Talking Politics

[tigergollywog]

more Royal Commissions

I'd support a royal commission into Christopher Pynes head.

 

[AngryAnt]

I'd support a royal commission into Christopher Pynes head.

Do you really, really want or need more information about Christopher's Pyne's head?

 

[tigergollywog]

Do you really, really want or need more information about Christopher's Pyne's head?

It just doesnt add up. How could you have a head like that AND be so smarmy? Most blokes with a head like that would have Mr.Whippy franchises I'd like to get to the bottom of it. Unleashing Faulks in a senate enquiry would do.

 

[Tigers of Old]

So much focus on one Gillard lie. Phony doesn't know when he's coming or going he tells so many.
This muppet is a freaking disgrace to our country.

 

[Baloo]

One thing about Abbott is that he is consistent. The Abbot we saw in opposition is the same Abbot we see one as PM.

 

[bullus_hit]

One thing about Abbott is that he is consistent. The Abbot we saw in opposition is the same Abbot we see one as PM.

True, his negative and cynical ways haven't changed one iota, but once the all the lego lies strewn on the floor, he'll have to build something. This will be challenging for Tone, there's only so many world heritage sites left to plunder.

 

[KnightersRevenge]

Because I'm a bloody tragic I've transcribed some of a recent interview on ABC Drive with the Victorian Liberal MP who is butting heads with the PM over SPC:

Waleed: Dr Stone spoke to us very briefly last week but she joins us again in light of these..well..fairly punchy remarks that she’s made, Dr Stone thank you very much for joining us

Dr Stone: Ah…Good to talk to you Waleed.

W: Are you suggesting that… or is there any possibility that cabinet didn’t actually know what was in the EBA when they came out and characterised it last week as a major source of the problem?

Dr S: Well… I don’t know Waleed I wasn’t in the cabinet room…obviously…but what they had in front of them was the strong recommendation that SPCA, as the last fruit processor, be supported [Dr Stone’s emphasis not mine…KR]. That came from the independent panel that they [presumably cabinet] put together themselves. It came from the Productivity Commissions own findings about the troubles for SPCA which quite clearly in writing said “it’s not the wages and conditions”. It came from the minister’s own briefings. It came from my briefing to cabinet. So all the information was there for them, which spelled out that the problems of SPCA are about the high dollar which knocked out their exports, it’s the dumped cheap and often contaminated imports that…ah…flooded in with the cheap dollar, it’s the power of the two supermarkets who filled all their home brands with that cheap imported dumped stuff…umm...ah…it’s the labelling problems in Australia where it’s so hard for you to work out “where does your product come from?”. They identified the ten years of drought, the year of floods, the high costs of utilities like the increased cost of their electricity, their gas, their water. All of that they identified nothing to do with their wages and conditions and it is so tough to say to these poor 750 workers in the factory, I visited them about an hour ago, and the…about 5000 jobs directly linked to those 750 factory jobs…That it’s all their fault. If only they handed demanded and got such amazing wages and conditions they’d have a job in the future…

W: I don’t think the government’s saying it’s all their fault. They’ve now said there is a range of factors and the EBA was one of them. Ah…that this is a profitable company so that they could find the money if they wanted to invest in this. That seems to be their argument. I’m interested thought in what the consequences of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer in your words “lying” actually…is. I mean what should flow from that in your view?

Dr S: Well Waleed what I said in a conversation with a print journalist…I said “look there’s been misrepresentation of the facts there” and he said “are you saying there were lies said?” and I said “well I said misrepresentation of the facts and I suppose that is semantically the same as saying there were lies” So I didn’t name the Treasurer, I talked about the misrepresentation but what comes from that? What I hope comes from that is in the light of all the evidence that’s now been piled back into the cabinet members since extraordinary press conference which did I have to say to Waleed say “The problems of SPCA were due to them not talking their company in hand and restructuring and dealing with their shocking wages and conditions, and they were actually named. Some of these dreadful wages and conditions. Which is all misinformation. And then they said of course “Coca-Cola Amitil is a prosperous company and so why don’t they bail themselves out? And of course we know that that’s a bit hypocritical when Cadbury’s, which had a much bigger multi-national with $1.5billion dollars in after tax profit was just handed $16million fairly recently for a new tourist precinct…um…or a showroom at the factory and so on…So what I’m hoping comes of this Waleed is numbers of things. Tonight at 8pm SPCA meets with the Premier and leadership of the Victorian Coalition. They’ve been sympathetic…um… Dennis Napthine came the day after the cabinet decision to stand in front of the workers and talk about his empathy and understanding. I’m hoping tonight then he will say “we will make up the difference” in a Victorian State contribution because of course the economy of Victoria really gets hit for 6 with the loss of the food processing…

