Comments on: Xenophon not stimulated http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/ Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:56:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: myriad http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174712 myriad Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:08:16 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174712 :D really have nothing more to add! :D

really have nothing more to add!

]]> By: adrian http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174711 adrian Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:17:58 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174711 Contrary to popular misconception, the Greens are far from the nutters that certain sections of the MSM like to portray them as. The real nutters are of course the Liberal National coalition, full to the brim of frothing at the mouth idealogues, born to rule egomaniacs and know nothing imbeciles. And then are there's Julie Bishop, all three rolled into one. Contrary to popular misconception, the Greens are far from the nutters that certain sections of the MSM like to portray them as. The real nutters are of course the Liberal National coalition, full to the brim of frothing at the mouth idealogues, born to rule egomaniacs and know nothing imbeciles.
And then are there’s Julie Bishop, all three rolled into one.

]]> By: myriad http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174710 myriad Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:41:06 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174710 Agreed Adrian - it's also solid evidence that those on this blog who proclaimed that the Greens just wouldn't be up to the challenge of doing pragmatic deals in the Senate were wrong. Agreed Adrian – it’s also solid evidence that those on this blog who proclaimed that the Greens just wouldn’t be up to the challenge of doing pragmatic deals in the Senate were wrong.

]]> By: adrian http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174709 adrian Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:17:28 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174709 The group that has come out of this the best is clearly the Greens, particularly when you read the above. Turnbull is toast - overcooked, of the white bread variety, and rapidly turning stale. The group that has come out of this the best is clearly the Greens, particularly when you read the above.
Turnbull is toast – overcooked, of the white bread variety, and rapidly turning stale.

]]> By: myriad http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174708 myriad Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:12:28 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174708 Just for those who think the Greens squibbed and settled on bikepaths for yuppies, here's the list of what they actually got: <i>The agreement includes: $200 million in grants for services and job creation projects run by community organisations and local governments. An extra $50 million to assist low income earners and unemployed people. Relaxation of the liquid assets tests for people who lose their jobs and seek government assistance-from $2500 to $5000. An assurance that all low-income earners, including students, will have access to the bonus payment. $10 million for bioremediation and revegetation trials in the Lower Murray-this will involve green local jobs creation. To the last hour we sought the transfer of more water downstream but the Minister adamantly opposed it. Re-opening the $500 million program for strategic local jobs-creating projects to smaller local councils who have not applied before. A further commitment to increase the aged pension in the May budget. $40 million for bikeways, for an estimated 700 local jobs, to reduce traffic congestion and provide healthy transport options. $60 million for job-creating projects for Australia's natural and built heritage-for example, historic buildings and national parks. $5 million per year funding, in the budget, for Australia's Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre in Melbourne and an assessment towards upgrading this vital centre to a global coordinator of wild fire research. Increased funding for the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the May budget. </i> And perhaps most critically in terms of the funding for all the infrastructure, a commitment that all the new public & defence housing funded will have "energy efficiency standards [that bring]Australia closer to American and European best practice." <a href="http://greens.org.au/node/5155" rel="nofollow">full press release here</a> Just for those who think the Greens squibbed and settled on bikepaths for yuppies, here’s the list of what they actually got:

The agreement includes:

$200 million in grants for services and job creation projects run by community organisations and local governments.

An extra $50 million to assist low income earners and unemployed people.

Relaxation of the liquid assets tests for people who lose their jobs and seek government assistance-from $2500 to $5000.

An assurance that all low-income earners, including students, will have access to the bonus payment.

$10 million for bioremediation and revegetation trials in the Lower Murray-this will involve green local jobs creation. To the last hour we sought the transfer of more water downstream but the Minister adamantly opposed it.

Re-opening the $500 million program for strategic local jobs-creating projects to smaller local councils who have not applied before.

A further commitment to increase the aged pension in the May budget.

$40 million for bikeways, for an estimated 700 local jobs, to reduce traffic congestion and provide healthy transport options.

$60 million for job-creating projects for Australia’s natural and built heritage-for example, historic buildings and national parks.

