Gillard Pushes Thomson

Craig Thomson no longer Gillard's problem
             Photo courtesy courier mail

Today disgraced labor MP, Craig Thomson withdrew his membership from the ALP, in a bid to avoid further distraction from the Government, in the lead up to budget week, in what is to be a testing time for the Gillard Government.

Last night, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, personally phoned Mr. Thomson, instructing him to resign from the ALP, and stand as an independent. Although Prime Minister Gillard has publicly said, standing down Mr. Thomson was the right thing to do morally, it still raises questions as to why the change of heart now all of a sudden, and why will Mr. Thomson be allowed to vote in the house of parliament? 

Of course, it wouldn't have anything to do with Bill Shorten bluing with the Prime Minister, in the quiet shadows of the PM's office, over the mishandling of Peter Slipper, and Thomson over such a long period of time. Shorten is furious at how long this "freak show" has been aloud to go on, under the leadership of Julia Gillard. In fact, the tension is so bad amongst labor MP's, Bill Shorten has called on his labor MP's, for a vote of no confidence in his leader. 

Only time will tell, if the fate of Craig Thomson, lies at the mercy of the two state police investigations into HSU credit card mishandlings, and the HSU all together.

As far as the numbers in the house of representatives, as it currently stands, it would appear unlikely that there would be any change, given that Mr. Thomson still holds a vote, and would support the Govt, and the independents have all but ruled out a vote of no confidence in the Govt. Before the Slipper affair, the Govt held 73 votes to 71, that number is now likely to be a level playing field, if no movement at the station.

The Government now finds itself in more hot water than ever before, with the latest newspoll elevating the coalition to 58.5%, on a two party preferred basis, with an increase of 1.5% since last survey. The next survey will include the 300th illegal boat arrival since labor tore up John Howard's "pacific solution" policy, the fresh Slipper allegations, and of course, the Govt's poor handling of the Craig Thomson affair.

What will be more damaging for the Gillard Govt, is today's latest attempt to shrug off any bad publicity hindering the Government's policy pushes. Again, a bad managerial decision by Gillard, which is so often dished out and publicly perceived as a political stunt, because that's exactly what it is.
 

One Direction Super Storm

UK Super Pop Sensation, One Direction, are currently 2012's most popular music act in the world. The group who are still on visit to Australia, have announced they are touring the land down under in 2013.

The all boy band, is the brainchild of Simon Cowell, the man who brought us;- American Idol, Britain's got talent, and X factor. Cowell told the boys, when they appeared on X factor as individuals , that each of them did not have what it takes as solo performers, but as a group, they would absolutely make a hard hitting impact on the pop scene. Boy was Cowell right. The boys are a goldmine for Cowell and anyone who cashes in on One Direction's popularity.

What is it about this five boy band that makes the girls crazy? Could it be their looks, stardom, energy, talent, all the above? Fans of this five boy line up, which have taken Australian teens by storm, tell us that they have the right sex appeal and music which they can sing and move to.

 Tickets for One Direction Australian tour sold out in three minutes. The tour dates for One Direction 2013 Australian tour are:

BRISBANE – WEDNESDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 
BRISBANE - THURSDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
 
SYDNEY – SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
SYDNEY - SUNDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER
 
MELBOURNE – THURSDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
MELBOURNE - FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
 
ADELAIDE – TUESDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER
 
PERTH – SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER
PERTH - SUNDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

Check out their video interview courtesy of Telegraph
http://video.dailytelegraph.com.au/2221705557/One-day-with-One-Direction?area=videoindex1

SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW

This week I visited the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Apart from the airport prices, lines of people, and drowning of entertainers and vendors over public address announcements, the show offered the usual class vigour of displays in the exhibit hall, and various arenas. Surprisingly, the only huge lines experienced were in the dog pavilion. The lines to the amusement rides were long, but moved fairly quickly during the day, and increased heavily into the night, as people took advantage of the budget twilight entry passes.

The main food pavilion is always a crowd favourite, and sponsor Woolworths milked it for everything it was worth, by recreating its fresh food isle. Steggles, sole sponsor of poultry hall, spent all their money on self promotion rather than adequately caging the birds in decent sized pens. They obviously put all their eggs in one basket.

Full points to the organisation and logistics of the show, especially transport. Food, toilets and ATM's were easily locatable and in substantial supply. Police, security and emergency services were also highly visible and on hand to meet any incident. I personally gave the show an eight out of ten for overall satisfaction. However, I still think the show could be more affordable overall.

40 YEARS ON, STILL NO 2ND AIRPORT

For decades, pollies and Sydney residents have been debating whether and where a second airport should be built. Well for now it seems, this mundane white elephant has popped back in the headlines. 
Federal minister for transport and infrastructure Anthony Albanese, believes that Sydney does in deed, need a second airport, even though the state's top aviation experts are saying the current airport can facilitate its expected capacity until 2039. Former director of Civil Aviation Authority CAA (now CASA) and prominent Australian businessman Dick Smith, says that opening a second airport just opens the door for a second porthole for immigrants to further overpopulate an already crowded city struggling to cope with the current infrastructure. 

NSW premier Barry O'Farrell has categorically ruled out any possibility of a second airport under his watch. Mr. O'Farrell said that the state's infrastructure has been neglected for decades, illegal boat people are being sent to Sydney, and consequently the people of Sydney and those trying to get around the city, are paying the price. He said minister Albanese is headlining something his govt and the previous NSW state govt could have done, but his govt is looking for any headline that diverts from the ineptness of the federal govt. Mr. O'Farrell's preferred option is for a dedicated high speed rail network linking Canberra and Sydney.

CARBON TAX UNCONSTITUTIONAL: IPA REPORT

 Sydney Barrister and tax expert Bryan Pape, has described the federal government's carbon tax as "unconstitutional", and says the country's biggest states stand a significant chance of overturning the carbon tax in a high court challenge. 

The NSW premier Barry O'Farrell, has advised the media that his govt has received legal advice on this issue, and will be proceeding with a high court challenge. The other three liberal premiers are expected to follow their NSW counterpart.

Mr. Pape has said in his findings, the state owned power assets, emit greenhouse gases which are the property of the states. "It is impermissible for the commonwealth to impose any tax on any property of any kind belonging to a state".