Opinion AUSTRALIAN Politics: Adelaide Board Discussion Part 5

[Mutineer]

I ain't no Labor fan, far from it but this would be an absolute nightmare scenario for Australia if the Greens hold the balance of power and Labor commit to this. Australia needs either a LNP or ALP Government and nothing whatsover that involves the poisonous Greens to have stable Government.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/federal-election/peter-duttons-warning-as-greens-beg-voters-for-hung-parliament/news-story/b7ec63db80ed63911415b592089c9837

Greens leader Adam Bandt says a power-sharing deal with Labor would usher in a “golden era of progressive reform”.
Speaking in Melbourne on Thursday, Mr Bandt said the upcoming federal election “could result in a minority parliament that could see us getting dental and mental health into Medicare, being able to go and see the GP for free, building homes that renters and first-home buyers can afford, wiping student debt and fully funding our public schools”.

“With commentators predicting a 98 per cent chance of a minority parliament, voters in Wills have a real chance to keep Peter Dutton out but also get Labor to act on the key crises that are facing the community,” Mr Bandt said.
The Greens leader’s comments come after he told the Guardian: “A minority parliament can keep Peter Dutton out and get those progressive reforms that I think will set the country up for generations.”

The latest Freshwater Strategy poll on Australians’ preferred party shows the Coalition leading Labor by 51 per cent to 49 per cent for the second month in a row.

If replicated at the ballot box this year, Labor would be unable to form a majority government on its own.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Dutton suggesting the Australian government have been supporting Hamas.

Seriously what a flog as in no way have they supported Hamas.

Peter Dutton welcomes Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal

Follow the latest news headlines from Australia's most trusted source. Read in-depth expert analysis and watch live coverage on ABC News.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I ain't no Labor fan, far from it but this would be an absolute nightmare scenario for Australia if the Greens hold the balance of power and Labor commit to this. Australia needs either a LNP or ALP Government and nothing whatsover that involves the poisonous Greens to have stable Government.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/federal-election/peter-duttons-warning-as-greens-beg-voters-for-hung-parliament/news-story/b7ec63db80ed63911415b592089c9837

Greens leader Adam Bandt says a power-sharing deal with Labor would usher in a “golden era of progressive reform”.
Speaking in Melbourne on Thursday, Mr Bandt said the upcoming federal election “could result in a minority parliament that could see us getting dental and mental health into Medicare, being able to go and see the GP for free, building homes that renters and first-home buyers can afford, wiping student debt and fully funding our public schools”.

“With commentators predicting a 98 per cent chance of a minority parliament, voters in Wills have a real chance to keep Peter Dutton out but also get Labor to act on the key crises that are facing the community,” Mr Bandt said.
The Greens leader’s comments come after he told the Guardian: “A minority parliament can keep Peter Dutton out and get those progressive reforms that I think will set the country up for generations.”

The latest Freshwater Strategy poll on Australians’ preferred party shows the Coalition leading Labor by 51 per cent to 49 per cent for the second month in a row.

If replicated at the ballot box this year, Labor would be unable to form a majority government on its own.

Many of these proposals would blow up the budget & won't happen.

Think everyone agrees housing needs to be affordable. Needs major reform including a discussion over negative gearing. Need to look to limit some how. Eg. Applies for only 1 house.

There should be major tax reform, but neither party has the balls. The tax system hasn't kept up with global way of doing business. Crazy that much of big business pay little or no tax. Wouldn't be hard to come up with a system where everyone pays their fair share which then would enable the government to spend on other areas of needs & reduce taxes for others.

As a country, we do need to look to ways to address those living below the poverty line... for the supposed lucky country.

 

[BRL121]

Does anyone else logical problems with the Government and press reactions to the death of the Australian in Ukraine?

The guy was an illegal volunteer or mercenary not acting on behalf of Australia. I would expect the Government reaction to be muted and no different from their reaction to the deaths of the other three Ukrainians. This happened in Ukraine and not ordered by the Russian Government.

So, I find the rabid calls in the press and the posturing by the Foreign Minister to be completely over the top, while predictable. Am I alone?

 

[kirky]

Dutton suggesting the Australian government have been supporting Hamas.

Seriously what a flog as in no way have they supported Hamas.

