Category Archives: Politics
Asylum seekers boat sinks.
In a previous blog Titled Gillard Government continues to pursue Migration Act changes I said the following when talking about the immigration bill for asylum seekers
This whole mess is not just a policy it’s about people. People that are looking for our help and are willing to risk their lives to get it. There has to be a better way. If we process them closer to where they come from stands to reason they would go there instead of coming here. We could then process them there. I think over all lives may be saved. As these people are coming through people smugglers there is no record of how many leave and how many arrive but my thoughts are a lot just don’t get here.
Well the latest tragedy of this is a boat of asylum seekers sinking off the coast off the west coast of Java early yesterday. Federal Government ministers have confirmed this morning that at least six people – including one child – are dead, while 20 are missing.
A local police chief said.
“They were leaving from Cilacap and their ship sank around the island of Nusakambangan. They left Cilacap at 2am (local time) and about 3am their ship leaked. At 5am, their ship already sank and was found by local fishermen,”
So where does the blame for this tragedy lie? The Gillard Government and the Federal Opposition have been accused of having blood on their hands, but Mr Bowen and Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor lay the blame for the deaths squarely at the feet of the people smugglers. Now while the government and the opposition are being careful not to blame each other it has to be said that if they reached an agreement instead of being bloody-minded and opportunistic, this may not have happened.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor
This is not a day for argument, Today it’s about firstly determining the facts and the circumstances around this vessel.
Well I would have thought the circumstances were clear. 70 Iranian asylum seekers sold everything they had to come to Australia for a better life. The Iranians paid $US7000 and flew straight to Jakarta after bribing immigration officers at the airport $US500 for a visa.
Now it seems Some had knowledge about the asylum seeker debate in Australia and decided to come after the Malaysia refugee swap deal was scuttled. Well Mr O’Connor said,
“This is a tragedy, something that the government foretold. We said that if we don’t put in place the most effective deterrent we would see an incline in the incidence of irregular maritime arrivals and we will most likely an incline in maritime fatalities,”
So far its all becoming reality and not just words. Mr O’Connor also said that all the advice given to the government was that the best solution was the agreement struck between Australia and Malaysia.
Kamran, a student from the Kurram Valley on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, said another boat taking asylum seekers from Malaysia to Batam, off Sumatra Island, had sunk less than two weeks ago. Kamran paid $US5500 to get to Australia via Malaysia. If this is the case then the Malaysian deal would have worked, they could have been processed in Malaysia as proposed by the governments original bill. the bill that Tony Abbott was dead against. At least last night the government and the opposition finally managed to find some common ground by supporting a bill clarifying that it is still an offence for people smugglers to facilitate the arrival of asylum seekers in Australia, even if those people are legitimate refugees. However the greens did not support it.
Its time for the fighting to stop and time to put in place a policy where these people are processed offshore deterring them from the perilous boat journey and putting the people smugglers out of business, or at the very least save some lives. With the onshore processing more will come, more boats will sink on the journey and more lives will be lost. This needs to be addressed now. Australian authorities intercepted another boatload of asylum seekers north of Christmas Island yesterday so there is an increase of boats coming. Tony Abbott needs to put on his big boy pants and work this out with Julia Gillard now before more lives are lost.
When Enough is Enough. No to Sharia law in Australia.
This may be old news but in light of what is happening in the US, I still believe Julia Gillard got it right when the government moved quickly in May to block calls for sharia law to be introduced in Australia.
In its submission to the parliamentary inquiry into the government’s new multiculturalism policy, The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) has called for Muslims to be granted “legal pluralism”. It argued that a mild brand of sharia should be allowed in family law and divorces, promising it would fit in with Australian values.
I have to agree with Attorney-General Robert McClelland who said there was no “place for sharia law in Australian society” and that the government strongly rejected any proposal for its introduction. He went further by saying,
“As our citizenship pledge makes clear, coming to Australia means obeying Australian laws and upholding Australian values, If there is any inconsistency between cultural values and the rule of law then Australian law wins out, People who migrate to Australia do so because of the fact that we have a free, open and tolerant society where men and woman are equal before the law irrespective of race, religious or cultural background.”
There are Two pledges one that mentions god one that does not but both say the same thing.
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey.
In reality if we Australians migrated to any country we would have to live with their laws, Why do Radical Muslims come here and expect us to change laws to suit them. Yes i have singled out Muslims, and thats because they are the only ones who have come here making demands that we change for them.
