Kathryn Crosby takes us through it @ Ausvotes 2013 [b]The Battle In New England 2,0[/b] http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/04/13/the-battle-in-new-england-2-0/

Bilko

14/04/2013Patriciawa @0105 Delightful but why only one verse, mind you very few Aussies know there is a second verse, as its words do not find favour with the "stop the boats mantra" crowd. I see that "Our George" as my OH whose brother is also named George, she comes from Cumbria(Pell), has been selected to assist the Pope on church matters, rather like putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank. His first action should be to deliver a kick up the jacksea for "our Tones" for his unchristian utterances.

Tom of Melbourne

14/04/2013Yeah!! What this country needs is more people llike Tony Windsor – people who support capital punishment and the relaxation of gun controls.

Austin 3:16

14/04/2013Hey Talk Turkey, You don't sharpen a knife by leaving it in the drawer with other like knives, you sharpen it by striking it against steel.

lawriejay

14/04/2013I watched a documentary only yesterday which detailed how Norway has a long term view of managing the mineral gas and oil wealth of generated by their resources they have wealth tax management of the all those valuable assets, which are invested into a future fund which currently has something in excess of 600 billion invested in countries throughout the glibber. Norway estimates that by the time these resources run out the future fund will have trillions of dollars invested leaving Norways' future assured virtually infinitum. How does that stack up against the futures of the likes of the Rienharts.. Talk about class warfare - how did they ever settle for such a selfish outcome ???

nasking

14/04/2013 I'M SURPRISED THAT ANYTHING GETS DONE UNDER COALITION GOVTS...WHAT A BUNCH OF NEGABORES THEY ARE. SOOO IMPORTANT TO THINK AHEAD. AS A RAPIDLY GROWING MODERN COUNTRY AUSTRALIA MUST EVENTUALLY HAVE FAST TRAINS. [b]NOW IS THE TIME TO START PROTECTING AND PURCHASING LAND FOR THE HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR.[/b] [b]NIKKI SAVVA FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WHO ONCE WORKED FOR PETER COSTELLO SAID SHE THOUGHT AUSTRALIA WOULD HAVE FLYING CARS LIKE IN THE JETSONS BEFORE HIGH SPEED RAIL...SHE LIKE MOST OF THE COALITION SOUNDS IDIOTIC AND OVERLY CYNICAL.[/b] NOT ONLY IS SHE IN LALA LAND...BUT LIKE MOST WORKING FOR MURDOCH AND THE LIBS...IS POSSIBLY IN THE POCKET OF OIL COMPANIES THAT FUEL PLANES. THEY JUST WANT BIGGER AIRPORTS...MORE PLANES...REGARDLESS OF THE ANNOYING JET NOISES OVERHEAD...AND COSTS OF FUEL. [b]PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE NOW:[/b] [quote]EUROPE, April 13, 2013 – Europe’s modern high speed rail networks have forever changed the way travelers visit the continent... GROUND transportation is frequently the last thing travelers consider when planning a trip. For Americans, renting a car is often the first consideration and, indeed, at first glance a rail pass may sometimes seem expensive by comparison. [b]But when you consider the high cost of gasoline in Europe, the convenience of going city-center to city-center by rail, the hassles of reading road signs and finding parking, the advantages of having accessible food and restroom services and the ability to sit back, relax, read a book or paper, work at the computer, enjoy a nap or simply stare out the window at the passing array of panoramas, a European rail pass is a bargain. Even with supplemental fees for some high speed rail services, the convenience of traveling between many European destinations of relatively short distances, or the ability to do day trips that were once regarded as impractical, has changed the face of travel forever. [/b] It is now considerably easier, in many cases, to base yourself in a city without changing hotels every day. Not only does it save time from packing and unpacking, it allows more opportunities for sightseeing or shopping and fewer hassles of constantly being on the move. High speed trains in Europe have reinvented travel on the continent, and the variety of rail passes available today come with bonuses that add even greater value to a pass. For now, consider using Europe’s fabulous modern “bullet trains.” All it takes is a little basic training. (www.raileurope.com)[/quote] Read more: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/travels-peabod/2013/apr/13/europes-high-speed-trains-romancing-rails/#ixzz2QOTRvJt6 HAVING TRAVELLED FOR 12+ EXCRUCIATING HOURS ON A SLOW TRAIN FROM BRISBANE TO SYDNEY... AS SOMEONE WHO GETS NERVOUS THESE DAYS ABOUT FLYING... AND DOESN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF DRIVING SUCH LONG DISTANCES WITH SO MANY TRUCKS AND IDIOTS ON THE ROADS... I SAY BRING ON HIGH SPEED RAIL. SURE, I'LL BE OLD BY THE TIME IT HAPPENS...BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD, INVEST NOW, MARKET IT...GET PEOPLE ENTHUSED IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN. THE ALP ARE RIGHT TO START NOW...PLANNING...PROMOTING. THINK OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD CHANGE TRAVEL BETWEEN MAJOR CITIES...ANOTHER WAY TO ATTRACT TOURISTS...BETTER WAY TO DO BUSINESS... AND THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE KILLED AND HURT ON THE ROADS OVER THE DECADES...ALL TO KEEP THE OIL AND CAR COMPANIES HAPPY. N'

