gay picnic defence posted:

There was an article published a while back (around the time Thatcher died I think) that pointed out that if you compared the increases in GDP of the UK and a bunch of scandinavian countries from the time Thatcher introduced neoliberalism to the UK you ended up with fairly similar numbers. The UK GDP increased faster but fell a lot more in the crashes while the scandinavian countries were steadier.

I haven't seen the actual figures myself though so I can't confirm if that is actually true

Solemn Sloth posted:

If only people didn't report about the people we torture we retroactively would never have tortured them

BBJoey posted:

here's what we know about the manus closure:
they won't be settled in Australia
they won't all be settled in PNG

QUACKTASTIC posted:

Energy companies withholding supply to blame for July price spike, report finds

Fossil fuel electricity generators in South Australia withheld their supply to push up prices and reap bigger profits, according to an analysis of the causes behind the extremely high prices there in early July.

The findings suggested some solutions proposed ahead of this week’s Coag energy council meeting for the so-called “energy crisis” like increasing the supply of gas in Australia won’t help the situation at all.

The three things often pointed to as possible causes of the price spikes, especially on 7 July, have been the closure of the Northern power station, the main Victoria-SA interconnector being down and wind farms not producing much power.

But in a report commissioned by GetUp, energy analyst Bruce Mountain showed the generation capacity that was available in the market still far exceeded the demand. However, besides those owned by Origin, all other fossil fuel generators continued to operate far below their capacity, only offering electricity to the market for a very high cost.

more:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/17/energy-companies-withholding-supply-to-blame-for-july-price-spike-report-finds

quote:

Foreign buyers pay less than $700,000 in fines to the ATO despite illegal buyer crackdown

In the first seven months after tougher penalties for illegal foreign property investors were introduced the Tax Office collected less in fines than the cost of an average Sydney house.

In response to a 2014 House of Representatives inquiry that revealed there had been no prosecutions for a breach of the rules since 2006 and that penalties were manifestly inadequate, the Abbott government responded with beefed up penalties and by moving enforcement to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

When the tougher penalties were announced on May 2, 2015, then treasurer Joe Hockey warned:

"We will find those people that have engaged in unlawful acquisition of Australian real estate and we will prosecute you and we will be very hard about it."

However, since the ATO took over the approvals, enforcement and penalties process on December 1 last year, the penalties seem anything but "very hard".

In response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the ABC, the ATO said it had identified more than 270 breaches of the foreign investment rules and issued 150 penalty notices by the end of the financial year on June 30.

Those penalties totalled $695,980, or an average of $4,640 each.

That is a far cry from the much touted maximum penalties of $127,500 for individuals, $637,500 for companies and up to three years in jail introduced by the Abbott government.

The total amount of penalties issued in the first seven months of ATO enforcement is worth less than the typical Sydney home price of $775,000.
Forced sale of 30 properties worth $78m

The ATO said the penalties were issued to people who failed to seek the required foreign investment approval before purchase or who breached a condition of their investment approval, such as temporary residents failing to sell when they leave the country.

In addition to the penalties, Treasurer Scott Morrison has approved the forced sale of 30 foreign-owned properties valued at $78 million.

While the Government does not receive all of those proceeds, illegal foreign owners are not permitted to profit from the sale.

However, the ATO said only 21 per cent of breaches have resulted in a forced sale or voluntary divestment, while 23 per cent received amendments to a previous investment approval and 56 per cent have been granted retrospective approval for their purchase.
Amnesty nets $438.5m worth of property disclosures

The Federal Government's amnesty period before the tougher penalties for illegal buyers of residential property were introduced netted $438.5 million worth of disclosures.

Data provided by the ATO shows 302 people came forward to the ATO during its reduced penalty period between May 2 and November 30, 2015.

Victoria accounted for well over half the amnesty period applications, with New South Wales having the biggest proportion of the remainder.
Embed: Distribution of self-disclosed breaches

The ATO said more than half of the investors who dobbed themselves in have been granted retrospective approvals because they would have been approved had they applied to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) before purchasing.

Those cases which were not eligible for retrospective approval have resulted in "concessional divestment", self-divestment or a variation to a prior FIRB approval, such as an extension of time to develop vacant land.
Nearly 50 ATO staff enforce foreign buyer rules

The ABC also asked for information about staffing levels within the unit charged with enforcing the rules.

Since assuming control of regulating foreign investment in residential property, the ATO has maintained a staff of just under 50.
Embed: ATO foreign investment team headcount

The ATO said this unit also receives support and resources from the rest of the organisation.

"The team is supported by the ATO's data analytics branch, legal counsel and works closely with the ATO's high wealth individuals and international audit areas," it told the ABC.

"Potential breaches are examined for tax compliance, immigration and law enforcement issues.

"This approach helps to guard against Australian property being used in connection with serious and organised crime, including the laundering of money through property in Australia."

It is a massive increase on the resources the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) had available when it was tasked with the same responsibilities.

FIRB told the Parliamentary inquiry into foreign investment in residential real estate that it had just eight staff to review applications, monitor compliance and try to detect and prosecute breaches.

