.....  Ironic considering Gillard herself escaped a cold Welsh climate under medical advise with her family as a small child due to her having bronchial phenomena and scars on her lungs.
Needed a warmer climate or else she wouldn't have been able to attend school during winter as a child back in Wales.

Imagine how many more elderly people and young children from disadvantaged households simply wont be able to afford adequate heating this winter, this and will then turn to a failing health care system when they get sick  only to be left for dead in an under-staffed hospital corridor on a stretcher if they are lucky, in an under resourced hospital ran by under-qualified , under-paid, over-worked immigrants on working visas (possibly with HIV, who would know, we don't test them) who are flat out speaking the English language...much less providing the same level of care Australians had expectations of receiving in what is supposed to be a progressive (not regressive) 1st world country, well was before Labor blew the budget and tried to purchase votes by  funding doomed lefty projects.

Honestly, how do you sleep when your ears are burning, with respects to all the behind the scene Labor party back-stabbery/cannibalism?

Julia, would your family have immigrated to Australia under these circumstances back in the 60's, when the Aussie battler could once upon a time afford to buy a home of their own, even on a basic wage in their early 20's the way my parents did? Recall the days were we offered quality public health care, (woman had their own female wards when they were admitted to hospital, men also) and could still take a family holiday with the family at least once a year?
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you...no sorry Julia/Labor, this just wont do at all.

Most of us  want better for our children, don't want them to do it  tougher than we did ourselves when starting out in life.

Though not being a parent yourself Julia, you wouldn't understand this sentimentality, would you...  as you belong to a  sanctimonious back-stabbing Labor party, and like them, are only out for yourself.

Don't forget to wear your stab-vest to the polls Julia, because Bill Shortens just behind you.

You will be easier to topple than Rudd, this is why you are now the leader of the Labor party, not because they thought you would be the best 'man' for the job.

You're just keeping Bills seat warm, that's all.

8-)

lol

Energy prices are going up worldwide.

Australian politicians don't have much influence on such things.

Interest Rates might start to ease soon for a short time, the way things are going, but they are not astronomical at the moment.  

You can say all kinds of emotional things about it, but the Australian Economy is like a leaf blowing in the wind.  There are bigger forces at work than government. That's not to say that they are incapable of screwing things up. If they are incompetent enough, and really try, they will succeed in screwing things up. The Resources Tax was a good attempt at doing just that.

When it comes to intervention, they are damned if they do, damned if they don't.

mellie , so, you don't like the alp ??

:) :) :)

Off the record, did you know that Labor when asked to fund more programs for autistic children responded with...

"Now lets not make Autistic children another stolen generation"

Apparently autistic children's parents votes aren't the order of the day.

Say what you like, and excuse it how you will, but Labor have blown much funding on senseless projects, this and made our situation much worse than it would have been had they been more socially responsible and not attempted to purchase minority votes, this or immigrate them irresponsibly.

Youth crime has doubled since 2005, though due to Labor cutting their ABS funding,(statistics research) ... it's difficult for researches to determine how and exactly when the youth crime rate doubled. Before or after 2007.

Well, this is one way of keeping the public ignorant and sweeping the mess under the carpet, but due to our overall living standards having dropped for a majority of Australians since Howard left the building, I think it's fair to say Labor played a significant part in this.

My son hasn't had a computer studies teacher for an entire term, (the school cant get one), this and are dreadfully underfunded across a whole range of their even 'basic' subjects, some of which are unable to be taken for the HSC anymore, due to there not being the available staff to teach 3 or more units of maths, and or what most once deemed basic subjects all public schools are supposed to offer.

My son is academically inclined, was permitted to attend a "fast-forward" university program, of which simply turned out to be the semi-privatised faculty advertising their campus.

This and stopped being funded half way through!

So dont now sit back and try to peg this gross negligence on the global downturn, when so much of what Gillard herself as deputy PM wasted when she  funded useless projects to cat scratch her way to the top, (particularly on the education and child care front) never really came to fruition , this or was scrapped for obvious reasons.

How about closing the gap re- Indigenous Australians, what a massive time and money wasting exercise this was, all you did was bribe the elders to keep the stats at bay for a while...but they leaked out eventually, much to a Labor parts horror.

