From The Australian (preferences could flow quite differently in 2013)
I’ve heard rumors she might rush a March election partly because the global economy is teetering… (and the coalition obviously heard those rumors too, with the mini-campaign launch they put on the weekend). But given that the polls are fairly awful it’s not surprising she’s put it off.
But it is surprising that she announced it so far in advance. She may be staving off challenges to her leadership. As Bolt puts it: ” Her declaration is likely to pressure her party critics into rallying behind her. She also gets credit for making a decision, and ends the latest bout of criticism about her management – whether over the Nova Peris pick or the Mathieson joke embarrassment. “
Link to polls source: The Australian
Gillard calls Sept 14 election date [ABC]
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that this year’s federal election will be held on September 14.
During a speech to the National Press Club this lunchtime, Ms Gillard took the unusual move of announcing the timing of the election several months out from polling day.
“I do so not to start the nation’s longest election campaign – quite the opposite,” she told the audience.
“It should be clear to all which are the days of governing and which are the days of campaigning.
Ms Gillard says she will ask Governor General Quentin Bryce this afternoon to issue writs to dissolve the House of Representatives on Monday, August 12.
The ABC notes that Anthony Green twittered that NZ John Key gave a half years warning, but this is nine months, and it’s unusually long – Menzies gave three months warning in 1958 and 1961.
By announcing early, Gillard is also trying to get the opposition to declare its policies.
Ms Gillard said by announcing the date so far in advance, the opposition no longer had an excuse not to provide detailed costings ahead of the poll.
“They have two things that an opposition has never had before to enable them to do that,” she said.
“One, they’ve got the benefit of a fixed election date now with several months notice.
“Two, because of what we’ve done with the Parliamentary Budget Office they’ve got more resources available to them than an opposition has ever had before in the history of the nation to produce proper costings.”
A spokeswoman for Tony Abbott said he was “in a private engagement” and his office had no immediate comment.
But opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey said he was concerned about the state of the budget which a Coalition government might inherit.
“Election on Sept 14 is before the final budget outcome is revealed for the current year,” he tweeted.
h/t to Jim
“She also gets credit for making a decision..”
Under what circumstances would she have not had to make a decision about an election?
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If she was not the leader
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Several actually Dave.
The cynical answer would be ‘When her Faceless Men tell her to’ but under the Consitution, we would be required to hold an election eventually with (as I understand it) a minimum required campaign period.
So had Gillard not made the call today it was possible that the Consitution would have eventually done it for her.
50
Oil up the cricket bats …
Hi ho, hi ho, an electoral bashing we will go …
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After seven years away, I might just come back to Australia….. just so long as Labor and the Greens get what they deserve. Australian voters are a fickle lot, voting out the most successful government they had, certainly in my lifetime, for what they have now. No rhyme or reason to it… “just for a change”, not realising, not thinking, unfortunately.
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Typical Reaganout baloney.
Howard & his cronies sat astride the most outrageous credit bubble this country has ever seen. It blew in 2008 & almost took the $ with it. The $ has been irretrievably weakened & all you Reaganouts can’t work out why everything costs more. By getting dumped in 2007, Howard got off scot-free, lucky for him.
This is not an endorsement of Labor & any other ‘party’. They are also crooks.
22
Key only gave 9 months warning because the timing was tricky as the election was due around the time of the rugby world cup. That could have been problematic as trying to get New Zealanders to pay attention to politics while the rugby is on isn’t easy at the best of times. The thought of a possible election campaign during the rugby world cup was making everyone nervous and an early warning on the timing was needed to calm things down.
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oops – meant 6 months
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So Gillard has no confidence in her own government.
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Cool! I got 2 thumbs down!
I wish I had the contract for the supply and maintenance of paper shredders to the feral giverment.
Combet may (this is pure, baseless supposition on my part) be leading the charge by letting documents be destroyed by his department. Too bad the auditor’s already noticed.
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I thought this government was holding on by just 1 vote?
What makes your PM know that all members of the govt will remain in good health for that long?
Isn’t Australia just one heart attack away from an election?
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If a member is to die or resign, then its up to the Speaker of the Parliament to judge whether or not to call a by election. Generally if its only a few months till an election for the full House of Reps (where anyone elected at that by election would have to stand again for re-election) then the Speaker will put it off.
There are various notice periods for people to nominate and for party pre-selections that are mandatory anyway i think.
Anyhow, you could go to Anthony Green’s blog and ask as he’s pretty much the authority on such matters, but i’d think that now the dates been announced the Speaker would not be allowing a by election.
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So yet more Left wing manipulation of a constitution for party-political gain. While who you are governed by is no longer our concern. I do hope that Australian minds are concentrated on the issues over the next 9 months.
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If you are one of the perennially grumpy and stupid, that’s one way to look at it.
A more rational person would probably accept that its just the way the system has worked since Federation, no matter which side of the political spectrum hold Govt.
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It’s a popular myth but one that has no basis in reality.
Asking an electorate to go without representation of up to 6 months based on the fact the prime minister has promised to hold an election on a specific day – well, that has no legal justification.
If a by-election is required in the period probably up until about June, then it should be held.
There is no legal basis for a PM promise of a date for an election. It’s not the election date until the writs have been issued and a caretaker government appointed.
What the september 14th is, is a promised election day.
You believe one of Julia Gillards promises?
More fool you.
Gillard promising the election date of Sep 14 is almost a guarantee it won’t be held on that date.
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Yes, and two police investigations away
http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2013/01/steve-lewis-of-news-limited-with-news-about-craig-thomson.html
http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2013/01/is-the-prime-minister-a-person-of-interest-in-the-victoria-police-investigation-into-the-awu-scandal.html#more
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And one criminal conviction
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Oz elections on September 14th – bye Julia – can’t wait to see the carbon tax go – because carbon dioxide, when examined under the microscope of real physics, actually has a very minuscule net cooling effect, and a proper analysis of climate trends shows the world can expect slight cooling till 2027, but eventually 500 years of cooling at about 0.5 C degrees per century.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8YbyfqUvfY&feature=youtu.be
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Dream on. What makes you think that the idiots who vote labor are going to change their ways? Speaking of idiots, where is John Brookes? Shouldn’t he be here spouting all the usual talking points?