In an interview with The Australian, the organisation’s president, Ikebal Adam Patel, who wrote the submission, nominated family law and specifically divorce as an area where moderate interpretations of sharia could co-exist within the Australian legal system. Some Muslims believe Islamic law is immutable, regardless of history, time, culture and location. The AFIC argues this is not the case and sharia can be applied in a way that fits in to Australia and is not extreme. The submission says,
“This means most of the regulations in Islamic law may be amended, changed, altered, and adapted to social change … Islamic law is changeable according to the requirements of different places and times, and therefore suits the values shared by Australian people,”
Sharia confers unilateral divorce rights on men, while women who initiate divorce are stripped of their property and financial entitlements.
In an interview, Mr Patel said:
“I’m saying that instead of letting the extremists within Islam take over the agenda, we are saying there is a path whereby it will work for all the communities in a moderate way. It is important for someone who is Muslim or a practising Jew that aspects of our religion which can be incorporated within the greater legal system are introduced. This is about personal issues about family, and won’t affect any other Australian,”
AFIC says criticisms of AFIC, as the peak body of Islamic organisations in Australia, “strongly supports that multiculturalism should lead to legal pluralism . . . and twin tolerations”. as being biased against women and treating them as second-class citizens are wrong. “It is important for Muslims to seriously consider this criticism,” the submission says. ”But it is also important for the Australian government to respect the rights of Muslim women who want to keep and maintain the way they dress, eat and interact with others, as long as such behaviour does not inflict harm to others.
AFIC, as the peak body of Islamic organisations in Australia, “strongly supports that multiculturalism should lead to legal pluralism . . . and twin tolerations”.
Well Mr Patel let me say this, there is nothing stopping women dressing as they please here if they want to wear traditional clothing, eat and interact with others that’s up to them but they don’t need Sharia Law to do so.
As a multicultural nation we have accepted many nationalities here and we have many different religions within our population. This is just an example of how arrogant some Muslims can be, another example is in the United states where muslims attending a private Roman Catholic University are offended at their Religious Symbolism. Well why go there?
It boils down to this Mr Patel, if you don’t like it don’t stay, Dont push your agenda onto us, If we as a nation allow Sharia law into our laws and culture well it is my opinion that it will just be time before extremists come along demanding a stronger form of sharia. What will be next? Stoning? Lashing? amputation? I don’t think so.
Our Laws work just fine, By becoming citizens and taking the pledge Immigrants have agreed to live by the laws of this country. Maybe some don’t belong here if they can’t live with our laws.
It’s about time those muslims who have come here for a better life stand up against these radicals, let it be known not all muslims are radicals. Show everyone there are more peace-loving muslims than there are Radicals
WHAT IS SHARIA LAW
Sharia law is “the path that must be followed by a Muslim”.
It brings together elements from the Koran and the Hadith, plus judges’ rulings from Islam’s first centuries. It was fixed by about the 10th century, and contains detailed instructions for practically every aspect of life.
In the West, it is most famous for its penal code: the prescribed punishments for sexual offences, which include stoning; for theft, which include amputation; and for apostasy, for which the punishment is death.
Much more important for most Muslims, however, are the parts of sharia that relate to the status of women, to contracts and to family law.
These include provisions that allow men several wives and that enshrine, in law, the inferiority of women.
Women can be divorced merely by their husbands reciting “I divorce you” three times; their testimony is worth less than that of men; and they cannot marry a non-Muslim man – although it is permissible for a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman.
Within Sharia law, there are a group of “Haram” offenses which carry severe punishments. These include pre-marital sexual intercourse, sex by divorced persons, post-marital sex, adultery, false accusation of unlawful intercourse, drinking alcohol, theft, and highway robbery. Haram sexual offenses can carry a sentence of stoning to death or severe flogging. I fail to see how these laws would work with our laws. They have no regard for Human rights or the rights of women.
How you live your life, regardless of your religon, sexual preference, way of dress is your business, If you want to have a drink after work well go ahead that too is your choice. but in this country men and women are considered equal, a woman is not inferior to her husband.
Muslims came here because they wanted a better life, for themselves and their children and future generations. They took a pledge when they became citizens to uphold the Laws of Australia. Sharia Law is not Australian law, and hopefully never will be. If you want to live in a country that supports sharia law then all means go and do so, dont expect us to change our laws for you. I am sure you wouldnt change sharia laws for us.
http://coffeenchat.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/american-muslims-why-americans-are-confused/
http://coffeenchat.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/american-muslim-confusion-perfect-example/
Three more Australian soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan + Poll
Once again we have the news of 3 more brave aussies killed and seven more injured in Afghanistan.