Tom of Melbourne

14/04/2013[i]”A redneck Nincompoop or a visionary Sage? Tony Windsor would be my bet and hope for first President of the Republic of Australia.”[/i]” Exactly, and what we need in parliament is a redneck nincompoop who thinks he’s a sage. You know, a redneck who supports capital punishment and more guns, but who pontificates. We need one of them as president according to some other nincompoops.

nasking

14/04/2013 NIKKI SAVVA'S FLYING CAR...WITH INVESTMENT FROM MALCOLM (I ONCE TRIED TO MAKE IT RAIN) TURNBULL: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IuJMU2apQZo :D N'

Catching up

14/04/2013Wish I had a redneck like Windsor to vote for. As much as I support the PM, I have trouble with my local member. Would happily vote for a reliable independent. Many over the years, especially at the state level have been good value. Yes, some, like pollies in all parties have been disasterous. It is probably time to be more serious about a fast train, along with the second Sydney airport.

KHTAGH

14/04/2013I think we are already 1 seat up, Windsor will definitely beat the class clown hands down. Class always beats crass.

nasking

14/04/2013 YA KNOW, I CAN'T IMAGINE TONY WINDSOR EVER SAYING THIS ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH PM GILLARD: 'I talk to Tony all the time. And we have a very constructive relationship, and a very open relationship. Sounds like it. And not a sexual relationship … We're basically in the same team together, so we chat all the time.' -ABC Radio National Breakfast, February 2009 (Barnaby Joyce) I FIND THAT COMMENT BIZARRE...TO SAY THE LEAST. N'

nasking

14/04/2013 Hmmm: [b]Graham Readfearn writes: It was one of those “drop your bacon sandwich at the audacity” kind of stories — the sort of revelation that shows what power and influence in a democracy really means. [b]Australia’s wealthiest individual, Hancock Prospecting chairman Gina Rinehart, loaded up a couple of federal MPs onto her private jet and flew them to India for a wedding. What for? At the time, Rinehart was trying to secure a deal with infrastructure giant GVK, which had shown an interest in buying into some of her coal mine projects. Walking up the aisle was Mallika Reddy, grandaughter of GVK’s founder GV Krishna Reddy. [/b] [b]As was reported in Crikey, the two MPs National Senator Barnaby Joyce and Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop were there to “lend cachet” to Rinehart.[/b] Actually, it wasn’t just two MPs. Unreported at the time, but buried away in the register of interests, was an alteration to Brisbane Liberal MP Teresa Gambaro‘s entry. The change, recorded on July 7, shows that Gambaro was also on the flight from Perth to India and stayed two nights in Hyderabad. Anyway, the deal is now done. GVK will pay Hancock Prospecting $1.2 billion for a stake in three of her coal mines — Tad’s Corner, Paul’s Corner and Kevin’s Corner — and the associated infrastructure works to get the coal from Queensland’s Galilee Basin to port and then off to India, where GVK will burn it in power stations. Reports suggest the deal will initially see about 30 million tonnes of coal per year being exported, rising to as much 85 million tonnes. This amount of coal is similar in tonnage to the Xstrata Wandoan coal mine, which recently faced objections to its project on climate change impact grounds in the Queensland Land Court. A judgement is expected sometime in the next three months. As I reported for the Brisbane Times, expert witnesses claimed to the court that the impact of the mining and burning of that coal would be measurable globally — including the additional flooding of 23,000 homes due to rising sea levels and increasing the risk of global average temperatures going beyond 2C.[/b] http://blogs.crikey.com.au/rooted/2011/09/19/wielding-power-the-rinehart-way/ DOES TONY WINDSOR BROWN-NOSE GINA? NOT SURPRISING ABBOTT IS KEEN TO HAVE BARNABY NEXT TO HIM...THEN THE LIBS AND NATS AUSTRALIA-WIDE CAN GIVE RINEHART EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTS... CUTTING THE MINING TAX...GETTING RID OF THE CARBON PRICE...CUTTING RED TAPE WITH ONE-STOP WHORING THE LAND OUT SHOP...CUTTING CORPORATE TAX... IT WILL BE KERCHING KERCHING FOR GINA. WHILST MURDOCH AND TELSTRA WILL SLEEP SOUNDLY KNOWING THE NBN WILL BE TORN ASUNDER... AND JOHN SINGLETON AND OCKER MATES WILL BE POPPING CORKS AS THE SOUND OF MALE MISOGYNISTIC AND XENOPHOBIC THUNDER RUMBLES ACROSS THE LAND...FROM RADIO COCK JOCK TO RADIO MOCK RED TOP... N'

DMW

14/04/2013... from the things I didn't know but probably should have department: [i]With Ding Dong the Witch is Dead rising rapidly in the BBC charts, it’s the perfect time to get a bit of background to that most political of films about liberation, the Wizard of Oz, and its lyricist, Yip Harburg. In Socialist Review in 2008 John Newsinger looked at the life of this socialist and man who wrote the song “Over the Rainbow”.[/i] [b]Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead – a song for the picket lines[/b] John @ enpassant http://enpassant.com.au/2013/04/14/ding-dong-the-witch-is-dead-a-song-for-the-picket-lines/ Who'd of thunk it, [i]The Wizard of Oz [/i] was a commie plot. Probably should have woken up to that when I think about all those 'political statements' that posed as kids' nursery rhymes.

