Is Gillard's 'Clean Energy Future' Going Nuclear?

Today I would like to discuss nuclear power, a topic that most politicians would not want to touch with a 10 foot irradiated carbon rod. Of the issues that crop up in the national debate there are a select few that engender a particularly fiery response from the Australian public. Asylum seekers and boarder control occupies top billing; here there is not middle of the road, you stand on your side of the fence and yell incessantly at those silly enough to occupy the counter-point. Coming in at a close second is Climate Change. The only reason it hasn't grabbed pole position is because, compared with the boat people debate, it hasn't been around as long (well it has, but up until now we have been able to ignore it). I suspect, however that within the year it may follow in Julia's footsteps and knife the asylum seeker debate in the back and take its top spot... Rounding out the top three is Industrial Relations; a boring topic, to be sure, but emotive none the less. Here narratives of class warfare and the 'fair go' get a good workout. While a rather dry topic of debate, the passion arises from the simple fact that it affects our work and, by extension our livelihood. After all nobody likes getting screwed at work... unless you are involved in an office romance, which is an altogether different topic...

Outside of these three core issues there is very little to awaken the fighting spirit of your average Australian voter... except for nuclear power. This is a far more divisive issue than most would think, primarily because it is quite complicated. What is a serious issue that deserve rational debate is often high-jacked by the likes of Bob Brown and Co. who are not only ill-informed on the issue but also pandering to their vested interests. Now, you are probably wondering when, if ever, I intend on getting to the point here. Well as some of you may have noticed in the news Prime Minister Gillard has decided to reverse the ALP's long standing position which prohibited the exportation of uranium to India. Now this is a large issue that has a very long history that I do not wish to bore you with, suffice to say that the ALP's opposition to sending uranium to India centres around the fact that India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Now I have my views on whether this new trade deal should proceed or not, however what I want to focus on here is firstly the timing of this decision and secondly the hypocrisy which it exposes.

Wayne Swan is preparing the first mini-budget in two decades in order to salvage the election promise of returning to surplus in 2012/2013. I think that it is noble that Swan is trying to ensure that Labor at least keeps ONE of its election promises, but the simple truth is that with declining revenue and the ALP's spend lust (and Swan's incompetence...) it looks unlikely that we will be returning to the black any time soon. Unless, of course, we find a new market to sell our resources to... With uranium exports bringing in a cool billion every year, Wayne can hear the till ringing by opening this market up to one of the largest nations in the world (which desperately needs power). Perhaps I am just cynical, but the timing seems awful convenient, don't you think?

Now Labor is no stranger to hypocrisy; in fact they have turned it into an art form. Resources Minister Martin Ferguson, when discussing the need to ensure that India has sufficient power to meet its demands was quick to point out the environmental benefits that this trade deal would have...

"At the moment, I might say, 70 per cent of their [India] energy actually comes from coal-fired power. The main thing they wanted to talk to me about last week was, 'Can you actually just find us more coal, thermal and coking coal?' This decision is also important from a climate change point of view, nuclear power is baseload reliable clean energy."

Did I just hear correctly? Do my ears and eyes deceive me? Did a Labor front bencher just sing the praises of nuclear power in the fight against Climate Change? It would certainly appear so... but if that is the case then where is the discussion of nuclear power being used here in Australia? Surely if this is truly a government committed to Climate Change action then it would consider all option right? Wrong; after all the ALP must pander to the will of their bedfellows, the Greens. Despite the nonsensical ranting of Team Bob, nuclear power must be considered as an option is we do want to move to a low carbon economy. Now I am not saying I support the move to atomic energy, all I am saying is that we need to have the debate. If we have Labor Ministers identify nuclear energy as a key factor in the low carbon equation, then it is time for a serious, considered, rational debate on Australia's energy future.

A time to Rememer & a moment to Reflect

Today, the 11th day of the 11 month, is Remembrance Day. It is a day where nations the world round, both those of the Commonwealth and broader afield, stop to remember the sacrifices made by those who have served in the armed forces. While this day specifically commemorates the cessation of hostilities of World War One, it is also a time to reflect on all who serve in our nation's armed forces, both past and present. It is moments and days like these where I always stop to think about how lucky we are in this, the greatest nation in the world.

Cynics may claim that the Australia of yesteryear is gone, that the 'fair go' has slowly disappeared from our modern society, but I am not so sure. My view of modern Australia is not so bleak. I refuse to accept that the values and ideals that the original generation of Diggers fought for have disappeared. I still see mateship and the fair go, along with that undeniable Australian spirit which refuses to yield, no matter the challenge or hardship. Many will claim that our egalitarian society is now more segregated and classed than ever before, with a popular past time being to bag the wealthy mining industry. However I see an industry that gives back to their communities, that invests in people, up-skilling and employing the disadvantaged so that they might have a steady job and the self esteem and pride that comes with that. I see people like Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest, who fights as a champion for Indigenous issues, working towards that 'fair go' for all.

If you don't believe me, and don't believe that these ideals live on today, then I suggest that you take a good hard look at our men and women fighting in Afghanistan. These men and women are everyday Aussie, indistinguishable in a crowd at the shops on the weekend when they return from deployment, yet they are doing something extraordinary. While opinion may be split here in Australia over our military role in the Middle East what we must all realise is that every day our servicemen and women get up and risk their lives. Why? Why travel half way around the world only to perish at the hands of a turncoat soldier who you thought was a friendly? While I am sure each of our brave Australian personnel have their own unique reasons for pulling on the uniform day after day with the shadow of death looming large, I would suggest to all that they are offering this struggling nation one simple thing: Hope. We forget, here in Australia, just how good we have it. So, I would suggest that today, while we struggle with our 1st World issues (such as reception drop-outs on our brand new iPhone), that we remember not only those who have worn the uniform in the past, but also those who will be pulling them on today.

Remember those who are currently waking up in Afghanistan. Remember that they are offering this nation a second chance, that it is because of them that the new generation of Afghanis may have a better life, one free of fear and despair. Most of all remember those who have given their lives in the service of this great nation, and the families that they have left behind.

God speed to all our men and women who fight under our glorious flag; may you all return to us soon. I know I speak for all Australians when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with you, today and every day. May we never forget your bravery, your sacrifice, your courage.

Obituary: Australian Democracy

Today, the eighth day of November 2011, my good friend, one who I loved dearly, passed away; I am speaking, of course, of our dear friend, Australian Democracy. We are gathered here today to celebrate Australian Democracy's life, but also mourn its untimely and, ultimately, unnecessary passing. I still remember the first time that we met... it was a state election, sunny day where we all got to cast our vote and have our say. While one side always wins and one side always loses, the process was orderly and peaceful, which is something not to be taken for granted.

