Ha, it appears William doesn't like being scolded, especially by a for'ner. So you go out of your way to find an article to scold Kingston on. Solid work William, solid work.
From the article, "Whilst escalating utility prices have produced ever-greater levels of social hardship, there have been windfall profits for power companies. AGL recorded a 13 percent rise in profit, to $429 million, in the past financial year. Origin Energy increased its profit by 10 percent to $585 million, Energex by 44 percent to $185 million and Ergon by 28 percent to $166 million."
Gee, we've never seen that story before. Socialist website William? Isn't that the political equivalent of gay porn? Did you have to turn off the "FREEDOM FILTERS" on your computer to view the website?
Max and William. Here we go again; I wish you blokes would stop your cat fight. There is a far bigger one happening in Washington which may well affect the rest of the world. The Washington lot has an excuse as they have their snouts in the public purse so have to squeal occasionally to justify their existence. Now to Williams post and the response from Max. I have never heard of the site and for William to cite such a source looks a bit like a peacock going into a pig pen hoping not to get shitty. As with most stories published in the free press there is a grain of truth in it. Over the past five years, electricity prices have risen by an average of about 60 percent nationally, far more than the inflation rate and yes there is pressure on household budgets. At the same time there has been much privatization of the power plants with State Governments getting out of the industry. Private ownership has led to price rises and there has been an explosive increase in infrastructure costs as under government ownership "Poles and wires" were allowed to fall into disrepair. Add to the above the recent carbon tax introduced by the Federal government and the picture becomes clear. That there has been a significant increase in disconnections is true but certainly not at the level claimed in the article (by the way, it has been taken down I believe; I read it at 5.30 am but cannot find it now). Are the disconnections justified? Well it occurs only as a last resort and in fairness to the suppliers; they are entitled to run their business prudently. We cannot get gas from the pump if we have no money so why not electricity ? What worries me in the present circumstances is that Australia may go down the same path as the US, we simply do not have the will to allow the same debit level and we certainly do not have the political system to operate in the totally dysfunctional method we currently see in Washington.We have however followed big brother in the past. Cheers to you all from Aussie
William Not sure of your point but the NSW Government is a Liberal/National government (Conservative in your language).They were elected about a year ago to replace the Socialist government which had been in power for more than a decade. In Australia it has been the experience that Labor (Socialist) government invariable rum up fiscal debit and the incoming Conservatives have to clean up the mess. That, very briefly, is the cause of the austerity program. I hope this helps but I would like to understand the point you are making
Australian government rejects refugee protest letter By Mike Head 31 December 2012
The Australian government has dismissed a collective letter of complaint from refugees detained on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island, and instead stepped-up its transfer of asylum seekers to the remote island. Another 25 single males, who arrived there on December 29, are believed to include unaccompanied teenagers who arrived on refugee boats without other family members.
More than 155 people, including about 30 children, are now detained on the island, with many housed in tents and shipping containers, as part of the Labor government’s reactionary drive to stop refugees seeking asylum in Australia. About 400 asylum seekers are being held in similar conditions on Nauru, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Within months, the two camps will be filled to their planned combined capacity of 2,100.
The Manus Island letter, passed around and signed by detainees, demanded answers about how long they would be incarcerated, and when the processing of their refugee claims would begin. It also protested against their living conditions, saying that the heat and dust were affecting them badly. The letter detailed a range of objections, including the lack of air conditioners and fans, especially for the children. One woman with asthma had twice become unconscious, it stated.
The refugees demanded a response from the Australian Department of Immigration by close of business last Friday. Refugee advocates warned that mass protests could follow, including the resumption of hunger strikes, if the deadline was not met.
Asylum seekers were yesterday reported to have rejected the Immigration Department’s reply to their letter. The department confirmed that no refugee processing arrangements were in place but said they may “commence in early 2013”. One detainee told the Refugee Action Coalition: “It [the department letter] has made us disappointed and sad. We did not get an answer to our questions. One lady collapsed from the stress after she was told about the letter and had to be carried to the medical centre. We will have other protests.”
Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s government has repeatedly refused to place any limit on how long asylum seekers will be kept on the two Pacific islands, even if they are classified as refugees—effectively sentencing them to indefinite imprisonment without trial. The government has declared that the detention will last for as long as the asylum seekers would have to wait in the massive refugee camps in places such as Pakistan, Turkey and Iran, where people can languish for decades.
The appalling conditions in Australia’s detention centres further expose the government’s claim that its refugee policy is motivated by humanitarian concerns to stop people risking their lives by joining dangerous voyages to Australia. It is increasingly obvious that the government’s punitive regime is designed to intimidate refugees and deny them the basic right, enshrined in international law, to seek asylum.
Again William what is your point? Do you contrast this report with the happenings in Guantonomo (not sure of spelling)? Do you compare our experience with US policy at the beginning of the influx of immigrants to get your manufacturing industries going? Perhaps (I hope not) you are trying to show Australia in a bad light to satisfy your own ego. Whatever the reason, Australia, just as your nation, will make decisions and judgments in accord with our own views of what are best for Australia. We do however; believe we are big enough to accept criticism from our friends. Cheers from Aussie
LOU My thanks and reciprocal good wishes to you and all others on the boards here. I wish we could expand the contributors list and get more debates going. In the same way that last year you explained the recall system, William has improved my understanding by pointing out that "Money" bills originate in the House; just as they do here incidentally. I do however believe that both nations would be better served by having a competent housewife in charge of the fiscal purse! Cheers from Aussie
We are a bit lacking is the fiscal restraint department. I believe the actual money is without meaning to our congressional leaders. A perfect example is 158 million for Alaskan fishing issues due to the tsunami in Japan is inserted into a Sandy recovery bill along with a new rood for the Smithsonian.
We have lost our minds in Washington where slowing the future growth of spending is considered a spending cut. Where will it end.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWww.wsws.org/en/articles/2012/12/27/elec-d27.html
ReplyDeleteHa, it appears William doesn't like being scolded, especially by a for'ner. So you go out of your way to find an article to scold Kingston on. Solid work William, solid work.
ReplyDeleteFrom the article, "Whilst escalating utility prices have produced ever-greater levels of social hardship, there have been windfall profits for power companies. AGL recorded a 13 percent rise in profit, to $429 million, in the past financial year. Origin Energy increased its profit by 10 percent to $585 million, Energex by 44 percent to $185 million and Ergon by 28 percent to $166 million."
Gee, we've never seen that story before. Socialist website William? Isn't that the political equivalent of gay porn? Did you have to turn off the "FREEDOM FILTERS" on your computer to view the website?
Max and William.
ReplyDeleteHere we go again; I wish you blokes would stop your cat fight. There is a far bigger one happening in Washington which may well affect the rest of the world. The Washington lot has an excuse as they have their snouts in the public purse so have to squeal occasionally to justify their existence.
Now to Williams post and the response from Max.
I have never heard of the site and for William to cite such a source looks a bit like a peacock going into a pig pen hoping not to get shitty.
As with most stories published in the free press there is a grain of truth in it. Over the past five years, electricity prices have risen by an average of about 60 percent nationally, far more than the inflation rate and yes there is pressure on household budgets. At the same time there has been much privatization of the power plants with State Governments getting out of the industry. Private ownership has led to price rises and there has been an explosive increase in infrastructure costs as under government ownership "Poles and wires" were allowed to fall into disrepair.
Add to the above the recent carbon tax introduced by the Federal government and the picture becomes clear. That there has been a significant increase in disconnections is true but certainly not at the level claimed in the article (by the way, it has been taken down I believe; I read it at 5.30 am but cannot find it now).
Are the disconnections justified? Well it occurs only as a last resort and in fairness to the suppliers; they are entitled to run their business prudently. We cannot get gas from the pump if we have no money so why not electricity ?
What worries me in the present circumstances is that Australia may go down the same path as the US, we simply do not have the will to allow the same debit level and we certainly do not have the political system to operate in the totally dysfunctional method we currently see in Washington.We have however followed big brother in the past.
Cheers to you all from Aussie
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2012/12/29/fire-d29.html
ReplyDeleteAustralian state government imposes fire station shut-downs
Interesting that socialism fails no matter where it is instituted.