W: Well you could add Holden and you could possibly add Toyota…yes

Dr S: Yeah…well…indeed…Alcoa and on it goes. But I’m also hoping that the cabinet, especially the leadership team, because it wasn’t of course the view of the majority of the cabinet to kill off the fruit processing industry, but I’m hoping that they will, in the light of all of this…um…information now absolutely under their noses which says that there is not a wet allowance, there is not…[laughs]… 9 weeks paid leave a year, there is not a 5 day Melbourne Cup…um…holiday. There is not…[laughs]… sick leave cashed out each year…um…there is less than 0.1 of their [SPCA] entire business costs [of goods?] for the year spent on total allowances paid SPC’s staff. I mean loadings on top of overtime…zero…production workers do overtime. And on it goes. I’m hoping in the light of that information in front of the Prime Minister and his leadership team they’ll say “oops…um…we were…we…you know…kind of called it wrong there…ah…we will revisit this decision” In the light of the impacts of the loss of the last fruit processing industry, the extraordinary problems for the 700 workers where there are no jobs for them to go to, the 5000 flow on jobs. The 8.5% unemployment that’s currently affecting the Murray and Golburn Valleys…

W: Well we’ll see…we’ll see whether or not they do change their mind. Of course they said this was a line in the sand and so it doesn’t sound like that’s what they’re going to do. I wonder though, given that you’re being so outspoken about this against your own colleagues, and I suppose we can say structurally your own superiors. Is there a danger that you’re putting them in a position where they can’t change their minds? Does speaking out about this actually make it harder for them to back-track?

Dr S: Well I have never noticed in politics going quietly and fading away into the sunset does any good…I’m afraid Waleed…

W: Well you wouldn’t have to say nothing but you could talk to them, perhaps, in a less public way…

Dr S: Well I spoke to the Prime Minister after the decision and he repeated to me information he put publicly at the press conference. I explained to him no that isn’t in fact the facts. This is what has caused this and as I said to you a minute ago the cheap dumped imports etc…etc…And he wasn’t inclined to change his mind…

W: Why not? If you say they’ve misrepresented the facts, why are they doing that?

Dr S: Well you’d have to ask them. Um...I know for a fact that it wasn’t a majority view. My colleagues have been ringing me constantly, my Liberal and National Party colleagues, in fact one about 5 minutes ago, saying “look we’d do the same” “if we had the same impact in our constituency” ”we understand exactly why you’re having to speak out and say “No, the information that you have is not accurate”. Because the impacts…I don’t know if you’ve experienced a community, a regional community Waleed? But you take out the basis of the economy in the Murray and Golburn valleys it’s [shearing] and it’s fruit growing. Our towns of Cobram – depend on fruit growing. Sheparton the whole workforce, we’ve already got 70 empty businesses in Shep. 8.5% unemployment. Ah…we can’t take the loss of that many jobs and the flow on impacts…

If you want to hear the whole thing go here: ABC RN Listen Live

 

[Rosy]

Good on Sharman for putting her electorates interests ahead of party loyalty. Shepparton is in dire straights. High suicide rate. People walking off the land their families have worked for generations. Lifetime orchard practices ploughed into the ground. The shopping centre is like a ghost town, tumbleweed city, with empty shop after empty shop. You hear some very sad stories as you sit in the mall and talk to people. The Governments haven't made it easy for the orchardists, and associated businesses. I don't know how we can possibly be allowed to import and sell fruit at such a massively reduced rate. Very concerned about us not nurturing, building and supporting our own food production in such a rich, fertile area. One day it just mightn't be available from overseas.