This passing is not entirely unexpected; we all knew that Australian Democracy had been unwell for some time. It suffered a blow in 2007 from which it never really recovered from. While many were misguided enough to believe Australian Democracy's new physician, Dr Rudd, some of us saw the beginning of the end. It wasn't until Australian Democracy's significant decline in 2009 that the medical board, spooked by the publics outraged, switched to a new physician, Dr Gillard. Unfortunately with her came the naturopath loony 'Dr' Brown. Dr Gillard, under direction from Dr Brown, attempted some radical surgery, such as removing the profits growth from the mining gland using a Resource Rent Tax-lobotomy. In addition Gillard tried (and failed) to shore up Australian Democracy's immune system from foreign pathogens - boat flu - using an untried Malaysian solution. In a final, last ditch attempt to keep Australia Democracy (and her career...) alive, Dr Gillard tried to insert some Carbon Tax Implants into Australia Democracy legal system, despite clearly stating that she would not perform such a procedure prior to her promotion...

The procedure was a success, thanks to Dr Brown and his band of quacks... however the shock was just too much, and Australian Democracy died on the table. Cause of death: gross malpractice and incompetence. While we may all be angry now we must always remember the good time that we had with Australian Democracy... and hope and pray that the Abbott can resurrect our dear friend before it is too late...

EXCLUSIVE: Kim Kardashian's SECRET Aussie lover EXPOSED!

Talk about a big week! CHOGM! Melbourne Cup! Kim Kardashian! Well, ok, the last one doesn't deserve a mention... the only reason I do raise it is because it highlights what I believe to be quite a disturbing trend in our society. In what has been a big news week we have had to suffer through the whole 'Kardashian Affair', which has been put forward as deserving of leading news bulletins, front page stories, radio broadcasts, the list goes on! Yes, Greece looks as though it is going to default and be thrown out of the Euro Zone, but was Kim's wedding a sham? Of course the Qantas grounding has serious ramifications for the economy, IR, and travellers the world round, but we will cut Alan Joyce's press conference short to show another five minutes of footage featuring screaming prepubescent girls wearing giant sunglasses and waving "We Heart Kim!" placards as the Kardashians arrive at the airport. Why discuss the Labor leadership when we can speculate over the reason for Kim's divorce? Does she have a secrete Aussie lover (oooh, juicy gossip!)? Nobody can even give me a legitimate reason as to why I should be interested! "Because she is" is not an adequate answer to my question of "why, exactly, is this woman famous?" Kim and her clan are arguably the [giant] ass end of the entertainment industry... and yes, pun intended...

Now that Kim Kardashian has done us all a giant favour and left to annoy some other poor unfortunate country we can get back to what matters. What matters at the moment is how Doug Cameron and Bob Brown got humiliated by Alan Joyce at this morning's Senate Inquiry. The inquiry into the grounding of Qantas jets this past weekend provided few, if any, answers. What it did provide was an interesting insight into Alan Joyce, the man who everyone was quick to vilify for his evil, nefarious acts. What we saw instead was a calm, intelligent man who was driven to this dramatic decision by a greedy union who wanted to 'slow bake' Qantas. Joyce's sole intention was to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible... and his dramatic gambit worked. Now I do not agree that he should receive a 71% pay increase; however I would suggest that he did earn a sizable chunk of it as a result of his brave actions to get Qantas flying again...


It's Friday... have a laugh!

The results from the latest Right Side Poll are in, and they clearly show a desire to return to the Pacific Solution and TPV's, with all readers voting for a return to the Coalition's tried and tested solution. This poll is particularly pertinent, given the recent loss of life in Indonesia. The Gillard government must stop the boats before more lives are lost, simple as that. The blood is on your hands Julia, courtesy of your government's continued failure and incompetence. Thanks to all who voted on this issue of great national importance. The next Right Side Poll sees us looking to Europe. I would like to know what you think about the current Greek tragedy that could very well drag the world into another Global Financial Crisis... let me know what you think!

So that's it for another week and I do not think I have ever been so happy that it is a Friday! 'Thank God It's Friday!' just does not seem to cover it! My apologies for being a little absent over the past few weeks but my work/life balance has gone out the window. I'm looking to hit the blog pretty hard next week (got plenty of axes to grind!) so be sure to log on and check it out.

What is the 'Greatest Threat to Democracy'?

Is it the megalomaniacal, despotic, Gaddafi-like dictators of the world? Those who imprison, torture, and kill those who dare question their rule? Is it those who hate freedom (i.e. Bob Brown) and wish to silence all descent? No... that is if you are to believe Labor Senator Doug Cameron. According to Doug, the single greatest threat to democracy is not evil Muslim terrorists, deluded extremists, or even Global Warming, but rather it is little ol' Rupert Murdoch. Yes, apparently Rupert is at it again; armed with a rolled up copy of The Daily Telegraph he is battling away at democracy, trying to topple the Gillard Regime.

According to The Daily Telegraph Rudd is being urged by colleagues to challenge Gillard for the leadership. Talk about a SHOCKING story! This is going to rock the very foundation of democracy itself! Hold on people, the whole system is about to collapse in on itself! Now, hyperbole aside, I do have a serious point to make, which is that Doug Cameron is a moron. Every single person with half a brain knows that Rudd is just busting to remove the knife from his back and firmly implant it in his successor. If Doug is too stupid to realise what is going on in his own party than that's his problem, it does not mean the News Ltd. is waging a war on Labor. The simple fact is that Labor, through their continued incompetence and waste, just make themselves an easy target for the media. So the moral of the story here, Doug, is that if you want the mean, nasty media to stop picking on you all you have to do is get your act together!


I wonder if Doug was born this stupid or whether he needed to work at it?

What astounds me even more with this whole piece of 'news' is the coverage that the ABC is giving it. If you want to talk about media bias, then take a good hard look at our national broadcaster! This isn't news and certainly should not be reported as such. We all know Gillard is going to be knifed by Rudd, it is just a matter of time. The Daily Telegraph would have been better served running the headline: Australians disinterested in Kardashians... now there is a SHOCKING TRUTH!

'Clean Energy Future': Gillard's WorkChoices?

I find it incredibly ironic that the woman who played such a key role in dismantling WorkChoices (and who revelled in it with smug joy...) is now facing an almost identical scenario with her so called 'Clean Energy Future' scam - I mean 'scheme' - otherwise known as the Carbon Tax. The key arguments which brought down WorkChoices, and the Howard Government, are as follows...

1. Pushing such a far reaching reform through parliament is undemocratic: Howard had what most government’s dream of, control of both the House of Reps and the Senate. However such a rarity proved to be a poisoned chalice; where the Senate was once a counter balance to the government's power, a place for review and debate, it was now seen as a rubber stamp, blindly approving Government legislation. This made a lot of Australians anxious, with some believing that due to the makeup of the parliament that the government had too much power and that there was nothing to keep it in check. Australians a pretty accepting of new reforms, provided that we believe it has gone through a proper, rigorous review.
2. Tax-payer dollars for party policy adverts: There is nothing wrong with a government advertising and educating the public on new policy and reform. However when that policy is viewed by the public as being more around ideology as opposed to national interest, it ruffles feathers. Australians do not like to see their hard-earned tax dollars funding party policy... especially unpopular policy. The more the Howard Government tried to sell and promote WorkChoices, the more cynical and jaded the electorate became. It was viewed as a shallow attempt to sell Liberal Policy as opposed to Government Reform.
3. Dial 'M' for Mandate: "How can you do this?!" The unions and Labor decried, "You have no mandate to introduce WorkChoices! How dare you make such far reaching reforms of Industrial Relations without first getting approval from the people!" Nothing had been said before the election about WorkChoices, so how could the Howard Government claim that it had a mandate to introduce? If all large, far reaching reforms need approval from the electorate the responsible thing would have been to go back to the electorate and seek their permission to do so... At least Howard did not say "There will be no IR reforms under any government I lead"; could you imagine the uproar if he had...?

