What voting Labour does!!!!

[Frodo]

Tax boom wasted by states
By Mike Steketee
November 13, 2004
CAPITAL spending by governments on hospitals, schools, railways and electricity has sunk to record lows, despite strong economic growth producing soaring revenues from stamp duties and the GST.

The fall, revealed in Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released yesterday, means Australians will have to cope with substandard infrastructure for years before services improve.

The states are using the money to reduce debt but also to fund large pay increases for public sector employees.

The jump in nurses' and teachers' salaries alone will cost NSW taxpayers an estimated $500million this financial year, as the Government offered significantly more generous pay rises than other states. And the Carr Government also faces turmoil as railway workers demand a 25 per cent pay rise.

 

[bunsen burner]

On top of the mega stamp duty bonanza, the Carr Govt makes $1m PER WEEK from his speeeding cameras and people are getting turned away from hospitals in droves due to lack of beds.

A truely sad state of affairs.

 

[Contra Mundum]

It would be nice to open one of these threads and read some nuance in the arguments put by Right.

 

[bunsen burner]

It would be nice to open one of these threads and read some nuance in the arguments put by Right.

Like the left are any different? What drugs are you on?

Do you think after all the revenue the Carr Govt has recieved from stamp duty and speed cameras that it's acceptable that the NSW hospital system is in crisis. So much so that patients have died?

 

[Freo Big Fella]

Tax boom wasted by states
By Mike Steketee
November 13, 2004
CAPITAL spending by governments on hospitals, schools, railways and electricity has sunk to record lows, despite strong economic growth producing soaring revenues from stamp duties and the GST.

The fall, revealed in Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released yesterday, means Australians will have to cope with substandard infrastructure for years before services improve.

The states are using the money to reduce debt but also to fund large pay increases for public sector employees.

The jump in nurses' and teachers' salaries alone will cost NSW taxpayers an estimated $500million this financial year, as the Government offered significantly more generous pay rises than other states. And the Carr Government also faces turmoil as railway workers demand a 25 per cent pay rise.

*Cough*Belltower*Cough*

 

[hoss]

Like the left are any different? What drugs are you on?

Do you think after all the revenue the Carr Govt has recieved from stamp duty and speed cameras that it's acceptable that the NSW hospital system is in crisis. So much so that patients have died?

Ah Bunsen Burner AKA "swinging voter". When you check his threads they bias towards the right about 90% - 10%. Another bullsh1t redneck IMO.

 

[bunsen burner]

Ah Bunsen Burner AKA "swinging voter". When you check his threads they bias towards the right about 90% - 10%. Another bullsh1t redneck IMO.

Care to back the redneck comment up? Got any quotes? Care to back up the 90% right swing? Here, have sme toilet paper to wipe your mouth because you're tlaking shyte.

PS I'll be voting Carr come the election. Brogden is just not an option fullstop.

 

[hoss]

C'mon BB, you can do it! Come out of the closet and tell us that you're a radical right-winger. Stop feeding us your bullshyte. Any imbecile reading your posts will discern that you are not a swinging voter - but a right-wing ratbag.

 

[bunsen burner]

Any imbecile reading your posts will discern that you are not a swinging voter - but a right-wing ratbag.

Exactly - imbeciles. But any person of above intelligence knows my views hovver around the middle. This has been shown in my political orientation test and my tendency to attack the right wing as well as the left wing.

Unfortunately for you the number of left wing nutcases vastly outnumbers the right wing nutcases on BF meaning that the left wing nutcases need little help in shooting down the nutty right wing. On the other hand, there's no one with any credibilty to have a go at you left wing whingers. of course there is also the tendency for the left wing to be much bigger whingers than the right wing.

Don't do it to yourself Hoss. DOn't put yourself in the imbecile category.

 

[hoss]

Oh...your posts are to "even up" with the number of left wingers on BF. You're in denial BB. You ARE right-wing, and I doubt that there is many (if any) more radical left-wingers on these boards than right-wing loonies.

