Should Our Tax Dollars Pay For X-Rated Gay Porn?

I was just alerted, courtesy of the Australian Family Association, of the fact that the NSW Government has decided to give $15,000 in taxpayer dollars to pay for explicit & graphic same-sex pornographic films. 

Now, I'm fairly liberal when it comes to classification regimes, however, to ask me to PAY for an explicit sex movie though my taxes?

This is just not on.

At a time where our government is already overburdened with overspending, to give thousands of tax dollars away to pay for such movies is unacceptable. 

I strongly urge you all to sign the AFA petition to NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell calling on him to rescind all taxpayer funding for, and to join the facebook group for this cause also. 

 Tim Andrews
Managing Editor  

Comments

[mick]

1.

"the NSW Government has decided to give $15,000 in taxpayer dollars to pay for explicit & graphic same-sex pornographic films."

That's not what the article says. The mardi gras film festival has received $15'000 in public funding, a festival screening more than 70 films. Only 4 of the films are X-rated.

So, assuming all the money is spent directly on films (it isn't), a more accurate line would be "the NSW Government has decided to give $857 in taxpayer dollars to pay for explicit & graphic same-sex pornographic films".

The remaining $14'143 will be spent on non-pornographic films.

[mick]

2.

Also, the mardi gras have only applied to screen these films. There is no guarantee they will be granted approval. Quoting a spokesman from the classification board in the article:
''If it is likely that an unclassified film will be X18+ or Refused Classification, the exemption will not be granted,'' he said.

So if the films are determined to be pornographic (X or RC), they will not be screened.

Brian Kent quite clearly states in the article, no explicit pornographic films will be screened at this festival

[mick]

3.

Will you be changing the misleading headline of this post in light of the fact there is zero chance X18+ material will be granted an exemption by the classification board to allow screening at this festival?

Brian Kent: "If it is likely that an unclassified film will be X18+ or Refused Classification, the exemption will not be granted,"

[budgie smuggler]

4.

You've come in too early mick.
I was waiting for the feigned moral outrage from the usual suspects.

[oldskool]

5.

the madi gras should be banned- why do a bunch of Sodomites get the right to shut down a public street?

Why can Sodomites make obscene gestures and clothing on public streets?

instead of using their money to pay for lobbying the government why can't they make their own Sodomy porn at their expense?

[budgie smuggler]

6.

Too late OLDskool. The mardi gras is entrenched in Sydney's cultural scene. Don't like it ? Don't go. Cheers.

[oldskool]

7.

no - i don't go

gay right is linked with socialsim /communism

[Andrew S]

8.

test

[bluebell]

9.

Don't get into too much of a flap - the funny thing about history is that it tends to repeat itself. Eventually there will be a social backlash to the militant gay & lesbian movement, and their excessive sexualized behavior paraded about like dogs on heat. At the rate our lefty friends are bringing in the Muslims, they will assure these degenerates scurry back to their closets.

Obviously the word PRIVATE isn't in their vocabulary. Decent people keep their sexual habits in the bedroom - where it belongs!

[budgie smuggler]

10.

Come on bluebell. That's a bit harsh. I suppose at least you haven't said "they should be lined up and shot " ....yet. Take care, you know what happened last time.

[bluebell]

11.

[Take care, you know what happened last time]

No, please refresh my memory.

[I suppose at least you haven't said "they should be lined up and shot " ....yet]

I draw the line at the Ahmadinejad solution - however, it didn't escape my attention that the lefty's at Columbia University welcomed the slug with open arms.

Columbia University students "excited" about dining with Ahmadinejad

Useful idiots in training.