Sound familiar? Gillard, with help from Bob Brown, is pushing this tax that will be felt across every sector, through the parliament with no discussion or debate (and certainly no consensus!) while spending over $200,000 PER DAY advertising this [Greens'] policy, all the while lacking a mandate! Instead of crowing over the fall of the greatest government we have ever had the privilege to have, Gillard should have been learning the lessons of WorkChoices...

Why Australia should abandon the 1951 UN Refugee Convention...

We live in a dynamic, ever-changing world, so it seems incredibly odd to me that Australia in 2011 is bound by 60 year old UN convention on refugees that was designed to deal with post-World War 2/Cold War Europe. It is absurd - ludicrous even - that the people of Australia must adhere to a policy that was built to solve a problem that existed before many of us were even born. At the heart of my distaste for this convention is how the term 'refugee' is defined, and how this must change to recognise the difficulties governments face now, as opposed to 60 years ago.

The convention defines a 'refugee' as a person who has a "well founded fear of being persecuted" should they be returned to their country of origin. This made sense in Cold War Europe, with the KGB willing to take care of any traitors to the great socialist cause. Those brave few who managed to escape over the Berlin Wall and break free of the Soviet Bloc would have without a doubt faced persecution and death if they had been returned to the Red Side of the Iron Curtain. That is in stark contrast to the so-called 'refugees' that we have piling up on our shores today.

While those fleeing communism faced the very real threat of death upon their return, do those who Bob Brown and Sarah Hanson-Young roll out the red carpet for face their untimely end should the boats be turned around? Of course not! These are not people fleeing death and destruction, these are not wartime refugees, they are economic refugees. It is not push factors leading them to our shores, but pull factors, such as Australia's economy, our work, our opportunities, our indoor plumbing. If these people can afford to spend over AUS$30,000 to a people smuggler in order to jump the queue, for the sole purpose of economic gain, then they are not genuine refugees. They are opportunists taking advantage of an inept government that leaks more than the boats carrying these people here and which fails at everything it attempts. These are people too lazy to work to improve their own country that they travel to, and exploit, ours!

Do these people look like genuine refugees?

Australia must swiftly abandon this 1951 UN convention, an out-dated relic of history, and put the interest of its own people ahead of those who seek to steal our jobs and our opportunities. If we continue down this destructive path that the Greens and Gillard have set us on, whereby any and all have the red carpet rolled out for them at the expense of the Australia tax-payer, we are going to be over-run with every third world opportunist who can point their raft in the direction of Christmas Island and cry persecution. The truly sad thing is that while these leeches con their way into this great nation there are genuine people in need, with the very real threat of death hanging over them, doing the right thing and waiting in the UN Refugee Camps. These true refugees are having their place in our quota stolen by selfish opportunists who are exploiting this stupid, incompetent government.

Gillard's true agenda...

Make no mistake, Gillard is as red as they come, and I am not referring to her hair colour! She is a socialist, an extreme Left-winger, a communist... She has not abandoned her roots, she has simply become addicted to power, meaning that she has needed to conceal her true colours or alienate middle Australia. While she may have fooled some, the harsh reality for those on the Centre-Left is becoming very clear: once a red, always a red.

This week saw the culmination of months of backroom deals, brokering benefits for vested Green interests, and a half-backed and unconvincing national campaign to promote the Carbon Tax. The 18 'Clean Energy' Bills passed through the House of Representatives with great fanfare, with the Labor party revelling in the self-congratulatory atmosphere. It was a surreal scene and reminded me somewhat of the eve of the French Revolution: the nobility dined and celebrated as if all was normal, ignorant and blinded by their hubris, they failed to see that the mob was growing... and that they were angry... Gillard and Co. are, of course, proudly supporting [King of the Nuts] Bob Brown in his quest for a global, socialist government. Many are sceptical, but the evidence is undeniable; Bob won't be satisfied until he and his ilk control the world...

Then we have the fiasco around board protection and the swelling flood of boat people showing up on our shores. Now Gillard's basic red instinct is to just open the boards, but that would have upset every single Australia who still has a semblance of love for their country. No, she played the pretend game, setting up a deal that she knew would fail (and accepting 800 more refugees in the process) and held out until it all collapsed, leaving her - and the Greens - preferred mode of processing: on-shore. Why is this preferred? Well it means that they can give the red carpet treatment, on the tax-payer dollar, of course... These foreigners who come here illegally will now be given comfortable tax-payer funded community based accommodation. That's right, while over a 100,000 AUSTRALIANS are homeless on any given night, Gillard, Brown and Sarah Hanson-Young want to treat these illegal entrants to a nice holiday, and they are even going to give them some spending money... That's right, while you and I have to work for our money and face ever increasing cost of living pressures, Gillard and friends are giving these people between $443 (for a single illegal boat person) and $570 (for an illegal family) a fortnight! Why work when you can grab a boat, paddle around in the water until the coast guard arrives, and Sarah Hanson-Young will be there to roll out the red carpet with giant sack of free money and the keys to resort-like accommodations?! Why reward hard work and achievement when you can tax it and use the money to treat illegal entrants to a luxury holiday?!

Seriously, whoever voted ALP or Green at the last election you need to take a good, long, hard look at yourself in the mirror. Your politically correct bullshit is quickly destroying our great nation and eroding the culture and values that I - and all freedom loving Australians - hold so dear. Speaking of political correctness gone mad, I have the results for the latest Right Side Poll where I asked for your verdict on the Andrew Bolt Federal Court ruling. The response was clear with the overwhelming majority believing that it was a dark day for free speech (82%). Those who believed that it was an important clarification of the law (11%) and who thought that it was a victory against discrimination (5%) were in the minority. Thanks to all who voted, the poll results mirrored that of many conducted on the matter. I only hope that Bolt appeals and that this stain is swiftly removed from the legal system. The current Right Side Poll is looking at the border protection. I look forward to hearing you thoughts!

So that is it for another week. I hope that your Friday goes quickly and painlessly and that you have an enjoyable weekend. Best wishes and I hope to see you all back here next week! Oh, and if the weekend is not coming fast enough for your liking, and you are in need of some random awesomeness, you might want to check out this new blog I have been reading. Have a good one!

The Grand Deception, the Ultimate Betrayal...

Only hours ago the Carbon Tax legislation passed through the House of Representatives and Julia Gillard completed her ultimate betrayal of the Australian Nation and its people. Gillard's unholy alliance with the Greens has now been sealed; irrevocable and beyond redemption. The government of Australia, regardless of its ideology, is charged with protecting and promoting the interests of this, the greatest of nations on Earth. By doing this deal with the Greens Gillard has demonstrated her casual disregard for the people, with her sole objective being maintenance of power, regardless of the cost. And make no mistake, there will be costs...

