No more Oz $ <-> US$ <-> China Yuan

[SeanB]

If I was in that state I would vote for him. At least there you know how he will be when in office, not like the rest of the 2 faced moneygrubbers. When last did you see a local pollie actually in the flesh other than during election time. Voted in they vanish and look to see just how much they can suck out for themselves.

[GK]

Seriously, you shouldn't be hatin' on Tony.

I'll need Tony to tell me how to live my sex life. If I had one.

I'm pretty sure Abbot sees the NBN as little more than an expensive conduit for downloading porn.
 

[EEVblog]

For the better? I hardly think so. The "status quo" is farcical enough already.

He can't make it any worse.
Your personal hatred of his "narcissistic and pathological attention seeking" side of him aside, have you actually listened to him talk on various issues?
He is articulate, incredibly knowledgeable on local and world affairs, with strong and clear views that don't flip-flop every day. His modern progressive viewpoint on social issues and openness would be a breath of fresh air in the world of politics. Streets ahead of any career politician I've seen for a long time.

[peter.mitchell]

Woo! no import duty on goods valued below $1000!

I'm so gosh darn annoyed with the NBN as it is; where i live they're replacing the ADSL with fixed wireless, however, i'm quite certain it will be unable to supply as much bandwidth with as low latency as adsl in my particular case.

[GeoffS]

I'm pretty sure Abbot sees the NBN as little more than an expensive conduit for downloading porn.

It can be used for other stuff too? 

[GK]

Your personal hatred of his "narcissistic and pathological attention seeking" side of him aside, have you actually listened to him talk on various issues?
He is articulate, incredibly knowledgeable on local and world affairs, with strong and clear views that don't flip-flop every day. His modern progressive viewpoint on social issues and openness would be a breath of fresh air in the world of politics. Streets ahead of any career politician I've seen for a long time.

Just as a comparative example, I have listened to Kevin Rudd articulately speak at length on various issues of personal interest (Radio National / Late Night Live with Philip Adams) and it was difficult to comprehend that the person speaking was in fact the infantile and dysfunctional imbecile who's ridiculous antics I see broadcast on television and read about in the papers almost on a daily basis. However Rudd doesn't so much as hold up a candle to Assange, as far as questions of character go. It is also worth mentioning that it is very easy to give a consistent lip service, without "flip-flopping", to high and lofty ideas when one isn't bound to the working pragmatism required of an actual politician. Just ponder in hindsight how quickly (and all along utterly predictably) Obama fell into toeing-the-line mediocrity after winning office and all of the brainless sloganeering, jingoism and pathetically evangelical waves of "hope" for instant and miraculous reversals of fortune gave way to reality.............
       
As for Assange, it seems to me naive at best to be willfully blind to his personal flaws and his questionable conduct in both his personal and business affairs, just because you happen to favorably connect with some of his views and/or expressed ideals on the way the world operates or how it should operate. There is also a limit to how far I can go along with Assange, or any dead-set admirer, on his political views. Like many protagonists on the far left he has at heart a Pilgeresque contempt and paranoia for the established Western democracies that makes him just plain blind, dismissive, disinterested, or even apologetic for evils born elsewhere. That, to me, indicates a serious shortcoming in moral judgement.


   

[EEVblog]

As for Assange, it seems to me naive at best to be willfully blind to his personal flaws and his questionable conduct in both his personal and business affairs, just because you happen to favorably connect with some of his views and/or expressed ideals on the way the world operates or how it should operate. There is also a limit to how far I can go along with Assange, or any dead-set admirer, on his political views. Like many protagonists on the far left he has at heart a Pilgeresque contempt and paranoia for the established Western democracies that makes him just plain blind, dismissive, disinterested, or even apologetic for evils born elsewhere. That, to me, indicates a serious shortcoming in moral judgement.

So, who you gonna vote for in the sentate this year? 

[GK]

Well I've ruled one candidate out!

[David_AVD]

Several candidates yet no real choices eh?   

[peter.mitchell]

Is it irresponsible to not enroll to vote? I haven't yet as I don't particularly like any of the choices presented.

[GeoffS]

Is it irresponsible to not enroll to vote? I haven't yet as I don't particularly like any of the choices presented.

It's illegal not to vote if you're eligible.
Fortunately, I'm not eligible so can't be blamed for the current lot of clowns or the new set we'll get in September.

[TerraHertz]

I haven't seen anything yet on how the Au$ to Yuan exchange rate will be set.
It would be ironic (and bad for my US ebay needs) if it's to be a fixed rate. Just as China and Japan get into a 'my govt bonds printing press is bigger than yours' pissing contest.

Sigh. It's sad to be short of funds when gold and silver are low.

It is going to be Oz $ <-> China Yuan, US$ will be pulled aside.

Don't be surprised if they start some war to avoid this.

They're really trying hard this time, aren't they?
I won't be surprised if the US navy Seals on Baengnyeong Island get a request for another Cheonan false flag incident. Or there's those two small diesel NK subs we're told were 'lost track of' a few days ago. So now if *someone* were to let off a nuke in some western harbor, of course NK would be blamed.

