Oz Politics.

[sandtown]

Rent prices up here are insane. $560, $650 and higher. If you're earning $850 -$1,000 a week you're not going to have much spending money.

A solid third of USAeans are worse off than that.

Because Empire !!

[WX]

A solid third of USAeans are worse off than that.

Because Empire !!

Oh we have a rising population of homeless and people on low incomes using the various NGO emergency relief services. And this is despite having a welfare system somewhat superior to yours.

[gypsie]

A solid third of USAeans are worse off than that.

Because Empire !!

soory, small correction; it's USAish

[sandtown]

soory, small correction; it's USAish

USAish-ians ??

[Lugs]

Speaking of numbers,

I've been waiting for either the lefties or the media to wake up to the fact that not a single commentator on the AUKUS deal has got their head around the difference between real and nominal expenditures.

Amazing.... particularly given the extended time period of the analysis... given they want to continue spruking that $368 billion number. It is meaningless without knowing is it real or nominal, and what (if real) is the assumed interest rate?

[skuthorp]

Tha absolute certainty about that $number is that if the subs are delivered it's likely be underestimated by 100%+
And it's a big if

Interestingly it seems that Japan's population is dropping band they are, against all previous protocols, importing foreign workers And more interesting is that China will eventually have the same demographic problem as their population gets older and in a few years time.

[Lugs]

Tha absolute certainty about that $number is that if the subs are delivered it's likely be underestimated by 100%+
And it's a big if

Interestingly it seems that Japan's population is dropping band they are, against all previous protocols, importing foreign workers And more interesting is that China will eventually have the same demographic problem as their population gets older and in a few years time.

Well, that first comment is made with all the weight of a feather. You've analysed the numbers?

Perhaps a better way, which I've heard alluded to, of expressing the subs numbers is as a percentage of annual defence spending. A quick interweblook gives our defence spend at A$48.6 billion this year. I've heard it said that the subs all up costs (ie including personnel and operating costs) will be about 10% of annual defence spending... which seems about right. There's another big defence project that isn't being talked about yet... and Labor may well try, as usual, to delay it, so they can spend the money buying votes, rather than putting it where it is needed.

[WX]

I would imagine the industry is paying a lot of attention to drone technology.

[skuthorp]

"The numbers" quoted now are meaningless in a 40 year project that is based on what is already old tech. The Impact in this time for Australia is tied to America's reaction to China's attitude to Taiwan.

As a complete aside It's possible that Australia's biggest present enemy are the gambling industries. Plural.

[Lugs]

"The numbers" quoted now are meaningless in a 40 year project that is based on what is already old tech. The Impact in this time for Australia is tied to America's reaction to China's attitude to Taiwan.

As a complete aside It's possible that Australia's biggest present enemy are the gambling industries. Plural.

Perhaps, if what you say is correct, gamblers, unless they can prove financial success, should be disenfranchised? They sure don't demonstrate competence. Then again, Labor would lose if that happened, eh?

Australia's view of China / Taiwan probably aligns with that of the USA... think semiconductors. That's the key issue there... and there's already offshoring going on to alleviate that risk.

As for "old tech"... don't believe that. The sensors on the Virginia class are way ahead... We're using them as lead-in boats anyhow.. build a few and then the newest tech. Gotta teach a few guys and girls how to weld. You seem to want to ignore that we already use US combat systems in the Collins class.

[Lugs]

How the hell is Labor going to use AI to create adverts?

[skuthorp]

Aus never had 'independence'. Tied to the Brits till the fall of Singapore, and following US orders since. Saved us a lot of money over the years at the sacrifice of a few lives………
And we'll go there again at the snap of fingers……. but then America being it's own biggest enemy may not be there to go with, or be on the winning side.
Anyhow it's interesting for an old man without children, and that doesn't mean I'm not concerned for other peoples children's futures, which with climate change will not be as good as I have had.

AI? Early days yet, very early.

[Lugs]

Bloody dingos on Fraser Is almost got another kid. I knew Clinton Gage, the kid killed by one in 2001... he was in my son's soccer team. Family members managed to save this girl yesterday though.