Reports have not named the three but say that a corporal, captain and lance corporal were members of the Mentoring Task Force in southern Afghanistan. Of the three, the corporal and lance corporal were on their first deployment to Afghanistan while the captain was on a second tour.The corporal and the captain had earlier this year taken part in flood and cyclone relief operations in Queensland. Of the wounded, one soldier was being treated for life threatening wounds, four had serious wounds, and the other two had minor wounds. An Afghan interpreter was also killed.
News of the Australian deaths came as a suicide car bomber in the capital Kabul struck a US-run NATO bus travelling through the south-west of the city, killing at least 17 people, including 13 US soldiers. It is not known at this stage if both are connected.
The biggest question right now is should we bring our people home. My personal feeling on this is YES. If one rebel can infiltrate the Afghanistan Army how many more have. It is concerning because where else have these rebels infiltrated, just going along day by day waiting to strike.
How high a price are we willing to pay?
The Australian forces in Afghanistan have suffered 32 fatalities. 207 soldiers have been wounded.
United States deaths, more than 1,450 have died in hostile action and 14,611 have been wounded in action in Afghanistan.
British forces have suffered 383 fatalities and 1,802 wounded in action, another 3,472 have suffered from disease or non-battle injuries.
This list goes on in fact there have been a total of 2,716 Coalition deaths in Afghanistan.
There is no war against terror that we can possibly win that will eradicate the extremist views and actions. Last week President Hamid Karzai said in an interview, Afghanistan would support Pakistan in case of military conflict between Pakistan and the United States. So tell me again why we are there. Its time these people stood up and took some resopnsibility and trained their own people. Its time to bring our people home.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said it was a bitter day for Australia, and acknowledged that public support for Australia’s mission in Afghanistan could be further damaged by the incident. She urged Australians not to judge the progress of the mission on one incident alone.
One incident alone, well I dont know how it can be called one incident when this is the second time this year an ANA soldier has targeted a member of the ADF. Lance Corporal Andrew Jones was shot dead by a rogue ANA soldier. That to me raises some serious questions. Questions i think our governments need to be able to answer if they want to justify our troops being there.
How do we know we are training the right people when the ANA dont even know who they have on their side?
Fears of infiltration within the Afghan army ranks have risen as Western backers fund and train a huge expansion of the fledgling national force ahead of the withdrawal of all foreign combat forces scheduled for 2014.
The ADF has launched an investigation to determine whether the gunman, from the ANA’s 6th Kandak unit, was a Taliban or terrorist infiltrator, or whether there was another motivation for the attack. Little is yet known about the shooter but it is believed he had been in the force for some time and was not a new recruit. well to me that raises a lot of concerns.
No matter what the motivation behind the attacks the fact remains a rebel has been a member of the ANA for some time undetected. Striking out when he saw fit killing our men. No one can know how the families of these men feel. Yes they volunteered to defend us, but at no time did they sign up to be sitting ducks. How many more rebels are in the ANA? The longer we stay there the greater the odds of this happening again. Lets get our people out now!!!
Sympathies, prayers and thoughts to family, friends and colleagues.
Lest We Forget.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-29/three-australian-soldiers-killed-in-afghanistan/3608612
http://news.yahoo.com/3-australian-soldiers-killed-afghanistan-220152308.html
http://www.news.com.au/national/aussie-troops-shot-dead-in-afghanistan/story-e6frfkvr-1226180499845
Moamar Gaddafi is Dead!
Libya’s new leaders have confirmed Moamar Gaddafi, Libya’s former dictator, was killed when fighters overran his hometown of Sirte. they said, Gaddafi was found hiding in a cement drainpipe below the main road during the gunbattle that clinched their victory over the city of Sirte. Libyan TV showed mobile phone footage which showed Gaddafi wounded and bloodied, but still alive, He was apparently shot in the legs received a blow the head. He was then taken by ambulance to hospital where he later died.
Western leaders have welcomed the death of Moamar Gaddafi saying it is the end of despotism, tyranny, dictatorship and ultimately war in the north African country.
As Libyans fired automatic weapons into the air and danced for joy on the streets of Tripoli and Sirte , world leaders began to weigh in on the death of Gaddafi who had ruled for 42 years overthe oil-rich north African nation.
President Barack Obama said the United States would be a partner to Libya following Gaddafi’s death, which he said had lifted a “dark shadow” Libya. In a speech from the White House Rose Garden, Mr Obama said,
“Today we can definitively say the Gaddafi regime has come to an end. The last major regime strongholds have fallen. The new government is consolidating control over the country. And one of the world’s longest serving dictators is no more, This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya who now have the opportunity to determine their own destiny in a new and democratic Libya.”
