What has the Abbot government achieved

[The Edukator]

I don't want to discuss what their failings may or not be. I want to be able to discuss where we thing they have got things right or what they are trying to achieve with positive goals in mind. this may be hard for opposition voters but not everything each party do is wrong.

The latest statement from TA is the promise to cut red and green tape but what exactly does this mean and what positive effects will it actually have?

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

I note the Libs are making headway in their struggle against the environment in Tasmania, buoyed by the recent Coalition win in the state election there. Seemingly the only way Australian environments are going to know their place under a Coalition government is by releasing massive tracts of protected woodland for logging, woodchipping and pulping.

The eradication of the environment is most definitely a a positive for some.

 

[Hank Scorpion]

Despite your best intentions, this thread will not end well. What some will define as an achievement others will define as failure.

Asylum seekers are no longer in the news which is an achievement, even when I completely disagree with the methods.

 

[Dry Rot]

I don't want to discuss what their failings may or not be. I want to be able to discuss where we thing they have got things right or what they are trying to achieve with positive goals in mind. this may be hard for opposition voters but not everything each party do is wrong.

The latest statement from TA is the promise to cut red and green tape but what exactly does this mean and what positive effects will it actually have?

Do you normally get off at Redfern?

 

[Todman]

78. Politicises the national school curriculum by appointing a former Liberal staffer and a Coalition supporter, both critics of the current curriculum to conduct a review – 10 January 2014.
77. Directs that people already found to be refugees who arrived by boat be given the lowest priority for family reunion – 8 January 2014
76. Fails to contradict or take any action against a member of his government, Senator Cory Bernardi, who makes divisive statements about: abortion, “non-traditional” families and their children, same sex couples, couples who use IVF and calls for parts of WorkChoices to be reintroduced – 6 January 2014
75. Devastates Australia’s contribution to overseas aid by cutting $4.5 billion from the budget, causing vital programs supporting those in extreme poverty in our region to collapse - 1 January 2014
74. Drastically reduces tax breaks for small business and fails to publicise it – 1 January 2014
73. Refuses to support jobs at SPC at the cost of hundreds of jobs – 27 December 2013
72. Appoints Tim Wilson, a Liberal Party member and Policy Director of a right-wing think tank to the position of Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission even though this think tank argued for the Commission to be abolished – 23 December 2013
71. Approves private health fund premium increases of an average 6.2% a year – 23 December 2013
70. Fails to provide the promised customs vessel to monitor whaling operations in the Southern Ocean – 23 December 2013
69. Requests the delisting of World Heritage status for Tasmanian forests – 21 December 2013
68. Drastically dilutes consumer protections and transparency requirements for financial planners, including abolishing the requirement they put their clients interests first – 20 December 2013
67. Scraps the Home Energy Saver Scheme which helps struggling low income households cut their electricity bills – 17 December 2013
66. Defunds the Public Interest Advocacy Centre whose objectives are to work for a fair, just and democratic society by taking up legal cases public interest issues – 17 December 2013
65. Defunds the Environmental Defenders Office which is a network of community legal centres providing free advice on environmental law – 17 December 2013
64. Axes funding for animal welfare – 17 December 2013
63. Abolishes the AusAID graduate program costing 38 jobs – 17 December 2013
62. Cuts Indigenous legal services by $13.4 million. This includes $3.5 million from front line domestic violence support services, defunding the National legal service and abolishing all policy and law reform positions across the country – 17 December 2013
61. Abolishes the position of co-ordinator-general for remote indigenous services – 17 December 2013
60. Changes name of NDIS “launch sites” to “trial sites” and flags cuts to funding – 17 December 2013
59. Abolishes the National Office for Live Music along with the live music ambassadors – 17 December 2013
58. Weakens the ministerial code of conduct to let ministers keep shares in companies – 16 December 2013
57. Disbands the independent Immigration Health Advisory Group for asylum seekers – 16 December 2013
56. Starts dismantling Australia’s world leading marine protection system - 13 December 2013
55. Scraps the COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water – 13 December 2013
54. Breaks its NBN election promise of giving all Australians access to 25 megabits per second download speeds by 2016 – 12 December 2013
53. Overturns the “critically endangered” listing of the Murray Darling Basin – 11 December 2013
52. Dares Holden to leave Australia. Holden announces closure which costs Australian workers 50 000 jobs –11 December 2013
51. Approves Clive Palmer’s mega coal mine in the Galilee Basin which opponents say will severely damage Great Barrier Reef - 11 December 2013
50. Demands that the few childcare workers who got pay rises “hand them back” – 10 December 2013
49. Approves the largest coal port in the world in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area – 10 December 2013
48. Removes the community’s right to challenge decisions where the government has ignored expert advice on threatened species impacts – 9 December 2013
47. Downgrades national environment laws by giving approval powers to state premiers – 9 December 2013
