Diary of our stinking Govt.

[boris1gary]

As it's more than 100 days now, it has been suggested that a new thread was needed.  The current govt has been breaking promises and telling lies at a rate so fast it's hard to keep up.

This below is worrying, "independent" pffft, as if your own doctor is somehow what? biased, it's ridiculous. So far there is talk of only including people under a certain age 30-35, for now. Remember that if your injured in a car, injured at work or get ill, you too might need to go on the DSP. They have done a similar think in the UK with devastating consequences.

and this is the 2nd time recently where the Govt has referred to work as welfare???? So when you go to work tomorrow (or tuesday), just remember that's welfare.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-20/disability-pensioners-may-be-reassessed-kevin-andrews/5400598

Independent doctors could be called in to reassess disability pensioners, Federal Government says

The Federal Government is considering using independent doctors to examine disability pensioners and assess whether they should continue to receive payments.

Currently family doctors provide reports supporting claims for the Disability Support Pension (DSP).

But Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews is considering a measure that would see independent doctors reassess eligibility.

"We are concerned that where people can work, the best form of welfare is work," Mr Andrews said at a press conference.

[cherry*135]

Who said graphs are confusing? I don't even look at them,scroll on by.

Are you advertising cologne now?

[monman12]

my shares are up quite a lot since the GFC too (When Rudd/gillard were around)   

 odd isn't it!

Chuckle. Everyone's shares are up since the GFC, actually BHP have now  fallen to their GFC bottom, and as you say:  "When Rudd/gillard were around". You might blame the Circus, but I do not .

[monman12]

my shares are up quite a lot since the GFC too (When Rudd/gillard were around)   

 odd isn't it!

Chuckle. Everyone's shares are up since the GFC, actually BHP have now  fallen to their GFC bottom, and as you say:  "When Rudd/gillard were around". You might blame the Circus, but I do not .

[cherry*135]

 Tony Abbott wanted 'offshore build' for submarines, Rand review told

 April, 16

by John Kerin

Prime Minister Tony Abbott wanted to send Australia's $50 billion new submarine construction project offshore to Japan towards the end of last year, a US defence think tank inadvertently confirmed on Thursday.

The admission came from the US based Rand Corporation which carried out a report in to the future of the naval shipbuilding industry, which found the sector is in need of shakeup, able to support only two shipbuilders rather than the current four and must shrink to a workforce of around 2000 - around half the size it is now to be viable.

But repeatedly asked on Thursday why the team had not been asked to include submarine construction as part of its analysis, the lead author and maritime manager, John Birkler, conceded an Australian submarine build could affect the report findings.

He also insisted he understood Australia's strategy at the time it was researching the review between September and December last year was to build the submarines offshore.

So confident was Rand that Australia was taking the project overseas that it included a table on page 38, which summarised future acquisition strategies as including only one option for the submarines to replace the ageing Collins class an "offshore build".

Asked why there were no other strategies included, Mr Birkler said by telephone hookup from the US at a briefing in Canberra on Thursday that "was the strategy that was under consideration for the future submarine at the time we did the study."

"That was it was to go offshore... [but] I know things have changed since then," Mr Birkler said.

JAPAN REMAINS FAVOURITE

Japan which remains favourite to win the project orginally wanted to undertake the entire project in November, the Abe government conceded it was prepared to enter into at least some form of hybrid build with Adelaide based government owned submarine builder ASC - throwing Mr Abbott a political lifeline.

A massive backlash by the South Australian Labor government and Opposition, shipbuilding unions and Independent Senator Nick Xenophon forced the Prime Minister to change tack.

Mr Abbott has since pledged that whoever is the partner for the submarine project it will mean at least 500 additional jobs in Adelaide.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have been keen for a submarine tieup between the two countries as a means of strengthening defence and security ties.

However, in February the government rejected repeated calls for an open tender instead opting for a much criticised "competitive evaluation process" including the Japanese, Germans and the French.

Japan is putting up its 4200 tonne Soryu class which is built by Mitshubishi and Kawasaki, German based TKMS is putting up its 4000 tonne Type 216 and French company DCNS is putting up a non-nuclear version of its 5000 tonne Barracuda class submarine in what is a 10 month process.

'NOT IN OUR CHARTER'

Mr Birkler said it had never been in the terms of reference for the Rand team to consider whether Australian shipyards could handle building ships and submarines.

"It was not in our charter to include submarines...I am not sure what the outcome would be if we had to include them in our analysis ," Rand's John Birkler said on Thursday.

"We would have to do the numbers but our experience, submarines skillsets are very different from surface combatants, involve a different materials, different manufacturing processes, different facilities," Birkler said.

"It was discussed early on but our charter was quiet clear," Birkler said.

 http://www.afr.com/news/politics/tony-abbott-wanted-offshore-build-for-submarines-rand-review-told-2...

[debra9275]

You are spot on! Everyone's shares have gone up since the GFC!

I seem to remember you hold BHP shares in your portfolio, but I guess you are like me and have numerous other holdings as well. I don't know about you, but I am not too worried about the drop in BHP shares atm

The labor govt. did a pretty good job of shielding us from the GFC, good fiscal policy, rewarded with treasurer of the year award (Wayne swan)


Do you think joe hockey will be nominated for that award anytime soon?

[debra9275]

I have wondered Am whether he has already signed a contract with Japan last year, time will tell

[cherry*135]

Joe Hockey the worst treasurer in 40 years, opinion poll finds

THE AUSTRALIAN DECEMBER 20, 2014

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/joe-hockey-the-worst-treasurer-in-40-years...

[debra9275]

Lol.. I guess he won't be nominated for that world's best treasurer award then 😃

[monman12]

"Lol.. I guess he won't be nominated for that world's best treasurer award then"

Hardly,  considering what the Circus left in the coffers (debt), and current expenditures that were reliant upon a non existent MMRT.

The Circus came to town in 2007

The  federal CC debt is rising, the are bleating that they want more hand feeding, but no extra wool/milk is forthcoming,  and meanwhile the sand is kicked about here from those whose appreciation of business economics would appear to be from the bleaters.

[cherry*135]

What is your avg no.of graphs posted a day? Two or three?

Like my link to the worst Treasurer (Hockey) poll?

'..those whose appreciation of business economics would appear to be from the bleaters.'


Economists say the last Budget was a dud...

[debra9275]

another graph

do you suppose that when Labor wins the next election that they'll be able to blame the LNP for the poor state of the economy?  I hope they remember how this govt. blames them for everything