nasking

14/04/2013 ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT BARNABY JOYCE ISN'T IN THE POCKET OF BIG MINERS...REGARDLESS OF THE GAMES HE PLAYS...NEEDS READ THIS: [b]In May 2006 Joyce promoted mining of Antarctica (mining is banned under the Antarctic Treaty). Joyce justified his proposal by saying: There's minerals there, there's gold, there's iron ore, there's coal, there's huge fish resources and what you have to ask is: 'Do I turn my head and allow another country to exploit my resource ... or do I position myself in such a way as I'm going to exploit it myself before they get there'. [/b] NOT SURPRISING JOYCE IS OPPOSED TO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO DO WITH DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE... THERE ARE PLENTY OF BIG MINERS' AND DRILLERS' PUPPETS OUT THERE WHO WANT TO SEE A WARMING SO MINERALS, OIL ETC ARE EASIER TO GET TO... I SUSPECT THIS MAN JOYCE HAS A FEVER...A RESOURCE FEVER...AND HAS BEEN PROMISED LUCRATIVE JOBS POST-PARLIAMENT. ONE ONLY HAS TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF PAST BIG NATIONAL PARTY FIGURES AND WHERE THEY END UP...TO KNOW WE'RE POSSIBLY BEING CONNED HERE. [b]TAKE MARK VAILE FOR INSTANCE: Post-parliament career The Hon. Mark Vaile AO — Chairman WHITEHAVEN COAL Independent Non-Executive Director As leader of the National Party from 2005 to 2007, Mark established an extensive network of contacts throughout regional Australia, particularly in Northern New South Wales. Mark led negotiations for Australia's Free Trade Agreements with the United States, Singapore and Thailand and helped to launch negotiations with China, Japan and ASEAN. Importantly, Mark also acted as Minister for Transport and Regional Services and was instrumental in the establishment of the ARTC as operator of the Hunter Valley Rail Network. Mark was formerly the chairman of Aston Resources Limited. Mark brings significant experience as a company director and as a former senior government leader, including as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade in the Federal Government. Mark is the Chairman of CBD Energy and an independent director of Servcorp Limited and Virgin Australia Holdings Limited, all of which are listed on the ASX. Mark is also a director of Stamford Land Corporation, which is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, and a non-executive director of HOST-PLUS Pty Ltd.[/b] http://whitehavencoal.com.au/about_us/board_of_directors.cfm BARNABY CAN PRETEND OTHERWISE...LOTTA SMOKE AND MIRRORS... BUT I SEE A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOUR HERE... I FEAR THE CON IS ON. THE HUSTLE HAS BEGUN... N'

Truth Seeker

14/04/2013Patricia, good one, and I agree with Bilko, another verse would be good :-) Keep up the good work :-) :-) Cheers :grin:

nasking

14/04/2013 THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THESE NATIONAL PARTY CON-ARTISTS, BSers, SMOKE AND MIRROR ARTISTS, HUSTLERS... THEY DON'T TELL THE PUBLIC THE TRUTH...ABOUT THEIR REAL GOALS, MOTIVES, CONNECTIONS. THEY ARE BACKED BY HUGE PROPAGANDA MACHINES LIKE THE MURDOCH EMPIRE, CHANNEL NINE, SHOCK JOCKS... SURE, THEY'LL BE CRITICISED NOW AND THEN...BUT THAT'S EITHER TO GIVE A FAUX IMPRESSION OF BALANCE...OR TO KEEP THEM IN LINE. IT'S TIME THAT INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS SHOWED UP THESE CHARACTERS FOR THE FRAUDS AND SCAMMERS THEY ARE. FRANKLY, I'M SICK AND TIRED OF [b]DISHONEST POLITICIANS WITH MINING AND DIGGING FEVER.[/b] N'

nasking

14/04/2013 OF YER GONNA DO IT...BE HONEST... AND GET IT RIGHT: [b]Norway's resources boom & 78% tax on revenue[/b] http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=LbUo-ZPsT3w&feature=youtu.be&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DLbUo-ZPsT3w%26feature%3Dyoutu.be AT LEAST THE NORWEGIANS ARE LOOKING AFTER THE NATIONAL INTEREST... THE LIBS AND NATS HERE WANT TO GET RID OF THE MINING TAX. SHAME. WE NEED BETTER... WE DESERVE MORE. A FAIRER SYSTEM. N'

nasking

14/04/2013 [b]If Twiggy, Gina or any other mining magnate thinks we'd put our hands in our pockets to bail them out in that instance, they're in for a nasty surprise. [/b] JANE, THE AUSSIE PUBLIC HAVE BEEN PUTTING THEIR HANDS IN POCKETS FOR YEARS TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND COSTS OF MINING... WHILST THESE FAT CATS HAVE BENEFITTED... AND USED THEIR MONEY TO OPPOSE REFORM INCLUDING APPROPRIATE MINING AND SUPER PROFITS' TAXES... AND THEY GET AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE WE HAVE AN MSM THAT ARE GENERALLY WELL PAID SMUG SUITS...MORALLY BANKRUPT...WITH THE INTERESTS OF RICH BARONS PUT BEFORE THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE AUSTRALIAN MSM IS TRANSFORMING... BUT SADLY, THE DAMAGE THEY HAVE WROUGHT WILL HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS... THEY HAVE HELPED THESE RICH BARONS HUSTLE US. SHAME. N'

Austin 3:16

14/04/2013Hey lawriejay, There was bit in the MSM today about the waste of Australia's minerals boom, and how most of it was in the Howard years.

