With the ALP taking control of the country it's time to take a look at how well Premier Blunder is doing running NSW into the ground
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PREMIER Morris Iemma and his 21 ministers will today decamp from Parliament for a three-month summer break, leaving the state in disrepair and his leadership in question.
A damning report into child deaths and DOCS, a police inquiry into one of his ministers, a separate investigation into Royal North Shore Hospital and now doubts about the $15 billion sale of electricity, hang over the Government like a guillotine.
Facing possibly his worst day as Premier, Mr Iemma was yesterday forced to stare down treacherous MPs and deny he was planning to throw in the towel mid-term.
His day from hell started with talk-back radio and a denial he was planning to quit.
It was followed by:
A NSW Ombudsman's report showing an alarming rise in kids dying under care of DOCS;
A DAMNING Coroner's report into the health system failure in the meningococcal death of 18-year- old Jehan Nassif;
A WARNING from the business community that the Government would be in tatters if it failed to privatise the power industry;
THREATS from unions to fight the power sell off;
AN ONGOING police inquiry into domestic violence claims against suspended environment minister Phil Koperberg; and
CLAIMS the Government was abusing Parliament by cancelling the last week of Parliament.
"I'll be contesting the election, the next election, as Premier," said Mr Iemma in defiance of suggestions he would retire by 2009.
"If the people will have me, I'll contest the 2015 election."
Asked what had triggered the rumours surrounding his leadership - prompted by claims by his own MPs that he had lost interest - Mr Iemma said it was "just part of the nonsense and the rubbish".
"I got elected eight months ago. We got a very good majority - a mandate from the people to get on with it," he said.
"That's what we've been doing. We've got big plans and I will be contesting the next election."
But Sydney's big end of town yesterday warned that any failure of his proposed $15 billion power sector sale would leave the Government's credibility - and Mr Iemma's - in tatters.
Last night The Daily Telegraph learned Mr Iemma was forced to again delay taking his electricity privatisation proposal to his MPs, with a special caucus meeting unlikely before next week.
A senior government source confirmed that MPs were now understandably nervous, with the Left caucus voting to oppose the sale and the Koperberg investigation creating fractures in the once united Right bloc of MPs.
Western Sydney and Central Coast/Hunter MPs were also concerned about the impact of the sale on workers in their electorates.
And if that wasn't bad enough for Mr Iemma, yesterday he was also attacked from the proponents of the sale.
"We are concerned about the attempts to derail the Premier's plan to privatise electricity in NSW," head of the NSW Business Chamber Kevin MacDonald told The Daily Telegraph.
"Those within the Government who seek to derail this policy run the risk of doing great damage to the State.
"For the sake of the long term viability of the NSW Budget, the Premier has to stare down this revolt.
"The Government must not give way on this issue - to do so would be to risk the Government's economic credibility.
"We are concerned that critical areas of government policy such as new workplace safety legislation, privatisations and further investments in infrastructure are not being implemented.
"We back the Premier on electricity privatisation.
"The best interests of the people of NSW are at stake."
The cake has now been iced with detail that the Chatswood-Epping rail link (formerly the Chatswood-Parramatta link until it was thrown in the to hard basket) can not be serviced by new trains due to the steepness of the tunnels. Fortunately theirs heaps of 35 year old, non airconditioned, POC trains that are passed retirement age and would have been replaced had the same government not screwed building of new trains.... oh no hang on theirs already not enough rolling stock to handle the existing train lines!
CONGRATS TO ALL WHO VOTE ALP!!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
I don't live in NSW, so this means little to me. Perhaps you needed to actually mention that in your thread. Aftr all it's not the federal ALP that are involved here.
State or Federal, the ALP is the the worst possible government to have in power, but people have short memories.
Sir we have a winner ^^^^^^^^
Yes people do have short memories!This is why little John had four terms in office however his social engineering program was quite successful.We now how many more flag worshiping self absorbed ignorant morons than ever!.....
Yes people do have short memories!This is why little John had four terms in office however his social engineering program was quite successful.We now how many more flag worshiping self absorbed ignorant morons than ever!.....
Ahh, welcome back John. I have missed the strutting pageantry and flirtatious tango of your posts. You are the reason I come to eblah, and the sunshine that caresses my face through the window in the morning. I am amazed at the sturdy reliability of your rants. They are a glorious stream of consciousness, left wing diatribe in which you rail against whatever happens to be bothering you at the moment.
I have been reading a little on Winston Churchill, so if you would afford me the grace I would like to leave you with a quote from the great man.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
Winston Churchill.
P.S please keep on posting as it can get a bit boring around here. There is space for everyones opinions, even your literary masterpieces.
Commander Blunder has return to HQ to finalise flushing of the publics money
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Ten year and $95 million later, Tcard contract axed TEN years after it was first announced and almost $100 million later, Sydney is no closer to a cashless public transport ticketing system after the NSW Government was forced to terminate its contract for the troubled Tcard.
Transport Minister John Watkins announced the contract with Integrated Transit Solutions Ltd (ITSL) to develop the Tcard was cancelled at 1pm (AEDT) because of repeated delays.
He said the Government would now pursue a damages claim through the courts to try to recoup as much of the $95 million of taxpayers money spent on the failed project as possible.
The Government has already seized a $10 million performance bond.
A search will also begin to find another company to develop an integrated ticketing system, which was first announced by then transport minister Brian Langton in 1997. It was originally meant to be ready for when Sydney played host to the 2000 Olympic Games.
ITSL signed the contract to develop the Tcard in 2003, but Mr Watkins said the company had repeatedly failed to meet the conditions set out in that contract.
"Ongoing delays, setbacks and chronic failures to meet milestones have meant that we have no choice but to take this action to protect the taxpayer," Mr Watkins said.
"We've simply had enough.
"The company has had enough chances, the Government has run out of patience."
The NSW Government gave ITSL notice in November last year of an intention to terminate the contract on December 3 unless certain conditions were met.
ITSL responded, putting forward a plan which they said would see Tcard trials by mid-2008 but Mr Watkins said the proposal would not have had the system fully operational until February 2010.
"ITSL's plan did not adequately address their poor project management and recurring problems with technology," he said.
Mr Watkins rejected ITSL's previous claim that it would take another contractor 10 years to develop the ticketing system, but the minister did not put any specific timetable on when he thought it could be operational.
ITSL released a two sentence statement, saying it had received notification from the Government body, the Public Transport Ticketing Corporation, terminating the project "with immediate effect".
It was "considering its position in relation to the notice, and will keep the market fully informed on its effect on the company".
Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said after the Tcard, Mr Watkins should be the next to go, because he had misled the public over the project.
"Mr Watkins told voters ahead of the state election that the Tcard project was on track, everything was going well and integrated ticketing would be delivered by this company - clearly that was a lie," he said.
Mr O'Farrell also questioned the $95 million figure the Government gave for the expense to taxpayers for the project so far after a figure of only $65 million was given late last year.
Transport industry group TTF Australia supported the Government's move to terminate the contract but urged the Government to simplify its fare system.
BRAVO WANKINS BRAVO! You have to wonder why they bothered installing stands and brackets for Tcard readers at every station on the network. was that a few more mill?
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
The Pragmatic one, oh how it's easy to be just that "pragmatic" when you are in a position of power after all you've worked hard to get there!?!
Thank you for the welcome, it warms the Cockels of my heart to read your replies and the feeling is mutual I don't think it would be worth it with out your input all be it the polar opposite.
Looks like Rudd has been listening to our friends on the right. But as stated tax fraud is a much bigger issue than welfare fraud and the rich are the biggest rorters, it's a lot easier to kick the little guy.
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Welfare fraud on Rudd's hit list Patricia Karvelas, Political correspondent The Australian, January 25, 2008
THE Rudd Government will crack down on welfare fraud as part of its quest for savings to relieve pressure on inflation and rein in the cash economy.
Human Services Minister Joe Ludwig told The Australian he had ordered Centrelink fraud investigators to keep the heat on welfare fraud in the cash economy and has asked his department to develop plans to intensify fraud measures.
It follows a series of investigations that found Sydney and Melbourne taxi drivers were also on the dole. Three field operations picked up 75 taxi drivers, saving taxpayers more than half a million dollars.
"We want to protect the taxpayers' expenditure in this area," Senator Ludwig said.
"People who want to defraud you will continue to find different ways to do it, so you've actually got to keep one step ahead of the game.
"There's some industries - hospitality, building, taxi and harvesting industries - where there is a great opportunity."
Senator Ludwig said he wanted to increase data matching between departments to detect the fraudsters.
"What I want is cross-agency operations to improve outcomes and there's also compliance," he said. "I've asked the Department of Human Services to examine all of the options to improve its fraud detection and compliance work.
"What I've asked for is the relevant (agencies) to examine how they do it to ensure if there are ways of improving it we can examine those options.
"There's also opportunities in data matching that are also worth examining and back to the law enforcement approach, as well. It is necessary to go out there and ask."
He said the Government was auditing the programs that are in place with a clear direction to increase activity.
Senator Ludwig said three field operations, one each at Sydney and Melbourne airports and another at The Rocks in Sydney, picked up 75 taxi drivers, who had their government payments cancelled or suspended, potentially saving taxpayers more than $500,000.
"The Rudd Labor Government is committed to ensuring people in need have access to adequate assistance. But we won't tolerate people who abuse the community's willingness to give them a hand up," Senator Ludwig said. "People receiving welfare payments have a clear responsibility to tell Centrelink about any income they earn from employment."
He said Centrelink investigators worked alongside other agencies, such as the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Federal Police and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, in conducting investigations into cash-economy activity.
