Common sense is what tells you the world is flat
[Gingers Meggs cartoon strip wall grafitti]
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Sometimes I wonder into which alternate universe I have wandered
Australia successfully survived the Global Financial Crisis under the stewardship of a federal Labor Government which did not panic and, with the cooperation of states and territories, acted swiftly to support weak points in the national economy.
So well did the nation weather this financial tsunami that a year on from the initial rolling economic destruction it was being openly stated by northern hemisphere economic commentators that Australia was the envy of the rest of the developed world and, in 2012 in comparison with that same developed world we still have low unemployment, low levels of government debt, low interest rates, an economy which is holding its own despite an historically weak manufacturing sector and good international credit ratings.
Which begs the question of why this Essential Report survey question elicited negative attitudes in these responses below - from 42 per cent of the very people who barely felt any effect of this global crisis.
Trust to deal with GFC
May 7, 2012
Q. If there was another Global Financial Crisis, which party would you trust most to deal with it?
15 Aug 11 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
The Labor Party | 31% | 25% | 68% | 2% | 42% |
The Liberal Party | 40% | 42% | 5% | 83% | 5% |
No difference | 20% | 23% | 19% | 11% | 39% |
Don’t know | 9% | 10% | 8% | 4% | 14% |
If there was another GFC, 42% would trust the Liberal Party more to handle it and 25% would trust the Labor Party more. This represents a shift to the Liberal Party from net +9% to net +17%
The Liberal Party was rated higher than Labor with all demographic groups. Those most likely to trust the Liberal Party more were men (47%), aged 55+ (48%), full-time workers (50%) and income over $1,600 pw (50%).
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Commonwealth Budget Papers 2012-13
Over at www.budget.gov.au the 2012-13 federal budget papers are available for those interested in delving deeper than tomorrow's tabloid newspaper headlines.
- Budget Speech
- Budget at a Glance
- Budget Overview
- Budget Paper No.1 Strategy and Outlook
- Budget Paper No.2 Budget Measures
- Budget Paper No.3 Australia's Federal Relations
- Budget Paper No.4 Agency Resources
- Appropriation Bills
A look back at the lack of Coalition economic theory expertise - as Australia waits for the 2012-13 federal budget to be revealed
Hours out from the 2012-13 federal budget, a look back at 2011....
Gross debt - gross ignorance on Saturday, 12 November 2011:
Admittedly, the notion of gross and net government debt is a little complex, but when someone speaks authoritatively about gross debt in particular, one would hope they understood the intricacies of the concepts involved and how the government debt market works before they opened their mouth. It is embarrassing and disturbing, therefore, to hear the Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb, join with the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Barnaby Joyce and Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott deliver sensational criticisms about the rise in gross debt in Australia.
The views of the Liberal and National Party leaders - the alternative government in other words - highlight a gross misunderstanding of markets, economics and conceptualising what is big and small.
Read the rest here.
Warning: Scamsters using the Tax Office to dud the unsuspecting
An email (copy below) currently doing the rounds and purporting to be from the Australian Tax Office is a scam. Avoid it like the plague.
Dear Australian Taxation Office customer,
After the last annual calculation of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $250.50 AUD. Please submit the tax refund form and allow us 3-5 business days in order to process it.
A fund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.To access the form for your tax refund, please Click Here (link removed).
Thank you,
Australian Taxation Office Online Department.
Read the ATO's advice about scams here.
The Great Angourie Croc Hunt of 1940
There was a time when the Lower Clarence thought it had its own crocodile, according to The Courier-Mail on 5 January 1940.
Click on image to enlarge
The Hon. Dr. Peter 'Waste of Space' Phelps MLC
A native of southern Africa, this grass was probably first introduced to Australia by accident as a contaminant of pasture seed. Different cultivars of this grass have also been used as a soil stabiliser in erosion-control situations.
African lovegrass has been planted in different locations throughout south-east Queensland and has naturalised in all Australian states in acidic, red and especially sandy soils.
African lovegrass produces vast quantities of seeds, which quickly develop into a large viable seed bank, making the plant very difficult to eradicate. It is extremely competitive with other pasture species and is an aggressive invader, quickly overtaking sparse, overgrazed or poor quality pastures, particularly in sandy soils.
African lovegrass can form dense monocultures up to 1.2 m high. This can create large fuel loads in the dry months, posing a fire hazard and creating competition with native species regeneration.
The NSW Industry and Investments website states that overall carrying capacity is reduced when there is dense African Love Grass infestation.
So what does NSW Legislative Council Government Whip Peter Phelps MLC have to say in the 1 May debate on the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill 2012 when lovegrass gets a mention? Why he asks; Can you smoke it?
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