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The populous have a very short memory. The poll above shows that pretty clear. Julia is hoping like hell nothing untoward happens between now and then.
Quite a gamble in my opinion. I’m so glad I don’t watch TV these days. I think this election will be a dirty fight to the bitter end by Labor.
10
Brooksie is what is called a convenient idiot. Lets be fair.
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Doug Cotton Please don’t put the kiss of death on the election of the next government by being overly certain the Gillarf government won’t be re-elected
30
She still wont win no matter how much advanced notice she gives, the downside to this is it gives plenty of time for her to be knifed and replaced by a more winnable leader, now if they could just find that leader……….
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I reckon Labor wants her to take the fall – and the blame. Then they can put up front a new leader and claim it’s all “brand new”. If they change leader now, that leader will take the fall and then they won’t have their best choice up there anymore. Also, Julia will then point at the newbie and claim that’s why they lost.
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By having a long campaign period she’s probably hoping to tease out LNP policy with enough time to get here bulldog McTurd into the scrum for a bit of dirty play. Her government has nothing to offer outside of potential financial inducements from the bucket with a rusted out bottom.
Mr Abbott and company … GO YOU GOOD THINGS !!!!!!!
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If Gillard says the poll will be on 14 September you can bet that will be the one date it will not be held on.
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No doubt the next eight months will show a ramp-up of entitlements designed to retain and capture as many rent seekers as possible, all designed to buy votes, at any expense, for Labor. Certainly not the Unions and other faceless types in the corporate world controlling who “governs” (not to forget the latter also control the conservative side as well). Changing jockeys on a horse running different colours but with much the same trainers. The punters vote, for the most part, for selected (by the parties) candidates. The punters simply “elect” from a number of selected candidates. A feel good process every few years, that’s all.
We aren’t out of the metaphorical woods with the conservatives, merely in a different forest of sorts. Scrapping a tax on carbon dioxide and “global warming” equivalents is tantamount to window dressing. Until the whole edifice of CAGW collapses, until one side openly admits the nexus of CO2 and temperature and its attendant propaganda is a giant ponzi scheme, “the great unwashed” will remain shackled to the proposition that a punitive tax will actually have an effect on changing the atmospheric composition, and by inference, climate, and therefore “save the world”.
The ignorance and arrogance of those who hold such beliefs (pure Cargo Cultism) is eclipsed only by other dogmatic religious views. All require submission to “higher authority” (power hungry men/women acting as self-appointed conduits to the word of “God”), which works simply because most people are lazy thinkers with a guilty conscience. If you pay up, then your guilt is assuaged. It doesn’t mean you have to change your lifestyle, you just transfer your guilt for others to pay. Only the clear onset of an ice age will literally freeze out blind submission to an entrenched belief system held by many adherents of the CAGW doctrine.
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Yep it will be the scorched earth policy. The Australian Federal Net Debt is already something like $250 Billion. What will it be by Sep 14th after all the Pork Barrelled election promises? And what will it actually be when the Auditor General takes a closer look ? The next 8 months ain’t gonna be pretty.
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I certainly hope that the coalition government, when they win, will get rid of that expensive and useless Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) as well as the Carbon tax. They will ruin our economy without any benefit to the climate. The MRET will be much more expensive than the carbon tax.
In our area of NSW we are paying 33 cents + GST per KWh for electricity while in Ontario Canada they are paying 7.1 cents per KWh, less than 1/4 of our rate. We are paying through the nose for useless unreliable wind mills with their transmission infrastructure and for PV solar. The sooner that we get rid of those the better.
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It is pretty hard to blame NSW’s pricey electricity on Gillard…
Ontario appears to have RET and renewables: http://www.niagaracanada.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3oOwgjri8Ew%3D&tabid=176
ALso didn;t Howard bring the MRET in?
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Not at all I will find it quite easy.
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Mattb Yes the Howard government did bring in the MRET in 2001of about 10,000 GigaWatt hours this was doubled to or about 5% of the total Australian electricity generation. In 2009 an expanded renewable energy target of 20% of total electricity generation by 2020 despite the productivity commission stating in 2008 that the MRET will drive up energy prices and do nothing to cut CO2 emissions. So yes even without considering the effects of the CO2 tax on electricity prices, Gillard et al can be blamed, at least in part, for pricey electricity in NSW
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My apologies to all I should have previewed more carefully. The correct reply to Mattb is below
Yes the Howard government did bring in the MRET in 2001 of about 10,000 GigaWatt hours or about 5% of the total Australian electricity generation. In 2009 an expanded renewable energy target of 20% of total electricity generation by 2020 was introduced despite the productivity commission stating in 2008 that the MRET will drive up energy prices and do nothing to cut CO2 emissions. So yes even without considering the effects of the CO2 tax on electricity prices, Gillard et al can be blamed, at least in part, for pricey electricity in NSW
Report this 00
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I fear that Abbot and other Liberals (not just Turnbull) are going to be greener than we hope,
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LoL! you wont find out what the Fiberals are about until after the election, if they win it, and if they dont, they will spend quite a while trying to work out what they are about.
Interesting that this move will probably lock in Abbott’s leadership to the election.
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Fiberals LOL, there will be no carbon tax under a government i lead, i did not carry a knife around for weeks whilst i planned to knife Kevin the knife was handed to me just moments before i plunged it in, we will bring in far reaching pokie reform, we will have an open and transparent government (open the curtains and let the sun shine in), we will bring the budget back to surplus etcetera, etcetera.
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Why is that interesting Catamon?
Abbott was re-elected leader with unopposed. Federally at least (as State level Liberals still seem to love trying to snatch defeat from victory with spills) Abbott as the man who will win the next election for the party and the people who keep claiming to want Turnbull back are the people who wouldn’t be voting Liberal anyway.
Considering Newspoll shows a comfortable Abbott win, and everyone else shows a landslide, do you really think the Liberal party is going to risk a leadership challenge JUST to chase those votes?
Abbott is, and always was, COMPLETELY safe as leader until after the election. Then he will be either sacked for failing the impossible or challenged by someone trying to steal the glory. Anyone with a remotely pragmatic understanding of Australian politics would already understand this.