jane

14/04/2013lawriejay @10.25am, which is what we should have been doing from the word go. Pissing $330bn up against the wall on the dole for the wealthy shows exactly how incompetent, lacking in vision and uninterested in the future of this country the Rodentochracy really was. And if Liealot gets in, the rest of the mining boom will be squandered in the same way-dole for the rich. [quote]NIKKI SAVVA FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WHO ONCE WORKED FOR PETER COSTELLO SAID SHE THOUGHT AUSTRALIA WOULD HAVE FLYING CARS LIKE IN THE JETSONS BEFORE HIGH SPEED RAIL{/quote] NAS' WHAT JUST STRUCK ME ABOUT THAT IS THAT SAVVA WAS QUITE UNCONSCIOUSLY EXPOSING THE INCOMPETENCE, COMPLETE LACK OF VISION AND DISINTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY BEYOND THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE, THE LIARS PARTY IS. FRAUDBAND IS A GLARING EXAMPLE OF THE DISEASE WHICH CURRENTLY INFECTS THE LIARS PARTY. THEY EITHER DON'T UNDERSTAND, OR JUST DON'T CARE (WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE TRUTH) ABOUT THE ENORMOUS ADVANTAGE NBN WILL GIVE TO REGIONAL AUSTRALIA IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. IN FACT, I RECKON THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS SCHEME WAS THE LAST TIME A LIARS GOVERNMENT SHOWED ANY INTEREST IN THE LONG TERM FUTURE NEEDS OF THIS COUNTRY. SO I HAD TO LAUGH AT THE FACT THAT ONE OF THEIR GREATEST BARRACKERS HAD UNWITTINGLY EXPOSED THEM FOR THE TROGLODYTES THEY TRULY ARE. AND IF THE LIARS ARE VOTED IN ON 14 SEPTEMBER, WE CAN EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME. AND IT SEEMS LIEALOT HAS SIGNALLED THAT HE'LL GO DOWN THE NEWMAN PATH OF PHONY AUDITS SO THAT HE CAN RENEGE ON ALL HIS ELECTION PROMISES BY BLAMING THE GILLARD GOVERNMENT FOR LEAVING THE ECONOMY IN SUCH A PARLOUS STATE. THAT WILL GIVE HIM THE ALL CLEAR TO CHUCK HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OUT OF WORK AND STICK THE LOW PAID ON AN EVEN MORE DRACONIAN FORM OF WORK CHOICES. HOWEVER, I'M CERTAIN THAT HE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND ENOUGH TO PAY THE DOLE TO THE WELL PAID AND WEALTHY, WHICH HE'LL JUSTIFY BY CLAIMING THAT THEY GENERATE EMPLOYMENT AND IT WILL ALL TRICKLE DOWN IN A MILLENNIUM OR TWO. AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE "TRICKLE DOWN" THEORY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DISCREDITED, THERE ARE STILL MUGS OUT THERE WHO DESPERATELY CLING TO THE IDEA THAT IT WILL HAPPEN. SO WILL THE SECOND COMING, BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH. AND @11.44AM, THE IDEA THAT BARNYARD AND MESMA WOULD LEND CACHET TO ANYTHING SHOWS HOW POOR RINEHART'S JUDGEMENT REALLY IS. :) LET'S HOPE THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES A CARBON PRICING SCHEME SHARPISH. IT WOULD CERTAINLY TAKE THE GLOSS OFF THE DEAL FOR GVK AND ONE WOULD HOPE FOR RINEHART. YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE WHY THE IPA IS DESPERATE TO GET RID OF THE CARBON PRICE AND MRRT AMONG OTHER THINGS. THE CARBON PRICE MAKES POLLUTING LESS ATTRACTIVE. THE PM & TREASURER HAVE JUST CONCLUDED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO CHINA, WITH GREAT IMPLICATIONS FOR EXPORT INDUSTRIES AS ONE OF THE FEATURES, BUT UNDER REAL THREAT IF FRAUDBAND IS INFLICTED ON US. SOMEHOW WE NEED TO ENSURE THE ELECTORATE UNDERSTANDS THE FULL AND TERRIBLE IMPLICATIONS OF ELECTING A LIARS GOVERNMENT NOT JUST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT HAVING A STATE OF THE ART COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AND DECENT WAGES AND CONDITIONS FOR ALL WORKERS, BUT FOR THEIR DISGRACEFUL DISREGARD FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.

nasking

14/04/2013 TOO MANY AUSSIE AND MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND COMPANIES ARE TAKING US FOR FOOLS...TAKING US TO THE CLEANERS. WE HAVE A THIRD WORLD TAX SYSTEM. WAKE UP AUSTRALIA! IF YER NEIGHBOUR WAS RIPPING YOU OFF...TAKING YER LAND AND PROPERTY FOR WELL BELOW THE APPROPRIATE VALUE...WOULD YOU JUST SIT THERE AND TAKE IT? BE BRAVE, BOLD...THINK TECHNOLOGICALLY EFFICIENT, FAIR TAXES, CLEANER ENERGY SUSTAINABLE FUTURE...SMART MODERN AUSTRALIA MOVE FORWARD WITH EYES WIDE OPEN... FUTURE GENERATIONS DEPEND ON IT... YOU AS YOU AGE AND EVOLVE AND ADAPT WILL NEED IT... N'