46. Undermines Australia’s democracy by signing a free trade agreement with South Korea allowing corporations to sue the Australian Government – 6 December 2013
45. Damages our diplomatic relationship with our nearest neighbour East Timor – 5 December 2013
44. Repeals the pokie reform legislation achieved in the last parliament to combat problem gambling – 4 December 2013
43. Suspends the Wage Connect program, despite it being proven to deliver good outcomes for unemployed people – 3 December 2013
42. Axes funding to the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia, forcing the 46 year old organisation to close – 27 November 2013
41. Back-flips twice on Gonski, reversing a commitment to a ‘unity ticket’ and failing to deliver equitable education funding – 25 November 2013
40. Shifts Australia’s position at the UN on Israeli settlements – 25 November 2013
39. Damages our diplomatic relationship with the Indonesian Government by refusing to apologise for tapping the phones of their President, his wife and senior Government officials – 23 November 2013
38. Converts crucial Start-Up Scholarships into loans, increasing the debt of 80,000 higher education students by $1.2 billion – 21 November 2013
37. Gifts two navy patrol boats to the Sri Lankan government to stop asylum seekers fleeing the Sri Lankan government – 17 November 2013
36. Introduces a Bill to impose on workers who are elected onto unpaid union committees huge financial penalties and jail terms for breeches of new compliance obligations – 14 November 2013
35. Condones torture by foreign governments by saying “sometimes in difficult circumstances, difficult things happen” – 14 November 2013
34. Hides information from the Parliament and the people about the government’s treatment of asylum seekers – 13 November 2013
33. Separates a refugee mother from her newborn baby – 10 November 2013
32. Cuts 600 jobs at the CSIRO - 8 November 2013
31. Abolishes Insurance Reform Advisory Group which provided a forum for industry and consumer bodies to discuss insurance industry reform – 8 November 2013
30. Abolishes the Maritime Workforce Development Forum which was an industry body working to build a sustainable skills base for the maritime industry – 8 November 2013
29. Abolishes the High Speed Rail Advisory Group whose job it was to advise Governments on the next steps on implementing high speed rail for eastern Australia – 8 November 2013
28. Abolishes the Advisory Panel on the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula which for 21 years monitored compliance of industry to agreements on marketing infant formula – 8 November 2013
27. Abolishes the Antarctic Animal Ethics Committee who ensured research on animals in the Antarctic complies with Australian standards – 8 November 2013
26. Abolished the National Steering Committee on Corporate Wrongdoing that for 21 years worked to make sure the law was effectively enforced on corporate criminals – 8 November 2013
25. Abolishes the National Inter-country Adoption Advisory Council which provided expert advice on overseas adoption – 8 November 2013
24. Abolishes International Legal Services Advisory Council which was responsible for working to improve the international performance of Australia’s legal services – 8 November 2013
23. Abolishes the Commonwealth Firearms Advisory Council a group of experts in gun crime and firearms which was set up after the Port Arthur massacre – 8 November 2013
22. Abolishes Australian Animals Welfare Advisory Committee a diverse group of experts advising the Agriculture Minister on animal welfare issues – 8 November 2013
21. Abolishes the National Housing Supply Council which provided data and expert advice on housing demand, supply and affordability – 8 November 2013
20. Abolishes the Advisory Panel on Positive Ageing, established to help address the challenges the country faces as the number of older Australians grows – 8 November 2013
19. Refuses to offer support to manufacturing in Tasmania, despite requests and warnings. Caterpillar announces the move of 200 jobs from Burnie to Thailand, costing around 1000 local jobs – 5 November 2013
18. Provides $2.2 million legal aid for farmers and miners to fight native title claims – 1 November 2013
17. Abolishes the 40 year old AusAID costing hundreds of jobs – 1 November 2013
16. Launches a successful High Court which strikes down the ACT Marriage Equality laws invalidating the marriages of many people and ensuring discrimination against same-sex couples continues – 23 October 2013
15. Denies there is a link between climate change and more severe bush fires and accuses a senior UN official was “talking through their hat” – 23 October 2013
14. Appoints the head of the Business Council of Australia to a “Commission of Audit” to recommend cuts to public spending – 22 October 2013
13. Cuts compensation to the victims of bushfires – 21 October 2013
12. Instructs public servants and detention centre staff to call asylum seekers “illegals” – 20 October 2013
11. Appoints Howard era Australian Building & Construction Commission (ABCC) Director to help reinstate the ABCC with all its previous oppressive powers over construction workers – 17 October 2013
10. Axes the Major Cities Unit a Government agency with 10 staff which provided expert advice on urban issues in our 18 biggest cities – 24 September 2013
9. Fails to “stop the boats”. Hides the boats instead – 23 September 2013
8. Scraps the Social Inclusion Board, which had been established to guide policy on the reduction of poverty in Australia - 19 September 2013
7. Abolishes the Climate Commission – 19 September 2013
6. Appoints himself Minister for Women – 16 September 2013
5. Appoints only one woman into his cabinet and blames the women for his decision, saying he appoints “on merit”– 16 September 2013
4. Abolishes key ministerial positions of climate change and science – 16 September 2013
3. Breaks his promise to spend his first week with an Aboriginal community - 14 September 2012
2. Takes away pay rises for childcare workers – 13 September 2013
1. Takes away pay rises from aged care workers – 13 September 2013