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Well said MudCrab. It continues to bemuse me why people still suggest the Liberals would be better served by replacing Tony Abbott with Malcolm Turnbull. Turnbull has had his chance and was an abject failure that was 10 to 20 points behind in the Polls at the time. He also almost consigned Australia to an Emissions Trading Scheme 2 years before we ended up with the Carbon Tax. That would have been 2 more years of economic pain for no environmental gain. People forget Abbott only became leader due to a grass roots revolt by Conservative Voters over Turnbull going along with Rudd’s ETS. For this reason I don’t believe he will commit to Big Green government – that would be political suicide for him. Then again I think it is chiefly Labor / Greens voters who give Turnbull the nod of Approval in Leadership Polls and they’d never vote Conservative anyway. Roll on September 14.
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The Libs already have a large proportion of ex-Labor voters (myself included).
While I think TA needs to be a bit more forthright, there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I will ever vote for Labor again while one single member of the current Government is there.
And there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I would vote for the Libs if Turnbull was put in as leader.
I think he would actually be WORSE than Gillard and crew. !!!
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Malcolm Turncoat of Goldman Sachs belongs on the other side. He’s a global warming nutcase, and a World Government spruiker. They don’t call him Malcolm Bullshit for no reason.
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Who is suggesting Turnbull should be Fiberal leader??
Cory B Bernardi and the right wing nut-baggers in the Fibs would die in a ditch before letting him take over.
Should be Bishop of the Death Stare fame. She has been such a loyal girl over the years it must be her turn?? 🙂
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Well whoever the “Fiberal” leader might or might not be at least the LNP don’t act as defence counsel for months and months for MPs alleged to have committed fraud. It will be interesting to see how Ms Gillard deals with the arrest of Mr Thomson. I wonder if she knew before making her announcement yesterday that Mr Thomson would be arrested today? And of course don’t forget that her “Captain’s Pick” as Speaker is still the subject of allegations of improper use of CabCharge vouchers. You could hardly say Ms Gillard and the ALP have covered themselves with glory over the issues surrounding these two men. Looks as if the term fibber might be better directed to places other than the Liberal Party
50
Catamon, you are the queen of commie leftist name calling. Have you ever considered how stupid you sound for using:
Fiberal
Teabagger
Repugnican
etc.
etc.
??????????????????????????
But it is one of the ways I identify people as having extreme leftist tendencies.
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Go ahead Mark, i’m used to you being wrong by now, and a twerp. 🙂
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Don’t feed trolls (s)he’ll be a little girl/boy* with pig tails to get a rise out of you.
*delete as appropriate.
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Wonder what inquiries will be reporting on the week beginning the 16th Sept?? FWA? Doesn’t the Royal Commision report later in the year?
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Maybe her committal hearing for the AMWU scandal is set for the 15th?
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The Australian Workers Union not the Amalgamted Metal Workers Union. Does anyone have any idea why she sat the election date on Yom Kippur? Her advisors really are hopeless.
20
the “red witch” gillard’s birthday is in September (29th)…….
21
Well that must have blown away the greens and [UN] independent’s ace ploy.
I’m sure they were probably hoping to pick a fight about something and force an election. They still can, but it won’t have as much impact.
Now they cannot wash their hands of this government they fanatically supported.
They are one in the same. It’s time for democratic retribution to be employed on those whose values were bought and those who supported this government for little more than their own self interest.
If this lot remain softer this election then Australia truly deserves the consequences.
40
Just put the greens at the bottom of the ballot.
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Election day also falls on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, which Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull noted on Twitter earlier today.
“Deeply disappointed that Julia Gillard chose to hold the election on Yom Kippur – the most solemn and sacred day of the Jewish year,” he tweeted earlier today.
Is he shitting me? WTF has a jewish holiday got to do with an election in Australia, how far can Turdball stick his tongue up the Israeli arse?
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Jews should see it as a holy duty to GET RID OF this looney, hateful, far-left government.
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Jewish Labor MP Michael Danby says he will boycott election day , I suspect Malcolm Turnbull thought it may have been trending with Labor and was doing his usual best to appeal to Labor voters ( He really is in the wrong party)
Of course He wouldn`t bother to check with the people on Who`s behalf He`s getting offended and it turns out that Jewish leaders do not consider the choice of election day to be disrespectful , members of the community will simply pre or postal vote as usual.
(I have NOOO idea of the actual timeline here , but I`ll roll with it as a hypothesis , right up until reality blows it`s wheels off )
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Crakar24
Check out the “Yom Kippur” or “Kol Nidre Prayer”. It will give you an understanding of why Julia thinks her broken promises are legitimate.
31
Connolly’s comment below has forced me to be more explicit, which, for doing so, I shall probably get shot.
[SNIP! This kind of comment is completely off-topic. Some advice to you to look into the history and meaning of the prayer you have commented on. I believe you have completely misrepresented the meaning here and for all the wrong reasons. Take it somewhere else.] ED
11
Orthodox Jews are prevented from voting on Yom Kippur. It is the most holy day of the Jewish calender. A bit like Gillard setting the election on Good Friday for Christians or Grand Final Day for Swans supporters. Turnbull has a large Orthodox Jewish population in his electorate and should raise the issue. Your offensive comment re. Turnbull and the Jewish community does you no credit.
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Just demonstrates what a cretin malcom TURNCOAT turnBULL actually is !
Seriously, who gives a rats a.se !
Bring on the election ASAP to get rid of these “beasts from hell” !
21
I hope Mr Abbott and the Libs have the common sense to hold back any policies until the election IS actually called and the writs signed.
They do not need to do anything until then except keep trying to hold this mockery of a government to account.
.
.
Will there still be a budget announcement is May (or whenever it is due)?
Will the actual financial reality of Australia’s true borrowings and deficit be known before the election (due October iirc)
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If Gillard wins, we riot!
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If Gillard loses, we riot. PARDYTIME!
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I’ll get drunk for that 🙂
50
AMEN TO THAT !!!!
10
Ms Gillard said by announcing the date so far in advance, the opposition no longer had an excuse not to provide detailed costings ahead of the poll.“They have two things that an opposition has never had before to enable them to do that,” she said.
Apparently, treasury need not reveal any information regarding budget policies and costings under FOI that could be exempt – if they were produced for the purpose of being considered by Cabinet.
Without this information, how can the Coalition release costed policies? There’s a long-established process in Australia that cabinet documents aren’t made public.
