Rannwatch

[Gozu]

Why is OK to be arrogant, never consult with stakeholders, autocratic and dishonest when it is a "left of centre" government? Were these not the very reasons Howard lost government?

Who said it was OK? The Liberal Party make an artform of that but you lot go nuts when Labor do it. Labor are not a left of centre government. They are centre-right. It's why most of the union's can't stand Rann and the upper echelons of the government. Look at Workcover, that sort of stuff is not done by a left of centre government. It's thw whole reason why Labor have next to no chance of losing office for awhile because they've moved towards the Right. Rudd followed the same plan (Rann was heavily involved with federal Labor's planning). It marginalises the Liberal Party. They are then perceived to be far-right. When you have the majority of the Left, most in the centre and even a few in the Right on your side, where do the Liberal Party go from there?

No, the Howard government lost office because when they got control of the Senate the power went to the man's head. I said at the time that I thought he'd been given enough rope to hang himself. I knew Howard hated Union's, when he came into politics about 30 years ago he said his dream was always to destroy union's. So I knew he would get employees everywhere off-side but even I didn't think he would come up with something as extreme as WorkChoices. In the end he deserved every bit of becoming just the second PM in history to lose his own seat. Turns out he was Labor's best friend by not only getting them back in government but by destroying his own party.

[Gozu]

Morning mate - hope you are well

I think Mike wants it as Rann v MHS and he has certainly stated that the election is a decision between the hospital and a stadium - that's why he's in such a dither about the backlash and MJN pulling out. Things just aren't going his way, and he's not used to it

As for some of the other stars of the SA Cabinet............ Postman Pat, Gail Gago etc - I dont have the RAM in my puter to start those threads.

Regards

Aside from being in the middle of the afternoon I agree Rann likes it to look like him vs MHS too. He knows MHS has no collateral and I also agree the whole "the Liberal Party were attacking MJN personally" line is complete crap. No one was attacking her the person, some were attacking a) the name of the thing or b) the actual hospital. He's just trying to spin it for losing face because she came to him and said she wanted her name taken off of the thing.

[mick]

Why is OK to be arrogant, never consult with stakeholders, autocratic and dishonest when it is a "left of centre" government? Were these not the very reasons Howard lost government?

Who said it was OK? The Liberal Party make an artform of that but you lot go nuts when Labor do it. Labor are not a left of centre government. They are centre-right. It's why most of the union's can't stand Rann and the upper echelons of the government. Look at Workcover, that sort of stuff is not done by a left of centre government. It's thw whole reason why Labor have next to no chance of losing office for awhile because they've moved towards the Right. Rudd followed the same plan (Rann was heavily involved with federal Labor's planning). It marginalises the Liberal Party. They are then perceived to be far-right. When you have the majority of the Left, most in the centre and even a few in the Right on your side, where do the Liberal Party go from there?

No, the Howard government lost office because when they got control of the Senate the power went to the man's head. I said at the time that I thought he'd been given enough rope to hang himself. I knew Howard hated Union's, when he came into politics about 30 years ago he said his dream was always to destroy union's. So I knew he would get employees everywhere off-side but even I didn't think he would come up with something as extreme as WorkChoices. In the end he deserved every bit of becoming just the second PM in history to lose his own seat. Turns out he was Labor's best friend by not only getting them back in government but by destroying his own party.

I am glad to see that you agree

[Jimmy_041]

Why is OK to be arrogant, never consult with stakeholders, autocratic and dishonest when it is a "left of centre" government? Were these not the very reasons Howard lost government?

Who said it was OK? The Liberal Party make an artform of that but you lot go nuts when Labor do it. Labor are not a left of centre government. They are centre-right. It's why most of the union's can't stand Rann and the upper echelons of the government. Look at Workcover, that sort of stuff is not done by a left of centre government. It's thw whole reason why Labor have next to no chance of losing office for awhile because they've moved towards the Right. Rudd followed the same plan (Rann was heavily involved with federal Labor's planning). It marginalises the Liberal Party. They are then perceived to be far-right. When you have the majority of the Left, most in the centre and even a few in the Right on your side, where do the Liberal Party go from there?

No, the Howard government lost office because when they got control of the Senate the power went to the man's head. I said at the time that I thought he'd been given enough rope to hang himself. I knew Howard hated Union's, when he came into politics about 30 years ago he said his dream was always to destroy union's. So I knew he would get employees everywhere off-side but even I didn't think he would come up with something as extreme as WorkChoices. In the end he deserved every bit of becoming just the second PM in history to lose his own seat. Turns out he was Labor's best friend by not only getting them back in government but by destroying his own party.

Too bad he wasn't back here doing what WE pay him to do

[Squawk]

Rann is not the SA Government.

