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State and Territory politics

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boyo

boyo

Mark Ella (57)
Mike Baird's promise on ministers' diaries has too many escape clauses


It hasn’t taken our new Premier long to make political window-dressing a fine art (“Baird to make diaries of ministers public”, May 13).
By definition, meetings to discuss donations to campaign funds will be “commercial in confidence”, and especially those that involve the handing over of cash in the traditional brown paper bag.
It will be surprising, too, how often ministers happen to bump into prospective donors at the coffee shop so, of course, there will be no diary note at all of such meetings.
Nor will information be released about appointments associated with “electorate or party political matters”. Now that’s a phrase that can cover a multitude of sins.
Please, Mr Baird, spare us any more nonsense about publication of ministerial diaries helping to restore public trust in our elected representatives.

Ken Knight North Turramurra

We can expect a spike in stationery sales as some of Mike Baird’s ministers buy two diaries: one for public scrutiny and the other to keep track of their many nefarious activities.

Howard Charles Glebe

Tim Owen has set the standard (‘‘Newcastle MP (Moana Pasifika) to quit’’, May 13). MPs elected with the help of illicit donations should not stand for re-election. Will Premier Baird promise to apply this standard across the board in 2015?

Chris Rabbitt Merewether Heights

Should the electoral commission declare the state election invalid as the Coalition received illegal donations from developers?

Raja Junankar Kingsford


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-letters/polls-show-coalition-is-losing-the-plot-20140513-zrb2v.html#ixzz31elOLa00
 
Runner

Runner

Nev Cottrell (35)
You may find that as the original GST legislation went through the senate it could be possible for the Feds to change it without the states asking.
 
ACT Crusader

ACT Crusader

Jim Lenehan (48)
Runner said:
You may find that as the original GST legislation went through the senate it could be possible for the Feds to change it without the states asking.
Click to expand...

Not sure about that Runner. The original Bill said that the 'Agreement of Principles' between the Commonwealth and States and Territories that was reached in 98 applied in the setting of the GST rate. That section was not amended when the Bill was enacted.
 
Runner

Runner

Nev Cottrell (35)
ACT Crusader said:
Not sure about that Runner. The original Bill said that the 'Agreement of Principles' between the Commonwealth and States and Territories that was reached in 98 applied in the setting of the GST rate. That section was not amended when the Bill was enacted.
Click to expand...

Thank you
 
ACT Crusader

ACT Crusader

Jim Lenehan (48)
Runner if you're interested the key section of the GST legislation is

1‑3 Commonwealth‑State financial relations
The Parliament acknowledges that the Commonwealth:
(a) will introduce legislation to provide that the revenue from the GST will be granted to the States, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory; and
(b) will maintain the rate and base of the GST in accordance with the Agreement on Principles for the Reform of Commonwealth‑State Financial Relations endorsed at the Special Premiers’ Conference in Canberra on 13 November 1998.
Click to expand...

The relevant Principles are:

Management of the GST Rate

31. After the introduction of the GST, a proposal to vary the 10 per cent rate of the GST will require:
a. the unanimous support of the State and Territory Governments;
b. the endorsement by the Commonwealth Government of the day; and
c. the passage of relevant legislation by both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament.

Management of the GST Base
32. Subject to clauses 34, 35 and 36 of this Agreement, after the introduction of the GST, any proposal to vary the GST base will require:
a. the unanimous support of the State and Territory Governments;
b. the endorsement by the Commonwealth Government of the day; and
c. the passage of relevant legislation by both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament.

33. All future changes to the GST base should be consistent with:
a. the maintenance of the integrity of the tax base;
b. simplicity of administration; and
c. minimising compliance costs for taxpayers.
Click to expand...
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
@ACT Crusader - my understanding of the issue is that the Federal Government would only need to amend the legislation to remove 31. a) from above and then the rate could change.
 
boyo

boyo

Mark Ella (57)
This is not limited to one sphere of politics.

Spin, weasel words and lies - how politicians keep attempting to break promises

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/spin-weasel-words-and-lies--how-politicians-keep-attempting-to-break-promises-20140516-38e8w.html#ixzz31qvQyYJP

"Wresting a straight answer from a politician to the most direct of questions can be like wringing water from a wash cloth – something will inevitably come out but the contents extracted will likely be murky, rather unpleasant to swallow and smell more than a little off."

"The last, and most sacred, rule of weasel words: if all else fails, blame the previous government.
The problem, with weasel words is that they, no matter how many pour forth with gusto, at speed and volume, can never camouflage the plain fact that politicians will promise just about anything in circumstances that offer a shot at power.
Inconvenient truths have a way with catching up with us all."
 
boyo

boyo

Mark Ella (57)
Campbell Newman loses fifth MP (Moana Pasifika) as Chris Davis suddenly quits parliament

http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ika)-as-chris-davis-suddenly-quits-parliament
 
boyo

boyo

Mark Ella (57)
Budget plan is cautious and conservative
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act...cautious-and-conservative-20140603-zrwpq.html

"This is news that should not be leaked to Capital Hill, because our continued survival probably depends on the perpetuation of the idea that we have been battered for some time, are reeling under the prospect of mass federal government redundancies and reduced general programs, and are in extra trouble because of the explicit withdrawal of some of the funds supposed to be coming for our hospitals, schools and universities."
 
boyo

boyo

Mark Ella (57)
The public wants action, not just ICAC findings

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-...c-wants-action-not-just-icac-findings/5502844

"NSW Labor moved swiftly to expel Joe Tripodi from the party after ICAC corruption findings today, but the cynical and expedient culture he and others manipulated remains to be demonstrably changed, writes Quentin Dempster."

"Unless the public soon sees that the rule of criminal law is being applied and that accountability means more than the expression of concluded views by an ICAC commissioner following inquisitorial procedures, there will be understandable distress and scepticism."
 
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