Fielding kills Abbott's carbon plebiscite
"Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's push for an $80 million non-binding plebiscite on the proposed carbon tax is dead in the water after key Senator Steve Fielding rejected the proposal as a "political stunt"."
Damn Fielding, you just done good.
Although I wouldn't mind a plebiscite if it included a question on the Coalition's policy, and a question on which of Labor's and the Coalition's policy is most likely to make a difference and which is more cost effective.
This is also a good example of why Australia needs compulsory preferential voting. I am long overdue for a rant on why compulsory preferential voting is better than optional preferential voting.
What has the boom ever done for us?
"While all the focus is on the first anniversary of the knifing of St Kevin, another milestone is slipping through largely unnoticed: the scrapping of his contentious plan to impose a Resource Rent Tax on the mining industry."
Fairly good read. Does have a bit of opinion, but presents it after presenting some good hard facts.
I just hope the independents in the lower house have the testicular fortitude to do what's right and vote for a mining tax, with any amendments the Greens may slap on it.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Predicting elections several years in advance is stupid
But here I go anyway.
Australia 2012 - 2013
Assuming no by-elections occur and the election is held at the discretion of the Prime Minister, I predict that Labor will win the next federal election.
As the election looms closer, the government will start selling their policy more. I already outlined a few points on that, so I won't elaborate further on those. Labor will start pushing their side of the story more, the carbon tax won't be as bad as the naysayers would have us believe. The polls will swing closer and closer to Labor's favour.
I'll do a brief partial state-by-state breakdown of what I think will happen at the election.
Australia 2012 - 2013
Assuming no by-elections occur and the election is held at the discretion of the Prime Minister, I predict that Labor will win the next federal election.
As the election looms closer, the government will start selling their policy more. I already outlined a few points on that, so I won't elaborate further on those. Labor will start pushing their side of the story more, the carbon tax won't be as bad as the naysayers would have us believe. The polls will swing closer and closer to Labor's favour.
I'll do a brief partial state-by-state breakdown of what I think will happen at the election.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Gay marriage is a no-brainer
Gay soldier says career is almost certainly over
"A GAY member of the Australian Defence Force who served as an army psychologist says his career is almost certainly over after he was subjected to a death threat and hate speech online by other soldiers, which he says were not investigated properly for a year."
What I don't understand is why any Australian who prefers people of the same gender would join the Australian Defense Force. Given the strong anti-gay sentiment on both sides of parliament at the moment, with both Labor and the Coalition rejecting equality for homosexuals by opposing gay marriage legislation.
Why?
"A GAY member of the Australian Defence Force who served as an army psychologist says his career is almost certainly over after he was subjected to a death threat and hate speech online by other soldiers, which he says were not investigated properly for a year."
What I don't understand is why any Australian who prefers people of the same gender would join the Australian Defense Force. Given the strong anti-gay sentiment on both sides of parliament at the moment, with both Labor and the Coalition rejecting equality for homosexuals by opposing gay marriage legislation.
Why?
I read this, and loved it (also, mining tax)
Abbott can’t shake the stink of the tobacco lobby
Sure, it's an opinion piece, and a partisan one at that. But it's hard to disagree with the message. You really have to wonder where the vested interests of the Liberal party lie when they're accepting millions of dollars in donations from a company that literally sells poison to drug addicts who inject the poison directly into their lungs.
Sure, it's an opinion piece, and a partisan one at that. But it's hard to disagree with the message. You really have to wonder where the vested interests of the Liberal party lie when they're accepting millions of dollars in donations from a company that literally sells poison to drug addicts who inject the poison directly into their lungs.
Non-political news week
More than 1,000 jobs to go at Colorado
"The receivers of the Colorado Group have announced that 140 under-performing stores will be closed, affecting 1,042 staff."
My wife works at Colorado.
UK, Bill Gates lead $4b vaccination drive
"The United Kingdom and philanthropist Bill Gates are leading a multi-billion-dollar international campaign to vaccinate children in poorer nations."
Wouldn't see Steve Jobs doing that.
Scientists create hottest substance on Earth
"Scientists using the world's largest atom smasher have made some of the hottest and densest matter ever achieved on Earth."
Cool.
"The receivers of the Colorado Group have announced that 140 under-performing stores will be closed, affecting 1,042 staff."
My wife works at Colorado.
UK, Bill Gates lead $4b vaccination drive
"The United Kingdom and philanthropist Bill Gates are leading a multi-billion-dollar international campaign to vaccinate children in poorer nations."
Wouldn't see Steve Jobs doing that.
Scientists create hottest substance on Earth
"Scientists using the world's largest atom smasher have made some of the hottest and densest matter ever achieved on Earth."
Cool.
Friday, June 10, 2011
I should rename my blog
To the Official Chronicle of Rape Stories in the News blog, because there really are too many of them.
One in six female students raped: report
"Australian universities are promising to redouble efforts to improve women's safety in light of a survey in which one in six female students said they had been raped."
One in six female students should have learned kung fu.
