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Thursday, 04 December 2008
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Rudd accused of wasting money on ‘pet projects’

3/10/2008 10:06:00 AM.  | John Barrington
Fixing the nation's infrastructure woes has been fast-tracked after yesterday's COAG, but the Government has been accused of wasting the budget surplus.  

Nation Building has been a key theme of the Council of Australian Governments, with addressing infrastructure high on the agenda.

The $20 billion "Building Australia Fund" has been brought forward three months, with a list of national infrastructure priorities to now be finalised by the year's end.

National guidelines for dealing with infrastructure will be established, and capital infrastructure such as consumer credit will now be managed by the Federal Government.

But the Opposition has accused the Prime Minister of wasting the $22 billion budget surplus on the "pet projects" of his Labor state colleagues.

Macquarie National News

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COMMENTS

Friday, 03 October 2008

Has this only become apparent? wake up Australia and smell the stench in Canberra! A lot of good was made of the that weekend fest - with all those actors and artists using whiteboards to brainstorm ideas - and what did it achieve?A BIG FAT ZERO!

Posted by: RS ****, Sydney

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Friday, 03 October 2008

The Rudds have Corgis too?

Posted by: W Oof, Sydney

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Friday, 03 October 2008

And so the "slush fund" opens and Rudd throws away the Coalition's hard won surplus. Watch Rudd use this as an excuse to bail out poor performing labor states (NSW IN PARTICULAR, looking after Albanese's partner?)

Posted by: Geoff Bolton, Lane Cove

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Friday, 03 October 2008

Rudd has been described in various media reports as a Control freak along with other less than creditable suggestions on his performances and now from COAG it would seem he is hell bent on establishing more bureaucracy for education, energy efficiency, finances and fast tracking the splurge on infrastructure whereas the Premier vultures are circling with their wish lists but has anybody given any thought whatsoever to the resources needed of skilled people on the ground.

Posted by: Gregory North, Brisbane

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Friday, 03 October 2008

Before Rudd gets too generous giving Commonwealth funds to the States there should be a detailed inquiry into the way that the States have handled their finances over the last decade-especially since they have been reaping the GST. When discovered all wasteful practices must be eliminated before any funds are handed over and the body overseeing the projects must be bipartisan. The States must bear some financial responsibility for infrastructure and Rudd should not shy away from 'the blame game' as he has no difficulty blaming John Howard for every thing.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

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Friday, 03 October 2008

I am sick and tired of the "more government" policies of Labors.The states have been handled disgracefully, most with poor infrastructure, especially in NSW and Vic to a lesser degree, even though the "non-elected" Brumby thinks he has done something other than talk.This country is a Govt beaurocrats utopia.How much have they already spent on reports and Commissions ? Skilled workers on the ground wont be needed soon, all the jobs will be Govt positions in an already bloated bureaucracy.

Posted by: susan lawe, gippsland

Friday, 03 October 2008

Wait on Des, are you advocating Rudd setting up 'a detailed Inquiry'? Don't do that mate, old Geoff will bore us all to tears regurgitating LibSpin #1: "all Rudd does is set up inquiries." In any event, all Rudd is doing is brining forward a planned review into the criminal neglect by Howard of infrastructure projects over the last 12 years. And the reason he is doing it is to insulate the economy from the shock of the US capitalist-induced financial crisis.

Posted by: darren carrow, brisbane

Friday, 03 October 2008

And Howard had his Pet Projects too Desmond ... so perhaps pet, you need to get used to the fact that we had a change of government last year! Despite your constant posts, it's gonna be a long long time before the beloved Libs are back in ..... so get used it sweetie :-)

Posted by: Traci Fawcett, Melbourne

Friday, 03 October 2008

Des.H. mate you've been watching to much Pollitics on TV, result, your sounding like KRUDD. If you want to have a " review" of hte States Spendings, Sifted for Corruption and Waste by a BI Partisan Panel. Sure thing..better yet, just announce that Alls good and spend the Money. Bi-partisan..it's all Bi-partisan now.Has been for some time and all you'll get is Bi- partisanly ripped off, firstly for the costs of the reports, then by the Bi-partisasn cover up. Youve lost the plot Des. Breathe deep.

