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IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.
Talking Politics
- Thread starter Legends of 2017
- Start date
I couldn't find a single thing to rally against in my 'proud to be Australian' bones.
Will Murdoch be able to work enough of us over to keep this party in government at the next election?
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Australia singled out as a climate change 'free-rider' by international panel
Date June 5, 2015 - 9:11AM
Peter Hannam
Environment Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan led the Africa Progress Panel.
Australia's power sector emissions jump
Global warming 'hiatus' never happened
Australia has become a climate change "free-rider", dropping off the list of nations taking "credible" action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to a panel led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
In the Africa Progress Panel's 2015 report, Australia is named along with Canada, Japan and Russia as appearing "to have withdrawn from the community of nations seeking to tackle dangerous climate change".
Australia, with one of the world's highest per capita emissions, "has gone from leadership to free-rider status in climate diplomacy", it said.
The country was on course for emissions to rise 12-18 per cent above 2000 levels after scrapping the carbon price in 2014, compared with the promise of a 5 per cent reduction by decade's end.
A separate report on Thursday by energy consultants Pitt & Sherry said Australia's emissions had jumped 1.6 per cent in the first nine months after the scrapping of the carbon price in June 2014, led by a rebound in brown coal-fired electricity production. Emissions from coal, petroleum and natural gas use are all rising for the first time since November 2011.
Two-year-old Aden Salaad, a refugee in Dadaab, Kenya. Africa has a keen interest in reducing global warming risks given its exposure to extreme weather and widespread poverty.
Australia, the US and the European Union should be aiming for deep carbon cuts by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050, while China – the largest emitter – should bring forward its planned peak, the African report said.
While the report's main focus was on the energy needs of a continent home to 600 million people without access to electricity, it noted Africa has a keen interest in reducing global warming risks given its exposure to extreme weather and widespread poverty.
"No region has done less to contribute to the climate crisis, but no region will pay a higher price for failure to tackle it," Mr Annan said in the report.
Paris pressure
The Abbott government is likely to face mounting international pressure to do more to curb carbon emissions in the run-up to the Paris climate summit at the end of the year. Australia is the only nation to remove a price on carbon and this week the House of Representatives voted to cut the renewable energy target for 2020 by about 20 per cent.
A spokesman for Environment Minister Greg Hunt, though, said the government was taking "significant action to tackle climate change".
The $2.55 billion Emissions Reduction Fund bought 47 million tonnes of carbon abatement at its first auction in April at an average price of $13.95 per tonne.
"We've contracted around four times the entire amount of emissions reduction that occurred during the life of Labor's failed carbon tax – and we're achieving abatement at around one per cent of the cost," the spokesman said.
Larissa Waters, Greens climate spokeswoman on climate change, said the Abbott government had been "ignoring the science", leaving it increasingly out of step with the rest of the world.
"It's perfectly clear that Australia is widely regarded as a global climate pariah," Senator Waters said.
Bonn critique
The African report was released as officials from many nations gathered in the German city of Bonn as part of the preparation for the Paris conference.
As expected, Australia's delegation was grilled by other delegates on whether it could meet its 2020 goals, with its prepared answers released earlier this week.
Australia copped 36 questions, the most any other country, including additional queries from the USA, China, Brazil, Fiji, South Africa, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand and the UK, according to WWF-Australia.
"There is clear concern that Australia is not lifting its weight to help limit global warming and the government's actions don't match their words," Kellie Caught, WWF-Australia's manager for climate change, said.
Countries were most concerned about the scrapping of the carbon price, with questions about funding and safeguards for its substitute, the Emissions Reduction Fund, WWF said.
Carbon price
The African panel – whose members include Michel Camdessus, a former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Irish rock singer and activist Bob Geldof and Graca Machel, Mozambican politician and widow of Nelson Mandela – called in its report for nations to introduce a "stringent" carbon price.
"The credible starting point for a 2015 carbon price in rich countries is around 21 euros [$30.60 a tonne], rising to 41 euros [$59.80] by 2020 and at annual increments of around 7 per cent thereafter," the report said.
Australia's carbon price was at $24.15 a tonne at June 30, 2014, when its repeal came into effect.