The Labor Heartland will bear much of the economic burden, as manufacturing is forced off-shore, unable to compete with economies that are not held back by this illogical tax. Families will find their struggle to keep their heads above water even harder, with this unnecessary tax simply adding more pressure to already tight family budgets. Scraping some money together for luxuries or treats for the kids will become impossible, as Gillard and Brown pursue their doctrine of economic suicide. The pair of economic illiterates will wring every last available dollar out of hard working Australians, all for the single-minded goal of advancing their socialist agenda. To borrow - and alter sightly - a quote from the great Winston Churchill: "Never before will so many lose so much because of the incompetence of so few..."


The kiss of death, for the Australian economy...

 That is the crux of the matter: economic pain. Make no mistake, there will be pain. Never before in the history of our nation have we seen such a legislative abomination, the likes of which will destroy the livelihoods of hard working Australian families. While the Green elitists, sitting in their inner-city cafes sipping soy lattes, may be happy and able to pay this tax that does not mean Australia families should be made to carry this burden. It must be nice to be an eco-nut, with no ability to see or confront reality. The economy is not as strong as you think! People are losing their jobs and families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet! Why would you want to cause economic devastation?! For what, so that you can save the environment? I hate to be the bringer of bad news, but this Carbon Tax will do NOTHING to help the environment! Perhaps you should take your sanctimonious, self-righteous eco-propaganda and have a chat with you comrades to the North! Without China, India or the USA taking action there will be no benefit to the climate. Why embark of a program of economic self-harm when all you are going to end up doing is wrecking havoc on our economy, our way of life?

This is truly a say day in the history of Australia. Gillard and Brown will end up hurting all Australians with this poorly conceived tax. "There will be no Carbon Tax under any government I lead", the grand deception, the ultimate betrayal. One promise I know that will come true is that there will be no family celebrating this sad day.

How to throw a Labor Party...

I was going to write about the Tax Forum that is currently underway in Canberra... but I got about 1 sentence in and lost interest. It is a talkfest, plain and simple. For two days representatives from business and community groups, as well as the motley crew of the unholy Labor-Greens-Independent Alliance, will yabber on about how “the system is broken” and that there “needs to be change”, without actually doing anything. Bob Brown will undoubtedly have his stock standard tirade over big corporations and the evils of capitalism and freedom (can’t let the plebs have too much power, Comrade...). However the Tax Forum did get me thinking, not about the economy, but rather high-school politics and the ‘popularity game’. You see I have just caught up with some old friends from high-school and we were chatting about the good ol’ days and a few of the memorable parties that had been thrown... which is when I suddenly saw some parallels between alcohol fuelled teenage shenanigans and the current parliament.

Let us start, of course, with Julia Gillard. Within her circle of friends she is not nearly as popular as she once was and, in attempt to remain Queen of the Classroom, has invited everyone round to her place for a party. You see her parents are away and have been silly enough to trust her with their very expensive home which, given the global economy, is looking far better than the neighbours (especially that Greek family’s home down the street...). Wanting to ensure that her place at the top of the pecking order goes unchallenged, Little Miss Gillard invites not only her core social network, but a few others to shore up her power base...


"Why didn't I get an invite, Julia? I know how to throw a WINNING party!"

With the jelly shots setting in the fridge the first guests arrive exactly on time which is, of course, a social faux pas; everyone knows that it is fashionable to show up 1 to 1 and a half hours late... Who is at the door? Why, it is Bobby and his band of eco-whinger; you know the type, self-righteous, constantly lecturing you about recycling, annoying and very, very, uncool. They are socially inept, bringing organic snacks and rainforest friendly dip; Gillard doesn’t want what they are offering, but has to accept it if she wants their support. “So much for my promise of no tasteless bland snacks under any party I throw...” Gillard muttered to herself as the nerds come in, all the while complaining about the how difficult the drive over was and wondering why no-one has introduced a congestion tax.

Next we have one of the school’s most annoying pair, Oakeshott and Windsor. Little Miss Gillard was initially surprised that they showed up, given how badly they will get beaten up for even being seen in the same district as her. They don’t seem to mind all that much, they are just glad to have some new found popularity, despite not realising that most people hate them and think they are a pair of idiots! The little pesky kid Wilkie also shows up... demanding that there should be no gambling at this party and if there was he was leaving! For some reason he seemed to be under the impression that people cared about what he had to say...

"Just so we're clear, you are not invited to my party, Kev... Please don't cry again..."

Slowly Julia’s real friends started showing up... although there seemed to be far fewer than the last time she threw a party (that was before August 2010...). Her bestie, Wayne, followed her around the whole time, worried that his former friend Kev would beat him up. Of course Kev couldn’t make it to the party, he was too busy jetting around the world trying to get over his break-up with Julia... they had worked so well together... then she cheated on him with those damn thugs, the Faceless Boys. The Faceless Boys were there as well; despite being from another school they still thought that they could tell Julia and friends what to do...

While it would seem that Gillard had invited everyone she could think of, there were some notable exceptions, such as that lad from the Catholic School that she had been fighting with. Julia would always bump into Tony on her way to school, and he would always block the footpath and not let her pass. “You won’t get pass me! Ner ner ner ner!” Tony would taunt, laughing in an abrupt, course fashion. “Stop it Tony! You just get in the way for the sake of it! Be constructive for once!” Julia would complain, despite knowing that Tony was smarter and more popular than she was... and that was why she was secretly in love with him...

"I'm sorry, you think I'M crazy?! Have you SEEN Bob Brown?!"

As the night progressed the party degraded into a shambolic display. The Faceless Boys and their thugs tried to bully their way through the crowd, damaging and destroying whatever they could. Bobby and the eco-nuts hid out in the backyard and smuggled in a bunch illegal foreign gate-crashes, despite Julia telling them she didn’t want them in her party (she secretly did, but what would the neighbours think?). Garret jumped on the karaoke and belted out some tunes, while Craig tried to mount anything that moved. Eventually the party wrapped up; the house had been practically destroyed and Julia it seems emerged just as unpopular as before, despite making out with everyone at the party...

When Julia’s parents got home they were horrified to see the damage that had been done to their beloved home. The damage bill would be in the billions, all thanks to the foolishness of her and her friends. “Why can’t you be more like that Abbott boy?!” Julia’s parents scolded “Do you realise how much debt we are going to incur because of your stupidity, young girl?!” With that her parents went to see their friendly local banker, a Chinese fellow with a bright red tie and a big smile. Business had been booming for him lately; there had been lots of naughty liberal minded children causing a great deal of damage in the neighbourhood...

The Abbott Strategy: Election winning or doomed to fail?

I would like to preface this piece by stating up-front that there are times when I find it difficult to like Tony Abbott. Now do not get me wrong, I think that he is a very skilled, talented politician... but still there are days where I just have to shake my head, wondering why Tony just doesn't keep his mouth shut. Thankfully, those days are becoming fewer and farer between, which is a testament to the hard work that Abbott has put into controlling the inner larrikin that so often brakes free, making silly comments that are run to death by the liberal media. Tony Abbott has come a long way, developed as a leader and put his personal stamp on the party, which was incredibly important given the enormous shadow that the ghost of John Howard continues to project over parliament. Abbott took over the 'unelectable' Coalition and came within a hairs breadth of snatching victory in 2010... but the question remains: for all of the development and progress that Abbott has made, is he Prime Minister material? Can he convince the Australian public that he is the man for the top job? Well Abbott and the Liberal Party strategists would have to like their chances. It could be argued that this is because Gillard and Labor are doing everything wrong - spectacularly wrong! - but that does diminish the hard work and thought that has gone into the 'Abbott Strategy'; a cunning ploy that might just pull the Lodge from beneath the PM's feet...