Aside from performing all the tasks that FIRB used to do, the ATO said its has presented to over 2,000 people at community engagement events, run stalls at business exhibitions and advertised the changes to penalties on two real estate websites targeting Chinese buyers that have a combined monthly audience of around 2 million.

Solemn Sloth posted:

lol at anyone who supports privatised power generation

Endman posted:

I blame Paul Keating.

We love his speeches, but he brought neoliberal economics into the ALP where it has festered ever since.

QUACKTASTIC posted:

Just heard about this on the radio:

Manus Island: Children in detention 'unacceptable', WA Premier Colin Barnett says

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says his Government would be prepared to accommodate asylum seekers from Nauru, ahead of the closure of the Manus Island Detention Centre in Papua New Guinea.

The state Liberal leader has weighed in over the fate of asylum seekers on Nauru, amid renewed concerns about conditions on the island.

The Federal Government has repeatedly ruled out resettling refugees from offshore processing centres.

But Mr Barnett said if the Commonwealth changed its mind, his state would be prepared to accept asylum seeker families.

"The answer to your question is that particularly for families, as long as they don't present a security or safety risk, I do welcome them being in Australia," Mr Barnett told the ABC's Lateline program.

"The one thing I find unacceptable is children in detention."

Mr Barnett stopped short of demanding the Federal Government reconsider its position.

"I wouldn't call on the Federal Government but if they decide to do that we would certainly accommodate a number of them [asylum seekers] in Western Australia and we'd certainly support them as a state government."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-18/wa-govt-opens-door-to-nauru-refugees-ahead-of-manus-closure/7760854

QUACKTASTIC posted:

Energy companies withholding supply to blame for July price spike, report finds

Fossil fuel electricity generators in South Australia withheld their supply to push up prices and reap bigger profits, according to an analysis of the causes behind the extremely high prices there in early July.

The findings suggested some solutions proposed ahead of this week’s Coag energy council meeting for the so-called “energy crisis” like increasing the supply of gas in Australia won’t help the situation at all.

The three things often pointed to as possible causes of the price spikes, especially on 7 July, have been the closure of the Northern power station, the main Victoria-SA interconnector being down and wind farms not producing much power.

But in a report commissioned by GetUp, energy analyst Bruce Mountain showed the generation capacity that was available in the market still far exceeded the demand. However, besides those owned by Origin, all other fossil fuel generators continued to operate far below their capacity, only offering electricity to the market for a very high cost.

more:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/17/energy-companies-withholding-supply-to-blame-for-july-price-spike-report-finds

MysticalMachineGun posted:

I can't find an online article about it but reading the Advertiser at work this morning it's amazing how bare faced they can be. In regards to SA's power crisis of late, nowhere do they mention that soaring power prices have to do with deregulation and privatisation.

MysticalMachineGun posted:

Wow, Barnett in non-lovely policy shock

Solemn Sloth posted:

paul keatings a fuckboi with lovely policies on just about everything who is idolised by idiots because he pulls out sick burns on people they don't like

Au Revoir Shosanna posted:

has anyone suggested full communism now yet?

Ten Becquerels posted:

If Manus Island gets closed down I'm assuming all the prisoners will either be dumped on PNG or shuttled off to Christmas Island where there are no pesky foreign governments to decide indefinite detention in torturous conditions is illegal.

Honestly the weirdest part of this is that I'm pretty sure New Zealand is still willing to take people, but we apparently want the refugees to suffer so much that having them taken off our hands is unacceptable compared to continuing to spend billions on making their lives miserable.

PaletteSwappedNinja posted:

Ten Becquerels posted:

If Manus Island gets closed down I'm assuming all the prisoners will either be dumped on PNG or shuttled off to Christmas Island where there are no pesky foreign governments to decide indefinite detention in torturous conditions is illegal.

Honestly the weirdest part of this is that I'm pretty sure New Zealand is still willing to take people, but we apparently want the refugees to suffer so much that having them taken off our hands is unacceptable compared to continuing to spend billions on making their lives miserable.

quote:

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
The Honourable Steven Miles
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Rare bird blocks bizarre death row dingoes plan

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles has stopped a controversial plan to deploy wild dogs to kill goats on a North Queensland island to protect the threatened Beach stone-curlew.

Dr Miles today made an Interim Conservation Order under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 requiring Hinchinbrook Shire Council to immediately cease the use of dingoes to eradicate feral goats on Pelorus Island.

“I was shocked to learn of this cruel experiment but even more alarming is the lack of thought for the native animals on the island.

“Pest control should always be carried out in the most humane way possible – not by death row dingoes.

“As of today no dogs can be released on to Pelorus Island and any wild dogs already on the island must be removed within the next 14 days,” Dr Miles said.

“I do not take this action lightly but on the advice of experts from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection it’s clear that this misconceived program needs to stop before irrevocable harm is done to the island’s population of Beach stone-curlews.

“While the control of feral goats and other pests is a responsibility of all landholders, the methods employed should not pose a risk to threatened native wildlife species.”

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Leanne Donaldson said the program was ‘inhumane’.

