The Lies Abbott Tells - Part Fifteen

THE LIE

The Australian 12 May 2014:

FEDERAL MPs were in line for a pay rise that could have given them 10 times the amount they paid under the deficit levy — before the last-minute decision by Tony Abbott to freeze their wages.

The one-year freeze will also apply to senior public servants, the heads of government agencies and judges.

The Remuneration Tribunal will meet today in Sydney where it had been due to decide its annual adjustment of politicians’ pay, which must be announced by June 18….

Mr Abbott decided it would not match his belief that “everyone” should make a contribution to repair the budget if MPs and ministers were “better off”.

Last Wednesday, Mr Abbott promised the budget would be fair, saying: “I’m going to be able to look people in the eye on Tuesday night and on Wednesday morning and beyond and say, ‘We are all in this together, we are all doing our bit’.”

On the same day, Public Service Minister Eric Abetz was ­directed to write to the tribunal asking it to freeze pay and to not calculate a rise that would be passed on at a later date. The tribunal received the twin requests on Friday.

Despite being given the power two years ago to make pay decisions independent of politics, the three-person tribunal is expected to agree to both requests today.

THE FACTS

On 13 June 2013 the independent Remuneration Tribunal announced a 2.4 per cent increase in the pay rates of the most senior offices in the public service, parliamentarians, Secretaries, numerous part-time offices and the federal judiciary - effective 1 July 2013.

In September 2013 the Tribunal announced that the Australian prime minister and federal government ministers would receive no additional salary increases above that flowing on from this increase in parliamentarians’ base pay rate.

On 9 December 2013 the Tribunal issued a statement that it had determined not to further raise the salaries of federal parliamentarians and, on 12 May 2014 issued another statement confirming that it had decided in April 2014 not to increase the pay rates of senators and members of parliament before 1 July 2015:

For some months, noting the Government’s policy, it has been evident that any wages movement in the APS and federal public sector would be restrained. Indeed, at its April meeting, the Tribunal’s preliminary conclusion was that it would determine no annual review increase for offices in its jurisdiction from 1 July 2014….

The Tribunal determines remuneration for a wide range of the most senior full-time and part-time public offices, including the federal judiciary, and federal parliamentarians….

In 2011 and 2012, the Tribunal determined increases in remuneration for offices in its jurisdiction of 3%, with a 2.4% increase in 2013. Each of these decisions took effect on 1 July in the relevant year. When the Tribunal made its 2013 decision, it stated that it intended to review the decision towards the end of 2013 to see if any further adjustment was justified. The Tribunal did reconsider the matter late in 2013, and decided that the economic indicators at that time did not justify any further adjustment to remuneration.

One foot soldier in Abbott's Army in pre-Budget mode

This is the troll Karma_Is_King in an almosy 'happy' mood in January last year:

This is KiK inviting himself into a Twitter conversation at the beginning of this week:

One has to wonder how KiK copes with life generally.

I suspect that Bill from Bendigo came close to the mark:

Will the Abbott Government's first federal budget compound social and economic pressures on the NSW North Coast?

Tomorrow the Abbott Coalition Government is handing down its first federal budget and the very people it is targeting for permanent financial pain are already under stress on the NSW North Coast.

Excerpts from Anglicare Australia’s Rental Affordability Snapshot April 2014:

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NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption Operation Spicer - Week 3 witness list profiles

NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption Operation Spicer witness list for Week 3 of investigation hearings:

Nick Di Girolamo - Liberal Party fundraiser, managing partner at Colin Biggers & Paisley until February 2007 after which he joined Australian Water Holdings as CEO and shareholder

Raymond Carter – former staffer to former NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher

Darren Webber - former Liberal Party MP for Wyong now sitting on the cross benches as an independent after expulsion from the party

Christopher Spence – former Liberal Party MP for The Entrance now sitting on the cross benches as an independent after expulsion from the party

Timothy Koelma - creator of the ‘slush fund’ corporation, Eightbyfive, and former aide of former NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher

Nathan Tinkler - former Patinack Farm horse stud owner and mining magnate

Christopher Hartcher – former NSW Liberal Party MP for Terrigal and former NSW Resources and Energy now sitting on the cross benches as an independent MP after expulsion from the party