But we can go to a government website and determine which restaurants are the safest to eat at, this and see which independent school has the best reputation/HSC results, so we may make informed choices, if only we had the means to afford them


So instead of admitting to their failings, a Labor government encourages parents to become 'empowered' this and blame underfunded schools for the deterioration in their kids public education, (what pigs)...when it was a Labor government who afflicted them with a pathetic budget to begin with, so they were forced to cut staff, and employ those on working visas, given quality teachers are leaving the profession in droves, this or seeking employment in better paid/funded independent schools.

Labor stole from the poor to give to the wealthy, and apparently, we were not supposed to notice?


Something had to suffer, and as always, it wasn't going to be Lu Kewen (Krudd) or his own sons exclusive private Marist College in Canberra, or any other independent school he may enrol in now for that matter.

Marist or Marxist college I wonder?

>:(....Labor blew it, end of story, and if you give them another crack at it, don't complain when things get allot worse for at least 80% of Australians will slip sink into a recession (already have)..it's just it's a class determined recession, one we aren't supposed to discuss.

Immigrants included.

>:(....

We need to get back to basics, the minimum basic standard of what any public student in an Australian government school should expect due to generations of their own familys having worked their guts out and paid taxes in this country to provide for them.

Australians are among the highest taxed nations in the world, and in return, we get lumbered with other nations unprivileged, this and get rewarded with a substandard health and education system.
Australians deserve better, and had Labor done the right thing, they would have better.

It's not just electricity, it's an overall deterioration in Australias living standards that's diminished.

From transport, infrastructure, to health , education and environment.

Labor inherited a fantastic kitty, (thanks to a Howard government)...and what have they done with it?

Squandered it in all the wrong places!

Would you like me to itemise the specific policy failures for your careful scrutiny?

Are you arguing that Labor were in no way irresponsible for this mess?

Name one thing they have brought to the table in the last 3 years, what have they done for Australia?

good points, muso.
This is why, in Australia, it is critical that people vote for *policies* and forward-thinking, understanding politicians who can manage this economy through what is happening and what might be coming, not just voting on image and gender and ideology because we like the sound of the name of the party. This is dangerous territory now. There will be huge inflation coming in this country, I hear that people are going hungry now because of mortgage stress trying to keep up their payments and not lose their houses. Mortgage rates in the past have actually more than tripled from what the levels are now. If that happens now, there will be wholesale evictions in this country.
The government, whoever is in, needs to *stop spending billions* of dollars in deficits, it causes inflation. They need to operate as individuals should - have a surplus until the world economy settles down, if it does. This country sold most of its gold as well in the mid 1990s, so now our currency isn't even backed by that, more's our loss in this crisis, so our currency appears to be backed by iron ore and coal. I hope China keeps going well, but hey, they're buying up gold too aren't they.
What's going down folks!!! Better look at your political candidates very very carefully - have they got what it takes to get us through this - beyond nice hairdos and budgie smugglers.

Quote:

Off the record, did you know that Labor when asked to fund more programs for autistic children responded with... "Now lets not make Autistic children another stolen generation"

Mellie, can you provide a link to that, or some information on where you heard it please?

Quote:

Mellie, can you provide a link to that, or some information on where you heard it please?

Yea good luck Annie, as you know Mellie is a compulsive liar.
Hey Mellie, how long before interest rates reach as high as they were under the coalition when they left office? LOL ;D

I did a quick google search and the only thing that came up was a comment on a blog at the Liberal party website.

This is an important area for me, so if it's true I'd like to know.

Would you like me to itemise the specific policy failures for your careful scrutiny?

Are you arguing that Labor were in no way irresponsible for this mess?

Name one thing they have brought to the table in the last 3 years, what have they done for Australia?*****

And re- the autism thingo, like I already told you anthrax, it's off the record, I have a relative who is a close friend of a local Labor MP, who divulged to to me recently.

So like I said, there is nothing I can do to substantiate this statement (like I advised) the reason I put it up was so others who may have the means to do so can look into this themselves, and assist me further with finding some on-the-record information to support this alleged comment.  Put simply, my uncle asked his mate about autistic funding, ( due to my having an autistic daughter) over a beer down at Fivedock RSL one afternoon, and at a recent gathering, my uncle advised my parents what he had been told when the topic came up.