National Welfare Rights Network president Michael Raper said tax fraud was a bigger problem than welfare fraud.
"If they want to chase tax fraud, that's where the dollars are," he said. "There's some in social security but it's pretty tight and hard already. Less than half of 1 per cent of social security debt is fraud."
Looks like Rudd has been listening to our friends on the right. But as stated tax fraud is a much bigger issue than welfare fraud and the rich are the biggest rorters, it's a lot easier to kick the little guy.
Some who get the family allowance are 'Big' guys too. We have heard reports of large payments going to families who live in multi million $ houses of very wealthy people. The explanation seems to be that 'they are taxpayers too'.
Financial assistance should only be for those who have a wage set within the IR system where courts decide how much workers get. People who can set their own paypacket or live of earnings of inherited wealth have many more choices in life and need less taxpayer funded help. Most Australian workers can't negotiate for their wage rises so remain trapped at wages reviewed every 3-4 years . . while living costs are exploding more by the HOUR! The system we live under is flawed to the core and on the brink of collapse.
Some who get the family allowance are 'Big' guys too.
Yeah middle-high class welfare is out of control. I was happy to find out the 1st home owners grant is only for properties upto $500K, which is good, I don't think it used to be capped. Any form of welfare should be capped to make sure those that need it get the maximum benefit.
PREMIER Morris Iemma has forked out $50,000 of taxpayers' money on a Chinese lunch and showered dignitaries with paisley polyester ties during a $500,000 overseas jaunt.
Taxpayers also paid about $200,000 for PR and advertising for the China and India trip, which soaked up almost half the $433,000 budget.
Mr Iemma and his entourage handed out a bounty of Les Patterson-style gifts, including the 24 polyester ties, six kangaroo leather CD cases, two wombat-shaped paperweights and 10 Sydney Opera House keyrings.
The Premier immediately distanced himself from the garish gifts, saying they were selected by the Office of Protocol and Special Events.
Frivolous expenses: A break down of Iemma's costs
The trip from November 13-18 last year was intended to promote NSW as a trading partner and business destination. However, it also made headlines as it kept Mr Iemma out of the country for the last week of the federal election campaign at a time when Labor candidate Kevin Rudd was keen to distance himself from the State Government.
The China lunch at the exclusive Shangri-la Hotel in Guangzhou cost a whopping $48,000 for 530 guests - almost $100 a head.
A similar lunch at the ritzy Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi cost almost $40,000. The delegation also visited Mumbai.
Public relations and advertising costs were a whopping $100,000 each. Mr Iemma said this was largely to promote NSW in the local media.
Opposition WasteWatch spokesman Anthony Roberts said the trip was a financial outrage and aesthetic disaster.
"What an amazing distance to travel for the Premier to give his hosts polyester ties," he said.
"At a time when classrooms can't get repaired after storms, hospitals have out of date equipment and DOCS is in crisis, there seems to be no shortage of money for the Premier's overseas travel.
"The cost of this trip would have put six more police on the beat or six more nurses in our hospitals."
But Mr Iemma defended the trip as a vital trade mission and the largest - state or federal - ever to leave Australian shores.
The Premier's nine-strong entourage included tourism chief John O'Neill, Premier's Department head Robyn Kruk and policy adviser Winky Chow.
Every university in NSW was represented on the mission and more than 100 business leaders also attended, all at their own expense.
"Building our relationships with China and India is essential for the continued prosperity of our state," Mr Iemma told The Daily Telegraph.
"China and India are economic powerhouses. China is now our No. 1 bilateral trading partner, and India is our fastest growing export market. The investment leads created by the trip were phenomenal."
RESIDENTS in Sydney's heartland have been condemned to living large chunks of their lives in their cars because the State Government has failed to connect growth centres like Parramatta, Blacktown, Liverpool and Campbelltown with public transport.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that all five cross-regional "strategic bus corridors" - which promised to be the Holy Grail of transport for outer-Sydney commuters - have either failed to grow or have lost passengers since their introduction in 2005.
It is just one of a raft of problems affecting residents in Sydney's forgotten suburbs - those areas on the city's fringe whose inhabitants are forced to endure a lack of major infrastructure, transport, schools and hospitals.
The shameful excuse for public transport in the city's fastest growing regions is compounded by:
Fewer emergency services;
A LACK of playing fields;
HIGHER costs for some utilities, including water; and
NO tollway cashback for residents in the booming north-west and Hills district.
Would you use public transport if it was better? Vote in our poll and have your say below.
The Daily Telegraph today begins a concerted effort to find a solution to these problems, beginning with the farcical transport system on Sydney's fringes.
Commuters on some routes have to wait half an hour for a bus during peak times, despite advice to Government that high-frequency services is the only way to expand patronage.
The $1 billion spent on bus-only "T-Ways" also has been wasted, with bus operator Busways confirming it saves no time over existing roads.
Transport experts yesterday labelled the city's bus system "Mickey Mouse", saying the infrequency and unreliability could never lure western Sydney residents out of their cars.
In an embarrassing contrast to cities like Brisbane, where a rapid bus transit system has put the city back on to public transport, commuters in western Sydney have little choice but to pay $100-plus in motorway tolls each week.
Figures showing the decline in patronage, obtained under Freedom of Information, demonstrate a stunning failure at a time when rising petrol prices have spurred an unprecedented return to public transport in more affluent and rail-serviced areas of Sydney.
Bus routes to the city from areas such as Castle Hill and Mona Vale have grown at phenomenal rates but the 60 per cent of Sydneysiders who do not travel to the CBD appear to have been forgotten.
Sydney's only cross-regional rail link - the Cumberland line - has just two train services a day in each direction between Campbelltown and Blacktown.
Sydney University transport guru Professor David Hensher said the Government had ignored the recommendations of former premier Barrie Unsworth, whose 2004 bus review called for high frequency services feeding trunk routes.
The Unsworth report, adopted by the Carr Government, said: "To create community confidence in the reliability and quality of strategic corridor services, the starting point for operations and frequencies should be: 10-minute frequencies in peak periods; 15-minute frequencies off-peak; 30-minute frequencies at night."
Four years on, commuters on the first strategic corridor, Miranda-Hurstville, wait half an hour for a bus at 8am.
Mr Hensher said residents of western Sydney were "very poorly served" in getting between centres.
"Strategic corridors with high frequency and good connectivity is a fine idea, however we haven't put them in action at all in my view - the network is very poor," he said.
Mr Hensher said the Government had to take the lead and subsidise operators to experiment with much higher frequency to create a viable system modelled on Brisbane.
"It's the best system in the country. I keep telling the Premier and (Treasurer) Michael Costa about it. They all know about it. None of them have gone and looked at it," Mr Hensher said.
A spokesman for Transport Minister John Watkins said the Government was proud of the bus reforms achieved since the Unsworth Report.
"Newer routes will start to grow at a faster rate as customers get used to the new arrangements," he said.
Bus operator Busways threatened to boycott the T-way altogether last year.
Gillard 'confused' by new powerFebruary 15, 2008 09:44am ACTING Prime Minister Julia Gillard says sitting on the government benches in Parliament this week has been confusing.
Labor MPs occupied the government side of the House of Representatives and Senate chambers for the first time since 1995 when the 42nd Parliament was officially opened on Tuesday.
"It can get confusing," Ms Gillard said on ABC Radio today.
"You have a natural tendency to turn your head the other way to look at the Speaker so you find yourself looking towards the clock instead of looking towards (Speaker) Harry Jenkins.
"But once you've defeated that and you are looking in the right direction it feels pretty good."
Ms Gillard says it was a good feeling to be implementing Labor policies.
"Of course, they are the policies that the people voted for at the last election."
So Jules is now looking in the right direction, which would be a first
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
NSW abandons free WiFi plan THE NSW government has abandoned a project to provide free wireless internet in the state's key CBDs, declaring it too risky to warrant taxpayer funding.
The state's free wireless internet plan has been canned NSW called on wireless internet providers to submit preliminary proposals for the project early in 2007. Late today NSW Minister for Commerce Eric Roozendaal said it was not feasible for the government to continue pursuing the project on technical and financial grounds.
Mr Roozendaal said that similar projects pursued overseas had been abandoned or encumbered governments with massive cost blow-outs.
“Most schemes sponsored by overseas governments have collapsed and require further funding to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.
"With technology changing so quickly, I cannot expose NSW taxpayers to that sort of risk," Mr Roozendaal said.
Consumers were already served with WiFi wireless services provided by libraries, cafes and hotels, he said.
The troubled WiFi project has faced lengthy delays getting off the ground, falling 12 months behind schedule since it was first announced in the government's innovation statement in November 2006.
NSW was expected to make a decision on the successful bidder for the tender to build the network in the second quarter of 2007 but it had still not been made by February this year.
The successful bidder was expected to be given access to government-owned buildings, traffic lights and water tanks to install WiFi hotspots.
In February wireless internet consultant Jonathon Withers said that the government had not examined the business case for the plan in sufficient detail before announcing it.
I expect Kev's internet plan to go the same way before to long. Side note I considered Iemma "too risky to warrant taxpayer funding" before the election, unfortunately I was in the minority!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Galaxy poll reveals working families let down by Budget PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd's "working families" Budget has failed to impress many of its targets, an exclusive opinion survey has found.
Nearly 70 per cent of households with children fear they will end up being worse off or are unsure about the Budget, Galaxy Research found in weekend polling.
Less than a third of households with children - 31 per cent - believe they will be better off from last Tuesday's Budget, while 25 per cent said they would be worse off and 44 per cent were uncommitted.
Just 23 per cent of all voters said they would be better off and a third said they would be worse off.