The list comes from an anti Abbott blog so the list has a negative slant to it. It does prove he's been busy and decisive.
Looking forward to "Repeal day" when his government plans to remove 8,000 pieces of red tape. Julia addded 21,000 pieces of red tape during her term.

 

[The Edukator]

well having a look at http://www.cuttingredtape.gov.au/ they are claiming a $700,000,000.00 value saving since september 2013. I'd personally like to know how they got this figure and more specifics as to how this figure was procured. if true its obviously a forward step towards reducing unnecessary spending that we have seen in the past.

edit: posted that link about 15 seconds before posting this. will certainly have a read

 

[The Edukator]

looking at the list its obviously got a negative slant however if the government is going to cut spending its always going to be seen as a negative because people will lose their benefits and will cry foul louder than anyone that may praise the benefits they receive in the future.

do the means justify the ends? we'll see in the future. people are always going to see these cuts negatively though. cuts are obviously a necessity if the government wishes to reduce debt via spending. there's nothing new there.

 

[The Edukator]

Do you normally get off at Redfern?

fortunately for me i went to a very good school and am on my way to a respectable degree. I'm simply trying to use this thread as a platform for furthering my own education. if you're going to be a dick just don't open the thread.

fwiw i live in Melbourne

 

[Todman]

Sally has added some more

http://sallymcmanus.net/abbotts-wreckage/

117. Cuts welfare payments to orphans of soldiers – 16 March 2014
116. Moves to deny funding to artists or events that refuse corporate sponsorship for ethical reasons – 15 March 2014
115. Cuts hundreds of more jobs at the CSIRO – 14 March 2014
114. Reopens 457 visa loophole to allow employers to hire an unlimited number of workers without scrutiny – 12 March 2014
113. Overturns a ban on cattle grazing in the Victorian Alpine National Park – 6 March 2014
112. Frustrated and defeated an attempt at the UN to highlight the humanitarian consequences of nuclear war – 5 March 2014
111. Axes funding earmarked to save the Sumatran rhinoceros from extinction – 28 February 2014
110. Introduces legislation to allow people aged between 17-24 years old to work for half the minimum wage and be exempted from all other work rights including health and safety laws and protections should they be injured at work – 26 February 2014
109. Misleads the Australian public about what occurred on Manus Island when asylum seekers were attacked killing one person and injuring seventy-seven. Once the information was known to be untrue, waited five days to correct the record - 25 February 2014
108. Contravenes 113 years of established practice by moving to release the previous Government’s confidential cabinet papers to the Royal Commission into the Pink Batts scheme – 22 February 2014
107. Pressured SPC Ardmona to cut the pay and conditions for workers in return for Government money – 20 February 2014
106. Blames carbon pricing for the close of Alcoa smelters and rolling mills and the loss of nearly 1000 jobs, despite the fact the company states it had no bearing on their decision – 19 February 2014
105. Breaches the privacy and puts in danger around 10, 000 asylum seekers and their families by releasing their personal details on the Department of Immigration website – 19 February 2014
104. Fails to ensure the safety of asylum seekers in our care on Manus Island who were subjected to a vicious attack, which left one person dead and seventy-seven seriously injured – 18 February 2014
103. Reverses the previous government’s decision to care for refugee children who are without an adult family member (ie unaccompanied minors) in the community and sends them to detention centres in Nauru – 17 February 2014
