Today's Topic-----The election

rhoda

With the final Parliament makeup of Labor 76 to Coalition 74, Julia Gillard returned to her PM office which she wrested from Kevin Rudd.

The election process is of high drama. At first, the hope for Coalition to win was frail; but on 21 Aug, after Tony Abbott’s efforts the Coalition received more votes and gained more seats than Labor. Then at the final stage of this closest election in nearly 50 years, Julia used $10 billion to buy supports from the rural independents and assumed the power.

But as the alliance was established in the last minute, the new government might be fragile if Labor does not keep its promises as is warned by one of its allies.


Here it is our today's topic. We might talk about what you think about Julia, Tony, MRRT, Broadband plan, or the $10 billion........

I like Tony Abbott in a way. I remember the other day he went to the hospital and talked with a sick kid. Then it was still in the election period, so of course he was surrounded by people and cameras. The funny part is that after finishing the conversation with the little girl, he turned around and said to another person with a very serious expression,' I think there is nothing worse than having a crying sick child at home.' As being commented by a famous journalist, Tony seems always to be just one slip away from disaster.

pinxinge

Any details about using $10 billion to buy support? How could she do this?

lisa2008

though dislike Julia Gillard at all, it may not be bad idea to try some change

let's see

lisa2008

rhoda, i just put a small ad for you in this post http://www.freeoz.org/ibbs/viewt ... id=36239#pid3048378

if you like, you may publish your link of any new topic in that post whenever you have

let's see how it goes

[ 本帖最后由 lisa2008 于 9-9-2010 17:21 编辑 ]

rhoda

Sorry,  I was just trying to simplify the fact.
The intent of the $10 billion promise is to woo the rural independents, and the form of it is a rural economic development package.

rhoda

Someone said politics is all about power, comprise and survival.
Now ti seems Julia has passed the test, at the cost not every woman is willing to take.

rhoda

thanks heaps

pinxinge

原帖由 rhoda 于 9-9-2010 21:24 发表

                               
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Sorry,  I was just trying to simplify the fact.
The intent of the $10 billion promise is to woo the rural independents, and the form of it is a rural economic development package.

I just found the details of this package:

Details of $9.9 billion regional package agreed to by Julia Gillard, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor.

• A round of $1.8 billion in Health and Hospitals Fund to be opened up to regional hospitals only
• A round of $500 million in Education Investment Fund to be reserved for regions
• $41 million for regional GPs and Aboriginal medical services
• $66 million to go to regional businesses and workers
• $173 million for regional schools
• $1.4 billion for various infrastructure programs
• $6 billion regional infrastructure program as announced during election campaign
• $200 million for more affordable homes as announced during election campaign
• A pledge to keep broadband prices the same regardless of location
• Regional areas to be prioritised in construction of National Broadband Network

pinxinge

原帖由 rhoda 于 9-9-2010 21:24 发表

                               
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Sorry,  I was just trying to simplify the fact.
The intent of the $10 billion promise is to woo the rural independents, and the form of it is a rural economic development package.

Given the population of rural region, I don't think the $10 billion is a good investment plan. Labor will pay for it sooner or later.

rhoda

I am not sure about the potential impacts of this package, but one thing is for sure that this package is promised mainly for political purposes. It is not based on a holistic and long-term view. It is possible that the regional areas might benefit from it, but some other projects which should have been of higher priority might can not be funded.

原帖由 pinxinge 于 9-9-2010 21:57 发表

                               
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Given the population of rural region, I don't think the $10 billion is a good investment plan. Labor will pay for it sooner or later.

pinxinge

原帖由 rhoda 于 9-9-2010 22:10 发表

                               
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I am not sure about the potential impacts of this package, but one thing is for sure that this package is promised mainly for political purposes. It is not based on a holistic and long-term view. It i ...

If australia govermnet will consider foreign investment to achieve its plan, things might be easier. Rich people from China could help them...

nizi

rhoda

Hehe, it might be the dream of every  government in the world to attract more foreign investments. But apparently the taxation environment and labor cost  in Australia constitute hurdles for the inflow of foreign funds.
Australia has attracted some Chinese businessmen's investments by hanging the PR visa before them as a bait. But under this approach a balance between economic development and immigrant policy needs to be struck. Besides, it seems a large proportion of this kind of Chinese businessmen are not making profits.........

rhoda

BTW, it seems not lots of people are interested in this dull topic.
Maybe we should try something compelling next time

原帖由 pinxinge 于 9-9-2010 22:17 发表

                               
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If australia govermnet will consider foreign investment to achieve its plan, things might be easier. Rich people from China could help them...

lisa2008

looking forward to the next