Peter Dutton welcomes Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal

Follow the latest news headlines from Australia's most trusted source. Read in-depth expert analysis and watch live coverage on ABC News.

www.abc.net.au

Dutton has stolen Trump’s playbook.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Does anyone else logical problems with the Government and press reactions to the death of the Australian in Ukraine?

The guy was an illegal volunteer or mercenary not acting on behalf of Australia. I would expect the Government reaction to be muted and no different from their reaction to the deaths of the other three Ukrainians. This happened in Ukraine and not ordered by the Russian Government.

So, I find the rabid calls in the press and the posturing by the Foreign Minister to be completely over the top, while predictable. Am I alone?

Being assignated as opposed to killed in action is going to get a very different response & rightly so imo.

 

[Vader]

Does anyone else logical problems with the Government and press reactions to the death of the Australian in Ukraine?

The guy was an illegal volunteer or mercenary not acting on behalf of Australia. I would expect the Government reaction to be muted and no different from their reaction to the deaths of the other three Ukrainians. This happened in Ukraine and not ordered by the Russian Government.

So, I find the rabid calls in the press and the posturing by the Foreign Minister to be completely over the top, while predictable. Am I alone?

They weren't overly fussed when he was captured. That's the risk you take as a mercenary.

But when the Orcs murdered him in cold blood... that's entirely against the Laws of War. That's what's pissing people off.

 

[kirky]

Does anyone else logical problems with the Government and press reactions to the death of the Australian in Ukraine?

The guy was an illegal volunteer or mercenary not acting on behalf of Australia. I would expect the Government reaction to be muted and no different from their reaction to the deaths of the other three Ukrainians. This happened in Ukraine and not ordered by the Russian Government.

So, I find the rabid calls in the press and the posturing by the Foreign Minister to be completely over the top, while predictable. Am I alone?

And obviously, you meant to say all political parties not just the Government and the press.

You just can’t execute prisoners of war (this assumes he was a prisoner of war).

 

[Mutineer]

Yet another cluster**** by the totally incompetent Victorian Andrews/Allan ALP Government, already running $500 million over budget and way behind schedule...your guess as to how much it will cost Victorian taxpayers, only thing for sure it will be plenty.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/victorias-17bn-myki-upgrade-facing-turmoil-after-company-exit-credit-card-tapandgo-years-away/news-story/0d29bbae50fd6d9e7af0cc457a98e23f

Victoria’s $1.7bn myki upgrade facing turmoil after company exit, credit card tap-and-go years away​

A Sunday Herald Sun investigation has uncovered part of the consortium overseeing the $1.7bn myki revamp for credit card and phone touch on has walked away from the lucrative deal.

Victoria’s $1.7bn public transport ticketing upgrade is in turmoil, with tap-and-go travel using credit cards or smart devices still years from being rolled out across trains and trams.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal that part of the consortium overseeing the myki revamp has walked away from the lucrative deal, and that key project milestones are months behind schedule.

Insiders say the fresh crisis, which follows a legal dispute between the project and the state over costs and technological issues, risks further delays and blowouts.

A 15-year contract to update the troubled myki system and progressively introduce new technology was won by US-based giant Conduent Transportation in mid-2023, which partnered with Australian tech company Convergint. The initial myki development came in $550m over budget at about $1.5bn, with Auditor-General John Doyle slamming weaknesses in the original contract back in 2015.
A government spokesperson declined to say whether the legal settlement with Conduent would add to the project budget, but said any changes to the project board would not impact costs.

“Any changes to the board of the Conduent Victoria Ticketing System will not impact the cost or delivery timeline of the ticketing rollout,” he said.

Senior transport sources said there was no doubt the legal and corporate chaos surrounding the deal would have financial implications and would impact passengers, however.

“It’s going to run late, and cost more,” one said.

Opposition public transport spokesman Matthew Guy said the government “deserves points for consistency”.

“Every transport project this government has touched over the last decade is either delayed, dodgy, or blown out,” Mr Guy said.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Perhaps Australia should look at ways to be the lucky country for all...

Finland's housing policy has shrunk homelessness rates. Could Australia do the same?