80
It’s the announcement of the announcement, and until August 12th we’re half pregnant 😉
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“Ms Gillard said by announcing the date so far in advance, the opposition no longer had an excuse not to provide detailed costings ahead of the poll.”
This has to be a cynical joke on Gillard’s part. Since her Government can’t even get the costings of their implemented policies correct. They haven’t come within a bulls roar of their budget estimates and this years expected budget surplus of $1.5 Billion announced in May 2012, was adjusted to $1.1 Billion in September 2012 after around $16 Billion in ‘adjustments’ and has now been totally abandoned, but the Treasurer can’t or won’t tell us what the expected deficit will be $10 Billion, $20 Billion, $30 Billion who knows?
So any costings Gillard and her party put out before the election have zero credibility and since their gross financial budgeting and inaccuracy has been aided and abetted by Treasury and the public service in general, then whatever the Parliamentary Budgetary Office or Treasury say about the Coalitions costings would have to be questionable.
Historical facts demonstrate Labor is incapable of managing the economy regardless of their fully costed election promises and the Coalition have a history of paying off debt and building a surplus when in office.
Only the truly gullible would still take Gillard and Swan at their word.
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Don’t the PBO and the Treasury have to open their books to the Opposition, now an election has been called?
70
An election HASN’T been called.. all that has happened is that the prime witch has said when she would like the election to be held.
An election is NOT called until the GG issues the writs to do so.
That is when the Libs need to show their policies, and NOT ONE DAY beforehand.
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TA must be absolutely resolute about this..
If Labor want to see details of the Libs policies.. CALL AN ELECTION……
Dissolve parliament and issue the writs !!!
I DARE YOU, you lying, deceitful [snip], Gillard !!
[Take it easy champ. mod oggi]
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Sorry oggi.. I can’t even remember what I wrote there,.
Was it really that bad? or just too truthful 😉
Good thing I don’t type what I REALLY think of her.. you would run out of snips !!
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I agree with Andy,snip all you like,she is what she is.
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Thanks for the clarification – I missed the subtlety between naming a date and calling an election.
It’s a bit like, “If we were to get married, the wedding would be on this date, but since we are not even officially engaged yet, you don’t need to send presents”.
Games, games, games.
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The ALP has had all the “best” advice from Treasury and still has ended up with deficits when Treasury’s modeling promised surpluses. Which seems to indicate that economics is no better at modelling an economy (also think of all the brilliant economists who have stuffed up large chunks, if not most of the EU) than climate science is at modeling Earth’s climate.
The question that arises is why do the Libs get it consistently right? Do they effectively ignore Treasury’s advice? And do they instead have a competent inner voice accountant they listen to?
Though we can blame Treasury for all the ALP economic stuff ups it is also true that the gaggle of lawyers and ex-union officials that constitute this government couldn’t run a corner store and should never be trusted to run the country’s economy.
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Or trying to force the issue now. There have been rumours on this side of the ditch that a challenge was in the offing, and this looks remarkably like a “put-up or shut-up” strategy.
If those rumours are correct, anything else she says is just pantomime to keep the crowd amused.
90
” just pantomime to keep the crowd amused”
I was under the impression that IS Labor`s economic policy ?
70
Top Ten Reasons Abbott should let the current budget deficit stand for the life of his government
1. It gives him more to spend
2. The Liberals savings from last time in govt were frittered away by Kev, Julia & Wayne on poorly thought out projects
3. Once saved the electorate is eventually tempted to put in Labor again to raid the ‘cookie jar’
4. The electorate will have to stomach , (when it elects Labor again), to heading further down the path of Southern European style borrowings
5. A token “Swan/Gillard memorial levy” could run for 100 years & still not pay off the billions, reminding the punters of “last time”
6. He didn’t make the mess
7. The media critics from the left are happy to support ‘deficit funding of worthy programs’ – not paying off last times splurge should keep them on the new Govt’s side
8. It reduces the savings he has to make
9. A policy of budget neutrality – as in :: leaving things how you found them – would only be possible for one flavour of Government
10. When Labor is talking about “budget neutrality over the longer cycle” – and “surplus” it will be clear they really don’t understand what they are talking about
cheers
41
I assume you mean debt not deficit.
If he “maintained” the deficit the debt would continue rising to unsustainable levels, as in Greece etc.
Leaving the debt in place sounds like a good idea but it wouldn’t deter Labor, when they get back in, from overspending as usual. It would mean that the problems would occur sooner but who would want Labor in charge at that time, even if they realised the problem had arrived.
30
“10. When Labor is talking about “budget neutrality over the longer cycle” – and “surplus” it will be clear they really don’t understand what they are talking about.”
Yes they do . Spending, it’s in their DNA. Living on the never-never and on OPM in the meantime. The rest is lip service to responsibley sounding fiscal jargon.
30
Like the changes in climate, the seesaw of Australian politics.
Labor deficit … Liberals get rid of the debt.Then … time fer
the big spenders again. Hmm … must be time fer a change.
60
Exactly! What is it with Australian voters? Why are they unable to stick with a good thing and then vote in Labor to ruin it all over again? This has been the pattern my entire life 🙁
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Gillard is quite confident that Abbott is hollow when it comes to policy. So she announces an election date well in advance to try and flush out Abbott.
But this is a big big mistake. Gillard has not considered human psychology.
Up until now, polls were just suppositions, i.e. “suppose an election were held today, who would you vote for?”
Consistently, about 54% have said they would vote for Abbott. The announcement of the election has changed that supposition to a decision.
Gillard has her work cut out convincing some of that 54% to change their minds. Expect her to use incumbency and the treasury levers to announce policy after policy, especially in the areas of education, health and other perceived Labor strengths.
If labor lose this election -and they should- they have a chance of survival.
However if by chance they win again, they will be utterly devastated at the following election. (think Keating winning in 93 against all odds but being smashed with ‘baseball bats’ in 96).
20
Baa, at 54 / 46 Labor is already heading for a beating of 1996 proportions. The early call does three things for Gillard. 1. It will force Abbott to reveal his detailed policies 2. It gives her a full 8 months to run up a scare campaign on those policies (just as Keating did in 1993) and 3. Gives her longer in the lodge than she otherwise would have.