Wrong. It's all about him and he's the only one who has been able to hold the factions together. Furthermore, I'd be really interested to know who the Cabinet performers are - because Cabinet is very shallow on talent, ideas, initiative and implementation. Have you sat in on a Cabinet meeting Gozu?

[mick]

Rann is not the SA Government.

Wrong. It's all about him and he's the only one who has been able to hold the factions together. Furthermore, I'd be really interested to know who the Cabinet performers are - because Cabinet is very shallow on talent, ideas, initiative and implementation. Have you sat in on a Cabinet meeting Gozu?

Dunstan was a cabinet autocrat as well, Rann learnt his craft at his knee.

[Jimmy_041]

Why is OK to be arrogant, never consult with stakeholders, autocratic and dishonest when it is a "left of centre" government? Were these not the very reasons Howard lost government?

Who said it was OK? The Liberal Party make an artform of that but you lot go nuts when Labor do it. Labor are not a left of centre government. They are centre-right. It's why most of the union's can't stand Rann and the upper echelons of the government. Look at Workcover, that sort of stuff is not done by a left of centre government. It's thw whole reason why Labor have next to no chance of losing office for awhile because they've moved towards the Right. Rudd followed the same plan (Rann was heavily involved with federal Labor's planning). It marginalises the Liberal Party. They are then perceived to be far-right. When you have the majority of the Left, most in the centre and even a few in the Right on your side, where do the Liberal Party go from there?

No, the Howard government lost office because when they got control of the Senate the power went to the man's head. I said at the time that I thought he'd been given enough rope to hang himself. I knew Howard hated Union's, when he came into politics about 30 years ago he said his dream was always to destroy union's. So I knew he would get employees everywhere off-side but even I didn't think he would come up with something as extreme as WorkChoices. In the end he deserved every bit of becoming just the second PM in history to lose his own seat. Turns out he was Labor's best friend by not only getting them back in government but by destroying his own party.

Too bad he wasn't back here doing what WE pay him to do

And this is what he wasn't doing!

Rann's $400m bid to end water restrictions
GREG KELTON, STATE EDITOR
February 20, 2009 12:30am
EXCLUSIVE: A BID to end water restrictions in Adelaide within three years by doubling the capacity of the new desalination plant has been made by the State Government.

Premier Mike Rann yesterday told The Advertiser the Government had applied for federal funding to increase the Port Stanvac plant's capacity from 50 billion litres a year to 100 billion litres.

It is understood this would need as much as $400 million of federal money.

Mr Rann said the plant could then provide half of Adelaide's water supplies – enough to warrant lifting water restrictions.

A final decision on this application, under the Infrastructure Australia fund established by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, is expected to be announced in March or April.

'The Government would not be able to extend the plant in the short term without the funding.
Mr Rann said the plant would initially provide up to 25 per cent of Adelaide's water supply and was being designed in such a way the capacity could be doubled – supplying enough to warrant lifting water restrictions.

The state has had permanent water restrictions since 2006, under which gardens can only be watered with a hand-held hose or dripper system for only three hours a week.

A government source said restrictions could not be lifted if the funding bid was unsuccessful.

Mr Rann and Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald announced yesterday that a consortium, including Spanish desalination giant Acciona Agua, would build and manage the new plant.

The consortium, which also includes United Utilities, McConnell Dowell and Abigroup Contractors, is expected to start construction of the $1.37 billion plant in April.

Up to 1100 people will be employed during the construction phase.

Mr Rann said water from the plant should start flowing from December, 2010.

Both he and Ms Maywald tasted desalinated water from the pilot plant on the Port Stanvac site and pronounced it better than existing supplies.

"That's the best seawater I have ever drunk," Mr Rann said. "We have a bid in to the Federal Government which would see us double the size of the plant. The good thing is that these plants are built in modules and doubling the size does not mean a doubling of the cost."

Ms Maywald said water storages in the Hills combined with a doubling of capacity at the plant would mean Adelaide would not have to rely on the River Murray. "This is insurance," she said.

Mr Rann said it would bring about a "massive reduction" on the state's reliance on the Murray. "We have to make decisions on water restrictions faced with the circumstances that we face," he said.

"But what this is about is guaranteeing our water security for the future."

Ms Maywald said the new consortium would build and manage the plant for 20 years but the plant could be turned off when the water was not needed.

She said the contract allowed for water production to be scaled up or down depending on need.

Opposition water spokesman Mitch Williams said South Australians should have been drinking desalinated water much earlier.

"Instead of watching their Premier tasting water from a pilot desalination plant, South Australians should be able to turn on their taps and have it flow freely," he said. "Because of Rann Government stalling it will be years before this can happen."

First he says that the Liberal's idea for a desal plant was too expensive, then he decides to do it. Thirdly, he does nothing so he can go frollicking around Australia to help Kev07 get in, and then suddenly he comes up with all the answers.

