The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted interest rates to an 11-year high of 6.75 per cent.
My question is: if the economy is going so well and both parties are suggesting that they are experts at managing the economy and keeping interest rates low, why are they both making huge election promises?
Answer: it wins votes.
But surely the Labor party could gain some ground on the question of their ability to run the economy, by ’spending’ less on tax cuts and suggesting that the Liberal party’s sweeteners are economically irresponsible. Dah!
Meanwhile, I saw the interview John Howard did on 9am with David and Kim last week. This discussion was more influential than any other thing I have seen in the past year - even more so than a couple of Lateline interviews I’ve seen and the debate. If you like Howard, I would be spreading this one around!
Well the election has been called and I’m excited!
John Howard today announced that the Federal election will be held on November 24, 2007. The electoral role closes on Wednesday, so for those hundreds of thousands of Australians who aren’t enrolled, or are enrolled incorrectly, update your details now.
When making the announcement Mr Howard said that “… this country does not need new leadership; it does not need old leadership. It needs the right leadership.” He also said, that “… love me or loathe me, the Australian people know where I stand on all the major issues of importance to their future.”
What are the major issues that you are thinking about in the lead up to the election? What will influence your vote? Labor governments across the country, the War in Iraq, the environment, Aboriginal affairs, Work Choices?
The Hicks case has finally been resolved and everyone is a winner!
“It was a good result for Hicks because he finally has a date for release and a chance to be close to his family, although he will not earn a cent from selling his story to the media.
“The plea deal bans him from “any profits or proceeds”. He has agreed to give any money received for the rights to his story to the Australian government.
“The US military and government can proclaim themselves winners because they have their first scalp of a Guantanamo Bay detainee under the controversial Military Commission Act. They also have a signed confession.
“Guantanamo Bay, which has been compared to a concentration camp, comes out clean, as Hicks - who has complained about his treatment - said in his plea deal he was “never illegally treated” while in US custody.
“Australian Prime Minister John Howard and his government, suffering in the polls months out from an election, can boast they brought Hicks home.
“Mr Howard is also protected from embarrassing comments from Hicks because under the plea agreement Hicks is banned from speaking to the media until March 31, 2008, a convenient date because it falls past the election.
“Under the plea deal, Hicks must co-operate fully with US and Australian law enforcement and intelligence authorities to reveal secrets about al-Qaeda or testify against the terror group’s operatives at other court proceedings.” (SBS World News Australia)
“… Hicks acknowledged that he trained with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and fought with its forces against US allies in Afghanistan in late 2001 for two hours and then sold his gun to raise cab fare and tried to flee to Pakistan.” (ABC article)
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“Hicks admitted he had trained with al-Qaeda, fought with the Taliban and that a friend of his believed he had approved of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. ” (BT Article)
“Hicks’s plea agreement bars him from speaking to the media for one year and says if he ever sells the rights to his story, the Australian Government will get the money.” He was also banned from taking legal action against the United States. Hicks had previously said he was abused by the US military but said in his plea agreement he had “never been illegally treated while in US custody”.” (ABC article)
Sounds fair to me…
And who can we thank for ending this madness - JOHN HOWARD who is pissing his pants about the next FEDERAL ELECTION. Rudd has already achieved so much…