British prime minister David Cameron it was an occasion to remember his victims, and a chance for a “democratic future” for Libya.
“I think today is a day to remember all of Colonel Gaddafi’s victims” including those who died in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over the Scottish town of Lockerbie People in Libya today have an even greater chance, after this news, of building themselves a strong and democratic future, I’m proud of the role Britain has played in helping them to bring that about and I pay tribute to the bravery of the Libyans who helped to liberate their country.”
French foreign minister Alain Juppe said, France was “proud” to have helped bring freedom to the country, and “end of 42 years of tyranny” referring to the role of French forces in NATO action in Libya during the seven-month conflict.
“The announcement of the death of Gaddafi and the collapse of Sirte is the end of a very difficult period for the Libyan people. It’s the end of 42 years of tyranny, of a military conflict that has been very difficult for the Libyan people,” Mr Juppe told reporters in New Delhi. It’s a historic event. It’s the beginning of a new period, of a democracy, freedom and the rebuilding of the country,”
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said Gaddafi’s death was the begining of a “historic transition” for Libya.
“Let us recognise immediately that this is only the end of the beginning. The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges. Now is the time for all Libyans to come together.”
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said after the death of his onetime ally: “Now the war is over.” “Sic transit gloria mundi (Thus passes the glory of the world),” he said about the ousted ruler of Italy’s former colony.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said it was an historic day for Libyans and for the Arab world, but that there were challenges still to come.
“This is just the end of the beginning – as we reflect on the sacrifices which have been made to obtain political freedom in Libya, we must also now reflect on the future challenges and that’s where Australia also stands ready to assist,”
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Libyans “can now look to the future. After 10 months of extraordinary sacrifices, the Libyan people can say with pride and confidence that they have shaken off a regime that terrorised and oppressed for more than 40 years,” She also urged the new leaders to build a democratic future in full respect for human rights, and said that “while the crimes of the past must be addressed, the leadership must also seek a path of national reconciliation”, and the EU will remain “a strong and committed” partner in the future.
The news means an end also to the “repression from which the Libyan people have suffered for too long”, EU president Herman Van Rompuy said in a joint statement with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.
European Parliament president Jerzy Buzek will visit Libya from Saturday.
“I am happy I will be visiting a country fully liberated from a dictator who has imposed his iron fist for more than 40 years. Now Libya can truly turn the page,”
Moamar Gaddafi Veteran Libyan strongman was killed on October 20, 2011, and new regime forces defeated the last pocket of resistance in his home town Sirte.
Gaddafi, Born in the desert near Sirte in 1942, reputedly in a Bedouin tent. was in power for 42 years and had imposed himself as a key international player the West could not ignore. He led a coup on September 1, 1969, overthrowing the Western-backed elderly King Idriss. As a young colonel, Gaddafi established himself as an unpredictable, belligerent leader who alienated the West soon after seizing power, accusing it of launching a “new crusade” against the Arabs. His idol was Egyptian president and fervent Arab nationalist Gamal Abdel Nasser, and a fan of Mao Zedong, Stalin and even Hitler.
Libya, For decades was linked to a spate of terrorist attacks all over the world, with Gaddafi was also accused of using Libya’s oil wealth as the country is Africa’s third largest producer, to fund and arm rebel groups across Africa and beyond.
In 1986, Libyan agents were blamed for the deaths of three people who were killed in a bombing in a West Berlin nightclub in Germany.After the incident under the presidency of Ronald Reagan the US administration, regarded Gaddafi as “public enemy number one”.Reagan dubbed the Libyan leader the “mad dog of the Middle East” and sent US jets to Tripoli to bomb his compound in the Libyan capital.
Libya then became an international pariah in the aftermath of bombing of the 1988 Lockerbie airliner, but things began to thaw when Libya agreed to pay compensation to the families of the 270 people who were killed.
In 2003 Gaddafi declared that he was giving up the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, this promped the lifting of UN sanctions.
This declaration dramatically shored-up Libya’s ties with the West and was topped off with a visit by then US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice in September 2008.
Gaddafi was elected chairman of the African Union In February 2009, after he tired from championing Arab unity and months later African tribal dignitaries gave him the title of “king of kings”.
Gaddafi was reportedly grooming his son, Seif al-Islam who is one of eight children plus an adopted daughter who was killed in US bombing raids in 1986 as his successor.
Confusion surrounds the fate of other members of Gaddafi’s family and inner circle. An NTC representative said up to 17 senior members of the Gaddafi regime have been apprehended or killed. There have been reports that his sons Mutassim Gaddafi and Saif al-Islam have been killed but other reports say Mutassim has been captured alive and that al-Islam has fled.