HE IS A JOKE

[mick]

Unfortunately the people of SA won't be laughing after this poor man's Goebbels is gone.

[Dogwatcher]

I know there's a lot of spin in the Rann government, as there is with any - but that's a very poor analogy Mick.

For a start, I'm not sure if even the rich want to claim Goebbels as one of their own.

And Mike, for all of his perceived faults, has not been a major player in the genocide of millions.

[mick]

I know there's a lot of spin in the Rann government, as there is with any - but that's a very poor analogy Mick.

For a start, I'm not sure if even the rich want to claim Goebbels as one of their own.

And Mike, for all of his perceived faults, has not been a major player in the genocide of millions.

Of course Rann is not an evil war criminal, but Goebbel's methodology and brilliance at propaganda is acknowledged by many including his enemies, and used by politicians of many persuasions today.

[Gozu]

Rann is not the SA Government.

Wrong. It's all about him and he's the only one who has been able to hold the factions together. Furthermore, I'd be really interested to know who the Cabinet performers are - because Cabinet is very shallow on talent, ideas, initiative and implementation. Have you sat in on a Cabinet meeting Gozu?

No I haven't but just for the record Rann is not alligned with any faction but obviously he's of the Right. The Right control the party.

[Squawk]

No I haven't but just for the record Rann is not alligned with any faction but obviously he's of the Right. The Right control the party.

Foley, Atkinson and Wright control the party - or those officials sitting behind them?

Atkinson and Wright are on borrowed time - Atkinson has been propped up by Don Farrell and Wright survives in the shadow of his old man. Neither have any control themselves.

[Jimmy_041]

1000 more in PS top $100,000

February 22, 2009 12:30am
THE number of South Australian public servants earning more than $100,000 a year jumped by more than 1000, to 4073, in the past financial year.

The Opposition said the 34 per cent increase in 2007-08 showed too many bureaucrats were earning "fat cat" pay packages.
In 2002, when the Liberals were in power, just 782 people were on six-figure salaries.

In the Department for Premier and Cabinet, 11 public servants earned at least $240,000 each in 2007-08. Department chief executive Chris Eccles started last week on a package of $380,000, earning $130,000 more than his boss, Premier Mike Rann.

Opposition finance spokesman Steven Griffiths said the figures – from the Auditor-General's report – showed Government spending was "out of control".

"The Rann Government is bloated . . . Mike Rann favours his top fat cats more than police, nurses, doctors and teachers," Mr Griffiths said.

But a breakdown of the figures showed 938 staff earning more than $100,000 last year worked for SA Police.

[Jimmy_041]

So, here's a question...

Rann organised his Labor mates to thwart the Commonwealth takeover of the Murray so Howard wouldn't get his way.

What has he achieved?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

Except a change of federal government which is all he wanted

What about the river? Who cares???

We are back where we started - death of a river for political expediency

I look foward to the arguments against this little scenario

[Gozu]

The Advertiser unsurprisingly has delivered this big puff piece on Martin Hamilton-Smith:

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 62,00.html

but what is worse they don't even bother trying to hide their allegiances and have now also given MHS his own blog! What next getting Liberal Party hacks to write all their columns...oh wait.

[mick]

The Advertiser unsurprisingly has delivered this big puff piece on Martin Hamilton-Smith:

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 62,00.html

but what is worse they don't even bother trying to hide their allegiances and have now also given MHS his own blog! What next getting Liberal Party hacks to write all their columns...oh wait.

To quote Bob Dylan "the times are a changing" perhaps the last 7 years of media loyalty to mediocre Mike "the king of spin" Rann are coming to an end ?

[Squawk]

just for the record Rann is not alligned with any faction but obviously he's of the Right. The Right control the party.

Ironic that Rann is a member of the LHMU which leads the Left faction.

[smac]

The Advertiser unsurprisingly has delivered this big puff piece on Martin Hamilton-Smith:

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 62,00.html

but what is worse they don't even bother trying to hide their allegiances and have now also given MHS his own blog! What next getting Liberal Party hacks to write all their columns...oh wait.

Whilst I agree that it is a thinly veiled move, the motivations are all about the stadium - anyone in support of an inner city stadium would get a blog from that newspaper at the moment.

[Dogwatcher]

wadoyamean smaccer?

[Jimmy_041]

The Advertiser unsurprisingly has delivered this big puff piece on Martin Hamilton-Smith:

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 62,00.html

but what is worse they don't even bother trying to hide their allegiances and have now also given MHS his own blog! What next getting Liberal Party hacks to write all their columns...oh wait.

No where near as bad as the Today Tonight "Spend a day with Mike"

Oooooooooooo you are so cute Mike

Give me a break