RAIL - Back On Track Forum

He neglected to mention that Catherine King, Labor's infrastructure spokeswoman confirmed that an incoming Anthony Albanese government would honour the $1.6 billion commitment for CAMCOS rail to Maroochydore, on the day before the election.

https://twitter.com/AntonyGreenElec/status/1530403507131412487

ABC --> Who's in the new Labor government cabinet? Who got what role on the frontbench?

Quote... Catherine King is another Labor MP with previous cabinet experience, serving briefly in cabinet as minister for regional Australia, local government and territories before being forced into opposition.

She will hold the infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government portfolio.  ...

Full details of Cabinet > https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-01/who-is-new-labor-government-ministry-cabinet/101113496

Done and dusted ...

>> https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2022/results/party-totals

Labor end up with 77 seats, a majority.

Coalition 58 seats, Greens 4 seats.

Others 12 seats (independents 10, Katter 1, Centre Alliance 1)

QuoteThey have voted for what will
be a majority Albanese Labor government

It is this blinkered arrogance that worries me most! They only got to majority on the back of many preference vote from people who voted for greater change!

If the QLD Government use this as an endorsement of their policies then they have a huge shock coming!

^^ Preference vote is still a vote, it may not be the voter's first preference.  That's how the system works.

Greens supporters are free to give their second and third preferences to the LNP and One Nation.

The biggest issue with their party is the complete and utter lack of pragmatism.  They need to develop some quick-stick if they are to be of any use in this Parliament.

Ministry List

> https://www.pmc.gov.au/resource-centre/government/ministry-list

Assistant minister for the Republic? Am I missing something here?

^

https://7news.com.au/politics/republicans-applaud-new-assistant-minister-c-7011602

QuoteThe push for Australia to break away from the monarchy has received its best news in 25 years after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appointed an assistant minister for the republic.

Australian Republic Movement chair Peter FitzSimons says the appointment of Matt Thistlethwaite was a major show of support.

It remains to be seen what progress Labor will make on the issue after it confirmed a constitutionally-enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament was its referendum priority. ...

They should do two referendums at the next election one for 4 year fixed terms for the lower house and another for an Indigenous treaty or Indigenous voice in parliament. At least that will be a step forward to what we already have.

The republic model will take a long to time to put together as the states will need to get involved.

Rail Express --> Rail industry welcomes King and Cabinet

QuoteThe Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has congratulated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the announcement of his new Ministry and the appointment of Catherine King as Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

ARA chief executive officer Caroline Wilkie says the rail industry looked forward to working with Minister King to support a strong national focus for the rail industry, as well as with Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown, Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic MP and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing Hon Tim Ayres on advancing the government's rail policies.

She said the delivery of the National Rail Manufacturing Plan, reinstating of the Rail Supplier Advocate and establishment of a Rail Innovation Council would help create more jobs in cities and regions across Australia.

"The Australian rail industry is currently experiencing an unprecedented level of infrastructure investment, which represents a huge opportunity to build capability across the rail supply chain," she said.  ...

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/1531912700040597506

https://twitter.com/CatherineKingMP/status/1531868818884411393

Quote from: verbatim9 on June 01, 2022, 17:10:26 PMThey should do two referendums at the next election one for 4 year fixed terms for the lower house and another for an Indigenous treaty or Indigenous voice in parliament. At least that will be a step forward to what we already have.

So what about the Senate? Will we continue to have half-Senate elections every three years?

Or just have Senate elections coincide with House of Reps elections and vacate the entirety of the senate each time.  That would be more democratic as it would be easier to get elected due to the reduction in the quota figures.

Ideally you'd deal with the massive malapportionment in the Senate, if you wanted it to be more democratic. I understand the original purpose of the Senate was to represent state's interests, but it doesn't realistically do that any more—votes are primarily along party lines.

It's a bit ridiculous that NSW and Tas have the same number of Senators.

Senate ensures that votes pass if a bill:
(a) Has the support of a majority of people (e.g. NSW and VIC agree), and
(b) Has the support of a majority of states (e.g. TAS, WA, SA etc).

This design ensures that power is balanced across the country, and that we don't all have to agree to just what is good for NSW and VIC.

Quote from: #Metro on June 04, 2022, 10:29:23 AMSenate ensures that votes pass if a bill:
(a) Has the support of a majority of people (e.g. NSW and VIC agree), and
(b) Has the support of a majority of states (e.g. TAS, WA, SA etc).

This design ensures that power is balanced across the country, and that we don't all have to agree to just what is good for NSW and VIC.

Can you name the last time a bill was decided along state lines?

I can't say I would know - that would require some digging.

States exist. This is what NSW and VIC had to do get the other states into the Federation. Otherwise there would have been no point and they would have gone the way of New Zealand, and become separate countries.

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Constitution/preamble

Quote from: Australian Constitution6. Definitions
The Commonwealth shall mean the Commonwealth of Australia as established under this Act.

The States shall mean such of the colonies of New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia, including the northern territory of South Australia, as for the time being are parts of the Commonwealth, and such colonies or territories as may be admitted into or established by the Commonwealth as States; and each of such parts of the Commonwealth shall be called a State.

We should buy trains from wherever they are best fit for the role, not because who made them.
Imagine if everyone did this - nobody would buy our exports in wheat, coal, iron ore, meat, holiday here etc.

Our market is too small.  It's all the same international suppliers who just gouge us anyway.

Especially stupid to have separate facilities all over the country - Perth, Maryborough / Torbanlea, Dandenong etc.

QuoteEspecially stupid to have separate facilities all over the country - Perth, Maryborough / Torbanlea, Dandenong etc.

They are all protecting "their" corner. So WA only wants WA built trains (not from VIC, NSW or QLD), VIC only wants trains from Dandenong etc (Not WA and not QLD) and so on.

Imagine if we took this approach to funding. Only QLD taxes would fund QLD projects, NSW ones fund NSW ones, VIC funds vic projects, and so on.

I think a very simple thing would be to say if you want Federal funding then you can't just limit your purchases to things made in your state.

QuoteTwo hundred years ago David Ricardo presented the theory of comparative advantage. He demonstrated that relative costs, not absolute costs, determine the efficient allocation of resources. The theory of comparative advantage explains why, for example, even though Lebron James may be the best typist in the Cavaliers organization, it makes economic sense that he does not write all his own messages.

https://blog.oup.com/2017/07/buying-local-communities-economics/