"Columbia Students 'Excited' About Dining With Ahmadinejad," by Clare M. Lopez for Radicalislam.org, September 17:

Students at Columbia University say they are "excited" about the prospect of dining with one of the world's most brutal chief executives, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Scheduled to speak on 23 September 2011 at his fifth United Nations (UN) General Assembly appearance, Ahmadinejad has somehow been permitted to invite Columbia student members of a group called CIRCA, the Columbia International Relations Council and Association, to a private dinner. Columbia president Lee C. Bollinger hastened to clarify that the event would not be held on campus. Nevertheless, the failure of Columbia students and faculty to recognize the moral repugnancy of appearing anywhere willingly in public with a man personally responsible for directing the vicious suppression of his own people's struggle to be free, as well as his country's Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programs and global terrorist activities is troubling, to say the least....

To say the least.

And lastly:

Vilified as a Holocaust denier, a supporter of terrorism and a backer of Iraqi insurgents, the president of Iran was actually able to make New Yorkers burst into laughter - though he did not intend to.

"In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at Columbia University last night in response to a question about the recent execution of two gay men there.

"In Iran we do not have this phenomenon," he continued. "I do not know who has told you we have it."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-483746/We-dont-gays-Iran-Iranian-president-tells-Ivy-League-audience.html#ixzz1lyN9RfyI

And the left just keep crawling into bed with these mentally deluded ghouls - just amazing!

[budgie smuggler]

12.

This is what happened last time. http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2011/10/19/a-case-for-and-against-menzies-house-being-considered-at-pure-poison/

[bluebell]

13.

Oh yeah, saw that......and I still stand by EVERY word I said.

BTW smuggler - are you threatening me? Well, go ahead post what I said on Crikey.com - and see what happens. Remember that niece of mine? The one who used to do legal work for Geoffry Robertson - well she is now a Barrister living in Melbourne. Lifting posts and placing them on another domain is outright plagiarism....tut tut tut.

[budgie smuggler]

14.

Bluebell, I threaten no one ok. I may be accused of sarcasm and failed attempts at humour but that's it. Oh , and check your definition of plagiarism.

[budgie smuggler]

15.

You may stand by every word bluebell (would you be prepared to perform the executions?) but it seems that sort of language is not welcome on this site as it was removed by the editor with an apology. Are you always this angry?

[bluebell]

16.

Guess what smuggler - when this government is through destroying the Australian economy I would heavily suggest that Brown/Bandt and his loopy handmaidens (Milne and Hanson-Young) seek alternative pastures....maybe Europe will be more to their liking?

[budgie smuggler]

17.

Destroying the economy? Isn't the Australian economy one of the best performing economies on the planet?

[John Mc]

18.

If you're in mining it is. Probably not so vibrant if you're looking for work in a different sector or trying to purchase your own home. Or even buying groceries, for that matter.

[budgie smuggler]

19.

I take it you're not starving John.
Perhaps you're in mining.
May I ask what other country's economy you'd rather be in?

[tee]

20.

re: "when this government is through destroying the Australian economy"

every one needs to really look at just how good pur economy is at present. taxes are lower than under Howard for starters. what misinformation is rehashed here gleaned from the misinformation of the pro-Abbott Murdoch hacks and the likes of fairfax henderson well known for the gilding the lily to put it mildy.

the economy powers, we are the envy of the world, and I would hope soon that the gov passes a bill as in Canada that all such misinformation will be treated as a criminal offence, and then im afraid BB you could no longer repeat "facts" gleaned from an errant media that are patently not true.

hmm yeah i'm looking forward to 2012 and the demise of Abbott and his shadow advisors, I can smell a tinge of wattle in the air...long live Australia, land of the free. more money for health, more money for education, more money for infra structure more money for the people more money for the future.

[bluebell]

21.

Two factors were significant in saving us. First and foremost was China's continual desire to buy our mineral commodities, and secondly we had monetary reserves to cushion the blow. Not just surpluses, but more importantly the savings those surpluses delivered.

The UK suffered, and continues to suffer, worse than us or Canada because it is a financial services provider. Who wants those any more??

Now, if you want a scary scenario, imagine this China growth is unsustainable, after all, the US (their main buyer) is only going to get worse…

Imagine if there is a huge sinkhole in the Gobi desert filling with dumped surplus plastic goods as we type. We should all be feeling quite insecure about our “Miracle Economy”.