What I admire most about Tony Abbott is that he is always out there doing something. This isn't your standard baby kissing and talking to families in shopping centres about grocery prices - none of that for Action Man Abbott! - Tony is out there lifting things, driving assorted machinery, gutting fish; you name it Tony seems willing to give it a go. This juxtaposes nicely against Gillard, who is always portrayed as standing about with that fake look of concern, nodding and speaking condescendingly, all the while constantly touching people. This helps frame Tony as a man who can get things done, which is a difficult thing for a leader of the opposition to pull off. However there is more to this than just appearing to have the energy of a hyperactive three year old... you just need to look at where Tony is doing all of these things...


"I swam out and caught it myself..."

"He is just trying to con dumb Labor voters into thinking that he gives a toss about them, even though he doesn't!" Complained one of my Howard-hating contemporaries (for obvious reason we do not discuss politics often...). This speaks to the heart of the Abbott Strategy and exposes two key Labor weaknesses: Gillard and the current dominance of the Greens over the ALP. These two weaknesses are clearly articulate when we look at the Labor Party's supporter demographic. Who support the ALP? Well, they are likely to be men working blue colour jobs. Abbott positioning himself as a man's man who swims marathons, lifts things and is generally blokey, will resonate with the ALP's traditional demographic and make him a relatable figure. Now this is only at a personal/human level, not at a policy level. But if you can identify with the salesperson you are far more likely to buy their product...

The second component of the Abbott Strategy, highlighting the submissive nature of the ALP in the current Labor-Greens-Independent Coalition, is where the true genius of this strategy becomes evident. Traditional Labor voters do not like the Greens. Why? Because they are the trendy inner-city crowd that sip soy lattes and seek to close down the manufacturing and mining industries out of some misplaced middle-class guilt. In short, these are the people who want to put your traditional Labor voter out of a job. The ALP's traditional base has been ignored and sidelined in the current political landscape in favour of the Greens and their inner-city crowd; the problem is that Labor and Gillard have just expected that they will simply tow the party line and continue voting ALP. Not so! Gillard is in political no man's land; those on the Left are deserting her in favour of the more radical Greens while the moderates are looking increasingly as if they are going to join Team Abbott. This is why Tony has been doing the rounds in workplaces that require one to lift things and drive forklifts. The message is quite simple: "Gillard has abandoned you! Gillard is conspiring with the Greens to take away your jobs and push up the cost of living through her many taxes! Gillard is more interested in keeping Brown happy than saving your jobs! The only way you can stop her is to vote for me, which I am making more acceptable by showing you that I'm just a regular bloke! Look at me, I'm gutting a fish! I am one of you!"

This is, of course, not a new strategy. The last time it was used was by former Prime Minister (and soon to be current Prime Minister) Kevin Rudd with his 'Me Too!' approach to John Howard. Rudd was often referred to as 'Howard-Lite'; enough like John Howard that he could entice the moderates without leaving them feel anxious about voting Labor, but not too much like Howard that he would lose his base support. With Gillard trapped between the Greens and that Centre, the Abbott Strategy looks like a winner: pick up the disillusioned Labor base courtesy of the current divide in the fractured Left while maintaining the traditional support base. Ironically even if Gillard wanted to counter this manoeuvre, it would spell the end of her reign in the top job. She cannot govern without the Greens and, while she has them on-side, she cannot hope to recapture Labor's traditional base...

The Liberal Party strategists are a smart bunch and, if the polls continue, we will see a resounding Coalition victory soon. The two key questions that remain however are: will the next Coalition Government be able to undo all of the damage caused by the Gillard/Brown Freak-show Government and, more importantly, can Abbott keep his mouth shut long enough to make it to the Lodge?

I do like Tony, I really do... I just wish he would think before he talks...!

Bob Brown is an idiot, plain and simple...

Tony Abbott is often criticised by Bob Brown, in fact it seems to be Brown's primary function (in addition to destroying the economy...). One of Brown's favourite lines of attack revolve around Abbott's 'thought bubble' policy ideas; uncosted, unplanned and unrealistic are usually the words used by Bob & Co. when trotting out this offensive strategy. However it is now becoming clear that if any federal party leader is guilty of not just unrealistic, but dangerous, thought bubbles then it is Bob Brown, the Policy Clown. So what is the Clown up to now, you ask? Why Bob (or should that be Bobo?), the leader of the 'Free Speech Haters Alliance', has decided that, in the wake of the Andrew Bolt ruling, all journalists should be licensed. That's right; if you want to have an opinion then you must first seek permission to express it from Comrade Brown.

What scares me the most is who Bob thinks should handle the registration body. No, not an independent licensing commission run, perhaps, by the journalists peak professional body - oh no! - Bob want to control it himself through a state-sanctioned authority. An authority that would have the power to award practicing licences to individual journalists with the flip side of this being they would also have the power to strip them of their licence. Censorship, anyone?


Coulrophobia: A fear of clowns...

This typifies the stupidity of Brown and the Greens. Now this may sound like a strange thing to say, but while I don't agree with ANYTHING that Bob Brown says I would do all within my power to defend his right to say it. Every person, regardless of how stupid, moronic and uninformed their views and opinions might be have the right to be heard. For example, Sarah Hanson-Young is an absolute half-wit who would be lucky to have to functioning neurons to bounce an idea between. Yet, despite how much I loathe the woman, I would gladly stand up and defend her right to spout her neo-Marxist nonsense. This is what it means to live in a free society. This is what it means to have true debate, where in the political forum any and all can stand and have their views and opinions heard. You may not like what is being said, but at least you have the right to, in turn, stand and rebuke the opinions of others. It just frustrates me when our elected officials who sit on the Left (i.e. those who hate freedom) seem to think that they can strip the citizenry of their right to speak their mind.

The national political discourse will be richer for having a wide debate where all can express their views. Bob Brown doesn't see this; he wants to silence the dissenters and create an Australia where the only opinions you hear are sanctioned by the state... While Bob has the right to speak his peace, he most certainly does not have the right to strip that fundamental entitlement from others, simply because he doesn't like what they are saying.

P.S: It should be noted that Bob Brown discussed this policy idea at the 'Intelligence Squared' event in Sydney on Saturday. If I was putting together a list of potential guests and speakers for an event called 'Intelligence Squared' I can assure you that Bob would be way, way, way, way down the list of candidates...

Gillard, the Bell Tolls for Thee...

It sure has been an interesting week. We have had attacks on our freedom of speech via a terrible miscarriage of justice; nothing less than a heinous assault by the Left on one of the modern day Australian heroes, Andrew Bolt. In addition, was have seen more stupidity from Bob Brown, the man who would tax any and all, yet the liberal media lets his thought bubble go un-criticised (I'm shocked!). So we have a great conservative crucified for exercising his right to speak his mind and ask legitimate questions, yet on the other hand we have the captain of Team Loony Left spouting economic nonsense yet not a peep from the media!

