Coming out way behind financially while trying to get ahead huh.
Well, that result seems to be squaring up with Joe's time as treasurer.
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AusPoliGAF |OT| Boats? What Boats?
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Coming out way behind financially while trying to get ahead huh.
Well, that result seems to be squaring up with Joe's time as treasurer.
roosters93
Member
While it's a poor analogy after even a second of examination, it made me think of the differing approaches to dictionary authorship, presciptivism vs descriptivism. Sometimes the tabloids try to tell us what to think, other times they just reflect what's being thought.
A
A More Normal Bird
Unconfirmed Member
I understood that reference. I've been pleasantly surprised by Pickering's show but bring back MAH.
"Mr Editor Sir, we just got two press releases, one Labor, one Greens. Both policy documents. Should we analyse them and do some write ups?"
"No need, I've got our headlines already. 'Union thugs love debt and deficit' and 'Global warming isn't real'. Make sure to use plenty of pictures of Gillard."
"Ok sir, we'll get right on that. Also, a Coalition MP said something silly on Twitter and it's going viral."
"Don't want to seem biased, run with it. Something like 'strong leader Abbott can't afford for this to distract from his important reforms'."
Was he ever really trying? Not in terms of this case, I mean.
I wonder how they're planning on implementing the tax on foreign digital goods. The European VAT was a nightmare and resulted in a lot of those in the indie tabletop RPG scene having to say "if you're in the EU, we can't sell to you, sorry". If they're required to be tax compliant for Australia, sales might also be flat-out blocked to Australians as it's unlikely to be worth the effort. It may be an odd example, but it's the one I use more than any other.
For importation of physical goods, it is laughable that they think it will make any difference at all. Physical books being used as an example was the best part. Removing GST from domestic book sales and adding them to imports still wouldn't even be enough to help the situation. The added cost of international postage, especially from the US, still isn't enough to squash the price difference. Of course, this goes unnoticed if you can just get a chopper ride to a Lane Cove book store and not concern yourself with the cost.
Dramatic policy switch? Did I miss something? When have they differentiated themselves on asylum seekers?
That's an interesting link actually.
That's an interesting link actually.
Will wait for the vote from the Conference before passing final judgement.
Because what was actually a Pyrrhic victory was reported as a total victory for some reason.
The judge pretty much said Hockey had a shit case not worth much.
The articles in question were thrown out as not defamatory. They were basically the core of the matter, not the headline "Treasurer for Sale".
I can't imagine the request for an injunction for Fairfax from every again suggesting he was corrupt endeared him to the judge either.
Ah. I hadn't realised that he won the case on a "Well you're technically correct... I guess..." basis. That makes a bit more sense then.
Elaugaufein
Member
In fairness its largely not the same staff. The pay cuts were mainly to staff who aren't particularly involved with Operation Secretive Borders (the pay cuts were mainly aimed at the staff who performed the normal duties you'd expect from Customs and Immigration rather than from a department named Border Force). Being considerably less fair: Its absolutely bizarre to cut anything in a Department of Security Theatre, that you just created, while you're ramping up the the Security Theatre rhetoric , this is the kind of idiocy that fails the 5 year old advisor test of the Evil Overlord List.
On a personal note I came through Immigrations/Biosec at Perth yesterday. It was hell. It took an hour and 20 minutes to get processed. I got a card from them about the strike , asking for support and giving me a URL to visit. I admit to having mixed feelings and thinking that asking people who'd spent 80*+ minutes waiting to get through a line for support was kind of dubious.
*I was relatively lucky. I have one of the newish Australian ePassport things so I got to basically skip Immigration.
Candescence
Member
It would be fucking hilarious if this policy decision gets shut down at the conference, really.
Though, some of the party left have been worrying about whether taking the moral high ground would be costly in the next election (basically the classic "don't let perfect be the enemy of good" dilemma), even though actual polls have indicated that most voters actually don't consider 'illegal immigration' a priority issue. Hopefully the left wing stick to their guns and actually get the numbers to override Shorten.
Elaugaufein
Member
The saying is weird when you really think about it though. The perfect often has to be the enemy of the good because people are often more than willing to settle for "meh good enough" and consenting to a dodgy solution often means that's all you're ever going to get.
