Talking Politics

[KnightersRevenge]

Came over to take a sneaky peak at Politics and couldnt resist a quick cameo to stop the 'right wingers all have to sit in the corner' conspiracy getting any traction before it ends up like the 911 thread and Rosy gets spotted dining with Julian Assange and Lord Monkton and paying with her PRE expenses card. Im left of Bob Brown and I had to sit in the corner and get moderated. Nothing to do with politics, It was because I carried on like a *smile* and broke the rules (sorry again mods). I think its merely a coincidence that there is statistically significantly more people who support Tony Abbott, require getting moderated. Its an anomoly. Thats the only way I can explain it. Either that, or they're not that bright :theyareontome

p.s. it seems nice in here, a bit like the Beanie thread. :duhman.

Out of curiosity TGW did you take the ABC's political compass test? I too stand to the left of Bob (I knew this before I took it). On people in the corner...I prefer to have them as part of the debate so I'm missing them. I find it makes me improve my argument to have to test it against someone with a genuinely opposing one.

 

[KnightersRevenge]

Not a fan of freedom of speech?

Do you think freedom of speech should have any limits? Not much of a fan of censorship myself BTW.

 

[Sintiger]

Not a fan of freedom of speech?

Yes big fan. You ?
I would however prefer that Corey Bernardi be relieved of his right to free speech than the ABC being relieved of it's responsibilities as a public broadcaster, which is exactly what I was responding to. Neither will happen but just stating my personal preference.

 

[KnightersRevenge]

The following are copies of correspondence retrieved from the office of the Honourable Christopher Pyne, MP, Minister for Education and Apprentice Baloo, sent by the Hon. Mr Pyne to various colleagues in recent days.

Dear Tony,

This is probably nothing, but some of the girls in the office were saying something about an “education policy”. I remember a few months ago you mentioned this? Did we end up getting one, or am I just being paranoid?

xxxx Chris



Dear Tony,

OK, thanks for the clarification. So when you told me I was the “Education Minister”, that meant I was literally the minister for education. Isn’t English a funny language? OK so I guess I’ll have our education policy ready for the morning.

Lots of love, Chris



Dear Tracy,

Could you be a darling and look up what Labor’s education policy is? I have to make one of my own and I’d better make sure it’s not the same as theirs! Wouldn’t that be an oops!

Chris



Dear Mum,

I just wrote a policy! By myself! In running writing! Hard to believe isn’t it?

xoxoxoxoxox

Chris



Dear Tony,

Pretty good, eh?

Chris



Dear Peta,

Is Tony angry at me? He won’t answer my notes. I was just wondering how he likes my education policy. I think it’s pretty good – it’s totally not like Labor’s so that’s got to be good doesn’t it?

Chris



Dear Peta,

OK now I’m confused.

Chris



Dear Lenore,

No, look, I’ve explained this to Laura and Peter and Laurie and Annabel and all you people – the policy is exactly the same as Labor’s except better. Why is that so hard to understand?

Chris



Dear Peter,

Look, the envelope is the same. How many times do I have to say envelope before you’ll leave me ALONE?

Chris



Dear Tony,

OK I think I’ve fixed it. So now the envelope is the same, only bigger, and better, because Labor’s envelope wasn’t even an envelope, it was, like, a bag or something. That sounds right – I’m sure everything will be OK.

Hugs,

Chris

PS: a lot of people have been asking me about “schools” lately. Is this related to Education? Should I be studying?



Tracy,

Could you run down the chemist and get me some St John’s Wort?

C



Dear Peta,

No, it is not my fault! How can I help it if state politicians are tacky? If they had any class they’d be federal, now wouldn’t they? Can’t we just give them some cash to make them go away? It works with homeless people, and they’re a bit like state MPs.

Chris



Dear Peta,

I don’t know where we get the cash from! Isn’t that Joe’s job? There’s a place in Canberra that makes money, we went there on a school excursion once. Maybe ring them up.

Chris



Dear Tony,

OK I think we’ve got our stories straight now. We didn’t like Gonski, so we opposed it, but because we needed to provide certainty to the Australian people who weren’t sure whether we opposed it, we were forced by Labor’s trickery to support it, but then afterwards we came up with something better than Gonski with a bigger envelope so we’re going to do that, but also because we are keeping our promises and we are adults we are going to honour Gonski as well but actually it’s better than Gonski because we’re adults. Point of order Madame Speaker oh sorry that just slipped out.

Smooches,

Chris



Dear Tony,

No, I don’t think anyone noticed. I’m sure everyone loves you as much as they ever did. And please don’t say that about yourself, you have a lovely face, yes, even on television. It’s like my mum always said, “people are just pooey sometimes”. Don’t let them get to you. They’re just jealous.