Some of the people on previous Operation Spicer witness lists:

Karen McNamara – Federal Liberal MP for Dobell

Jodi McKay – former Labor MP for Newcastle, former NSW Minister for Tourism

Charles Perrottet – NSW Liberal state executive member, former adviser to then NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher, brother of NSW Minister for Finance & Services Dominic Perrottet and Government Affairs Analyst at BP Australia Pty Ltd

Tenille Koelma – Anconna Resources shareholder and wife of Tim Koelma former aide to then NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher

John Caputo - director of First National Real Estate in Dee Why,former mayor of Warringah, committee member of Prime Minister Abbott's Warringah federal electorate conference and vice-president of NSW Premier Mike Baird's Manly state electoral conference

Hollie Hughes - Liberal Party state executive member

Darren Jameson – former NSW police officer and former Liberal pre-selection candidate in Robertson electorate

Aaron Henry – member of the Liberal Party and former staffer with NSW State Liberal Member for The Entrance Chris Spence

Laurie Alexander – former staffer with NSW State Liberal Member for The Entrance Chris Spence

Zaya Toma – Fairfield City councillor and electorate office manager for State Liberal MP for Smithfield Andrew Rohan

David Sharpe – former co-owner and executive at BuildDev property developer

Troy Palmer - chief executive of Hunter Sports Group, Chief Financial Officer of Patinack and a Buildev Group director

Matthew Lusted – owner of a Wyong building company and a Liberal Party donor

Tim Gunasinghe – President of the Erina Chamber of Commerce
Timothy Trumbull - accountant and Liberal Party donor

Pasquale Sergi – property developer

Angelo Maggiotto –property developer

Iwan Sunito – property developer
Sebastian Reid - nephew of former of NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher
Annette Poole - staff member at legal firm Hartcher Reid

Eric Stammer - General Manager Yeramba Estates property development company

Roy Sergi - Advance Ready Mix Concrete
Peter Hesky - hotelier and property developer
Ekarin Sriwattanaporn - operates IT business Micki-Tech and is partner of Ray Carter former electorate officer for then NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher

Robert Osborne - Liberal Party donor and owner Patonga Beach Hotel

Marie Neader - receptionist at legal firm Hartcher Reid

John Stevens – property developer

Darren Stevens

Darren Williams - development manager at the Buildev Group and a sponsor of the Sydney-based Liberal Party associated entity The Millennium Forum in 2008

Nabil Gazal – Gazcorp director Sydney property developer

Nicholas Gazal – Gazcorp director Sydney property developer

Eric Koelma – brother to Tim Koelma creator of the ‘slush fund’ corporation, Eightbyfive

Grahame Young - CEO of Tesrol property group

Gary Bonaccorso – Sydney property developer
Doug Sneddon - planning consultant

Anthony Bandle – trustee of Liberal and National Parties’ Canberra-based associated entity Free Enterprise Foundation 

John Abel – NSW Liberal Party member and factional identity within the party
Tony Merhi - property developer and alleged Liberal Party donor
Marie Ficarra - Member of the NSW Legislative Council and, a former parliamentary secretary until 17 April 2014
Peter McConnell - former chief of staff to former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell

Mum! Mr. Eleventy is trying to scare me again!

This was Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey tweeting at 3.41pm on 6 May 2014:

Sixteen per cent! *shock, horror, gasp* Must agree with every funding cut, tax increase or punitive welfare measure in the Abbott Government's first federal budget!

Or do I?

What is this 6-year projection up to 2018 actually telling me about the state of national economies in those countries included on this graph.

Take the USA for instance, which Joe Mr Eleventy Hockey appears to be saying is doing so much better than Australia.

In 2013 in US dollar terms federal government spending totalled $3,454.6 billion, federal debt reached $16,719.4 billion and its gross domestic product (GDP) was $6,618.6 billion. Therefore US federal government spending was 52.1% of GDP and gross debt was 100.6% of the country's GDP. Based on White House data, US net debt was 28.5% of GDP and the federal deficit was 6% of GDP in that year.