Subsidised apartments for musicians may seem laughable amid Australia's housing crisis, but this country has done it — and experts say Australia could too.

www.sbs.com.au

 

[Mutineer]

Third time lucky for nuclear power?

Thailand is embarking on a fresh effort to develop nuclear power generation facilities as part of its plan to increase the nation's supply of clean electricity.

www.bangkokpost.com

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Third time lucky for nuclear power?

Thailand is embarking on a fresh effort to develop nuclear power generation facilities as part of its plan to increase the nation's supply of clean electricity.

www.bangkokpost.com

Not sure a country containing the ring of fire & tsunamis is a safe option for nuclear...

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Third time lucky for nuclear power?

Thailand is embarking on a fresh effort to develop nuclear power generation facilities as part of its plan to increase the nation's supply of clean electricity.

www.bangkokpost.com

If there is a country that needs clean energy its Thailand. On a Bangkok morning you can see a low thick cloud cover of pollutants over the city. Emission control from vehicles is nonexistent.
The river running through the city is so polluted.

It's such a lovely country but pollution is an issue.

For a Nuclear station I am surprised they chose Chon Buri. I suppose it's close to Bangkok and it's a naval base/port.

 

[Vader]

Not sure a country containing the ring of fire & tsunamis is a safe option for nuclear...

Not sure Thailand is volcanically active. It only has 2 volcanoes, both of which are extinct. As for tsunamis - the Andaman Coast (western side of the Malay Peninsula) is definitely susceptible to them, but that's only a small part of Thailand. No reason they couldn't be placed inland, on the Gulf of Thailand side, where there are abundant water sources (i.e. rivers) and minimal volcanic & tsunami threats.

Thailand doesn't have the same renewable resources that Australia has (i.e. sunshine & wind), so nuclear may make sense for them. No idea how their power is currently being generated, or when their existing generators will reach end-of-life. It's entirely possible that nuclear may make sense for Thailand, while remaining completely unsuited to Australia's power generation needs.

The article talks about them building 2x SMRs, with no locations identified (the Chon Buri site referred to by Eagleboy2011 relates to an old (aborted) plan for building a reactor in the 1970s). I wish them good luck with their SMR plans, given that SMRs are essentially vapourware at present, with no commercial examples having been built due to obscenely high costs.

 

[ringo200]

Takers Not Makers: The unjust poverty and unearned wealth of colonialism | Oxfam International

www.oxfam.org

Australian billionaires made $67,000 an hour last year, report finds

Think you earn a decent salary? The latest inequality report from Oxfam found Australia's billionaires took home 1,300 times more than the average Aussie earner last year.

www.abc.net.au

For the 10 richest among them, all men, that figure soared to over $150 million a day.

Even if someone had saved $1,600 every day since the first humans 315,000 years ago, they would still not have accumulated enough money to crack the top 10.

Australia's 47 billionaires make an average $67,000 an hour, according to the report — a figure 1,300 times higher than that of the average Australian worker.

It references figures from the World Bank showing the number of people living in poverty had barely changed since 1990 at just over 3.5 billion — 44 per cent of humanity.

Meanwhile, the richest 1 per cent owns 45 per cent of the world's wealth.

Increasing wealth inequality is an increasing threat in a world where you can buy a louder voice or more access to power.

Dutton did not fly out for my birthday party even for an hour unfortunately, and Albanese was busy with the Murdochs.

Peter Dutton flew to Perth for one hour at lavish Gina Rinehart birthday party then back to cost-of-living campaign in Dunkley

Opposition leader’s latest trip west to celebrate with the billionaire raises questions among Labor MPs and his usual media supporters

www.theguardian.com

Lachlan Murdoch hosts Albanese, Dutton, billionaires amid real-life succession drama

The chair of News Corp and Fox Corp hosted an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Australian on behalf of his 93-year-old father, Rupert Murdoch.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Not sure a country containing the ring of fire & tsunamis is a safe option for nuclear...

the 2004 Tsunami never reach the eastern side of Thailand. Chon Buri is on the other side of the gulf.

 

[Vader]

the 2004 Tsunami never reach the eastern side of Thailand. Chon Buri is on the other side of the gulf.

Yeah, I'm not sure how high the risk would be for a tsunami in the Gulf of Thailand.