And more than a third of those earning under $70,000 a year said they thought their finances would suffer.
The biggest worriers were older Australians, pointing to Budget disappointment among pensioners. Some 41 per cent of those aged over 50 were pessimistic about the Budget. Another indication pensioners are unhappy was the Budget's poor response from households without children, 37 per cent of them saying it would not make them better off.
But the most common reaction from voters after four days of intensive Budget selling and debate, was they didn't know.
Despite doubts, Treasurer Wayne Swan's personal rating has been increased slightly by his first Budget.
Some 36 per cent of voters believe Mr Swan would be the better economic manager over Liberal shadow treasurer Malcolm Turnbull, who rated 25 per cent.
In the weekend before the Budget, the figures were essentially reversed in a Newspoll survey - 35 to Mr Turnbull and 29 per cent to Mr Swan.
The turn-around could play into Liberal leadership calculations as Mr Turnbull remains the most obvious contender should a move be made against the Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson.
In further good news for the Government, voters overwhelmingly endorsed the imposition of a means test on some family welfare, and the income threshold of $150,000.
Setting income limits for the baby bonus and welfare for stay-at-home mums was strongly endorsed, with just 17 per cent of voters opposed and just 6 per cent uncommitted.
The $150,000-a-year income threshold was approved by 34 per cent of voters, the largest single bloc.
There was 22 per cent support for a $100,000 level and 10 per cent support for $120,000.
The biggest backing came from those likely to be affected by the means test.
The $150,000 level was backed by 37 per cent of those earning $70,000 or more, and 38 per cent of households with children.
The most popular aspect of the Budget were the tax cuts, including the $7.3 billion worth to start on July 1.
The tax relief was applauded by about half of all voters and opposed by just 31 per cent, with 20 per cent uncommitted.
The biggest single bloc of approval came from the relatively well off.
Fifty-four per cent of those earning more than $70,000 a year backed the tax cuts, as did 48 per cent of those on less than $70,000 - the earners intended to be the major beneficiaries.
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Yet another high point for the Labor party. While they go from F'up to F'up nothing is heard from the peanut gallery!
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MPs donating $100 each to Milton Orkoupoulos' family NSW Labor MPs have been sent a letter asking them to donate $100 each to the family of convicted paedophile Milton Orkopoulos.
As the former NSW Aboriginal affairs minister (pictured) prepares today to face sentencing over his conviction on 28 child sex and drugs charges, Iemma Government MPs are being asked to pass around the hat to help his financially ruined family.
The campaign follows a failed bid by a small group of former Labor MPs a month ago to raise money to help pay Orkopoulos's legal expenses, which are believed to have amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The latest letter, signed by Hunter Labor MPs Jill Hall - federal member for Shortland - and state member for Swansea Robert Coombs, has called on MPs to join a club and raise $10,000 for Mr Orkopoulos's estranged wife Kathy and daughter Anastasia.
It has also been sent to local Labor branch members and friends.
The letter claimed that Kathy had now lost their family home; was in financial hardship and was struggling to pay for Anastasia's school tuition.
They have been forced to move into a small unit.
The letter - dated May 7 - was circulated late last week to the parliamentary offices of NSW MPs.
Mr Coombs, who took Orkopoulos's seat following the 2007 election, said Kathy and Anastasia were unfortunate victims of Orkopoulos's double-life and were in need of help.
"They have had to sell their home . . . and in the true Labor way we have rallied around to rattle the tin," Mr Coombs said. The letter read: "As you will be aware, the events surrounding the arrest and subsequent incarceration of Milton Orkopoulos has resulted in his family being penalised emotionally and particularly financially".
"Kathy, his wife, has had to sell the family home and is in financial hardship, at a time when daughter Anastasia is in her final years at primary school and looking at high school entry and providing for future education.
"We are writing to invite you to assist with raising funds for Anastasia and Kathy Orkopoulos.
"The aim is to raise $10,000."Mrs Orkopoulos is understood to have separated from her husband after his arrest on November 7, 2006.
One Labor MP said he felt sorry for the family but thought it inappropriate to join a club.
"You do feel sorry for this woman," the MP said.
But Mr Coombs said hundreds of Labor Party branch members had pledged contributions.
"We are getting a good response . . . people understand that this is an unfortunate situation," Mr Coombs told The Daily Telegraph.
Mr Coombs agreed that Orkopoulos's legal expenses would have been significant - following a six-week trial - and that money would have more than likely come from family assets.
The club has been named the Kathy and Anastasia 100 Club.
It will also hold a raffle night with the prize of a flat screen TV and a four night stay at a Swansea Hotel.
The former Aboriginal affairs minister is unable to access his $60,000 parliamentary pension after the State Government passed laws in 2006 freezing his superannuation, pending the outcome of his trial.
Ben Blackburn, one of Orkopoulos's victims, earlier this month told the court how the former MP had "betrayed my trust in him. I felt angry and frustrated but above all else was the the over-riding fear - the fear of not being believed".
Two other male victims also told the court of the harrowing impact their abuse has had on their lives.
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Iemma turning Sydney into joke COMMUTERS have long given up on the NSW Government over its transport record. Now an international transport leader says the Government's botched handling of the Tcard has left the state with a "very bad reputation".
MORRIS Iemma will be sacked as NSW Premier at a party meeting today.
After a devastating 12 months Mr Iemma has been rolled by MPs angry at his handling of the power privatisation and loyalty to Treasurer Michael Costa.
Mr Iemma had been warned that if he did not dump Mr Costa he would be challenged, however even that has not saved him.
It is believed that Mr Iemma will be replaced by young gun minister Nathan Rees, who was only elected to Parliament last year.
Mr Rees is a member of the minority Left faction and would have to shift to being unaligned if he was to take up the role _ something he is understood to be prepared to do.
The only other alternative is that Mr Iemma is replaced by his newly anointed deputy Carmel Tebbutt who only returned from the backbench yesterday.
Ms Tebbutt could stand in as an interim measure until Mr Rees is deemed ready.
The Rees/Tebbutt “dream team” was first revealed in The Daily Telegraph on June 13.
Anyways WA state elections on Saturday. If the Libs get in I am moving from this state. They are so backwards and lack any vision, rather embroiled in turmoil after turmoil and leader after leader.
Lowie move to NSW and find out how good an a*** f*** Labor have given it over the past decade, we don't have one public department run correctly and we're the highest taxed state.
NSW Labor are doing a house cleaning, before the last election Bob Carr jumped ship allowing Iemma to say all this mess is Carr's fault, I'll clean it up. 18 months after the election he's done SFA and the party has to look at brain washing the voters in order to get in because at the moment they have the record of a big bunch of retards.
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Yeah that sounds pretty average, Labor there sounds as bad as The Liberals here.
The Libs former leader sniffs womens chairs (yes thats right) and snaps their bra straps, and is still a minister in Colin Barnetts portfolio. The current leader, Barnett, took the Libs to the last election, before losing, then setting himself up for retirement before being recycled as party leader merely weeks before we go to polls because no one else could do it. He lacks any vision what so ever, is anti extended trading hours, anti development and infrastructure, apart from building a few car parks.
I swear if WA are so f###ing dumb to vote in a party in such a shambles I will seriously consider whether I want to continue living here.
Yeah that sounds pretty average, Labor there sounds as bad as The Liberals here.
The Libs former leader sniffs womens chairs (yes thats right) and snaps their bra straps, and is still a minister in Colin Barnetts portfolio. The current leader, Barnett, took the Libs to the last election, before losing, then setting himself up for retirement before being recycled as party leader merely weeks before we go to polls because no one else could do it. He lacks any vision what so ever, is anti extended trading hours, anti development and infrastructure, apart from building a few car parks.
I swear if WA are so f###ing dumb to vote in a party in such a shambles I will seriously consider whether I want to continue living here.
I agree with you Lowie. What a rabble the Liberals are yet after yesterdays election could well be government if the final seats fall their way and the Nationals join them. Currently its a hung parliament with no side having the winning edge.
I am hoping and praying the Nats and Labour can sort something out, but whatever happens we could find ourselves off to the polls much sooner than 4 years time.
THE Federal Budget surplus has been slashed $16 billion, unemployment is forecast to top five per cent and Treasurer Wayne Swan has warned the world economic crisis is entering a "dangerous phase", blowing a $40billion hole in Australian tax revenue.
The $40 billion hole in the federal budget means Australians will feel the pain.
THE American owners of local Ford and Holden plants will be laughing at the Australian "suckers" who have handed them a $6.2 billion industry assistance package, former car company executives say.
Nothing like Labor trying to spend its way out of trouble.
What a great start, lets review it.....
Surplus is gone and will most likely be in deficit. Using sneaky taxes that have had no modeling. Keynesian type economics rather than just giving us tax cuts which would stimulate growth in the public sector far better. Being clueless on inflation. The genie is out the bottle, remember. Emission trading scheme which is nothing more than an aimed tax grab. Nothing to do with the environment whatsoever.
That's just economically!
It just seems like we have learned nothing from the past, and history will just repeat itself.
Do I think the Libs would pull Australia out of a worldwide economic recession. No.
I feel quite confident the way I voted. I would not go back in time and change my vote because I thought the Libs could deal with this situation any better...
JOHN Howard is on a winning streak - days after receiving a Medal of Freedom from US President George W. Bush, he's been voted Australia's favourite prime minister.
An online poll of 1000 people, conducted last week by Essential Research, found almost a third of people rated Mr Howard as the best prime minister since World War II.
Second in line was Kevin Rudd, with 20 per cent of the vote.
Larrikin Bob Hawke beat his Labor colleagues Paul Keating and Gough Whitlam, while Liberal stalwart Robert Menzies can still pull a crowd - 11 per cent of people rated him No.1.
