Convoy of No Confidence

[Sojourner]

Loved the 1978 movie "Convoy" starring Kris Kristofferson - looks like we are to get the real thing in Australia as thousands of Truckies are on their way to Canberra to protest in a similar fashion!


Convoy heading for Canberra
Lydia Sawtell | August 5, 2011

MORE than 400 vehicles will roll into Canberra this month to protest over the Federal Government's handling of live exports.

According to organisers of the Convoy of No Confidence, 11 groups of trucks, utes and cars will converge on Parliament House on August 22 for a demonstration.

National Road Freighters Association president and Queensland livestock transporter Mick Pattel said support for the protest convoy among rural Australians was overwhelming. He said the ban on live exports to Indonesia had cost him 50 per cent of his business.

Mr Pattel said the protest was about giving Australians a democratic voice on issues such as the carbon tax, live exports and the National Broadband Network.

He said each convoy would be made up of 300-400 vehicles, displaying the Australian flag, signs and streamers or balloons.

Four convoys will start in Victoria - at Colac, Warragul, Mildura and Bendigo - on August 21.

"We don't accept this is a democratically elected government," Mr Pattel said.

The first and longest convoy will depart Port Hedland, in Western Australia, on August 16.

Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce said the Convoy of No Confidence showed "how the Australian people have lost confidence in the Labor Government".

A spokesman for Minister for Regional Australia Simon Crean said: "Changing the government will not change the need for action on climate change."

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/articl ... -news.html

[Q.]

[fish]

"We don't accept this is a democratically elected government," Mr Pattel said.

[Leaping Lindner]

"We don't accept this is a democratically elected government," Mr Pattel said.

And this guy is the LNP candidate for Mt Isa.......

[Psyber]

"We don't accept this is a democratically elected government," Mr Pattel said.

And this guy is the LNP candidate for Mt Isa.......

I guess the locals must like him then as in the LNP the local memberships' elected local representatives select the candidate, and party officials outside the area don't get a vote.
I guess that's one of the potential embarrassments of running a democratic system of selection.

That said, I have "no confidence" in the convoy as I've always been against live animal export for slaughtering overseas..

[redandblack]

The latest IMF report on the Australian economy:


http://www.imf.org/external/np/ms/2011/080111.htm

It's a glowing report on the economy and the governments handling of it.

It puts into perspective the ridiculous petition of these people to have a new election (until they get the right result)

[Psyber]

Agreed R&B although I share this note of caution:

23. We project net external liabilities to increase to more than 65 percent of GDP by 2016, which is relatively high for advanced economies.
This reflects a widening of the current account deficit, driven by higher investment during the construction phase of the mining boom.
While the current account deficit is expected to rise to a relatively high level over time, it should be manageable as the investment increases export capacity and is expected to be financed through foreign direct investment, retained earnings and long-term debt.

[Sojourner]

The latest IMF report on the Australian economy:


http://www.imf.org/external/np/ms/2011/080111.htm

It's a glowing report on the economy and the governments handling of it.

It puts into perspective the ridiculous petition of these people to have a new election (until they get the right result)

Sounds very positive I agree, would just be nice to actually be given a pay rise at some stage to keep up with existing inflation levels!

Still. if they can keep unemployment at under 5% then perhaps people might respond simply by using the opportunity to work else where, I think that could be a real possibility if the economy can hold and get into growth, even minor growth!

[fish]

"We don't accept this is a democratically elected government," Mr Pattel said.

This should be re-named "The Convoy of NFI"!

[The Sleeping Giant]

Know many of the issues that would be affecting people from those rural areas fish?

[fish]

Know many of the issues that would be affecting people from those rural areas fish?

As a former primary producer and all-round-knowledgable-bloke I reckon I have a pretty good grasp of the issues facing rural Australians.

However I have little time for sore losers, climate change deniers and cow hurters.

[Psyber]

As, over a period of years, I have been a breeder of dogs, cats, Angora goats, Alpaca, Toulouse geese, and Welsummer chooks, I don't have much sympathy for cow-hurters either.
I also toyed with getting into Gelbvieh cattle.