Indonesia is highly volcanically active, with more active volcanoes than any other country. It's conceivable that an eruption or earthquake on the northern side of the Indonesian Archipelago could result in a tsunami in the Gulf of Thailand. Having said that, I'm not sure if there are any fault lines on the northern edge of the archipelago. There obviously are on the southern & western sides of the archipelago, I'm just not sure about the north.

For those remembering 2004, the areas which were destroyed were all on the Indian Ocean coast - Khao Lak, Phuket & Phi Phi were all heavily impacted. These are all on the Andaman Sea, on the western side of the Malay Peninsula.

Chon Buri is on the Bay of Thailand, on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula. Other well known locations on the Bay of Thailand include Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Bangkok (albeit up the Chao Praya river), and Pattaya. These places were completely unaffected by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.

 

[Vader]

OK... I've done a little bit of investigation.

Here's the map of volcanoes in Indonesia:

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanism_of_Indonesia

There are no volcanoes listed anywhere near the Gulf of Thailand or South China Sea. This suggests to me that the Gulf of Thailand should not be a tsunami risk.

Cyclones or Typhoons on the other hand...

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Good to see Will Frogley tee off on Malinauskas' moronic garage requirements this morning

Malinauskas has pulled the right reins most of the time but is off base here. Hopefully he has a backing down strategy ready to roll

 

[Mutineer]

Good to see Will Frogley tee off on Malinauskas' moronic garage requirements this morning

Malinauskas has pulled the right reins most of the time but is off base here. Hopefully he has a backing down strategy ready to roll

Strange move with the housing crisis so much in the news.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/development-and-building-leaders-hit-out-against-proposed-changes-to-garage-sizes-in-sa/news-story/8d80dd6a84038f3e1caeae5e0ae57eac

Master Builders Association lead outcry over proposed changes to garage sizes in SA planning laws​

Proposed planning laws that require new homes to have bigger garages would price South Aussies out of owning a home – adding “tens of thousands” to the cost, the industry haswarned.

Planning laws that require bigger garages and more off-street parking would be a “nail in the coffin” for many homeowners, building and development leaders have warned.
The state government on Monday unveiled proposed planning laws that would make it mandatory for garages to have a minimum size of at least 6m in length and 3.5 in width.

The change, which is being released for public consultation, would also force homeowners to have at least two car spaces for homes with two or more bedrooms and one space for one-bedroom dwellings.
It is hoped the changes would help get parked cars off suburban streets across the state.

Master Builders Association chief executive Will Frogley said the proposed changes would price South Australians out of owning a home.

“It’s quite frustrating when we are desperate to build more homes in the middle of a housing crisis,” Mr Frogley said.

“This completely changes what can be developed in infill sites around Adelaide, it’s the nail in the coffin.

“It’s reckless pandering to stakeholders who don’t want infill.”

 

[Mutineer]

And I might add with interest rates already front page news almost every day strange indeed.

From the same article...

Recent modelling revealed homebuyers would have to fork out $60,000 more for bigger garages in single-storey houses and up to $110,000 in two-storey houses.

 

[Vader]

In one of their better moves, the Vic ALP Govt look like adopting the WA model - forcing petrol stations to lock in their prices for 24 hours. Of course, being a positive ALP Vic story we won't hear a peep from Mutineer.

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...ounts-fair-fuel-plan-jacinta-allan-government

The WA Govt introduced this system 20+ years ago, and it's outrageous that none of the other states have followed their lead until now. It works really well. Servos have to lodge the following day's prices with the Govt by 2:30pm, and the cheapest outlets in each area are mentioned in the news, and can be viewed on the WA Fuelwatch website. They're then forced to stick with that price for the whole day, from midnight-midnight.

This means that:
A - Consumers have advance warning of any large price increases, and have time to fill up accordingly.
B - Certainty that the price they see on the way to work in the morning is the same price they'll pay when they fill up on their way home from work.

The WA Fuelwatch site can be found here: https://www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au/

 

[Mutineer]

In one of their better moves, the Vic ALP Govt look like adopting the WA model - forcing petrol stations to lock in their prices for 24 hours. Of course, being a positive ALP Vic story we won't hear a peep from Mutineer.

