join the dots wrote:
faulter wrote:
The tribal rivalry on show at the tennis is a product of ALP branchstacking in the western suburbs where the elders of each ethnically based ALP Branch take aim at each other and show the young uns how its done.

he he

i love gooses like this who try to twist any news to fit their political bias. A bloke on Jon Faine 774ABC this morning claimed that Howard's tolerance of racism and dog-whistling had created the situation where racism was acceptable to some. ie he blamed John Howard! Now this goose above wants to blame John Brumby. Ha Ha.

Personally, we all know it was Sam David's fault.

The western suburbs ALP Branch connectors are a real option. Where else can this tribal aggro flourish?? soccer clubs? and who are they connected to? western suburbs ALP brachstackers!!

join the dots

just call telma's office they'll have the right answer for you!! our new minister for transport!!!
how do you like that!!

Just ask !! wrote:

just call telma's office they'll have the right answer for you!! our new minister for transport!!!
how do you like that!!

Deals on wheels.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bracks-backs-drug-case-mp/2007/03/13/1173722425248.html

http://www.sunshine.asn.au/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,0/func,view/id,10812/catid,18/#10816

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/let-the-dirty-games-begin-as-sa-election-looms/story-e6frg6nf-1225821805150

THE Labor Party has fired the first salvo of a dirty-tricks campaign in the South Australian election by mailing out pamphlets attacking former federal MP Trish Draper.

The double-sided campaign brochure features nine newspaper tearsheets of reports about a 2004 travel rort involving Ms Draper and her former boyfriend Derick Sands, who was a suspect in the murder of Adelaide model Corinna Marr.

Labor's decision to go personal is a sign of the fierce battle set to unfold in key marginal seats for the March 20 state election.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/lnp-raises-the-stakes-on-political-advisers/story-e6frg6nf-1225823770032

THE new boss of Queensland's anti-corruption agency faces an early test as the opposition Liberal National Party presses for a politically sensitive inquiry into ministerial advisers to be widened.

"The CMC's hearings into the alleged misconduct of Mr Simon Tutt never once sought to interview the Premier's chief of staff, even though the Premier personally appointed and identified her chief of staff as being a 'role model' for Mr Tutt's conduct and . . . overseer of ministerial staffing, including their performance and management," Mr Langbroek writes in his submission to Mr Moynihan. "I have supplied you with this new and additional information -- confirmed in the Premier's own handwriting -- and seek your urgent consideration to reopen hearings to further explore the expectations and conduct of all ministerial staff so that public submissions are based on a full and proper understanding and insight into the current interactions between ministerial staff and public servants."

http://www.theage.com.au/national/premiers-favourite-gets-the-nod-for-byelection-20100127-myy1.html

PREMIER John Brumby's preferred candidate for the safe Labor seat of Altona won preselection last night, despite losing a local ballot.

Former ALP president Jill Hennessy, 37, will contest the seat at the February 13 byelection, which follows Lynne Kosky's resignation.

Ms Hennessy lives in West Footscray and is on the board of Western Health. She was once an adviser to former Premier Steve Bracks.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/bill-shorten-blasts-shopping-centre-owners/story-e6frf7jo-1225824119917

is this guy for real? complaining about not being able to sell himself in shopping centres?

Shades of Korroroit wrote:
http://www.theage.com.au/national/premiers-favourite-gets-the-nod-for-byelection-20100127-myy1.html

PREMIER John Brumby's preferred candidate for the safe Labor seat of Altona won preselection last night, despite losing a local ballot.

Former ALP president Jill Hennessy, 37, will contest the seat at the February 13 byelection, which follows Lynne Kosky's resignation.

Ms Hennessy lives in West Footscray and is on the board of Western Health. She was once an adviser to former Premier Steve Bracks. It so easy to see how the government operates, gives supporters government funded jobs and then, pushes them into openings for safe seats in parliament. Thank heavens that our own former mayor was prevented from lowering the abysmally low standards of Labor parliamentarians. Not that the current member for Kororoit is shining light.

Shorten dealing with the big issues wrote:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/bill-shorten-blasts-shopping-centre-owners/story-e6frf7jo-1225824119917

is this guy for real? complaining about not being able to sell himself in shopping centres?

