Australia's 44th Parliament opens today with Tony Abbott leading a Coalition Government

Alan Moir

Where is Australian Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey sourcing his financial advice?

By the end of October 2013 the Abbott Government was borrowing an est. $265 million per day and it continues to borrow at a frenetic pace. 

At the same time it is moving away from the budget measures outlined in its September 2013 costing table and has blown out the 2013 budget deficit by an estimated $10 billion.

ABC News 9 November 2013:

The Budget Monitor from Deloitte Access Economics..... has raised concerns about whether the Government will take unpopular decisions to improve the budget outcome and return to surplus within the promised 2016/17 timeframe.

The assessment has forecast a budget deficit of $39.7 billion for this financial year, almost $10 billion higher than the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook (PEFO) predicted.

The PEFO estimated a deficit of $30 billion, but since then the new Coalition Government has scrapped some tax windfalls and handed $9 billion to the Reserve Bank.

Deloitte's Chris Richardson says those decisions have significantly contributed to the size of the deficit.

"That is a cost to the budget, it's all fallen this year. It's a lot of dollars," he said.

"You might eventually see those dollars head back to the Government but it is a really rotten budget deficit this year."

Death rate on NSW North Coast higher than state and national averages

On 7 November 2013 the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that; the highest life expectancy estimates ever recorded in Australia, reflecting record low death rates....

Australia's life expectancy at birth continues to be amongst the highest in the world. The combined male and female figure of 82.0 years, while a little lower than Japan and Hong Kong, is higher than Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA...

While there were 147,098 deaths registered in Australia, the standardised death rate fell to 5.5 deaths per 1,000 people, the lowest rate ever recorded in Australia.

In 2002, the death rate was 6.8 deaths. This decrease over the last ten years was greater for males (around 2 deaths per 1,000 males) than for females (around 1 death per 1,000 females)...

The standardised death rate (SDR) for Australia decreased to 5.5 deaths per 1,000 standard population in 2012, down from 5.7 in 2011 and 6.8 in 2002

Footnote(s): (a) Deaths per 1,000 standard population. Standardised death rates use the age distribution of total persons in the Australian population at 30 June 2001 as the standard population.

Source(s):Deaths, Australia (3302.0).

The list below shows how the NSW North Coast measures against the 2012 national death rate of 5.5 and the state death rate of 5.4.

Deaths, Summary, Statistical Local Areas-2001 to 2012:

Ballina standardised death rate in 2012 5.7

Kyogle standardised death rate in 2012 5.7

Byron standardised death rate in 2012 5.9

Clarence Valley standardised death rate in 2012 6.0

Tweed standardised death rate in 2012 6.0

Coffs Harbour standardised death rate in 2012 6.1

Bellingen standardised death rate in 2012 6.3

Richmond Valley standardised death rate in 2012 6.4

Lismore standardised death rate in 2012 6.7

Remembering 11 November 1918

This day in 1918 according to The Sydney Morning Herald.....

SUMMARY.

A German official message states that the Kaiser has decided to abdicate.

The Crown Prince has renounced the Throne, and a Regency is to be established.

Public jubilation prevails in London over the official announcement of the Kaiser's abdication.

The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" gives a graphic story of the armistice meeting.

The German delegates met Marshal Foch at a stately chateau nestling in the woods of the Aisne.

After formally requesting an armistice the Germans asked for a temporary suspension of hostilities, which was refused.

Marshal Foch then took from the table a large typewritten sheet, saying quietly: "These are our conditions."

He read the document in a clear voice.

The terms were terribly hard, and the Germans, with set teeth, listened impassively.

Marshal Foch announced the time limit—72 hours—and the interview ended without discussion.

The inclusion of Herr Erzberger at the last hour in the German delegation indicates that Germany is in grave peril.

The German delegation will decide to accept or reject the armistice conditions at Marshal Foch's headquarters.

In Paris it is regarded as certain that Germany is about to capitulate.....

From the AWM Research Centre:

CABLEGRAM FROM LONDON TO GOVERNOR GENERAL ADVISING THAT ARMISTICE HAD BEEN SIGNED.

"Governor General Melbourne Most urgent armistice signed 5 AM this morning Long"

Abbott not faring well in latest Morgan Poll

L-NP (50%) now level with ALP (50%) as Western Australia set to vote again for the Senate

November 06 2013 

Finding No. 5279

Topic: Federal Poll Public Opinion

Finding No. 5279 - This multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention was conducted via SMS and face-to-face interviewing on the weekend of November 2/3, 2013 with an Australia-wide cross-section of 2,077 Australian electors aged 18+, of all electors surveyed 0.5% (down 2%) did not name a party.

On a two-party preferred basis the L-NP is 50%, down 1.5% since the Morgan Poll of October 19/20, 2013. ALP support is 50%, up 1.5%. If an election were held now the result would be too close to call according to the Morgan Poll. This multi-mode Morgan Poll on voting intention was conducted last weekend (November 2/3, 2013) with an Australia-wide cross-section of 2,077 Australian electors aged 18+.

The L-NP primary vote is 41.5% (down 2%) ahead of the ALP primary vote at 35% (up 0.5%).

Among the minor parties Greens support is 10.5% (up 0.5%), support for the Palmer United Party (PUP) is 5.5% (up 1%) and support for Independents/Others is 7.5% (unchanged). Support for PUP is highest in Clive Palmer’s home State of Queensland (12.5%).