Mohammed El Senussi, considered by Libyan royalists to be the heir to the old Libyan throne, issued this statement:
The flag of freedom is now flying in Sirte and across Libya on this historic day. People throughout Libya took up arms just eight months ago and in that short time they have been united in their resolve to rid the country of evil
The new Libya must be organised under the rule of law and there is no greater time than right now to demonstrate that commitment by ensuring there are no acts of vengeance against Gaddafi’s supporters and that justice is dealt with by the courts.
Today begins a new chapter in our history. I look forward now with confidence that the people of Libya will build a future we can all be proud of. Now is the time to put freedom and the sanctity of life at the heart of our society and to put the era of terror and oppression behind us.
The fight over the immigration policy
Still on the issue of the boat people, while both the Government and Coalition are committed to offshore processing, so is crossbencher, West Australian National Tony Crook, he stood in the way of the bill that would have validated the Malaysia deal passing the House of Representatives last week. Julia Gillard was smashed last week by the hinge of this hung Federal Parliament. This further damaged her personally, and forced her to admit she has an asylum-seeker policy the exact opposite of what she insists this country needs.
Labor Left, believes in onshore processing and in letting asylum seekers live in the community while they are being assessed. But after Tony Crook blocked her legislation, Julia Gillard fell back to a position that seemed out of left field. Where things will go from here, on the asylum issue and Julia Gillard’s future, should be worrying for Labor.
When the High Court made its decision the Malaysia deal, it was always going to be bad for the government. It seemed reasonable to try to breath life back into that deal by legislation. But when neither Tony Abbott nor the Greens would have any part of the bill, the government should have just cut its losses. Instead, the bill was allowed to drag on, and Julia Gillard’s credibility was hostage to what Tony Crook might decide.
Julia Gillard was wrong when she thought that she had the crossbench numbers. On Thursday policy shift came, it seemed to have no rationale beyond the fact there would be nowhere else to cope with the increasing numbers attracted by onshore handling. It Embraced the embracing the more humane community based processing.
Julia Gillard remains committed to the Malaysia solution. She still says it as the way to smash the people smugglers. She does admit her latest policy will encourage them and that more boats will come. A government that is trying to strengthen the deterrent has significantly weakened it instead.
Another finger in this pie is Tony Abbott, he indicated he would have said no to a compromise asylum-seeker policy that included Nauru, vindicating Julia Gillard and those in the cabinet who argued against making such an offer.
Saturday the Herald revealed the cabinet had discussed a variety of options, including Nauru, to try to break the deadlock. Tony Abbott indicated yesterday Labor would have needed to adopt more than Nauru to win his support.
Tony Abbott said,
”Nauru isn’t the only ingredient of our policy, There’s temporary protection visas and there’s the option of turning boats around when it’s safe to do so. So unless the government is prepared to do all of that, which worked before, I don’t think they can expect to stop the boats again.”
Thursday morning during a cabinet meeting, one option was for a amendment in which the government would agree to reopen the processing centre in Nauru as long as Tony Abbott agreed to pass the changes to the Migration Act. This would have overturned the High Court decision and allowed the government to use Malaysia and Manus Island as well as Nauru. There would be a significant boost to the humanitarian intake to placate the Left.
Julia Gillard,Kevin Rudd, Greg Combet and Craig Emerson argued against the idea, and Chris Bowen, and Stephen Conroy, argued for the proposal but lost.
Kevin Rudd argued that Mr Abbott would never accept the offer because he opposed Malaysia. Mr Bowen said it was common sense that the cabinet considered all options and associated pros and cons. He said ”It’s just a pity Tony Abbott isn’t of the calibre that Kim Beazley was in acting in the nation’s interest,”
The Immigration Department said that a ”game changer” such as Malaysia was required. It believes once people are actually returned to Malaysia, people smuggling will be severely hampered. After the plan was announced in May, the arrival of boats slowed but did not stop
Tony Abbott claimed the slowing of arrivals was due to the tragedy off Christmas Island last December.
Dr Emerson said. ”Mr Abbott values his own political career more than human life,”
The impasse over this policy has put a dent in Julia Gillard’s already fragile standing. Despite that the Gillard government has enjoyed a boost in support.
The latest Herald/Nielsen poll finds Labor’s primary vote has jumped 3 percentage points in a month to 30 per cent, a small increase but psychologically significant because it is the first time since May Labor’s first preference vote has been in the 30s.