 

[bunsen burner]

Oh...your posts are to "even up" with the number of left wingers on BF.

Always have been. Left wing whingers sh it me. The amount of crap they come out with on this board is astounding. Just have a look at the recent rantings of Lasher and the continuous crap spouted by Bombers 2003.

You ARE right-wing

What do you hope to achieve by this comment?

and I doubt that there is many (if any) more radical left-wingers on these boards than right-wing loonies.

There's a poll been done. The poll slants heavily in favour of a raving looney left wing orgy. There's more right wing nutcases than the poll suggests, but they don't seem to be as vocal (read whinge) as the left.

 

[bunsen burner]

Now back to the point Hoss:

Do you think after all the revenue the Carr Govt has recieved from stamp duty and speed cameras that it's acceptable that the NSW hospital system is in crisis. So much so that patients have died?

Simple answer, yes or no?

 

[hoss]

Unfortunately for you the number of left wing nutcases vastly outnumbers the right wing nutcases on BF meaning that the left wing nutcases need little help in shooting down the nutty right wing. On the other hand, there's no one with any credibilty to have a go at you left wing whingers.

I would see Tim56 as being a credible rightwinger, even Jane at times. The real "crazy's" on this site are right-wing. Ever heard of agitator, miller, fraudo, mgreg, blueboy83, eastaugh36, arks, black panther, bunsen burner, David Votoupal, MEDUSALA etc.

Ok that might be a little rough on black panther. He's not too biased.

 

[bunsen burner]

I would see Tim56 as being a credible rightwinger, even Jane at times. The real "crazy's" on this site are right-wing. Ever heard of agitator, miller, frodo, mgreg, blueboy83, eastaugh36, arks, black panther, David Votoupal etc.

Any chance you can post any of my 'crazy' views. I challenge you to find any view that I have that is any further right than centre right. I think it's quite obvious that you're trying the troll. Shame it's not working.

 

[Tim56]

The states are using the money to...fund large pay increases for public sector employees.

As usual the ALP governments are hostage to the union movement. Increased services is seemingly not a priority, whereas pay increases for union employees is.

 

[hoss]

Now back to the point Hoss:


Simple answer, yes or no?

ALP is damned whatever it does. Spends too much, doesn't spend enough.

Gallop is copping it, despite have a record of fiscal responsibility, low unemployment, strong growth etc. People like Frodo will vote the same way, no matter how a government performs. They will argue the above points for voting Lib federally but will vote in a bunch of losers in the WA coalition. If people didn't risk taking a chance with Latham, why would you risk voting in Barnett and his mob.

John Howard is "excused" by the right (and the media), despite his ridiculous splurges on middle-class welfare - if a labor govt spent like he did, they would be crucified.

If Richard Court brought in measures to tackle Northbridge or enquire into abuse in Aboriginal communities, he would have been lauded as a hero amongst the right-wingers. Because Gallop had a go at it however, the right become a bunch of bleeding hearts critisising the decision. Hypocritical.

Same for things like the southern railway, deregulation of trading hours etc. The right-wing don't agree with the decisions, simply because they're made by an ALP government.

I believe people should agree / disagree for a better reason than simply following your political 'footy team".

 

[hoss]

As usual the ALP governments are hostage to the union movement. Increased services is seemingly not a priority, whereas pay increases for union employees is.

Not sure about all that Tim. I can't remember the likes of Kennett or Court doing "great things" re services.

I'm a member of a Union, and when I get a payrise, so do all of my non-union colleagues. Can a government give pay rises to Union members and not the non-union members??? Has never happened in my occupation.

 

[bunsen burner]

People like Frodo will vote the same way, no matter how a government performs.

Same can be said about many of the ALP faithful on BF.

If people didn't risk taking a chance with Latham, why would you risk voting in Barnett and his mob.

No idea. I'm over Carr but Brogden is just not an option. Apparently it's a similar situation in WA.