He doesn't mind a drink, and because he's now retired, this and is not a well man, he is more open about his politics now.

And before you ask, no he was not a politician.

I have no reason to believe that neither my uncle or his MP mate were telling lies.

Why on earth would he make something up like this?

Annie Anthrax wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 12:42pm:

I did a quick google search and the only thing that came up was a comment on a blog at the Liberal party website. This is an important area for me, so if it's true I'd like to know.

Yes it is true, but now I want you to do something for me, may I have the link to this blog please?

mellie wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 12:43pm:

Annie Anthrax wrote on Jul 1st, 2010 at 12:42pm: I did a quick google search and the only thing that came up was a comment on a blog at the Liberal party website. This is an important area for me, so if it's true I'd like to know. Yes it is true, but now I want you to do something for me, may I have the link to this blog please?

And is it the Labor blog you have to join?

Annie Anthrax wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 12:42pm:

I did a quick google search and the only thing that came up was a comment on a blog at the Liberal party website. This is an important area for me, so if it's true I'd like to know.

Quote:

Off the record, did you know that Labor when asked to fund more programs for autistic children responded with... "Now lets not make Autistic children another stolen generation"

I'm sure its a lie, who would say it? if its on the Lib website the government should demand its removed or proven to be true, its my bet some lib stooge just lied, Abbott should be made to either put up or resign for letting it stay there.

Quote:

And re- the autism thingo, like I already told you anthrax, it's off the record, I have a relative who is a close friend of a local Labor MP, who divulged to to me recently

You idiot.

http://www.liberal.org.au/Issues/Community/Disabilities/Ideas/2010/03/18/Increase-Autism-Funding-to-50000pa-per-child-for-2-years.aspx

#

Desleigh 21/03/10 01:54 PM Report Abuse

Lets not make Australian autistic children another lost/stolen generation!

You realize that in that context this person was just saying that they didn't want Autistic people to be forgotten?

Anthrax, you claim to have found something on a blog (which is probably just your way of trying to discredit what my relative was advised) , this or don't want to share it... either way you are a jerk!

Rather than call people names, how about you debate the subject at hand, this opposed to deviously setting out to stifle the messenger?

If you have a child with a disability, then one would have thought you'd be a little more thoughtful in your approach, this and wouldn't mind putting the link up?



You're not a team player are you...and so typical of Labs.

:-/

Quote:

Anthrax, you claim to have found something on a blog (which is probably just your way of trying to discredit what my relative was advised) , this or don't want to share it... either way you are a jerk! Rather than call people names, how about you debate the subject at hand, this opposed to deviously setting out to stifle the messenger?

Do you realise the hypocrisy of that statement?

Firstly, I didn't call you any names though a few have certainly come to mind. I asked you politely for information because this is a subject that is important to me. I even said "please".

Imperium has just provided a link to the same comment that I saw.


Quote:

If you have a child with a disability, then one would have thought you'd be a little more thoughtful in your approach, this and wouldn't mind putting the link up?

What approach? I asked you for a link to something YOU posted.




Quote:

You're not a team player are you...and so typical of Labs.

I've stated a couple of times that I vote for the Greens, not Labor. Your rabid, knee jerk support of the Liberals is making you paranoid.

aikmann4 wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 12:58pm:

http://www.liberal.org.au/Issues/Community/Disabilities/Ideas/2010/03/18/Increase-Autism-Funding-to-50000pa-per-child-for-2-years.aspx # Desleigh 21/03/10 01:54 PM Report Abuse Lets not make Australian autistic children another lost/stolen generation! You realize that in that context this person was just saying that he didn't want Autistic people to be forgotten?

No, my relative advised that his MP friend felt that by allocating them more support funding (to specific key project areas)  would result in another  "stolen generation" scenario.
This and that it was essentially pointless because it would need to be ongoing, and after allocating it, it would be virtually impossible to revoke. Meaning it wouldn't be a one off payment thing, would be something that once funded, would need to be ongoing.
My parents asked me not to bug him with it, but I'm going to call him anyway. ..because I think if it's not just his mates views, this and is the general consensus of the Labor party, then the public, those with autistic kids really need to know.
My parents are certain it's the view expressed by the party on the whole, as there was believed to be some discussion about it, they were actually going to fund a certain project, but decided against it because it would need to be ongoing.