The poll also found almost a third of people think they will be worse off in a year's time as a result of the global financial crisis.
Older people and those not working were more likely to be worried.
The fact Keating, biggest ahole in history got any votes show Labor voters are nuts till the bitter end!
As for the current **** bag, he's now come out with the same story as dullard did last week about how no one should be expecting a pay rise....... Pity none of them could see what was on the horizon when he was babbling about how great things were going to be under his reign.
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Some news.com.au readers said Mr Rudd was sending mixed messages having spent billions to stimulate the economy while also reducing people's confidence.
"Mr Rudd - You sir are an idiot," wrote pt of Sydney.
"... The talk or a wage freeze will force many to put aside a little extra each week i.e. reduce spending. When consumers reduce spending businesses lose sales/money, when that happens they cut staff numbers.
"Maybe you should read an economics text book before you open your mouth again. And by the way, will you be joining us with this wage freeze? "
These clowns are really showing their true colours.
Tax cuts are the most effective way to put money in pockets and provide the stimulus that the economy needs. But I guess that doesn't win votes and newspaper polls like Handing out one off payments of a thousand dollars. Is it any wonder that pokie revenues were up 8% in December.
THE Prime Minister has secretly paid two senior advisers - including his "boy wonder" chief of staff, Alister Jordan - special top-up payments to bolster their $200,000-plus incomes.
Despite calling on workers to defer pay claims, Mr Rudd intervened to have a salary bonus paid to Mr Jordan, his 29-year-old long-serving confidant.
Another senior adviser has also breached the Government's official salary cap, boosting his "principal adviser" salary above the top level of $192,000.
Mr Jordan has worked side-by-side with Mr Rudd for six years and is one offour Government advisers paid at the top "principal adviser" level.
With superannuation and overtime added to salaries, principal advisers earn close to $250,000 in annual income.
The revelations of the top-up payments are embarrassing for the PM, who on Monday night called on workers to show wage restraint as Australia rockets towards recession.
Remember Rudd made a whole heap of crazy promises to get into office as well, let's see if obama actually delivers. Given his choice for treasury secretary is trying to explain how he forgot to pay $US34,000 in income tax taxes I'd be a little uneasy about the books!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
$40b budget deficit looms Chris Zappone January 27, 2009 - 3:13PM
A weaker economy, more industry bailouts and a huge stimulus spend are likely to push the Federal budget into a $40 billion deficit next financial year, the National Australia Bank says.
A 2009-10 budget blow-out, spelling a dramatic reversal of Australia's run of surpluses, would arise due to a weaker economy and the need for more economic rescue packages, NAB economist Jeff Oughton said today.
The self-described "bearish'' prediction emerged in the bank's latest business confidence survey, which showed December posting the twelfth consecutive month of negative sentiment.
These last few weeks will be the ones that could ultimately lead to their demise at the next federal election. Kevvy isn't a fiscal conservative like he told us, hes an old fashioned socialist.
42 billion and no broad based tax cuts. What an absolute joke.
Australia will prosper after economic crisis: Wayne Swan
Wayne Swan says Australia will prosper
Julia Gillard urges wage restraint
Indepth: All the latest business news
TREASURER Wayne Swan says Australia will survive the world financial crisis and be more prosperous than before, but acting prime minister Julia Gillard is urging wage restraint as the economy slows.
For those that need some assistance dullard (who as usual is acting prime minister) is asking people to do exactly what Work Choices was put in place to do.
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Kevin Rudd has apologised to a RAAF cabin stewardess he reportedly reduced to tears on a flight from Port Moresby to Canberra in January.
Mr Rudd did not dispute he had "a discussion" with the stewardess because the meal he wanted was unavailable but he did not remember her being in tears.
What a tosser. Saw the proceeding tosser (Keating)on the 7:30 Report still banging on about how great he is; our banks are only in strong shape because of his reforms........ GMAFB!!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Kevin Rudd has apologised to a RAAF cabin stewardess he reportedly reduced to tears on a flight from Port Moresby to Canberra in January.
What a headline grabbing beatup news report that was, IMHO. A supersensitive 23 year old flight attendant was reduced to tears because the meal without any meat that he had ordered prior to the flight, was not available at the meal time. He is off meat on Doctor's orders, he should of just asked for a vegetarian meal. Surely to goodness this story is 'old' news and not even newsworthy. It's April already and the flight was in January! Slow news day much???
Let's cut through the we love Rudd cr@p. He was being a wanker and it came to light, saying sorry doesn't change the fact he was a wanker, in the government apology is policy. It's likely he never even ordered what he wanted or one of his spin doctors forgot to pass the message on. If he's on a diet maybe the wife should join him jebus I cringe everytime a camera zooms out to get her in frame.
This guy could break into some peoples home, drop one on the carpet and they'd still think he way doing a good job
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
What a headline grabbing beatup news report that was, IMHO. A supersensitive 23 year old flight attendant was reduced to tears because the meal without any meat that he had ordered prior to the flight, was not available at the meal time. He is off meat on Doctor's orders, he should of just asked for a vegetarian meal. Surely to goodness this story is 'old' news and not even newsworthy. It's April already and the flight was in January! Slow news day much???
Absolutely right Suzi. I couldn't believe the media made this the headline news ahead of the G20 announcements. I know who the wankers are. The media as usual.
I reckon the media have a far too greater role to play in the way the community understands issues that happen no matter what political party we support. I also reckon we let them get us all worked up over petty issues and keep us 'dumbed' down. The age-old ...why let facts get in the way of a good story.
Subject: Definition of a tragedy Kevin Rudd was visiting a primary school and he visited one of the classes. They were in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings. The teacher asked Kevin, the saviour of 'working families', if he would like to lead the discussion on the word 'tragedy'. So Kevin (the saviour of 'working families’) asked the class for an example of a 'tragedy'. A little boy stood up and offered: 'If my best friend, who lives on a farm, is playing in the field & a tractor runs over him and kills him, That would be a 'tragedy.' No, said Kevin - that would be an accident.' A little girl raised her hand: 'If a school bus carrying fifty children drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy' I'm afraid not, explained Kevin - that's what we would call great loss' The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Kevin searched the room. 'Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?' Finally, at the back of the room, little Johnny raised his hand. In a quiet voice he said: 'If A plane carrying you and Julia Gillard was struck by a 'friendly fire' missile & blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.' 'Fantastic!' exclaimed Kevin. 'That's right. And can you tell me why that would be tragedy?' 'Well,' says little Johnny 'it has to be a tragedy, because it certainly wouldn't be a great loss and it probably wouldn't be an accident either!'
Why I faked OzCar email: Godwin Grech EXCLUSIVE: Paul Maley | August 04, 2009
Article from: The Australian GODWIN Grech has admitted he created the "fake email" at the heart of the OzCar affair and claimed that he passed the contents of that email to Malcolm Turnbull under "enormous pressure".
The senior Treasury official, speaking from a psychiatric ward in Canberra last night, admitted to an error of judgment in creating the email.
AUDIO: Paul Maley on the OzCar scandal
But he said he still believed there had been an original email from Kevin Rudd's office, urging help for Ipswich car dealer and Labor donor John Grant, but conceded it could not be found.
Speaking exclusively to The Australian, Mr Grech said he co-operated with the opposition to save the jobs of 2000 people by seeking their support to pass the OzCar finance bill in the Senate.
"My concern was that the issue of Grant could be used to frustrate the passage of the bill," he said.
Mr Turnbull declined to comment on the meeting but last night a spokesman for the Opposition Leader said Coalition support for the bill was never in doubt, citing comments from the Coalition supporting the bill as early as May. And senior Coalition sources said it was Mr Grech who initiated the meeting at which the email was handed over. They said that, far from being a passive victim, he encouraged the opposition to go after the Prime Minister on the email and to pursue the claims of favours in the Senate.
Mr Grech said he handed a printout of the email's contents to Mr Turnbull and Senate deputy leader Eric Abetz -- which he later took back -- at a meeting at his wife Lucy Turnbull's office in Sydney's Potts Point on June 12, one week before Mr Grech's explosive evidence before a Senate inquiry.
In a claim that will increase pressure on Mr Turnbull's leadership, the ailing official said he wrote down a series of questions for the Opposition Leader to ask in parliament which concerned Mr Rudd's statements that he had not sought special favours for Mr Grant.
Mr Grech said he made an error of judgment in faking the now notorious email, in which the Prime Minister's economics adviser, Andrew Charlton, purportedly sought Mr Grech's help in seeking special treatment for Mr Grant.
Mr Grech's claims, revealed exclusively in The Australian, will place enormous pressure on Mr Turnbull as the Auditor-General's report into OzCar, to be released today, is expected to clear Mr Rudd and Wayne Swan of any wrongdoing.
The government has demanded Mr Turnbull apologise and resign if his allegations are not substantiated. Mr Rudd moved to increase pressure on Mr Turnbull ahead of the release of the Auditor-General's report.
"I think it's important for Mr Turnbull to come out and describe in detail all of his dealings with Mr Grech. All meetings and all conversations," Mr Rudd said.
"Mr Turnbull must also tell the Australian people if he, or anyone else associated with the Liberal Party, discussed the Senate inquiry with Mr Grech before Mr Grech appeared as a witness. These are some of the very basic questions which need to be answered in this forged email affair."
Mr Turnbull said he had given the Australian Federal Police full co-operation on the fake email affair, but the Auditor-General had not spoken to him in relation to his inquiry. "I assume I don't feature in his report, and nor should I," Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Grech remained adamant an email from the Prime Minister's office concerning Mr Grant had been sent in which help was requested for the car dealer.
