Comments on: Stimulus secured: A Xenophon stunt — on a massive scale

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I think that you are being very tough on Xenophon. He looked to me like a man under extreme pressure not one enjoying himself. He said at the outset of his Senate term that WATER was his priority and he has stuck to it. Good on him. The poor old Murray would not be in such a parlous state if the the Libs and Labs had not allowed it to be sucked dry.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Tom,

GST Revenue is approximately 40 billion a year….

http://www.budget.gov.au/2007-08/bp3/html/bp3_main-03.htm

By: Bernard Keane

Bernard Keane — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

For once I'm a bit confused about the criticism of my item. I wasn't being particularly anti-X, more explaining his behaviour yesterday and today. I said last night in the Comments for one of yesterday's items that he would work out a deal with the Government and claim credit for the MDB. That's exactly what he's done. I've also written at length - I'm sure some would say too great a length - on the problems of the MDB and the failure of the Federal and relevant state governments to deal seriously with its problems. The suggestion that somehow I'm dismissive of the crisis going on in the basis is wholly incorrect. However, that is a separate issue from how effective a stimulus package will be, and Xenophon clearly linked the stimulus package and its effectiveness with the need to pump money into the MDB - an unsustainable argument economically.

There also remain interesting issues about the extent to which the "bring-forward" of water buyback money will drive water prices up and mean the Commonwealth pays over the odds just to secure the vote of an independent.

Also, why was Bob Brown wearing a tie this week? Anyone?

By: Richard McGuire

Richard McGuire — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

“The entire Australian agricultural sector is worth 2-3% of GDP”… I suggest Bernard you try eating the other 97%…..”meaning the MDB is is worth fractions of a fraction of GDP”….yeah what hell, the MDB is only the largest river system on the driest inhabited continent …..maybe its time we had a hard look at how GDP is measured?…. Whatever the impact of the economic stimulus be it good, bad or indifferent at least some good will come out of the package….. Well done Nick Xenophon.

By: Patrick Haire

Patrick Haire — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Community debate and discussion about the MDB,climate change and the environment can tend to focus on the abstract concepts without realising there are real people living and working in these regions. While these peoples views may be more conservative than their metropolitan cousins they do have a very high level of awareness and understanding of the issues.
However the one critical difference is their livelihoods are dependent on the ‘normal’ functioning of the MDB.
Without water either due to climatic or political reasons the business of the MDB can not function. Without water this region is having to confront the issue of having to take a massive write down in asset value and the consequeces of having to restructure their businesses,careers and the impact on families there upon..
What Nick is doing is forcing the Governments (State & Federal),Banks and the wider Australian Community to face this issue. It is real,it is painful,it is hard and it will not go away.
It may be unconventional economics but cash in the form of buy outs etc into these communities may be a positive way of confronting the ‘water’ crisis and at the same time the GFC.

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Dave Liberts: Well at least she isn’t blaming Israel this time.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

None of you know the river, you don't know the people this embarrassing freak is supporting. Try the Chapmans for one, the rich irrigators for two.

The very people who have destroyed the river are the people this moron wants to get more water and rewards.

He doesn't give a flying fuck about the actual river.

How many of you know that the lower lakes everyone is whining about evaporate 300% of Adelaide's annual rainfall.

For a few lousy dairy farmers, grape growers and boaties.

Save the Murray? More like destroy it more.

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Bernard: Perhaps I have misunderstood you. If I have you'll be onto me like a duck-shooter potting a flayed duck. I fail to see the worth of reducing the MDB to fractions of the GDP. This thinking would be worthy of a member of the National- Country Party. A once great river reduced to percentages. And the wildlife it was home to?

I agree with Rosettamoon. If it takes a political stunt to put a bomb under the regrettable Penny Wong-come on someone accuse me of being a racist anti-feminist s-it- then go for it.

We, the readers of Crikey, should have known the lack of extent-of-care by Kevin Rudd for the environment when he gave this Canberra pen-pusher the sensitive environmental portfolio.

By: Dave Liberts

Dave Liberts — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Luke, not sure where you’re coming from but the SA Government was among the first anywhere to legislate a reduction in pokies. Hard to see this happening in the absence of a No Pokies MP. There are issues about the effectiveness of this policy but it has been better than useless from an anti-pokies point of view. Xenophon also did good work when the sale of SA’s electricity assets was before the parliament in the late 90’s. Xenophon seems like a people-person to me, although I’ve heard he’s got some disgruntled ex-staff who felt overworked and underappreciated (the same is said of the Prime Minister). As a single independent, he simply can’t be all things to all people but his work ethic appears better than many elected representatives.

By: Richard McGuire

Richard McGuire — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Its dificult fathom Bernard’s criticism of Xenophon…. Could it be because Xenophon wrong footed most of the commentariat, including Bernard, by emerging as the real fly in the oinment, while all attention was on Senator Fielding….. And to claim the MDB, the largest river system on the driest inhabited continent, “is worth fractions of a fraction of GDP” clearly demonstrates the need for a hard look at how GDP is measured.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Well done Nick Xenophon.

The Senate was originally set up as the States House and to look after State issues. He has with great timing and guts achieved what was needed to start the process that Penny Wong only procrastinated about.

The result is that there is now a future for the great bread basket of Australia.