Tickles,

Chris



Dear Michelle,

Please stop harassing me with your demands for “answers”. I am very busy at the moment reading an interesting book called How Schools Work. I will grant you an interview covering all essential facets of my home life and fashion sense when I am finished.

Chris



Dear Tony,

Yes actually I DO think I am still the best man for this job. Who else would be? I am MISTER Education, Tony, I have had a bigger education than you’ve had hot dinners. I went to a school and everything. More than once. So don’t doubt my credentials. Just remember, before I came along, you didn’t even HAVE an education policy, let alone four in three days. If anything, my productivity is TOO high. Maybe I should have a nice holiday.

Spoons,

Chris



Dear Julie,

I know who sent me the dead rat. Stop it.

Chris



Dear Tony,

Some people are talking about a thing called “Gonski”. Do you know what that is? Have an awful feeling I should’ve picked up on this earlier. Is it some kind of drink? I think I had a Gonski at the midwinter ball once. Or maybe it’s a person? Sounds ethnic though – Labor? Anyway it’s probably not important, just that somebody said something about Gonski education and I got worried, but I looked it up and Gonski is not a school so I don’t think it matters. Just let me know if it matters.

Lick,

Chris

PS: I just thought of another one – “Platypus Bill”! Classic! Don’t really know what it means but I think it’ll make people laugh a lot.



Dear Mr Addington,

I would be delighted to speak at your school awards ceremony on the subject, “What Schools Mean To A Liberal Fellow”. I will require a large jug of water, a detailed map showing me how to find the hall, and a thesaurus.

Yours in Gonski,

The Honourable Christopher Pyne



Dear Tony,

Sorry about the awards ceremony thing. I think I can fix this though.

Cheeks,

Chris





http://www.kingstribune.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1944:notes-from-chris&Itemid=375

From the people who brought us "How green was my cactus?" ? Oh how I miss political satire. It is in my opinion the main reason our pollies take themselves so seriously. 24hr news and the proliferation of commentary when we should be laughing at them. Imagine how Rudd/Gillard, Pyne, Joyce, Bob Carr, Bob Brown, Clive would have been done by Spitting Image?

 

[bullus_hit]

All this freedom of speech talk is making me chuckle, the LNP have gagged most of their sitting members from any public debate whatsoever. Double standards would be an understatement, but what I find fascinating is the types who have been let off the leash, extreme bigots like Bernardi, Morrison & Pyne have been left to stew in their own verbal diarrhea. It's one thing to attempt micromanagement, but another challenge to find the most eloquent messengers. Clearly, the LNP and their 'star chamber' need a quick strategy rethink.

 

[K3]

As someone with two kids, both soon to be at school in Vic, all I can think is "what the hell are they thinking???"


Spending on state school buildings lowest in a decade


Melbourne's overcrowded state schools must absorb 50,000 new pupils before 2021.

Yet Victoria's spending on school infrastructure has plunged to its lowest level in almost a decade, according to an internal Education Department report obtained by The Age.

Since taking power in 2010, the Coalition has halved government spending on new schools, buildings, land, furnishings and landscaping, according to the report.

The $200 million budget in 2012 was the lowest since 2003, despite continuous, 15-year growth in Melbourne's public school attendance.

About 5100 portables have been crammed on to school ovals and open spaces to accommodate extra numbers.

The crush is felt most acutely in the inner suburbs, where limited land is available, and the outer-fringe suburbs, where the biggest population increases are taking place.

At Port Melbourne Primary School, the grounds are so crowded with portables that pupils use a nearby park as a playground.

Principal Peter Martin has staggered break times at the school. He said that while new schools in outer Melbourne may have borne the brunt of a population explosion, at least they were built on land with grassy sports grounds.

"The only grass that will be growing at our school is in the guttering of my two-storey portable classrooms," Mr Martin said.

At Albert Park Primary School, the library has been emptied of books and the teachers booted out of their resource room to make way for extra classrooms.

“We desperately need a new double-storey transportable building,” school council president Rebecca George said.

Last year the government committed to building a new primary school in South Melbourne.

A department spokesman said the new school in Ferrars Street, South Melbourne, would meet predicted growth in the area.

Schools are also squeezed in the outer suburbs.

Between 2011 and 2021, almost 18,000 new public students were expected to enrol in government schools in the growth areas of Wyndham and Whittlesea.

Epping North and Mernda will both need about $10 million for new primary schools before 2016, despite a new school opening in nearby Doreen next year, according to the Whittlesea council.

The council's executive advocacy manager Mary Agostino said some children in the suburb faced long car and bus journeys every day because there was no room for them at the local school.

Vital social relationships were unable to be made between local families, she said. "If people don't have opportunities to connect, and schools are great connectors, there's a flow on effect from that,”Ms Agostino said.

A spokeswoman for minister for eduction Martin Dixon said the government was developing an evidence and merit-based school capital pipeline process.