[BravoV]

It is done deal -> http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/08/investing/china-australia-currency/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

[peter.mitchell]

Is it irresponsible to not enroll to vote? I haven't yet as I don't particularly like any of the choices presented.

It's illegal not to vote if you're eligible.
Fortunately, I'm not eligible so can't be blamed for the current lot of clowns or the new set we'll get in September.

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to not vote if you're enrolled, but I'm not on the electoral roll, so i don't get called up for jury duty nor is my name on the list if i go to a voting centre.

[jhalar]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to not vote if you're enrolled, but I'm not on the electoral roll, so i don't get called up for jury duty nor is my name on the list if i go to a voting centre.

Friends of mine don't actually vote. They go to a polling booth, get a tick next to their name in the roll, place the empty ballot papers in the boxes and walk out. This is apparently legal.

[GeoffS]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to not vote if you're enrolled, but I'm not on the electoral roll, so i don't get called up for jury duty nor is my name on the list if i go to a voting centre.

Friends of mine don't actually vote. They go to a polling booth, get a tick next to their name in the roll, place the empty ballot papers in the boxes and walk out. This is apparently legal.

Is this their way of protesting something?  Sounds easier and probably cheaper to pay the $20 infringement if not.

[cwalex]

Is it irresponsible to not enroll to vote? I haven't yet as I don't particularly like any of the choices presented.

It's illegal not to vote if you're eligible.
Fortunately, I'm not eligible so can't be blamed for the current lot of clowns or the new set we'll get in September.

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to not vote if you're enrolled, but I'm not on the electoral roll, so i don't get called up for jury duty nor is my name on the list if i go to a voting centre.

yeah, it is my understanding that if you never enrol you don't get fined. I think it is a loophole that not many know about. If you do enrol though, you are stuck with the fine if you don't vote.

[David_AVD]

Friends of mine don't actually vote. They go to a polling booth, get a tick next to their name in the roll, place the empty ballot papers in the boxes and walk out. This is apparently legal.

It's called an informal vote in the results, sometimes referred to as a donkey vote.

[GK]

donkey vote.

I thought that was the term for actually selecting a candidate.

[David_AVD]

donkey vote.

I thought that was the term for actually selecting a candidate.

Yeah, you vote and it seems a donkey always gets in !   

[Ed.Kloonk]

donkey vote.

I thought that was the term for actually selecting a candidate.

Yeah, you vote and it seems a donkey always gets in !   

More like an ass.

But anyway...

[Bored@Work]

donkey vote.

I thought that was the term for actually selecting a candidate.

Yeah, you vote and it seems a donkey always gets in !   

I though you are more into sheep there down under.

[AlfBaz]

I though you are more into sheep there down under.

That's New Zealand 

[SeanB]

if you get fined for not voting you complain? if you not get fined like us, trust me you'll also complain. have you heard "ghost voters"?

Also known as voting the cemetery. Very popular in some places, you have 150% voter turnout in places.

[staxquad]

Your personal hatred of his "narcissistic and pathological attention seeking" side of him aside, have you actually listened to him talk on various issues?
He is articulate, incredibly knowledgeable on local and world affairs, with strong and clear views that don't flip-flop every day. His modern progressive viewpoint on social issues and openness would be a breath of fresh air in the world of politics. Streets ahead of any career politician I've seen for a long time.

Just as a comparative example, I have listened to Kevin Rudd articulately speak at length on various issues of personal interest (Radio National / Late Night Live with Philip Adams) and it was difficult to comprehend that the person speaking was in fact the infantile and dysfunctional imbecile who's ridiculous antics I see broadcast on television and read about in the papers almost on a daily basis. However Rudd doesn't so much as hold up a candle to Assange, as far as questions of character go. It is also worth mentioning that it is very easy to give a consistent lip service, without "flip-flopping", to high and lofty ideas when one isn't bound to the working pragmatism required of an actual politician. Just ponder in hindsight how quickly (and all along utterly predictably) Obama fell into toeing-the-line mediocrity after winning office and all of the brainless sloganeering, jingoism and pathetically evangelical waves of "hope" for instant and miraculous reversals of fortune gave way to reality.............
       
As for Assange, it seems to me naive at best to be willfully blind to his personal flaws and his questionable conduct in both his personal and business affairs, just because you happen to favorably connect with some of his views and/or expressed ideals on the way the world operates or how it should operate. There is also a limit to how far I can go along with Assange, or any dead-set admirer, on his political views. Like many protagonists on the far left he has at heart a Pilgeresque contempt and paranoia for the established Western democracies that makes him just plain blind, dismissive, disinterested, or even apologetic for evils born elsewhere. That, to me, indicates a serious shortcoming in moral judgement.

the ruling elite nurture their puppets into office, then the selected puppet reads the teleprompter after being elected

the ruling elite are so successful in their character assassinations  that they leave no doubt that its far better to vote for complete corruption than to waste your votes on changing anything

status quo forever, and don't whine about what results, you caused it by not having a mind of your own (you being the general population)