102. Appoints a climate change sceptic to head a review of our renewable energy target – 17 February 2014
101. Pays hundreds of indigenous workers in his Department up to $19 000 less than non-indigenous workers doing the same job and cuts the budget for the representative body the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples causing two-thirds of the staff to lose their jobs – 15 February 2014
100. Breaks a promise to provide fibre-to-the-premises for all Tasmanians for the National Broadband Network – 13 February 2014
99. Unemployment rate jumps to highest in more than 10 years – 13 February 2014
98. Lies to the Australian public about the reasons Toyota gave for their decision to close in order to blame the workers and their union – 12 February 2014
97. Takes down a website providing information to the Australian public on the ingredients and nutritional content of foods. It is later revealed that the person in the Minister’s office who gave this directive is married to a lobbyist from the junk food industry and was still a share holder in their lobbying company – 11 February 2014
96. Destroys the Australian car manufacturing industry by refusing to provide any industry assistance leading to the decision of Toyota to shut costing up to 30 000 jobs – 10 February 2014
95. Launches a Royal Commission into unions – 10 February 2014
94. Reintroduces temporary visas for asylum seekers found to be fleeing persecution preventing them ever settling in Australia and retrospectively applies them to 20 000 people – 7 February 2014
93. Supports a reduction of penalty rates and other Award minimums in a submission to the Fair Work Commission’s review of all Awards – 4 February 2014
92. Lies to the Australian public about the wages and working conditions of factory workers at SPC Ardmona in Shepparton and uses this incorrect information to blame them for their job insecurity – 4 February 2014
91. Launches an “efficiency study” into ABC and the SBS - 30 January 2014
90. Cuts the wages of Australian troops deployed overseas by almost $20 000 per solider – 29 January 2014
89. Intervenes on the side of Toyota to support cutting Australian workers wages and conditions – 28 January 2014
88. Privatises the 104 year old Australian Valuation Office costing nearly 200 jobs – 24 January 2014
87. Seeks to wind back the World Heritage listing of Tasmania’s forests – 23 January 2014
86. Withdraws funding for an early intervention program to help vulnerable young people – 22 January 2014
85. Exempts Western Australia from national environment laws to facilitate shark culling – 21 January 2014
84. Defunds all international environmental programs, the International Labour Organisation and cuts funding to a range of international aid programs run by NGOs such as Save the Children, Oxfam, CARE Australia and Caritas – 18 January 2014
83. Violates Indonesia’s territorial sovereignty while turning back asylum seeker boats – 17 January 2014
82. Politicises the national school curriculum by appointing a former Liberal staffer and a Coalition supporter, both critics of the current curriculum to conduct a review - 10 January 2014.
81. Directs that people already found to be refugees who arrived by boat be given the lowest priority for family reunion - 8 January 2014
80. Fails to contradict or take any action against a member of his government, Senator Cory Bernardi, who makes divisive statements about: abortion, “non-traditional” families and their children, same sex couples, couples who use IVF and calls for parts of WorkChoices to be reintroduced - 6 January 2014
79. Devastates Australia’s contribution to overseas aid by cutting $4.5 billion from the budget, causing vital programs supporting those in extreme poverty in our region to collapse - 1 January 2014