This week it was also Julia Gillard's 50th birthday with the PM getting a puppy. Well, at least there will be one thing in this world that will love her unconditionally... We all know her party doesn't, with the latest Newspoll showing that the ALP would have a better shot with Kevin Rudd in the top job. Rudd even got a little exciting, thinking he was already back in the PM's chair:

Sure, he may have been a little jet-lagged, but it does give us a very interesting window into what the man is thinking, that which is occupying his mind. Make no mistake, the leadership spill is coming sooner rather than later. It will certainly be before Labor's National Conference (December 2-4), giving the ALP and Rudd the perfect platform to launch their election campaign: Kevin11. The party would want to give him a full month or so in the lead up to the Conference, so I predict the spill will occur no later than October 21st; that means you only have 3 more weeks in the job Julia, enjoy them while you can!

Happy Birthday Julia... we baked you a cake...

I was interested in what everyone thought of the Liberal Party's biggest sore loser, Malcolm Turnbull, and it looks as though the Right Side Poll has validated my beliefs on the man. Thanks to all who have voted, with all agreeing that his effect on the party is negative with the two most popular options selected being that Turnbull is a destabilising force and a sore loser, not to mention being irrelevant. This week, I want to know what you think about the Bolt Ruling, is this a blow for freedom of speech in our great nation or a fair ruling. Let me know what you think...

Being Friday, I wanted to leave you with something a little amusing. A story has surfaced concerning not other than the Caped Crusader... no, he wasn't fighting the super villains of Gotham City but rather Christchurch. Have a read, it's good for a chuckle! I wish you all a happy and safe weekend and hope to see you back here next week... Have a good one and enjoy the Grand Final!

Free Speech: Not something to be taken for granted

Free speech should be just that: Free. All people should have the freedom to speak up for something which they believe in without fear of persecution. This is, I would contest, the core, fundamental tenant of democracy. How can you have a justly elected governing body if the citizenry does not have the right to critique its actions and decisions? Furthermore, how can our society develop and grow if it fears discussing the difficult issues for fear of offending the sensibilities of a vocal minority? This, ladies and gentlemen, is the heart of the problem; our great democracy has been hi-jacked by the Politically Correct Brigade who are desperate to stifle debate and privilege the minorities. Essentially, middle Australia is being forced out of their own country, bullied into silence...

Andrew Bolt is a champion of free speech and, in my opinion, a modern day Australian hero. He is brave enough to say what we are all thinking, despite the constant abuse and degradation that he suffers at the hands of the uniformed Left-Wing PC Brigade. Illegal asylum seekers are given everything they could possible want (including PlayStations) at the tax-payers' expense, yet if we question this, then we are shouted down as 'racist'. If we have legitimate concerns about corruption and the abuse of tax-payer dollars that's fine, as long as it is not in relation to the Indigenous community. If it relates in any way, shape, or form to Aboriginals, it is off limits, beyond question or approach. Breathe one negative word about the Indigenous community and you're a racist! Even if it is a legitimate concern in the interest of all Australians, Aboriginality is sacred; how dare you question it!

What kind of Australia do you want for your children? Stand up for free speech!

It is simple really; you cannot have a truly free, open and transparent society if you strip citizens of the right to question what it going on in their country. In a sense, middle Australia has been silenced by a group of Left-Wing sycophants who hate freedom and hate our democratic society. They hate our county so much that they want to open the floodgates, let in every Tom, Dick and Mohammad, and completely erode and destroy our great Western culture. Make no mistake, they are 'Cultural Terrorists' who hate democracy and who want to destroy our way of life. Andrew Bolt is a hero, I just wish that there were more brave journalists like him who are not afraid to stand up and defend the Australia I love.

Bob Brown, the 'Policy Clown'

Sometimes all you can do is shake your head. Sometimes Bob Brown out does himself with such ridiculous policy 'thought bubbles' that it takes you aback. These ideas - and I use the word 'ideas' very liberally here - quite literally take your breath away, because they are just so stupid. With the global economy struggling to hold its head above water, and the Australian economy needing all the help it can get, Bob Brown Policy Clown want - wait for it! - another tax. He got his way with the Mining Tax, he got his way with the Carbon Tax, and now, still not content that those greedy corporations are paying enough, he wants another tax, a 'Gold Tax'. That's right, gold miners are too successful, time to redistribute some wealth...

"Oh! I just had a brain wave! What if we tax gold! And water! And old people! And puppies!"

Essentially, what The Clown is asking for, is for the Mineral Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) to be expanded to include gold mining operations; Brown doesn't just want to cripple segments of the industry, he wants to destroy the whole thing! While Gillard has indicated that she would resist pressure from the Greens for gold to be included in the MRRT, Brown has been sending subtle hints to the PM that he would gladly deal with another ALP leader should the party remove her. This is a worrying sign for Gillard, who has always used the ALP-Greens-Independents Alliance as a pillar to prop-up her leadership; an 'if I go the whole house of cards will come tumbling down with me' approach. This slap in the face from Brown makes it clear, she cannot rely on the Greens for protection; they will deal with whoever is willing to give them what they want. Their attitude towards the democratic process is truly disgusting, with Brown stating that Gillard would support gay marriage; apparently it is the Greens that decide Labor policy... but then again, we always knew this...


"SAVE ME! I don't want to go live with that nut! I vote Liberal!"

In addition to Brown Clown's policy joke, today is Julia Gillard's birthday and it looks as though she is going to be getting a puppy from her partner Tim. It is a 'Cavoodle', a cross between a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle, a breed which is said to be good for powerful people as it won't fret over an absent owner (in other words it will lover her about as much as the Australian people...). To mark the occasion, I thought that I would suggest some names for the 1st pooch for PM Gillard to consider:

-Bob: A boring name which would probably result in an overly demanding dog that barks and barks until it gets what it wants and, when it does, it will just turn around and shit on your rug...

-Wayne: Incredibly loyal... until a better offer comes around.

-Craig: Runs around mounting everything and is the only dog known to man that can use a credit card.

-Paul: Good for advancing your career, but a faceless dog does look a little strange. And finally...

-Kevin: Sure, it looks good, but when you turn your back it will lead over everything and raid the kitchen knifes... Julia would never be able to get a good night's sleep again...

Have a brilliant day people!

The last Bolt in the coffin of free speech

Australia, our rights and liberties that we hold so dear are slowly being eroded and eaten away. Holding the light of inquiry up to potential areas of corruption for the public good is now something to be scorned. Journalists who seek to reveal falsehoods are being silenced, victims of a politically correct campaign to silence all who question and ask 'Why?' Andrew Bolt, an often controversial but passionate conservative activist, has been found guilty by the Federal Court for breaching the discrimination act, simply because he was trying to expose potential corruption. It had been alleged that articles written by Bolt suggested that light-skinned people who identified as Aboriginal did so for personal gain. So the only assumption that can really be confirmed here is that only white people can perpetrate corruption, and that all matters Indigenous are scared and beyond critical analysis or reproach! This is not just an attack on Andrew Bolt, this is an attack on Free Speech and the Australian way of life.


