Australian Election - August 21

polaris_x wrote:

i was reading that the economy is actually doing quite well in australia ... is that true? ... if so, wouldn't that have something to do with ex-pm rudd's work? ...

maybe. but the way his plans were executed were nothing short of farcical. and he was hated amongst his peers - and later, by the public. i think the primary factor which has kept our economy strong is our mining exports. so we can thank china and the likes for keeping us going healthily.

polaris_x wrote:

i was reading that the economy is actually doing quite well in australia ... is that true? ... if so, wouldn't that have something to do with ex-pm rudd's work? ...

Staunch Laborites will tell you that Rudd's stimulus is the only reason Australia is staying afloat.

Staunch Libs will say that it had nothing to do with Rudd and that we're all going to die.

The answer lies somewhere in between (things generally do!). The way I see it - and I could be wrong - is that the only way to avoid recession was to implement a stimulus like Rudd did. Libs will tell you they wouldn't have done it at all and we would somehow avoid recession - that is simply bollocks in my eyes. The main issue where and how the stimulus was directed. The home insulation scheme was an absolute farce and implemented far too quickly, without proper consultation. However, the education spending scheme (funding for school buildings and infrastucture) has been implemented well (despite what the media says, about 98% of this funding has been excellent). The stimulus was required and I believe that Rudd and Swan deserve credit for doing it.

At the end of the day, our economy is going along far better than most because, a) Howard and Costello left a tasty surplus and, b) Rudd had the balls to implement a politically risky stimulus.

Overall though, we aren't voting for either Rudd or Howard. The Libs, led by Abbott, are simply not ready to govern again, and their woeful showing in Opposition reflects that. Abbott is also, in my eyes, unelectable. On the other hand, Labor have turned from a gutsy centre-left party into a shifty, centrist party that is compromising its core values simply to marginilise issues to win elections. I guess I am too naive to wish for more than that from both parties.

Anyway, rant over. Labor will win with a reduced majority of r4 or 5 seats mainly in Queensland.

Pearl Jam rule.

JK109224 wrote:

Staunch Laborites will tell you that Rudd's stimulus is the only reason Australia is staying afloat.

Staunch Libs will say that it had nothing to do with Rudd and that we're all going to die.

The answer lies somewhere in between (things generally do!). The way I see it - and I could be wrong - is that the only way to avoid recession was to implement a stimulus like Rudd did. Libs will tell you they wouldn't have done it at all and we would somehow avoid recession - that is simply bollocks in my eyes. The main issue where and how the stimulus was directed. The home insulation scheme was an absolute farce and implemented far too quickly, without proper consultation. However, the education spending scheme (funding for school buildings and infrastucture) has been implemented well (despite what the media says, about 98% of this funding has been excellent). The stimulus was required and I believe that Rudd and Swan deserve credit for doing it.

At the end of the day, our economy is going along far better than most because, a) Howard and Costello left a tasty surplus and, b) Rudd had the balls to implement a politically risky stimulus.

Overall though, we aren't voting for either Rudd or Howard. The Libs, led by Abbott, are simply not ready to govern again, and their woeful showing in Opposition reflects that. Abbott is also, in my eyes, unelectable. On the other hand, Labor have turned from a gutsy centre-left party into a shifty, centrist party that is compromising its core values simply to marginilise issues to win elections. I guess I am too naive to wish for more than that from both parties.

Anyway, rant over. Labor will win with a reduced majority of r4 or 5 seats mainly in Queensland.

Pearl Jam rule.

thanks!! ... that is great insight ... i am definitely a progressive west of left guy ... and as great as it would be to see entire nations adopt at least a semi-progressive agenda ... i know it won't work simply because you need to have buy in from the public ... and that's not likely on a national level ...

Austicman wrote:

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catefrances wrote:

i wont vote green cause as someone else pointed out thats just like voting labor but in a roundabout way.

Only if your lazy and fill in the preferences the way you want them too

that doesnt even make any sense. stop trying to confuse me. :P

oh joy... i love how tony is gonna give private school parents more money so their little darlings can continue to attend toff school... what a fucking joke.

JK109224 wrote:

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vedder_soup wrote:

and the dodgy builders in insulaters were spending the money that they made in rorts

The dodgy aspect of the insulation scheme was that people died... bit more than a just a simple "rort" I would've thought.

http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/archives/9996

Insulation hysteria: facts start to emerge _

4 March 2010 - There has been hysteria around the federal government’s determination to insulate Australian homes almost free of charge but in the anxiety that accompanied the revelation of poor and dangerous practices, the facts were overlooked according to a recent media report.

According to Geoff Winestock writing in The Weekend AFR the facts on insulation include:

Data from fire brigades and workers compensation casts doubt on opposition claims that the ceiling insulation program has caused a significant jump in the danger of house fires or industrial accidents, especially after adjusting for the massive jump in insulation use.
Based on data from fire brigades for NSW, Queensland, South Australia and metropolitan Melbourne, the only ones with comparable data, there were 115 house fires in 2009 that were caused by faulty installation, slightly higher than the 75 house fires caused by faulty insulation in 2007, before the scheme was operating.
About 1.15 million houses have been fitted with insulation under the scheme, compared with an average of about 60,000 installations in 2007.
“‘In terms of fires per installation, the risk has fallen dramatically,” the article said.

“No fire service in Australia is saying there has been a significant increase in house fires linked to the insulation program,” Jay Gleeson, communication manager for the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council, is quoted as saying.

“The opposition has also blamed the insulation program for causing the deaths of four ceiling installation workers, comparing it to the crime of industrial manslaughter,” the article continued.

“There are no statistics on whether installers were electrocuted before the program started, but it has always been dangerous work.

“Statistics from Safe Work Australia for 2007-8 before the scheme began show about 250 serious injury claims for a category of worker that includes ceiling insulation installers and installers of decorative home improvements. The rate of injuries per thousand workers is double the average for the workforce as a whole.”

The statistics “support the Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand, representing Fletcher and Bradford, the two big manufacturers of batts, which argues that the program should restart immediately.

“Anthony Tannous, general manager of CSR’s Bradford Insulation and ICANZ president, said the concerns over fires were exaggerated. ‘There has been an exponential increase in installation under the scheme, but the incidence of house fires has not increased proportionately’, Mr Tannous said.

“The industry argues the risk to installers has been minimal since November when foil insulation was banned.”

TroubledSoul wrote:

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illegal pants wrote:

i feel as if paying the $110 avoidance fine is almost justifiable.. is it 110?

a donkey absentee vote is the easiest non invasive "non saturday ruining" way out!

yup I'm doing postal vote this year. Work is just mental. I really don't fancy finishing work at 5am, waiting for a booth to open at 6am, then going to bed......or going home after finishing at 5am, sleeping then having to go and vote before I start again at 5pm.....nope not all. OMG the last federal election I was up the duff and just didn't fancy....well doing anything!

jamingjamers wrote:

troubledsoul you sound like a right winger

nah. dont have the physique for rugby league.

Paul Andrews wrote:

At the moment we have a choice between Hungry Jacks & McDonalds and it's a fucking shame I'm hungry for something healthy.

:thumbup:

in most countries - this is the situation!