This issue was on the radio the other day. The comment was that tv stations don't do free political ads, newspapers don't do free political ads, why should shopping centres give free access to politicians when they charge other people to set up a temporary stall?

I remember Shorten campaigning at the Sunshine Marketplace before the last election, he had two big and intimidating bouncers/ security guards in tow.

Maybe Bill wants the shopping centres to supply his security guards as well?

People go to shopping centres to shop, not to be spruiked at by disgraced politicians.

tv stations don't do free political ads, newspapers don't do free political ads, why should shopping centres give free access to politicians when they charge other people to set up a temporary stall?

They should all be free.

It's what is driving up the cost of elections and making politicalparties have to secure funds from big business. If it was all free, then ordinary grassroots candidates would have a better chance.

oddly, in this ionstance, i agree with Shorten.

shopping centres wrote:

tv stations don't do free political ads, newspapers don't do free political ads, why should shopping centres give free access to politicians when they charge other people to set up a temporary stall?

They should all be free.

It's what is driving up the cost of elections and making politicalparties have to secure funds from big business. If it was all free, then ordinary grassroots candidates would have a better chance.

oddly, in this ionstance, i agree with Shorten.

They would only spend the money on other useless things. Shorten would spend more money on printing for his branch stacking mates in the right faction.

You should be ashamed for agreeing with anything that bozo says. Get the thinking cap on fellas.

Silly Billy wrote:
shopping centres wrote:

tv stations don't do free political ads, newspapers don't do free political ads, why should shopping centres give free access to politicians when they charge other people to set up a temporary stall?

They should all be free.

It's what is driving up the cost of elections and making politicalparties have to secure funds from big business. If it was all free, then ordinary grassroots candidates would have a better chance.

oddly, in this ionstance, i agree with Shorten.

They would only spend the money on other useless things. Shorten would spend more money on printing for his branch stacking mates in the right faction.

You should be ashamed for agreeing with anything that bozo says. Get the thinking cap on fellas.

true, i do feel kind of dirty.

However, i was thinking more that the cost of running as an independent in an election is really high and discourages anyone other than major political parties from running.

If we could make more electioneering free/cheaper then we might be able to hear more from other candidates with alternative views.

Shorten is a disgrace wrote:

I remember Shorten campaigning at the Sunshine Marketplace before the last election, he had two big and intimidating bouncers/ security guards in tow.

Maybe Bill wants the shopping centres to supply his security guards as well?

People go to shopping centres to shop, not to be spruiked at by disgraced politicians.

I remember it too. I talked to him about the problem of youth unemployment at 3 times the national average and my concerns that it would lead to further drug problems and increased violence. He took my number and promised to call.

I'm still waiting.

Sean S wrote:
Shorten is a disgrace wrote:

I remember Shorten campaigning at the Sunshine Marketplace before the last election, he had two big and intimidating bouncers/ security guards in tow.

Maybe Bill wants the shopping centres to supply his security guards as well?

People go to shopping centres to shop, not to be spruiked at by disgraced politicians.

I remember it too. I talked to him about the problem of youth unemployment at 3 times the national average and my concerns that it would lead to further drug problems and increased violence. He took my number and promised to call.

I'm still waiting.
Well done Sean heard you on the radio with Neil Mitchell.
Are you still waiting for the useless Shorten to get back
to you. Shorten was hard to talk to at the shopping centre with his henchman. Probably didn't want those pesky Sunshine people asking too hard a question as he had no intention of doing anything as he had Hakki as one of
his numbers men.

I to agree with your comments, Conroy is to be blamed for the Federal problems, and Sam David for the State.

AGREED wrote:
I to agree with your comments, Conroy is to be blamed for the Federal problems, and Sam David for the State.

r u talkin about yesterday's man?

only real impact he ever had was on his own back pocket!!

ALP will come up as of every election to shut the west up
We will give 15 m to the Sunshine hospital that sounds good
should shut them up
Sorry 15m to that budget is equal to the local soccer club
getting a new pie warmer
ONLY SOUNDS GOOD

Brumby's trying very hard with the bullshit spin now, and looking quite desperate.

Higher taxes. Fewer services. John Brumby.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victorian-families-standard-of-living-has-declined-over-past-decade/story-e6frf7jo-1225826547943

VICTORIAN families' standard of living has declined after a decade of Labor government with household bills, mortgage repayments and state taxes rising faster than wages.