“I fully support the action Minister Miles is taking today,” Ms Donaldson said.

“It was very frustrating for me to learn that under current legislation I had no power to intervene.

“As soon as I heard the detail of the council’s plan I sought urgent advice on whether I could step in on the grounds that it is a cruel and inhumane solution.

“At the inaugural meeting of the Animal Welfare Advisory Board I asked members to consider whether such practices are in line with current community expectations on animal welfare.

“There has to be a more humane way to deal with a feral pest problem.”

RSPCA Queensland CEO Mark Townend said the RSPCA also supported the decision.

“We at the RSPCA had a number of concerns regarding the decision to put dingoes on the island in the first place,” Mr Townend said.

“We felt there were significant animal welfare issues not just for the goats but for smaller, native animals on the island and the dingoes themselves.”

Dr Miles said there were estimated to be only around 5000 Beach stone-curlews left across Australia.

“The Beach stone-curlew is listed as Vulnerable in Queensland, Critically Endangered in New South Wales and Near Threatened on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,” Dr Miles said.

“It is believed to be in decline across most of its range due to human disturbance and predation by cats, pigs and dogs.

“I will not stand by while one of the main predators of this vulnerable bird is deliberately released into its habitat.”

Interim Conservation Orders are designed for use where there is a likelihood of a significant detrimental impact on threatened wildlife.

Earlier this year Dr Miles took similar action when an Interim Conservation Order was issued in relation to the recently rediscovered night parrot.

quote:

The four wild dogs, two of which have already been released on Pelorus Island, will not have a chance to become pests themselves, as they have been implanted with a time-activated poison, Hinchinbrook Shire Council said.

Solemn Sloth posted:

paul keatings a fuckboi with lovely policies on just about everything who is idolised by idiots because he pulls out sick burns on people they don't like

Doctor Spaceman posted:

I don't even think his burns were that sick.

quote:

Asylum seekers: Nauru's top court may be forced to decide whether detention is lawful

Nauru's highest court could be forced to decide whether the indefinite detention of asylum seekers breaches the island nation's constitution after legal action was launched in Australia's High Court.

Lawyers representing a Pakistani asylum seeker, who is still on Nauru, say his detention there has denied him "the most basic human right" and resulted in an unfair hearing on his refugee status.

If the action succeeds, Nauru's Supreme Court would be forced to abandon its refusal to hear his constitutional challenge and decide if more than 450 asylum seekers can remain in the Nauru centre.

The case could also pave the way for hundreds of refugees now living outside the centre to claim compensation from the Australian government for false imprisonment.

QUACKTASTIC posted:

ahahaha


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-23/dingoes-set-to-become-pelorus-island-environmental-saviour/7652424

QUACKTASTIC posted:

ahahaha


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-23/dingoes-set-to-become-pelorus-island-environmental-saviour/7652424

Xerxes17 posted:

Please see:


If Poland, the Baltic, Romania etc are all going "please help us out NATO" in regards to Russia. I don't see it as expanding NATO influence to encircle Russia but rather people seeking protection from something that's harmed them in the past. This is fair and reasonable.

Vietnam, Korea, Philippines, etc are all asking for backing against Chinese expansion I'm guessing it's not because Uncle Sam is keeping poor 'ol plucky China down. It's because China is an rear end in a top hat and is starting poo poo with all it's neighbors. For gently caress sake, if Vietnam, who the USA waged chemical and conventional warfare on for decades is now is happy to let bygones be bygones in return for backing against China, that says it all really. The people/governments of these two regions are against the idea of being consigned to their respective regional power's "sphere of influence". I am in no way willing to let Russian/Chinese empires expand because that just means I am consigning millions of people to live under lovely hegemonies that I would never want to have over myself, as BBjoey says, for the videogame model of geopolitics.


I think the first world war was loving stupid because it was a bunch of European Empires jockeying for advantage that we had no skin in. But this is not 100 years ago. I agree, there are a lot of steps that should be tried before war and I am not in any way arguing for a War. However we cannot throw our regional neighbors under the bus and that means we have to put some money where our mouths are. I also don't think China's belligerence is going to be countered with words and treaties as if they were going to, they already would have. The current driving force behind the CCP right now is revaunchist ethno-nationalism with their "century of humiliation" narrative. Christ, just look at the way they flipped the gently caress out about Horton's drug cheating comment, or how they rejected the south China Sea international court ruling before it was even released.

Quite unfortunately, the way I see things going is that the major thing that deters the CCP is military force. They leave Japan alone because it actually has a credible deterrent. The Philippines has jack poo poo and as a result is getting pushed around.



I mean, this 9-dash line is totally the idea of a reasonable and diplomatic government that is interested in fairness and international law.

BlitzkriegOfColour posted:

Lol you think it's the people, and not the parasites of those countries, who want protection against Russia. Do you believe the president of the ukraine isn't a complete fascist fuckwit, too?

Xerxes17 posted:

Mate, I'm in Russia right now and the people of Russia want protection from the Russian government. Let alone the people from other countries.

Do you follow RT by any chance?