His decision to fake the email followed a conversation with the Treasurer's chief-of-staff, Chris Barrett, on June 4, in which Mr Barrett asked Mr Grech if he had ever received an email from Mr Charlton.
Mr Barrett's question was in response to evidence Mr Grech had given earlier that day at a Senate estimates hearing about the matter.
Mr Grech told Mr Barrett he believed an email existed.
But, unable to find the email on his Treasury email system, he fabricated the communication -- a record of which has never been found despite exhaustive searches -- based on what he said was his recollection.
"It is at this point that I made an error of judgment," Mr Grech told The Australian.
"Rather than preparing a note for file recording the discussion I had with Barrett, including setting out what I thought the exchange as an email that set out what I recollected the original email contained.
"Although the email was not an original, I thought that it would help having a record in the form that it appeared if or when the original could be located."
Mr Grech said that after four months the exact wording of the email might not have been "spot on".
"(But) I was confident that the sentiment of the exchange was accurate -- a position that I still believe today," he said.
Mr Grech then sent the email from his Treasury email account to his private address on June 5, two weeks before his next appearance in the Senate and one week before his meeting with Mr Turnbull.
Mr Grech's meeting with Mr Turnbull occurred in the Liberal leader's wife's office about 3pm and went for about an hour and a half, Mr Grech said.
Ms Turnbull was not present and it is understood she has never met Mr Grech.
Mr Grech said the three men passed around the "email", a single copy of which had been printed out by Mr Grech.
But the Treasury official said he took the copy of the document back and had never provided it anyone. He is adamant that he never gave permission for the email to be used by anybody.
Having worked on the scheme for months, Mr Grech said he was "desperate" to see the bill pass.
"I was under strong pressure from my bosses to land OzCar and was being told that I was taking too long and the whole thing was resembling the hospital with no patients made famous in the Yes Minister series," Mr Grech said.
Hansard records show Mr Turnbull asked two questions about the OzCar affair on July 15.
In the first, Mr Rudd was asked if he stood by earlier denials that Mr Grant had received no favours. In the second, Mr Turnbull asked Mr Swan to detail any requests for assistance for Mr Grant made by his office
A spokesman for Senator Abetz, Brad Stansfield, who is also understood to have attended the meeting, declined to comment on Mr Grech's claims, citing the ongoing AFP investigation.
But senior Coalition sources were last night saying it was Mr Grech who sought the Sydney meeting and urged those present to pursue Mr Rudd over the alleged email. Far from being a passive victim, they said, he was a willing participant in the affair who urged the Opposition to pursue it in the Senate.
Mr Grech said he never intended the email to be used in the way that it was, nor did he give the Coalition permission to disclose its contents to anyone. But three days after his meeting, he received a call from Ford Credit managing director Greg Cohen. "(He) was concerned because a senior journalist had been calling asking questions about John Grant," Mr Grech said.
Mr Grech said he phoned Mr Turnbull that evening.
"It was agreed that it would be a good idea if I spoke to the journalist off the record and on an in-confidence basis setting out the story as I understood it" he said.
He said he spoke to the journalist the next day. Mr Grech said it was not clear to him who told "other parties" about the email but that it was done without his permission.
NEw South Wales Premier Nathan Rees admits he could have chosen his words better when he compared climate change sceptics with Nazi appeasers of the 1930s. Speaking at the Eureka Awards, also known as the Oscars of Australian science, Mr Rees said it was vital scientists' warnings about the environment were not ignored.
"The threat of climate change is catastrophic,'' he said at the science awards in Sydney last night.
"In fact, the current wave of climate change scepticism smacks of 1930s-style appeasement: 'Hide under the blankets and it will go away.' But it won't go away.''
Asked today if his remarks were inflammatory, Mr Rees said he perhaps could have "phrased it better'' or "clarified it, made it clearer''.
"My point was, in a broader context as you'll appreciate, climate change is here. The science is in. Pretending that it doesn't exist will not make it go away,'' he said.
This guy is really a dimwit! The 'Hide under the blankets and it will go away.' approach has been a policy of his party for over a decade - Hospital deaths, schools falling apart, public transport a joke, infrastructure crumbling, etc, etc. At least every day brings us closer to an election, then it's time for him to jump back on the garbage truck!!!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
The world cannot afford to ignore the warnings, Dara.....................The 2 P's are going to stuff this world up in the future, Population and Pollution...........
They're about to fall for much higher electricity bills as well thanks to Kev and Mal now being in agreement about "going green". We'll still be shipping coal off to China though!!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
I can't believe that none of the ALP faithfull that in the past have hail comrade Rudd haven't commented on his great new immigration policy; flush a million bucks down the toilet and then let everyone who wants walk right in!
WHAT A BRILLIANT LEADER
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Looks like another do nothing NSW premier is about to be given his gold card and spend the rest of his miserable existence sponging off the tax payers. This will be the second since the 2007 election and they had to let go of Carr to get through that one.
Keneally takes over as premier From: The Daily Telegraph December 03, 2009 7:43pm
KRISTINA Keneally has been elected 47-21 to become NSW's first female premier after the ALP caucus dumped Nathan Rees.
"I'd like to thank my colleagues for this opportunity to lead and serve the people of New South Wales,'' Ms Keneally said as she emerged victorious from the ALP party room.
Ms Keneally becomes the fourth premier of NSW in as many years after Mr Rees last year replaced Morris Iemma who in turn replaced Bob Carr.
A no-confidence motion was moved against Mr Rees' leadership at a special Labor caucus meeting today night, with MPs voting 43-25 in favour of the motion.
After the no-confidence motion was carried a ballot for the leadership was taken with Ms Keneally defeating Mr Rees 47-21, after she secured the support of the party's dominant right faction.
Mr Rees was among the last of the MPs to exit the caucus room and was visibly upset at the outcome of the vote.
Asked if he fought to the end, Mr Rees said "absolutely''. However, Mr Rees was coy when asked about his political future.
"I'm going to take a deep breath for a few moments, if that's alright,'' he said.
Carmel Tebbutt will remain as deputy premier, with no challenge on that position in caucus.
This is the first time in Australian politics that two women have taken the top two leadership positions in any government.
Rockdale MP Frank Sartor, who was touted as a possible leadership challenger, said the change of premier was "something that had to happen''.
"I think you'll find the right wing, the Centre Unity, of the Labor Party will be a lot more united,'' he said.
Ms Keneally is scheduled to hold a press conference later tonight.
Yay we have a new, female premier, and she's American. The first thing I thought when I heard her speak was of Blackadder when the Prince of Wales says "We're British aren't we". And Bladder simply mutters "Your not your German..."
It's the same old rubbish about to play another round of musical chairs. If Rees had one fifth of a brain he would have realised he was being led to the gallows and called an election, I'll be surprised if their isn't another premier before 2011. At which time O'farrell won't even need to campaign he'll just hold up a photo of the unelected Labor party.
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
FAMILIES will pay little or nothing for Labor's emissions trading scheme, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd pledged yesterday.
Full or partial compensation for rising costs would be available for couples with children on an income up to $160,000, as well as for singles on $30,000 a year or less.
Mr Rudd said: "I fully understand that this is complex and many people in the Australian community will find it that way.
"But anyone who goes out there and argues there is a cost-free, pain-free way for Australia to act on climate change is not being honest with people."
Mr Rudd repeated his refusal to debate Mr Abbott on climate change until the Opposition had a policy of its own.
So will the kickbacks come out of the huge surplus that they've already blown through or from the people already making less than those scamming Centrelink, baby bonuses, home buyers grants, etc, etc, etc.