The good news is, as individuals, we are starting to save for a rainy day.

[tee]

22.

yes BB but the economics of Hockey and Abbott, and the tight arsed sit on a war chest mentality of the putative great economic manager Costello, would have sent us down the bung hole like the rest of the world; the surplus is for the country, the ALp spent it well and we are in bloody good shape so you and others like john mc should stop whinging or go and live some where else and see your sorry selves come running back here pronto- get with reality. A future LNp gov. to the detriment of the countries growth so it can sit on its nest egg and squawrk. but will it? its unlikely Hockey and Abbottnomics will even be able to achieve this; there is nothing to indicate at present that it will but the empty bleatings of said two and btw nothing i so on paper, so no one should believe what they say, I certainly do not.

[tee]

23.

some in unintended deletion there.

A future LNp gov. will cut spending to health yes educationBB as it always has - and hows Abbott's track record there: bloody disgraceful, a national shame have we forgotten sop easily? Education, and other infra structure to the detriment of the countries growth and its children's future so it can sit on its nest egg and squawrk.

but will it?

its unlikely Hockey and Abbottnomics will even be able to achieve surplus Abbott as usual like joe cant give any one , not anyone; an indication of how this will happen. there is nothing to indicate at present that it will but the empty bleatings of said two and btw nothing is on paper, so no one should believe what they say, I certainly do not. and wed certainly be in an economic disaster under those two on track record incompetents.

[budgie smuggler]

24.

I want to ask Laurie Oates who was the liberal party's 70 billion dollar leaker?
It was a Hockey set up that blew up in his face, apparently.

[John Mc]

25.

Many other countries like the USA had much, much, much larger stimulus spending than us. Japan has been trying to stimulate their economy for the last decade to no avail. Yet their enormous (bigger than anything else in history) stimulus didn't save them, and there was no economic turn-around in Japan at any stage.

What's even more amazing is the countries that seem to have weathered the GFC had their books in order to start with, and either had a small population with lots of natural resources, or were highly productive. Amazingly, Australia seems to fit the former.

The stimulus line is worn out. No one believes it from this government, or anyone else.

[kraka]

26.

Tee is our economy in a good position because of this government-exactly what policies of this government can they claim sole ownership of that has you thinking they are good economic managers-what are the long term implications of these policies. Lastly, in the event of a further financial crisis exactly where is the money going to come from to enact these same policies?? Just asking Tee-see if you can answer without asking questions.

[tee]

27.

Basically, the very tired chestnut that's has been repeatedly thrown out in days gone by, that they're not tellin' what their secret economic plans are coz Labor would steal em, is one for simpletons. If at all such secret economic plans existed in any shape or form you would think in the utter schmozzle surrounding their economic policies of late they'd definitely throw em out there, instead of being revealed to be the absolute incompetents that they are when it comes to economics. There are no secret plans, even a child could discern that.

All Abbott can propose is massive cuts to spending on 1. health 2. education. 3. infrastructure in the hope, and I stress s hope, he would bring budget into surplus; in other words suffer poor little Australians while I return to the time honoured conservative tradition of pandering to economic elites while the country lay in backwardness and the little people eat cake.

Anyway its still around two years until Swan need provide the Budget figures in 2013, and we shall see then; for all his faults, he so far has kept the country running well and if any one would gainsay that i would invite a comparative economic breakdown of other western industrialized countries. Any takers? Any whingers?

[tee]

28.

Kraka i do not engage with you. piss off you are a loon.

[tee]

29.

Yes John but in Australia, coupled with the largesse of the mining exports, it did work. poor America, all that money for nothing; they need rein in the Wall st bankers for starters, get em off Obama's treasury ministry etc; decrease military spending; recall troops from Bush's holy war in Afghanistan, then they could start to get out of the red. A comparison based on very different factors Im afraid.

