Kevin Rudd gives everyone $950 (Australian Stimulus Package)

[weemadando]

To be honest, now that the Liberals have taken several steps deliberately away from Howard-esque madness, I wouldn't be unhappy to see them win. Maybe not right now; let them go further away from stupid crap and closer to sensible, but since being forced to play without their 'I lie I win' button they've taken several reasonably sensible positions.

What really pisses me off the most is that Labor is still getting a free fucking pass in the majority of the media on all their bullshit by simple virtue of not being a Howard Liberal gov't.

It's getting better now, but it's still fairly biased. That said, I'm sure the Lib's could play a lot of serious "cards" right now to get a win. It's that whole "lie to win" thing.

[Stark]

One thing I have liked, though, is the fact that Malcolm Turnbull has straight-up said "I know this will lose us votes, but we think it's the right thing to do." It actually does seem like he's being honest about the whole thing. If it was the Howard government, or even Brendan Nelson, they would have squirmed around trying to make it seem as though they were the ones doing the popular thing. That would have looked ugly. Especially if Nelson was still in power, because he wasn't as good at the whole lying thing as Howard was.

This is pretty much what I mean; Turnbull isn't in any way trying to follow in Howard's footsteps, and he's demonstrating things like integrity instead of being a racist neo-con who says 'mateship'. Since I think Labor is always going to suffer from poor management and a lack of solidarity, non-evil Liberals (or LNC up here) would be a fine option. I might have voted for Rudd because he threw a sausage sizzle, but an election now would be much less of a no-brainer. I think you and Ando are right, though, there needs to be more attention on whatever changes are happening.

[weemadando]

One thing I have liked, though, is the fact that Malcolm Turnbull has straight-up said "I know this will lose us votes, but we think it's the right thing to do." It actually does seem like he's being honest about the whole thing. If it was the Howard government, or even Brendan Nelson, they would have squirmed around trying to make it seem as though they were the ones doing the popular thing. That would have looked ugly. Especially if Nelson was still in power, because he wasn't as good at the whole lying thing as Howard was.

This is pretty much what I mean; Turnbull isn't in any way trying to follow in Howard's footsteps, and he's demonstrating things like integrity instead of being a racist neo-con who says 'mateship'. Since I think Labor is always going to suffer from poor management and a lack of solidarity, non-evil Liberals (or LNC up here) would be a fine option. I might have voted for Rudd because he threw a sausage sizzle, but an election now would be much less of a no-brainer. I think you and Ando are right, though, there needs to be more attention on whatever changes are happening.

Rudd is the opinion poll master, his every policy choice seems to be based off a careful calculation of what will win the most votes. There's no passion, logic or ideology to it all (though some ideological pressure is clear) - it really is just a case of a paper cut-out PM being blown about by the fickle breezes of public opinion.

And really, I have to say that Turnbull has been impressing me. A man who has been speaking sense during these "tough economic times" and not just going to knee-jerk reactions which put us deeper in a hole, but boost opinion polls. Now, if only he'd take a busload of his own Coalition members off to the outback somewhere and dump them, the Liberals might be an appealing prospect.

Just as long as we don't get 2% Family First back in due to their fucking preference deals. And Stephen Conroy bites a cock on film... Then I think a double-dissolution could end well for everyone.

[mr friendly guy]

Well its been passed

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's parliament narrowly passed a 42 billion dollar (28 billion US) stimulus package Friday in a bid to stave off recession in the face of the global economic crisis.

The parliamentary approval leaves the government free to immediately implement its spending plans, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stressing the need for swift action throughout protracted negotiations during the bill's passage.

Rudd was jubilant after parliament backed the plan, saying the package was in the national interest and would help Australia's centre-left Labor government fight the global economic recession.

"The most irresponsible thing to do today, with the worst global economic recession since the 1930s staring us in the face, would be to do nothing," he told parliament.

The package includes spending of 28.8 billion Australian dollars on schools, housing and roads over four years, tax breaks for small businesses and cash handouts of 12.7 billion dollars to eligible workers, farmers and students.

Rudd said the Treasury estimated the plan would boost economic growth by 0.5 percentage points in 2008-09 and 0.75-1.0 points in 2009-10, supporting up to 90,000 jobs.

"Without parliament's support for this plan, growth would be slower and unemployment would be higher," he said.

The Senate, or upper house, had rejected the package late Thursday when independent senator Nick Xenophon voted with the conservative opposition against the plan.

But Xenophon gave the package his crucial support Friday, allowing the bill to sail through the government-dominated lower house.

Xenophon changed his stance after intense negotiations with the government that stretched through Thursday night and into Friday morning.

The government finally won him over by pledging 900 million dollars in funds for the drought-stricken Murray-Darling river basin, which feeds into the senator's home state of South Australia.

"I've persisted and I'm pleased to say I believe we have been able to reach a compromise that, while not giving everyone what they want, may give everyone what they need," Xenophon said.

The opposition has labelled the stimulus package financially irresponsible and say it will drive the budget deep into deficit, saddling future generations with debts.

Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull said the package, which includes a 900 dollar cash windfall for many taxpayers, was Rudd's attempt to stave off recession using "collective retail therapy."

"Our children and their children will pay for all of it," he said.

"The prime minister is plunging our nation into enormous and unprecedented debt. Billions of that debt will be incurred for measures that will have no enduring economic effect."

JPMorgan economist Stephen Walters said the package's passage was good for market confidence, even though it contained few surprises.

"In terms of economic impact, it's pretty modest, but the good news is it got through," he told Dow Jones Newswires.

