Bob Katter.. Qld Bush a basket Case?

[Jislizard]

What's the longer term viability of agriculture in Queensland? I've seen talk of doubling agricultural output over the next few decades, but what needs to be done for this to come about?

Sell the farmland to the Chinese.

 

[Shaddam IV]

Bob Katter on Q&A (ABC) tonight, talks about one farmer every 4 days topping himself. He claims that so many farmers come to see him in his office for advice on how to keep the farm solvent.Drought, floods, LOWER PRICES and debt mean that they cannot see a way out. They are trapped. His advice is to go bankrupt..

It is not only confined to farmers but to mine workers as well. He says that 25,000 have lost their jobs with another 10,000 to follow. Depression hits the northern part of Qld.

An interesting point he made was that both Qld and WA didn't grant mining licences to companies to fly in fly out workers up to 1990. Corporation profit is the reason?

Maybe Campbell is in trouble in Qld with all the bushies waiting with baseball bats to clobber him. :|

Is it too late to cancel the G20 and give the $$$ saves to the lifters of the cities.

REgards Errol 43

This is a complex, big picture issue. It's easy to apportion blame but that is a waste of time. The world is changing beneath our feet, mining won't save us forever. Unless Aussies start pulling together and at the personal level to turn things around by choosing to direct their spending to looking after other Australians there will be no solutions. We have one national network that could potentially do a lot more connecting urban Australians more with those in the bush so that us city dwellers can start understanding what goes on outside our little world and to be shown how to do something about it. That of course being the ABC. We need to be encouraged to take our holidays here instead of overseas, to buy our own produce and to get out into rural Australia and to start finding ways to connect city and country business resources together for mutual benefit. Perhaps restoring a genuine government owned bank that is tailored to the bush would also be a good step where Australians could have a place to buy bonds that serve to help the bush?

 

[SpacePete]

^^^ Interesting to see RNC championing a more socialist society. Next he'll be arguing for more funding for renewable energy technologies and the rollout of FTTP NBN to bring Australia into the 21st century and build a base for a solid economic future

Guess the Greens just found another voter.

 

[Shaddam IV]

^^^ Interesting to see RNC championing a more socialist society. Next he'll be arguing for more funding for renewable energy technologies and the rollout of FTTP NBN to bring Australia into the 21st century and build a base for a solid economic future

Guess the Greens just found another voter.

Well, I am not a proponent of socialism but I was lucky enough to spend my childhood around real old aussies who taught me about looking after your neighbours and your mates. As for the rest maybe I will go there but not from a socialist perspective. I am all for these innovations but I dislike coercion and regulation generally. There must be a socialist bone in me somewhere though as I prefer to have my public transport, water, power, police, military, fuel supply and to some extent agriculture under the care and control of our government.

 

[JulieW]

^^^ Interesting to see RNC championing a more socialist society. Next he'll be arguing for more funding for renewable energy technologies and the rollout of FTTP NBN to bring Australia into the 21st century and build a base for a solid economic future

Guess the Greens just found another voter.

Well, I am not a proponent of socialism but I was lucky enough to spend my childhood around real old aussies who taught me about looking after your neighbours and your mates. As for the rest maybe I will go there but not from a socialist perspective. I am all for these innovations but I dislike coercion and regulation generally. There must be a socialist bone in me somewhere though as I prefer to have my public transport, water, power, police, military, fuel supply and to some extent agriculture under the care and control of our government.

I don't know if that's socialism but it's certainly where I think the ideals of most people sit. Lend a hand to those in need and care for those who can't care for themselves, I think the provision of those basic services for the population from the 'Common' satisfies that mindset.

(p.s. and the old Aussie adage - tell the dickheads to pull their heads in!
p.p.s. Old Codger please come back!)

 

[bordsilver]

^^^ Interesting to see RNC championing a more socialist society. Next he'll be arguing for more funding for renewable energy technologies and the rollout of FTTP NBN to bring Australia into the 21st century and build a base for a solid economic future

Guess the Greens just found another voter.

Well, I am not a proponent of socialism but I was lucky enough to spend my childhood around real old aussies who taught me about looking after your neighbours and your mates. As for the rest maybe I will go there but not from a socialist perspective. I am all for these innovations but I dislike coercion and regulation generally. There must be a socialist bone in me somewhere though as I prefer to have my public transport, water, power, police, military, fuel supply and to some extent agriculture under the care and control of our government.

You forgot public provision of even more essential things like food, shoes, clothing, housing, toilet paper, tampons, toothbrushes, combs, watches, postage, phones, and pornography. Oh and chuck in a dozen skywhales, Peppa Pig and fireworks at least twice a year. And mandatory deodorant for everyone who gets on public transport!