The Coalition’s primary vote was steady at 48 per cent, giving it a two-party-preferred lead over Labor of 57 per cent to 43 per cent.
The poll also shows Kevin Rudd remains twice as popular as preferred Labor leader compared with either Julia Gillard or Stephen Smith the only other likely contender.
Anti-Wall St protests spread to Australia – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Concrete demands of the movement are few, other than a general sense that the “greedy and corrupt” rich, and especially banks, should pay more and that elected governments are not listening.
via Anti-Wall St protests spread to Australia – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
Several hundred people are occupying Freedom Plaza outside city hall in Washington. They are protesting against corporate power in the United States and demand progressive reform. They are joined by the stop the machine rally, located midway between the Capitol and the White House. All with the the same demands as more than 5,000 people of the Ocupy Wall Street movement, who also have Labour union support.
These protests are not just in the United States, there are similar protests, in Sydney 500 protesters set up camp in martin place. a smaller group in Brisbane, In Melbourne, some demonstrators said they planed to camp out for days, and maybe weeks.But it hasnt stopped there.
In new Zealand 200 marched up main street to join3000 gathered in the city square in the capital, Wellington, and another 50 in Christchurch. they were joined by protesters in Taipei, the capitol of Taiwan. All were part of a global movement involving people in 951 cities across 82 countries.
Mark Goudkamp, a Sydney organiser, told the Martin Place rally:
“The planet can’t continue to go on with this unsustainable level of inequality.There needs to be a fundamental overhaul of how our economy works; we need to challenge those who are the most powerful who control the global economy and have an enormous influence on elected politicians”
Melbourne organiser Nick Carson says Australia may have escaped the global financial crisis, but there are still serious issues affecting this nation.
“I think people want real democracy,They don’t want corporate influence over their politicians. They want their politicians to be accountable.We’re not seeing unemployment like in Spain where tens of millions are unemployed.But what we are seeing is a lack of accountability, an unfair influence of giant mining companies, business councils and lobby groups, which represent 1 per cent of most wealthy Australians, while the other 99 per cent go relatively unrepresented.”
‘Day of rage’ as rioters rampage through Rome
Occupy Wall Street’ protests continue in NYC
Wall Street protests go global; riots in Rome
Gillard Government continues to pursue Migration Act changes
Today the government hit a snag in bringing its offshore legislation to the vote when Tony Cook MP announced he will not support the bill. This means the government wont have the numbers in the lower house to pass the bill.
Julia Gillard said her government will continue to press Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to support its bid to resurrect its controversial Malaysian people swap deal. She believed the Malaysia deal was the best out come for Australia,and that the legislation would remain before the parliament until Mr Abbott “wakes up” and decides to support it. Until then, the government will continue processing asylum seeker boat arrivals onshore, Australia faced more boat arrivals because of his decision not to support changes to the Migration Act, putting a squeeze on detention centres. We are at a real risk of seeing more boats, and If we do see more boats whilst we have unused detention capacity now, that will put pressure on the detention network.
Now this may sound harsh but i think for the welfare of these boat people they should be deterred from the dangerous routes they are taking to come here. I do believe once here we should process them faster that they have been in the past. Malaysia may not be the answer, but while we continue to process them onshore they keep coming. Julia Gillard says There is no immediate pledge of more money for intelligence and police work in Indonesia to stop the people smugglers, but the government was “actively” considering the need for more funding. She also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to mandatory detention, monitoring Australia’s borders and deterring people from making dangerous boat voyages.
Now the immigration minister Chris bowen said that the government had no plans to open more detention centers. well as far as i can tell with the boat people continually arriving, onshore facilities will become overcrowded very quickly. now processing these people on Naru didnt deter them maybe Malaysia will.
Julia Gillard told reporters “clearly until Mr Abbott faces up to the nation’s interests we will not be able to implement it,”
Well if not the nation’s interest how about the welfare of these people. Its not like they are arriving on cruise ships these boats arent the most seaworthy vessels, and just how many boats dont make it? something needs to be done.
Julia gillard was asked f the government felt any responsibility for the lack of success of its proposed amendments at this stage. she could have come out and blamed the coalition, but instead she stated that she took responsibility for trying to implement good policy.
This whole mess is not just a policy its about people. People that are looking for our help and are willing to risk their lives to get it. There has to be a better way. If we process them closer to where they come from stands to reason they would go there instead of coming here. We could then process them there. I think over all lives may be saved. As these people are coming through people smugglers there is no record of how many leave and how many arrive but my thoughts are a lot just dont get here.