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

Saturday, 04 October 2008

Nick Again & darren carrow-It is patently obvious that you lefties are scared of what a financial audit of the Labor run States and Territories will reveal. You no doubt agree that Uncle Kevin should roll out the pork barrel and help his political mates with the budget surplus. If Rudd took over from Keating he would have inherited a massive debt and a massive budget deficit-that’s the difference between the Coalition and Labor when it comes to economic management.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

Saturday, 04 October 2008

Traci Fawcett-No doubt you got used to the fact that the Coalition were in power for 11 years-you accepted it without hoping to get your beloved Laborites back in.Sorry to dissappoint you but the 'working families' that Rudd conned into voting for him are the ones that will make him a one term wonder. OK pet?-thanks sweetie.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

Saturday, 04 October 2008

The funny thing with you though Des is that the attachment to the Rodent appears to be more than just political and ideological. Is Hyacith aware of these feelings you have Des? Do you lay awake in the wee small hours composing sonnets to your fallen hero?

Posted by: darren carrow, brisbane

Saturday, 04 October 2008

darren carrow- That about sums you up-you are beaten by reasoned argument so you decide to get back in the gutter where you belong.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

 

Friday, 03 October 2008

Background for everyone: The Building Australia Fund (BAF) does not mean that the government is sitting on $20B right now. They have set up a fund which should deliver this $20B over some years kick started with money re-diverted from previous Howard Government provisions. $2.7B comes from final Telstra sale which was to go into Costello's Future Fund. $2.4B comes from Howard's Communications Fund which was set up to convince Nationals to support Telstra sale.

Posted by: A Narchy, The Hills

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Saturday, 04 October 2008

A Narchy- Actually Labor is talking about much larger sums of money and they are hoping to get it from current and future budget surpluses. Of course because of the possibility of the economy turning sour Rudd has flown a kite about maybe borrowing the money.Thats right his State mates will waste their finances and Rudd wants to put the Commonwealth in debt again-from whence it was rescued by the Coalition.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

Saturday, 04 October 2008

Too bad this seems to be the ONLY cash we have. Everthing else is backed by DEBT. a Hedge from the future or a Gamble on the economy. Either way it seems we will be Borrowing more money to cover something or another. Perhaps our ESTEEMED Polliticians should start using Economics that are Known to work. Seems this capitalism is Failing .Perhaps we should Properly centralise the Reserve Bank too. Then the Gov can make our Money without us having to Pay so much for it.

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

 

Saturday, 04 October 2008

His priority "pet project" should be a pig pen for the Lodge:

Posted by: Kermit Frog,

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Saturday, 04 October 2008

Kermit, pig pen is done...It was fixed when the Pigs were cryiong about the size of the platter given when swilling at thte Stroganoff Trough. All piggies gave a sqeal of delight to know they could now have A DRUM for a plate and NOT run out of Slop at the trough.. HE hE Snoooorrrrrrt he.he.. for a measley dollop of cash at the Turnstye..

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

 

Saturday, 04 October 2008

Iam not an Austalian, but i understand now that the libs make the money and the labs spend it. i think its good in a way because the country moves forward. imagine the libs jus saving money for 20 years, thats no good as much as he labs will spend money for 20 years. the bottom line is Australia needs another party that is fully flexible and adapts to global changes. neither being conservative nor being democratic can solve anything.

Posted by: brain twist, perth

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Saturday, 04 October 2008

The problems with the observation (although accurate) are 1. that the libs had to pay off labors debt before they could save anything. 2. they were saving in part becasue they knew hard times were comming (as they always do) & they wanted to make sure there was money around to cover it. 3. Conservative & democratic are what the Libs are made of...labor is a whole lot further left. 4. We've had labor in NSW for many years & we are billions of dollars in debt with NO infastructure

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

Saturday, 04 October 2008

Very well put CL, once more I agree with you. NSW is a prime example of a state Labor Govt top heavy with bureaucracy, spending taxpayers money hand over fist, while the people of NSW go without railway lines (promised) etc, and other important infrastructure....Vic was in the same mess, with their credit rating smashed and in debt to their eyeballs when Cain/Kirner left Office.

Posted by: susan lawe, gippsland

Saturday, 04 October 2008

Brain twist; you are obviously unaware that Whitlam piterally sent the country bankrupt and the reason he was sacked by his own Labor GG was that he was trying to take money out of peoples personal bank accounts. Hawke/Keating gave copious amounts of Government grants for projects like some bloke transferring nude photos of his girlfriend onto his surfboard. Then there was the Multi-Function Pollis. Then we had no money left when John Howard got in. How the hell can you say that is a good thing?

Posted by: James H, United Socialist States of Australia

 

Saturday, 04 October 2008

I don't care if it is the Labor Rudd or Lib Turnbull spending money on infrastructure. I think that is pertly where they should spend OUR!!! money. What I do resent is them giving away our hard earned money as an aid to every donky no hope country that sticks their hand out. Most of them even hate us in return. We even give aid to China . We are crazy.