[Mike]

30.

wow - everyone starts talking about the subject of the 'gays' making movies using taxpayers dollars and ends up talking about the economy - talk about sidetracking to avoid the issue - u oghta be politicians talking crap like that

[John Mc]

31.

Yes John but in Australia, coupled with the largesse of the mining exports, it did work.

On what basis, Tee, on what basis did it work?

Unemployment? Australia has a tiny population in the middle of a skills shortage created by the mining boom (in some ways just like Norway, another 'successful' county in the GFC). We were always going to have low unemployment and in the areas that aren't related to mining there is constant talk of a 'two speed economy' where employment isn't so good.

Living standards? Our high living standards aren't linked to productivity. They're linked directly to the selling of resources. Australian productivity has stagnated for at least two years now, and some sectors are amongst the lowest in modern western countries eg. retail. We didn't stimulate our way to higher productivity delivering high living standards, we inherited them through shear good luck.

Long term infrastructure delving ongoing benefits? We don't have a major industry in this country that doesn't exist on long term subsidies except resources and agriculture. All the stimulus did was create a heap of flash-in-the-pan ones such as insulation batt and solar cell installers which have now disappeared. Which self-sustaining industries grew out of the stimulus? The infrastructure that was delivered is widely regarded to be overpriced and ineffective, if not a complete waste of money eg. taking out people's old insulation batts and putting in new ones, or building school halls in schools with 20 students. Where is the ongoing benefit?

So what's the basis, Tee, for the success of the stimulus?

[tee]

32.

John, the economy is in good shape and seems to be staying that way. Call the decision made at the time re stimulus to have happened under a fortunate convergence if you like. forget the Batts that is soooo old by now and really if it weren't for the Murdoch MSM in cahoots with the libs it wouldnt even be mentioned nowadays plus you use selective examples, plenty were happy with it despite admitted botches, understandable for many reasons I wont go into here with such a nation wide scheme carried out by private contractors, etc. Basically Swan made the right decision on the stimulus and it worked. we are comparatively in a far better position economically than the majority of western capitalist societies, and that is undeniable based on fact. That stimulus decision would not have been made under a LNP gov. and we would have went down the gurgler with the rest of them thats my point.

[tee]

33.

Im sure it will get back to that. I was only responding to some comments made by BB that led it that way.

[John Mc]

34.

Basically Swan made the right decision on the stimulus and it worked.

No worries Tee, I understand the lefty logic: this government made the right decision and the stimulus worked. The majority of other governments did exactly the same thing to a same or higher degree, but they made the wrong decision and it didn't work.

That stimulus decision would not have been made under a LNP gov. and we would have went down the gurgler with the rest of them thats my point.

The Libs would have undoubtedly had a stimulus, but it would have been only slightly larger than the surplus, i.e. not very large and in line with a more appropriate way to run the budget. Our economy would be in exactly the same state it is now, employment would be the same and our living standards would be the same.

The only difference is we wouldn't have a massive deficit that will be burdening productivity and requiring higher taxes as we go forward. There is a price to pay for the destruction of value that occurred during the stimulus, and the Australian people will now have to pay this price when they didn't need to.

[tee]

35.

It worked here because of the aforementioned "fortunate convergence" John. I doubt very, very much the LNP would have introduced a stimulus: its not in their genes; they like to sit on money and let society go to the dregs - is that lefty logic? Also on your economic logic I do find a particular "righty" view prevails.

Hey, Swan made the right decision at the time, the LNP on track record would not have and we would of been dragged down with the rest of them, to a bad level, most Australians are unaware of; yet, feeding themselves off MSM rehashes and negativity, they continue to whinge and whine while having it the best in the world. What is wrong with people John?

[bluebell]

36.

Exactly John - a coalition government would have been far more responsible in how the stimulus package was rolled out. Firstly they would not have panicked the way Labor did, rolling out stimulus measures with hasty planning, resulting in disastrous consequences that we witnessed with school halls and pink batts in roofs ect. Their inexperience in running the national economy is going to COST the current generation dearly. Sadly it will take a coalition government to mop up the mess - as they always do.