[WX]

Bloody dingos on Fraser Is almost got another kid. I knew Clinton Gage, the kid killed by one in 2001... he was in my son's soccer team. Family members managed to save this girl yesterday though.

I've been on Fraser twice, the problem is people feeding them. Camping grounds are fenced and there are signs everywhere saying don't leave children unattended. The dingo is a wild animal and Fraser is their home.

[Lugs]

I've been on Fraser twice, the problem is people feeding them. Camping grounds are fenced and there are signs everywhere saying don't leave children unattended. The dingo is a wild animal and Fraser is their home.

One of my cousins brought his pet dingo to a family reunion a few years ago. Not sure I'm a fan of that.

Meanwhile, I found a better alternative to QANDA last night... the off button. Spray tan Stan is turning it into a joke. Starts off every week speaking a near dead language - spoken only by a handful of people. First guess is a they, who starts prissing about their jewelry getting caught in their dress. Yeah, fine... go ahead, live your life how you want, but piss off outa mine.

As a matter of interest, I had one of them get all haughty with me a year or so back - used to come in to the pub but it was apparently my fault that I didn't rush to it's defence when it got a verbal bollocking over whether it was a man or a woman. Not my job to be it's protector... I was just the venue provider... fight your own battles, and as long as it's civil, no foul. If it was beyond civil, I'd have kicked both of 'em out (actually, I did end up kicking the Ocker out on another occasion, not long later.... because he got beyond civil)

[skuthorp]

It was a somewhat peculiar episode I thought. I have no problem with his dress but I thought he was out of his depth.

[Lugs]

It was a somewhat peculiar episode I thought. I have no problem with his dress but I thought he was out of his depth.

Ditto... which cheapens the show. Can't say I would bother turning it on in future. They've lost the plot... it's become a vehicle for outliers

[WX]

One of my cousins brought his pet dingo to a family reunion a few years ago. Not sure I'm a fan of that.

Meanwhile, I found a better alternative to QANDA last night... the off button. Spray tan Stan is turning it into a joke. Starts off every week speaking a near dead language - spoken only by a handful of people. First guess is a they, who starts prissing about their jewelry getting caught in their dress. Yeah, fine... go ahead, live your life how you want, but piss off outa mine.

As a matter of interest, I had one of them get all haughty with me a year or so back - used to come in to the pub but it was apparently my fault that I didn't rush to it's defence when it got a verbal bollocking over whether it was a man or a woman. Not my job to be it's protector... I was just the venue provider... fight your own battles, and as long as it's civil, no foul. If it was beyond civil, I'd have kicked both of 'em out (actually, I did end up kicking the Ocker out on another occasion, not long later.... because he got beyond civil)

Dingoes make excellent pets, after all they were domesticated of well over 40.000 years. In the wild, they will be just like any wild animal.

[Hallam]

This news has political significance with regard to the argument that metallurgical coal in necessary for steel production, a myth perpetuated by the coal industry lobby and government capture by that industry. It takes 770 kilo of the stuff to make a ton of steel and at present about one third of steel is produced by means other than coking coal.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-...teel/102186420


Liberty Steel has signed a contract aimed at ending the role of coal in steel production in Whyalla.
Key points:

• Liberty Steel has signed a $485 million deal for an electric arc furnace
• The furnace could reduce Whyalla steelworks' carbon emissions by 90 per cent by 2025
• Executive chairman Sanjeev Gupta says the furnace paves the way for green iron and green steel

[Lugs]

This news has political significance with regard to the argument that metallurgical coal in necessary for steel production, a myth perpetuated by the coal industry lobby and government capture by that industry. It takes 770 kilo of the stuff to make a ton of steel and at present about one third of steel is produced by means other than coking coal.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-...teel/102186420


Liberty Steel has signed a contract aimed at ending the role of coal in steel production in Whyalla.
Key points:

• Liberty Steel has signed a $485 million deal for an electric arc furnace
• The furnace could reduce Whyalla steelworks' carbon emissions by 90 per cent by 2025
• Executive chairman Sanjeev Gupta says the furnace paves the way for green iron and green steel

Excellent... but you lefties do understand that means tax deductions and tax deductions mean they won't be paying tax on a lot of income? I know that's a difficult concept to wrap your head around and every year we get criticism of companies that invest (and hence pay lower taxes).