In relation to the pervesion of Science and relating policies such as the Carbon Tax and Renewable Energy funds, there are those who firmly believe a Conservative Coalition government will be little better than the current mob. I strongly disagree. Core conservative support includes the Small & Medium (SME) Business sector. This sector employs 70% of all Australian workers yet is getting smashed with a massive increase in government over-regulation and red tape. This over-regulation and red tape is a key reason why Australia’s productivity levels have been in freefall. Only the Coalition understand this. In short, government has become too big to fast under Labor and this trend needs to be reversed.
The Carbon Tax and other useless Green schemes just keep more smart people employed by the government (Federal public service headcounts have skyrocketed since 2007). All this has achieved is add to red tape that hampers the SME sector rather than redirecting the efforts of thee smart people to contribute to improving Australia’s innovation and productivity.
30
I remember Paul Cheating very well and it was “cricket bats” not “baseball bats” and it was fun.
21
“think Keating winning in 93 against all odds but being smashed with ‘baseball bats’ in 96”
Why would we have to go all the way back to ’93 when ’07 is so much fresher in the memory?
25
Australia can’t afford, in so many different ways, to have the “red dog” gillard and the Australian LIARS Party win the election.
It will be curtains for our nation if they do…….
10
So, a lame duck administration for the next nine months then. Nobody will be doing anything this side of the election. A fittingly inept end to an inept politician’s career.
Pointman
100
I think plenty will be happening … including big-spend, feel-good, people-friendly policies to be announced (like the never-never education and disability support programs) – but planned safely far into the future, knowing they have no chance of ever eventuating.
And then there’s the spending of huge amounts of taxpayers’ money (our budget surplus) on advertising and Public Relations to try and sell all this futuristic snake oil to the sheeple.
20
You can paint a septic tank any colour you like but at the end of the day it is still exactly what it is and still full of s–t.
40
My septic tank is painted green. I think that’s appropriate.
30
Supporters of the “red dog” gillard believe that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end………
20
“Nobody will be doing anything this side of the election”
I hope You`re right Pointman , but given The petty , arrogant attitude and the overblown sense of entitlement, much like a bad housing commission tenant , there`s a chance They may just decide to trash the place before They`re thrown out to “teach” Us a lesson
30
Pointman,
“a fitting end”, ha! Many have the idea of grey walls and an exercise yard as the desired fitting end for our PM
00
Abort abbort as in when the libs win he will be replaced by turncoat so to keep the carbon dioxide tax. He still can keep his integrity regards signing his name in blood to scrap the tax as leader. We are f#%ked.
14
What if ‘they’ called this election and no one voted?
Wasn’t it Richard Pryor (in “Brewster’s Millions”) who funded a political campaign for “None of the Above” to cynically waste some of the 30 million dollars he had been given as a test? I often wondered what ‘they’ would do in such a situation.
From memory, Brewster almost won that election when people started writing his name on their ballot papers and voting for him instead of the original candidates.
Which sort of suggests that those who don’t want to vote for ‘a politician’ (as it tends to encourage them) always have the option of nominating themselves.
30
Seriously, how could anyone vote for Labor.
They’re either clueless or outright liars, but either way, their hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Consider this.
Australia currently emits around 420 Million tons of CO2 each year.
With a useless TAX no less, they hope to lower that by 5%, and achieve this by 2020. So that’s a lowering of 21 Million tons. (which, as we are told is the equivalent of removing 750 trillion cars off the road, or something like that./sarc)
So knowing that the whole of Oz emits 420 million tons, and wow, what a huge amount that is, 1.35% of total world emissions no less, and placing us as the 17th highest emitter.
Now comes the crunch.
Each year, Australia exports 290 million tons of thermal coal, used for coal fired power plants.
Each year, Australia exports 160 million tons of metallurgical coal, used to make steel.
So, that comes in at a total coal export of 450 million tons ….. each year.
Using the average multiplier of one ton of coal burned results in the emission of 2.86 tons of CO2, then Australia is exporting 1.29 BILLION tons of CO2 each year, which comes in at 3.07 times our total at home emissions.
Those exported emissions alone come in at the 6th largest amount of emissions on Planet Earth.
So now, keep in mind I mentioned that Australia hopes to reduce its CO2 emissions by 21 million tons in the next 7 years.
Now, while Thermal Coal exports are currently relatively static, metallurgical coal exports are increasing by around 7% each year.
Current Metallurgical Coal exports are 160 million tons, or the equivalent of 460 million tons of CO2. So a 7% increase on that amounts to 32 million tons.
So, while our wonderful Labor Government, hand on heart, believes it can lower our emissions by 21 million tons in seven years, each year this same Government is presiding over a World increase, just supplied from Australia of 32 million tons ….. each year ….. and just for Metallurgical coal.
Oh the hypocrisy.
Oh come all ye
LaborCAGW supporters, come in and stand up for this hypocrisy why don’t you.Naah! All you’ve got is blah blah blah. Say, isn’t that Britney Spears over there.
Tony.
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Tony, there’s some good news for carbo-phobes. I understand Indonesia has pushed us out of number one position as world’s biggest coal exporter. I’m not sure how to spin that – but I’m sure John McTernan has an idea. Something like: “For the first time ever, Australia has reduced the amount of carbon it sells in relation to our nearest neighbour etc etc…” Any good?
60
I just read Wesfarmers Coal business has been struggling due to depressed global prices for Coal being sold to China (linked). I think Australia’s high cost of production is catching up with it – especially compared with low cost producers such as Indonesia.
So actually it seems it is Australia’s inflexible wage environment that is doing Australia out of business. This is one direct consequence of the Fair work act and various penalty clauses and anti dismissal laws that Gillard and her spin doctor John McTernan have presided over.
