I think her stated option was something along the lines of a rebuff would have been enough. FFS it was a Diplomat/Spy? they expelled, not their highest representative in this country. My reaction to this did not come from any particular anti Israel stance, but anti any country that allows this sort of thing.
I am sure in the nudge nudge wink wink James Bond world of spying, this thing must go on. But surely it is undertaken in the full knowledge that if detected by the offended country, they will at the very least expel any Diplomat found to be acting in this way.

yes thats right lets concentrate on something inconsequential so we can ignore the financial devastation Rudd is raining down on Aust.

you AFL ridicule the opposition for opposing everything yet YOU oppose everything that is not ALP.Its bad for the opposition but alright for you? typical left wing hypocrisy.

very true Craig, Lindsay Tanner is clearly the person with most talent in the entire ALP and sometimes he does something very unusual for a politician... he actually tries to explain something honestly.

the chinese infiltration that impresses me the most is in the relaxation massage area. Wow, so much outstanding young talent invading our country. I've told them every secret in my head so far.

So that's settled then.....we are all hypocrites, me, the Libs and Labour. Hmmm, this has he makings for a new Party....The Hypocrites.....it has a nice ring to it....we could all take the Hypocritcal Oath.

" I promise to take the contrary view to my opponents no matter the consequences. I must have no vision for the future. I must lie always, and never admit i am wrong, and when challenged i must deny everything, admit nothing, and make counter accusations, AMEM " 

and we are away. Vote now and Vote often.

The LIBS are so good at managing our money.They sold two thirds of our gold reserves for $340 an ounce .Now worth over $1200 an ounce.China cannot believe their luck.

VeryLTU :

Stock analyst on Lateline Buisness last night talking about stockmarket " all these brokers running around thinking stocks are cheap at moment using PE to justify their position.Well - debt crisis in Europe, Banks starting not to lend to each other over their, throw in a war in Korea - when the economy tanks earnings revised down- stocks fall."
His advice " sell everything and put it into cash and go and play golf"
Very refreshing bloke: Michael Patterson i think is his name

the wiz Joined: 22 Jan 04
Replies: 12 25 May 10 23:42 
The LIBS are so good at managing our money.They sold two thirds of our gold reserves for $340 an ounce .Now worth over $1200 an ounce.China cannot believe their luck.


what a truly idiotic comment.

Is Julie Bishop deputy leader??
[smiley:crazy][smiley:crazy]

The election will be held by October at the latest, I wouldn't be surprised if it's even earlier - September is out due to the footy finals, so August could well be the go.  Victoria has an election in November from memory so Rudd won't want the interference that will cause.

So my best guess, late August.

Will be interesting but I'll stick with Labor home and hosed and for one simple reason, we avoided recession - well actually 2 simple reasons - Abbott and his lot are a bunch of clowns that have absolutely no idea what they are doing. n.b. Rudd isn't much better but his team wins hands down against Abbott's.

Vote 1 Australian Sex Party

Why is everyone concerned about the boats ?. Half of them sink trying to get here, just as many would be coming through the front door on planes and going underground in the established communities

Koala Chaos Joined: 23 Nov 03
Replies: 18 27 May 10 07:55 

When are we going to hear some real policies from this imposter, not that the other bloke is any better. We are in dire need of a viable third political party, that isn't simply poll driven.

Agree koala we need a third but better choice.In fact most of the country would probably agree with that.However the reality is that we have to choose from these two.A vote for greens is a vote for labour.Abbott wont release many real policies until closer to the election so as to avoid dudd copying them.
  Its not that abbott is great , its that dudd is just  such an over taxing fake, so between those two it has to be abbott.A vote for the independants in the senate can hold either one in check .Imagine if dudd had control of the senate we would all be totally broke with a population of 50 million extra immigrants.Dudd could get his next gig with the NSW origin selectors, they are about as successful as him[>o]

Woolworths says 'stimulus really worked'
Thursday May 27, 2010, 4:41 pm

The head of Woolworths says many Australian retail jobs were saved by the Federal Government's stimulus measures, which were implemented in late 2008 and the first half of last year.

Speaking at a business lunch in Sydney today, Michael Luscombe said the global financial crisis forced the closure of Woolworths' namesake [unrelated to the Australian company] in the UK after 100 years of trading.

Mr Luscombe says the Australian stimulus payments were introduced at exactly the right time.

"That stimulus payment really did work. There was no doubt that it buoyed consumer confidence, and it did protect and save many retail jobs and allied jobs at a critical juncture for our country," he observed.

ABC
Mining tax won't hit babies' bums: Henry
online political correspondent Emma Rodgers, ABC May 27, 2010, 12:24

Treasury secretary Ken Henry has poured scorn on claims that the Federal Government's new mining super profits tax will push up consumer prices.

The Opposition has launched a strong campaign against the new 40 per cent tax, claiming in Parliament yesterday that it would raise the costs of houses, electricity and "baby bum talc".

Dr Henry was questioned on the tax by senators at a budget estimates hearing this morning amid speculation the Government was considering making significant changes to the tax.

Dr Henry took a swipe at the suggestion that the 40 per cent tax could hit households.

"A lot of people have suggested a profits-based tax will affect prices," he said.