Catching up

14/04/2013Not so sure it is only about waste. It is also about allowing those massive profits from a narrow industrial base to filter into the economy. This has led to a much too high dollar and it has wrecked much of our manufacture base. Norway averted this outcome, placing much of the profits into the sovereign wealth fund. Waste comes in many forms.

nasking

14/04/2013 WELL SAID JANE...YER COMMENTS ABOUT GINA BROUGHT TO MIND: [b]Speaking in video posted on the Sydney Mining Club's website to discuss the recently signed enterprise migration agreement which will allow her to import 1,700 foreign workers for her Roy Hill Iron Ore project, Mrs Rinehart says Australians should not be complacent about the investment pipeline given that African labourers will work for less than $2 a day. "Business as usual will not do, not when West African competitors can offer our biggest customers an average capital cost for a tonne of iron ore that's $100 under the price offered by an emerging producer in the Pilbara," she said. "Furthermore, Africans want to work, and its workers are willing to work for less than $2 per day. Such statistics make me worry for this country's future." The comments come after Mrs Rinehart said last week that Australians need to work harder and socialise and drink less. The fresh comments drew immediate criticism from the Prime Minister. Julia Gillard says she does not agree Australia is a difficult place to invest and that she has a different view of how workers should be treated. "It's not the Australian way to toss people a $2 gold coin and then ask them to work for a day," she said. "We support proper Australian wages and decent working conditions for Australian people. "We are not going to have wage rates the same as the wage rates in Africa. We're not going to compete on those kinds of cost differentials. "We're going to compete on our great mineral deposits, our application of technology and high skills to the task. We mine differently than in other countries."[/b] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-05/rinehart-says-aussie-workers-overpaid-unproductive/4243866 GO PM! N'

Patriciawa

14/04/2013Bilko, that first verse was from February, 2010, when he was still Shadow Minister for Finance and Information! That month he declared that Australia was [i]"going to hock to our eyeballs to people overseas"[/i] and was [i]"getting to a point where we can't repay it."[/i] This earned him a rebuke from the Governor of the Reserve Bank and then partial demotion as his tussle with Ken Henry in Senate Estimates made him a laughing stock! Obviously being the only Chartered Accountant in the LNP shadow cabinet wasn't enough of a qualification for Finance and Andrew Robb scored and has since kept that. Joyce too still has his shadow Ministry of Water from March, 2010, which I found irresistable at the time. We lefties all can yet rejoice! They’ve not dumped Barnaby! He’s gone to Water in the bush Where he can roam freely. Country development will be His first and major care, But he can get to mention debt. Yes, Barnaby’s still there! As Nationals strain to make some gains Their Barnaby’s still there! Yes, it does need another verse for Tony Windsor's benefit and of course the good people of New England.

jane

14/04/2013Bugger, wrong [] on Savva's musings. KHTAGH @11.22am, I think you're right. Windsor's electorate is very keen to have NBN. Barnyard will snatch it away. Also, Windsor & Oakeshott's electorates have been shat on from a great height over the years by Barnyard's mob, so I imagine they aren't too keen to repeat the experience. And they've kept re-electing Windsor for the last 30 years, despite having the opportunity elect a Nationals candidate. The gloating that Oakeshott will be chucked out seems to have gone quiet, too. NAS' @11.22AM, YOU'RE RIGHT. IT IS A TRULY BIZARRE THING TO SAY. WHY WOULD HE FEEL THE NEED TO QUALIFY A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH LIEALOT AS NON-SEXUAL, FFS? WHY WOULD ANYONE ASSUME THAT IT WAS SEXUAL? WEIRD.