 

[tigergollywog]

Good on Sharman for putting her electorates interests ahead of party loyalty. Shepparton is in dire straights. High suicide rate. People walking off the land their families have worked for generations. Lifetime orchard practices ploughed into the ground. The shopping centre is like a ghost town, tumbleweed city, with empty shop after empty shop. You hear some very sad stories as you sit in the mall and talk to people. The Governments haven't made it easy for the orchardists, and associated businesses. I don't know how we can possibly be allowed to import and sell fruit at such a massively reduced rate. Very concerned about us not nurturing, building and supporting our own food production in such a rich, fertile area. One day it just mightn't be available from overseas.

V. sad

Simple solution IMO. Buy local produce. pay $2 for the SPC peaches instead of $1 for the Turkish ones. Its not rocket science and if you do the real maths, the local stuff will be cheaper.

Makes shopping easier and more satisfying too. I have always bought SPC canned fruit. I dont have to sit in front of the peaches for 10 minutes looking at prices, where they are made, ingredients etc etc, I just fly buy and grab the SPC ones, every single time. Then I go to the butcher and get a bit of bangalow bacon, might treat myself to some tassie lamb in spring. Then I go to the fruit shop on the corner. local Lychees in season for $7 a kilo. my kids have a kilo a day habit. I pay fair money for Norco Milk (not the $1 a litre at coles and woolies, gee dairy farmering would be fun).

Dont mean to sound high and mighty, but its not that hard is it?

 

[lukeanddad]

V. sad

Simple solution IMO. Buy local produce. pay $2 for the SPC peaches instead of $1 for the Turkish ones. Its not rocket science and if you do the real maths, the local stuff will be cheaper.

Makes shopping easier and more satisfying too. I have always bought SPC canned fruit. I dont have to sit in front of the peaches for 10 minutes looking at prices, where they are made, ingredients etc etc, I just fly buy and grab the SPC ones, every single time. Then I go to the butcher and get a bit of bangalow bacon, might treat myself to some tassie lamb in spring. Then I go to the fruit shop on the corner. local Lychees in season for $7 a kilo. my kids have a kilo a day habit. I pay fair money for Norco Milk (not the $1 a litre at coles and woolies, gee dairy farmering would be fun).

Dont mean to sound high and mighty, but its not that hard is it?

... and (I assume) Aussie made cars and clothes. And only use power and telco suppliers that are owned locally...

I heard an interesting discussion yyesterday where a talkback caller was saying he would never buy clothing made in Bangladesh because of their work practices. The bloke who was on the other end of the phone (representing an aid organisation) pleaded with him NOT to do that as these workers would lose their meagre income if we stopped buying $5 t-shirts...

 

[tigergollywog]

... and (I assume) Aussie made cars and clothes. And only use power and telco suppliers that are owned locally...

2nd hand 1989 landcruiser, op-shop clothes (the only new clothes I get are when tigersnake accidentally buys ill-fitting jeans about once a decade) and solar. Im a hippy I suppose. a hippy beef farmer :hihi

On subsidies and global trade, I dont really get it. Seems like a big sheltered workshop.

 

[K3]

... and (I assume) Aussie made cars and clothes. And only use power and telco suppliers that are owned locally...

I heard an interesting discussion yyesterday where a talkback caller was saying he would never buy clothing made in Bangladesh because of their work practices. The bloke who was on the other end of the phone (representing an aid organisation) pleaded with him NOT to do that as these workers would lose their meagre income if we stopped buying $5 t-shirts...

I am totally with tigergollywog on this one. I think we should all 'buy Australian' at every opportunity, especially food stuffs - why do we need to buy fruit from other countries when it is out of season here, but will be back in 6 months, just because we feel that a pomegranate would be nice before dinner? IMO people should a. Buy local, especially non-Supermarket stuff whenever possible - please take the time to go to the local butcher, backer, grocer, pet shop etc, and b. Buy in fruit & vege which are in season here, in Australia. Sure, there will be items you need/ want which aren't from Australia, but where possible why wouldn't we support local growers, farmers, packers, etc?

It is a shame the Ruddster decided to decry good ol' *smile* Smith, and his promotion of Australian goods a few years back. *smile*, if you read this, I think you are awesome and keep it up mate!

 

[K3]

2nd hand 1989 landcruiser, op-shop clothes (the only new clothes I get are when tigersnake accidentally buys ill-fitting jeans about once a decade) and solar. Im a hippy I suppose.