Not to mention in this case its more like "don't let the barely acceptable (ethical position) be the enemy of bad (political self interest)".
Candescence
Member
Fair enough. I'd rather just call turn-backs as I see it - an openly racist policy that really actually does nothing to save lives, and the government can't prove it is saving lives unless they violate their rather blatant distaste for transparency on the issue. Therefore, I'd rather Labor take a principled stance instead of cowering in fear of a possible scare campaign.
I wonder who in the political landscape is ballsy enough to actually call the anti-refugee rhetoric for the racist garbage that it is?
Labor is basically running the safest campaign imaginable to get back in power.
I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe that they don't really mean what they say about boat people and will put the issue to bed once they're next in power (at least until the next Coalition leader tries to re-spark those embers), but that said it doesn't mean I'm going to vote for them.
I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe that they don't really mean what they say about boat people and will put the issue to bed once they're next in power (at least until the next Coalition leader tries to re-spark those embers), but that said it doesn't mean I'm going to vote for them.
Elaugaufein
Member
When you're of the political persuasion of most of the regulars in this thread, its pretty much inevitable you will effectively vote for Labor, its just how many and which other parties come first and if you're in one of the seats where the Greens or progressive independents have a chance how directly. Labor realizes that too which is a significant chunk of the reason they refuse to take any mildly controversial stands, its better for them to lose 5 seats to their Left (who will largely vote with them anyway) than 5 to their Right (which may cost them government). Preferential voting is infinitely preferable to First Past the Post but you still get some of the same problems, especially in the House of Reps due to its rather Majoritarian in nation.
Candescence
Member
Sadly, I'm stuck in Joe Hockey's seat, what with living in Chatswood and all. That fucker certainly doesn't represent me. Then again, his abysmal performance as treasurer might actually convinced his constituents to finally kick him out, who knows. But I'm voting Progressives or Greens at the next election, depending who's available I can vote for.
Elaugaufein
Member
Its kind of sad that even attempting to have principles is a political liability.
You do realize that after watching that you may start thinking that Abbott seems comparatively sane right ?
That really worked out for Beazley in the tampa election.
Can't argue with that, we certainly do have one of the worst goverments in living memory, as well as having a terrible 'opposition'. The potential silver lining is that the smaller parties, particularly the greens, stand to benefit from it. I am doubtful I will be voting for a major party next election.
Mad props to Burnside. I know he's defended some bastards in his time, but lately there's very little to argue with him about.
I'm ashamed to say that Marles is my local member (although I think that with recent rezoning, that may not quite be the case). Despise him thoroughly.
Edit: Nope, is my local member. I voted Greens last election, though.
Yeah he was turrible on Q&A a few weeks ago. Can't believe he was given a ministerial portfolio.
100%
Too bad this will fall on deaf ears. The right will get their way as they always seem to.
As upset as I am about it all, I can't imagine me walking into my local members office and condemning the whole thing to whatever frontline staff there is (I'm an introvert). Or even really phoning. Closest I've gotten in the past was writing to my local member over Conroys Filter.
And since then I've abandoned Labor as a total lost cause, so I'm left with the 'why even bother' feeling given the parties continuing lurch to the right.
I imagine you might see more upset, just after the horse has bolted.
Elaugaufein
Member
I've never lived in an electorate that didn't have National carved into its bones, so not like I'd be wandering into or phoning a Labor MPs office unless it was in a portfolio capacity.
That's probably because they're cynical enough to expect it was going to happen. The labor party has no moral compass and sells out to the highest electoral bidder.
Greens should be seeing a vote increase.
Heh. Mine, Newcastle, has been strongly Labor probably since federation.
Anyway, given the timing I was encouraged to just write an electronic letter to my local member. As pointless as those things probably are.
I'll keep an eye out for it
Fun fact. Newcastle has been Labor at Federal since Federation. Is also very left leaning hence the anger internally here today.
roosters93
Member
Burnside going ham. Unfortunately they will easily enough ignore his points since he's just a bleeding heart or something equally dismissive
#NotallLabormembers
Is this regarding the 50% RET target? Or JB's letter?I'll keep an eye out for it
Fun fact. Newcastle has been Labor at Federal since Federation. Is also very left leaning hence the anger internally here today.
roosters93
Member
Moreso the policy announcement that led to JB's letter methinks
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