Posted by: Happy Stein, Earlwood

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Saturday, 04 October 2008

CL normally your posts are good.This latest one is absolute rubbish.The Govt debt left by Labor for Howard was roughly the same % of GDP that Howard left Labor.Do you LIBS really think there was no govt debt when Howard was treasurer?The sale of TELSTRA is the only reason the Libs paid off debt.The subsequent surpluses all relate to the tax windfall from the resoruces boom.All the Libs achieved was to run the public hospitals into the ground by reducing its share of fiunding from 48% to 41%.

Posted by: Lance Freestone,

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Saturday, 04 October 2008

What a crock. The proceeds from the Telstra sale mostly went into the future fund plus some into a fund for regional comms infrastructure, which Rudd just re-badged as his. Before the mining boom one of the few economies that defied gravity during the Asian meltdown was Australia. The Libs also managed the mining boom well, which Labor would not have done because of their ideological antagonism towards mining. The GST delivered funding to the States that makes that difference of 7% look sick.

Posted by: A Narchy, The Hills

Saturday, 04 October 2008

Freestone, if you remotely believe the rubbish that you've posted - then you are in a sad way. The sale of Telstra was not "the only way the Libs paid off the debt". This site needs a crap filter! Politicians lie (they are paid to)....what's your excuse?

Posted by: Geoff Bolton, Lane Cove

Sunday, 05 October 2008

Lance, the nature of debt left by labor & libs is totally different - labor debts from govt spending for welfare & unemployment, libs debt from private sector discretionary spending due to economic boom. Also resource booms didn't start until about 2001-2, so surpluses before this period certainly did NOT come from that. As for hospital funding, GST also was gave to state labor who mismanaged the hospitals with corruptions, etc. and no funding will never be enough for the labor morons to waste.

Posted by: W O, Turramurra

 

Saturday, 04 October 2008

Desmond, you missed my point altogether. A bi- partisan Investigation will reveal that all is in Order and that the funds should be poured out. That Is my Point! Its as usefull having an Internal Inquiry into gov. spending by Gov Officials as it is to have a P.M. who keeps jetsetting around the World , Mouthing off about cutting greenhouse gases. Or pehaps an Ashtray on a Motorbike? If you want to Review the spending have the commission done By private enterprise PLEEEEEASE!

Posted by: Nick Again, maryborough

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Saturday, 04 October 2008

I gotta agree Nick, Govt enquiry into Govt is a sham. Make it private enterprise and then lets see where the money really goes.

Posted by: susan lawe, gippsland

Sunday, 05 October 2008

Nick Again-I am getting conflicting statements from you. On one hand you say that Capitalism is failing (I don’t agree-Communism can only succeed as a dictatorship)) and then you say that inquiries into Government finances should be done by Private enterprise. Nick hellooo-Private Enterprise is Capitalism. Any way the Government of the day would have to appoint the Private Enterprise Company-guess what they will come out with the results that their paymasters want. A bipartisan approach is the only way to get a decent outcome because of the rivalry between them.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

 

Saturday, 04 October 2008

Kindly re-read the damn acrticle. Please pay careful attention to the first four words. "Fixing the nation's infrastructure". Got it ?? This is NOT a Liberal pork barelling exercise of the kind we saw so often, aimed at sweetheart electorates. This is investing in improvements to the economy. How on earth do people think we ever built roads, railways, ports, Snowy Mountains schemes etc to start with? To criticise such investment only requires conservative craziness.

Posted by: Mick S, Central Coast

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Sunday, 05 October 2008

Mick S, -I suppose you expect people to believe that Labor does not roll out the pork barrel-perhaps you need reminding about a labor MP by the name of Ros Kelly and her famous white board-huh -ring a bell?. There are certain infrastructure projects that can be defined as National and others that are State responsibilities. The point made was that States should not be allowed to mismanage their funds and then have their Federal Political colleagues come along and bail them out. NSW is a classic case of financial mismanagement and public services are suffering because of their incompetence

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

Sunday, 05 October 2008

Desmond, Ican only repeat, kindly re-read the article. While not disputing the failures of the NSW government, this is not an article about them. It is an article about building infrastructure. During the Howard years, the Reserve Bank made frequent comments re the lack of infrastructure spending. Are you opposed to infrastructure spending, or merely opposed to anything done by the side of politics that you dislike? If infrastructure needs building, we can do that or argue over whose fault.

Posted by: Mick S, Central Coast

 
 

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