While in Australia in 2013-14 federal government spending totalled $409 billion, gross commonwealth government debt reached $311 billion (on 31 March 2014) and our gross domestic product (GDP) was $1,577 billion. Therefore federal government spending in 2013-14 was 25.9% of GDP and gross debt was an est.19.7% of GDP (as of 31 March 2014). According to the current Minister for Finance, federal net debt will be an est. 12.4 % of GDP and Treasurer Hockey's own MYEFO projects a federal deficit of 2.98% of GDP for the 2013-14 financial year.

Clearly Mr, Hockey's tweeted graph means little when one compares the word's largest economy with Australia's better economic profile. 

Muuuum! Make him stop!

Note: Australian data drawn from The Treasury, Dept. of Finance, Australian Office of Financial Management and Australian Bureau of Statistics.

NSW Government currently canvassing support for commercial netting of Pine, Bonville, Boambee and Newports estuary creeks

Boambee Creek mouth at Cchange Adventure

NSW Baird Coalition Government’s proposed Reform Program For NSW Commercial Fishing:

Estuary General Fishery

Number of meshing nets 

 If managing the meshing share classes by the number of meshing and flathead nets, a meshing endorsement holder would be able to use one meshing net (or flathead net where relevant) up to a maximum length of 725 metres for every 125 meshing shares. A shareholding of 250 shares would allow the endorsement holder to use two meshing nets (or flathead nets where relevant) with a maximum length of 725 metres for each net. 

Length of meshing nets 

 If managing the meshing share classes by the maximum meshing and flathead net length, a meshing endorsement holder would be able to use up to a maximum of 725 metres of meshing net (or flathead net where relevant) for every 125 meshing shares. A shareholding of 250 shares would entitle the endorsement holder to use up to a maximum of 1,450 metres of meshing net (or flathead net where relevant). Alternatively, one share could equate to 5.8 metres of meshing net. A share holding of 125 shares would entitle the endorsement holder to use up to a maximum of 725 metres of meshing net (or flathead net where relevant). A shareholding of 150 shares would entitle the endorsement holder to use up to a maximum of 870 metres of meshing net (or flathead net where relevant), and so on.

All submission forms are due back by 8am Monday 19th May 2014 and forms for those who are not commercial fishers can be download here.

The Coffs Coast Advocate 8 May 2014:

A proposal to net large swathes of local creeks is ringing alarm bells among local users of the estuaries.

Sawtell resident and avid canoeist Rod Edwards said the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is currently canvassing support for the commercial netting of the Pine, Bonville, Boambee and Newports creeks.

He said the proposals in relation to the Pine and Bonville Creeks would be for netting to be allowed within the boundaries of the Bongil Bongil National Park for all species of fish as well as prawns.

Rod said the use of massive nets would be permitted, with the use of a method known as splashing allowed between sunset and sunrise from June to August.

"The proposal is to allow nets of a staggering 400m in length to be used," Rod said.

"This will decimate fish stocks and the amenity of recreational fishers.

"More importantly, it is within the National Park entirely for Pine Creek and east of the Highway for Bonville Creek. Native bird populations within the National Park which feed and are protected under current legislation will be directly affected if this proposal is allowed to be approved."….

Coffs Harbour City Council:

The Boambee/Newports Estuary has a roughly rectangular shape catchment area of approximately 49 km². It extends about 8 km from the coast with a coastal floodplain of approximately 3 km wide. It consists of three main tributaries: the largest being Newports Creek in the north; Boambee Creek is next largest and drains the middle portion of the catchment; and Cordwells Creek the smaller of the catchments drains the south. The Boambee/Newports Estuary is permanently open to the ocean and has no artificial entrance training works, as it is naturally trained by Boambee Headland on the southern side.

The perils of taking a story from the Internet

One reader objects in a letter to the editor in The Daily Examiner on 8 May 2014 to a lazy cut and paste used to create an article on the cheap:

Language warning

As Australians we say "aeroplane" not "airplane", "lift" not "elevator". It therefore surprises me that the article 10 High-flying Machines in DEX (29/4) was obviously just lifted from an American web source without checking for correct spelling for our shores.

What little is left for Australians to call their own let's try hard to keep.

Let Americans go on airplanes and I'll go on an aeroplane.

Celeste Warren

Yamba