"I learnt in high school, from the study of economics, that profits-based taxes can't affect prices."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott stands by Opposition claims the tax will impact on prices.

"All I know is that if you increase people's costs they are going to look to ways to maintain their rate of return, that is human nature," he said.

The mining industry has vigorously opposed the tax, saying it will drive investment offshore to countries with lower tax rates.

But Dr Henry says he stands by the Treasury predictions outlined in the budget, which were formulated after the announcement of the tax, and he does not believe there will be an increase to sovereign risk.

"An enormous amount has been said by mining executives and commentators in recent weeks about the impact of the [tax] on mining investment but I can say to you that today we remain very confident of our forecasts for mining investment included in the budget," he said.

He disputed assertions that the mining industry saved the country from recession last year, saying that 15 per cent of jobs were shed from the sector in 2009.

"These statements are not supported by the facts," he said.

"Had every industry in Australia behaved in the same way, our unemployment rate would have increased from 4.6 per cent to 19 per cent in six months."

Treasury has also been under fire from the Opposition and the mining industry over analysis it has used to show that companies only pay about 17 per cent tax.

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) released its own figures in which it said the rate was up to 41 per cent.

But Dr Henry has described the MCA's modelling as "not particularly meaningful" or "enlightening".

"I suspect the MCA analysis, if I understand it correctly, simply took tax payable and divided by taxable income and not surprisingly got a figure very close to the statutory rate... and then made an adjustment added to the tax payable," he said.

Dr Henry said Treasury's modelling looked at tax payable as a proportion of economic income rather than taxable income.

The Government wants to levy the tax on profits above the 6 per cent bond rate, but there is speculation it may lift that to about 11 per cent on the recommendation of its consultation panel.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has told Fairfax radio he will "not rule in or out" what changes might be made.

When asked if the 40 per cent rate could be changed, Mr Swan replied: "The 40 per cent is the framework we've put out since day one and that's the framework in which we're consulting."

Mr Swan said any suggestions the tax could push up prices was "alarmist rhetoric".

Mitch Hooke from the Minerals Council of Australia has dismissed the possible change on the cut-in rate as "tinkering at the edges".

"This is a piecemeal approach to policy on the run," he told Radio National.
"We're still coming off the Mount Everest of mining tax regimes."

Kye Joined: 17 Nov 04
Replies: 2972 27 May 10 10:31 
Of course Woolworths would want cash handouts given to everyone.

Could you have possibly quoted a company with more of a self interest. Ask them what they reckon our immigration should be each year & they will probably say around four million

So you  agree that the Stimulus had the desired effect?

Talk about Self Interest...lol...

Well i could have quoted the Mining Industry.....but we have been getting plenty of their particular brand of Self Interest in the MEDIA the past few weeks

I for one am glad to see some factual information parlayed by treasury officials and to that AFL am glad you posted it. It is worth noting that the Libs moved to Immigration after these Senate Hearings today. It would be a fair point that if Stimulus wasn't implemented as Henry says , other Industries possibly were looking at the same measures of the mining Industry in employment cuts of approx 15% of their workforces.
It must also be recognised that the Howard/Costello government, and I point to P Costello moreso, left the finances of this country in great shape on a economic level that allowed K Rudd and W Swan to do what had to be done with Stimulus during the GFC.Some policies ( Installation for eg ) in hindsight have proven to be not the best vehicle however I know a lot of trades people who were able to keep their workers employed because of this and other add-ons such as external house cleaning and repairs.
Likewise , some policies of the Howard years were mortifying such as work choices - and I point moreso to workers who aren't professionals such as Accountants, Lawyers etc but to the hand combat soliders such as frontline retail staff and factory workers which this policy hammered.However , with the Liberal Gov't of the Howard years it could be argued that it was the case " you either die young enough to be remembered as a hero or survive too long to see yourself become the enemey".
This country was lucky or fortunate enough to have the right people at the right times over the last 15 years and I point to our current situation comparable to the rest of the world economies.
To summarise , it is important to give credit when it is due and to lambast when it is needed. Peter Costello has reflected that the Coalition couldn't have achieved what it did if Paul Keating hadn't set the policy settings he did towards the end of his time and these two were opposing parlimentary performers and opponents of the highest order on a number of matters.
You will never hear about these musings in the media driven election battles but it is a worthwhile in weighing up good public policy when presented and most of all "dealing in truth"

Cheers AP

Fair enough AFL, you are obviously passionate about your political beliefs. 
I would just add one thing....in politics blinkered points of view do not allow you to see the finish line better, because there is'nt one.

Cheers Kye.

As for the worker's best friend.

I agree there is a place for the Union movement, but it is most definetely NOT as the kingmaker between employers & employees - I believe in providing people with individual freedom.

If I choose to be on a union-based collective agreement, wonderful.

But, if I choose to negotitate my own flexible terms of employment with my employer, why can't I?

Whilst Workchoices is dead and buried and was a poorly layed out reform - I still believe more flexibility is required in industrial relations.

The Union's won't tell you that people have been disadvantaged serverely as well under Rudd Labor's new regime too.

I doubt there is a one size fits all for industrial relations - but like Workchoices is clearly not the way forward, neither is Union dominated agreements, the answer.

RUDD the DUDD