One in six female students raped: report
"Australian universities are promising to redouble efforts to improve women's safety in light of a survey in which one in six female students said they had been raped."
One in six female students should have learned kung fu.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
I'm sure other stuff happened in the news today
But after reading this, I don't think it's worth mentioning.
Man acquitted of setting dog on fire
"A man has walked free from court after allegedly dealing with his neighbour's barking dog by pouring petrol over it and setting it alight."
I would think it a perfectly reasonable punishment to set the man on fire for doing that.
Man acquitted of setting dog on fire
"A man has walked free from court after allegedly dealing with his neighbour's barking dog by pouring petrol over it and setting it alight."
I would think it a perfectly reasonable punishment to set the man on fire for doing that.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
SPECIAL NOTICE in the news today
Broken but out of warranty? You still have rights
"Under a new law, customers may still have a right to return defective goods even if the manufacturer's warranty period has expired."
I was unaware of this until just now. I strongly recommend everybody read the article, it could save you a lot of money and trouble.
I wish this law had been around in 2008 when my Dell laptop broke a week after the 1 year warranty expired, and they wouldn't fix it unless I paid through the teeth. I couldn't take the laptop to anyone other than Dell either, because a fundamental component of the computer, only replacable by Dell, had broken. I've not purchased any Dell products since.
Less important news follows...
"Under a new law, customers may still have a right to return defective goods even if the manufacturer's warranty period has expired."
I was unaware of this until just now. I strongly recommend everybody read the article, it could save you a lot of money and trouble.
I wish this law had been around in 2008 when my Dell laptop broke a week after the 1 year warranty expired, and they wouldn't fix it unless I paid through the teeth. I couldn't take the laptop to anyone other than Dell either, because a fundamental component of the computer, only replacable by Dell, had broken. I've not purchased any Dell products since.
Less important news follows...
Monday, June 6, 2011
In the news today
Fox faces court on sex abuse charges
"A court has heard the father of Labor MP Chloe Fox is accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy at a school office and at home in the 1980s."
"Notorious paedophile Laurie O'Shea has been confronted by his victims at court after pleading guilty to more child sex charges."
"A Brisbane woman who was jailed in Dubai for adultery after she was allegedly drugged and raped plans to sue the Australian Government."
Strauss-Kahn pleads not guilty to sex crimes
"Fallen IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has launched what promises to be a long campaign to clear his name, pleading not guilty to charges he tried to rape a hotel room attendant."
Strauss-Kahn pleads not guilty to sex crimes
"Fallen IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has launched what promises to be a long campaign to clear his name, pleading not guilty to charges he tried to rape a hotel room attendant."
It's been a rapey kind of day it seems.
Wanna hear a good joke?
Thursday, June 2, 2011
"Govt. doesn't need mandate for Carbon Tax" - Coalition
I'm really annoyed by the Coalitions constant "Labor must seek a mandate for their Carbon Tax" nonsense. John Howard never sought a mandate for WorkChoices. He spent millions on advertising for it before taking it to an election. But before the 2004 election, there was nothing, not even a whisper, of anything even vaguely resembling WorkChoices. It was completely out of the blue. Probably only concocted by the Coalition having majorities in both houses of parliament.
Contrast WorkChoices with the Carbon Tax. Labor announced before the election that they would have some kind of committee to work out a good policy for tackling climate change. The details of that committee changed after the election as Labor negociated (sic) to form government. But after forming government, Labor quite clearly announced that there would be a multi-party committee to work out a climate change policy. The result of this committee was to have an ETS, which was Labor policy well before 2007, eased into by a tax. The Carbon Tax is nothing more than an interim as Australia moves to a market-based mechanism.
So, I can quite clearly say that Labor announcing that they finally have a climate change policy and intend to implement it, is far less out of the blue than John Howard forcing WorkChoices down our throats. Anyone who believes that Julia Gillard should call an early election over the Carbon Tax should be absolutely fuming at John Howard for not calling an early election over WorkChoices.
Moreover, John Howard promised in 1996 that GST would never be part of his policy. That it was "dead and buried". He did decide that "dead and buried" meant "current Liberal policy", and decided to implement a GST. To his credit, he did take it to an election to seek a mandate. A mandate he thoroughly lost when Labor won 51% of the vote. Howard faced a 4.61% swing against him - nearly twice the swing against Labor at last year’s federal election. Howard lost 14 seats (Labor lost 11 in 2010), Labor gained 18 seats (the Coalition only gained 7 in 2010). Indeed, 1998 was a bigger swing against John Howard's government than 2010 was against Julia Gillard's government in every measurable way. The only difference is that Howard was lucky enough to form government.
If Howard had put the GST to a referendum, it would have lost. The fact that he lost the popular vote, quite substantially all things considered, means he really did have no real mandate for the GST.
The Coalition are nothing short of despicable for demanding Labor seek a mandate for finally having a policy on climate change and having to negociate (sic) that policy with those holding the balance of power in both houses.
Labor will ultimately win the climate change debate, for two reasons:
1. Climate change is real. They acknowledge this and actively seek to do something about it rather than actively seek to make wealthy businesses wealthier.