Analysis by Gender

Analysis by Gender shows support for the ALP has increased strongly among women. Women favour the ALP 52.5% (up 2.5% since October 19/20, 2013) cf. L-NP 47.5% (down 2.5%) on a two party preferred basis. However, men continue to favour the L-NP 52.5% (down 0.5%) cf. ALP 47.5% (up 0.5%).

The Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating is now at 114.5, up 0.5pts since October 19/20, 2013. Now 45.5% (up 3%) of Australians say Australia is ‘heading in the right direction’ and 31% (up 2.5%) say Australia is ‘heading in the wrong direction’.

The Morgan Poll surveys a larger sample (including people who only use a mobile phone) than any other public opinion poll.

Gary Morgan says:

“The L-NP (50%, down 1.5% over the past two weeks) and ALP (50%, up 1.5%) are now level on a two-party preferred basis after the final election results were at last declared. Palmer United Party (PUP) founder Clive Palmer won a tight contest for the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax (by only 53 votes) while in Western Australia the final Senate result is in doubt after the AEC admitted losing 1,375 ballots between the initial count and the re-count.

“The lost ballots in WA mean the High Court of Australia will have to determine whether the WA Senate results are valid, or whether a new election to elect six WA Senators is required. Most media commentators believe a fresh WA Senate election early in 2014 is the most likely outcome – the new Senators are not due to take their position until July 2014.”

Electors were asked: “If an election for the House of Representatives were held today - which party will receive your first preference?”

Visit the Roy Morgan Online Store to browse our range of Voter Profiles by electorate, detailed Voting Intention Demographics Reports and Most important Political Issue Reports (all 150 electorates ranked by an issue).

Finding No. 5279 - This multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention was conducted via SMS and face-to-face interviewing on the weekend of November 2/3, 2013 with an Australia-wide cross-section of 2,077 Australian electors aged 18+, of all electors surveyed 0.5% (down 2%) did not name a party.

Data Tables

• Federal Voting Intention Summary - House of Reps (%)
• Two Party Preferred Vote (%)
• Australia Heading in the "Right" or "Wrong" Direction

Margin of Error

The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. The following table gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. The figures are approximate and for general guidance only, and assume a simple random sample. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.

Sample Size	Percentage Estimate
	40%-60%	25% or 75%	10% or 90%	5% or 95%
500	±4.5	±3.9	±2.7	±1.9
1,000	±3.2	±2.7	±1.9	±1.4
1,500	±2.6	±2.2	±1.5	±1.1
2,000	±2.2	±1.9	±1.3	±1.0

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Abbott to adjust rules governing parliamentarians' entitlements, but known rorters remain untouched

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's minimalist approach to the cancer in parliamentarian ranks.

Media Release

3/13
9 November 2011

Strengthening the Rules Governing Parliamentarians' Business Expenses

The system of funding the work costs of parliamentarians in carrying out their responsibilities must work in a way that ensures senators and members are accessible to their electors while ensuring taxpayers' money is well spent and maintaining public confidence in the system.

For this reason, the Government will act to strengthen a range of measures governing the funding of parliamentarians' work costs.

The Government will proceed with the following sensible reforms to improve the system's integrity:

• Strengthen the declaration a parliamentarian is required to make when submitting a travel claim. The new declaration will read: "I declare that this travel was undertaken in my capacity as an elected representative and I acknowledge that a financial loading will be applied if subsequent adjustment to this travel claim is required."
• Require that if parliamentarians make an adjustment to any claims made after 1 January 2014 they will be required to pay a loading of 25 per cent in addition to the full amount of the adjustment. This will not apply where the adjustment is the result of an error made by the Department of Finance.
• From 1 January 2014, mandatory training will be provided for parliamentarians and their offices if more than one incorrect claim is lodged within a financial year.
• The Special Minister of State may table in parliament the name of any parliamentarian who fails to substantially comply within a reasonable time with a request for further information as part of a departmental enquiry.
• Ask the Remuneration Tribunal to review the entitlement to a one night stopover which is currently available to some Queensland, Western Australian and Northern Territory parliamentarians. A stopover should only be required when it can be established that no connecting flight is available.
• Ask the Remuneration Tribunal to review the determination that a family member or designated person has only to spend three hours at the same location as the senator or member to qualify for the existing Family Reunion Travel Entitlement.
• The Government will move to limit the 'additional travel for children' entitlement for senior officers to children under the age of 18 from where it currently stands at 25 years of age.
• Review the entitlement for a spouse or partner to travel overseas on parliamentary delegations.
• Remove the seldom used entitlement to travel allowance for travel connected with the office of second deputy speaker.
• Prevent employment of a spouse, partner, parent or child of a senator or member, a child of the spouse or partner of a senator or member, or a son or daughter-in-law of a senator or member within that MP's own office.

The Government believes that these reforms will improve accountability and strengthen the existing system.

As part of this process, the Government has considered the recommendations of the 2009 Belcher Review that were not adopted by the former Government.

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Media Contact:	Phone:
Brad Rowswell	(02) 6277 7820 or 0417 917 796

BACKGROUND

Julie, Teresa, Barnaby, Scott, Stuart and Tony join George in the parliamentary entitlement rort corner - will more MPs follow?

Can Australian taxpayers afford Tony Abbott's sense of entitlement?

Taxpayers were handed the bill when Shadow Attorney-General Brandis 'conspired' against the Gillard Government at a private wedding

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott caught out charging Australian taxpayers for his own book promotion expenses