Aus Federal Politics thread (VII)

[JGK]

Poodle on the attack

"RIME Minister Julia Gillard and former union boss Michael Williamson go together like "carrots and peas", Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne says.

Mr Williamson, the former president of the Health Services Union (HSU), faces 48 charges relating to fraud, money laundering and hindering a NSW police investigation.

Mr Pyne told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday Mr Williamson, also a former ALP national president, was one of several union bosses who helped orchestrate the June 2010 coup against then prime minister Kevin Rudd.

"The prime minister cannot escape from the fact that she is linked to Michael Williamson and they go together like carrots and peas and like fish and scales," Mr Pyne said."

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I gather Gillard is meant to be the carrot and the fish. I'm amazed he didn't say "mussels".

[Mick Sawyer]

While many fear Australia's over-reliance on its mining industry, James pointed out that it accounts for little more than 10% of GDP growth while the financial sector contributes nearly 50% more.

It sometimes feels like I make similar statements 30 times a week. You think they listen after hearing Gloria and Kochey the Cock spewing misinformation on a daily basis?

[horace]

Williamson sounds a bigger grub than Thomo. And he was National Labor President?? FMD, what a smell hangs over the Pinkos.

He's no John Elliot.

rofl...now I am scared as I was cite Elliot too

[skully]

Vulture stamps her little feet and shows misandry streak

"Left faction convener Doug Cameron has accused Julia Gillard of "ambushing" him in caucus over a report that urges a tougher attitude towards the importation of foreign workers.

The Prime Minister clashed with Senator Cameron over the leaking of the report, prepared by a committee of caucus. Ms Gillard said on Tuesday she would put the report to the bottom of her papers, because she had read it in the media before receiving it.

In caucus on Tuesday Senator Cameron asked for leave to make a statement after Ms Gillard's acerbic comment, but caucus refused this, which is very unusual. Senator Cameron then used a question to the Prime Minister to deny he had leaked the report and to tell her she was putting important issues to the bottom of her papers."

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Deluded vengeful misandrist bargearse.

[JGK]

And corrupt too according to Andrew Laming in Parliament today.

[skully]

Was there ever any doubt? Just ask the rat-farking, cat kicker whose case regarding the leaked cursing video from within his PM office was closed today by the Feds.

[horace]

whatever her faults and there are heaps, I would be shocked if Gillard ever took a backhander...money does not seem a driver for...fwiw I thought the same about ljh - at least until he tried to jag the ICC job

[skully]

There are more ways to be corrupt than to take a backhander, h.

[JGK]

Another Digger gets a Victoria Cross.

Grouse.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/soldier-honoured-with-victoria-cross-medal-20121101-28lla.html

[embee]

Another Ranga

[skully]

Another Digger gets a Victoria Cross.

Grouse.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/soldier-honoured-with-victoria-cross-medal-20121101-28lla.html

Aye, sounds a massively ballsy effort on the lad's part. We salute you, man.

[JGK]

Pinkos - looking after the common people...

Workers have never had it so good

November 1, 2012
Peter Martin
Economics correspondent

FAR from being squeezed, working people are better off than ever, according to the latest figures, with lower costs from interest rates counteracting the higher costs imposed by the carbon tax.

Average wages climbed 3.7 per cent in the past year (3.9 per cent in the private sector, 3.3 per cent in the public sector). But the living costs faced by working households climbed only 1 per cent in the year to September, an increase that took account of all of the price rises that flowed from the carbon tax.

The stunningly low cost-of-living increase - half the official inflation rate - was because the Australian Bureau of Statistics' cost-of-living measure incorporated household mortgage interest costs which slid 6.7 per cent over the year to September and 2.5 per cent in the past three months. It also gave a high weight to motoring costs, which slid 0.8 per cent in the past three months as a result of lower petrol prices.

The 1 per cent annual rise in living costs was one of the lowest on record and had only been bettered on other occasions when interest rates had been falling.

Other households for whom mortgage charges and petrol prices were less important were hit harder.

In Parliament, the Climate Change Minister, Greg Combet, ridiculed a series of "notorious" warnings about the carbon tax from the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott.

The ABS said the living costs faced by pensioners and households relying on Newstart climbed 2 per cent. Self-funded retirees' costs rose 1.5 per cent.

Other figures showed private sector house building approvals were up 1.2 per cent in September. Approvals for renovations surged 11.5 per cent.

The BT Financial Group chief economist, Chris Caton, said the news was "not so much a sign of strength as a sign of hope". Building approvals were volatile and they did not respond predictably to interest rate cuts.

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates 1.50 percentage points over the past year.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/workers-have-never-had-it-so-good-20121031-28kg9.html#ixzz2AwW3YqgN

[horace]

where is Barney?....where is Skully?

[skully]

Phurt, lies, damned lies and statistics.

[horace]

never let the facts get in the way of good old rant

[skully]

Rants have to be at least 2 lines long, h.

[horace]

you type in stentorian tones just as merls used to type in falsetto

[skully]

I had to look that up, h. I've learned a new word today.

[Big Dog]

Phurt, lies, damned lies and statistics.

Sage. I've just seen some stats from my work that paints a completely different picture. In short a hell of a lot of people are doing it tough....at least in Tassie.

[skully]

There are plenty of economist journos painting different stories, but MrK is within his rights to only read the Pinko ones + Crikey.

[JGK]

From the Fairfax Question Time blog today:

2.32pm: The Climate Change Minister wants to assure punters that the carbon tax won't kill the Spring Racing Carnival or the Melbourne Cup.
Mr Combet is a man who likes a punt, and he has all the racing analogies at the ready.
He says the campaign against the carbon tax is the biggest scam since the Fine Cotton affair. Looking at Mr Abbott, he notes that case involved Bold Personality.
Mr Combet is back with the form guide for the Opposition leadership.
Malcolm Turnbull. A classy thoroughbred. Julie Bishop. Thrice runner up. Bronwyn Bishop. A stayer since 1984. Scott Morrison, an outside prospect but the foreign horses spook him every time.
The chamber is cracking up, including a few Coalition folks across the chamber.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/blogs/the-pulse/politics-wrap-november-1-2012-20121101-28l88.html#ixzz2AxCpeICG

[skully]

Did you just fart?

[JGK]

Went to a trivia quiz night. One of the questions was:

"What State is Penny Wong - also known as KD Wong - from?"

[skully]

[embee]

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