The panel also took aim at support for fossil fuels, which in Australia's case amounted to $US3.5 billion ($4.53 billion) in 2013, the report said, adding that their logic was "difficult to unravel".
"Either the new reserves discovered with the support of state subsidies will be left in the ground, which would constitute a waste of public finance during a period of acute fiscal stress," it said. "Or the reserves will be used, in which case dangerous climate change is guaranteed."
The report also said coal companies in Australia, the EU and the US were "campaigning vigorously against climate action".
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/australia-singled-out-as-a-climate-change-freerider-by-international-panel-20150604-ghgbde
Will Murdoch be able to work enough of us over to keep this party in government at the next election?
=========
Australia singled out as a climate change 'free-rider' by international panel
Date June 5, 2015 - 9:11AM
Peter Hannam
Environment Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan led the Africa Progress Panel.
Australia's power sector emissions jump
Global warming 'hiatus' never happened
Australia has become a climate change "free-rider", dropping off the list of nations taking "credible" action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to a panel led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
In the Africa Progress Panel's 2015 report, Australia is named along with Canada, Japan and Russia as appearing "to have withdrawn from the community of nations seeking to tackle dangerous climate change".
Australia, with one of the world's highest per capita emissions, "has gone from leadership to free-rider status in climate diplomacy", it said.
The country was on course for emissions to rise 12-18 per cent above 2000 levels after scrapping the carbon price in 2014, compared with the promise of a 5 per cent reduction by decade's end.
A separate report on Thursday by energy consultants Pitt & Sherry said Australia's emissions had jumped 1.6 per cent in the first nine months after the scrapping of the carbon price in June 2014, led by a rebound in brown coal-fired electricity production. Emissions from coal, petroleum and natural gas use are all rising for the first time since November 2011.
Two-year-old Aden Salaad, a refugee in Dadaab, Kenya. Africa has a keen interest in reducing global warming risks given its exposure to extreme weather and widespread poverty.
Australia, the US and the European Union should be aiming for deep carbon cuts by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050, while China – the largest emitter – should bring forward its planned peak, the African report said.
While the report's main focus was on the energy needs of a continent home to 600 million people without access to electricity, it noted Africa has a keen interest in reducing global warming risks given its exposure to extreme weather and widespread poverty.
"No region has done less to contribute to the climate crisis, but no region will pay a higher price for failure to tackle it," Mr Annan said in the report.
Paris pressure
The Abbott government is likely to face mounting international pressure to do more to curb carbon emissions in the run-up to the Paris climate summit at the end of the year. Australia is the only nation to remove a price on carbon and this week the House of Representatives voted to cut the renewable energy target for 2020 by about 20 per cent.
A spokesman for Environment Minister Greg Hunt, though, said the government was taking "significant action to tackle climate change".
The $2.55 billion Emissions Reduction Fund bought 47 million tonnes of carbon abatement at its first auction in April at an average price of $13.95 per tonne.
"We've contracted around four times the entire amount of emissions reduction that occurred during the life of Labor's failed carbon tax – and we're achieving abatement at around one per cent of the cost," the spokesman said.
Larissa Waters, Greens climate spokeswoman on climate change, said the Abbott government had been "ignoring the science", leaving it increasingly out of step with the rest of the world.
"It's perfectly clear that Australia is widely regarded as a global climate pariah," Senator Waters said.
Bonn critique
The African report was released as officials from many nations gathered in the German city of Bonn as part of the preparation for the Paris conference.
As expected, Australia's delegation was grilled by other delegates on whether it could meet its 2020 goals, with its prepared answers released earlier this week.
Australia copped 36 questions, the most any other country, including additional queries from the USA, China, Brazil, Fiji, South Africa, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand and the UK, according to WWF-Australia.
"There is clear concern that Australia is not lifting its weight to help limit global warming and the government's actions don't match their words," Kellie Caught, WWF-Australia's manager for climate change, said.
Countries were most concerned about the scrapping of the carbon price, with questions about funding and safeguards for its substitute, the Emissions Reduction Fund, WWF said.