[John Mc]

37.

I like that Tee, the "fortunate convergence"!! i.e. where something else that actually delivers more wealth than the stimulus destroys coincides with the stimulus spending! I guess other countries weren't so lucky!

I doubt very, very much the LNP would have introduced a stimulus: its not in their genes; they like to sit on money and let society go to the dregs - is that lefty logic?

They like to run a balanced budget across the cycle, that's called responsible budgeting. For the record the lefty logic is that you can run ongoing deficits to fund social spending and, miraculously, this won't matter regardless of how long you do it.

they continue to whinge and whine while having it the best in the world.

I agree with you here. But no one wants to admit they got a good run just through shear luck. The good news is we've got a couple of generations to go before we have our version of the Euro crisis.

[liberal elitist]

38.

For the record the lefty logic is that you can run ongoing deficits to fund social spending and, miraculously, this won't matter regardless of how long you do it.

It is entirely possible to run ongoing deficits when the government issues its own fiat currency. Unconstrained deficits have consequences, but running out of money is not one of them. Government spending is not analogous to household spending.

[John Mc]

39.

Unconstrained deficits have consequences, but running out of money is not one of them. Government spending is not analogous to household spending.

Except that, whether it's the government or the household, those consequences are bad.

[tee]

40.

well then it worked that is all im saying, and it was the right decision at the time; in the unlikely advent of an LNP gov. in 2013 we will see what would happen to the economy then and in retrospect.

as far as cost of living goes tell me it hasnt risen every year since the sixties despite who was in gov. there are many factors here outside of federal decisions which influence this. take Liberal led BCC's second price hijack in a few months on Briz public transport recently for example, making it prohibitive for even pensioners with their concessions to catch a bus, and ive heard that from some. how about the Coles and Woolies conglomerates, at least Katter is right about them; to name a few, and you would know better than I for sure about market influences etc dictating price, so its not the Lab - bad-LNP-good scenario that is the radix of these problems; perhaps greed is also a factor across the board; humans seem to have a common problem here; but wasnt this thread about gay porn, and weren't the figures quoted in the leader distorted?

[liberal elitist]

41.

What exactly are the bad consequences of government deficits of the kind we're experiencing in Australia right now? Fiscal policy should be set according to the public interest, not a slavish devotion to balancing the budget over the business cycle — although if there is evidence that balancing the budget is in the public interest, then we certainly should do so. I've yet to see any such evidence, although if you have some, I'm sure the Labor Party would love to see it.

[John Mc]

42.

The bad consequences are that we will continue to have a growing deficit and not return to anything like running a balanced budget, just like so many other wealthy western nations haven't and look where that got them.

We can argue about the appropriate level of stimulus, or where we are in the economic cycle, or how big the deficit should be allowed to get, but the ability of government, on either side, to manage things to this level is virtually non-existent. We are best to demand the government runs a balanced budget across the cycle and now that the folly of stimulus spending has been done, that plans are put in place to return the budget to surplus (and that the government of the day be judged accordingly).

BTW, every other modern western nation who is now in serious economic trouble also had this conversation at one stage, and they decided to follow your path.

[bluebell]

43.

[We are best to demand the government runs a balanced budget across the cycle and now that the folly of stimulus spending has been done, that plans are put in place to return the budget to surplus (and that the government of the day be judged accordingly).]

Running a nation is the same as running a household budget - only it's bigger.
What Labor has done is to panic at the first sign of trouble and use a credit card to pay for it. Well, the credit card has to be paid back, and that will cost us dearly in interest payments. There's only one problem, Labor isn't paying it off - they are still borrowing $100 million per day, every day.

[John Mc]

44.