nasking

14/04/2013 [b]NAS' WHAT JUST STRUCK ME ABOUT THAT IS THAT SAVVA WAS QUITE UNCONSCIOUSLY EXPOSING THE INCOMPETENCE, COMPLETE LACK OF VISION AND DISINTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY BEYOND THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE, THE LIARS PARTY IS. FRAUDBAND IS A GLARING EXAMPLE OF THE DISEASE WHICH CURRENTLY INFECTS THE LIARS PARTY. THEY EITHER DON'T UNDERSTAND, OR JUST DON'T CARE (WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE TRUTH) ABOUT THE ENORMOUS ADVANTAGE NBN WILL GIVE TO REGIONAL AUSTRALIA IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT... I HAD TO LAUGH AT THE FACT THAT ONE OF THEIR GREATEST BARRACKERS HAD UNWITTINGLY EXPOSED THEM FOR THE TROGLODYTES THEY TRULY ARE.[/b] JANE, WHEN A PARTY BY WAY OF ITS LEADERS GETS ITSELF TOO INVOLVED AND INDEBTED TO OLD ESTABLISHED CORPORATIONS... AND ARCHAIC INDUSTRIES... AND RICH BARONS WHO HAVE ALTERNATIVE PLANS BUT CAN'T BE HONEST... THE VERY INTEGRITY IS SUCKED OUT OF THAT PARTY. AND THEY LOOK LIKE THEY WANT TO PUT UP HURDLES TO PROGRESS. ABBOTT AND CO ARE DUMB GETTING IN BED WITH MURDOCH WHO BASICALLY MISSED THE INTERNET BOOM BEAT UNTIL FAR TOO LATE...WHO STUFFED UP MYSPACE...WHO HAS GOT STUCK WITH PAYING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN COMPENSATION FOR PHONE HACKING ETC DUE TO POOR GOVERNANCE...WHO COULD END UP PAYING BIGTIME FOR THE WAY THEY DEALT WITH PAYTV-RELATED COMPANIES...THE LIST GOES ON... AND THIS IDEA OF KNEELING TO THE TELSTRA COPPER WIRE ALTAR...HOW ARCHAIC CAN YOU GET? AND BRINGING BARNABY JOYCE INTO THE TEAM AGAIN...THE MAN WHO WANTS TO MINE ONE OF THE LAST BASICALLY PRISTINE PLACES...AND DOESN'T SEEM TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE EVEN THO IT'S FARMERS AND RURAL PEOPLE GETTING FLOODED, CROPS RUINED...WELL, IT JUST LOOKS DISASTROUS TO ME. AND LISTENING TO THOSE OLD MISOGYNISTS LIKE ALAN JONES ON SHOCK JOCK RADIO...AT A TIME WHEN WOMEN ARE MAKING HUGE STRIDES...YOU CAN'T HELP BUT SEE HOW BACKWARDS AND DESTRUCTIVE THIS LNP LOT AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ARE. THESE PEOPLE ARE PRIVILEGED...AND TOO EASILY SUCKING ON THE TOXIC JUICES OF ARCHAIC INDUSTRIES...AND MAKING ENVIRONMENTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE PLANS. LABOUR IS FAR FROM PERFECT... BUT THE NBN, GONSKI, NATIONAL DISABILITY SCHEME, MINING TAX, CARBON PRICE, HEALTH REFORMS, SOME CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVES, TRADE TRAINING CENTRES DEMONSTRATE AT LEAST THEY ARE GIVING IT A GO... THINKING AHEAD... GETTING ON WITH THE JOB... AND THESE ARE PATHWAYS THAT CAN ALWAYS BE WIDENED...INCREASED...CONNECTED TO OTHERS... FOR EXAMPLE...NBN AND HEALTH AND EDUCATION AND DISABILITY NEEDS AND FUTURE JOBS AND ENTERTAINMENT... A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES. [b]WITH THE COALITION I FEEL IT'S: THE SAME OLD BORING THING... DUST AND COBWEBS. AND ABBOTT'S WET DREAM OVER NANNIES.[/b] N'

nasking

14/04/2013 [b]Norway averted this outcome, placing much of the profits into the sovereign wealth fund. [/b] GOOD POINT CU. PATRICIA, THUMBS UP! LUV TO SEE WINDSOR ADDED. I SEE HIM AS OUR YODA. :) NOT BIG ON HIS GUN AND DEATH PENALTY STANCE. BUT I BETYA WE WON'T FIND HIM LATER AS A CHAIRMAN OF WHITEHAVEN COAL...OR WORKING IN THE ANTARCTIC DIGGING DIGGING DIGGING...AND FOULING. N'

Ad astra

14/04/2013Folks I'll be out until this evening.

Bilko

14/04/2013Truth Seeker @1.14 well said Patriciawa @April 14. 2013 01:10 PM Bananaby will be giving us many moments of fun between now and Sept you should have no problems in having as many verses as "Aboard the good ship Venus" but not as riskay. Keep up the good work fellow Swordsters.

nasking

14/04/2013 IT SEEMS THAT THE SHADOWY MINISTER FOR FRAUDBAND, MALCOLM TURNBULL, SOLD PART OF HIS INTEGRITY TO THE MURDOCHS A FEW YEARS BACK... YET ANOTHER FINE INVESTMENT MESS OF AN IDEA YOU GOT THE GOVT INTO MALCOLM: During the 2007 election campaign, Turnbull announced that the then Government would contribute $10 million to the investigation of an untried Russian technology that aims to trigger rainfall from the atmosphere, even when there are no clouds. Literature suggests that the technology is based on bogus science. The Australian Rain Corporation presented research documents written in Russian, explained by a Russian researcher who spoke to local experts in Russian. [b]Although Turnbull claimed that Australian Rain Corporation is Australian-based, investigations have shown that it is in fact 75 per cent Swiss-owned. It was also revealed that a prominent stakeholder in the Australian Rain Corporation, Matt Handbury, is a nephew of Rupert Murdoch. Turnbull has refused to answer questions regarding Matt Handbury's contribution to the Wentworth Forum, the main fund-raising organisation for Turnbull's 2007 election campaign.[/b] (Wikipedia) HMMM... SHONKY AS N'

nasking

14/04/2013 AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TRUST THIS SHONKIEST OF SHADOWY MINISTERS?: [b]This investment — detailed right there in documents lodged with parliament's Register of Members' Interests — effectively meant that Turnbull, a vocal proponent of FttN, had chosen to invest his own money not in an overseas FttN roll-out, but in a dominant French telco that is spending over €2 billion to put itself at the vanguard of fibre-to-the-premises (FttP) roll-outs. That's right; France Telecom has been rolling out FttP since 2007 in major French cities, and is aiming to have 10 million homes online with 100Mbps fibre by 2015. By 2020 — two years before our own NBN roll-out will be complete — France Telecom expects to have 15 million homes connected. This represents just over 60 per cent of the approximately 23 million homes in France. When I asked Turnbull about his investment — and whether it signifies that he believes an FttP roll-out promises better commercial returns than FttN — he replied that the France Telecom roll-out is "pretty modest", and that he "thought the shares were good value". Modest? In the immortal words of Inigo Montoya: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Just so I get this straight: France's incumbent telco is investing heavily to push fibre out to 15 million premises by the end of this decade, and Turnbull calls it a "modest roll-out" and "good value". Our own NBN Co is investing heavily to push fibre out to 12.2 million premises in around the same timeframe, and he has variously called it "insulting", "unwise" and loads of other adjectives that don't merit repeating here. Turnbull has even called the NBN an artefact of Julia Gillard's "socialist paradise", which is laugh-out-loud ridiculous, given France's historical leanings in this regard. Turnbull's position on socialism is now clear: Australian socialism is evil, but French socialism is a great investment.[/b] http://www.zdnet.com/au/turnbulls-nbn-french-kiss-is-right-but-so-wrong-7000002969/ SACRE BLEU! THE MAN IS FULL OF MERDE. N'