High wages are great but unless you are productive, innovative and internationally competitive it just means less jobs (and less Union members) to go around in the long term.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/coal-a-drag-but-wesfarmers-still-rock-solid-20130130-2dl6l.html
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TonyOz has correctly noted the distinction between thermal coal (ie. power station fuel) and coking coal (ie. steel production)
Indonesia does not have large resources of coking coal. Most of the deposits are of the thermal coal qualities, which Indonesia is slowly ramping up production for
Mongolia has very large deposits of both qualities. Mongolia is slowly getting it’s political environment properly organised for mining and exporting these products. While it’s obviously very much closer to the main customer, China, and so has potentially much lower transport costs, some considerable infrastuctural problems remain, especially rail lines (eg. the Mongolian rail gauge is smaller than China’s so the interface at the border presents big-money issues), but these issues will be resolved
Slowly, Australia’s export dominance will be reduced. So the CO2 tax works, you see 🙂
Now look at this table:
“Global map of planned coal fired capacity tells a story”
http://tallbloke.wordpress.com/
January 30, 2013
50
Ian, what’s interesting is that, though Oz is well ahead of the other main exporter of coking coal (the US), Indonesia now leads the world (and us) on total tonnage of coal exported. How quickly we can squander our advantage on metallurgical coal is up to Gillard, Swan, Combet and the unions. They used to say of Whitlam that he found Australia a hard place to wreck. But he didn’t have team Gillard!
50
The US is not a big exporter of coal due to their West Coast Longeshoremen (unions)
The US West Coast is the obvious location for port facilities (transport etc) but the Longeshoremen cruel it with over-the-top demands every time … and US strikes are an order of magnitude nastier than those in Oz
30
@Robert
Sorry, I meant to add this to my previous post:
what exactly do you mean by “squander” ?
Do you think Oz should keep most of the hard coking coal deposits for domestic consumption ? That means we actually have to make things with the steel … our domestic population is too small for secondary mass production of any significance. You may have noticed the high dwindle factor in manufacturing here for decades
Do you mean “hang out for really, really big prices ?” Then Mongolia, Brazil, S Africa, Mozambique get a very big boost from Chinese investment. Just what we need, I expect
We compete globally, we really do (lots of Aussies prefer not to believe that – just delusional). We don’t do anything else on the world stage nearly as well as mining (150 years of practice). People complain that CSIRO etc invent beaut stuff but it goes overseas. Now why is that, do you think ? Because our capital market is so pathetically thin compared to those overseas
Look at a geographical map of the country – 70% is desert or near-desert. What exactly do you propose we do with it ?
Think about it, please,before you use words like “squander”
40
Sorry Ian, wires crossed. I spoke of squandering our ADVANTAGE, not our coal. Which means we should dig and sell it. The advantage referred to is pretty obviously our exports, which pretty obviously need to stay competitive.
The US actually is the other significant exporter of coking coal. But I take your point about US longshoremen. They are squandering an advantage. (Note again: the ADVANTAGE, not the coal, is being squandered.)
10
2011 final figs. Interesting reading on coal exports and imports, with coal types distinguished:
http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/market-amp-transportation/
10
“Seriously, how could anyone vote for Labor.
They’re either clueless or outright liars, but either way, their hypocrisy knows no bounds.”
———
So you already know the answer to your question….
50
With natural CO2 emissions Running at 186 Billion tons That figure of 420 Million tons is pretty insignificant in the scheme of things.CO2 is a smoke screen ignore it.Climate Change is natural and without CO2 there would be no life.
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Comrade Tony, you don’t have the right attitude. We think an extended spell in one of our new reeducation camps might give you some new insights into what we are trying to achieve.
Don’t bother packing anything, we’ll provide everything we think you’ll need.
50
Yes comrade Tony , Kommissar Conroy has prepared the red underpants of shame for inmates using Treacherous anti-party rhetoric containing facts
60
Tony “Seriously, how could anyone vote for Labor.
They’re either clueless or outright liars, but either way, their hypocrisy knows no bounds.”
it’s another turd or a shit sandwich election I’m afraid.
07
There is hypocracy on hypocracy. A tonne of coking coal from an Australian coal mine that goes into an Australian blast furnce gets taxed. A tonne of coking coal mined from the same mine that gets exported overseas does not. Our blast furnaces face extreme competition in a steel market flooded with over production. The Labor Party are simply traitors.
40
I always wonder at politicians when they do something unusual. With Gillard she has everything to worry about next September, but that’s a long way away. So, why make the General election details public now?
Normally when politicians announce something importand, as she has done, it more than likely means that there is something else in the offing and about to blow up in their faces.
Take the example of the President of Argentina.
the Argentine economy is not only on the rocks, it has slipped under the rocks and there is nothing she can do, or has been able to do to recover it.
So, what does she do? Simple, she finds a DISTRACTION to divert people’s attention from the important issues at hand.
And the distraction here is always the same one…The Falkland Islands. She raises this issue and the Argentinians get all hot under the collar(if they can afford one) and attention moves away from domestic matters again. The President breathes a sigh of relief, gives a few passing minor politicians a “high 5” and carries on.
She has done this several times in the past few years. No doubt you’ll remember some of the occasions.
Former NZ Prime Minister Rob Muldoon did this several times during his tenancy. Each time, the bad news crept out and was generally ignored.
So, what is Gillard up to then?
I don’t know the answer, but it is going to be interesting during the next few weeks to see what if anything crawls out from under the carpets in your Government Buildings.
Most who comment here will, I hope, have heard of Steve McIntyre from Climate Audit?
He is the one (with Steve McKitrick) who broke Michael Mann’s Hockey Stick…tell me you know who he is please!!!
McIntyre has a saying. Watch for the pea under the thimble!
So Aussies all, watch for the pea.
Regards,
Peter Walsh, Dublin.
60
Sorry, it is Ross McKitrick not Steve McKitrick in the above post.
PW
20
Can’t wait to hear what her pre-election promises will be. Should be a laugh or two there.
30
I can!
20
sorry for being offtopic but i couldnt find a “submit news” or “tips” link
must read:
http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/columnists/dawn-stover/reality-check
Summary:
“Dawn Stover has another great piece detailing why renewable energy will never provide us with all our energy needs. She deconstructs the unrealistic World Wildlife Fund report (co-written by several solar companies) that claims renewables will be able to provide 100% of the energy needs of several countries by 2050. From the article: ‘When renewable energy experts get together, they tend to rhapsodize about the possibilities, believing that this will somehow inspire others to make their visions come true. But ambitious plans to power entire countries on solar energy (or wind or nuclear power, for that matter) don’t have a snowball’s chance in Australia. Such schemes are doomed to fail, and not because of the economic “reality” or the political “reality” — however daunting those may be. They are doomed because of the physical reality: It’s simply not physically possible for the world’s human population to continue growing in numbers, affluence, and energy consumption without trashing the planet.'”
00
James – did you read all the way to the end of that paragraph?