Carbon Tax; How we got here
Former PM John Howard gave a speech 5 years ago where he told business leaders his thoughts on an emissions Trading scheme. the then liberal PM told them…
“I think the weight of scientific evidence suggests that there are significant and damaging growths in the levels of greenhouse gas emissions. And unless we lay the foundation over the years immediately ahead of us to deal with the problem, future generations will face significant penalties and will have cause to criticise our failure to do something substantial in response.”
The speech came 15 years after the first discussion about carbon pricing, this was the start of a bipartisan commitment to a market-based approach to cutting carbon emissions.
Howard refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, Kevin Rudd rose to power with a massive wave of support for climate action, and made his first official act to sign the protocol. 12 months later on the advice of Professor Ross Garnaut it was accepted that based on 2000 levels a target was set for a 5% reduction in emissions through the Emissions Trading Scheme. The Greens (a minority party) were not convinced and would not support the scheme as they thought the target to be too low and the industry compensation too high.
Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull offered bipartisan support for a revamped scheme and in May 2009, entered into talks with Labor. Tony Abbott who once said the science of climate change “crap” began to doubt the political merits of Malcolm Turnbull’s position and rolled him less than two months later. This coup set the scene for 22 months of often bitter and angry debate over climate change, scientists received death threats, vilification of the prime minister, and an end to bipartisanship.
In June 2010 Kevin Rudd was dumped and replaced by Julia Gillard because he did not deliver an answer to what he called “greatest moral challenge of our time”. In August 2010 Gillard called a snap election where she promised not to introduce a carbon tax. for the first time in 70 years a minoriity government was formed based on a new and fresh approach to climate change. that change of approach was gained through talks with the Greens and Independants was a carbon tax to start in 2012 and to be followed by an Emissions Trading scheme in 2015 despite the now famous promise not to introduce a carbon tax.
The Queensland Competition Authority had already raised electricity prices by 6.6 per cent this financial year, acknowledging the need for investment in distribution networks, changes in power generation and operating costs, and customer growth.
The sector had wanted an 18.5 per cent rise and it could push to make up the difference next financial year and ask for a 12 per cent rise, Mr Dickson said.
“What I’m concerned about is that for the 2012 financial year, we’ll have the impact of the carbon tax and then the natural increases for electricity in Queensland,” Mr Dickson said.
“When you bang those two things together it’s a big cost.
“End-users could be paying an extra 20 per cent for their electricity next financial year.
The Bills Based on Lies
Well the first full day of debate went as expected, the government laid out their plan, and all wondered what Malcolm Turnbull would say about the bills. Mr Turnbull former leader of the opposition lost the top job over his support for an emissions trading scheme. well he had very little to say. he did how ever tell reporters he had not decided if he would speak on this carbon pricing legislation.
Now what is interesting is the bill has a close resemblance to the bill that cost in my opinion Turnbull and Rudd to loose the top jobs. Mr Turnbull told reporters “I think all of these schemes have got a lot in common,” You think?? People were against the bills then just as they are now Mr Turnbull.
On Wednesday Ian Macfarlane Opposition energy spokesman informed the lower house the bills were “the most job-destroying pieces of legislation I have seen in my 13 years in politics”, and that the tax The tax would destroy our countries competitive advantage, Well yes look at it this way, if they have to pay a tax for emissions, which has to be passed on in higher prices wouldnt it be more cost effective to produce offshore?? Seems that many jobs will be lost.
Shayne Neumann, a Labor backbencher, was quick to point out that Mr Macfarlane had undergone a “Damascus road conversion” from when he stood with Mr Turnbull as the coalition’s chief negotiator. Hmmm seems to me Mr Macfarlane has done some research and found out the truth.
Mr Abbott opened his on the clean energy bills by declaring the package was based on a lie, and that it was a bad tax that should be rejected. Mr Abbott went on to label it as “the longest suicide note in Australian history” I have to agree with Mr Abbott, If the Labour Party get this bill passed they can forget winning the next election. Now Mr Abbott gave his speech to a near filled chamber as the PM Julia Gillard sat opposite him. When Mark Dreyfus, junior climate change minister, started the government’s counterattack in a debate the chamber emptied.
The opposition was accused of “being in hysterics” by Mr Dreyfus because the policy was essential to save the world from catastrophic climate change. Mr Dreyfus where have you been for the last 10 years. In that time nothing has changed there has been no climate change at all. You say its essential to save the world from catastrophic climate change, How will that happen?? CO2 is good or did you not learn that at school, or maybe you a product of those who are now teaching our kids the world will end.