[skuthorp]

Ditto... which cheapens the show. Can't say I would bother turning it on in future. They've lost the plot... it's become a vehicle for outliers

Speaking of outliers and irrelevancies, I noticed Dutton was on Insiders last Sunday.
And Birmingham has released a piece on the future of the Liberal party
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/f...04-p5cy1g.html
Putting his hand up for the leadership in the near future?

[skuthorp]

I see that the Aussie HC in London has visited Assange. First visit by any Australian official since 2019.

[Lugs]

I see that the Aussie HC in London has visited Assange. First visit by any Australian official since 2019.

What? No comment about the HC being a "jobs for the boys" appointee?

[WX]

I see that the Aussie HC in London has visited Assange. First visit by any Australian official since 2019.

About time, how long has Assange been behind bars without charge?

[WX]

What? No comment about the HC being a "jobs for the boys" appointee?

Of course the LibNats never ever did that eh.

[gypsie]

Every frikking ambassador and HC job in the world is a job for the boys.

[Lugs]

Every frikking ambassador and HC job in the world is a job for the boys.

Not quite... but a fair whack of them. We had a career diplomat in Thailand. I'm probably persona non grata with the embassy after my FB response to him during the Covid. It's been deleted by them. He made a joke about the Covid, which I didn't feel was appropriate. He was fine, in his castle, on full gubbie pay. The people he was joking to were suffering.

[Hallam]

The Libs position on the voice now clarified, is disingenuous and an example of politicians using the issue as a political football. True to a firmly established form over the past 10 years. Entitled to their position but in no way representative of a broader constituency nor facts of the process used to get to this stage of the process. Just my thoughts.

[skuthorp]

And no open vote either. If it goes through then Dutton's libs are well and truly out in the cold.

As the Lib commentator said on election night, "It'll get worse before it gets worse…………"

[Lugs]

The Libs position on the voice now clarified, is disingenuous and an example of politicians using the issue as a political football. True to a firmly established form over the past 10 years. Entitled to their position but in no way representative of a broader constituency nor facts of the process used to get to this stage of the process. Just my thoughts.

Excellent. The correct response. Racism has no place in our Constitution.

I hope you guys and gals read this

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-...rice/102171330

[skuthorp]

Hmm, I'm getting an 'error with the website' message.

[Hallam]

There was the walkout by 7 delegates from the original Uluṟu statement of the heart talks. It would be worthwhile looking at the links between those who walked out and the indigenous leaders who are pushing the No vote:
https://amp.theguardian.com/australi...d-treaty-fears

[Lugs]

Hmm, I'm getting an 'error with the website' message.

It works for me. Try turning off your left bias switch for a minute

[Lugs]

There was the walkout by 7 delegates from the original Uluṟu statement of the heart talks. It would be worthwhile looking at the links between those who walked out and the indigenous leaders who are pushing the No vote:
https://amp.theguardian.com/australi...d-treaty-fears

There was a lot of criticism of the selection of delegates to that meeting....

Uluru Statement: a quick guide – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)

Amnesty International wrote a submission to the Referendum Council stating:

We understand that participants at the regional dialogue meetings were invited in what was perceived as an exclusive process. We also understand that some people who attended those meetings then have an opportunity to attend the Uluru meeting, whereas those not included do not.

[skuthorp]

Got there by another route, and I am proud of my 'left bias' as it's not uncritical of the politics of it. The ALP as a party has the albatross of factions that prefer to fight amongst themselves rather than the LibNats, and the old rule of not allowing a dissenting vote.
But the Coalition are in the position they are at present because of branch stacking (LOL), hubris, and similar dissent. But unless they are completely silly they'll be back when they sort themselves out. (A party after a time in power needs to be tossed out so they can clear their deadwood and political debts). Otherwise the ALP will go centre/centre, and the Greens will be a left opposition. In fact handled strategically and with a 'coalition', the greens and the ALP could stitch it up for some time. But neither the ALP or the Greens handle political strategy well, so it's unlikely.