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Skids 
Quitting drinking will be one of the best choices you make in your life.
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
Location: Joined 3/6/02 . Member #175
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| David wrote: | More on Morrison’s Christmas Island debacle:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/03/we-paid-180m-for-scott-morrison-to-have-a-press-conference-on-christmas-island
| Quote: | In early March the prime minister flew a media cohort to the facility, a 10,000km round trip from Canberra. He got what he wanted: footage of him inspecting gleaming palisade fences and scrolls of razor wire, and some soundbites from a vacuous press conference. Then everyone returned to Australia.
On budget night, the kicker: the centre will be closed by July. The flood of opportunistic refugees and their bleeding-heart lawyers never materialised. The government has torched more than $180m dollars ramping up security and services at the site, in anticipation of a deluge of people who only ever existed as a talking point to hurl at Labor and the crossbench.
One hundred and eighty million dollars. The figure didn’t feature in the treasurers’ budget night speech, and nor does it seem to exist anywhere in the excruciating “back in black” budget rebrand. The government is no doubt counting on the story to go under the wheels of tax cuts that nobody asked for and the jumble of an oncoming election campaign. They are banking on political amnesia to erase the short-term memory of what must count as the most costly press conference in history. |
Christmas Islanders are furious, too:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/apr/04/very-negative-detention-centre-u-turn-angers-christmas-islanders
It’s almost as if cynical political decisions have real-life consequences. |
Not all of them, some are being positive about developments, and not sooking and throwing their toys out of the cot. Instaed of bitching, why don't they just get on with it... do something?!
Christmas Island believes it could be the next big tourist destination, but there's just one problem
"The island's had 30 years to start refocusing but I feel to some degree that hasn't been done," said Lisa Preston, chair of the island's tourism association.
Boasting immaculate coves, dense jungle and a raft of endemic animal and bird species, many on the island say tourists don't know what they've been missing until they arrive.
Without public transport, the island is not easy to get around, and only has a handful of hotels.
There is also not a lot of shopping or nightlife — it's no Bali.
In fact, authorities hope to lure a different kind of visitor: older, wealthier and interested in outdoor exploration.
"We haven't been spoiled by mass tourism," Ms Preston said. "We don't have that many people living here, we've got a clean environment."
The federal Department of Infrastructure funds the island's tourism association, and has made a number of recent investments to support the industry.
These include marketing and promotion, local skills development, and upgrades to the island's airport.
A spokesperson said it was providing almost $20 million over four years to underwrite flights to Christmas Island and its neighbour, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-17/christmas-island-has-an-image-problem-holding-back-tourism/10672652
Attractions
Christmas Island is well known for its biological diversity. There are many rare species of animals and plants on the island, making nature-walking a popular activity. Along with the diversity of species, many different types of caves exist, such as plateau caves, coastal caves, raised coastal caves and alcoves, sea caves, fissure caves, collapse caves, and basalt caves; most of these are near the sea and have been formed by the action of water. Altogether, there are approximately 30 caves on the island,[60] with Lost Lake Cave, Daniel Roux Cave, and Full Frontal Cave being the most well-known. The many freshwater springs include Hosnies Spring Ramsar, which also has a mangrove stand.
The Dales is a rainforest in the western part of the island and consists of seven deep valleys, all of which were formed by spring streams. Hugh's Dale waterfall is part of this area and is a popular attraction. The annual breeding migration of the Christmas Island red crabs is a popular event.
Fishing is another common activity. There are many distinct species of fish in the oceans surrounding Christmas Island. Snorkeling and swimming in the ocean are two other activities that are extremely popular. Walking trails are also very popular, for there are many beautiful trails surrounded by extravagant flora and fauna. 63% of the island is national park making it one of the main attractions to experience when visiting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Island
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Don't count the days, make the days count. |
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David 
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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The main point, I think, is that a massive detention centre that was dropped on the island has been reopened for no good reason with huge fanfare and then closed four months later. As we've seen with other prison islands like Manus and Nauru, these detention centres end up having a significant impact on the lives of locals.
What must be most galling to them is that the Australian government surely knew from the beginning that this was nothing more than a phoney electoral ploy, and that they were always going to backtrack if it didn't work (which, thankfully, it doesn't seem to have). Never a nice feeling to be used as mere political pawns.
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All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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stui magpie 
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005
Location: In flagrante delicto
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Sounds like the place is ripe for a small scale eco tourism venture. Just need an investor who can deal with all the red tape.
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Every dead body on Mt Everest was once a highly motivated person, so maybe just calm the **** down. |
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watt price tully 
Joined: 15 May 2007
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| David wrote: | More on Morrison’s Christmas Island debacle:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/03/we-paid-180m-for-scott-morrison-to-have-a-press-conference-on-christmas-island
| Quote: | In early March the prime minister flew a media cohort to the facility, a 10,000km round trip from Canberra. He got what he wanted: footage of him inspecting gleaming palisade fences and scrolls of razor wire, and some soundbites from a vacuous press conference. Then everyone returned to Australia.
On budget night, the kicker: the centre will be closed by July. The flood of opportunistic refugees and their bleeding-heart lawyers never materialised. The government has torched more than $180m dollars ramping up security and services at the site, in anticipation of a deluge of people who only ever existed as a talking point to hurl at Labor and the crossbench.
