Australia, NZ News & Discussion

apple

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what is happening.

scotland wants secession.now some islands from australia.???
why are the developed countries breaking apart??
Thought the articles mentioning that the new nation's official language will be either Klingon or Elvish would have been enough of a clue to indicate that the island wont be seceeding.

Your sure Scotland wants secession? Some (/a minority of) Scottish politicians (as well as a possible majority of English tax payers) might want Scottish independence. But that's a long, long way from happening or being "wanted" by Scotland
 

drkrn

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Thought the articles mentioning that the new nation's official language will be either Klingon or Elvish would have been enough of a clue to indicate that the island wont be seceeding.

Your sure Scotland wants secession? Some (/a minority of) Scottish politicians (as well as a possible majority of English tax payers) might want Scottish independence. But that's a long, long way from happening or being "wanted" by Scotland
in year 2014 there is a referendum going to be held in scotland under david cameron.the british pm.
some news erupted stating that if bifurcation happens the british embassies from now on will not sponsor scottish wine free of cost to guests.what does this mean?preparatory efforts
 

apple

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in year 2014 there is a referendum going to be held in scotland under david cameron.the british pm.
some news erupted stating that if bifurcation happens the british embassies from now on will not sponsor scottish wine free of cost to guests.what does this mean?preparatory efforts
Your "proof" is not sponsoring free wine? OK... Do Scotland even make wine? From grapes i.e. wine not Buckfast? Anyway, this is pretty irrelevant. Very different situation to a few hundred Australians who are annoyed with their local council. But, good luck with that Scottish referendum of yours
 

drkrn

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Your "proof" is not sponsoring free wine? OK... Do Scotland even make wine? From grapes i.e. wine not Buckfast? Anyway, this is pretty irrelevant. Very different situation to a few hundred Australians who are annoyed with their local council. But, good luck with that Scottish referendum of yours
i am not scottish buddy.
i dont care much about england and scotland
 

nrupatunga

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Scientists find gold growing in trees in Australia
Scientists in Australia have discovered gold deposits on eucalyptus trees in the Outback.

Yes, you read that right -- money can actually "grow" on trees.

While it's not new that plants and trees absorb minerals such as gold through their leaves, scientists had previously been unable to prove that the minerals in question came from deeper underground and not from surface soil deposits. The paper's authors hope that their findings will turn into a trusted form of gold prospecting.

According to the paper, eucalyptus and acacia trees, such as the ones studied at the Freddo and Barns Gold prospects in Western and South Australia respectively, have deep and extensive root systems. In times of drought, their roots dig deep in search of water. So deep, in fact, that some trees have literally struck gold.

The findings, which were published this week in the online journal Nature Communications, show how biogeochemical absorption of gold is possible. This, according to the researchers, could lead to new and more successful prospecting methods.

Now before you grab your passport and ax, the paper found an average gold concentration of 80 parts per billion in tree's leaves, and a mere 4 parts per billion in bark (though bark does cover a larger surface area). Unfortunately, this means the gold isn't visible to the naked eye.

So the next time someone tells you money doesn't grow on trees, well, you know what to say.
 

pmjf

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Though aussies follow uncle sam mainly when it comes to foreign policy, heard that china is making huge inroads by becoming a big trading partner. How is china percieved down under there?? Was china a talking point in elections??
China is just a trading partner. Trade can have great influence, like security of South Korea. Remember when the North started getting lippy to the world and to the South, well Australia did tell china (Gillard Government) that if the North attacks the South then Australia "will not grantee" the supply of ore, that china needs. Politically saying to the Chines fix up the North (their friend) or you don't get what you need :)

Australia is balancing US and China relations, but US comes first. I think the US now understands that not talking to your adversary, that you become a spoil sport and makes things harder for yourself. As is the US piggy backed off Australia relations to china to restart their relations.
 

nrupatunga

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Australian mining brings wave of riches

 
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nrupatunga

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Are we witnessing the emergence of the United States of Australia?
In terms of social and economic policy Australia has, for the last 40 years or so, sat somewhere between the free market individualist policies of the Unites States and the social democracy approach of much of continental Europe. Australia has had effective social safety nets, free universal healthcare (as long as your teeth and gums don't count as part of your body) and a relatively high standard of public education. However, our social safety nets and our healthcare system have never been as generous as those of Europe's most successful social democracies.

Walking this line between the two apparent alternatives has been viewed by many as a good balance; humane but not too much of a burden to taxpayers. Political pressure has been maintained in both directions, balancing each other out and keeping us more or less static. Labor governments take us little baby steps closer to the European side and Coalition governments come in and take us a few baby steps back towards the US.

The 2014 coalition federal budget was aimed at dramatically upsetting this balance, taking several very large steps towards the US model.

Currently the majority of unemployed Americans get no unemployment benefits. Their public school outcomes are amongst the worst in the developed world and their public healthcare is extremely limited and particularly expensive for the mediocre outcomes achieved.