She said the government had delivered on its election commitments for schools, worth $300 million, and had handed over $611 million for capital investment since 2011.



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/spending-on-state-school-buildings-lowest-in-a-decade-20131205-2ytds.html#ixzz2mbAs2Ff5

 

[Tigers of Old]

Terrible news for Australia the collapse of car manufacturing in this country in the wake of Holden's 2017 pullout.
What will happen to us when we don't make anything of our own anymore?

 

[Browndog]

The car industry is gone. Gone. It doesnt matter what government is in power. I certainly dont want my tax dollars kept propping up a unstainable industry. It was gone long ago.

 

[Tigers of Old]

The car industry is gone. Gone. It doesnt matter what government is in power. I certainly dont want my tax dollars kept propping up a unstainable industry. It was gone long ago.

As someone said today. Replace the name Holden with GM and the carefactor is reduced somewhat.

 

[KnightersRevenge]

I understand the problem people have with our government giving money to company that is owned by an American multinational that doesn't need and effectively uses pressure to force the hand of the Australian Government. But I don't think people fully understand the many areas of innovation and engineering that we will lose. Design and inspiration is a massive part of this industry. Lose car manufacturing and you will have fewer industrial designers. The parts and component manufacturing is well known and also massive. This industry employs more people (I think) than mining which attracts huge subsidies and tax breaks and foreign ownership and is responsible for a large proportion of the decline in productivity in Aus.

 

[Rosy]

It will be interesting to see what happens today in regard to the carbon tax repeal. Tony is flexing his muscles a bit. Will playing the mandate card work? Will his blackmail to keep them sitting until Christmas if they don't agree work? Will anyone have to back down?

 

[AngryAnt]

It will be interesting to see what happens today in regard to the carbon tax repeal. Tony is flexing his muscles a bit. Will playing the mandate card work? Will his blackmail to keep them sitting until Christmas if they don't agree work? Will anyone have to back down?

This government is on the nose with the electorate so early I can't see them ever fulfilling their threat of a double dissolution election if they can't get it through the senate.

 

[Rosy]

Either can I antman. Just a lot of hot air that would never be followed through. It would be a massive risk for them. I can't recall a government ever losing popularity to such a degree is such a short period of time.

 

[Rosy]

Very concerned about the Barrier Reef changes. Hope they get it right in regard to dredging and mining around such a fragile area. Quite surprised by the change of legislation that repeals the limits to ATM withdrawals in gaming venues.

 

[bullus_hit]

Very concerned about the Barrier Reef changes. Hope they get it right in regard to dredging and mining around such a fragile area.

Disgraceful, evidence has already shown that the fisheries are being contaminated, this will will be the death knell for parts of the reef. And this is only the beginning, the government also wants the world heritage listing of the Tarkine overturned. The day this mob was elected was always going to be a sad day for Australia's environment, unfortunately reversing such acts of vandalism will be nigh on impossible.

 

[Baloo]

.....Football, meat pies, kangaroos and foreign cars....

 

[Rosy]

I'd like to say how happy I am that Cathy McGowen is flying the flag for our electorate of Indi. She regularly keeps us updated on goings on in Parliament and her own personal involvement. She invites input and feedback both personally and via social media. A breath of fresh air. :clapping

 

[Rosy]

Disgraceful, evidence has already shown that the fisheries are being contaminated, this will will be the death knell for parts of the reef. And this is only the beginning, the government also wants the world heritage listing of the Tarkine overturned. The day this mob was elected was always going to be a sad day for Australia's environment, unfortunately reversing such acts of vandalism will be nigh on impossible.

I don't really get how it all works and don't understand that such an important, and potentially devastating, decision can be made by Greg Hunt as the Environment Minister without it even going through Parliament.

 

[poppa x]

I don't really get how it all works and don't understand that such an important, and potentially devastating, decision can be made by Greg Hunt as the Environment Minister without it even going through Parliament.

Nothing has changed Rosy. It's always been done by "Regulation" rather than by Parliament. A bit like Local Government Planning Laws.
having said that, I have two very strong feelings on the issue.
1. It's a disgrace that one of the 7 wonders of the world is being put at risk by an economic decision.
2. It's also a disgrace that the Greens have been pre-occupied for a decade or more with trees, social justice and refugees at the expense of agitating over the Great Barrier Reef. I think they have their priorities all wrong. The Reef has been under threat for a long time and I've heard very little from the Greens until it becomes a populous issue.

As some-one who has dived the reef for many years, I really worry about its future.

 

[Azza]

2. It's also a disgrace that the Greens have been pre-occupied for a decade or more with trees, social justice and refugees at the expense of agitating over the Great Barrier Reef. I think they have their priorities all wrong. The Reef has been under threat for a long time and I've heard very little from the Greens until it becomes a populous issue.

I think it's a bit harsh blaming the Greens rather than the Liberals, the Nationals, and Labor.