 

[Power Raid]

I don't want to discuss what their failings may or not be. I want to be able to discuss where we thing they have got things right or what they are trying to achieve with positive goals in mind. this may be hard for opposition voters but not everything each party do is wrong.

The latest statement from TA is the promise to cut red and green tape but what exactly does this mean and what positive effects will it actually have?

I don't think we have or will see much until after the senate election is complete. What is the point of drafting bill or policies until you know what hurdles need to be jumped in the senate?

 

[Mofra]

Despite your best intentions, this thread will not end well.

This. A thousand times this.

The red tape reduction will have some positive benefits, although it's largely redundant legislation that is ignored anyway.
It will be used as justification for cutting public servcie numbers, but I guess most people will see that as obvious.

 

[skipper kelly]

fortunately for me i went to a very good school and am on my way to a respectable degree. I'm simply trying to use this thread as a platform for furthering my own education. if you're going to be a dick just don't open the thread.

fwiw i live in Melbourne

It was a play on words. Red and Green tape. South Sydney, red and green, home at Redfern, you know you know. Relax.

 

[little graham]

What has the Abbot government achieved

They've woke alot of people up to whats important to them. The success of the march in march campaign despite a general blackout from the Murdoch press is testimony to that. They've managed to engineer budget pressure to get away with cutting back as much as they can from health and education to weaken labors future support base. They've managed to introduce policy based on the best interests of their financial backers.

For starters.

 

[Gough]

This. A thousand times this.

The red tape reduction will have some positive benefits, although it's largely redundant legislation that is ignored anyway.
It will be used as justification for cutting public servcie numbers, but I guess most people will see that as obvious.

While we're merrily repealing everything, there's a 2004 amendment to the Marriage Act we don't really need anymore.

 

[benchwarmer5]

It's too early to pass judgement yet but his hard right ideology is bugging me.

 

[skilts]

They have achieved a majority in the House of Representatives. It was at this point that they ran out of ideas.

 

[Hank Scorpion]

The Government are increasingly saying they'll cut green tape in addition to red tape.

Assuming this isn't actually a literal mess of tape, I'm struggling to envisage what "green tape" may be. One would assume that "red" when used metaphorically in the context would mean "stopping," and that "green" when used similarly would mean "starting."

Are they attempting to stop business starting, by cutting green tape????? I'm quite confused by this new term and am perplexed as to why they decided to add green to their list of bad-coloured tapes .

 

[Power Raid]

The Government are increasingly saying they'll cut green tape in addition to red tape.

Assuming this isn't actually a literal mess of tape, I'm struggling to envisage what "green tape" may be. One would assume that "red" when used metaphorically in the context would mean "stopping," and that "green" when used similarly would mean "starting."