Carbon price
The African panel – whose members include Michel Camdessus, a former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Irish rock singer and activist Bob Geldof and Graca Machel, Mozambican politician and widow of Nelson Mandela – called in its report for nations to introduce a "stringent" carbon price.
"The credible starting point for a 2015 carbon price in rich countries is around 21 euros [$30.60 a tonne], rising to 41 euros [$59.80] by 2020 and at annual increments of around 7 per cent thereafter," the report said.
Australia's carbon price was at $24.15 a tonne at June 30, 2014, when its repeal came into effect.
The panel also took aim at support for fossil fuels, which in Australia's case amounted to $US3.5 billion ($4.53 billion) in 2013, the report said, adding that their logic was "difficult to unravel".
"Either the new reserves discovered with the support of state subsidies will be left in the ground, which would constitute a waste of public finance during a period of acute fiscal stress," it said. "Or the reserves will be used, in which case dangerous climate change is guaranteed."
The report also said coal companies in Australia, the EU and the US were "campaigning vigorously against climate action".
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/australia-singled-out-as-a-climate-change-freerider-by-international-panel-20150604-ghgbde
Azza said:
Don't know about being a leaner mate, from the jargon I get surrounded by, someone who is 'leaning in' is usually a positive thing and referring to them looking to make a difference.
When it comes to trying to be a positive influence in the world, on environmental policy, we are more.... ummm.... parasitic. Bloody sad!
K3 said:
im guessing Azza is referring to the LIbs preference for people, at least 'working class people', to be 'lifters' not 'leaners'.
out of interest can anyone defend the policy of total silence in regards to Nauru. anyone reporting abuse, violence, neglect etc can be imprisoned under new laws, supported by the 2 major parties. regardless of people's views about how asylum seekers and refugees should be treated i cannot think of any, nor heard any, justification for this.
utterly shameful.
Brodders17 said:
Good points at the end there mate. The silencing of the media, and criticism from any party, has been quite remarkable. Why oh why did Labor jump in bed with the Libs on this issue is just beyond me. It is no wonder people are disgusted at Abbott and yet look to Shorten and see a "hmmm... would he actually be any better or just a different shade of puke?"
A real shame that the Democrats went hard when shooting themselves in the foot, with a bazooka!
Here is the link to the transcript of what was actually said (rather than reported by Fairfax or the ABC).
http://jbh.ministers.treasury.gov.au/transcript/143-2015/
As I am sure posters base their posts on facts can people please point out to me what is so clearly disgraceful. It seems to me all he said was that with low interest rates if you have a good job now is a good time to buy and one of teh best ways to enter the private housing market is to be in secure employment. This has always been the case. Beat up it seems to me.
http://jbh.ministers.treasury.gov.au/transcript/143-2015/
As I am sure posters base their posts on facts can people please point out to me what is so clearly disgraceful. It seems to me all he said was that with low interest rates if you have a good job now is a good time to buy and one of teh best ways to enter the private housing market is to be in secure employment. This has always been the case. Beat up it seems to me.
I had a quick read.Peaka said:
IMO not so much 'disgraceful' as startlingly out of touch, illogical and a sad reflection of how greedy he thinks the average Australia is.
1. "No. Look, if housing were unaffordable in Sydney, no one would be buying it."
The issue is housing is unaffordable for first home buyers. This is a segment that are making up a much smaller portion of buyers than in the past; precisely because houses are unaffordable. The fact that Hockey is able to use such a misleading and simplistic cliche to avoid the question is a worry. If he truly beleives his flawed logic then it is an even bigger worry.
2. His language that immediately followed is all about property being an asset to borrowed against as opposed to shelter. This is the sort of attitude that you expect from a property spruiker, the REIV, a bank or someone else with a vested interest in property but this man is responsible for our economy; which many would argue is somewhere between hamstrung and doomed due to the weight of our collective mortgage debt.
3. "Well there are a range of incentives that have been put in place by state governments and others in relation to first home buyers."
Yes, they were incentives but really they just benefited vendors
4. "The starting point for a first home buyer is to get a good job that pays good money. If you’ve got a good job and it pays good money and you have security in relation to that job, then you can go to the bank and you can borrow money and that’s readily affordable. "
While there is nothing inaccurate with this comment, at best he is teaching FHBs to suck eggs. Really!? A high paying job makes it easier to buy a house!? You don't say!