I had a minor row with a shearer I'd hired because he didn't want to use stud combs on goats I'd hired him to shear.
He thought a few cuts were par for the course in the interest of his reputation for speed and the fact that I was prepared to pay for the extra time didn't satisfy him.

In September, I'll be found hanging around the livestock at the Royal Show.

[redandblack]

Interesting, Psyber.

Unfortunately the Convoy of No Confidence is presenting an unconstitutional petition about a non-existent problem based on a total misunderstanding of Australian election procedures and outcomes.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Know many of the issues that would be affecting people from those rural areas fish?

As a former primary producer and all-round-knowledgable-bloke I reckon I have a pretty good grasp of the issues facing rural Australians.

However I have little time for sore losers, climate change deniers and cow hurters.

I thought we weren't supposed to believe everything we read in the paper? Think you will find Australian cattle producers are some of the best in the world, after all, how would they make a profit from cattle they abuse. Do you think it was fair to stop live exports over an isolated incident? You should know that it wouldn't have saved one cow. Cattle farmers would of had no option but to start shooting their live stock. Do you think it's fair for generations of cattle farmers to have the rug pulled out from them for something that is out of their control? Poorly handled by the government, again showing not much thought is going into some of their decisions. These people have every right to protest, as do your left wing mates.

[The Sleeping Giant]

As, over a period of years, I have been a breeder of dogs, cats, Angora goats, Alpaca, Toulouse geese, and Welsummer chooks, I don't have much sympathy for cow-hurters either.
I also toyed with getting into Gelbvieh cattle.

I had a minor row with a shearer I'd hired because he didn't want to use stud combs on goats I'd hired him to shear.
He thought a few cuts were par for the course in the interest of his reputation for speed and the fact that I was prepared to pay for the extra time didn't satisfy him.

Being a hobby farmer is slightly different to having 10,000 head of cattle.

[Psyber]

...... how would they make a profit from cattle they abuse...
...Being a hobby farmer is slightly different to having 10,000 head of cattle...

Snips from your two posts above:

1. I am sympathetic to Australian farmers but there is the out of sight out of mind principle in operation.
Once the cattle are sold the profit has already been made, and we can tend to ignore the handling at the destination.
That's why I posted something sympathetic to fish's post about "cow hurters".

2. True, but concern about animals being treated humanely should apply in both cases.

3. Humane death may be better than ill treatment for excess stock.

[The Sleeping Giant]

If reports are correct, then the worker who caused all this has had some justice. How many workers in the slaughter houses in Indonesia haven't been earning a wage in the last 2 months.

The cattle produces job has finished once the cattle is on the truck. Why should they be punished for what happens overseas?

[Dogwatcher]

In September, I'll be found hanging around the livestock at the Royal Show.

Looking for love Psyb?

[Psyber]

In September, I'll be found hanging around the livestock at the Royal Show.

Looking for love Psyb?

Perhaps a wealthy grazier's daughter, as I only met one "Sloane Ranger" while I was in Sloane Square in London, and she didn't look as good as Diana Spencer.
Although, I admit I do have a picture taken by the guy who runs the Leather Shop in Hahndorf, which he asserts is a shot of me "kissing a Camel".

[Psyber]

If reports are correct, then the worker who caused all this has had some justice. How many workers in the slaughter houses in Indonesia haven't been earning a wage in the last 2 months.
The cattle produces job has finished once the cattle is on the truck. Why should they be punished for what happens overseas?

There is a reasonable argument that the responsibility of exporters does not end once the cattle are on the truck.
If they know the cattle they sell may be likely to be ill-treated they have some responsibility for the outcome of selling them anyway.
You could similarly argue that the Vichy French were not responsible for what the Gestapo did to any Jews they handed over.

While I don't like the live export trade, I can see the economic drive behind it, but I think there is a need to ensure humane management is likely at the other end of the chain if we do.