The rise in household costs has meant Victorians families have seen their wealth fall behind their counterparts in other states.

Despite repeated claims by Premier John Brumby that there are more hospital beds, more cops and a large increase in the use of public transport, Victoria has dropped from the top among the states in terms of wealth per person in 1999 to just off the bottom of the table.

But in the past 10 years, the state's tax take has almost doubled to just over $43 billion

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/state-politics/victoria-in-a-state-of-denial/story-e6frgczx-1225829870696

Victoria in a state of denial

The Foreign Minister has had to step in to help mend the rift with India

CONTROVERSY over attacks on Indians in Melbourne has fallen victim to rubbery statistics, political spin and a reluctance to admit that a city with such a proud multicultural tradition might be home to a sub-culture of violent racism.

The Rudd government has watched in dismay as both Victorian Premier John Brumby and police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland have stumbled in their increasingly lonely attempts to play down the seriousness of the problem and the racial factors underpinning it.

It has been left largely to Foreign Minister Stephen Smith to try to heal the widening diplomatic rift with India, which Mr Brumby and Mr Overland have helped to create through what many see as their tardy responses.

Every new government and every new CEO of a company inherits the mess or the benefits of the past incumbent - be that Howard inheriting a 'globalised' Aus economy that drove prosperity for a decade or Obama inheriting an indebted economy which compounded a crisis that lack of US oversight on financial 'fraudsters' who took the world to the financial edge.

The 'Foreigners: Get a hairdressing diploma AND Permanent Residency' immigration policy introduced by Howard in 2004 was inherited by Labor which failed to understand quickly enough, the impacts of this policy.

I worked in Dandenong in the early '000s and there was a large, established Sri Lankan and Indian community. I saw absolutely no evidence of racial violence. I was impressed by the way the communities lived and interacted. Yes, there were f***t idiots (from all backgrounds) who made ethnically slurred comments and, possibly, when drunk or drugged might have done more. There was certainly a high level of violence after hours and on public transport - as seems to be a hallmark of areas of poverty. However, much of the violence there was fuelled by the roaring drug trade around Springvale and Noble Park as well as some gang clashes between children of 'new' groups of migrants. None of it could provide objective evidence of systemmic racism.

The point I make is that, at that time, even with so many personal attacks, racism was not a key feature. I am not convinced that is today but certainly it makes good headlines for an Indian press which pays reporters (I've heard) by the story. Unfortunately, the media coverage paints a huge target on anyone looking like an Indian because violent thugs also like to read about their 'handiwork'. And ordinary Australians might tire of the weekly castigation from India. It's a balance that should be treated with care, and not sold for a headline.

In the years since 2004, Indian students and their accompanying dependants added approximately one Bendigo-sized township to Melbourne every year, concentrating in the poorest and, therefore, cheapest areas in Melbourne. It is hardly surprising then, that they began to appear significantly in the victims of crime statistics. Traditionally, at moderate rates of immigration, the Indians, like the Chinese fitted in well to the Australian ethos. But no community can absorb so many people, so fast without something 'giving'.

More fool Brumby for believing the VET lobby and seeing those 'growth' $$$ as signs pure positives. More fool Brumby for declaring residents group protests as 'political'. In the end it has trashed his government's and our community's reputation. Surely John Howard is laughing into his sleeve (assuming he would ever accept responsiblity).

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/adding-fuel-to-the-fire-20100213-nydr.html

Whatever qualities Brumby has, diplomacy is not one of them. His ham-fisted handling of violence against Indians has shown him to be a parochial politician with a small-town world view.

Last week, hs fellow Labor politician Stephen Smith made an important statement to Parliament on the Australia-Indian relationship. He didn't mention Brumby, but his speech was an indictment of the Premier's bungling, which has caused real damage to Australia's relations with India, which Australia wants to place in the front rank of its international partnerships.

Smith's clear statement of what's at stake is in sharp contrast to Brumby's clumsy evasiveness. When retired general Peter Cosgrove last month urged Australians to confront the racial element in the "cowardly and sly" attacks on Indians, Brumby repudiated his comments, describing them as "just plain wrong".

Brumby selectively quotes police statistics saying Indians are less likely to be assaulted, but won't release the statistics. Nor will the police, on the grounds the figures are unreliable.