Malcolm Turnbull ready to call July 2 double dissolution election if IR bills rejected again - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Malcolm Turnbull ready to call July 2 double dissolution election if IR bills rejected again - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

This government is soooo predictable.

Who seriously didn't believe that an election was likely on Jul 2?

Who seriously didn't believe that Tony Abbott would never survive as the PM?

Who seriously didn't believe that the stellar start that Turnbull had was due to his left leaning qualities?

Who seriously didn't believe that he'd have to reject his left leaning qualities to maintain the leadership?

Who seriously didn't believe that the gloss would rub off when the electorate realised that he is so compromised that he is in effect a lame duck?

I am still hearing folks say that they have doubts about Bill Shorten

I am still hearing folks say that they have doubts about Bill Shorten, do your hear the same thing? 

It is my goal to see the time where people are more interested in the issues and policies, more keen to seek out their local candidates and the make their voting decision based on these factors rather than fall into the MSM conservative trap of thinking that we have a presidential system here in Australia. When I stood for the seat of Terrigal it really disappointed me to hear my opponent Adam Crouch slide over to voters and ask "Do you like Mike?' That's very poor form, I'm sure you'd agree? Unfortunately for him it worked... the margin only slipped from around 24% down to 9%. Anyway that is ancient history now....

I know that Bill is a great performer and will make a great PM. I have seen him slay a crowd and I have seen him hold just a few people in his gaze and talk and listen whilst commanding and giving respect.

This piece in the Saturday Paper explains their view of the transformation that is happening right now.

If you are unsure about Bill have a read and you might just change your mind.

Click here for the piece

Why am I helping Anne Charlton?

I just read a really nice post from a friend of mine about volunteering. What he said really made sense. It ,made me think about what I am doing regarding helping Anne Charlton in her efforts to become the member for Robertson. I don't often stop to think about why I am doing what I am doing and I thank Adam Richards for prompting me to do so.

This is my reply to Adams' post

I am a volunteer too Adam. I am a volunteer on the campaign team for Anne Charlton - Labor for Robertson I read your post and I agree. Some days the most important thing you do is family stuff, sometimes it is your work and other times it just might be what you do as a volunteer.

Like all formal volunteer organisations recruitment is vital.... (here comes the ask... but it may not be what you expect!)

If you are interested in the outcome of the upcoming federal election then choose your prefered candidate and find out how you might be able to help them. The thing is that for democracy to work the way it should, people need to be involved and active. So if you care about the result of this election then I encourage you to make a difference yourself. It is very interesting and quite rewarding and if you choose the help out the Labor Party you meet the nicest people!

You can contact myself, or Anne if you'd like to help us make a difference.

Click here for the Anne Charlton Facebook page

He's gotta go!

Greg Hunt must resign!

Here is why... click

List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions

Education? Is it really so important?

If the education of our young Aussies is important to you, then you must help us remove the Abbott / Turnbull LNP government.

Labor says education is vital CLICK HERE for more

Contact me to find out how you can help.

Let's get rid of the Turnbull Government - Will you allow the IPA to destroy Australia?

I am doing what I am able to bring about a change of Government in Australia. I think this election is vital to the future of Australia's infrastructure, tax system, health system and working conditions.

The LNP have been given the opportunity to "fix" the economy, what have they done? Do you think that Australia is better or worse off for having had a conservative government ?

If your see it the way I do, you'd have to say we are worse off,

So, how do we remove them? At a bare minimum you need to put the Libs or Nats last when we get the opportunity to vote.

I am calling on all of you that want to see the LNP removed from office to step up! Complacency will lead to another 3 yrs of right wing ideology.

Have you heard of the Institute of Public Affairs. The IPA is the force behind the Liberal Party [ see the wiki post here ABOUT THE IPA ]

They have a list of aims that the LNP are working their way through... It won't be good for Australia if they are allowed to advance through the list... [ here is some more about the IPA WHO IS THE IPA ANYWAY ? ]

Here is the list...They try to latch on to the reputation of Gough Whitlam, it's incredible have a look for your self [ THE IPA WISH LIST ] They won't talk about this when they campaign for election!