On subsidies and global trade, I dont really get it. Seems like a big sheltered workshop.

While I may be 100% incorrect, again, but to me, the above is a "we'll sacrifice a bit of our industry/ economy/ jobs, so we can get what you make cheaper. People like big TVs these days afterall..."

 

[tigergollywog]

*smile*, if you read this, I think you are awesome and keep it up mate!

yeah *smile* is fairly inspirational on this issue. Did you follow when he bought a few thousand tonnes of aussie beetroot cause they were going to bury it cause everyone was buying cheap imported beetroot. He bought it and canned it, but then coles and woolies wouldnt buy it at his cost (which was pretty cheap). He ended up giving them away off the back of a truck.

 

[IanG]

I dont get alot of things about Abbott. My hunch is, the trinity of him, hockey and pyne just dont have that much horsepower in their heads. Cunning, but lacking in real cognitive power. Howard was cunning and bright. These 3 reached their level of competance in the campus liberals club in first year and have been bluffing ever since. Their cabinet meetings now have all the policy complexity of a crib hut at smoko on a central queensland coal mine.
Thats my hunch anyways

I think you;re 100% on the money.

 

[K3]

yeah *smile* is fairly inspirational on this issue. Did you follow when he bought a few thousand tonnes of aussie beetroot cause they were going to bury it cause everyone was buying cheap imported beetroot. He bought it and canned it, but then coles and woolies wouldnt buy it at his cost (which was pretty cheap). He ended up giving them away off the back of a truck.

The sad thing is farmers are still digging crops into the ground and not many really give a stuff...

 

[mld]

Getting pretty protectionist in here. As someone whose career is dependent on export, I certainly have no qualms in returning the favour.

The sad thing is farmers are still digging crops into the ground and not many really give a stuff...

Most of industry has to accept the price signal and change accordingly.

 

[tigergollywog]

Getting pretty protectionist in here. As someone whose career is dependent on export, I certainly have no qualms in returning the favour.

Most of industry has to accept the price signal and change accordingly.

If shopping local and not using price as the only guide to a purchase is protectionism, then yep, Im one of them. :don't know

 

[KnightersRevenge]

If shopping local and not using price as the only guide to a purchase is protectionism, then yep, Im one of them. :don't know

Yup. Never bought Coles or Woolies milk and never would. Bought *smile*'s beetroot when I could get it. When I was living in Alphington we had a butcher and a grocer round the corner. Really only went the Woolies for deodorant and shampoo. Funny over here in Ireland one supermarket chain has just bought out another and everything else is a Tesco. To celebrate they discounted carrots and spuds (branded with their home brand) to the tune 1eur a bag. The local farmers had a conniption. They staged a rolling protest where they targetted SupaValue stores, bought up bags of cheap carrots and spuds and then gave them away for free in front of the store and tried to engage with the shoppers to ask them if they could make a living on those prices?

That is why I particularly don't like the home brand thing. The stores can change suppliers without the consumer ever noticing and they use it to bully the farmers. To start with I'd ban home branded products, they are anti-competitive.

 

[KnightersRevenge]

Good on Sharman for putting her electorates interests ahead of party loyalty. Shepparton is in dire straights. High suicide rate. People walking off the land their families have worked for generations. Lifetime orchard practices ploughed into the ground. The shopping centre is like a ghost town, tumbleweed city, with empty shop after empty shop. You hear some very sad stories as you sit in the mall and talk to people. The Governments haven't made it easy for the orchardists, and associated businesses. I don't know how we can possibly be allowed to import and sell fruit at such a massively reduced rate. Very concerned about us not nurturing, building and supporting our own food production in such a rich, fertile area. One day it just mightn't be available from overseas.

Funny thing. Barnaby Joyce was in favour of helping out SPC before the PM got up and fibbed till his pance spontaneously combusted. Since then he has been at pains to describe beef farmers as "mum and dad", "family" etc and seems to think this separates them from SPC. Does he think robots grow the fruit? Or orphans? Or robot orphans?

Listening to Dr Stone at least someone else is incredulous at the PM and his ability to listen to and then completely disregard the facts. He frustrates me and I'm half a world away I can't imagine what he must be like to deal with on a daily basis. :brickwall

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