$5 million per year funding, in the budget, for Australia’s Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre in Melbourne and an assessment towards upgrading this vital centre to a global coordinator of wild fire research.

Increased funding for the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the May budget.

And perhaps most critically in terms of the funding for all the infrastructure, a commitment that all the new public & defence housing funded will have “energy efficiency standards [that bring]Australia closer to American and European best practice.”

full press release here

]]> By: Ambigulous http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174707 Ambigulous Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:41:15 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174707 BTW, caroline I shouldn't have singled you out at 8.34pm last night. So many commentators are focussing on just ONE of the 35 votes (X's) rather than the other 34 votes that contributed to the total cheers BTW, caroline

I shouldn’t have singled you out at 8.34pm last night. So many commentators are focussing on just ONE of the 35 votes (X’s) rather than the other 34 votes that contributed to the total

cheers

]]> By: kymbos http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174706 kymbos Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:00:20 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174706 Mark, stopping seepage can be a bad idea because groundwater is extremely complicated and not very well understood. Perhaps the water wasn't naturally there originally, but it may have been there for decades and seepage may be the only current source of supply for stressed groundwater-dependant ecosystems. We've played a lot with water over the years, and not much is in it's 'natural' state. Otherwise, it is much much more expensive than desalination or any other source of water. It is a bit of furphy as any part of a solution to water shortages. Mark, stopping seepage can be a bad idea because groundwater is extremely complicated and not very well understood. Perhaps the water wasn’t naturally there originally, but it may have been there for decades and seepage may be the only current source of supply for stressed groundwater-dependant ecosystems. We’ve played a lot with water over the years, and not much is in it’s ‘natural’ state.

Otherwise, it is much much more expensive than desalination or any other source of water. It is a bit of furphy as any part of a solution to water shortages.

]]> By: Nick http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174705 Nick Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:26:18 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174705 "Bringing expenditure forward does not cost us anything extra over what was planned already." From the proposed amendment: "(d) providing for the payment of grants of up to a total of $2 billion under the structural adjustment scheme required to be determined under section 19." That is not money brought forward. “Bringing expenditure forward does not cost us anything extra over what was planned already.”

From the proposed amendment:

“(d) providing for the payment of grants of up to a total of $2 billion under the structural
adjustment scheme required to be determined under section 19.”

That is not money brought forward.

]]> By: Marks http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174704 Marks Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:58:37 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174704 Kymbos @ 61, why should stopping seepage from places that never normally had seepage be a problem? Sounds to me like it is fixing a problem by returning that seepage to the river where it should be. Xenophon is doing what he is paid to do. The MD Basin has been a problem for the past fifty years at least, and no-one has really cracked it. The MD Basin is a significant part of the economies of NSW, Qld, Vic and SA. Bringing expenditure forward does not cost us anything extra over what was planned already. So, bringing forward planned work on a project that has national significance is bad because? Smoke and mirrors folks - the Govt is after an election - if they get even one or two more senators, they are laughing. A double dissolution would be silly though - it would halve the quotas making it even more likely that minor parties would get into the Senate. Kymbos @ 61, why should stopping seepage from places that never normally had seepage be a problem? Sounds to me like it is fixing a problem by returning that seepage to the river where it should be.

Xenophon is doing what he is paid to do.
The MD Basin has been a problem for the past fifty years at least, and no-one has really cracked it.
The MD Basin is a significant part of the economies of NSW, Qld, Vic and SA.
Bringing expenditure forward does not cost us anything extra over what was planned already.
So, bringing forward planned work on a project that has national significance is bad because?

Smoke and mirrors folks – the Govt is after an election – if they get even one or two more senators, they are laughing. A double dissolution would be silly though – it would halve the quotas making it even more likely that minor parties would get into the Senate.

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174703 Mark Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:45:32 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/xenophon-not-stimulated/#comment-174703 <b>Update</b> [by MB]: A <a href="http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/02/12/the-politics-of-the-senate-vote-on-the-stimulus-package/" rel="nofollow">post</a> on the politics of today's developments. Update [by MB]: A post on the politics of today’s developments.

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