Reading between the lines though, in the context of the question, he is saying one or both of the following things; (a) that housing affordability for FHBs is not his problem and (b) that from now on only people on high paying jobs can own a home (in Sydney for now, but soon perhaps Melbourne and all other places that have jobs). For anyone that lives in the real world and has a decent appreciation of prices and an understanding of finance or aptitude in maths, that includes a hell of a lot of people such as teachers, police officers, allied health and huge numbers of people in low skilled work. Good luck having cities without these people.
5. "...if you abolish negative gearing, rents will increase. Rents will increase."
:bs and he knows it. It makes no logical sense and the experts (like John Daley) have discredit this argument to his face on live TV.
6. He then danced around the APRA question. Too hard. That's because APRA realise that negative gearing has lead to a flood of investors in the market and this puts the housing market (and the whole economy when you consider there is stuff all else going on here) at risk.
Peaka said:
Haha in your haste to have yet another crack at my posting you appear to have assumed, quite wrongly I might add, that I was referring to that transcript. Had a quick glance but I'm not going to read it. You could have asked me what I meant if you were so interested, rather than ask posters who "base their posts on fact".
Disgrace is one word. We can be pedantic about definitions. I could have chosen several others that to mean much the same. Out of touch with reality, condescending, degrading, insensitive, disrespectful, not knowing how the other half live...the list could go on but given your past history Peaka I'm confident you'd still question my choice of description.
For your info I was referring to Joe in general not to one discussion you seem to want to pigeon hole it as. He has a bit of a history.
In regards to the actual get a good job comment I find it interesting that when questioned on whether he considered nursing and police force good jobs he thinks they need to get better. If being first home buyers isn't achievable for them then our priorities are out of whack. Also where are the good, high paid jobs in rural areas. Far fewer and wider between. I think Joe's comments are a disgrace because of his position of influence and power. Instead of offering his captain obvious solutions I'd prefer him to help do something about it.
Hockey's hints. Or: how I learned to stop worrying and just got a good job
By Ben Pobjie
Posted Wed at 8:18am
Getting your finances in order is easy if you just follow these tips from the Treasurer.
It turns out our straight-talking Treasurer has far more handy hints than just "get a job, get a house". Having trouble paying for groceries? Just buy cheaper things. Finding it hard to save? Just spend less money. It's easy once Joe shows you how, writes Ben Pobjie.
How much more refreshing than a clear mountain stream is a politician who tells it "how it is". And in Joe Hockey we have a doozy, a man of irrepressible forthrightness, a leader of boundless integrity, a statesman who would rather hurl himself into a snakepit than tell it how it isn't for even a moment.
Not many politicians have Hockey's peculiar blend of shrill petulance and kamikaze gumption, and it's to our nation's benefit that we get the straight dope from him. As we did this week when Hockey, faced with questions regarding the increasing lack of affordability in the house market, provided a simple, commonsense solution to the problem.
"The starting point for a first-home buyer," Hockey summed up in classic style, "is to get a good job that pays good money."
And you know what? He's absolutely right. That IS the starting point for first-home buyers. The Treasurer's calm advice should be a wake-up call for all those aspiring first-home buyers who have been starting out by getting a bad job, or by quitting their job, or by setting themselves on fire outside a bank. None of these are the way to go, and it's time we accepted this.
Naturally, Hockey's comments caused controversy, but this was only because people insist on jumping the gun. Hockey only said that getting a good job that pays good money was the starting point for first-home buyers. Of course as Treasurer he knows there's more to it.
After getting the job and the good money, of course, the next step is to give the money to a man who makes houses, and then naturally you'll need to hire movers. It doesn't happen overnight, but there's no doubt: having a good job that pays good money is the starting point. And if you have a bad job that pays bad money, or a good job that pays bad money, or even a bad job that pays good money ... well that's hardly Joe Hockey's fault, is it? He didn't make you take that job.