One hundred and eighty million dollars. The figure didn’t feature in the treasurers’ budget night speech, and nor does it seem to exist anywhere in the excruciating “back in black” budget rebrand. The government is no doubt counting on the story to go under the wheels of tax cuts that nobody asked for and the jumble of an oncoming election campaign. They are banking on political amnesia to erase the short-term memory of what must count as the most costly press conference in history. |
Christmas Islanders are furious, too:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/apr/04/very-negative-detention-centre-u-turn-angers-christmas-islanders
It’s almost as if cynical political decisions have real-life consequences. |
More than 150 guards paid for by the Morrison Goverment are guarding let me see, 2000? 1000? 100? 10? not even 1 detainee.
I feel so much safer now. Good job we can trust the Morrison Libs to manage the money well.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/apr/04/christmas-island-more-than-150-staff-are-guarding-zero-detainees-senators-told
Morrison Liberal Govermenet policy decsions informed by the writers of "Yes Minister"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyf97LAjjcY
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“I even went as far as becoming a Southern Baptist until I realised they didn’t keep ‘em under long enough” Kinky Friedman |
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Pies4shaw 
pies4shaw
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
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Pies4shaw
pies4shaw
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
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Jezza 
2023 PREMIERS!
Joined: 06 Sep 2010
Location: Ponsford End
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^ So the same results of every other poll for the last 2.5 years.
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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It’s been quite a run, hasn’t it? I think this one is particularly demoralising news for the government though as Fairfax/Ipsos has usually been more favourable to them than, say, Newspoll.
Anyway, May can’t come soon enough.
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All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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Jezza
2023 PREMIERS!
Joined: 06 Sep 2010
Location: Ponsford End
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It reminds me of Labor's bad run after the minority government was formed in 2010.
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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Yep – a similar air of inevitability about this.
Strange to think that, for all the changes in prime minister in recent times (Shorten, if elected, will be the fourth prime minister since my four-year-old son was born), this will still only be the third change of government in nearly a quarter of a century.
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All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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Jezza
2023 PREMIERS!
Joined: 06 Sep 2010
Location: Ponsford End
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Ipsos polls since the 2016 election (TPP):
November 24-26 2016 = Liberal 49-51 Labor
March 22-25 2017 = Liberal 45-55 Labor
May 10-11 2017 = Liberal 47-53 Labor
September 6-9 2017 = Liberal 47-53 Labor
April 3-5 2018 = Liberal 48-52 Labor
May 10-12 2018 = Liberal 46-54 Labor
June 21-24 2018 = Liberal 47-53 Labor
August 15-18 2018 = Liberal 45-55 Labor
----------------------------------------------------------------
Morrison replaces Turnbull as PM
----------------------------------------------------------------
September 12-15 2018 = Liberal 47-53 Labor
October 10-13 2018 = Liberal 45-55 Labor
November 15-17 2018 = Liberal 48-52 Labor
December 13-15 2018 = Liberal 46-54 Labor
February 12-15 2019 = Liberal 49-51 Labor
April 3-6 2019 = Liberal 47-53 Labor
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| 1902 | 1903 | 1910 | 1917 | 1919 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1935 | 1936 | 1953 | 1958 | 1990 | 2010 | 2023 | |
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Jezza
2023 PREMIERS!
Joined: 06 Sep 2010
Location: Ponsford End
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| David wrote: | Yep – a similar air of inevitability about this.
Strange to think that, for all the changes in prime minister in recent times (Shorten, if elected, will be the fourth prime minister since my four-year-old son was born), this will still only be the third change of government in nearly a quarter of a century. |
We're living in unprecedented times.
If Shorten's elected in May, we'll have an equal record of seven prime ministers in a single decade for the first time since the 1900s.
Maybe the 2020s will signal a calmer period, or maybe it's a sign of more chaotic times ahead in Australian politics. Time will tell.
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| 1902 | 1903 | 1910 | 1917 | 1919 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1935 | 1936 | 1953 | 1958 | 1990 | 2010 | 2023 | |
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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I feel like they’ll be more stable owing to both major parties’ having changed their rules around replacing sitting prime ministers. Otherwise, I doubt anything else would have arrested the trend of prime ministers struggling to make it through a single parliamentary term without a challenger.
The irony of that is that the history books will make Shorten, surely among the blandest major party leaders in decades, look like one of the greats simply for having survived for six years (if indeed he does). He’s already only a couple of months off serving the longest unbroken term as Labor leader since Bob Hawke.
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All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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regan is true fullback
Joined: 27 Dec 2002
Location: Granville. nsw
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If these rules were in 55 years ago, we would have been stuck with Arthur Calwell...
No Whitlam government, no forgiveness for conscientious objectors, conscription would have lasted until the next decade, we would still be administering PNG, no sanctions against South Africa, no Aboriginal rights and Australia would be up to it's earballs in Nixon's latest adventures in Cambodia and Laos.
Australia would be a very different place. I know that many in this place would rejoice, but the point about democracy, unless your name is Putin or Mugabe, is to give both sides of the fence a go.
As far as the contestants on Conservative Island goes, its time to go. There will be a next time. |
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watt price tully
Joined: 15 May 2007
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| Jezza wrote: | | David wrote: | Yep – a similar air of inevitability about this.
Strange to think that, for all the changes in prime minister in recent times (Shorten, if elected, will be the fourth prime minister since my four-year-old son was born), this will still only be the third change of government in nearly a quarter of a century. |
We're living in unprecedented times.
If Shorten's elected in May, we'll have an equal record of seven prime ministers in a single decade for the first time since the 1900s.
Maybe the 2020s will signal a calmer period, or maybe it's a sign of more chaotic times ahead in Australian politics. Time will tell. |
While there are many things I admire about Italy having more post WW2 govenments is not one of them: at least that's the direction we're heading.
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“I even went as far as becoming a Southern Baptist until I realised they didn’t keep ‘em under long enough” Kinky Friedman |
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