http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-18/wa-loses-aaa-credit-rating/4965982
Australia, one of the world’s richest natural resource country has its credits ratings reduced in its largest state, Western Australia, from three stars to two stars.
Instead of having used its riches to bolster the wealth and it’s crumbling infrastructure for the whole of Australia and its citizens, all of that frenetic mining exporting has done is to enrich the few billionaires and their shareholders.
The profits of its resources, especially iron ore, did not get taxed at between 50 to 70 % as is done in Norway, instead WA received tax concessions and other inducements.
Ah well, Mr Abbott. Cut the mining tax and see the soup queues grow even longer.
Window Dresser's Arms, Pig & Whistle 
Actually WA has been doing the right thing in a Labor way. Building infrastructure during the good times. When I said something about getting away with it I should have added that I was referring to them being Libs doing Labor things and getting away with Abbott not screaming blue murder about uncontrolled debt and deficit and waste ! And Labor not picking up on it. Barnett is not your ordinary Lib.
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Vivienne, I agree with you. He has done more to lift health, education , but the wealth of a few individuals has lifted even more. The mining boom earnings are paid towards just a few even though some of the worlds largest resources are owned by us all.
Our health and education resources should be first class and free for all paid for by what this country should have raised by taxing its earnings from iron ore at a level like they do in Norway.
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Fat chance of that happening with a Lib/Nat govt. They love giving it all away. It is crazy crazy.
The state royalties have always been a pittance though I think WA raised them a smidge a couple of years ago. Why is the first thing they look to the GST and raising it. Get rid of all the subsidies to the mining industry for a start and then tax them properly. Change needs to occur in the whole mindset. Our superfunds should be investing in good Aussie infrastructure or lend to our governments – a cast iron guarantee interest rate is better than betting on stock exchanges. Same goes for the Future Funds. Lib/Nats aren’t economic manager’s bum holes. They ‘manage’ to give it away – nothing to show for it. Our CEOs and Chairman need to get off their arses and do something sensible. They’re all nuts.
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What happened gerrad, you were offering Indonesia up as paragons of sovereignty. Especially Indonesian MP Tantowi Yahya… Then when I posted below, you didn’t reply??
I heard that he was seen buying some more boats. He drove down to Tanjung Priok in his Roller. He’s got four: two convertibles and a coupé for his wife and mistress.
He through a million rupiahs up in the air to have his car washed – and 50 ragamuffins fought to do it.
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Are you a spy working for the state?
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Trying again to post a comment here to see if I have disappeared down the chute. We’ll see,
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and very kewl. I’m up.
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WA situation reminds me what happened in North Queensland vis-a-vis tourism that the locals have the infrastructure bill and the political headaches of a conservative administration. My friend Rob Pyne who is a Cairns city councillor and represents the interests of his area with resolute courage from a wheelchair is going to contest a State seat at the next election. I wonder who the bright lights are in the WA political scene opposed to the conservative management of belief that she’ll be right mate.
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It is all of course as I, and many of us, expected. This is what you get when brainless gits have control of the steering wheel. WA is now a classic, surprised they got away with it for so long. Things are going to get worse. But it will all be real, not imagined shit concocted by the Libs. The Nats are not going to be happy either – prostitutes, but that’s insulting to prostitutes who at least charge for their services.
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And now this. A country with over 250 million is now being slighted by our new government.
Can you believe the oafishness of it all?
A member of the Indonesian parliamentary foreign affairs commission has described the Federal Government’s asylum seeker policy as “offensive” and “illegal”.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-19/indonesian-mp-says-turn-back-the-boats-policy-is-offensive-and-/4966934
The Coalition’s policy, dubbed Operation Sovereign Borders, officially began yesterday.
It includes turning boats back to Indonesia, buying old boats from Indonesian fishermen and paying Indonesians to spy on people smuggling operations.
Indonesian MP Tantowi Yahya told Lateline the commission has “major concerns” the policy will interfere with his country’s sovereignty.
Mr Yahya says the two countries need to work together or Australia risks damaging relations with Indonesia.
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One of the greatest things that The Indonesians can teach – as you correctly point out – is how to deal with mineral resource revenue.
I gather that they put it in sacks and transport it to Switzerland for safe keeping.
Once that hard work has been done, they buy amazing Kensington and Manhattan houses.
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Greedy and selfish human beings are everywhere on this planet, in their millions, here or China or in the United States. James Packer’s papa, late Kerry Packer, has never denied the fact that he had various offshore bank accounts overseas. There are over 30 TRILLIONS of dollars in those accounts. The funny thing is, all those dollars are in numbers, not in hard currency.
Do you have one, Caisbrooke?
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No. By the time we (my wife and I), have paid the ATO, to provide everything that people take for granted, there’s just enough left to pay the carbon tax on my coffee, at the local shop.
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Would you wish to have one, Carisbrooke ?
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Pie shop not doing so well??
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You’re lucky you two, you don’t have to pay tax in the public sector.
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Yes, Cariz, it’s a life spent skipping along, gathering daisies, long languid lunches..oh, hang on, you said that.
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Actually, on, or off the record, I admire what you both do. You are the salt of the earth and I couldn’t do your jobs.
Your contribution, morally, is more than mine. Not my wife’s or my children, but my humble self.
But…you see you need me. I make the money to keep you in your job. And in return you carry out a fabulous occupation.
It’s a partner ship,. However one that is not always appreciated on either side.
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Thanks, Cariz, I appreciate that. I’m off to work for the next thirteen hours. See you all in the morning.
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They take the mining profits out to offshore bank accounts and bring in 457-slave workers from overseas.
Brilliant plan!
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We have an arrogant premier Gerard and he has demonstrated this yet again with education cuts -my daughter -in -law has lost her job -thank you Mr Barnett. His response was to ‘lighten up’ ! He’s done nothing to support the homeless, or the desperate need for more cheap accessible public housing as Perth rents have sky rocketed ,and his crony Buswell always looks like he’s just come back from a tropical island holiday .
Yes the soup queues will definitely grow longer-
I fully support the teachers’ strike tomorrow .
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The typical Government response is to cut back on already impoverished services instead of, what should have been done decades ago during the Hancock years, take control of the resources belonging to Australia, and made sure the country would benefit, above all and especially the original owners.
My poor country Australia.
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What’s happened to the Gonski in WA. Have they signed up?
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Nah, they don’t want no edjumacation!
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They rank with Queensland as the countries poorest performers.
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Ah yes Buswell the chair sniffer. The Liberal Boofhead for Bussleton. He was my late mother in laws local member when she lived there. She couldn’t stand him and she was a Liberal voter. What a nice bloke sniffs chairs then apologies to the wife and kids, has an affair then apologies to the wife and kids.
It’s rumoured that he could take over from Barnett as WA Premier.
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Bussleton has been seen around Canberra asking for Abbott’s bicycle seat. He is a sinister character.
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Surely he won’t be voted in as Premier!!
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It’s because that man has no shame, Algernon. The word “shame” is not in his dictionary.
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Shame is not a Liberal word hph. Indecent behaviour is more in line.
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I’m sure that JGs greatest regret is NOT getting the Super Resource tax off the ground, instead, kowtowing to Clive, Gina, and that queer looking bloke…’Twiggy’. Her only failing, IMHO (as the young folk say!).
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That’s right. It all became so difficult. A great pity Julia wasn’t given more years. Still, I am sure history will be kinder to her than Rudd.
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