Federal election 2013: Articles, discussion etc.

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> Opinion polls tell us Labor can't win

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Julia Gillard loses significant support among caucus

Stand by ...

[ozbob]

Twitter

Antony Green ‏@AntonyGreenABC 1m

If Labor changes Prime Minnister, does the election have to be held on 14 September? http://bit.ly/1blUMRV  #ausvotes

[somebody]

Twitter

Antony Green ‏@AntonyGreenABC 1m

If Labor changes Prime Minnister, does the election have to be held on 14 September? http://bit.ly/1blUMRV  #ausvotes

My under standing is the PM of the day can call an election of what ever day they choose with the bounds of the constitution.

Actually the Governor-General can call whatever elections he/she sees fit to do.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA CONSTITUTION ACT - SECT 5
Sessions of Parliament. Prorogation and dissolution

                   The Governor‑General may appoint such times for holding the sessions of the Parliament as he thinks fit, and may also from time to time, by Proclamation or otherwise, prorogue the Parliament, and may in like manner dissolve the House of Representatives.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/xx5.html

If the Governor-General had to follow advice it would say "Governor-General in council" AIUI.  There is a similar provision for double dissolutions.

All Julia Gillard is doing by delaying the election is ensuring she goes down as Australia's most hated and worst PM ever. The current govt has done some positive things during its term, unfortunately I doubt anyone will remember. We all know LNP will win, but we don't need a another ALP wipeout as its not good to have a non-functional opposition.

Umm, I don't think she's as bad as KRudd, McMahon and a number of others who were hmm...

What exactly has she done or not done which makes her the "worst".  A few things I don't agree with are:
- higher super contributions
- a super surcharge like system returning, although they needed to do something
- harder to hire people and have them work at ordinary hours outside of 9-5 Mon-Fri
- Fair Work Act provisions failed the test with the Qantas lock out.  Although slower acting ones eventually succeeded.

[#Metro]

Why does everyone hate her? (or seems to)

[justanotheruser]

Also the mining tax,

which many blame for the ending of the mining boom although anyone who knows what they are talking about could see the mining boom was finishing before this tax.

the economy and that

one of six countries to have AAA rating with all major ratings agencies and only one of those six countries considered to be capable of paying its debt. Message just hasn't got through because the media have turned against them and internal party problems.

in their tenure as govt the ALP have not delivered one surplus after 07-08 Fin year and a few others.

However Australia would have gone into recession long ago if they didn't spend that money. Government is not like business. In the good times one should put money away and in bad times spend more than it earns to keep things going.  People tend to ignore the effect of the GFC and ongoing problems in other countries that due to global economy have an impact here.

A study (subjective one) found Howard government was more wasteful of money than Labor. I liked the approach of that study which did not include spending on essentials like health or education. That approach shows who is spending on good things and who is just buying votes. Howard did stuff all on infrastructure but rather left big amounts of money in the coffers so he could promise the biggest tax cuts which is what won him elections as people vote for what is best for them rather than what is best.

Having said all that I won't be voting labor although my vote doesn't count because liberals have such a strong hold on the seat and have for my dad's entire life and longer (over 70 years!)

[johnnigh]

A study (subjective one) found Howard government was more wasteful of money than Labor. I liked the approach of that study which did not include spending on essentials like health or education. That approach shows who is spending on good things and who is just buying votes. Howard did stuff all on infrastructure but rather left big amounts of money in the coffers so he could promise the biggest tax cuts which is what won him elections as people vote for what is best for them rather than what is best.

Well put! Howard set the seal on pandering. What Australian's now want is more SUVs in order to enjoy congestion better while moaning about it, thanks to the pandering to tax cuts over those years from before 2004 to the end of his reign. Have to remember that Rudd promised to carry on with these cuts and did so until the GFC.

Thank goodness I live close to an existing railway station not far from the CBD. Pity help Logan, Sunny Coast, Redlands etc.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> For the sake of the nation, Ms Gillard should stand aside

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Rudd supporters move to force leadership vote

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Kevin Rudd to challenge PM Julia Gillard for Labor Leadership tomorrow morning

[johnnigh]

The more money you borrow, the more you have to pay back. It took LIB's about 6-7 years to pay off Keating's debts. Which means prior to the boom starting, the feds owed no money. At the end of the boom prior to GFC, they owed no money, had a surplus and a slush fund. It was no wonder Australia was never going to ride the GFC anywhere near as bad as many others and retain our AAA rating. Are we in the same position now?