All this talk of catastrophic climate change is doing damage, more than the climate change will do. Our children are growing up thinking why should i plan ahead the world will end before i do. This is the only change i see so far. The CSIRO have backed away from their findings. the world has known for years its a hoax yet here we are with the leaders of our country totally brainwashed. Yes brainwashed and fooled by people who tell them what they want to hear… The End Of The World is Nigh!!!!!!!
Its about time our leaders stepped back and took a look at themselves, because right now some of them look pretty stupid with their doom and gloom climate crap. 10 years and no sign of change should tell you something. The majority of scientists cant be wrong and they dont support the climate change theory.
As Mr Abbott stated This bill is based on a lie. so in my opinion its just another tax to line the governments pockets. Not just our government, but every government that supports this lie. How long are we going to let them get away with this crap. How long are the governments going to ignore the people who vote for them? Two top jobs lost over this very issue, the question is this will Julia Gillard realise her error or will she push this to political suicide.
Julia Gillard could do great things as PM. But continuing with this bill will put an end to any chance she has.
Lady Sue your Blog is Treason.. My Response
This morning I woke to an email in response to my blogs on Carbon Tax and carbon emissions, at first I thought I need to respond to this and began writing a reply. I then stopped and thought no I would let you all see exactly what was said and my response to it.
Lady Sue,
How can you put so much false information out there. You are calling the Scientists and our Government liars. This in my book amounts to treason. How dare you call it all a hoax, have you done any studies on this? No I doubt you have. May i suggest you have a look at the information our Government put forward on this matter you will find it here, http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/ and here, http://www.csiro.au/science/Climate-Change.html Im sure it will change your mind once you read Them.
T.S
Well T.S let me say this to you. You may call it trason I happen to think people need to know the truth. I had a look at the sites you sent me, firstly one is a government site so is likely to support the government on this the other is the CSIRO, Sorry but when it comes to government and science working together I have little faith they will get it right, Just look at what happend with the cane toad, but that is another story.
It has been common knowledge for a long time that this is a hoax. Maybe instead of watching what government funded scientists have to say, take look at studies by independent scientists who dont have to answer to anyone but themselves have to say.
Now a good place to start may be here
http://www.globalwarminghoax.com/news.php
Now my point was on the carbon tax proposed by the Government, this is not needed and will have no effect other than to create another tax, and line the Governments pockets. Now I dont care if its the Australian government the U.S government or any other government in the world. The thing is they are lying to create a tax thats it pure and simple. look at this page http://www.globalwarminghoax.com/news.php?extend.115 Where it states the following…
We all know that the artificial construct known as “cap and trade” is nothing more than a fraud to get companies to pay more taxes. It will have very little, to no, impact on CO2 levels, much less global warming.
Even if anthropogenic global warming existed there are much more effective and less costly ways of dealing with it. But those would not be income producers for our greedy governments thus they receive little attention (see Bjorn Lomborg ‘s Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Global Warming
Now that to me says we should not have the carbon tax as a revenue raiser. You want more proof look at this http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/the-billion-dollar-hoax/story-e6frfhqf-1225823736564 Here the CSIRO has even backed away from their previous conclusions.
JAMES Cook University researcher Peter Ridd says Australian scientists have cried wolf over the threat to the Great Barrier Reef from global warming, and the reef was actually in “bloody brilliant shape”. The alarmist CSIRO this month also backed away from blaming global warming for a drought in Tasmania and in the Murray-Darling basin, saying “the jury is still out”. A new paper by another Australian academic, Assoc Prof Stewart Franks, says the Murray-Darling drought is natural, and has nothing to do with man-made warming.
AND still the world hasn’t warmed since 2001, even though we pump out more emissions than ever.
Even professional alarmist Tim Flannery, author of The Weather Makers, admits “we haven’t seen a continuation of that (warming) trend” and “the computer modelling and the real world data disagree”.
And with Europe, the United States and China hit with record cold and snow this winter, no wonder Kevin Rudd has suddenly gone cold on global warming, the mad faith that has cost us so many futile billions already.
Now T.S I could continue to show you sites where this is nothing but a hoax in fact i will email you some more where you can read up and learn the truth. Im sure you learnt in school CO2 was good for our environment. How could that have changed??
you have he freedom to believe what you like but wouldnt it be better to believe the truth and have our Governments all over the world tell it too. this proposed carbon tax wont do what they say it will it will however push the costs of goods up, so you will have to pay more, on just about everything so if your happy with that good for you. tell you what if this tax goes ahead come back in 6 months time and you tell me how it has helped OK.
Spot of fun with a Dash of Serious 