nasking

14/04/2013 SEEMS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAVE NOT REALLY LEARNT THEIR LESSONS... CARDINAL PELL HAS NOW BEEN MADE BY THE POPE A PERMANENT ADVISOR. A REMINDER: [b]CLERGY sex abuse victims have released a "dirty dozen" list of potential papal candidates - including Australia's Cardinal George Pell - and are urging the Catholic Church to "get serious" about protecting children, helping victims and exposing corruption. Cardinal Pell was cited for claiming the church was a victim of "smears," insisting that there are no cover ups and for trying to seal a potentially damming court file.[/b] http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/sex-victims-hit-list-of-pope-candidates/story-e6frg6so-1226592193284 I BET PELL AND THE VATICAN HOPE THEIR OBEDIENT CATHOLIC BOYS ABBOTT, JOYCE, PYNE ETC GET INTO POWER. THAT ROYAL COMMISSION INTO CHILD ABUSE MUST BE A REAL PAIN FOR THEM EH? NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT... SOMEONE WANTS THE CATHOLIC CRUSADING MINING ADDICTS TO WIN SO THEY CAN GET THE FOCUS OFF THEIR SINNED RELIGION... AND POINT THE FINGER ELSEWHERE AGAIN...CONTINUE THEIR FANATICAL WAR... AND I CAN IMAGINE MURDOCH'S WAR PROPAGANDA WILL BE PART OF IT... RUPERT MAKES GOOD MONEY FROM FINGERPOINTING AND LIVE CONFLICT...AND FEARMONGERING. N'

nasking

14/04/2013 WE WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN... [b]YEA RIGHT?: [b]Howard ignored official advice on Iraq's weapons and chose war[/b] There are none so blind as those who will not see.[/b] http://www.smh.com.au/comment/howard-ignored-official-advice-on-iraqs-weapons-and-chose-war-20130411-2hogn.html# N'

nasking

14/04/2013 ABBOTT IS FAR TOO CLOSE TO MURDOCH...WE KNOW HOW THAT WORKED OUT FOR THE UK: RUPERT Murdoch joined in an ''over-crude'' attempt by US Republicans to force Tony Blair to accelerate British involvement in the Iraq war, according to the final volumes of diaries kept by Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair's communications director. (SMH) WE WILL PROBABLY NEVER KNOW THE FULL TRUTH...BUT WE KNOW THAT BLAIR'S TEAM RELIED HEAVILY ON SUPPORT AT TIMES FROM PAPERS LIKE 'THE SUN' OWNED BY MURDOCH. IF BLAIR HAD NOT GONE TO WAR...YOU CAN IMAGINE WHERE THE MURDOCH PAPERS WOULDA GONE. WHEN I SEE A PIC OF TONY ABBOTT KNEELING BEHIND RUPERT MURDOCH AT THE IPA DINNER I CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL DISGUSTED WITH THE OPPOSITION LEADER... AND WORRY ABOUT WHO HAS ENORMOUS INFLUENCE OVER HIM... AND WHAT HE WILL DO TO THE ABC...CONSIDERING MURDOCH SEES THEM AS BIG COMPETITION...AND THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING...REMEMBERING JAMES MURDOCH'S COMMENTS: [b]JAMES MURDOCH, NEWS CORPORATION: The land grab is spearheaded by the BBC. The scale and scope of its current activities and future ambitions is chilling.[/b] I FIND AN ABBOTT, JOYCE, MURDOCH EMPIRE, RINEHART TEAM CHILLING. WE'VE BEEN LIED TO ENUFF. N'

nasking

14/04/2013 THE MURDOCH EMPIRE'S SKY NEWS/SLY NEWS JUST SHOWED AN AD SPRUIKING THE MINING INDUSTRY... TELLING THE PEOPLE THE GOVT SHOULDN'T GRAB MORE MONEY FROM THE INDUSTRY. MURDOCH AND CO PRETEND THEY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE... BUT IN THE LONG RUN THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED IN CONVINCING VOTERS TO VOTE AGAINST THEIR OWN INTERESTS. IF WE HAD THE MONEY THE MINING INDUSTRY DID...WE COULD BOMBARD THE LIKES OF SLY NEWS WITH "PAY YER FAIR SHARE OF TAXES MINING BARONS" ADS... BUT SADLY, WE DON'T MAKE THE MONEY GINA, TWIGGY AND OTHERS DO. WE RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WORD OF MOUTH. GETUP ADS AND THE LIKE. UNION ADS. YOUTUBE. CRIKEY, THE GLOBAL MAIL, NEW MATILDA, INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIA...AND OTHER SITES. AND THOSE WHO CAN GET OUT THERE AND DROP LEAFLETS. LET'S HOPE THE TRUTH GETS AROUND... AND WE CAN END THE MURDOCHRACY. MINING COMPANIES PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE SHOULD BE BEYOND PARTISAN POLITICS. BUT THE WA PREMIER BARNETT...TONY ABBOTT...BARNABY JOYCE...AND OTHER RIGHT-WINGERS HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BECOME MINING BARON LACKEYS. N'