I reckon they will pull it out of their hats as a last ditch resort to appeal to voters...but only if they really have to in order to win the election.

He said a few other things too, but you can get nicked!

You have annoyed me now, so I will go have a scout around myself.

Rest assured, I wont be sharing next time. >:(

I have no reason to believe that neither my uncle or his MP mate were telling lies.

Why on earth would he make something up like this?
++

I have no idea, but from reading your posts I've a fair idea why you would.

You might be better off using a more creditable source than hearsay to form your attacks against Labor or anyone/thing.

Now, I have just found this Liberal, not Labor blog,..(Is this the one you found anthrax?).......
http://www.liberal.org.au/Issues/Community/Disabilities/Ideas/2010/03/18/Increase-Autism-Funding-to-50000pa-per-child-for-2-years.aspx
and I agree, the individual who commented on this blog could have meant it in an entirely different manner to how my relatives friend said it, though I can assure you, my relatives Labor MP friend meant it in the way I advised, because the question my parents asked was something along the lines of..."Why don't they create more low-medium level support units for kids like our granddaughter as the majority of the existing support units are for the really sever cases"

Every Australian child  should be accommodated irrespective of disability, (our anti-discrimination and equal opportunity laws dictate just that),..though only apply to certain minorities, it would appear...thus mild to moderate assistance requiring kids should not be forced to drown in a mainstream school with minimal support teacher contact hours/intervention .....this or be forced to vegetate behind a fenced enclosure, as this is both educationally and socially  disadvantageous and dehumanising for those who are not in need of this high level care.. Think of it as putting someone with a sprained ankle into a palliative care ward...because this was the only bed available, sound familiar?
Sorry, one size does not fit all, ...we need a three tiered support/intervention unit approach, each which develop their own individual programs to give these kids the best possible chance at reaching their own potential not be categorically defined as being one of the support unit vegetables...or that kid that fell through the gaps of a flawed system.
It needs to be done with dignity, would they like their own mild-moderately autistic well-behaved/mannered (though quiet) child sitting next to a severely disordered child masturbating, simply because there wasn't anywhere else to put them for the time being?  

And given this is supposed to be a thriving, developed prosperous  country, which prides itself on equal opportunity, one of the few developed countries in the world to have escaped the full front of a global crisis, we should be doing better than most, we should be on par with or better than Finland's education, or up there with Switzerland, and would be if our politicians were doing what they are supposed to be doing, (not wasting funds on excessive travel)..exploiting their positions of trust to grow their own investment portfolios. The rate we are going, we need a government, just to regulate our government, we have turned back into a pack of thieving convicts in suits and ties.
We don't mind building detention centres for illegal immigrants, this and keeping them for extended periods while we  take our sweet time figuring out what we're going to do with them after the next federal election, so I don't think it's too much to ask that we foster a policy of charity begins at home.  And please, don't tell me that key-policy makers are just really really misguided, this and mean well also, BULL SHOOT!
If we cant even look after our own properly, then what's this saying to quality immigrants who might otherwise consider immigrating here to make a worthwhile contribution to our country, economy,  when it's clear, we have set the standard exceedingly low, this and even let vermin out on bail on temporary-visas who have already intentionally infected multiple Australians with HIV.
We are busy protecting refugees, and asylum seekers, offering them opportunities, though who is looking out for us?

Time to get real!

>:(

I don't care if you believe me or not, I related it as it was told to me, this and clearly advised  it was hearsay right from the beginning, did I not? All you had to say was no thankyou, (we prefer our news as gospel) ...  ...Being a forum of paid quality journalism with mild mannered specimens like annie anthrax, and skip on deck.

Rest assured, I wont be sharing any more hearsay in future, some of you are just exceedingly arrogant, this and just attack people for the heck of it...(are very unhappy too by the looks of it)...my condolences,  this and are  so forged in your own political orientations that no matter what anyone brings to the table to discuss, if it's not pro-labor, it's a lie!