The future of of Independent Senators is assured and they will grow in numbers due to his efforts. This is a great stimulus for our nation's politics, policy and productiveness.

By: Bernard Keane

Bernard Keane — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

basis = basin

or summat

By: rosettamoon

rosettamoon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Sorry Bernard,

The answer to your QUESTION 'Why was Bob Brown wearing a tie?' is quite relevant and should be answered.

ANSWER: He was getting ready to hang himself, which he did quite well by acting like the buffoon and complete idiot he is by attempting to steal Nick X's political thunder.

By: rosettamoon

rosettamoon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Bravo bravo!

If the stunt helps save the Murray then a stunt well spent.

Keeping in mind that BHP Billiton is silently pumping the great inland waters dry and about to dust more toxic radiation over the nation, maybe he can direct his next stunt toward the closure of the most insane mine in the worlds history - which is about to reach another level of insanity as the expansion progresses without EIS under the protection of the Rann Uranium government.

Step up to the Mark Nick, this issue is WATER and may prove far more deadly than the Murray Darling basin.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Over in the US they’re stimulus ‘checks’ are being posted in what sounds like a mass mail-out of birth control devices.

By: David Sanderson

David Sanderson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I’m left with the feeling that it is a pretty good result all round and I think a sizable majority around the country will feel the same way. It allows the government to present itself as a national unity government even though, of course, the biggest non-government parties voted against.

Turnbull was busy yesterday sternly telling us that the governments economic policy is in “tatters” as a result of the no vote. Now there is a yes vote we should be able to look forward to him saying that it is not in tatters but is looking as bright and shiny as his suit. But, of course, ‘should’ is not the same as ‘will’ so I will say it for him: not only is the government looking fully clothed the opposition are looking like refugees from a carpet-bombed nudist colony.

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Don't be fooled folks, for those of you who actually believe that Nick Xenophon actually cares about the Murray are sorely mistaken.

I wouldn't mind that Xenophon blocked the stimulus package, and I am happy that more money has gone towards the Murray; I only wish it had been done for the right reasons.

Sadly, this is just the latest of Xenophon's stunts designed entirely to get his name in the papers. For those needing a history lesson, he 'rose' through SA state government while riding on the back of his "No Pokies" tag. Even today after he's moved on to a federal role, you need only speak with one of the dozen or so publicans in metro Adelaide who still hold firm against pokies, and they will be more than happy to share their opions of the man - he never believed in that policy, and he couldn't care less about this one.

Its no coincidence therefore, that when the Murray becomes such a hot topic, that Mr X should attach his name to that cause. He has built a career out of selling out real issues; issues that matter to real people, but issues which he cares little about. His only interest in this cause is his talent for never passing up an oportunity to hear his name in the Media. Sadly, we have seen him do little for his 'causes' over the years and its hardly ironic that we never hear his anti-pokies talk, now they have become ingrained in our society and are now too difficult to remove. I grew up on the Murray, however, and it's when Nick Xenophon starts selling out my home that I begin to take offence.

Let us wait and watch if Nick Xenophon champions his latest 'cause' to the end, or if he abandons this too and moves on when he realises this one is also too difficult to pretend to care about any longer.

By: Richard Wolff

Richard Wolff — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Nick Xenophon is without doubt one of the most consistent voices calling for reform of the pokies industry, and on his own, perhaps not enough can be achieved. But he has sparked support within the community because he is someone who has proven he can make a difference. Although the support of the stimulus package was given without a committment by the State Premiers and Rudd to legislate for smart cards on pokies to limit losses, now, with billions pouring into state infrastructure, the states should show the same good faith as Nick Xenophon did to vote for the package by legislating for smart cards on pokies to limit player losses. The drop in pokies tax would be small compared to the value of the infrastructure and the lower pokies losses would support other businesses rather than pokie barons. And the http://www.makepokiessafe.com site has the full text of Nick Xenophons address to the industry last year and non stop effort to reduce the harm to the community from the 8,000 to 10,000 million lost each year into pokies. Get behind Nick on the pokies issue and help the communities hurt so badly by 200,000 reverse ATMs strategically placed across our country.

By: Tom W

Tom W — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Xenophon used his position to get something good done, which is sometimes as in this case an advantage of having independents holding the balance of power - and I think he should be commended for it.

By: JamesK

JamesK — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I for one have enormously enjoyed Bernard Keane's long-running series of articles on the lack of political action with respect to the Murray Darling. Sadly, he was rather a lone voice but much the most informative.

Xenophon has done as he should. Happily for him, it should ensure his re-election.

What is the controversy?

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Luke: There is no way I could believe Xenophon gives a sh-t about anything. He’s a politician isn’t he?
It’s just a case of any tool in a typhoon. No more, no less.

By: JamesK

JamesK — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Pity Xenophon couldn’t have crippled Brumby instead.

That would have done more for the Murray-Darling than anything else.

By: RJG

RJG — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Penny Wong is reluctant to take action on anything. She is a case of permanently “watch this space”. Xenophon’s stunt will give her even more reasons to do nothing.

By: John Bryan

John Bryan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I always like your analysEs Bernard but...personal attacks on Senator X detract.

Is the package better for his stand? It seems to me it is. You don't have to be so personal. It adds nothing.

HAGD.

By: Dave Liberts

Dave Liberts — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Although Marilyn makes some good points too.