DeleteWilliam
ReplyDeleteNot sure of your point but the NSW Government is a Liberal/National government (Conservative in your language).They were elected about a year ago to replace the Socialist government which had been in power for more than a decade.
In Australia it has been the experience that Labor (Socialist) government invariable rum up fiscal debit and the incoming Conservatives have to clean up the mess.
That, very briefly, is the cause of the austerity program. I hope this helps but I would like to understand the point you are making
Cheers from Aussie
Australian government rejects refugee protest letter
ReplyDeleteBy Mike Head
31 December 2012
The Australian government has dismissed a collective letter of complaint from refugees detained on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island, and instead stepped-up its transfer of asylum seekers to the remote island. Another 25 single males, who arrived there on December 29, are believed to include unaccompanied teenagers who arrived on refugee boats without other family members.
More than 155 people, including about 30 children, are now detained on the island, with many housed in tents and shipping containers, as part of the Labor government’s reactionary drive to stop refugees seeking asylum in Australia. About 400 asylum seekers are being held in similar conditions on Nauru, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Within months, the two camps will be filled to their planned combined capacity of 2,100.
The Manus Island letter, passed around and signed by detainees, demanded answers about how long they would be incarcerated, and when the processing of their refugee claims would begin. It also protested against their living conditions, saying that the heat and dust were affecting them badly. The letter detailed a range of objections, including the lack of air conditioners and fans, especially for the children. One woman with asthma had twice become unconscious, it stated.
The refugees demanded a response from the Australian Department of Immigration by close of business last Friday. Refugee advocates warned that mass protests could follow, including the resumption of hunger strikes, if the deadline was not met.
Asylum seekers were yesterday reported to have rejected the Immigration Department’s reply to their letter. The department confirmed that no refugee processing arrangements were in place but said they may “commence in early 2013”. One detainee told the Refugee Action Coalition: “It [the department letter] has made us disappointed and sad. We did not get an answer to our questions. One lady collapsed from the stress after she was told about the letter and had to be carried to the medical centre. We will have other protests.”
Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s government has repeatedly refused to place any limit on how long asylum seekers will be kept on the two Pacific islands, even if they are classified as refugees—effectively sentencing them to indefinite imprisonment without trial. The government has declared that the detention will last for as long as the asylum seekers would have to wait in the massive refugee camps in places such as Pakistan, Turkey and Iran, where people can languish for decades.
The appalling conditions in Australia’s detention centres further expose the government’s claim that its refugee policy is motivated by humanitarian concerns to stop people risking their lives by joining dangerous voyages to Australia. It is increasingly obvious that the government’s punitive regime is designed to intimidate refugees and deny them the basic right, enshrined in international law, to seek asylum.
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2012/12/31/refu-d31.html
Again William what is your point?
ReplyDeleteDo you contrast this report with the happenings in Guantonomo (not sure of spelling)? Do you compare our experience with US policy at the beginning of the influx of immigrants to get your manufacturing industries going?
Perhaps (I hope not) you are trying to show Australia in a bad light to satisfy your own ego. Whatever the reason, Australia, just as your nation, will make decisions and judgments in accord with our own views of what are best for Australia. We do however; believe we are big enough to accept criticism from our friends.
Cheers from Aussie
Happy New Year K.
ReplyDeleteLou.
LOU
ReplyDeleteMy thanks and reciprocal good wishes to you and all others on the boards here. I wish we could expand the contributors list and get more debates going. In the same way that last year you explained the recall system, William has improved my understanding by pointing out that "Money" bills originate in the House; just as they do here incidentally. I do however believe that both nations would be better served by having a competent housewife in charge of the fiscal purse!
Cheers from Aussie
We are a bit lacking is the fiscal restraint department. I believe the actual money is without meaning to our congressional leaders. A perfect example is 158 million for Alaskan fishing issues due to the tsunami in Japan is inserted into a Sandy recovery bill along with a new rood for the Smithsonian.
ReplyDeleteWe have lost our minds in Washington where slowing the future growth of spending is considered a spending cut. Where will it end.