(Miscellaneous debris)

[Q.]

Tragedies such as the Christmas Island boat sinking are the human cost of going soft on people smugglers. While Australia is seen as an easy target, people smugglers will continue to get rich on human lives and others' misery, no matter the risk.

The only way you will stop people smuggling is if you remove the need for people smuggling. You said it yourself, people smugglers will operate regardless of the risk, therefore, deterrence is not a factor in reduction.

[mick]

I don't agree they were certainly deterred in the second half of Howard's reign.

[redandblack]

They were, mick.

Unfortunately for the argument you are all running, it was at a ridiculously enormous cost to the Australian taxpayer.

The cost makes the current furore look like a few cents.

I'm sure you would have spoken up about the wasted hundreds of millions of dollars over such a tiny proportion of our intake.

Far greater than the money spent on illegals here, seeing that the asylum seekers are not illegal.

I exclude you from this next point, mick, but for many it's hard to escape the conclusion it's not about cost, it's just about where these people come from.

Otherwise there would be a furore about illegal overstaying non-Muslim visitors.

[Leaping Lindner]

They were, mick.

Unfortunately for the argument you are all running, it was at a ridiculously enormous cost to the Australian taxpayer.

The cost makes the current furore look like a few cents.

I'm sure you would have spoken up about the wasted hundreds of millions of dollars over such a tiny proportion of our intake.

Far greater than the money spent on illegals here, seeing that the asylum seekers are not illegal.

I exclude you from this next point, mick, but for many it's hard to escape the conclusion it's not about cost, it's just about where these people come from.

Otherwise there would be a furore about illegal overstaying non-Muslim visitors.

Do you mean the "vowel crunchers" who arrive at our airports everyday??? That'd be choice hey bro?

[Q.]

I don't agree they were certainly deterred in the second half of Howard's reign.

As I understand 'arrivals' decreased because boats were turned back from where they came, but did the frequency of boats on course for arrival decrease?

[Q.]

Hockey stands aside from Islamophobia campaign

It’s extraordinarily hard to believe that a number of Liberals aren’t engaged in a deliberate campaign of blatant Islamophobia, and have been for some time.

Yesterday’s effort by Scott Morrison to politicise the funerals of the victims of the Christmas Island boat tragedy was another example of the barrel bottom standards of the Member for Cook since he was moved to the immigration portfolio and tasked with exploiting asylum seekers as much as possible.

The irony was Morrison was doing so on the pretext of cost, while we’re still waiting for him to tell us how many hundreds of millions of dollars his resuscitated Pacific Solution will cost taxpayers, an issue he ducked in the election campaign and have ducked ever since.

[Gozu]

"What counts as news?":

From the Canberra Times:

ACT scores $77m win over News tax scheme

THE media company News Corporation has been forced to pay the ACT government $77 million in taxes and penalties after an alleged tax avoidance scheme unravelled.

Alleged corporate tax avoidance, that’s a story that no-one would miss, right? Especially the business section of The Australian.

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2 ... s-as-news/

[redandblack]

R&B in that link there is not one quote attributed to Abbott, the SMH simply states it is his position without any corroborating quotes, releases etc. Do you have anything else? The SMH is a left leaning publication so before judging his conduct I need to know if it is/was his position. I'm sure you wouldn't take The Australian's word for it either.

In that case, batpad, I'll take your advice and you can read the confirmation of what I said in today's Australian.

I don't think it's a left-leaning publication

Third paragraph, amongst others, clearly stating Abbott endorsed Morrison's comments.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 6007200017

Abbott has no leadership values at all.

[Psyber]

More on the realisation of election promises: http://www.australiandoctor.com.au/arti ... 06F180.asp?

Super clinic still waiting for its first GP - 21-Feb-2011 -Louise Wallace

Australia's most expensive super clinic is still waiting for its first GP -- almost four months after it first opened for business.
Last November, Australian Doctor revealed that the $25 million clinic in Modbury, SA, had opened despite failing to recruit a single GP.
At the time, SA Health -- which runs the clinic -- said a doctor would start work by the beginning of this year.

But Australian Doctor has learnt there are still no GPs employed at the clinic. With no doctor on site, the clinic has only been able to offer counselling, nutrition and "lifestyle" services.

Patients who contact the super clinic wanting to see a doctor are referred to other local practices.
Last week, SA Health maintained negotiations were still ongoing and that a GP would be working at the clinic "soon".
It did not reveal how much the super clinic was costing to run.