Tee, I can't direct you to figures off the top of my head, but I think you'll find the cost of living in Australia has increased substantially over the last couple of years compared to anything since the 60s. Also, the cost of living for other very expensive places in the world, for example, New York or London, has fallen, and Australia has joined them as one of the more expensive places in the world to live. In the 60's I'm pretty sure Australia wasn't' one of the most expensive places in the world to live.

It is absolutely, positively absurd that we are amongst the highest cost of living countries in the world. It is completely unnecessary and places an unreasonable burden on the more vulnerable in our society. Even though many of their needs may be met to first world standards due to us being a rich western democracy, our cost of living still limits their ability to advance themselves or simply pursue their own happiness in their lives.

Recently I was told by a Brit who recently moved here about his life in the UK. He said even though he was middle class and owned his own home, you never went out because you couldn't afford it. You couldn't afford recreation and if you travelled it wouldn't be in the UK except when you were doing it for work, you'd go somewhere in Europe with your family because it was more affordable. Australia never needs to become a country like that but we seem hell bent on going that way.

[John Mc]

45.

Running a nation is the same as running a household budget - only it's bigger.

Bluebell, It's a perfectly good way to look at it. We can argue about the nuances of government spending, but seriously, if governments had that approach we'd do fine. The danger is when people start believing that it's nothing like a household budget, and somehow you can spend what you like an the money will never run out.

[bluebell]

46.

Frightening, isn't it Liberal Elitist? How do you feel knowing that your kids/grandchildren will be paying it back?

http://www.debtclock.com.au/

[tee]

47.

blue bell if you think you are doing it hard now what would your situation be like if the GFC hit here as hard as elsewhere?

[bluebell]

48.

That's not the point Tee - the point is that a coalition government would have been wiser and smarter in their delivery of such a stimulus package - not to push the panic button like headless chooks spending money like rain going down a gutter. The waste and incompetence is what has made Australians furious.

[tee]

49.

so you say. in my book they would led us down the sink hole. you are appealing to urban myths im afraid; you can just be glad you are not doing it harder for if you were you would be unbearable

[bluebell]

50.

[I was just alerted, courtesy of the Australian Family Association, of the fact that the NSW Government has decided to give $15,000 in taxpayer dollars to pay for explicit & graphic same-sex pornographic films.

Now, I'm fairly liberal when it comes to classification regimes, however, to ask me to PAY for an explicit sex movie though my taxes?]

$15,000 will save the sight of 7 elderly Australians.....or 15 if the cataract surgery is for one eye only. Will give dental care to several Australian children over a 12 month period,or provide respite care for more than a dozen disabled children so their parents can have a break.

We certainly have our priorities right don't we? Promoting homosexual sex acts gets priority instead....and you wonder why I say certain pollies need lining up and shot by a firing squad at dawn!

Yoohoo Tee.....I dun it agin, lol!!!
Quick, post it Crikey.com !

[tee]

51.

nothin to do with me BB. you are confusing me with some one else, but on that note, seeing the editors of MH edited your comments re: shooting people last time when it came to the attention of Crikey, why do they refrain now. Obviously they werent serious that time and it was a pretty limp means of taking the gaze off of some of the more, and I must say this kindly to you 'unhinged' types who get on here. Coz thats how you come across making such statements.

I d give you the benefit of the doubt coming from the good ol' pioneering stock you do, and speaking the harmless argot of days gone by- 'bastard should be shot'; etc, but basically to say such words in the era of terrorism, you are so au fait with, is pretty bloody stupid; then again if you really do mean it, you should be investigated for using the net to incite violence, I dont think any lawyer would help you in that case if you state you mean it.

[bluebell]

52.

Ok Tee - just for you I'll pass on the firing squad and hang em` instead, or maybe I can tie them onto some railway track and wait. How about an over sized cooking pot filled with boiling oil - this could be fun. The ways of disposing of certain politicians could prove limitless. Personally I like the revolutionary French approach....but then again that's just me. Some of my friends like 'the buried in the sand with honey drizzled over their heads' approach. Maybe if politicians where faced with this sort of demise for abject failure it might make them perform with a little more honesty, diligence and clarity.