Andrew Bolt: Victim of a vicious PC hate campaign

"Free speech means the right of people to say what you don't like, not just the right of people to say what you do like," Opposition Leader Tony Abbott stated after hearing the outcome of the trial, adding that we should not be restricting "the sacred principle of free speech".

This is a disgusting act that has been committed by the Federal Court, which has, essentially, caved to political correctness gone mad. Stand up for your rights, Australia; because before you know it they may have all been stripped from us!

Will he or won't he...?

No, I'm not talking about whether Tim Mathieson is going to pop the question and ask Julia to marry him, I'm talking about the other man in Julia's life; the one she was hoping to divorce and never see again. Yes, I'm talking about the Million Dollar Man himself, the narcissistic Kevin Rudd. I know that I have said this before, but given the recent rumblings in the Labor Party my prediction may soon be proved correct. Julia Gillard is on her last leg as Prime Minister; the only thing stopping her loyal comrades from immediately dispatching her is, quite frankly, there is no one to fill the position... except for Kevin.

The majority of the ALP despise K-Rudd, with many still blaming him for the damaging leaks that hampered the Party's re-election campaign within the first few weeks of election season last year. In addition to this many recall his tyrannical rein, a short era characterised by distrust, paranoia and a dictatorial, rather than consultative, approach to leadership. Rudd failed in almost all key indicators that predict successful leadership; but he was protected by his ultimate weapon: the opinion poll. While the polls were up, the Party would let him get away with blue murder, simply because, after being in the wilderness for so long, the members of the ALP could not quite believe their own resurrection. Finally, people liked them! The opinion polls became a drug that both Rudd and the ALP became addicted to, they allowed them to guide policy and decision making, which is a fatal error; shallow populism is never conducive with good government. A government must have a vision and, once they have a mandate, work to achieve it. Rudd lost all credibility when he jettisoned his Carbon policy, despite referring to Global Warming as the "greatest moral threat of our time". Rudd exposed himself as weak, and his Labor 'allies' were quick to turn on him once the polls started heading in the wrong direction.

"I'm coming for you Julia... at last I will have my revenge...!"

Gillard, ironically, is somewhat protected from the same fate as Rudd due to the nature in which she secured the top job. The Faceless Men know all too well the anger of the Australia people who saw what was done to Rudd as completely inappropriate and undemocratic. More ironically still, it is this situation which makes Rudd the only other alternative. The anger came about because Gillard was not a proven leader and got the top job by sliming her way into the top job by assassinating her leader. Rudd can do the same without the electoral backlash: he is a proven leader who some would say has more right to the job than Gillard.

With her popularity rate so low, the ALP needs to do something, but they are terrified of the only viable option. They know Rudd can only do better than Gillard, but they don't want him back; it would be a humiliating turn that would only fuel his smug ego and make him even more unbearable than before. Given that he was stabbed in the back by his own party, can you imagine Rudd's level of paranoia the next time around? Does anyone in the ALP seriously believe that he would be able to have a functioning relationship with Swan, the man who betrayed him to secure the Deputy PM spot? Rudd's return, while I believe it to be inevitable, will cause massive disruptions within the Party the likes of which I don't think we can fully predict. The simple fact of the matter is that Labor is broken and the longer they stay in power the more damaging it will be for both the Party and the Nation...

The Joke of the Year

This has been a bit of a strange week. Firstly I wish to apologise for being a little absent, my work/life balance this week has been practically non-existent. Which is a pity, because there has been a lot going on, most notably the joke of the year. That's right, I am talking about Wayne Swan being named the number 1 finance minister in the world. This was, of course, only days before the stock market took an absolute beating. Yea, you're doing a swell job, Wayne... Of course this illustrates the point of control; the simple fact of the matter is that Wayne could put on a chicken suit and run around screaming "I'm gunna prop up the economy by laying a golden egg!" and this would do very little as we are part of a global economy. Congratulating Swan on Australia's economy (we are doing 'less bad', not necessarily 'well') is a mute point; if you want to congratulate any one it should be the Chinese. Or, better yet, the decade of hard work put in by Howard/Costello which ensured that the fundamentals were strong and there was money in the bank when the GFC hit!

The other interesting area of discussion this week has been around Julia Gillard's tenuous grip on the Lodge. Commentators and observers have been pointing out that Kevin Rudd appears to be circling, going so far as to begin canvassing the support of those who turfed him out just over a year ago. This really speaks to the heart of Labor's problems right now; in a week where they did get one piece of good news (Swan's dubious accolade) they are unable to gain any political traction as their incompetence blocks out everything. K-Rudd, asylum seekers (still no deal and two more boats showing up today alone), Carbon Tax parliamentary debate... Gillard and Co. are drowning in a sea of incompetence, and the only ones who will suffer from this gross mismanagement of our nation is us!


Come closer Julia, I have a knife shaped object I would like to show you...

I love this country, but sometimes I really do weep for the future and question the intellect of my fellow Australians. I strongly believe in democracy and would never deny anyone their right to participate in a free and open election; but I do, however, question the cognitive faculties of those who vote Labor/Green... They were fooled by Rudd then allowed themselves to be fooled again by Gillard. Who leads the party doesn't matter, they are all of the same ideology, one that is built around waste, debt and rewarding incompetence.

Anyway, now that I have had my little rant for the week I will sign off, as I still have a very imposing stack of work to see to. I hope that your weekend is a little more interesting than what I fear mine will turn out to be! Best wishes and stay safe...

Mutiny aboard the HMAS Labor!

The crew be restless, and the Captain's position is looking grim. Julia "The Red Scourge" Gillard is trying to navigate the HMAS Labor out of the treacherous waters of the Electoral Whirlpool of Doom, but the situation is dire. The Labor has been significantly damaged, her bow torn asunder from the deadly rocks beneath Immigration Bay, just off Christmas Island. While the Captain has managed to jerry-rig a band-aid solution (with some help from her Malaysian crew members) it quickly came unstuck, and now threatens to sink the vessel. At the helm, desperately trying to dodge the attacks from the HMAS Howard Ghost, The Red Scourge is running out of time to escape her arch-enemy, Tony "The Monk" Abbott.



Avast ye scurvy dog! Arrr...


As the HMAS Labor begins disintegrating before her very eyes, The Red Scourge notices that the crew have begun talking in secret. The extremist Green buccaneers want control of the ship for themselves, wishing to spend whatever gold necessary to make it environmentally friendly (after all, gun powder pollutes the atmosphere...). Some of the crew don't like how their Captain practically ran the ship aground on Immigration Bay, while others wonder why she simply did not pillage the sweet Pacific Solution booty. All the while the deadly Faceless Men are sharpening the cutlasses, ready for the inevitable mutiny...

All the while, on the HMAS Howard Ghost, The Monk tries to keep his troops united, spurring them on to victory. The scallywag Turnbull jealously eyes The Monk's position, but Abbott's focus is squarely on sinking the Labor and claiming the Captain's hat for himself...