The information I have had from discussion among GPs on medical fora is that they don't actually want to employ doctors.
They invite them to set up private practice in the clinic setting, and pay enormous rents much higher than available elsewhere.
This policy keeps the doctors away and operating costs down, while enabling them to blame doctors for not rushing in to work on the government's terms..

[fish]

I heard from a mates mum that the super clinic in Elizabeth is in a similar situation, although I haven't checked to see if that is correct or not.

[redandblack]

Good to see one of the few Liberal moderates standing up for decency.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011 ... 145016.htm

Good on you, Judi.

To think that Morrison is worried that refugees in camps aren't getting a fair go

Grub.

[Leaping Lindner]

Quote of the week regarding aid to New Zealand......from Tony Abbott (of course)...

"New Zealanders are family, they’re not foreigners and that’s why this disaster has especially touched the hearts of every Australian. Whatever New Zealand asks, Australia will give. Whatever the Government does, the Coalition will back."

So Queenslanders ARE foreigners. We've suspected for years . That would explain why the Coalition didn't back the flood levy.

[Psyber]

Quote of the week regarding aid to New Zealand......from Tony Abbott (of course)...
"New Zealanders are family, they’re not foreigners and that’s why this disaster has especially touched the hearts of every Australian. Whatever New Zealand asks, Australia will give. Whatever the Government does, the Coalition will back."
So Queenslanders ARE foreigners. We've suspected for years . That would explain why the Coalition didn't back the flood levy.

Hadn't you heard - "Beautiful today, Japanese tomorrow."
Sadly, now both untrue...

[scoob]

Quote of the week regarding aid to New Zealand......from Tony Abbott (of course)...

"New Zealanders are family, they’re not foreigners and that’s why this disaster has especially touched the hearts of every Australian. Whatever New Zealand asks, Australia will give. Whatever the Government does, the Coalition will back."

So Queenslanders ARE foreigners. We've suspected for years . That would explain why the Coalition didn't back the flood levy.

Don't think that the Coalition were against giving money for the flood relief/ reconstruction - what they disagreed with was where the money is coming from - you make them sound like they didn't want to help - think that is a bit of a stretch!

[redandblack]

Would you support an Earthquake Levy if the NZ Government applies one?

[Sky Pilot]

Quote of the week regarding aid to New Zealand......from Tony Abbott (of course)...

"New Zealanders are family, they’re not foreigners and that’s why this disaster has especially touched the hearts of every Australian. Whatever New Zealand asks, Australia will give. Whatever the Government does, the Coalition will back."

So Queenslanders ARE foreigners. We've suspected for years . That would explain why the Coalition didn't back the flood levy.

Don't think I read anywhere that Australians were going to apply a NZ Quake Levy so why wouldn't Tony back up what Brownies Labor party want?

[Leaping Lindner]

I'm fully aware that we aren't being taxed (directly )to pay for NZ earthquake relief. My point is the guy is playing partisan politics with natural disasters whilst people suffer. Speaks volumes for his character in my book.

[scoob]

I'm fully aware that we aren't being taxed (directly )to pay for NZ earthquake relief. My point is the guy is playing partisan politics with natural disasters whilst people suffer. Speaks volumes for his character in my book.

As opposed to using a natural disaster to hide the announcement for a new carbon tax that was promised wouldn't exist... equally

[Leaping Lindner]

I'm fully aware that we aren't being taxed (directly )to pay for NZ earthquake relief. My point is the guy is playing partisan politics with natural disasters whilst people suffer. Speaks volumes for his character in my book.

As opposed to using a natural disaster to hide the announcement for a new carbon tax that was promised wouldn't exist... equally

Similiar sure. Still the basic difference is Abbott is making political mileage whilst people suffer. No doubt the timing of the announcement of the Carbon Tax was cynical, but with mass media you just don't get away with that sort of announcement getting little coverage no matter what else is going on in the world.

[redandblack]

I'm fully aware that we aren't being taxed (directly )to pay for NZ earthquake relief. My point is the guy is playing partisan politics with natural disasters whilst people suffer. Speaks volumes for his character in my book.

As opposed to using a natural disaster to hide the announcement for a new carbon tax that was promised wouldn't exist... equally

Nonsense, it's getting plenty of publicity. It wouldn't matter when it was announced, it's a major topic that will be discussed in detail for months or more.

Gillard has hardly been quiet about it, she's hitting the airwaves as much as she can.

It's even being discussed on SAFooty;)