kudo for the funny pic nero.....but I have to correct you ref slogan on the 'tree trunk' being a wee bit presumptious at this stage Dear!.....this may prove to only be the outcome for a 1st round?!

Fact check: Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie incorrect on defence spending 

Read it all here 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-25/jacqui-lambie-defence-spending-fact-check/5681688

The verdict

Defence spending was 1.71 per cent of GDP in 2013-14, and is projected to be higher in 2014-15.

In 1938-39 it was 1.5 per cent. The lowest it has been since then is 1.62 per cent in 2002-03 and again in 2012-13.

Defence spending as a ratio of GDP is not the lowest it's been since before World War II.

Senator Lambie is incorrect.

Today

Kingmaker Clive Palmer emerged from a meeting of PUP senators in Canberra to declare one of the budget's measures, the proposed $7 GP fee dead.

"The co-payment will not be happening, we unanimously decided that we wouldn't support a co-payment of even one cent. So there's no question - there won't be a co-payment," Mr Palmer said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-hoses-down-tax-hike-threat-and-spr...

This ignorant fool of a woman is in for 6 long years.

Not only does she appear to have mental issues, her gabbing big mouth puts this country at risk with our trading partner, China. 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/jacqui-lambie-refuses-to-apologise-for-warning-of-c...

Mr Palmer has apologised to the “Chinese people everywhere” for last week describing China’s government as “mongrels” and “**bleep**s” who shoot their own people

Senator Lambie said the PUP leader had little choice because “people are still quite irate about his comments”.

However, she would not offer a similar apology for her China invasion warning, in which she said Australia needed to double the size of it military to “stop our grandchildren from becoming slaves to an aggressive, anti-democratic totalitarian foreign power”.

The outspoken Tasmanian senator today declared: “I’m not backing down.”

“I don’t see why I would offer an apology when I’m actually speaking about the Chinese communist regime and not the Chinese people,” she told ABC Radio.

“I’m very grateful to the Chinese people and having them as trading partners and I certainly know my Tasmania is.”

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop she hoped Senator Lambie would follow Mr Palmer’s belated apology.

“I hope that Senator Lambie likewise reflects on the comments that she’s made and the potential for harm with one of our largest trading partners,” she told ABC radio

It's better than an insincere apology

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@donnashuggy wrote:

It's better than an insincere apology

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Yes it was very a insincere apology and more than likely forced on Clive due to his business interests and the fact the Chinese have made him a rich person and he wants to try and continue to do business with them 

The Chinese have very long memories and will get Clive.. Its going to cost him big time... 

Clive does not look very well in his TV interviews yesterday and watching him walk was painful,,,, Some serious health issues can be seen as he walks, (more like a small step shuffle) in front of the cameras... 

At least he does not appear to have any narcissistic character flaw issues or Quangocrat problems

- as Abbott and his neoliberal mates have.

nerowulf, speaking of ill health, i was thinking exactly the same thing about abbott, he doesn't look well either, he has gone a strange orange colour and seems to have aged 15/20 years in the last few months.

and "the Chinese have long memories" is that based on scientific evidence?

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@boris1gary wrote:

nerowulf, speaking of ill health, i was thinking exactly the same thing about abbott, he doesn't look well either, he has gone a strange orange colour and seems to have aged 15/20 years in the last few months.

 

and "the Chinese have long memories" is that based on scientific evidence?

---

was hoping this question would have been answered because I am hoping that the Chinese people and their government have forgotten what abbott said about WW11 Japanese soldiers....

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/07/09/appalling-and-insensible-china-rebukes-abbott-praising...

China's official news agency has slammed Prime Minister Tony Abbott for praising Japan's World War II military prowess in his welcome to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Xinhua believes Mr Abbott's admiration of Japanese war skills was appalling and "insensible" (sic) to victim countries.

"He probably wasn't aware that the Japanese troops possessed other 'skills', skills to loot, to rape, to torture and to kill. All these had been committed under the name of honour almost 70 years ago," Xinhua said in acommentary on its website.

The agency is regarded as reflecting the views of China's government.

More than any other nation, China suffered under Japan's 14-year military occupation with as many as 20 million dead.

Feuding Senators Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus go from PUPs of war to the ex-friendables 

The Courier-Mail can reveal minor parties are circling Senator Lambie, who only joined the Palmer United Party (PUP) because the party agreed to fund her campaign.

It can also be revealed non-PUP Independents have had private discussions with Senator Lambie with a view to coaxing her to join a new Independent voting bloc that would include Motoring Enthusiast Party Ricky Muir, Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm, and Family First’s Bob Day.

Senator Lambie, who has previously been a Labor volunteer and a Liberal Party candidate, reportedly believes she should have been made leader of the party in the Senate. She remains unhappy at how Senator Lazarus was parachuted into the position.

Mr Palmer is so concerned about his PUPs he walked out of Question Time in the House of Representatives on Monday to keep watch over his senators.

He was later spotted in deep talks with Senator Lazarus and fellow PUP Dio Wang, but Senator Lambie was not involved.

Locked into a six-year term, those close to Senator Lambie believe her brand could flourish if she escaped the Clive Palmer shadow. Sources said she believes her large public profile is carrying the party, while Senator Lazarus is reclusive.

One crossbencher told The Courier-Mail Senator Lambie complained months ago about Senator Lazarus appearing to have appointed himself as the leader of the PUPS in the Senate, to which she took exception.

“She basically said he can get stuffed,” the crossbencher said.

A potential new voting bloc would be more open to passing the Government’s budget measures in a compromised form.

Mr Palmer is currently holding the Abbott Government to ransom and stopping them from introducing reform.

Senator Lazarus last week described Senator Lambie as a “very spirited woman” and admitted the party didn’t always agree with each other.

Neither Mr Palmer nor Senator Lazarus were critical of Senator Lambie’s view that Australia should buy missiles to prepare for a Chinese invasion because they did not want to alienate her from the party. Senator Lambie earlier refused to apologise for her claims.

“I don’t see why I would offer an apology when I’m actually speaking about the Chinese Communist regime and I’m not speaking about the Chinese people. I’m not backing down,” she told ABC Radio.

Mr Palmer issued a formal apology to the Chinese Government this week, eight days after calling the Chinese “mongrels” who “shoot their own people.”

The Palmer United Party met yesterday morning and held a spirited meeting.

Mr Palmer’s coalition concerns increased yesterday when Senator Muir, who had pledged allegiance to PUP, said he was open to discussing a compromise on the $7 GP co-payment against the party line.

“My ears are open,” he said. “I’m happy to listen to what people have got to suggest.”

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/feuding-senators-jacqui-lambie-and-glenn-lazarus-go-fr...