However, their system has resulted in relatively high levels of economic growth when compared to most of their European counterparts. The downside of this economic success story is that the overwhelming majority has gone to those who are already well off. The majority of US citizens have seen little or no growth in their real wages or material standard of living over the last 40 years. They work longer hours than Europeans, they have less paid leave, less penalty payments for working outside normal hours and less support should they lose their jobs. In other words, basically everything about the US system is worse for all but those at the top of the economic pyramid.

Perhaps even that would be OK if the US was the land of opportunity as it's often claimed. Unfortunately even that's not the case. In the US, the link between sons and fathers income is twice as strong as it is for Scandinavian countries. In other words, a child born to poor parents in the US is twice as likely to stay poor as one born to poor parents in northern Europe. The same goes for educational and health outcomes.

Which of these two directions we want to take is a critical question but it is not one that we are answering with our eyes open. The backlash against the Abbott and Hockey budget has been strong but, for the most part, it has not stemmed from an awareness of these bigger picture issues.

As I have written elsewhere, there is no shortage of money to pay for a high standard of education, healthcare and welfare, it's just a matter of political priorities.

We are a relatively low taxing country with low public debt. We know that investment in a first rate public education and health system is critical if we value equality of opportunity and long term economic prosperity. These facts, together with a raft of options available to increase government revenue, provide us with a choice that the Abbott government doesn't want us to know exists. We really can have our cake and eat it too because a healthy, well educated and materially secure population will repay enormous economic dividends in the medium to long term. There is no imperative to choose between deep spending cuts and economic ruin.

Hockey and Abbott have made their choice. They want us to follow further down the US path. They believe that if you want something, you should pay for it yourself. If you can't afford it then you don't deserve to have it because you haven't worked hard enough or tried hard enough. Their ideology doesn't recognise the reality; in the kind of society they want us to have if you can't afford something you probably weren't born to rich enough parents.

If we consider the wellbeing of all Australians to be important then the Scandinavian model is the clear winner. We can and should increase the proportion of GDP taken in tax and use it to provide the best opportunities to our young people and the best quality of life we can to society's vulnerable, regardless of where or to whom they were born. This means first class universal education and healthcare and the guarantee of a decent standard of living. If these are not our aims then what is the point of economic progress?
 

apple

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nrupatunga

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@apple This thread is about Australia/NZ, so hence posting it here. No other motive. As far as posting guardian article, came across it over there and hence posted it in this thread. Am not sure why should anyone look for any motives behind this.
 
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apple

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@apple This thread is about Australia/NZ, so hence posting it here. No other motive. As far as posting guardian article, came across it over there and hence posted it in this thread. Am not sure why should anyone look for any motives behind this.
Wasn't questioning your motives. Rather the Guardian's motives for printing that story. Part's of the English left wing like to consider, in my opinion, Australia as an "America-lite" and this story, which was actually written by an Australian, fits very well with the idea that Australia's heading towards being the USA's 51st. state.
 
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nrupatunga

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Australia-India trade records nearly 14% drop
Trade between India and Australia has dipped sharply by nearly 14 per cent to $15.2 billion in 2013 as compared to the previous year, according to official data.

The total two-way trade between the two countries stood at Australian dollars 15.2 billion last year, a decrease of 13.9 per cent on 2012 and the lowest in the last five years.

In 2008, the total trade was recorded at Australian dollars 18.9 billion whereas in 2012 it stood at Australian dollars 17.7 billion.

The decline in the trade has been attributed to factors like drop in gold imports from Australia, decline in coal prices as well as slowing down of the Indian economy.

The latest drop in the total trade volume has been because of a decline in quantity of gold imports from Australia and a decline in coal prices, said Anil K Sharma, First secretary, Economics and Commerce, Indian High Commission.

However, India has been keen to expand its exports, Sharma said adding that Indian companies have been participating substantially in various trade and sourcing fairs held in Australia.

"ITPO will be participating in a Trade Fair in Perth this year and India will be the partner country.

"Apart from resources and energy, we have significant business in education and skills as well as IT-based services," Sharma said.

Australia India Institute director Amitabh Mattoo, meanwhile, reiterated the need for the newly elected 'Team Modi' to now make the Free Trade Agreement with Australia as a priority.

Citing that the most important reason for the slackening of bilateral trade was the slowing down of the Indian economy and the huge tariff and non-tariff barriers that exist on both sides, Mattoo said, "An early conclusion of the negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement -- with a minimal negative list -- would throw open huge opportunities for both countries."

"It is a win-win for both countries.

"It is estimated that in 20 years after the conclusion of a free trade agreement, Australia would gain Australian dollars 43 billion in real gross domestic product while India's real GDP gain would be Australian dollars 46 billion," he said.

"The new Narendra Modi-led government, with its commitment to economic reforms and greater trade, must make the signing of a FTA with Australia a top priority," he said.

Trade between Australia-India is widely seen as less than it could be and accounts for just slightly over three per cent of total Australian trade in goods and services.

Unlike India, Australia's total trade with China in 2013 jumped to Australian dollars 150 billion, an increase of over 20 per cent on 2012.

