I have created this thread so that everytime the PM scratches himself there is not a new thread created with that news. Anything related to Kevin Rudd or his Wife and family and his time as PM can be posted here. Cheers and thank you.
New Childcare Centres on the way Unlike some people who participated in a news poll on Saturday on one of the websites I said Yes to the question "do you think anything good will come out of the 2020 Summit" Mind you 70 odd percent of those who participated said "no". So much cynicism and pessimism, honestly. Where has all the hope gone? I voted for Kev and am very happy with my decision. Seen enough Governments come and go to know how it works
The current Australian population is estimated at 21,279,493 maf-you of that 1000 people are being listened to, and of the 1000 the honor role goes something like; 118 from GetUp, 142 Union Delegates (big surprise), 100 indigenous delegates, 100 journalists, 100 actors, musicians etc, 200 academics in conservation, 200 politicians. Where's the average Australian worker in that? And what do the brains trust come up with............ they want a republic, anyone going to be asking the other 21,278,497 members of the population? What was never answered before the previous vote on becoming a republic, what is the benefit to the country?
Weren't new child care centres promised pre election? Any shovels been put in the ground at this point?
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
And what do the brains trust come up with............ they want a republic, anyone going to be asking the other 21,278,497 members of the population? What was never answered before the previous vote on becoming a republic, what is the benefit to the country?
Considering the last Republic vote was in 1999 and that only failed because the model put forward by JOHN HOWARD (he wanted a President appointed by 2/3 of Parliament rather than popular vote) was not what the country wanted, I think it's time that we start up the discussions again. I believe that we should wait until Queen Elizabeth finishes her reign before we actually become a republic. As for the benefit to the country, it will give Australia its own identity. You may say that the UK has no real effect on our democratic system anyway but then why must all of our laws be signed by a representative of the Queen who we don't have a say in choosing, apart from choosing the PM who chooses this representative. All the GG is, is a rubber stamp allowing laws to pass through, so we should have an elected representative to do that.
KEVIN Rudd has warned Australians to brace for tough economic conditions as he refused to rule out a recession driven by what he described as the most uncertain global financial conditions in three decades.
The Prime Minister blamed global factors and the Howard government for the turmoil, insisting his economic policies and $22 billion budget surplus had given Australia greater insulation against the worsening global situation than most other nations, The Australian reports.
Mr Rudd's admission the economic outlook was bleak and would hit family budgets came as Brendan Nelson demanded he "stop talking Ruddish" and accept responsibility for economic mismanagement.
The Prime Minister's gloomy forecast follows a string of bad economic figures, including continuing high inflation, a 1 per cent fall in retail turnover in June and the lowest level of bank lending in 25 years.
The slowdown has triggered predictions the Reserve Bank board, which meets next week, will cut official interest rates from their 12-year high of 7.25 per cent by October.
But it has raised questions from the Opposition and economists of whether the Reserve Bank's 12 successive interest rate rises and the spending cuts in the Rudd Government's first budget, delivered in May, might have caused economic activity to slow too quickly and increased the risk of recession, defined as a contraction in economic growth for two successive quarters.
While the Reserve Bank is expected to consider cutting interest rates next week, leading bankers are warning that the reductions might not be passed on to consumers.
In a radio interview yesterday, the Prime Minister was asked if the downturn could mean further job cuts such as those at Qantas, the Starbucks coffee chain and the Don smallgoods business.
He said the combination of global instability and the high inflation and interest rate rises caused by the previous government's policies would flow through to hamper economic growth and employment.
"One just follows from the other," Mr Rudd told Melbourne radio station 3AW.
And he went further in a speech in Melbourne last night, warning that the global economic downturn would match budget estimates of a fall-off in employment.
He expected the unemployment rate would rise from its current 4.2 per cent to 4.75 per cent by June next year.
He blames the Howard government but then goes on to mention the $22 billion budget surplus. Where'd that come from again?? To quote Larry David in Entourage "What are you talking... What language are you talking?"
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Give him a break monkey, Howard was still blaming the Labor government for everything bad right up until they lost the election. Eleven years they shifted the blame but took credit for everything good from day one. Sounds like you have some selective indignation here monkey!
Just a quick look at international news and you will see that nearly every country are facing the same problems. I think it is only a fool who believes that Australia can row against the tide where even power boats are being turned back.
RE read the post; he's blaming the former government then went on to say yippie for the 22 billion the government is sitting on, which is their due to the former government.
As soon as the guy actually has some policy of his own rather than following Keating's grand plan, pandering to minorities and posing with celebrities I'll give him a break.
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor
Well I think Howard did a lot of good (as well as bad).
Anyway, I'm against the Republic idea. Hello mini-USA. I love the monarchy, for some reason.. But then.. we'll end up like Rome eventually anyway.. for the USA sooner rather than later...
Damn straight! For ten months this guy has done SFA apart from treating the job like one big party. Say what you like about Howard and the former governments policies, but at least they actually had some!
"To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained. " The Doctor