Oz Politics.

[Phil Y]

I'm fairly impressed with the "results" of the fires so far , in terms of the lack of human casualties , especially when compared to the Labor/Greens debacle leading up to and during Black Saturday , that cost a lot of lives.
There is still some fine tuning , especially in regard to keeping locals from getting back to their properties after the fire has passed , but thats just a slight overkill , they will work that out.
And the firies , the politicians and the media are saying what I've been saying on here for years.
Be prepared for fire , have a plan , which includes have appropriate clothes handy , and preparing the property to defend from fire.
This includes a lot of city areas as well.
Rob J.

I find the communications regarding fires practically meaningless. All pre programmed carefully crafted formulae, but no information. Yes there's some important stuff about knowing whether you are going to leave early or stay and defend, but the rest is gobbledygook of the worst sort, apparently crafted and honed by a series of committees.

[skuthorp]

Any comment re the Chinese naval exercises? I would have thought that they were definitely a significant development.
Meantime the US, or at least an Admiral, is promising help to the Philipines against China.
"Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, is in the Philippines this week in a visit designed to bolster defense ties between the two allies. While there, Greenert told students of the National Defense College of the Philippines that the U.S. would fulfill its treaty obligations by coming to the Philippines’ aid in the event of a Chinese occupation of disputed territories. “Of course, we would help you,” Greenert said."
http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/us-ad...against-china/

[PeterSibley]

So the chief of staff of the assistant health minister was formerly employed by a lobby group for the sugar food industry, his wife is still employed by that company (sounds like maybe a cosy husband and wife company) he still owns shares in the company, a website is published which allows people to see how much sugar is in processed food. The website is almost immediately pulled on instruction from the said chief of staff with a dishonest reason given for its demise. There has been no declaration of the chief of staffs interests. And apparently that's all OK. WTF??

It's the new clarity and honesty in government.

[purri]

Yep the PLA (Navy) ran an exercise past the top side of Christmas Island. Shadowed by a PC3 Orion?

Any comment re the Chinese naval exercises? I would have thought that they were definitely a significant development.
Meantime the US, or at least an Admiral, is promising help to the Philipines against China.
"Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, is in the Philippines this week in a visit designed to bolster defense ties between the two allies. While there, Greenert told students of the National Defense College of the Philippines that the U.S. would fulfill its treaty obligations by coming to the Philippines’ aid in the event of a Chinese occupation of disputed territories. “Of course, we would help you,” Greenert said."
http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/us-ad...against-china/

[PeterSibley]

For some light entertainment and truth in advertising .http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-2...coming/5108010

[skuthorp]

Speaking of light entertainment, I watched a bit of insiders tonight. Morrison. I didn't know whether to be amused or horrified really. But then politicians and government ministers have been at that ever since……… well forever. And the stupid public still believes anything they say.

[skuthorp]

Shorten was not the choice of the membership, he's a creature of the factions. But the alternative was tainted with NSW labour though I think a more honest man. ALP has a l-o-n-g way to go yet before they are a viable choice. But I still won't vote for Tony, way too arrogant and a nasty bit of work.

[PeterSibley]

I agree, none of the above and if we get rid of Shorten , which I'd happily support, Morrison on the same day. An appalling person.

[stevebaby]

I see Shorten's unpopularity is increasing.
People don't like the idea of more union scum running the country.
Get rid of him.
Rob J.

I see the farmers are lining up yet again, for another big dose of taxpayer-funded welfare to reward them for their failures.

Meanwhile, that great big sucking sound you heard was our money disappearing from Treasury and going straight into the American billionaire Rupert Murdoch's pocket.

http://m.afr.com/Page/Uuid/40b2fa2e-...2-5443b98a6665

Payment for services rendered no doubt.

[purri]

^ Well you have to muzzle Barnaby the pigdog heir apparent otherwise he'd go feral and attack Truss.

[WX]

So Tony takes15 million from a neo natal unit at Flinders Hospital and gives 10 million to Manly RL Club for their footbrawl field.

[purri]

^ Par for the course. BTW in my short employ as heritage officer at that LGA they had a study done into community and services and concluded that the demographic politics of self entitlement and economic apartheid meant that no-one would be able to provide the residents/ratepayers with basic services.

Self strangulation really.

[PeterSibley]

I see Shorten's unpopularity is increasing.
People don't like the idea of more union scum running the country.
Get rid of him.
Rob J.

Instead of bagging unions farmers should get a real one instead of the NFF. They're being played like suckers by the big retailers and no one is going to help them except themselves, that includes the Nats.

[PeterSibley]

They're farmers Rob, surely they're capable of forming a "union " of like minded people willing to resist Cole and Woolies or does joining your mates to resist big business automatically make even farmers corrupt and rotten at heart ? Just a question.

27 years is a long time to put up with lies and corruption.

[stevebaby]

Your labour costs are too high. Take a pay cut and stop asking the taxpayer for handouts.

[PeterSibley]

You won't see an end to $1 milk... there's a market for it, not with me. I buy our Norco brand at 250% of the cheap price.