“They are doomed because of the physical reality: It’s simply not physically possible for the world’s human population to continue growing in numbers, affluence, and energy consumption without trashing the planet.”
My take is that she’s more of a nutter than the renewable advocates she opposes. She thinks renewables will not work, or any energy source, she thinks we need to reduce the planet’s population to survive…
04
She’s joined the ‘trash the people, not the planet’ club.
http://theintelhub.com/2013/01/24/30-population-control-quotes-that-show-that-the-elite-truly-believe-that-humans-are-a-plague-upon-the-earth/
30
renewable energy is a fantasy and utter CRAP……
20
Whoopee.
Will the ballot paper have a “hang the lot of them” option, or will we be stuck with Dum and Dee again?
20
There was a suggestion over at a Menzies House thread not so long ago that people write it on themselves to protest the apparently parlous state of our democracy.
🙂
04
Any thoughts on the parlous state of the current parliamentary party and of their leader who has for so long andso strenuously supported Craig Thomson despite her own FWA saying they intended to bring charges And did Gillard know yesterday that Thomson would be arrested today?
40
Of course she knew. She would have had here cockroaches crawling all over the place to make sure she knew exactly what was happening with CT.
Julia Gillard and Craig Thompson. These people are two of a kind. Gillard with her AWU rorts and Thompson with his HSU rorts. Thompson with his prostitutes, Gillard shacked up with Matheison.
No morals whatsoever, either of them.
40
On the Fiberals I thought Abbott nailed Gillard beautifully in his speech to the National Press Club today. His comment “Before the 2010 election Julia Gillard made two solemn promises ‘there will be no carbon tax under a government I lead’ and ‘my government will have a budget surplus in 2012-2013’. What did we get? We got a carbon tax and we didn’t get a budget surplus” Still think Fiberal is funny?
30
Hilarious actually. Its driven the sillier of the right wing drones into a frothing lather.
Call me what you like but i would rather have a Govt that does good policy and makes the parliament work (as they have) than sticks mindlessly to promises.
On the ETS, that’s what they had to agree with to make a minority Govt work in the parliament that the Australian people voted for. Simple,entirely proper, and much more significant than a campaign promise.
On the Surplus. Aiming for that was good since it gave a clear direction for fiscal policy and sent the right signals into world markets. When the circumstances changed (falling revenue)they tossed it regardless of the political difficulty. That’s actually good governance.
Unfortunately, the polls show there are a lot of people claiming to be partisan halfwits in Australia who don’t get it. 🙂
18
Audio of gillard and swan LYING about the carbon DIOXIDE (PLANT FOOD) tax prior to the last federal election…….
There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead.
http://www.hotheads.com.au/carbon%20tax%20-%20julia%20gillard%2001.mp3
No it’s not possible that we’re bringing in the carbon tax, that is a hysterically inaccurate claim being made by the Coalition.
http://www.hotheads.com.au/carbon%20tax%20-%20wayne%20swan%2001.mp3
20
So, they finally arrested Craig Thompson. So now we know the true reason Gillard has called the election so early.
100
Some of the story on the MSM here and on this website here in brief for overseas readers
30
I think its pretty obvious that Gillard got wind of this, thus “calling” an election so she can avoid a by election for the seat of Dobell. It will be very interesting to see how this all pans out.
One question for Jules: Do you still have absolute confidence in Craig Thompson?
It will also be interesting to see who else is in the sights of the Victorian Police… I heard something about a lawyer who set up a slush fund for some AWU bosses… conveyancing on a house, some renovations etc.
110
I’m not sure the election has actually been called. Doesn’t that happen on August 12th?
10
The talk out there in media land at present is that because she has “announced” the election, its possible that she may be able to avoid a by election in Dobell when Craig Thompson goes down big time.
Clearly she must know that the police have a very good case and CT’s chances are slim or non existent.
40
Ha,ha. No point replacing the member for Dobell when the house is about to come down anyway, ensuring eight more months to strip the country.
30
I recall hearing that being charged with criminal offences punishable by a sentence greater than 1 year is enough for automatic disqualification from parliament. Does anyone know for sure? Indeed, do any of the charges incur >1 year?
40
.
I think it only applies to Conviction – not Charged.
Jurisdiction Commonwealth
If: Convicted of a crime punishable by a year or more in prison
Result: Banned while serving or awaiting sentence
20
That’s correct Dave.
From S.44
(ii) Is attainted of treason, or has been convicted and
is under sentence, or subject to be sentenced, for
any offence punishable under the law of the Commonwealth or of a State by imprisonment for one year or longer: or…..
What follows after “or” is the clause referring to bankruptcy.
10
Thanks – my faulty memory. It did seem a bit extreme on reflection for “charged” to be enough but I thought I had heard just that. Anyway, time to get the popcorn ready, sit back and watch.
30
Craig Thompson no longer has the financial support of Labor. There is a very good chance that he will quickly go bankrupt with ongoing legal fees, thus disqualifying him from Parliament.
Gillard knew this, that’s why she called the election.
20
Checked out the PM’s new look? Is she planning a post-politics career that doesn’t involve the practice of law?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAXGKmKAzTw
30
http://m.theage.com.au/environment/weather/giant-heatwave-delivers-hottest-january-on-record-20130131-2dn5i.html
Hottest January on Record??
That is ao funny! I swear this scam must end.
Hottest January on record yet I hardly used my cooling or went to the beach and most days were in the mid 20’s with a couple of days over 30.
SUMMER IS NOT HOT ANYMORE YET THEY ARE LIEING AND TELLING US THAT IT IS?
81
Hmm, the official BoM records, or the opinion of an individual based upon that individual being in only one location, and said individual being demonstrably nuts. Tough Choice.
111
.
MattyB
You obviously didn’t look at the thread Cloud Forming Bacteria?
This is where BOM with billions & billions of dollars are spent to give us an up to date record of weather events and predictions that are in reality just news reports on current events.
And now you demand (imply) that BOM is the only source of knowledge. Any other opinion should be determined as completly nutty. Even Sugarplumfairy wants proof of Water Wizards analysis – you have no idea how The Australian weather cycles work – nor has the BOM which DID NOT predict this latest QLD NSW flood situation until the (look out the window method) rains and floods started. It is your pure belief in CAGW and now its infiltration into CSIRO and BOM that over rules common sense.