You cant blame the global economic downturn for every stupid mistake this Labor party has made, I'm not saying Liberal are perfect either, but I know we cant afford to go on deteriorating the way we are under a pack of vexatious back-stabbing miscreants, who are quite prepared to trample themselves publicly, set a bad example to society, (demonstrating a lack of comradeship and loyalty)  ...is this how we want the world to see us?

As being politically dysfunctional?
Liberal are the better of the two, Gillard has no idea what so ever has not even managed her own policies/projects re- education and child care correctly as a deputy PM, so how the hell is she going to cut it as PM?
And Swan cant even explain his own budget, preferring to discuss a more optimistic futuristic budget than the current.
I wonder why?

Ok, if you want to give Labor YET-ANOTHER-CHANCE this is your call,  but don't condemn others for not sharing your enthusiasm there, OK..because last I checked, most people would prefer Labor left the building.

They brought it on themselves, I am only one voter!

Just someone with an opinion on a message board, why should it matter to you who or what I vote for, really?

Enjoy your afternoon, thanx for the chat.

;)i

Sorry didn't really mean to offend, but basing an argument on hearsay,is well you know.
But seeing you are so passionate about the disabled & so down on Labor for their poor performance in this area perhaps you'd enlighten us to the great steps forward achieved by Mr Abbott as health Minister and the Liberal party in general over their 11 years of office & not just the empty 190 million promised if they got re-elected in 2007.
Assumptions are also tricky to considering that my vote would be for the liberals if just about anyone but the H.R.Nicolls puppet was leading the party ;)

would you have voted for Turnbull?

shampain socialist wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 4:33pm:

would you have voted for Turnbull?

Yes
Dream Team -
Turnbull PM
Keating Treasurer

I am not a fan of Turnbull, though would have voted for Liberal in a pinch irrespective of who was behind the wheel.

It's not a personality contest, it's about sound economic management and which party's up to scratch.

My feeling is Labor don't have a clue if the last 3 years is any indication.


Gillard needs to fess up to her own part in Labors mistakes.


If she has enough balls to lead the country, then she should have what it takes to accept responsibility for her part in Labors failings.

Or is this now the Julia Gillard party?i

skippy. wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 12:37pm:

Quote: Mellie, can you provide a link to that, or some information on where you heard it please? Yea good luck Annie, as you know Mellie is a compulsive liar. Hey Mellie, how long before interest rates reach as high as they were under the coalition when they left office? LOL ;D

Hey Mellie, in your rush to murky the waters with your "hearsay" you failed to address my question, when are interest rates going to be as high as when the coalition left office?

With Howard, Australian home buyers were caught once, with Rudd they were caught twice...and here's how...

First, housing has become less affordable: Median house prices have increased from around three times average household earnings in the 1990s to around five times today; any recent improvement in affordability was the result of interest rate cuts, which are now being reversed; and the deposit required by first home buyers has reached record highs.

Secondly, home ownership is being delayed: The proportion of Australians under 35 who owned their own house declined from 44 per cent in 2001 to 38 per cent in 2008.

As is full home ownership: The proportion of Australians aged 55 to 64 with mortgages has increased from 13 per cent in 1996-97 to 30 per cent in 2007-08.

Fourthly, there has been a substantial expansion of the spatial gap between the haves and have nots: 27 per cent of dwellings in different population centres were found to be ‘unaffordable’ in 2006, while none were in 2001.

Finally, rental affordability has fallen significantly: The ratio of rents to average weekly earnings has risen to its highest levels since the late 1980s. In June 2009, 418,000 individuals and families were paying more than 30 per cent of heir income in rent after receiving Rent Assistance; and 129,000 of these were paying more than 50 per cent of their income.

Housing prices in Australia are now 29 per cent above the long term trend. According to an international survey by The Economist magazine, our prices are 56 per cent over-value.

Prior to the 2007 election, Tanya Plibersek, claimed that “average prices had risen to seven times the average wage under the Howard government.” They are now nine to ten times the average wage. Labor’s policies have made housing less affordable for home buyers, whether they are wishing to purchase a house or pay off the mortgage.

In 2007, Tanya Plibersek asserted that “there won’t be an increase in the First Home Buyers Grant, because we have seen from experience what happens when you provide a grant like that – or increase it – is that it goes straight into the pocket of the seller.”

