Congrats Australia!

[Nilsen]

Kevin Rudd wins over John Howards and will make a left turn towards peace and the enviroment

[rabbidrabbit]

A debatable argument.

[AKIron]

More like condolences I say.

http://origin.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7547817?nclick_check=1

[Nilsen]

Originally posted by rabbidrabbit
A debatable argument.

All arguments are debatable

[DiabloTX]

Originally posted by AKIron
More like condolences I say.

http://origin.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7547817?nclick_check=1

Link's not working for me.

Only left turn I like is when I'm behind the wheel.  Other than that, good luck Aussies!  

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Originally posted by Nilsen
Kevin Rudd wins over John Howards and will make a left turn towards peace and the enviroment

[-tronski-]

Its a Ruddslide!

Its an amazing victory, but not an unforseen one. For a good 10-11 months Kevin Rudd has been leading the polls against the Liberal govt, and been clearly the prefered prime minister compared to John Howard.

He ran on a clear platform of addressing reversing the awful industrial relations reforms of the Liberals, Climate Change and signing Kyoto - (when Howard was the only other western leader who refused too apart from his best mate George W), further investment in Education and infrastructure, maintaining the status quo of the economy, and a withdrawal of all combat forces from Iraq.

Its amazing because there a real sense the Liberals could've got through on their handling on the economy alone. Australia has an excellent economy for a number of years, but the Liberals made fundamental mistakes in ignoring concerns about Climate Change, and the "americanisation" of work place reforms which has produced a sizable backlash especially in the eastern states.

The backlash also extended to Howard's own seat where he's been defeated in an electorate he's held for 33 years, only the second sitting Prime Minister to lose their seat in 100 years

Rudd Claims Victory

 Tronsky

[rabbidrabbit]

Originally posted by -tronski-
Its a Ruddslide!
 "americanisation" of work place reforms which has produced a sizable backlash especially in the eastern states.

 Tronsky

Whats that about?

[SD67]

Well the workplace "reforms" were the death blow to the Liberal party.
For around 200 years, Australian workers have enjoyed the security of overtime payments, loadings to offset the amount of tax taken from lump sum holiday payments, unreasonable working conditions and laws against unfar dismissals.
The Liberal/National Party Coalition decided that we would all be better off if employers could put us on "take it or leave it"  agreements and modified the unfair dismissal laws such that any employer could terminate any employee due to "operation reasons" and not be held accountable.
This led to a swathe of workers being laid off, only to have their jobs offered back or readvertised at sometimes HALF of their previous salaries. This in turn led to a crisis among low income earners who were suddenly faced with significantly reduced household incomes and a lot of them lost their homes.
People who previously were paid extra to work weekends rather than spend that time with their families lost that benefit. Others found their rosters changed so they either had to fork out expensive childcare fees or find people to look after their children or face losing their jobs.
It is my firm belief that if the Coalition had not brought forth these "reforms" they would still be in power today.

[LePaul]

I got as far as "plan on signing Kyoto Treaty" and laughed.  Loudly.

[Boroda]

Originally posted by LePaul
I got as far as "plan on signing Kyoto Treaty" and laughed.  Loudly.

Yes that's funny.

My Mom said she voted for Liberals on national elections and Labor on local. She said Labor is doing quite good there in Brisbane area.

OTOH last time she voted here back in 2003 she voted for "Women of Russia"...

Question for Aussies: do you think it will influence Russo-Australian "nuclear" agreements?

Do they mean that "environment" is no nuclear power for you guys?

[SD67]

Yes, there will be no nuclear power in Australias' future.

[Boroda]

Originally posted by SD67
Yes, there will be no nuclear power in Australias' future.

Don't they understand that nuclear power is ecologically better then coal/gas/oil?...

OTOH it means that Russian contracts on uranium are not in danger.

Interesting impression from seeing Howard on Australian TV: he was speaking about Iraq, all this silly blah-blah about "building democracy" and "freedom", and all his intonations were showing something like "Well, mates, I know you know I lie, but I simply have to lie and you all know why!"...

[SD67]

Nuclear power is initially ecologically safer and yes, it is way cheaper but don't be thinking that anyone will be paying any less for power though. All those savings will go right into the pockets of the energy companies.
While there are fewer emissions from Nuclear power plants, the ongoing problem of what to do with tonnes of concentrated highly toxic radioactive waste will be keping us occupied for a few thousand years to come.
I'd not be too hasty hoping on Aussie Uranium. The green lobbyists are pretty vocal with regard to Nuclear exports, and the Labour Government has a good history of lending an ear to the Greens.

[lasersailor184]

Boroda, it doesn't matter.  Nuclear power SOUNDS scary.


SD67, if the money for the nuclear power will only go to lining the executive's pockets, why don't you become an executive yourself and fill your pockets?  Your jealousy of people who are far more talented then you is very apparent.