and pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space
$20 billion, what could you get for $20 billion?
Well now, $15 billion will get you a Building the Education Revolution and pink batts giveaway. You could hand out the other five in cash giveaways.
Or the whole lot would buy you half an NBN.
Actually, you’ll get a whole lot of pain …
Wayne has a surplus of pain.
Back from the Goldfields, with not a nugget to show for it.
But little grapes, tiny little fetal grapelets on every vine. If they can just survive the frost for another month … most promising. The trouble with Victorian country life, though, is the total absence of broadband in my little hamlet. The local telephone exchange is not equipped for ADSL, will not be equipped for ADSL, and even if it were the copper wire is too small and too old to cope and the house too far from the exchange. Mobile phone coverage? Not at my house. Oh for the NBN.
So home to Melbourne and a rush for the news. Not good so far as the NBN goes …
EXECUTIVES at the company building the national broadband network pocketed more than $600,000 in bonuses in 2011-12 despite the project running a year behind schedule.
The NBN Co annual report shows the company is spending 25 times more on executive salaries than it earned from selling broadband to customers …
The opposition’s communications spokesman, Malcolm Turnbull, said the report, released on Friday night, showed the roll-out of the network was a year behind schedule with 24,000 homes and businesses connected to the national broadband network at the end of last month. <SMH>
Julia, meanwhile calls sexism wherever she finds it …
Maybe she went on a bit long about the uranium sales.
She probably yearns for the good old days when the law firm she was working for brought this defamation action …
Concerns among union officials about financial irregularities and the conduct of the then branch secretary were silenced by Mr Blewitt in the Supreme Court defamation action brought on his instructions in October 1993.
The action came six months after Mr Blewitt, who now admits to being involved in fraud, transferred about $100,000 from the slush fund to buy a $230,000 Melbourne terrace for the use of Ms Gillard’s then boyfriend, union boss Bruce Wilson.
Ms Gillard attended the auction for the Melbourne property, helped in the transaction, and witnessed a power of attorney giving Mr Wilson control over the asset.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly and strenuously denied any wrongdoing, and said she did not know about the workings of the slush fund. <The Australian ( paywall)>
Taking a leaf out of her book, one of the punters she relies on to stay in power has threatened to sue anyone that suggests he may have had sex with prostitutes …
But the allegations FWA has presented to the Federal Court are detailed and extensive, listing dates and times in which Mr Thomson allegedly called escort services and paid for them with his credit cards. In all, there are 10 occasions where FWA alleges Mr Thomson called prostitute services and then used $9603 of union money on them. <news.com>
and he did sue Fairfax last year … but dropped the matter at the court room door. The Labor Party shelled out to keep him from bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy, there’s a thought, how’s that budget coming Wayne?
It’s coming …
Mr Swan said the budget would be returned to surplus “as forecast, on time and as promised”.
Skeptics take note.
Click <HERE> for the video. You will also have to click the play arrow when you get there …
Stand clear.
Analysing.
Swanny, you’ve got to love him, don’t you. The government have cleared the way for the RBA to cut interest rates. Stepped back so that the paramedics can get to the patient is nearer the truth …
Commence cardiac compressions.
25 basis points – should get the patient to the hospital at least …
Mr. Swan was asked about Labor’s dismal position in the polls on ABC radio this morning …
“I don’t get concerned about opinion polls on a daily, weekly or monthly basis,” he said,
following up with …
“My concern is to make sure we get the economic fundamentals of this country right, particularly given the challenges we face in the global economy and I believe that political support follows that,”
This morning my superannuation went backwards at a great rate of knots on the US employment figures and fear of a looming crisis in Europe. The next GFC is just over the horizon, Labor has fired off the stockpile of ammunition left by the previous government. What chance Mr. Swan will get the fundamentals right? What chance that Labor will deliver a surplus?
The reality is that Mr. Swan and I are both hoping for a soft landing … perhaps some strategically placed pink batts will come in handy.
Wayne the Wonder Swan needs to deliver a surplus. The reasons that he recited the other day seemed to be no different from the reasons recited for throwing money around like a madman just a few years ago.
Labour delivered a surplus once … 1988 as Wayne well remembers …
Nothing will stand in the way of this one, nothing …
even if enthusiasm for saving for your retirement takes a hammering. See Sally Patten & Jennifer Hewett.
“This is the most destructive thing I have seen in a long time,” said Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia chief Pauline Vamos, who fears that changes to the contributions or earnings taxes will lower the level of voluntary injections into super or, worse, encourage workers to become contractors as the 9 per cent super guarantee does not apply to the self-employed.
Financial Services Council chief executive John Brogden added his concerns. “This is neither in the interests of saving Australians nor in the national interest,” he said.
“Any savings for the budget through reducing concessions in superannuation would be far outweighed by costs borne in future budgets.
“Such changes would trade small, short-term gains for this budget for massive, long-term costs for future budgets and future generations.”
The day we get a stable and favorable super scheme will be the day that the politicians have to make do with the same rules as the rest of us.
bobmcgee 