jane

14/04/2013Patricia, great pome. Writer's block has been seen off, obviously. You're on fire. CU @1.01pm, I agree and we should be addressing these issues asap. I hope the government will turn its spotlight on what Norway has been doing to future proof itself. This should have been started during the Rodentochracy. NAS' YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THERE'S NOTHING I CAN ADD TO YOUR LAST FEW COMMENTS; YOU HAVE NAILED IT AFAIC. YOUR BULLSHIT METER IS HONED BEAUTIFULLY.

Sir Ian Crisp

14/04/2013[quote][b] I think we are already 1 seat up, Windsor will definitely beat the class clown hands down. Class always beats crass. KHTAGH [/b][/quote] I thought Windsor was proudly 'independent'.

Sir Ian Crisp

14/04/2013[quote][b]"Why is it OK for the Disney Corp to accumulate wealth but not Twiggy Forrest?" [u]I was unaware that Twiggy or any of the other profitable miners with all the tax payer subsidies they get probably to the detriment of "other" industries put the minerals in the ground in the first place. They belong to the people Sir Ian[/u], and if Twiggy et al are happy to do business in the "Congo Saomalia" and any other war torn corupt country they can go the minerals will still be here when they come back! Jason [/b][/quote] Couldn't agree more big JGuy. I would respect your position more if you made the same noise about foreign companies avoiding [b]any tax[/b] regarding their activities in Australia. You seem comfortable with the fact that foreign companies get a free pass yet you are worried about iron ore and other commodities. As the redhead would say: "Please explain". [quote][i]Foreigners farming tax-free FOREIGNERS buying Australian farmland are avoiding paying taxes and farm levies on the produce they grow. If a foreign government or company grows produce here and sends it overseas without making a sale in Australia, they avoid paying an industry levy or tax on the produce. Farm leaders say this means the foreign entities are reaping the benefits of Australian research and development without contributing to it, while avoided taxes mean those companies or governments are not contributing to Australian infrastructure used in farming. AusVeg chief executive Richard Mulcahy said a foreign entity sending produce directly overseas could avoid paying the vegetable levy. "The levy is based on the first point of sale, so if there's no sale in Australia (there's no levy paid)," Mr Mulcahy said. [...] http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/04/18/471061_business-news.html [/i][/quote] Tell me it ain't so JGuy.

Sir Ian Crisp

14/04/2013[quote][b]SIC, Twiggy et al can accumulate wealth to their heart's content, but not at the expense of this country and its citizens. As Jason says, they can bugger off to a third world country to do business, but even you should know that dealing with corrupt dictatorships is fraught with danger to life, limb and multi $bn investments. If Twiggy, Gina or any other mining magnate thinks we'd put our hands in our pockets to bail them out in that instance, they're in for a nasty surprise. jane [/b][/quote] jane, you get the same answer I gave to JGuy as well as the same request. Let's hear your big voice protesting about foreign companies avoiding any tax following their activities in Australia. Big voice now jane.

nasking

14/04/2013 THE KIDS OF AUSTRALIA DESERVE MORE FUNDING FOR THEIR SCHOOLS...MORE FUNDING TO DEAL WITH DISADVANTAGE. I HEAR COALITION SHADOW EDUCATION MINISTER CHRISTOPHER PYNE MOCKING THE GONSKI ANNOUNCEMENT LIKE SOME CHILD IN THE PLAYGROUND... PARROTING TONY ABBOTT'S NEGATIVITY... AND IN THE PROCESS SHOWING THE VOTERS HE IS NOT FIT FOR THE POSITION... OFFERING FEW VALID, PROGRESSIVE IDEAS. IT'S EASY TO STAND THERE AND MOCK AND TALK ABOUT "BACK TO BASICS" AND VAGUE VALUES... IT TAKES MORE EFFORT TO COME UP WITH A BROAD PLAN IN A MODERN WORLD WHERE INTERNET TECHNOLOGY IS DRIVING THE PRESENT AND FUTURE JOBS. PYNE IS ONE LAZY SHADOW EDUCATION MINISTER. ANOTHER POOR JUDGEMENT CALL BY TONY ABBOTT. N'

jane

14/04/2013You mean like Twiggy Forrest's company? Or BHP? Isn't that what we've been saying for years? Isn't that what the government has also been saying? And wasn't it the Liars and their barrackers who were crying crocodile tears about the poor miners having to pay their fair share for digging holes in this country? It certainly wasn't any one here except for the Liars barrackers. As I remember, good ol' Twiggy, Gina and a few other malcontents threatened to bugger off o/s to rape and pillage, but must have thought better of it.

Ad astra

14/04/2013Folks I have just now posted [i]Policy making through the rear-view mirror[/i]. http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2013/04/14/Policy-making-through-the-rear-view-mirror.aspx
I have two politicians and add 17 clowns and 14 chimpanzees; how many clowns are there?