Federal Labor To Invest $23 Million In Health Services for Clarence Valley

Federal Labor announced today that it would invest $23 million in Grafton without conditions attached. This measure forms part of Federal Labor's $2.5 billion health and hospitals reform plan.

Labor promises that this funding will include:
"$5 million for a new GP Super Clinic - to take pressure off Grafton Base Hospital; and
$18 million for capital upgrades at Grafton Base Hospital.
The $18 million for the redevelopment of Grafton Base Hospital is to help upgrade the emergency department and complete three new operating theatres.
Federal Labor has chosen Grafton for a GP Super Clinic because of recognised shortages of general practitioners in the region.
Unlike Mr Howard, Federal Labor will not require much needed funds to be spent on additional bureaucrats or a hospital board."

This is very welcome news for a local government area whose demographics contain a significant number of people on low incomes and a very high percentage of elderly residents, both groups heavily reliant on Medicare and with limited transport options.
Bravo Labor!

Full Federal Labor media release:
http://www.alp.org.au/media/1007/mshealoo311.php

Campaign Day 17

Still trying to figure out why the Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile seems to be questioning the very existence of climate change - after all the information his government has received confirming that Australia was in for a torrid time. Until now I hadn't realised the man probably has a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock. Should have remembered the Nationals performance when the AWB scandal broke.

The 2007 Treasurers Debate - Costello 0 Swann 0 The Worm 1

Yesterday's National Press Club-sponsored debate between Treasurer Peter Costello and Shadow-Treasurer Wayne Swann clearly showed that the now famous Worm was more interesting than Swann and a lot more honest than Costello.

 

Nevertheless, Wayne Swann acquitted himself reasonably well after a nervous start and didn't present as the financial bogeyman previously predicted by the Coalition.

Costello disappointed as he danced around one question and like his leader harked back to the past rather than outlining a solid vision for the future. The phrase 'financial tsunami' was conspicuously absent from his vocabulary during the debate. While his straight-faced assertion of constant solidarity with John Howard was very amusing.

 

The Age discusses the debate:

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/10/30/1193618850500.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

 

Richard Farmer's initial take on the debate:
 http://www.crikey.com.au/Election-2007/20071030-Costello-v-Swan-Treasurers-Debate-ends-in-scoreless-draw.html

Exclusive Brethren's easy access to the PM's ear

Getting access to PM Howard and Ministers in the Coalition government is, for most people, not an easy task, but members of the Exclusive Brethren don't seem to have such troubles.



What's so special about them?



Perhaps the ABC's reports that "a former member of the Exclusive Brethren has revealed the secretive religious sect has been transferring large sums of money across the world, possibly to fund political campaigns in Australia and the US" provides an explanation as to why thet get 'special treatment'.

The full report is at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/15/2059279.htm?site=elections/federal/2007



On October 15, ABC TV's Four Corners provided an informative examination of the machinations of the Exclusive Brethren. See the program at

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20071015/brethren/default.htm



Are the Exclusive Brethren on the nose, or what?



PM Howard and his Ministers who have provided Exclusive Brethren members with easy access to them defend their actions by saying that the EB are like any other constituents and have the right of access to elected representatives. Sure, but why do they get to the front of the queue so easily AND so often? Something ain't right!

Those two major election campaigns

From The Daily Verdict at:
http://www.crikey.com.au/

Latest Newspoll: 30 October 2007

Newspoll released its latest polling this morning. Labor stands at 54% and the Coalition at 46% on a two-party preferred count.

According to Possum Pollytics fluctuations in the minor party vote estimates are a factor in the volatility of the two-party preferred figures over the last 10 months.

There is scant good news in this latest poll for either the Libs or Nats, as Labor continues to hold a fairly steady lead on both primary and TTP points.

Most political commentators are saying that the Howard team will still lose badly come November 24.

Over the next couple of weeks we can confidently expect that more money will be thrown at the electorate by John Howard as he tries to buy more votes to improve his chance of re-election.

Campaign Day 16

Every time I turn on the tellie there's Sue Page telling me that the Nationals team will 'get the balance right between the environment, development and tourism'.

Er, Sue - wouldn't you have to be in local government to have a genuine stab at this?

Or are you signalling that the Nationals intend a putsch against North Coast councils?

John Howard, the I-never-said-it-I-didn't-promise-it-wasn't-me Prime Minister

During the first three weeks of this election campaign John Howard has clearly demonstrated that he finds it impossible to own up to past mistakes and take responsibility for the results of his own actions.

 

This reached the far heights of absurdity when he repeatedly sought to rewrite the history of his interest rates promise at the 2004 election and when he attempted a clumsy duck 'n' weave over that Kyoto question.

 

Howard's non-core promises have become a bitter joke for many Australians. His former election policy platforms are littered with broken promises.

 

So perhaps it is time to recall his victory speeches from past years to decide if he lived up to the words and spirit of his expressed sentiments.

 

Here's a sample from the 9 October 2004 election victory speech:

"To be the prime minister of Australia is undoubtedly the greatest privilege that can come the way of any person. I will never forget, I will never loss contact with, I'll never misunderstand the nature of the honour and the privilege that's been given to me."

 

To judge for yourself trawl through other campaign transcripts at:

http://soapbox.unimelb.edu.au/index.html