Politics Super Thread - keep it all in here

[Yossarian]

Tell me all about it when they start doing it to prime ministers.

Spot on!

Well they have… Twice...

 

[Winnipeg]

I'll be glad to hopefully see the back of that bogan Kath Day-Night wannabe. Heard her interviewed by Chris Smith a couple weeks back when she was in Western Sydney and when he asked one too many questions about the leadership battle, under her breath he uttered ''uhh boring''. Thats the kind of professional leader we have running our country? beat it Kath

maybe Smith was trying to grab her breasts or something

I for one will be glad to see things end one way or another today. Interesting times

 

[Yossarian]

And Rudd declines to contest the leadership ballot so unless someone else emerges, there will be no vote.

 

[Muffstar]

And Rudd declines to contest the leadership ballot so unless someone else emerges, there will be no vote.

Smart move imo, Gillard is gone, she will massacred in the election.

 

[Yossarian]

And Rudd declines to contest the leadership ballot so unless someone else emerges, there will be no vote.

Smart move imo, Gillard is gone, she will massacred in the election.

Post election is an entirely different scenario. Pre-election people will support him because he's their only hope of winning, post-election they may want a new face. He could hope for a repeat of Howard in 2004 but it won't be easy.

 

[Saturnalia]

but is soft as puppy poo and would make a poor leader. He would do only what was popular.

He seems to be firmly against the NBN,

The LNP "plan" is not worth doing.

 

[happy_tiger]

Much talk about Gay marriage this week

Why can we have a referendum at the next Federal election and get an answer one way or the other ??

 

[Winnipeg]

Whoah

Been away for a while (forgot my password lol)

So it seems like the Libs reckon they have the election in the bag and can start reneging on their promises early

Tony's ridiculously expensive and useless climate policy under attack from his own party

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/liberal-party-discontent-grows-20130509-2jau3.html

Tony's 'signature' paid parental leave scheme under attack from his own party

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/abbott-faces-call-to-defend-paid-parental-leave-plan-20130506-2j3nt.html

Coalition backs away from promised budget surpluses
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http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/political-news/coalition-backs-down-on-budget-20130418-2i309.html

Joe Hockey now thinks low interest rates are a sign of economic mismanagement despite saying previously that rates would always be lower under the coalition

http://www.afr.com/p/national/overvalued_forces_rates_to_record_B22ORDFtA5L1lDmXpUcwcK
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I suppose it's a better tactic to get it all out in the open now rather than be accused of breaking an election promise (we all know how badly that goes down with the public).

If I had to tip next cab off the rank it would be 'maybe we can't actually stop the boats'

As for a gay marriage referendum, I think referenda are usually for changes in the constitution rather than a change in the marriage act, but I doubt either major party would want it serving as a distraction while they are trying to campaign anyway.
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PS any of you qlders gonna vote for Clive Palmer?

 

[Yossarian]

At least the Liberal Party are doing what the media has done a lousy job of doing - highlighting how pathetic some of these policies are.

Joe Hockey's performance was just embarrassing. To go out and tell the media that low interest rates are bad because people living off interest would suffer must have taken a lot of balls. This after years of banging on about the need for low interest rates… Tell us Joe - what % should interest rates be?

As for "boat arrivals" I'll make 2 quick comments. 1 - The majority of asylum seekers arrive by plane not boat. Stopping the boats doesn't stop the "problem. 2 - Unless you withdraw Australia from the refugee convention you will always get people coming here.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

At least the Liberal Party are doing what the media has done a lousy job of doing - highlighting how pathetic some of these policies are.

Joe Hockey's performance was just embarrassing. To go out and tell the media that low interest rates are bad because people living off interest would suffer must have taken a lot of balls. This after years of banging on about the need for low interest rates… Tell us Joe - what % should interest rates be?

As for "boat arrivals" I'll make 2 quick comments. 1 - The majority of asylum seekers arrive by plane not boat. Stopping the boats doesn't stop the "problem. 2 - Unless you withdraw Australia from the refugee convention you will always get people coming here.

They make up for less than 2% of illegal arrivals IIRC. It wouldn't surprise me if the large percentage of illegal arrivals are in fact European.

 

[Yossarian]

At least the Liberal Party are doing what the media has done a lousy job of doing - highlighting how pathetic some of these policies are.

Joe Hockey's performance was just embarrassing. To go out and tell the media that low interest rates are bad because people living off interest would suffer must have taken a lot of balls. This after years of banging on about the need for low interest rates… Tell us Joe - what % should interest rates be?

As for "boat arrivals" I'll make 2 quick comments. 1 - The majority of asylum seekers arrive by plane not boat. Stopping the boats doesn't stop the "problem. 2 - Unless you withdraw Australia from the refugee convention you will always get people coming here.

They make up for less than 2% of illegal arrivals IIRC. It wouldn't surprise me if the large percentage of illegal arrivals are in fact European.

Well yes. Although almost all non-boat arrivals come to Australia with legitimate visas and subsequently seek protection visas. Very few Europeans apply for protection but in terms of people who overstay visas the Irish and Kiwis would be right up there.

 

[Winnipeg]

Looks like golden boy John Howard doesn't agree that the economy is flatlining

http://www.theadviser.com.au/breaking-news/8673-pm-praises-strong-economy

 

[Saturnalia]

http://howfastisthenbn.com.au/

Liberal NBN plan shown in the best possible light, cause there's no way your getting 25 down unless you live inside the telephone exchange.

 

[Yossarian]

Somehow I think this quote is going to come back and bit him of the backside

“We are absolutely confident that 25 megs is going to be enough, more than enough, for the average household” - Tony Abbott

 

[Winnipeg]

http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/real-deficit-is-the-will-to-get-tough-20130513-2jiax.html

This is a pretty good article, both sides get a decent serve

 

[Saturnalia]

Somehow I think this quote is going to come back and bit him of the backside

“We are absolutely confident that 25 megs is going to be enough, more than enough, for the average household” - Tony Abbott

never make predictions about technology and the future

"I anticapate a global market for about 5 computers"

"684K of memory is more than enough"

The sad thing is if this fraudband gets implemented they'll sell off NBNCo to telstra and allow another telecommunications monopoly.

Which will be great fun when you're getting the 17/3 and you're neighbour across the road is getting 1000/400

This should have been setup 10 years ago, but lets get a temporary stop-gap solution that will cost 85% of the future proof network and keep repeating 'cheaper, faster , quicker' as many times as possible.

 

[TJL]

I still believe that Juliar Dullard will win the 'erection' since Australians as a whole are that stupid.

 

[Yossarian]

I still believe that Juliar Dullard will win the 'erection' since Australians as a whole are that stupid.

Good contribution. A bit high brow but still a worthy addition to the discussion.

 

[happy_tiger]

Labor up to its old tricks

Have a young girl and guy working for me

One has paid 8 k to work her butt off so she can work in a regional area for 4 years and then get a chance to apply for permanent residency after two years

Now Labor has moved the goal posts and said she can only reapply for a 457 visa despite havong forked out her 8 k

The guy was literally chased from his country after helping the Americans as an interpreter and can't even get phone calls or money from his family from his home country in case they track him down

Trying to help him find a second job and yet again after being accepted to move to one of the most expensive regional (non mining) coastal towns in Australia and living on a pittance and NO HELP from the government they are asking him now to show cause

Labor the party of the working class and the defenders of the boat people BIG LOL

For the sake of our future ,please don't vote these clowns back in

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Does Julia drive a Ford Falcon?