You really are a spoil sport Tee.....like all lefty dimwits you don't recognize 'tongue in cheek' delivery. Certain politicians in this country deserve no less than the above, but as a responsible law abiding citizen it would never be carried out.

[tee]

53.

I said i gave you the benefit of the doubt. I was just suggesting you to be careful thats all.

[tee]

54.

Oh btw John Mc, I came acorss this little list today. Im sure you wont agree with it all, but hey a lit has been done in the last few years. People need to stop reading and listening to the blighted and disreuted Murdoch Press and get into the reality of the times:

*Labor’s Tax take 21.75% of GDP Vs 25% under Liberals
*BER saves $1 billion a fortnight in unemployment
*Govt deficit is 3.4% of GDP and compares to deficits of over 10 per cent of GDP in the US and UK
*Lowest net government debt of all AAA rated economies
*63 New regional cancer centres
*850,000 fulltime jobs in 4 years
*Unemployment half the world average
*Lowest interest rates in 60 years
*iiNet predicts 27% cost drop on NBN
*Infrastructure budget tripled
*Doubled funding to Health
*Doctor training places doubled
*Doubled funding to Education
*$2.2 billion mental health package
*Introduced paid parental leave
*Increase in Family Tax Benefit (FTB) an additional $4,200 a year for each eligible teenager that stays in school
*Banning mortgage exit fees on new loans.
*Construction of Solar Dawn renewable energy facility with billions of commercial investment.
*For the whole of the 2010-2011 financial year, the economy grew 1.8 per cent
*Wayne Swann named as World Finance Minister of the year
*The Credit Suisse 2011 Global Wealth report revealed that Australia’s median wealth is the highest in the world at US $220,000
*Trade Surplus – the biggest surplus in raw terms for the past 40 years of records compiled by the ABS
*The number of people filling for bankruptcy in Australia has fallen by 16%
business investment spending is expected to grow by 15 per cent this year and another 15 per cent next year. – Ross Gittins
*Only time in Australian history we have AAA credit rating from all three Global Credit Agencies.

[Lainey Stevens]

55.

Thank goodness someone with a brain is reading these articles...I checked the article too as I was skeptical about what has been said and you are 100% correct Mick. The title should be changed...but it wont as that would reflect more unbiased and non-sensationalised jouranlism and that does not appear to be what the writer is all about now is it???

[Lainey Stevens]

56.

the question that really should be asked is why do a bunch of Homophobes get the right to speak their prejudices on a public forum? Same logic.

[bluebell]

57.

Ever heard of freedom of speech??? It isn't a crime to speak out about amoral use of public funds.....yet! Plus funding gay porn is immoral, the same would go if it were straight porn. Also as far as the gay mardi gras is concerned.....if it were a straight parade behaving in the same manner I would say the same thing. Parading ones sexual antics like dogs on heat in the public domain is amoral. Sex belongs in the bedroom, I don't want it forced down my throat on the evening news. If that makes me a prude, then I am in good company with millions of others thinking the same as I do on this matter.

[A Liberal]

58.

'every one needs to really look at just how good pur economy is at present.'

10,000 are gone just like that in the banking sector in the next 18 months. BAM, just like that!!!! 600 Auto are gone, just like that. Get real my friend.

[A Liberal]

59.

*Auto jobs

[John Mc]

60.

Tee, I know you like the government. But please don't quote Ross Gittens as a credible economist!

[tee]

61.

should i have quoted Hockey instead John?

[budgie smuggler]

62.

And this wouldn't y under Abbott?

[budgie smuggler]

63.

y= happen

[John Mc]

64.

That's the best reply you've ever made on this site. Swan, Hockey and Gittens are all amateurs. Truly.

Hawke, Costello, Andrew Robb, even that reptilian freak Emerson are in a different league to those fools.