The government will NOT take on the big 2 retailers, it is an unwinnable fight. Can you imagine the ad campaign? The government.... insert Lib or Labor ...are trying to raise your food prices, they are going to cost Mum's $50 or ... per week. Shudder. I can see pollies hiding behind the hedges already. Ask Barnaby and listen to the obfuscation and BS. I heard him on the subject.

It's up top the farmers. Form a union, stand up for yourselves or get used to being screwed by big money.

[seanz]

Just like a lot of unions the farmers union (National Country Party) has been bamboozled into silence by big money and free-market philosophy.

[PeterSibley]

The Nationals are a wholly owned subsidiary of the Liberal party and it's not something the boys on the ground are very happy about but they have nowhere else to go.* Conned by the suits ? Most certainly.

*edited to add, All the Nat voters have "Shut the gate" signs up and the state Nats are pushing hard to keep the stuff flowing . It's a strange rusted on world.

[skuthorp]

Rob, there aer all sorts of unions, Doctors have one and very tight it is too. Surgeons even have their own. Engineers, lawyers, Architects, all protecting their territory and income. Even the employers have their unions. Given that the union is not indulging in criminal practices as an organisation, like the Clerks once were and the HEF and some of the builders, what's the beef with the principle of common purpose?

[skuthorp]

When you are talking about "the farmers'' Rob just remember how much of the farming business is Agribusiness and owned by some of the richest corporations in Aus. Or in the US for that matter. Their interests are not the same as a local farmer, often the lack of profit is just what they need to avoid tax.

[PeterSibley]

The farmers have a lot more invested than a clerk , or whatever that has an involvement in a union (often closed shop).
Taking a dairy farmer for example , they have countless hours in a property often worth over a million dollars.
What other unionist put in that , before they even get an income ?.
And how do you stop "non unionists" striking contracts with the big 2 ?.
There needs to be a floor price , and a banning of "home brands".
Neither can be achieved by forming a "union" , unless it is compulsory , they can only be achieved by government.
If a government tried to force farmers in to a union , ran by the crims running unions now , they would simply refuse.
Then what ?.
Rob J.

You get the ideas very well, read basic rate for floor price and scab for non diary member. Not so very different.
It doesn't need to be compulsory, a decent majority would do.

Who else invests as much ? Doctors come close, 6 years of uni and 14 hour day internships for 4 years then join the AMA to watch your rates and benefits. The government doesn't touch the AMA.

[purri]

^if a specialist registrar it's more like 18hour shifts and another 5 years more of study and regular exams. At about 38 you might make the cut of the closed shop of FRCAS and their sub branches etc. Knowing a few in the trade it's not just yer regular shop steward bit of a larf...

Pastoralists are merely and occasionally talented amateurs with a regular lifeline from govt.

[skuthorp]

Will Nash go? Her staffer, Furnival, had more fingers in the pie than she thought I bet. I am being generous here, Ministerial deniability being the operative word.
"A lobbyist working in Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash's office had links to the alcohol industry and played a key role in stripping Australia's peak drug and alcohol body of its funding.Alastair Furnival told staff at the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia in a meeting in December that their organisation, established 46 years ago, would no longer be funded."


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politi...#ixzz2tbwBXcnP

[PeterSibley]

The Renewable Energy Scheme looks as if it is earmarked to go, an inquiry headed by a GW sceptic will decide whether all forms of alternative energy should have to compete on a level playing field against coal. The answer seems predetermined.

[Phil Y]

Should Nash go? Certainly. Will she? Not by Tonys hand. He has only the zealous Christian brand of morality. Which amounts to no morality at all.

[skuthorp]

No wonder he get's on so well with Pell.

[PeterSibley]

Peas in apod, orthodoxy plus capitalism.

Pell is a font of climate information too and of course he's infallible.

[WX]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26236157

One asylum seeker has been killed and 77 injured during a second night of rioting at Australia's immigrant detention centre in Papua New Guinea.

[PeterSibley]

That's not Morrison's story is it?

What a blinding mess and all for the Pauline vote.

[PeterSibley]

UNHCR's Asylum Trends 2012 report said Australia received only 3% of global asylum applications in 2012.

[skuthorp]

That's not Morrison's story is it?

What a blinding mess and all for the Pauline vote.

Last I heard the Libs were saying that it's PNG's problem, nothing to do with us.
So much for duty of care.

[purri]

In case you haven't noticed Oz is still projecting its status as a neo-colonial power.

[PeterSibley]

He does indeed .

[skuthorp]

Re corruption enquiries, be careful what you wish for.
"The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Tuesday said former Liberal water minister Chris Hartcher and Liberal MPs Chris Spence and Darren Webber will be examined over allegations Liberal MPs corruptly solicited and concealed illegal political donations in return for favours to those who made the payments."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/21552635/...r-icac-claims/

[PeterSibley]

and Howard for how may thousand dead Iraqis and I'm not sure of the final toll on our troops.... if there is a final toll? If you want to hang politicians he's a good one to start with.