China accounts for almost one quarter of Australia's two way trade and is also the country's largest two-way trading partner, the largest export market (Australian dollars 102 billion) and largest source of imports (Australian dollars 49 billion).

Australian exports to India have mainly been in the sectors of coal, gold, copper and education services.

A recently released Australian International Business survey found only three per cent of Australian companies nominated India as the most important market in terms of international revenue.

Education remained as the only industry in which over majority of Australian companies ranked India as the most important market.

Even for software sector, the top three markets for Australian companies were the US, the UK and New Zealand.

Last year's AII report 'Unfinished Business:Re-imagining the Australia-India Economic Relationship' said Australia should diversify its economic relationship with India or risk forfeiting a stake in one of the world's largest emerging markets.
 

apple

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https://twitter.com/TheTweetOfGod/status/473690407751389184
[tweet]473690407751389184[/tweet]

Resident DFI aussies, whats up with tony abbott??
Alot of it is just jealousy from left-wingers.

I can't speak for all Australians. But, to me, Abbott seems to keep coming up with plans which either never work out, or are so stupid no one even attempts to make them work.

In the last couple of days his plan to log protected rainforest in Tasmania has failed. Also, he suggested the navy could get an aircraft carrier, which was something considered and not followed through with ~10 years ago.

He really should think a bit longer before announcing his policy's because he's looking like a loser.
 

apple

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Apologies about bring the ignorant troll on to this thread. He kept flaming off on another thread where his, unmoderatored, comments were totally irrelevant. This would seem, to me, to be a more relevant thread for him to express his xenophobic hate of Australia. These comments are all quotes, directed at me, attacking Australia.

BUT WAIT...YOU ARE ALSO A PART OF NATO !!!
As I've told you before, learn what NATO stands for a study a map.

Good !!! Don't attempt to learn anything or else you will break out of your shell...and NATO will suffer.
As above, although as you continued to believe that Australia was part of NATO, I don't think it's me that needs to attempt, and I do mean attempt, to learn something

Ya ya ya....everybody the world over knows that AU is unable to manage her own real estate and leasing it out to 'you know who' ...ha ha ha....all the while claiming fidelity through people like you.

Before commenting about geopolitics, go and learn your country history first.
This jibe I never bothered to try and work out. But, this is probably the relevant thread for you expand on whatever it was that you were trying to say, so people could understand what ever the insult it was that you intended to deliver against Australia.

And once again... you suggesting people to learn something :laugh:
 

Zebra

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Loss of submarine work 'disastrous' for SA

AAP - July 28, 2014, 11:12 am

South Australia's economy would be devastated if the navy's new fleet of submarines was built overseas, the state's defence industries minister has warned.

The federal government has pledged to build 12 submarines in Adelaide but a new issues paper raises the prospect some of the work could be moved offshore, The Australian newspaper reports on Monday.

The government has previously said it wants to see productivity improvements at shipyards in Australia before it commits to major construction projects.

SA defence industries minister Martin Hamilton-Smith says any loss of shipbuilding work would represent a major blow to the state's economy.

"A promise was made (that) 12 submarines would be built here in Adelaide, or certainly centred here in Adelaide," Mr Hamilton-Smith told ABC Radio.

"It would be disastrous for the state, particularly given the failure of the Olympic Dam to expand and the collapse of the automotive industry, if the future of advanced manufacturing centred around naval shipbuilding didn't proceed as planned."

Defence Minister David Johnston will address a defence industry conference in Adelaide on Tuesday.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/24565620/loss-of-submarine-work-disastrous-for-sa/
 

apple

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Loss of submarine work 'disastrous' for SA

AAP - July 28, 2014, 11:12 am

South Australia's economy would be devastated if the navy's new fleet of submarines was built overseas, the state's defence industries minister has warned.

The federal government has pledged to build 12 submarines in Adelaide but a new issues paper raises the prospect some of the work could be moved offshore, The Australian newspaper reports on Monday.

The government has previously said it wants to see productivity improvements at shipyards in Australia before it commits to major construction projects.

SA defence industries minister Martin Hamilton-Smith says any loss of shipbuilding work would represent a major blow to the state's economy.

"A promise was made (that) 12 submarines would be built here in Adelaide, or certainly centred here in Adelaide," Mr Hamilton-Smith told ABC Radio.

"It would be disastrous for the state, particularly given the failure of the Olympic Dam to expand and the collapse of the automotive industry, if the future of advanced manufacturing centred around naval shipbuilding didn't proceed as planned."

Defence Minister David Johnston will address a defence industry conference in Adelaide on Tuesday.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/24565620/loss-of-submarine-work-disastrous-for-sa/
Realise this is a defence site and this article is, ostensibly, about submarines. But federal support from industry in less wealthy parts of Australia always makes the news and I guarantee this is the first of a thousand articles concerning the funding of this project. So, I'd consider this story mainly about domestic Australian politics and not really relevant here.

If the title of the Reuters article (which I didn't bother to read, sorry about that) is correct and Australia's next generation of submarines are built overseas, that would be news.
 

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