If this guy isn't making your skin crawl by now go out and get an appointment with a neurologist!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Below is a list of the 114 Australians going to Copenhagen – we (you and I) are paying for all their travel, accommodation and meals – and we thought Kevin Rudd and Penny Wong were genuine about trying to cut greenhouse gases…
Read on and marvel: No virus found in this email but lots of parasites
Australia H.E. Mr Kevin Michael Rudd Prime Minister H.E. Ms. Penelope Wong Minister, Climate Change and Water Office of the Minister for Climate Change and Water H.E. Ms. Louise Helen Hand Ambassador for Climate Change Department of Climate Change Mr. David Fredericks Deputy Chief of Staff Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Mr. Philip Green Oam Senior Policy Adviser, Foreign Affairs Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Mr. Andrew Charlton Senior Adviser Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Mr. Lachlan Harris Senior Press Secretary Prime Minister’s Office Office of Prime Minister Mr. Scott Dewar Senior Adviser Office of Prime Minister Ms. Clare Penrose Adviser Office of Prime Minister Ms. Fiona Sugden Media Adviser Office of Prime Minister Ms. Lisa French Office of the Prime Minister Office of Prime Minister Mr. Jeremy Hilman Adviser Office of Prime Minister Ms. Tarah Barzanji Adviser Office of Prime Minister Mr. Kate Shaw Executive Secretary Office of Prime Minister Ms. Gaile Barnes Executive Assistant Office of Prime Minister Ms. Gordon de Brouwer Deputy Secretary Prime Minister and Cabinet Mr. Patrick Suckling First Assistant Secretary, International Division Prime Minister and Cabinet Ms. Rebecca Christie Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Michael Jones Official Photographer Prime Minister and Cabinet Mr. Stephan Rudzki Mr. David Bell Federal Agent Australian Federal Police Ms. Kym Baillie Australian Federal Police Mr. David Champion Australian Federal Police Mr. Matt Jebb Federal Agent Australian Federal Police Mr. Craig Kendall Federal Agent Australian Federal Police Mr. Ian Lane Squadron Leader Staff, Officer VIP Operations Mr. John Olenich Media Adviser / Adviser to Minister Wong Office of the Minister for Climate Change and Water Ms. Kristina Hickey Adviser to Minister Wong Office of the Minister for Climate Change and Water Mr. Martin Parkinson Secretary Department of Climate Change Mr. Howard Bamsey Special Envoy for Climate Change Department of Climate Change Mr. Robert Owen-Jones Assistant Secretary, International Division Department of Climate Change Ms. Clare Walsh Assistant Secretary, International Division Department of Climate Change Ms. Jenny Elizabeth Wilkinson Policy Advisor Department of Climate Change Ms. Elizabeth Mary Peak Principal Legal Adviser, International Climate Law Department of Climate Change Ms. Kristin Tilley Director, Multilateral Negotiations International Division Department of Climate Change Mr. Andrew Ure Acting Director, Multilateral Negotiations International Division Department of Climate Change Ms. Annemarie Watt Director, Land Sector Negotiations International Division Department of Climate Change Ms. Kushla Munro Director, International Forest Carbon Section International Division Department of Climate Change Ms. Kathleen Annette Rowley Director, Strategic and Technical Analysis Department of Climate Change Ms. Anitra Cowan Assistant Director, Multilateral Negotiations Department of Climate Change Ms. Sally Truong Assisting Director, Multilateral Negotiations International Division Department of Climate Change Ms. Jane Wilkinson Assistant Director Department of Climate Change Ms. Tracey Mackay Assistant Director International Division Department of Climate Change Ms. Laura Brown Assistant Director, Multilateral Negotiations International Division Department of Climate Change Ms. Tracey-Anne Leahey Delegation Manager Department of Climate Change Ms. Nicola Loffler Senior Legal Adviser, International Climate Law Department of Climate Change Ms. Tamara Curll Legal Adviser, International Climate Law Department of Climate Change Ms. Jessica Allen Legal Support Officer Department of Climate Change Mr. Sanjiva de Silva Legal Adviser, International Climate Law Department of Climate Change Ms. Gaia Puleston Political Adviser Department of Climate Change Ms. Penelope Jane Morton Policy Adviser, Multilateral Negotiations (UNFCCC) International Division Department of Climate Change Ms. Claire Elizabeth Watt Policy Advisor Department of Climate Change Ms. Amanda Walker Policy Officer, Multilateral Negotiations Department of Climate Change Mr. Alan David Lee Policy Adviser, Land Sector Negotiations Department of Climate Change Ms. Erika Kate Oord Australian Stakeholder Manager Department of Climate Change Mr. Jahda Kirian Swanborough Communications Manager Ministerial Communication Department of Climate Change H.E. Mr. Sharyn Minahan Ambassador DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Julia Feeney Director, Climate Change and Environment Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Chester Geoffrey Cunningham Second Secretary DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Germany Ms. Rachael Virginia Cooper Executive Officer, Climate Change and Environment Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ms. Rachael Grivas Executive Officer, Environment Branch Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Moya Elyn Collett Desk officer, Climate Change and Environment Section Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Rob Law Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Robin Davies Assistant Director General, Sustainable Development Group Australian Agency for International Development Ms. Deborah Fulton Director, Policy and Global Environment Australian Agency for International Development Ms. Katherine Renee Ann Vaughn Policy Advisor, Policy and Global Environment Australian Agency for International Development Mr. Brian Dawson Policy Adviser Australian Agency for International Development Mr. Andrew Leigh Clarke Deputy Secretary Department of Resources Development, Western Australia Mr. Bruce Wilson General Manager, Environment Energy and Environment Division Department of Resources Development, Western Australia Ms. Jill McCarthy Policy Adviser Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism Mr. Simon French Policy Adviser Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Mr. Ian Michael Ruscoe Policy Adviser Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Mr. David Walland Acting Superintendent, National Climate Centre Bureau of Meteorology Mr. Damien Dunn Senior Policy Adviser The Australian Treasury Ms. Helen Hawka Fuhrman Policy Officer, Renewable Energy Policy and Partnerships Mr. Scott Vivian Davenport Chief Economics NSW Department of Industry and Investment Mr. Graham Julian Levitt Policy Manager, Climate Change NSW Department of Industry and Investment Ms. Kate Jennifer Jones Minister, Climate Change and Sustainability Queensland Government Mr. Michael William Dart Principal Policy Advisor Office of the Hon. Kate Jones MP Queensland Government Mr. Matthew Anthony Jamie Skoien Senior Director, Office of Climate Change Queensland Government Mr. Michael David Rann Premier, South Australia Department of Premier and Cabinet, Southern Australia Ms. Suzanne Kay Harter Adviser Department of Premier and Cabinet, Southern Australia Mr. Paul David Flanagan Manager, Communications Government of South Australia Mr. Timothy William O’Loughlin Deputy Chief Executive, Sustainability and Workforce Management Department of Premier and Cabinet South Australian Government Ms. Nyla Sarwar M.Sc student Linacre College University of Oxford Mr. Gavin Jennings Minister, Environment and Climate Change and Innovation, Victorian Government Ms. Sarah Broadbent Sustainability Adviser Ms. Rebecca Falkingham Senior Adviser Victoria Government/Office of Climate Change Mr. Simon Camroux Policy Adviser Energy Supply Association of Australia Limited Mr. Geoff Lake Adviser Australian Local Government Association Sridhar Ayyalaraju Post Visit Controller DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Mr. Tegan Brink Deputy Visit Controller and Security Liaison Officer Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Melissa Eu Suan Goh Transport Liaison Officer and Consul DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Lauren Henschke Support Staff DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Maree Fay Accommodation Liaison Officer DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Patricia McKinnon Communications Officer DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Eugene Olim Paasport / Baggage Liaison Officer DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Belinda Lee Adams Ms. Jacqui Ashworth Media Liaison Officer Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Patricia Smith Media Liaison Officer DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Mr. Martin Bo Jensen Research and Public Diplomatic Officer DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Mr. Mauro Kolobaric Consular Support DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Susan Flanagan Consular Support DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Mr. Stephen Kanaridis IT Support Officer DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Mr. George Reid Support Staff DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Ashley Wright Support Staff DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Jodie Littlewood Support Staff DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Mr. Thomas Millhouse Support Staff DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Mr. Timothy Whittley Support Staff Driver DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Ms. Julia Thomson Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Mr. Donald Frater Chief of Staff to Minister Wong Office of the Minister for Climate Change and Water Ms. Jacqui Smith Media Liaison DFAT Diplomatic Mission of Australia to Denmark Mr. Greg French Senior Legal Advisor, Environment Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Jeremy Hillman Advisor PMO
The following was a comment left at news.com.au on a story of the unions starting to target Tony Abbott's growing popularity
Quoted Text
There are 2 types of people in the world. Those that make money and those that spend it. The spenders are allowed to stay in power as long as there is money to spend. Unfortunately, Labour emptied the cupboards in record time so they must now stand aside till the Libs fill up the coffers again
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Garrett demoted after scheme bungle From: AAP February 26, 2010 4:22pm
ENVIRONMENT Minister Peter Garrett has been stripped of responsibilities for the household insulation scheme, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.
Mr Rudd has announced the establishment of a new stand-alone department of climate change and energy efficiency, which will be headed up by Penny Wong.
Under the changes announced by Mr Rudd in Sydney, Mr Garrett will be appointed minister for environment protection, heritage and the arts.
Meanwhile, Greg Combet has been appointed the minister assisting the minister for climate change and energy efficiency and will be given the direct responsibility for the troubled insulation program.
Mr Rudd admitted the department changes were a demotion for Mr Garrett.
"This move is designed to achieve stronger coordination and greater efficiency in the development and delivery of climate change policies and programs, especially in relation to energy efficiency and renewable energy," Mr Rudd said.
CONTROVERSIAL Labor MP Belinda Neal has lost a pre-selection vote to contest her seat of Robertson on the New South Wales Central Coast at the next federal election, Channel 9 has reported.
She should have been harpooned long ago. Of coarse in politics it isn't until immediate self interests i.e. election year, are at stake that things changed. On the bright side she'll live off the tax payers very nicely for the rest of her life.
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Treasurer Wayne Swan admits no frills Budget is boring
TREASURER Wayne Swan will deliver on Tuesday a "tradesman's Budget" which by his own admission will be one of the most boring in decades.
Tobacco-tax increases, the new resource super-profits tax and hundreds of millions of dollars in across-the-board cuts will offset spending announcements for health, superannuation and the final round of tax cuts arising from the 2008 Budget.
But, for the first time in an election Budget for more than 20 years, there will be no new money to entice voters.
Speaking yesterday in front of the Treasury Building in Canberra, where he had just been briefed on the evolving Greek financial crisis, Mr Swan pointed to the only surprise in the Budget: a return to surplus sooner than expected, thanks to Australia's performance during the global financial crisis.
"The Budget will remind all Australians just how well we did," he said.
Mr Swan said he was keeping a watching brief on international developments and said Australia was well prepared in the event of a second global financial crisis.
Despite the fact that these spending programs have already been announced, the headline Budget measures will be: 1300 new hospital beds; $739 million for 2500 new aged-care beds; $643 million for 6000 new doctors and more nurse training; 1.2 million extra emergency-room visits; new elective surgery for 90,000 patients; and tax cuts that mean people earning $50,000 a year will pay $450 less in tax.
The Budget will show an increasing personal income tax take, but this will be offset by continuing poor company and capital gains tax revenues as businesses keep writing off losses accumulated during the global crisis.
The overall position, however, will be better than previously forecast.