John Howard is "excused" by the right (and the media), despite his ridiculous splurges on middle-class welfare

Not ridiculous at all. Catering for the lower class stifles incentive and growth whilst at the same time not allowing the poor to learn to do things themselves. And at the ned of the day we all know that the majority of the poor will always remain poor no matter what the circumstance. Catering for the rich also stifles incentive as the middle class feel like they don't have a chance not to mention the rich not needing it as much. Middle class welfare is the best balance (and for any of you pedantics that doesn't mean every single policy. It's shame you actually have to waste time stipulating things that should be assumed).

- if a labor govt spent like he did, they would be crucified

Not true. Bob Carr is one example.

If Richard Court brought in measures to tackle Northbridge or enquire into abuse in Aboriginal communities, he would have been lauded as a hero amongst the right-wingers. Because Gallop had a go at it however, the right become a bunch of bleeding hearts critisising the decision. Hypocritical.

Goes both ways. I find it hard to believe that the ALP faithful would be whingeing like they do about Howard had they been in power for the last two terms (all else being the same).

The right-wing don't agree with the decisions, simply because they're made by an ALP government.

Once again, goes both ways.

I believe people should agree / disagree for a better reason than simply following your political 'footy team".

Which is what separates myself from many of the 'footy team' voters on BF. I've disagreed with a fair share of Howard policies over the years, and agreed with some of the ALPs. I've even started a thread questioning such 'footy team' political followers. Accusations of me being a right wing looney are getting boring. At least try get me on something you can actually get me on.

 

[hoss]

I don't have to try and get you on anything Bunsen.

You've already admitted that you post to "even up" the right wing view , against your imagined BF left wing majority.

I'd suggest your posts should reflect your point of view, attitudes, feelings, thoughts etc on issues, rather than just take the right wing position to 'even up" proceedings. Might give you some credibility.

 

[bunsen burner]

I don't have to try and get you on anything Bunsen.

You've already admitted that you post to "even up" the right wing view , against your imagined BF left wing majority.

It's not so much about evening up but more about this board being full of delusional left wing tossers who need to be laughed at. I simply don't attack the right wing nutcases as much because a) there aren't as many, and b) there's usually already a feeding frenzy on them and I'm often surplus to use.

I'd suggest your posts should reflect your point of view, attitudes, feelings, thoughts etc on issues, rather than just take the right wing position to 'even up" proceedings.

They always do. Very rare do I take a stance that I don't believe in.

Might give you some credibility.

Credibilty is fine thanks.

 

[1jasonoz]

No mention of the hospital system during the previous Liberal government in WA. The taxpayers of WA kept asking why the various hospitals kept running short of money 2/3 to 3/4 the way through the financial year. They had been allocated enough money to survive the year but they kept asking for more. Why was this happening, well it was the Court governments policy of allowing the various boards to not put the money into the hospitals like they where meant to, but they actually allowed them to use this money instead in the stockmarket. Here was money that was allocated to run hospitals, look after patients, but instead invested in the stockmarket, with the governments permission. They had to be baled out as they kept lossing our money on their dodgy share deals(i can understand this if they used the services of the members of the Liberal 100 club in WA, as they where the finance brokers who ripped off the elderly and the Libs wouldn't lift a finger).

 

[mantis]

It's not so much about evening up but more about this board being full of delusional left wing tossers who need to be laughed at.

As opposed to delusional right wing tossers who need to be laughed at.

 

[1jasonoz]

Tax boom wasted by states
By Mike Steketee
November 13, 2004
CAPITAL spending by governments on hospitals, schools, railways and electricity has sunk to record lows, despite strong economic growth producing soaring revenues from stamp duties and the GST.

The fall, revealed in Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released yesterday, means Australians will have to cope with substandard infrastructure for years before services improve.

The states are using the money to reduce debt but also to fund large pay increases for public sector employees.

The jump in nurses' and teachers' salaries alone will cost NSW taxpayers an estimated $500million this financial year, as the Government offered significantly more generous pay rises than other states. And the Carr Government also faces turmoil as railway workers demand a 25 per cent pay rise.

