The Australian politics thread

[howardj]

Personally do not have a problem with Rudd putting the Budget into deficit - just as long as net Commonwealth debt is no more than $20 billion or so. However, in putting it into deficit, at least spend the money on some structural reforms such as lowering the company tax rate for example. For mine, a recession is not a disaster, but a high unemployment recession is. To that end, in cutting company tax, at least there is some pressure taken off employers and hopefully they will retain staff for longer than they otherwise would. The good news, in terms of unemployment, is that even if the country dips into recession, costs on business now are not as high as during the last recession, when interest rates were incredibly high.

[Craig]

So what do members on here make of the shooting of the 15 year boy by Victorian Police after he taunted them and threatened their safety (apparently). I'm not too clued up on the full details though.

So was it an over-reaction or was it justified? Bearing in mind it is one thing to pass judgement sitting behind a computer screen or in a office and quite another being there on the scene with the gun in your hand and having to make a split second decision whether to shoot or not.

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Has NSW Budget been in deficit?

Yeah, for a year or two I think. Although when Michael Costa was treasurer his line was effectively "Only I can sit here and not spend money for you". Inspirational stuff.

Originally Posted by Craig

So what do members on here make of the shooting of the 15 year boy by Victorian Police after he taunted them and threatened their safety (apparently). I'm not too clued up on the full details though.

So was it an over-reaction or was it justified? Bearing in mind it is one thing to pass judgement sitting behind a computer screen or in a office and quite another being there on the scene with the gun in your hand and having to make a split second decision whether to shoot or not.

My overwhelming thought is just that it's so bloody sad.

[Top_Cat]

Originally Posted by Craig

So what do members on here make of the shooting of the 15 year boy by Victorian Police after he taunted them and threatened their safety (apparently). I'm not too clued up on the full details though.

So was it an over-reaction or was it justified? Bearing in mind it is one thing to pass judgement sitting behind a computer screen or in a office and quite another being there on the scene with the gun in your hand and having to make a split second decision whether to shoot or not.

Sad. If you spray a bloke twice, draw your firearm and he still isn't going down (even a 15-year-old), it seems pretty likely he was under the influence of something and subduing him just became a lot harder. Couple that with threats to kill the cops in question and it was a pretty nasty situation.

And no, you can't shoot-to-maim; cops are taught to hit centre-mass (chest), the biggest part of the body, to ensure they hit because it so easy to miss. The rationale goes like this; to ensure that you hit, you go for the biggest part of the body to remove the threat. You're not trying to kill them, just remove the threat. If they don't live, the rationale is that they brought the situation upon themselves because another core assumption is that a copper would never draw their firearm unless necessary to protect themselves or someone else. It's later when the investigation occurs that people decide whether the copper's judgement was justified.

[Top_Cat]

Rudd not doing much to dispel rumours he's an (in)action hero;

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574...-29277,00.html

[Mister Wright]

Apparently when you look at the proposal in more detail it's very sensible. Australia is one of the lowest users of emissions, something like 1.5% of the world's emissions total. The 5% reduction allows for jobs to remain in tact while still doing something about the environment. Not up on all the facts, but that's the basics of what I heard this morning.

[vic_orthdox]

Originally Posted by Mister Wright

Apparently when you look at the proposal in more detail it's very sensible. Australia is one of the lowest users of emissions, something like 1.5% of the world's emissions total. The 5% reduction allows for jobs to remain in tact while still doing something about the environment. Not up on all the facts, but that's the basics of what I heard this morning.

Aren't we still second in per capita?

[Mister Wright]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Aren't we still second in per capita?

Dunno. Just paraphrasing what I heard this morning.

[ripper868]

yah, aus's poulation makes up something like .256% of the world pop...so to be producing 1.5% isnt something to be proud of.

[howardj]

So much for this being 'the great moral challenge of our time'.

[LongHopCassidy]

It is; Rudd's just immoral.

[James90]

Originally Posted by howardj

Personally do not have a problem with Rudd putting the Budget into deficit - just as long as net Commonwealth debt is no more than $20 billion or so. However, in putting it into deficit, at least spend the money on some structural reforms such as lowering the company tax rate for example. For mine, a recession is not a disaster, but a high unemployment recession is. To that end, in cutting company tax, at least there is some pressure taken off employers and hopefully they will retain staff for longer than they otherwise would. The good news, in terms of unemployment, is that even if the country dips into recession, costs on business now are not as high as during the last recession, when interest rates were incredibly high.

Yeah. Don't bother spending money on infrastructure or education...you're much better off allowing businesses the freedom to keep peoples jobs (or not keep them if they wish)

[vic_orthdox]

I see howardj's point to some extent, but I think that Rudd has attacked this in an OK way.

Give a quick increase to consumption, and now the rest of the money is going towards investment and long term projects.

[Burgey]

Just thought I would. That's all

[howardj]

Originally Posted by James90

Yeah. Don't bother spending money on infrastructure or education...you're much better off allowing businesses the freedom to keep peoples jobs (or not keep them if they wish)

Harsh.

Was talking about the surplus which has been frittered away with one-off payments to many undeserving people, and not spent on infrastructure or reform.