Australia's unemployment level was predicted to reach eight per cent by now, but has remained at 5.3 per cent. This happy employment outcome is largely a result of companies cutting staff working hours rather than laying off workers, according to at least one senior source.
Budget 'built on quicksand'
But Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey said the Budget would be "built on quicksand".
He predicted that Budget savings would be based on cuts to private health insurance rebates, which have been stalled in the Senate.
"It's going to be a big-taxing, big-spending deficit Budget," he said.
Mr Swan defended his no-frills Budget, which Labor will use to defend its economic credibility after a string of backdowns and failures in policy delivery over the last two years.
"You only have to look at what's going on in Europe to see why this Budget has to be all about disciplined economic management, not stuffing around with Howard-style, election-year bells and whistles," he said.
The Treasurer's office released a graph showing that the last Howard election budget had $89 billion in new spending and the previous two had a combined $85 billion, whereas this Budget would show no new money, as any new spending (such as $5.4 billion, mostly for hospitals) would be offset by savings.
The Government's "razor gang", headed by Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner, will provide the biggest Budget story as the extent of cuts across departments become clear.
A return to surplus is likely in 2014, a year earlier than expected but later than many economists have predicted. Growth is likely to be forecast above three per cent, while inflation should hold steady at three per cent.
Despite the fact that Mr Swan will proclaim the Budget has a "zero net impact" - meaning no new money - within that framework, he still has $2.6 billion in reserve from the new mining tax, as well as money that was budgeted to be spent on an emissions trading scheme, now on hold.
Some of this money will be needed to pay for a blow-out in border protection costs, resulting from a wave of asylum-seekers filling immigration detention centres around the country.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison predicts that as much as $200 million extra will be needed.
In other measures, there will be $61 million to lower staff-to-child ratios in childcare and create a transparent ratings scheme.
There will be a $42 million package to retrain older workers.
GPs will receive the lion's share of $436 million to take over the management of people with diabetes.
And $200 million will be spent over the next four years on new body scanners, extra firearms, dogs and Australian Federal Police at airports.
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan defends super profits tax
TREASURER Wayne Swan has staunchly defended the Rudd Government's planned super profits resource tax as mining companies ramp up their opposition to the move.
The Government, in response to the Henry tax review, wants to slug mining companies with a 40 per cent tax.
Mr Swan said the Federal Government was replacing an inefficient royalty regime which penalised mines, miners and shareholders.
"The regime we are talking about putting in place is a profits-based tax and of course when companies are much more profitable the return to the Australian people is higher," he said today.
"But when profits are lower this is a tax which encourages many of those mines that have been punished and penalised by an archaic and unfair royalties regime."
Mining industry bosses, including Fortescue Metals Group chief Andrew Forrest have banded together to oppose the tax, saying it will not only harm mining but will harm Australian families.
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Mr Forrest said today all Australian mining projects which required substantial capital, including Fortescue, would be under review.
Queensland based mining magnate Clive Palmer has also been openly critical of the tax.
Mr Swan said the Government's plan was reasonable.
"We are putting in place a set of arrangements which are reasonable, which we believe will return to the owners of the resource, that is the Australian people a fair share which has fallen away dramatically in recent years," Mr Swan said.
"There have been one or two owners of mines out there making all sorts of extreme and hysterical statements."
Mr Swan said the Government would have been derelict in its duty had it not responded to the Henry review recommendation relating to the tax.
The nation's mineral resource was owned by the people of Australia, not the mining companies, he said.
"There is nothing new in this country about a 40 per cent profits-based tax," he said, adding there was already a similar tax on petroleum resource profits.
Mr Swan said there was no certainty for mining companies under present royalty arrangements because state governments could jack up their regimes.
The Minerals Council of Australia launched a print advertising campaign today stating the industry had paid $80 billion in taxes during the past decade and declaring "that's a fair share".
The council was quick to label the resources tax a revenue grab rather than taxation reform.
Mr Swan was not moved by the campaign.
"Never forget it was the council itself that made a submission to the independent tax inquiry suggesting the resources tax be replaced with a profits-based tax," he said.
THE federal government is defending a decision to house 79 asylum seekers in a four-star Queensland motel, saying they are vulnerable families with children.
``We don't think they should ever be put behind razor wire,'' Small Business Minister Craig Emerson told Sky News on Tuesday. The Palms Motel in suburban Brisbane reportedly has been awarded a $1.2 million government contract for at least six months to accommodate the group.
A private security guard has been employed to protect them and other guests, the Nine Network said.
``These are very vulnerable families with children and it's something that needs to be done on a short-term basis,'' Dr Emerson said.
The measure did not happen all the time, but it had occurred under the previous Howard government, he said. ``Let's just have a little bit of space.''
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison acknowledged the practice was not new, but said the latest move was due to an upsurge in boat arrivals.
``It happens when all of your detention centres are full,'' he said.
``That's why people are in motels.''
The government's asylum-seeker policy was out of control, Mr Morrison said, adding 16 boats had arrived since Labor announced it was suspending new claims by Sri Lankan and Afghan boat arrivals.
Family First senator Steve Fielding says the move will only encourage more unauthorised boat arrivals.
``First it was Hotel Christmas Island, now it's Hotel Queensland,'' he said in a statement.
``There is no way we should be detaining asylum seekers in hotels because it just gives the people smugglers an extra selling point.''
The immigration department says the group is under 24-hour ``monitoring and guarding''.
``They're not allowed to come and go,'' spokesman Sandy Logan said.
``They've all been through full security and health checks before being transferred from Christmas Island.''
Mr Morrison says the department should have consulted the local community about its plan.
Doing so would have taken the heat out of some of the reaction to the move, he said.
If you're even considering allowing these clowns to stay in power you should be in the nut house. WHICH IS PROBABLY UNDERFUNDED DUE TO THE HUGE BLOWOUT IN IMMIGRATION!!!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Two NSW ministers out in one day, if they keep jumping ship the ALP might manage to do one thing the people have been asking for and remove themselves from office before the election date
PLEEEASE!!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
TRENT Baker was doing the numbers last night, working out how he will service the mortgages on his own property and that of his ailing parents next door.
Born and bred in Wandoan, 400km northwest of Brisbane, Mr Baker is like hundreds of locals, driven from the land by drought, fluctuating commodity prices and the once-bankable promise of years of employment in the massive mining projects shooting up across the parched Surat Basin.
But with Anglo-Swiss miner Xstrata yesterday announcing the suspension of its giant Wandoan coal mine over the resource super-profits tax, Mr Baker's future has never been so uncertain.
In three months, the three-year field contractor for Xstrata will be out of a job and he blames only one man -- the Prime Minister.
"Kevin Rudd doesn't realise what his new tax is doing to communities like ours; he is buggerising with people's lives and businesses," Mr Baker said.
"This mine was giving us jobs, good pay and there was a flow-on; we were spending money in town and the businesses were doing well."
Mr Baker and other locals, interviewed by The Australian, dismissed the claims of Sydney-based union leaders that the tax had support among industry workers.
There are not many union members in the region, which has a long farming history and was, until the pre-2007 electoral boundary redistribution, a traditionally Nationals-held seat.
It is now held by one-term Labor MP Chris Trevor, who won the newly created seat of Flynn on a slim margin.
"No one out here supports the tax; it's fair to tax the mining companies, but they are being too greedy and killing these projects," Mr Baker said.
The $6 billion project, which is still before the Bligh Labor government for approval, was suspended as it neared the "early works" stage.
The giant mine promises to deliver more than 1300 jobs in the construction stage and a further 840 operational staff when on-line. Until yesterday, the starting date for full production was 2014.
But it was more than just a single mine.
As it was predicted to produce 30,000 tonnes a year of thermal coal, and possibly as much as 100,000 tonnes with Xstrata's neighbouring tenements, a new rail line associated with the project will open up the entire region.
Brendan Ostwald, chief executive of civil engineering company, Ostwald Bros, said the company would be laying off 60 people from his 400-strong workforce over the next few months.
Mr Ostwald said it wasn't just Xstrata's decision to suspend work on the Wandoan mine, but the uncertainty that had spread across the region because of the planned new resources tax.
"We have made investments, bought land for workshops and accommodation, on the back of this project. It is probably the worst decision I have ever made," he said.
"But there has been a ripple across the region, with projects being delayed and investors -- mums and dads who bought houses to rent -- all backing out. And if Wandoan doesn't go ahead, then it will mean a lot of other smaller projects won't go ahead."
Sandi Jensen, manager of the Wandoan Accommodation Park, said if other companies followed Xstrata's lead, the result would be disastrous.
"This place would turn back into a ghost town," she said.
Steve Coughlan, managing director of contractor Byrnecut, was expecting to sign a contract worth about $50 million to develop the shaft sink at the Ernest Henry copper mine in Cloncurry, the other Queensland project mothballed by Xstrata.
Mr Coughlan said the deal would have resulted in 50 or 60 direct jobs for his company. Now, it's dead in the water.
"Unfortunately, the bureaucrats in Canberra seem oblivious to the effect of this (tax)," Mr Coughlan said. "They believe it's not costing jobs. Well, it is. It already has."
Govt wants ISPs to record browsing history By Ben Grubb, ZDNet.com.au on June 11th, 2010
Companies who provide customers with a connection to the internet may soon have to retain subscriber's private web browsing history for law enforcement to examine when requested, a move which has been widely criticised by industry insiders.
The Attorney-General's Department yesterday confirmed to ZDNet Australia that it had been in discussions with industry on implementing a data retention regime in Australia. Such a regime would require companies providing internet access to log and retain customer's private web browsing history for a certain period of time for law enforcement to access when needed.