Will The Red Scourge survive the rumblings aboard the crippled HMAS Labor? Would a new Captain be able to enact the repairs necessary to escape the Electoral Whirlpool of Doom? Will Abbott ever claim the coveted Captain's hat that he so craves, or will that treasure be forever beyond his grasp? Tune in next time for another thrilling adventure on the Political High Seas...

I hope ye are all having a top 'Talk Like a Pirate Day'. Arrr, I wish I could talk like this all the time... Now where did I put my Captain's hat?

Gillard is out looking for friends...

Another week has come and gone, and what do we have to show for it? Parliament is sitting again, debating the Carbon Tax in a record short time space; how can you build consensus on an important policy area when, as a government, all you want to do is ram the legislation through? No debate, no discussion, this is what it is, approve it and shut-up! Hardly sounds like democracy, but that is what Bob Brown wants, ergo that is what Gillard will deliver. As long as Comrade Premier Brown is happy, the wheels of the democracy Glorious Socialist Paradise will continue to turn...


"Will you be my friend? I'll buy you a pie... or four?"

An emerging story is the reaction to Gillard's address at Old Parliament house today, outlining her vision for the Labor Party. It seems as though the PM is after some new friends, setting the goal of recruiting 8000 new ALP members over the course of next year. Where she intends on finding these people I don't know... Actually, on the other hand, there are 4000 'refugees' coming here from Malaysia; perhaps one of the conditions of entry is that you must vote Labor? If they knew what a mess the ALP is, I'm guessing they would chose to remain in Malaysia rather than be associated with Gillard and the rest of the ALP rabble...

"Will you be my friend, tiny ranga?"

What we haven't heard this week is Tony Abbott discussing Industrial Relations, which would disappoint most of our readers as there is an indication from this week's Right Side Poll that this needs to be addressed. This topic has, understandably, polarised our readers, with 75% believing that FairWork must be scrapped and elements of WorkChoices returned, while the other 25% nominated the 'Hell No' option, believing that it would be electoral suicide. I am of the view that it needs to be done if we want a productive economy; WorkChoices was actually really good legislation, but the Union scare campaign destroyed what should have been John Howard's crowning achievement. Whether now is the right time for this discussion, I don't know. What I do know is that if Abbott doesn't want to leave himself open for attack on this issue, the Coalition needs an airtight, clearly communicated IR policy moving into the next election. If there is no clear policy, the Union fear machine will just crank up again...


"Will you be my frie... actually, no, on second thoughts..."

This week's Right Side Poll is looking at something entirely different: Malcolm Turnbull. This week there were murmurings about Turnbull speaking on the Carbon Tax legislation. Will he speak or won't he? What will he say? Is the party gagging him? This episode has highlighted just how destabilising Turnbull can be. So I want to know what you think about the man; is he good, bad, or damaging? Vote and tell us what you think, I'm fascinated to see how this poll turns out...

Right, so that is it for this week and I would like to finish up on a serious note. Within the course of a week we have had World Suicide Prevention Day (10th of September) and R U OK? Day (15th of September). While awareness is important, it is nothing without action. This weekend, if you have a spare moment, put it to good use. Jump on the phone to a friend or loved one and ask them how they are going. If you have a few spare moments, why not get your friends together for a coffee and a chat. Our world can be a lonely place, but you can solve that just by picking up the phone. I wish you all a happy and safe weekend, and remember: if you are struggling with a psychological problem, whether you are just feeling a bit down and blue, you are no alone! There are people who care about you and services available to help out.

R U OK?

Today I would like to put politics aside for a moment and discuss something which I am very passionate about: mental health. In our society mental health is not widely discussed, and mental illness is almost completely sidelined and stigmatised, making it very difficult for those who need help to seek it out. That is why campaigns such as "R U OK? Day" are so important, as it gets people talking about something that we may traditionally avoid. There is no shame in having a difficult time psychologically, we all do, and this is a very important point: no matter how low you feel, you are never alone. Here are some statistics for you to consider:

- During a 12 month period, 1 in 5 Australians will suffer from a mental illness
- In 2007 almost half (45%) of all Australians had experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lifetime
- In 2004-2005 Depression was the 4th most common issue managed in general practice
- The World Health Organisation has estimated that Depression will be the number 1 cause of disability in both the developed and developing world by 2030

Not only are you not alone, but there are services that can help out. No matter how dark it gets, there will always be someone, whether a registered professional or not-for-profit organisation there willing to lend a hand. If you or someone you know needs help, there is a directory of those that can provide assistance on the R U OK? website.

Many of us take mental health for granted, but there are a lot of people in the community who are suffering in silence; and the sad thing is that it is so unnecessary. So, today, on "R U OK?" day, I would like you to do something about it. Think about your friends, family, co-workers, are there any that seem like they could use a sympathetic ear? Do you know someone going through a tough divorce, or who has experienced loss? Well give them a call, take them out for a coffee, and just check in and see how they are doing. You may not know it, but what has cost you a mere 5 minutes may mean the world to them. Who knows, maybe that was the conversation that they will look back on as a turning point? Maybe you are the one who inspires them to seek help?

Maybe you are the one who changes - or even saves - their life?

The Cost of Failure

It is becoming clear to even the most die-hard Labor supporter that their beloved ALP and its current patchwork government is a failure. Unlike Climate Change, it is something that everyone can agree on. The Labor Party is to failure as hats are to Bob Katter; it is impossible to separate the two. Now while this might be new for the burgeoning neo-Left, it is nothing new for those who can remember the dark times before the Howard Golden Age. Labor has a long, long, long history of incompetence, waste and failure on an unprecedented scale, giving rise to the adage: Labor spends and destroys the economy, the Coalition rescues it. The current question is not 'how much more failure can we expect for the current incarnation of Labor hubris, greed and corruption?' but rather 'how much will all of this cost us before we can turf them out?'

Kevin Rudd has become the 'Million Dollar Man', racking up a travellers bill of a cool mill over the past nine months. That is the equivalent of almost $4000 a day. Yes, he is our Foreign Minister, but even still that is a tad extreme, don't you think? In addition we all know why K-Rudd spends so much time overseas; Gillard doesn't want him around causing leadership speculation! So to solve a personal political problem, the tax-payer has to fork out $1 million every nine months just to keep Kevin out of Gillard's way!

The ALP; it is synonymous with failure...

That $1 million 'Keep Kevin Flying' fund looks like a paltry sum, especially when put next to Gillard's other tax-payer funded problem solver, the $12 million Carbon Tax advertising campaign. That's right, those annoying Clean Energy Future adverts have cost tax-payers $12 million since mid-July; based on my calculations, that is $200,000 per day. I'll repeat that because even I find that quite mind-boggling: the Carbon Tax advertising campaign is costing tax-payers $200,000 PER DAY! This figure doesn't even include the newest round of advertising, which is blatant ALP propaganda payed for by hard-working Australians like me and you!

This illegitimate government is burning through our money like there is no tomorrow (and for Julia there may not be a tomorrow for her political career if the polls continue their record breaking descent...). Unimaginable levels of debt funding unrealistic and un-Australian policies, policies which have the sole aim of destroying our prosperous economy and cohesive society. Gillard and Brown may want a Clean Energy Socialist Future, but I sure as Hell don't...