Well, hate to say it, rtt, but the answer to your last question is 'YES'

You shouldn't swallow the nonsense served up by self-serving financial journalists and opportunistic politicians. Also lucky that real interest rates are negative, so the coupon rates offered by Treasury paper are below inflation (and bond prices higher in the secondary market), but that's not even necessary for Australia to ride out the coming slightly harder times that might be ahead.

Our national savings ratio is higher than during the Howard years because households are now more thrifty and govt saving isn't that much lower than it was, despite the howling from the right about govt borrowing.

Note also that the little Aussie Battler has fallen nearly to $US0.90 and it will go lower if current international trajectories continue as expected. All may not be for the best in a best of all possible worlds, but Australia's macro resilience is still pretty damn good, even if we don't have train lines everywhere we'd like them.

The sky ain't falling, Chicken-Licken.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> PM calls leadership ballot tonight

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Rudd elected Labor leader

[Fares_Fair]

Anthony Albanese to become Deputy PM (replacing Treasurer, Wayne Swan)

Penny Wong to be Leader of the Senate (replacing Stephen Conroy)

Peter Garrett, Craig Emerson, Greg Combet, Joe Ludwig and Stephen Conroy have resigned.

Julia Gillard will not recontest the next election (as member for Lalor)
Wayne Swan (soon to be former Treasurer) will stay and recontest the next election.

[ozbob]

The Australian --> Alannah MacTiernan attacks the opposition over its lack of support for public transport

[ozbob]

http://lordmayors.org/

Council of Capital City Lord Mayors

Invest in urban infrastructure to boost Australia's economy and build wellbeing

The Lord Mayors of Australia's capital cities are calling on Federal politicians to commit to ongoing investment in urban infrastructure to build the nation's competitiveness and improve the wellbeing of all Australians.

Releasing new landmark research by the Allen Consulting Group, commissioned by the CCCLM "Nation Building Projects for Australia's Capital Cities: Securing our cities' future", CCCLM Chair and Lord Mayor of Brisbane Graham Quirk called on Australia's federal leaders to invest in city infrastructure. ....more

http://bit.ly/1bm52wg

[SurfRail]

The Australian --> Alannah MacTiernan attacks the opposition over its lack of support for public transport

I would happily vote for any party which gives her an infrastructure or transport portfolio.  Good old St Lannie.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opposition Leader Tony Abbott pledges 10-year plan to upgrade Bruce Highway

[ozbob]

Brisbantimes --> PM decides: Election set for Sept 7

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Speculation rises that Rudd will call election

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

PM has called a press conference for 4pm, where it is expected an election date for 7th September 2013 will be announced.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Kevin Rudd ‏@KRuddMP 4m

Just left Government House. It's time for Australians to decide. A positive plan for Australia's future or old negative politics. KRudd

[johnnigh]

SMH: 

No money, no worries, says Berejiklian

Gladys Berejiklian: "The certainty provided by the federal Coalition in relation to transport funding is a welcome relief". Photo: James Alcock
JACOB SAULWICK

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian says she welcomes the ''certainty'' provided by Tony Abbott's commitment not to fund public transport projects in Sydney.

The federal Opposition Leader believes national governments should fund motorways and highways but not major public transport projects.

This view has been welcomed by the NSW government, even though it faces the cost of the $8 billion north-west-rail link and has committed to a $10 billion second rail crossing of Sydney harbour.

''The certainty provided by the federal Coalition in relation to transport funding is a welcome relief, especially given the Minister for Roads and I have to manage the transport cluster budget,'' Ms Berejiklian said.

''This allows us to plan for the future.''

In contrast, federal Labor says it supports national funding for urban public transport projects. But its argument has been dented by having failed to fund one in Sydney.

It offered funding for a train line between Parramatta and Epping at the 2010 election, but the NSW Coalition government preferred to build the north-west rail link instead.

[ozbob]

Pure polyticks .... NSW is the most populous state, with the worst congestion problems.   Next?

[ozbob]

Transport and the 2013 Federal Election: who's promising what?

http://transportreform.org/news/transport-and-the-2013-federal-election-whos-promising-what/

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Clive Palmer wins Fairfax after marathon recount