This is why changing the leadership from Abbott to Turnbull has not made one iota of difference. They could make any one of 50 Libs the PM and NOTHING would change. It is the unelected that drive them on their nasty path. If you want to do what you can to oust these jokers, contact me jeff.sundstrom@gmail.com I will help you to help Australia!

AMALGAMATION? I smell a rat!

I smell a rat, and I am not the only one that does...It is becoming more clear. The process that the NSW State Government is undertaking regarding the "voluntary" amalgamation and forced amalgamations of councils is (if not criminal) certainly flawed.

You won't often see me suggest that you listen to Alan Jones, in this case, if you want to be informed about the real situation, I must insist that you do listen. Here Mr Jones speaks with Professor Brian Dollery. Prof Dollery is possibly the most qualified authority in this country with respect to Local Government amalgamation, financial stability, structural reform and sharing of services and he has advised and consulted for councils across all Australian states. - You could say he knows a little about this topic!

Professor Brian Dollery is a Professor working in the Business School of University of New England. This is his staff profile click here...

Please listen to the interview ... click here...

I call on the state government to halt this process and for an inquiry to be held into how the process could be botched so badly and I call for a bipartisan committee to be formed to re-examine the question of the structure and boundaries of local government in NSW.

We have a flawed process which is well underway and we have a community that is against amalgamation that is being ignored. 
The information given to the community is insufficient and the method of imparting the information is clumsy at best. We should have the opportunity to have a Q & A style forum so that questions that arise from reports and government statements could be publicly addressed.

I ask the delegate Mr Rayner to use his capacity to order a public referendum on whether Gosford and Wyong should amalgamate.

This amalgamation proposal for Gosford and Wyong is neither requested nor required. Amalgamation has been a topic of discussion within the Central Coast for decades and if it was the will of the people it would have happened by now.

This proposal is flawed in many ways.
The NSW state government have been elected on a promise of “no forced amalgamations” and yet here we stand today.

The community consultation has already taken place (by Gosford City Council) and the firm message is no amalgamation shall proceed. This factor applies in many other locations. Kiama council found that 92% of folks reject amalgamation and yet they stand to be amalgamated with Shellharbour.

The KPMG report has become something akin to the Secret Volume of the Trade Union Royal Commission report. We are told that it is a very important document but we are only shown portions of it. How are we to make our submissions into this topic with less than the full information? The question must be asked why is there secrecy around the report??

Professor Brian Dollery. Professor, University of NE Business School tells us that the methods, assumptions and data used in the report are awash with errors. I hear that the awards used when calculating employee related costs were the wrong awards.

Therefore when we have a flawed report upon which this is based we will have a disastrous result.

We certainly have no chance of producing a submission relevant to the question of amalgamation without all the FACTS.

Our council here in Gosford had unanimously rejected the prospect of amalgamation. On June 19 2014 GCC put out a press release rejecting amalgamation and on June 30 2015 The Council rejected the idea in a unanimous vote in chambers.

What has happened since has been what might best be described as coercion. At the most recent council meeting where the amalgamation proposal was addressed some Councillors reversed their position resulting in an acceptance of the State Government proposal. Councillors that changed their vote regarding amalgamation have said that the reasons for changing are based in fear of threats made that would have the result of:-
1. Removal local councillors from the process of transition resulting in a loss of valuable local knowledge of our issues and history to the process.
2. Removal of an offer of financial assistance with the very costly business of amalgamation.

These people are our elected representatives. They should only be removed in circumstances where they are negligent in their duty or are found to be acting corruptly etc.

Assistance with financial cost from a government directive to amalgamate should not be held over us as a bribe.
These threats and this bribery constitute coercion in my opinion and this alone should be enough to halt the process.

It is worth mentioning here, that the motion that accepted the amalgamation had in the wording, "Council based on its understanding that continuing as a stand alone council is not acceptable to the NSW Government" The fact is that other councils that were the subject of amalgamation proposals have been permitted to continue as a stand alone entity.