2. The Carbon Tax is a positive policy. Labor is trying to do something because they believe it is the right thing to do. Nobody gains directly from action on climate change (except for, you know, everybody). It isn't a policy to make better off certain groups of people. It is a policy because it is the right thing to do.
Whatever your feelings towards action on climate change, Labor believe it is happening, and they believe they are doing something for the benefit of all humanity, even if it may inconvenience us now. You may not believe they are doing the right thing, but you have to acknowledge that they do. It is very rare for politicians to try and do what they believe is the right thing even though it may make them unpopular. As Labor begin to sell the Carbon Tax more over the next two years, people will see that they are doing what they believe is right regardless of how popular it makes them, and people will have to give them credit for credibility even if they disagree.
2013 is a long way off. But Labor have for a long time sought to take action on climate change. They have a mandate because doing the right thing for all humanity does not need the approval of a voting majority of the Australian population.
Contrast WorkChoices with the Carbon Tax. Labor announced before the election that they would have some kind of committee to work out a good policy for tackling climate change. The details of that committee changed after the election as Labor negociated (sic) to form government. But after forming government, Labor quite clearly announced that there would be a multi-party committee to work out a climate change policy. The result of this committee was to have an ETS, which was Labor policy well before 2007, eased into by a tax. The Carbon Tax is nothing more than an interim as Australia moves to a market-based mechanism.
So, I can quite clearly say that Labor announcing that they finally have a climate change policy and intend to implement it, is far less out of the blue than John Howard forcing WorkChoices down our throats. Anyone who believes that Julia Gillard should call an early election over the Carbon Tax should be absolutely fuming at John Howard for not calling an early election over WorkChoices.
Moreover, John Howard promised in 1996 that GST would never be part of his policy. That it was "dead and buried". He did decide that "dead and buried" meant "current Liberal policy", and decided to implement a GST. To his credit, he did take it to an election to seek a mandate. A mandate he thoroughly lost when Labor won 51% of the vote. Howard faced a 4.61% swing against him - nearly twice the swing against Labor at last year’s federal election. Howard lost 14 seats (Labor lost 11 in 2010), Labor gained 18 seats (the Coalition only gained 7 in 2010). Indeed, 1998 was a bigger swing against John Howard's government than 2010 was against Julia Gillard's government in every measurable way. The only difference is that Howard was lucky enough to form government.
If Howard had put the GST to a referendum, it would have lost. The fact that he lost the popular vote, quite substantially all things considered, means he really did have no real mandate for the GST.
The Coalition are nothing short of despicable for demanding Labor seek a mandate for finally having a policy on climate change and having to negociate (sic) that policy with those holding the balance of power in both houses.
Labor will ultimately win the climate change debate, for two reasons:
1. Climate change is real. They acknowledge this and actively seek to do something about it rather than actively seek to make wealthy businesses wealthier.
2. The Carbon Tax is a positive policy. Labor is trying to do something because they believe it is the right thing to do. Nobody gains directly from action on climate change (except for, you know, everybody). It isn't a policy to make better off certain groups of people. It is a policy because it is the right thing to do.
Whatever your feelings towards action on climate change, Labor believe it is happening, and they believe they are doing something for the benefit of all humanity, even if it may inconvenience us now. You may not believe they are doing the right thing, but you have to acknowledge that they do. It is very rare for politicians to try and do what they believe is the right thing even though it may make them unpopular. As Labor begin to sell the Carbon Tax more over the next two years, people will see that they are doing what they believe is right regardless of how popular it makes them, and people will have to give them credit for credibility even if they disagree.
2013 is a long way off. But Labor have for a long time sought to take action on climate change. They have a mandate because doing the right thing for all humanity does not need the approval of a voting majority of the Australian population.
Daily news commentary
I think I'll do this. Take snippets of the news, mainly from the ABC news website (it's the most readable), and make my comments. Expect this post to be edited several times throughout the day.
Coalition would reverse carbon tax cuts: Joyce
Reads to me like
"We oppose big new taxes, but support big old taxes. Which is why, because we are so incredibly anti-tax, we will increase taxes if Labor dares to drop them!"
Moving on.
Coalition would reverse carbon tax cuts: Joyce
"Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce says the Coalition would repeal any proposed income tax cuts linked with a carbon tax if elected."
Reads to me like
"We oppose big new taxes, but support big old taxes. Which is why, because we are so incredibly anti-tax, we will increase taxes if Labor dares to drop them!"
Moving on.
Labor having trouble in the polls
The Coalition has been outperforming Labor in the polls for a while now.
The reason for this is nothing to do with Labor's fumbling leadership or Tony Abbott's great leadership, as the media and/or Coalition would have you believe.
The simple fact is, Tony Abbott doesn't realise there isn't actually an election going on.
The reason for this is nothing to do with Labor's fumbling leadership or Tony Abbott's great leadership, as the media and/or Coalition would have you believe.
The simple fact is, Tony Abbott doesn't realise there isn't actually an election going on.
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