Four Corners What a joke.

[margomeoz]

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2013/11/25/3896229.htm

If you have seen this and still believe the government should scrub the mining tax your head is scrambled.

Seems to me only 2 people run Queensland, Palmer and Rhinhart.

How disgusting that both have the rights to build up their mines, build private railways and sell the rights to India and China, for billions.

[lakeland27]

they want to get rid of the tax before it can be raised to a reasonable level.  the tax would have garnered more , but barnett raised state royalties to gain a larger share and disable the tax for his mates in canberra so they could yell 'look a tax that hardly raises any money'

one wonders why they object .

[margomeoz]

I found it quite funny the way Palmer was all over Anna Bligh in China and then switched to Newman and now hates both.

Money sure does talk.

[izabsmiling]

Hi Margo, 

I didn't see it .Did it mention the prospect of including ISDR ( “Investor State Dispute Resolution”) in PP's (Trans Pacific Partnership)? 

That effectively would mean that any foreign corporation within that provision could sue or Government for damages it it finds that any of our laws interfere with their business.They have quite understandably been seen by previous Governments as not in Australia's best interest...since the deregulation of FTA in the 80's.

though different I suppose if money is more important than GMO's,our environment,our health and welbeing,our working rights,clean water on farms,the air we breath. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-wallach/trade-deal-would-elevate_b_4143626.html

[donnashuggy]

Palmer speaks a whole lot better than our PM, maybe he was better educated, anyone know? Actually Gina is easy to listen to as well. Hope I am on topic 🙂

[izabsmiling]

Abbott: Open For Business — And Multinational Lawsuits By Mike SeccombeSeptember 20, 2013

Labor rejected it outright. Even the Howard government issued America with a rare “no” over the legislation, declaring it contrary to national interests. But now the Abbott Coalition is flirting with a trade agreement that would allow companies, acting increasingly in secret, to sue Australia if they don’t like its regulations.

If a mining company is unhappy with environmental safeguards which inhibit its operations, if a tobacco company does not like laws restricting cigarette sales, ISDS provisions in trade agreements give them the means to challenge government policy and to seek compensation.

http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/abbott-open-for-business-and-multinational-lawsuits/700/

[margomeoz]

---

@donnashuggy wrote:

Palmer speaks a whole lot better than our PM, maybe he was better educated, anyone know? Actually Gina is easy to listen to as well. Hope I am on topic 🙂

---

Donna I voted for Palmer, I like the man even if he is greedy, don't think he is too interested in looking after the poor though.

Can't stand Gina in any way.

Iza I did not understand all they said but Palmer does have the Chinese connection fighting him in court at the moment because he wants more royalities than he wants to pay.

[izabsmiling]

Margo, I totally agree with your opening post. 

PRESS CONFERENCE,

BRUNEI

Thursday, 10 October 2013

Prime Minister

Subjects:

East Asia Summit 2013; Australia-Japan relationship; Trans-Pacific Partnership; minor parties; entitlements.

E&OE

QUESTION:

Prime Minister, in Bali you put a 12-month timetable on the China FTA. Does that timetable also apply to the Japan and Korea FTAs?

PRIME MINISTER:

Look, the working target that I've got for these free trade agreements is 12 months. Now, it would be better to get them in 18 months than not to get them at all, but nevertheless, if you don't set some kind of a target, you don't have the incentive to get things done, and in the case of the China agreement, that's been meandering along since 2005, and it's very important that we accelerate it, bring it to a conclusion. The Japan and Korea free trade agreements have similarly been in train, but unresolved for a similar length of time. So, yes, let's give ourselves 12 months to bring these agreements to a satisfactory conclusion.

QUESTION:

Prime Minister, just on that, there have been some concerns raised about whether individual free trade agreements are the best way to go. Why is your government intent on signing individual FTAs?

PRIME MINISTER:

All of us would prefer a swift and satisfactory conclusion of the Doha round, but if you can't get a multilateral agreement, better to get a plurilateral agreement, and if you can't get a plurilateral agreement, better to have a series of bilateral agreements. It’s better to take small steps in the right direction in the absence of large steps and my philosophy is that if you can't get what you want today, take what you can get and go for the rest tomorrow.

So, as far as Australia is concerned, we will always be working towards freer international trade and if we can get multi-lateral or plurilateral deals, let's take them. If we can't, let’s get the best bilateral deals that we can, let’s get as many bilateral deals as we can and the fact that there have now been quite a few bilateral deals that have been beneficial for both sides – not just Australian bilateral deals, but bilateral deals around our region – I think, is driving much of the momentum behind the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

 http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2013-10-10/press-conference-brunei

[izabsmiling]

Iza I did not understand all they said but Palmer does have the Chinese connection fighting him in court at the moment because he wants more royalities than he wants to pay.

Better than a foriegn company suing us because we want to protect our environment (ie;barrier reef)  and us doing that prevents them doing their 'business'.

[margomeoz]

Don't know if you watched the vidio Iza but it was very sad to see the cattle farmers likely to lose their ranches because they wont get enough water because of the mines.

Not to mention the wild life that be be lost.