Rudd revealed earlier this month that the global economic crisis and China's slowdown would punch a 115 billion dollar hole in Australia's budget over the next four years.

The government forecast a 21.7 billion dollar surplus last May but now concedes there will be a hefty deficit, arguing that spending is needed to keep the economy ticking over.

The government pumped 10.4 billion dollars into the economy last December to boost consumer spending.

Well I was partially right. The package will pass. Turnbull however didn't fold.

[weemadando]

Now I'm keen to get the fine print looked at to determine if I actually qualify for any of this...

[mr friendly guy]

more details

Get set for the flood of cash

ABOUT 10 million workers and families will have their cash bonuses trimmed by $50 but they will still receive the money from next month after Nick Xenophon clinched a deal with the Government yesterday and backed its $42 billion economic stimulus package.

Upon the passage of the legislation, the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, set the scene for the economic battle ahead by goading the Opposition for voting against the legislation. "Today, the dividing line between us in this Parliament is clear and has been drawn - between those who will stand up for the nation and its long-term interest and those who have stood up only for themselves," he said.

Mr Rudd again stressed the package would only mitigate the effects of a global slowdown, not prevent them.

The Government secured the passage of the legislation with the support of Senator Xenophon, the Greens and Senator Steve Fielding, but avoided paying extra for their support.

After siding with the Coalition on Thursday to defeat the legislation, Senator Xenophon changed his mind yesterday after securing money to get more water flowing down the Murray.

The South Australian originally wanted almost $6 billion that had been allocated over the next decade to be brought forward to buy out water licences and improve irrigation efficiency along the Murray-Darling Basin.

After rejecting $410 million on Thursday, he accepted $900 million yesterday. This included $500 million extra over the next four years for buying back water, taking the total spending over this period from $1.6 billion to $2.1 billion.

Another $200 million was brought forward for water harvesting projects and the final $200 million will be used to fund water-savings measures by councils and communities.

The conservation movement welcomed the development, but the National Farmers Federation expressed concern at the potential for more irrigators to walk off the land.

The $50 reduction to the bulk of the $950 cash payments saved $510 million out of a forecast $12.7 billion and paid largely for the demands of the Greens, as well as Family First.

The Greens secured money for job creation projects, heritage restoration and green infrastructure such as bike paths. They also secured the relaxation of the liquid assets test. Previously, a sacked worker had to spend all but $2500 of their savings before qualifying for the dole. That will increase to $5000.

Most of the package was unchanged.

Mr Rudd rang Senator Xenophon and thanked him for his support after the deal was struck. The Treasurer, Wayne Swan, and the Water Minister, Penny Wong, were instrumental in securing his support.

Big business, unions and the welfare sector applauded the legislation but the Coalition, which opposed the size of the package from the outset, intensified its criticism.

The extra spending, coupled with plunging Government revenue will accrue a net debt of $70 billion and a gross debt of $200 billion. "If we were to run $20 billion-a-year surpluses, it would take a decade to pay off that debt," the Opposition Leader, Malcolm Turnbull, said.

Labor said Mr Turnbull's own plans would accrue a debt of at least $180 billion.

Mr Turnbull said the package was an expensive way to achieve small gains in growth. "For 4 per cent of gross domestic product, $42 billion, the taxpayers of Australia will get 1.25 to 1.5 per cent of GDP," he said. "What a pathetic, incompetent return. Australians need to know that this panicked Government has made another panicked move."

I note that even big business the traditional supporters of the Liberal are siding with the government on this one.

Since things are pretty much unchanged except Xenophon gets extra cash for the Murray Darling basin, while most people get $900 instead of $950, I most probably still entitled to $300 under the old scheme. I have decided, rather than doing my patriotic duty with that cash, I am giving to Stofsk. With what he has been through he would need it more than Burswood casino.

[weemadando]

As it has been put by a few people:

The only things that you can do that will keep the money in Australia - gambling, prozzers and booze.

[Lusankya]

Rudd is the opinion poll master, his every policy choice seems to be based off a careful calculation of what will win the most votes. There's no passion, logic or ideology to it all (though some ideological pressure is clear) - it really is just a case of a paper cut-out PM being blown about by the fickle breezes of public opinion.

That seems to be becoming Labor's MO these days. Fucking Mike Rann does the same thing. It doesn't help that he used to be the SA Labor Party's propaganda media relations guy.

And the bill passing doesn't really surprise me much. Even the Australian government has enough brains to say, "D'oh. Needs moar Murray-Darling protection."

[weemadando]

It would be nice if by Murray-Darling protection they meant: "shutting down this wasteful, inefficient and useless cotton and rice growing which uses a disproportionate amount of water in a system that can't afford it." rather than "GIVE THE AUSSIE BATTLER STRAYAN FARMERS MOAR MONEY BCUZ THEY ARE AUSSIE BATTLERS."

[Lusankya]

It would be nice. It would also be nice if farmers' votes didn't seem to be about ten times as important as everyone else's votes. You know how SA is running out of water and the Murray isn't actually reaching the ocean? Well, the whole problem could be fixed if they just removed the weir at Wellington and turned Lakes Alexandrina and Albert into estuarine environments, which is what they're supposed to be anyway. Unfortunately there are like 400 farmers there who irrigate from the lakes, so SA uses something like 70% of its River Murray allocation keeping these lakes fresh water. The only reason it's become politically feasible to do something practical to fix the lower Murray Lakes now is because the water level in Lake Albert has retreated below the irrigation pump, so nobody can whinge about the Big Mean State Govvamint (TM) destroying the livelihood of the Aussie Battlers (TM), because their livelihood has been ruined anyway.