Currently, companies that provide customers with a connection to the internet don't retain or log subscriber's private web browsing history unless they are given an interception warrant by law enforcement, usually approved by a judge. It is only then that companies can legally begin tapping a customer's internet connection.
In March 2006, the European Union formally adopted its data retention directive (PDF), a directive which the Australian Government said it wished to use as an example if it implemented such a regime.
"The Attorney-General's Department has been looking at the European Directive on Data Retention, to consider whether such a regime is appropriate within Australia's law enforcement and security context," a statement from the Attorney-General's Department to ZDNet Australia said yesterday. "It has consulted broadly with the telecommunications industry."
The EU regime requires that the communications providers from certain EU member states retain necessary data as specified in the Directive for a period of between six and 24 months.
One internet service provider (ISP) source told ZDNet Australia that the Australian regime, if implemented, could go as far as recording each URL a customer visited and all emails.
That source said such a regime "would be scary and very expensive".
Another industry source said Australians should "be very f***ing afraid".
They said the regime being considered by the Australian Government could see data held for much longer than EU Directive time of 24 months — it would be more like five or ten years.
"They seem quite intent [on implementing the regime] and they keep throwing up the words 'terrorism' and 'paedophiles'," the source said. "We're talking browsing history and emails, way beyond what I would consider to be normal SMS, retaining full browsing history and everything."
Internet Industry Association (IIA) chief executive officer (CEO) Peter Coroneos also confirmed that the industry was having discussions with the Attorney-General's Department.
"There has been some preliminary discussions with the Attorney-General's Department about a proposal for a data retention regime in Australia, but I think those discussions are at a very early stage," Coroneos said. He said the IIA hadn't "seen any firm proposals yet from the government".
"It's more along the lines of [the Attorney-General's Department asking] 'What do you see the issues of being if we were to move to a position similar to the EU'," he said.
"But as I say, there wouldn't be any intention, I wouldn't think, to move to any policy position on this unless there was a full public debate about the proposal."
If the idea were to move to a more "serious proposal", Coroneos said the IIA's view would be "to engage not only with the industry but also the community in a proper discussion".
Electronic Frontier Australia (EFA) chair Colin Jacobs said the regime was "a step too far".
"At some point data retention laws can be reasonable, but highly-personal information such as browsing history is a step too far," Jacobs said. "You can't treat everybody like a criminal. That would be like tapping people's phones before they are suspected of doing any crime."
He added that browser history could reveal all sorts of personal information. "And furthermore, the way the internet works, it's a huge amount of data to be kept and it requires some snooping on the part of the ISPs into which [web] pages people are looking at."
In February, the senate passed a Bill allowing ISPs to intercept traffic as part of "network protection activities". According to an ISP source, it's likely another Bill would be required for a data retention regime to be implemented.
"It is likely that new legislation will be required to put any [data retention] obligations in place," the source said. "It seems to be early days yet, and we have an election looming, which means there will be some time required to get any new law in place."
Conmanroy has just shelved his mandatory internet consor after 2 1/2 years of claiming its "badly needed to protect everyone". Can we smell an election coming on?
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Conmanroy has just shelved his mandatory internet censor after 2 1/2 years of claiming its "badly needed to protect everyone"
I must have been off with the pixies because I didn't realise they were going to implement that! I am not a terrorist or a paedophile but I am an adult and as such I feel I should be allowed to follow adult pursuits Yes I do feel an election in the wind and it stinks. Do we think that Tony Abbot the staunch Catholic that he is, will NOT implement such a thing if he gets in to power?
The Liberals are missing a golden opportunity to present a better policy here. Technically blocking these websites is likely to be ineffective (too many obscure websites to block / too many different technical obstacles to blocking them) so why not simply require ISPs to notify the federal police every time someone accesses websites / or types of websites linked to child porn or other banned content. It's time we jailed the paedophiles and stopped playing games with them.
Any laws should also have written into them the avenue to contest the banning of a website via the federal court. Without the legal system being involved there are insufficient checks and balances to prevent the banned list expanding into legally acceptable content based on the agenda of the Government of the day.
Yet Gillard, the "staunch atheist" seems to be no better. -.-
OMG yes SG I have been meaning to mention that. She doesn't believe in a 'Higher Power' be it God or what/who ever. She is definitely not getting my vote because of that reason mainly. If I was in Nick Xenophon's constituency I would not have a problem with my vote.
OMG yes SG I have been meaning to mention that. She doesn't believe in a 'Higher Power' be it God or what/who ever. She is definitely not getting my vote because of that reason mainly. If I was in Nick Xenophon's constituency I would not have a problem with my vote.
If you're not voting for her because she's an Atheist I'll counter your vote and vote for her for that reason alone.
That and many more reasons Dara. You can't vote! Nahnahnahnahnah! Heheheheheh I wont vote for Abbott either. I will however vote for the Greens possibly or an Independent that I like. I think I will have to vote by postal vote because I am in the sticks and I don't have a car.
Two new opinion polls show Labor continuing to hold an election-winning lead over the Coalition, despite the confusion over Julia Gillard's regional refugee centre plan.
Both News Limited's Galaxy poll and Fairfax's Nielsen poll have Labor leading the Coalition with a two-party preferred vote of 52 to 48 per cent.
The Nielsen poll shows Ms Gillard ahead of Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister 56 to 35 per cent.
But the poll also shows Labor's primary vote has dropped eight points to 39 per cent from its last poll, while the Coalition's primary vote is unchanged at 42 per cent.
Labor's two-party preferred standing does not appear to have been affected by the confusion over Ms Gillard's proposed regional refugee processing centre.
Labor MP David Bradbury says voters in his seat of Lindsay in western Sydney are just glad the Government has taken a strong stance on the issue.
"This has been an issue that has been raised with me by many people over many months," he told ABC Radio's AM.
"It is clearly an issue of concern that this is widespread within communities such as mine.
"People have been raising with me concern about the need for us to take more effective action in securing our borders ... and I think this goes to the heart of some of the concerns.
"There has been a concern that we try and work towards having a fairer and more orderly system of migration in this country."
Mr Bradbury says voters acknowledge there are no simple solutions to the problem.
"People recognise that the Government, the Prime Minister, is responding to their concerns and working towards developing a plan that will be one that will not only be effective and long-term but will be a regional solution," he said.
"People ... know that we are not operating in a vacuum here in Australia - that there are push factors coming from other parts of the world in that region.
"Everything that people have seen over the last week demonstrate that Julia Gillard as Prime Minister is going to take strong and effective action when it comes to securing our borders."
"Everything that people have seen over the last week demonstrate that Julia Gillard as Prime Minister is going to take strong and effective action when it comes to securing our borders."
And that is what is known as COM - EH - DE!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Quote (not original) from the CEO at my companies birthday party last week "it isn't the strongest or the smartest that survive but those who are most willing to change". Made me think about politics in general but especially these block heads!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
All bets are off, says PM Phillip Coorey and Peter Hartcher September 18, 2010
KEY government promises made before the election no longer necessarily apply because of the ''new environment'' created by the hung parliament, Julia Gillard says.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald, Ms Gillard said: ''It's not business as usual for measures that require substantial legislation.''
The logic, she said, applied to ''big picture reforms - and anything associated with climate change is obviously one where we're in this new environment''.
On Thursday Ms Gillard left open the prospect of a carbon tax as a way of tackling climate change, an option she ruled out before the election.
But with climate change policy to be shaped by a new cross-party committee comprising politicians and outside experts, all of whom believe in putting a price on carbon, Ms Gillard said that what she said before the election no longer applied.
''We laboured long and hard to develop a market-based mechanism,'' she said of the government's emissions trading scheme. ''But I'm recognising the political reality. I campaigned as Prime Minister in an election campaign with policies for the government.
''We are in a new environment where in order for any action to happen in this Parliament, you need more consensus than the views and policies of the government and this committee is the way of recognising that.''
The government would still have significant input into the policy and economic considerations would be taken into account, but Ms Gillard said the timing and shape of the policy were subject to the new process.
This week, the chief executive of BHP, Marius Kloppers, reignited the debate by saying a price on carbon was inevitable and a solution was needed to give business certainty.
He was backed by some industry groups and Ms Gillard argued that this sudden embrace by big business had added to the ''new environment''.
''What we are presented with now is a new opportunity to work through the question of how we price carbon in an environment which is not one I expected when I was campaigning during the election - not one anyone really expected,'' she said.
The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, has barred any of his MPs from participating in the climate change committee but Ms Gillard said any rebels were welcome to join.
Cracks are appearing in the Coalition over climate change. Malcolm Turnbull, who returned to the frontbench this week, restated his support for a price on carbon and angered colleagues by promoting Mr Kloppers's speech on Twitter and Facebook.
Yesterday Mr Abbott said the Coalition's opposition to a price on carbon was unchanged.
Yesterday the government also announced that a new detention centre would be built on Cape York and the Curtin detention centre would be expanded - a move it had ruled out before the election.
''It just goes to show that you can't trust these guys,'' Mr Abbott said. ''It's just not right for governments to say one thing before an election and do something quite different afterwards.''
Ms Gillard said the electorate was tired of Mr Abbott's negativity. ''His whole leadership and his whole election campaign was based on protest and complaint and he's made it very clear that in this new environment the only role he sees for himself is the role of wrecker,'' she said.
''That is a profound misjudgment by him. I think it's misjudging the mood of the nation and the opportunities this Parliament presents to all parliamentarians for making change.''
At a speech in Bathurst today to commemorate Ben Chifley, Ms Gillard will liken the national broadband network, which Mr Abbott opposes, to Chifley's Snowy Mountains hydro scheme.
it's time to take a look at how well Premier Blunder is doing running NSW into the ground
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