Subsequently the Rudd government doubled the grant and house prices spiked. Buyers have been caught twice: first through increased house prices, and now by rising interest rates as the Reserve Bank seeks to avert higher inflation. Every dollar that first home buyers received in grants will be repaid multiple times as interest rates rise.

In recent months, mortgage delinquencies have increased,

particularly in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-labor-has-made-housing-more-expensive/

So you've lied again, not a good look Mellie.Why do you lie so much?

Lied where?

It's also bad form accusing people of being liars, without without detailing where they have lied.

Here's a challenge, name one lie I have told.

Just 1.  :)



I think you're a bit screwy, so will go finish dinner then come back to see what you have to say for yourself.

8-)

skippy. wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 5:31pm:

skippy. wrote on Jul 1st, 2010 at 12:37pm: Quote: Mellie, can you provide a link to that, or some information on where you heard it please? Yea good luck Annie, as you know Mellie is a compulsive liar. Hey Mellie, how long before interest rates reach as high as they were under the coalition when they left office? LOL ;D Hey Mellie, in your rush to murky the waters with your "hearsay" you failed to address my question, when are interest rates going to be as high as when the coalition left office?

At the moment Australian interest rates are on hold due to outside influeneces.
If not for European instability making markets jittery they would have been raised last month and agian this month.
Labor cannot really cliam the low rates as anything to do with their particluar governence, if not for the GFC rates I suspect would probably be 2 - 3% higher than when they took office.
What are we about 10 x .25% raises below when they took office and allowing 3 maybe 4  months off to access re-action I'd say 1 to 1.5 years away.
Some intresting observations are made in this video
http://www.themonthly.com.au/great-financial-panic-paul-keating-and-david-wessel-2472
And to clarify my earlier dream team a more likely and nearly just as good a team would be
Turnbull/Costello
Whilst Costello never really had the vision and drive of Keating he was still a steady hand on the economy.
I don't think Turnbull is driven by personality/ego but a desire to see Australia do well, he could of given in to Mitchen to save his leadership, he could of just voted against the ETS but stood firm to his belief that we must move our economy in that direction to the detriment of his standing in the party, he could have walked into the NSW Premiership but he remains and continues to be a calm sensible voice among the shrill soundbites of the modern politicial spectrum

mellie wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 6:02pm:

Lied where? It's also bad form accusing people of being liars, without without detailing where they have lied. Here's a challenge, name one lie I have told. Just 1.  :) I think you're a bit screwy, so will go finish dinner then come back to see what you have to say for yourself. 8-)

Details? of your lies? just1?
I can give you 5 off the top of my head-
1-This thread-INTEREST RATES UP UP UP -LIE, interest rates are still lower than when the opposition left office.
2-MENTAL HEALTH- you made up a story about Labor on mental health, you said your uncle told you Labor considered mental health akin to the stolen generation,the same story appears on the Liberal party web site but there are no facts to back it up, just Liberal and your lies.
3-UNEMPLOYMENT- you said under Rudd Australia had the highest unemployment figures since the sixties, LIES, then you realised how stupid your comment was and tried to back track, still a LIE.
4-YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT- after backtracking you returned to say it was in fact youth unemployment that was the highest since the sixties, still a LIE, as Annie and I proved to you, youth unemployment was much higher in the 70s 80s and 90s.
5-IMIGRATION- you said imigration/refugees was at an all time high under Rudd, another LIE, imigration/refugees was at its highest from 1995- 2001, another LIE.

If Im correct even Howard warned us how 'cheap'our electricity and could it stay that way.
We have had some of the OCED  cheapest priced electricity . Making us slack on wanting to make  changes !

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 11:41am:

mellie , so, you don't like the alp ?? :) :) :)

Is it just me or does Mellie sound(?) just like Maqqa?
Slr2007mclaren on yahoo.

mellie wrote on Jul 1^st, 2010 at 12:42pm:

Would you like me to itemise the specific policy failures for your careful scrutiny? And re- the autism thingo, like I already told you anthrax, it's off the record, I have a relative who is a close friend of a local Labor MP, who divulged to to me recently.

The old friend of a friend thingy.

OK. Sounds true to me.

And pigs might fly. :D :D :D