 

[bordsilver]

And definitely need a central bank.

 

[mmm....shiney!]

Didn't Walter Block mount an argument that the colour of his socks was a matter of public concern?

 

[bordsilver]

Didn't Walter Block mount an argument that the colour of his socks was a matter of public concern?

Damn right! Did you SEE the socks he was wearing at the Sydney conference? Unconscionable

 

[Shaddam IV]

^^^ Interesting to see RNC championing a more socialist society. Next he'll be arguing for more funding for renewable energy technologies and the rollout of FTTP NBN to bring Australia into the 21st century and build a base for a solid economic future

Guess the Greens just found another voter.

Well, I am not a proponent of socialism but I was lucky enough to spend my childhood around real old aussies who taught me about looking after your neighbours and your mates. As for the rest maybe I will go there but not from a socialist perspective. I am all for these innovations but I dislike coercion and regulation generally. There must be a socialist bone in me somewhere though as I prefer to have my public transport, water, power, police, military, fuel supply and to some extent agriculture under the care and control of our government.

You forgot public provision of even more essential things like food, shoes, clothing, housing, toilet paper, tampons, toothbrushes, combs, watches, postage, phones, and pornography. Oh and chuck in a dozen skywhales, Peppa Pig and fireworks at least twice a year. And mandatory deodorant for everyone who gets on public transport!

How foolish of me for having a moment of weakness....

 

[hawkeye]

You forgot public provision of even more essential things like food, shoes, clothing, housing, toilet paper, tampons, toothbrushes, combs, watches, postage, phones, and pornography. Oh and chuck in a dozen skywhales, Peppa Pig and fireworks at least twice a year. And mandatory deodorant for everyone who gets on public transport!

It's unconscionable that we don't have government providing the food for us. One of life's basic necessities can't be left to the whims of the market! It just shows how little people care about each other in this country that the government doesn't provide us with our food.

And definitely need a central bank.

Nothing more important than having the ability to print money whenever you feel like.

 

[bordsilver]

Self help, then mutual aid/ benevolence, then charity. A hand-up not a hand-out. Treat everyone with respect and dignity understanding that they are self-owners of their lives just like you. Allow people the freedom to pursue their peaceful projects as they should allow you to pursue yours.

 

[mmm....shiney!]

You forgot public provision of even more essential things like food, shoes, clothing, housing, toilet paper, tampons, toothbrushes, combs, watches, postage, phones, and pornography. Oh and chuck in a dozen skywhales, Peppa Pig and fireworks at least twice a year. And mandatory deodorant for everyone who gets on public transport!

It's unconscionable that we don't have government providing the food for us. One of life's basic necessities can't be left to the whims of the market! It just shows how little people care about each other in this country that the government doesn't provide us with our food.

I used to work for a government department. In the 80's they supplied us with government issued toilet paper - ouch! If the food provided by government is as unpalatable as the old slippery toilet paper was uncomfortable, I'll take my chances with the free market.

 

[Shaddam IV]

You forgot public provision of even more essential things like food, shoes, clothing, housing, toilet paper, tampons, toothbrushes, combs, watches, postage, phones, and pornography. Oh and chuck in a dozen skywhales, Peppa Pig and fireworks at least twice a year. And mandatory deodorant for everyone who gets on public transport!

It's unconscionable that we don't have government providing the food for us. One of life's basic necessities can't be left to the whims of the market! It just shows how little people care about each other in this country that the government doesn't provide us with our food.

I used to work for a government department. In the 80's they supplied us with government issued toilet paper - ouch! If the food provided by government is as unpalatable as the old slippery toilet paper was uncomfortable, I'll take my chances with the free market.

Those thin paper squares were awful. We used to call it John Wayne paper - Rough and tough and it don't take s#*t from no-one.

 

[Yendor]

An interesting point he made was that both Qld and WA didn't grant mining licences to companies to fly in fly out workers up to 1990. Corporation profit is the reason?

Fly In Fly Out is a product of fringe benefits tax.

Housing in remote areas is expensive, as labour, material and transportation costs are significant, and can easily double or triple the cost of construction. Before FBT, miners would build an operate the towns their employees lived in. Water and Electricity were provided free or at very low cost, and housing was built by the company and sold at a loss to their employees (who had to sell it back to the company at cost, when they left the company). This was a win for everyone.

With the introduction of FBT in the late 80's, everything the company gave to employees was now subject to 47% tax. If you put the employee and their family in a home, you have to budget an extra 47% over what it costs. But if you put an employee in a camp the company owns, there's no FBT payable. The same goes for the food they eat, the utilities they use and the services they access.