Author: Kev

On cue GREENPEACE also slammed (there sure is a lot of slamming going on) the Budget as failing once again to make any mention of climate change.

Greenpeace Australia campaigns manager Danny Kennedy said climate change was the most important environmental issue of our times.

Australian Democrats leader Lyn Allison says that by handing out tax cuts to all, the Government is simply trying to win votes in the lead-up to the next election.

“There’s not much here that’s about nation-building or for future generations,” she said.

I’m not an economist but putting $18 billion into the Future fund – which has been set up to cover unfunded public servants’ superannuation – as an initial payment and planning for about 140 billion by 2020 looks a bit like building for future generations to me.

And don’t forget the old “It’s not very equitable, we’re seeing the biggest tax cuts for the highest income earners” line. I’m not a mathmetician either but somewhere in my dim dark schooldays where I learnt maths on a slate I seem to recall that percentage cuts are firstly, the smartest way to deliver some taxes back to the people and secondly, will always be bigger for the bigger income earners. It’s about maths.

Lyn goes on throwing mud;

“We’re seeing the budget for defence and security outstripping education by $2 billion and that does say it all in terms of what the Government’s priorities are,” she said.

This despite an overall funding boost of $21.7 billion for the education, science and training sector.

The Federal Opposition is supporting the federal Budget’s tax cuts, saying the changes mirror those proposed by the Opposition. Or, we thought of it first and would’ve implimented the same cuts if……..

The ABC says “We think it’s fairly describable as our best Budget outcome in over 20 years.” Well thats what the chairman of the ABC, Donald McDonald says but Kerry and Tony will be hammering slamming it tomorrow night.

With my background I welcome any additional funding for national security as much as the Greens, the Democrats and other assorted whackos hate it. C-17 Aircraft (to carry the new tanks and much, much more) more money for more troops and more money for the troops with pay rises. More ASIO operators ($800 million) and about $500 million extra for border security. That should wind up the refugee activists.

The “My particular hobby horse/religion/group/activist mob/doomsayers/ didn’t get enough” mob will be out in force tomorrow and all lined up at the ABS and SBS but otherwise I think it’s a reasonable 11th budget for Costello.

“On 26th October last year, not 10 metres from where these men are now entombed, you had a 400-tonne rock fall. Why is it, is it the strength of the seam, or the wealth of the seam, that you continue to send men into work in such a dangerous environment?”

From Defence Media

An Australian soldier serving with the Special Forces Task Group in Southern Afghanistan has returned to Australia for medical rehabilitation and recovery after being wounded in action.

The soldier was wounded during an engagement with anti-coalition militia elements.

it was “tacky in the extreme” for The Age to try to measure one interview against another, he said. “To put a price on their salvation I reckon is pretty tacky.”

No one can even guess what happened to this man. There are too many contradictory stories, and the people telling them may have reasons to obfuscate. No matter what the facts are, they have now been buried under everyone elses agenda. The actual man, and his actual family, are no longer any consideration. Those poor people. My condolences to them, and my condolences to those Aussies who are saddened to lose one of their protectors. No matter how he died, he died in a foreign country, doing the dangerous things that we sent him to do. Let the man rest in peace, he has earnt it and leave his family alone, they need time to heal.

She says: “A fluent grasp of English is not a prerequisite of being Australian.

“Has Mr Robb forgotten that many Indigenous Australians do not speak fluent English? Is he suggesting that they are less Australian?