I'ii post the entire article, so we get to see the bits you didn't want to post.


http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11368926%5E421,00.html


Tax boom wasted by states
By Mike Steketee
13nov04

CAPITAL spending by governments on hospitals, schools, railways and electricity has sunk to record lows, despite strong economic growth producing soaring revenues from stamp duties and the GST.

The fall, revealed in Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released yesterday, means Australians will have to cope with substandard infrastructure for years before services improve.
The states are using the money to reduce debt but also to fund large pay increases for public sector employees.

The jump in nurses' and teachers' salaries alone will cost NSW taxpayers an estimated $500million this financial year, as the Government offered significantly more generous pay rises than other states. And the Carr Government also faces turmoil as railway workers demand a 25 per cent pay rise.

Even though state governments and their trading enterprises have started responding to crises in transport and electricity by spending more on maintenance and replacing crumbling equipment, capital spending is still falling as a share of the total economy.

Experts warn it will take years to reverse the neglect of infrastructure.

"It may get a little worse before it gets better because there are some quite lengthy lead times required," Australian Council for Infrastructure Development chief executive Dennis O'Neill told The Weekend Australian.

A report commissioned by the council estimates $24.8billion is needed for roads, rail, water, gas and electricity just to make up for infrastructure deficiencies to adequately meet present demand.

he new ABS figures show capital spending by all levels of government - federal, state and local - falling from 5.2per cent of gross state product in NSW in 1994 to 3.7per cent in the middle of this year.

The trend is similar in the other states. In Victoria, the figure is down from 4.1per cent to 3per cent, in Queensland from 5.4 to 4.2per cent, in South Australia from 4.2 to 3per cent, in Western Australia from 4 to 3.7per cent and in Tasmania from 6.9 to 5per cent. Only in Western Australia and South Australia has capital spending started rising in recent years.

Part of the fall in capital spending by governments is accounted for by privatisation of government assets, such as electricity generation in Victoria, and private funding of road projects such as CityLink in Melbourne and the Sydney Harbour tunnel.

But the bigger reason for the fall, according to a report by Allen Consulting last year for the Property Council, is because governments have moved from budget deficits to surpluses by reducing their capital spending rather than outlays for recurrent or day-to-day purposes.

The result had been an under-investment in infrastructure, according to experts, who say the chickens are coming home to roost with problems such as failures in the train system in NSW, blackouts in Queensland and inadequate port facilities in Melbourne and Adelaide.

Even ratings agencies such as Standard & Poor's now say state governments can afford a modest rise in their debt levels, provided it is used for high-quality infrastructure projects.

Labor state governments have focused on sound economic management, in a reaction to the bad reputation Labor developed during the 1980s and early 90s after financial crises in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. But even Liberal politicians are now prepared to argue they have gone too far.

The Carr Government in NSW has promised to reduce general government debt to zero by 2020. Opposition Leader John Brogden told The Weekend Australian a state Coalition government would review the debt elimination target and make it subservient to infrastructure investment.

"(Treasurer) Michael Egan's manic desire to reduce debt to prove the Labor Government's financial credentials has been blind to the need to maintain basic infrastructure in rail, energy and water in particular," Mr Brogden said.

"What is the use of having no debt and the worst rail system in the country? No business would say 'Let's eliminate our debt but run down our infrastructure'."

In another reversal of normal politics, Victorian Opposition Leader Robert Doyle has pledged to use government funding to buy out the tolls on Melbourne's Scoresby freeway.

 

[DaveW]

After reading that, perhaps the title of the thread should be:

What right-wing governance does!!!!

 

[Mr Q]

Only in Western Australia and South Australia has capital spending started rising in recent years.

So Frodo, wouldn't this line be a fair marker that the Court government in WA chronically ran down infrastructure in WA, since the stats used compared today to 1994 (when the Court government was in its first year), and that the Coalition was in power in WA until the "recent" years mentioned above.

Given your righteous indignation in the first post, will we see you voting for the Gallop government at the next poll? After all, they're the ones who actually got off their arses and started the southern suburbs railway - one huge project.