You guys in Perth are still struggling with salinity, water table problems, storm water, transport etc – and you’re running for Mayor?
Where does salinity start?
Why do low pressure systems follow heat?
Why does WA CSIRO dig channels to eradicate salinity?
Why is your own locality the worst storm water catchment system in WA?
Why does WA poison willows in creek banks and catchments?
Why do you poison weeds in ploughed fields?
Just one answer will do MattyB.
11
I don’t know.
03
I’m not nuts Matty. I’m just cold.
Oh by the way it’s 13.5 degrees in Melbourne an raining now.
That’s hottest SUMMER weather for you!
80
Julia Gillard PM “Contours of a NEW WORLD ORDER are emerging but not yet apparent”
100
If the current government gets re-elected I am migrating to Zimbabwe where they have credible leadership & sound economic polices
40
Phew … how fortuitous that the PM called an election only
the day before events stepped up in the Craig Thompson case!
60
Will you vote for gillard? Poll
A ninemsn poll.
@3:42AM 31/01/2013
Yes 22475
NO 78741
The “hell beast” gillard and its minions will be sent back to hell on September 14th.
50
I’d love to think that poll is right Angry. Problem is that the denizens of Welfaria were probably doped out/asleep when it was taken. They will awaken on election day and do what they always do. Vote early, vote often and vote for a living.
Tony Yabbutt lost me totally yesterday. He stated that the world is warming and that humans are contributing to it. So in other words, all the temperature records of the last 15 years are wrong.
The man is a dead loss. We all know what his view was a few years ago. Whose vote is he trying to sway? Most Greenie types will never vote for, or give the Libs their second preference.
00
and yesterdays yahoo poll on the same question has been deleted, wonder why that is ? Bet it was not lookin good for Dillard
30
You take on line self selecting script driven polls as serious data??
Oh dear…..
04
A message to the pensioners of Australia from julia gillard “get stuffed” `Old people never vote for us.’’
30
Australia commits further $10m in aid to Syria:-
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/aust-commits-further-10m-in-aid-to-syria-20130131-2dlnl.html
YET GILLARD CAN ONLY OFFER $1 MILLION TO QUEENSLAND FLOOD VICTIMS !!!
Shame. shame, shame !!!!!!!!!!!!
40
And another $10 million to Mali –
AM – Australia tips $10 million in to Mali effort 30/01/2013
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3679101.htm
2 days ago – Australia tips $10 million in to Mali effort … is flowing into the strife torn nation of Mali in an effort to prop up the government and to stamp out the …
30
Kevin,
Could there ever be a more clearer example of where Gillards priorities lie? It shows just how little she thinks of you, remember this on 14 Sep 13.
I am a little confused about this whole issue,
So in Mali we supply cash/support to the Mali government to fight the terrorists/extremist but in Syria we supply cash/support to the terrorists/extremist including Al Queada i dont think Bob knows what he is doing.
40
Syria frustrates common sense. We stayed in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban and the remnants of Al Quaeda. It seems Bush fixed up most of the latter in Iraq so Afghanistan , post Iraq , was always inconsequential. Now we are supporting the same sort of Islamist terrorists in Syria.
This ALP government is all over the shop, obviously without a moral compass as it seems it is on much the same wavelength as the Syrian Terrorists.
The correctness of that sympathy is confirmed to them by the UN’s taking sides with the terrorists. One side seems as bloodthirsty as the other and it certainly does not reflect well on the Arabs generally or on their “peace loving” religion which appears to be the rationale and motivation for their violent blood letting.
30
Crakar24
The way I see it – without saying too much –
Syria, Russia and Iran are good mates, so before an attack can be made on Iran Syria must be neutralised.
Mali has resources that must be protected from the locals.
50
I think their religion is peace loving just like Christianity is the wars you mentioned are not based on religion some may use it as an excuse. I do not believe the bible allows one to drop a bomb from a drone on the other side of the world and calling civilian deaths collateral damage the Koran does not allow civilians to be beheaded that fate should be given t the enemy only.
Religion is abused by both sides, what i was referring to was the constantly changing moral line that we have drawn in the sand, for example we create Al Qeada (read set up and fund Bin Laden) to fight Russia in Afghanistan, then fight against them in Afghanistan then support then against Syria then fight them in Mali.
At some point we must ask are these wars manufactured to create an outcome that is profitable for us?
30
http://www.veracitynow.com/home/alternate-reality/media/5168-george-orwells-guide-to-the-news
20
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/02/01/israels-plan-for-world-war-enters-high-gear/
10
Dear Julia, before the coalition reveals its full policies and costings your government needs to reveal the full and honest state of the budget and full accounts. Hiding the real damage your mis-management of the Australian economy has caused is not going to wash with the Australian people or the coalition. We need to know the mess you have left us in and well before the election. Tricky accounting to hide expenses and hiding expenses off the accounts (like the NBN) just won’t cut it. Any savvy business person will not commit to a budget process without first knowing the starting point. That starting point sets the direction for future strategic planning and budgeting.
30
I am convinced that the announcement of an election date is a lie.
It will be March or April depending on the straightness the Victorian Police and judiciary.
10
.
inedible hyperbowl,
Could be right in this but also looks like Craig Thompsons solictor is also going to face charges from NSW Prison Officers Union (or whatever) over his comments on TV and radios.
Lawyer Chris McArdle has a website – he’s an industrial lawyer for unions?
Well – this one is just a bad start – and won’t charge Craig for TV appearances.
They’re number NINE in Australias Top 50 law firms
Got to go now and vote in the TOP 50 law firm poll.
10
Minister for Higher Education Chris Evans has just resigned. How many rats will stay on the sinking ship? It surely won’t stay afloat until September. Buy your popcorn while you can still afford it.
20
As the ICAC and Vic. and W.A. police warm to the task, government politicians can protect the parliamentary benefits if they resign now.
My guess is 12.
10
Looks like the rats have started to desert the sinking ship: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-01/chris-evans-resigns-from-gillard-cabinet/4496986
20
At least somebody is telling it as it is.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/alp-facing-moral-crisis-says-party-vice-president-tony-sheldon/story-fn59niix-1226567132990
20
She can not win, no matter when it is called. Short Willy will take over before the election, they won’t have Krudd back, they hate him.
00