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...ounts-fair-fuel-plan-jacinta-allan-government

The WA Govt introduced this system 20+ years ago, and it's outrageous that none of the other states have followed their lead until now. It works really well. Servos have to lodge the following day's prices with the Govt by 2:30pm, and the cheapest outlets in each area are mentioned in the news, and can be viewed on the WA Fuelwatch website. They're then forced to stick with that price for the whole day, from midnight-midnight.

This means that:
A - Consumers have advance warning of any large price increases, and have time to fill up accordingly.
B - Certainty that the price they see on the way to work in the morning is the same price they'll pay when they fill up on their way home from work.

The WA Fuelwatch site can be found here: https://www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au/

Maybe wait before you go the early crow lefty...

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/fuel-prices-jacinta-allan-unveils-plan-to-limit-price-gouging-at-victorian-petrol-stations/news-story/953b321b49f144f8b988258c34bb34ff

An RACV spokeswoman said it needed to “look at the detail” being proposed by the Victorian government.

“RACV supports any measure that brings down the cost of fuel and provides Victorian motorists with savings at the fuel pump,” she said.

“Government intervention in price setting and mandatory reporting does not always result in a benefit for customers.”

Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA) CEO Mark McKenzie warned the measure could inadvertently push up fuel prices.

“Where price transparency laws are properly considered and implemented, they work well in making it easier for consumers to find the cheapest fuel prices … But where they are poorly implemented, these government interventions in an openly competitive market risk unintended adverse consequences that could actually increase average fuel prices in metropolitan areas,” he said.

“Locking in prices for 24-hour periods limits the ability of the aggressive fuel discounters to further discount their prices if they discover that they are similar to that of their competitors, which means that they may well adopt more conservative pricing strategies.”

 

[Mutineer]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/huge-increase-in-number-of-victorian-businesses-collapsing-highest-rate-in-australia/news-story/54976cf64266465c01f3fc7b55b8cf73

Huge increase in number of Victorian businesses collapsing, highest rate in Australia​

Victoria has recorded the largest increase in business insolvencies in Australia, with a 71 per cent rise compared to a year ago.



Victorian businesses are collapsing at an alarming rate due to cost of living pressures, elevated operating expenses and an aggressive crackdown on unpaid debt by the ATO.
A 71 per cent increase in insolvency appointment has been recorded in the six months to December 31, with 2181 business failures logged compared to 1275 during the same period a year ago.
Corporate failures have been driven by the embattled hospitality sector, which has seen a sharp increase from this time last year — while construction firms continue to play an outsized role.
It comes as data from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission showed there were 7483 insolvency appointments nationally in the December half, a 47.1 per cent increase on the 5088 appointments a year earlier.
Victoria’s rise dwarfed that of the other states, with Queensland insolvency appointments up 51.4 per cent and NSW, which makes up the lion share of appointments overall fared better with a 30 per cent jump to 2906.

South Australia saw a 76 per cent increase to 319 over the same period from a low base of 181.

 

[Vader]

Maybe wait before you go the early crow lefty...

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/fuel-prices-jacinta-allan-unveils-plan-to-limit-price-gouging-at-victorian-petrol-stations/news-story/953b321b49f144f8b988258c34bb34ff

An RACV spokeswoman said it needed to “look at the detail” being proposed by the Victorian government.

“RACV supports any measure that brings down the cost of fuel and provides Victorian motorists with savings at the fuel pump,” she said.

“Government intervention in price setting and mandatory reporting does not always result in a benefit for customers.”

Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA) CEO Mark McKenzie warned the measure could inadvertently push up fuel prices.

“Where price transparency laws are properly considered and implemented, they work well in making it easier for consumers to find the cheapest fuel prices … But where they are poorly implemented, these government interventions in an openly competitive market risk unintended adverse consequences that could actually increase average fuel prices in metropolitan areas,” he said.

“Locking in prices for 24-hour periods limits the ability of the aggressive fuel discounters to further discount their prices if they discover that they are similar to that of their competitors, which means that they may well adopt more conservative pricing strategies.”

All I can say is that it works great in WA, and has for 20+ years.

This is the sort of shitty argument that the fuel companies tried using 20+ years ago. The WA Govt people saw straight through them, and the WA people are eternally thankful that they did.