Are they attempting to stop business starting, by cutting green tape????? I'm quite confused by this new term and am perplexed as to why they decided to add green to their list of bad-coloured tapes .

I think it means either the state or the federal government will complete a process rather than having business go through state processes only to then go through federal processes.

Once is enough and if the state and federal government both want their input, they should go through it together so it feels seamless from a business perspective.

 

[The Edukator]

I assumed green tape related to environmental issues. I could be wrong though

 

[Power Raid]

I assumed green tape related to environmental issues. I could be wrong though

ah yes, sorry. The processes I were referring to are environmental

 

[Power Raid]

The Government are increasingly saying they'll cut green tape in addition to red tape.

Assuming this isn't actually a literal mess of tape, I'm struggling to envisage what "green tape" may be. One would assume that "red" when used metaphorically in the context would mean "stopping," and that "green" when used similarly would mean "starting."

Are they attempting to stop business starting, by cutting green tape????? I'm quite confused by this new term and am perplexed as to why they decided to add green to their list of bad-coloured tapes .

red simply means bureaucratic process (licences, applications, approvals, ongoing compliance, tax, quarterlies etc) and green; bureaucratic environmental process

 

[Slax]

well having a look at http://www.cuttingredtape.gov.au/ they are claiming a $700,000,000.00 value saving since september 2013. I'd personally like to know how they got this figure and more specifics as to how this figure was procured. if true its obviously a forward step towards reducing unnecessary spending that we have seen in the past.

edit: posted that link about 15 seconds before posting this. will certainly have a read

Whilst cutting red tape is necessary, there is no chance that the said savings are true and no-one with half a brain would be they are either.

 

[Sprout]

This. A thousand times this.

The red tape reduction will have some positive benefits, although it's largely redundant legislation that is ignored anyway.

In some cases it is unwanted by those who are beholden to the red tape. One of the first cabs off the rank is the plan to dissolve the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission. An open letter has been sent to Abbott signed by 40 different charities including some of the largest in St Vincent de Paul, Anglicare and Save the Children, pleading with him to back down from the repeal. They acknowledge that the charity sector needs a regulator, but I guess they will be "liberated", whether they like it or not.

Then of course there are the repeals that will serve those in Tony's back pocket. Banks will once again be able to pay sales commissions to financial planners. The banning of sales commissions and other conflicted remuneration to financial planners was the outlawing of a corrupt practice that has cost consumers billions of dollars and lowered trust in the entire financial advice industry. But it was an inconvenience to bank profits, so it is deemed a "red tape burden" and must be torn down.

The writing is on the wall here.

 

[Mofra]

In some cases it is unwanted by those who are beholden to the red tape. One of the first cabs off the rank is the plan to dissolve the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission. An open letter has been sent to Abbott signed by 40 different charities including some of the largest in St Vincent de Paul, Anglicare and Save the Children, pleading with him to back down from the repeal. They acknowledge that the charity sector needs a regulator, but I guess they will be "liberated", whether they like it or not.

Then of course there are the repeals that will serve those in Tony's back pocket. Banks will once again be able to pay sales commissions to financial planners. The banning of sales commissions and other conflicted remuneration to financial planners was the outlawing of a corrupt practice that has cost consumers billions of dollars and lowered trust in the entire financial advice industry. But it was an inconvenience to bank profits, so it is deemed a "red tape burden" and must be torn down.

No doubt there are winners and losers - having had many dealings with the FPA I oppose the removal of last year's reforms.
We may not get another Storm, but the oppotunity will be there.

There is a lot of window dressing too - removing legislation relating to state Navies which we haven't had since 1911 seems to be a mere chest thumping exercise.

 

[Pie eyed]

Abbott has galvanized an extremely large group of people happy to see him suffer a major fall from public life, if that's not a too oblique reference to being hit by a truck.