Far more significant than the carping of a few malcontent arts graduates who think Centrelink owes them a studio apartment is the fact that for once the levers of economic power in this country are being grasped by a man who understands the problems facing the populace, and who is willing to come forward with easy-to-implement solutions to those problems.
It doesn't stop with "get a job, get a house". Hockey's got all sorts of helpful hints to share with us, including:
Household budgets
Many Australians have difficulty making ends meet from week to week these days - the grocery dollar doesn't stretch as far as it used to. Treasurer Hockey has a little trick we can all try, though. "If you're having trouble affording essentials like food," he says, "why not try buying cheaper things?" It's as easy as that! Sound too good to be true? Well we here at The Drum have personally tested this tip, and found that it works like a charm - buying things that cost less than other things can shave up to 40 per cent off your household spend.
Savings
It sure is hard to get ahead with your savings, isn't it? How can you build up a nest egg with so many demands on the old purse strings? Hockey's got you covered. "The secret to successful saving," the world's best Treasurer confides, "is putting money in a bank and leaving it there for a while." Again, try it and see: I predict that after just a few weeks of putting money into your bank, and not taking it out again, your savings will be burgeoning like nobody's business. And speaking of business, why not try the Treasurer's tips on:
Business expenses
It's every Australian's dream to own their own business, but with all the overheads involved, how can you cover start-up costs? The man whose broad, safe fingers are clutching the nation's finances didn't get where he is by being a business mug, and he has some incredible information to share. "When starting a business," our Joe nods wisely, "the most important thing is to have enough money to start a business." And guess what, guys: he's right. In fact, ABS figures show that 100 per cent of businesses that stay afloat for five years or more started out with enough money to start out. Are you going to argue with facts?
Education
It's every parent's dilemma: you can't afford private school, but you also don't want your child to be a murderer. How can you, on your modest pay packet, send your beloved offspring to a school that doesn't offer ice manufacturing as a PE module? It's easy if you just listen to Ol' Joe, Wallet-Master. "Education costs are easy to meet," he says, sucking thoughtfully on a cigar, "if you just remember, every month, to put away exactly the amount you need for school fees, then give that amount to the school." And to think how many people believe private school is a complicated affair!
Travel
So often we think we have to settle for cut-price holidays, but there's no need to, if you're just smart about your money. As the Treasurer explains, "for affordable, luxurious travel, why not try being a Cabinet Minister?"
Try any or all of these great Hockey "shortcuts" for yourself, and like me and countless other new homeowners, you'll be left wondering just why you didn't think of it yourself*!
*...and don't drive a car.
P.S. Good post Marty.
By Ben Pobjie
Posted Wed at 8:18am
Getting your finances in order is easy if you just follow these tips from the Treasurer.
It turns out our straight-talking Treasurer has far more handy hints than just "get a job, get a house". Having trouble paying for groceries? Just buy cheaper things. Finding it hard to save? Just spend less money. It's easy once Joe shows you how, writes Ben Pobjie.
How much more refreshing than a clear mountain stream is a politician who tells it "how it is". And in Joe Hockey we have a doozy, a man of irrepressible forthrightness, a leader of boundless integrity, a statesman who would rather hurl himself into a snakepit than tell it how it isn't for even a moment.
Not many politicians have Hockey's peculiar blend of shrill petulance and kamikaze gumption, and it's to our nation's benefit that we get the straight dope from him. As we did this week when Hockey, faced with questions regarding the increasing lack of affordability in the house market, provided a simple, commonsense solution to the problem.
"The starting point for a first-home buyer," Hockey summed up in classic style, "is to get a good job that pays good money."
And you know what? He's absolutely right. That IS the starting point for first-home buyers. The Treasurer's calm advice should be a wake-up call for all those aspiring first-home buyers who have been starting out by getting a bad job, or by quitting their job, or by setting themselves on fire outside a bank. None of these are the way to go, and it's time we accepted this.
Naturally, Hockey's comments caused controversy, but this was only because people insist on jumping the gun. Hockey only said that getting a good job that pays good money was the starting point for first-home buyers. Of course as Treasurer he knows there's more to it.
After getting the job and the good money, of course, the next step is to give the money to a man who makes houses, and then naturally you'll need to hire movers. It doesn't happen overnight, but there's no doubt: having a good job that pays good money is the starting point. And if you have a bad job that pays bad money, or a good job that pays bad money, or even a bad job that pays good money ... well that's hardly Joe Hockey's fault, is it? He didn't make you take that job.
Far more significant than the carping of a few malcontent arts graduates who think Centrelink owes them a studio apartment is the fact that for once the levers of economic power in this country are being grasped by a man who understands the problems facing the populace, and who is willing to come forward with easy-to-implement solutions to those problems.
It doesn't stop with "get a job, get a house". Hockey's got all sorts of helpful hints to share with us, including:
Household budgets
Many Australians have difficulty making ends meet from week to week these days - the grocery dollar doesn't stretch as far as it used to. Treasurer Hockey has a little trick we can all try, though. "If you're having trouble affording essentials like food," he says, "why not try buying cheaper things?" It's as easy as that! Sound too good to be true? Well we here at The Drum have personally tested this tip, and found that it works like a charm - buying things that cost less than other things can shave up to 40 per cent off your household spend.
Savings
It sure is hard to get ahead with your savings, isn't it? How can you build up a nest egg with so many demands on the old purse strings? Hockey's got you covered. "The secret to successful saving," the world's best Treasurer confides, "is putting money in a bank and leaving it there for a while." Again, try it and see: I predict that after just a few weeks of putting money into your bank, and not taking it out again, your savings will be burgeoning like nobody's business. And speaking of business, why not try the Treasurer's tips on:
Business expenses
It's every Australian's dream to own their own business, but with all the overheads involved, how can you cover start-up costs? The man whose broad, safe fingers are clutching the nation's finances didn't get where he is by being a business mug, and he has some incredible information to share. "When starting a business," our Joe nods wisely, "the most important thing is to have enough money to start a business." And guess what, guys: he's right. In fact, ABS figures show that 100 per cent of businesses that stay afloat for five years or more started out with enough money to start out. Are you going to argue with facts?
Education
It's every parent's dilemma: you can't afford private school, but you also don't want your child to be a murderer. How can you, on your modest pay packet, send your beloved offspring to a school that doesn't offer ice manufacturing as a PE module? It's easy if you just listen to Ol' Joe, Wallet-Master. "Education costs are easy to meet," he says, sucking thoughtfully on a cigar, "if you just remember, every month, to put away exactly the amount you need for school fees, then give that amount to the school." And to think how many people believe private school is a complicated affair!
Travel
So often we think we have to settle for cut-price holidays, but there's no need to, if you're just smart about your money. As the Treasurer explains, "for affordable, luxurious travel, why not try being a Cabinet Minister?"
Try any or all of these great Hockey "shortcuts" for yourself, and like me and countless other new homeowners, you'll be left wondering just why you didn't think of it yourself*!
*...and don't drive a car.
P.S. Good post Marty.
The ABC documentary documentary the Killing Season doesn't paint Julia Gillard in a very good light.
She basically admits in the documentary to supporting a man (ie Rudd) to become prime Minister who she claims bullied women (including herself). I guess its a question of the pursuit of power rather than actually caring about the principle. Laughable that she fully supported a man that she alleges bullied her and then had the temerity to call Tony Abbott a misogynist. LOL
She basically admits in the documentary to supporting a man (ie Rudd) to become prime Minister who she claims bullied women (including herself). I guess its a question of the pursuit of power rather than actually caring about the principle. Laughable that she fully supported a man that she alleges bullied her and then had the temerity to call Tony Abbott a misogynist. LOL
IMO all pollies spin history to suit their version of the truth.
I'm not watching the series because I feel I can't learn anything worthwhile.
I'm not watching the series because I feel I can't learn anything worthwhile.
Couldn't possibly be true that Labor PMs are getting torn apart because it's on the ABC and the ABC is biased isn't it ? ( not aimed at you btw )Peaka said:
These sorts of programs will only ever be done on the national broadcaster. We have had some excellent political docos in recent times.
The Labor party would be wishing the ABC was truly biased at the moment because this is not doing them any favours that's for sure
