Australian Political & Infrastructure Discussion Thread

[A-Series-Of-Tubes]

Oh, boy, what have I created.

Does it? Britain claimed the East of Australia (then known as New Holland) on 26 January 1788, by landing a fleet of convicts. That's not "the nation of Australia as it exists now" as colonies are not nations. The nation of Australia came into existence with Federation, a process which could be more easily reversed that the US Federation, but still looks pretty strong for a while yet.

Imagine it from the point of view of Aboriginal Australia. They didn't gain much immediately from Federation and the democratic governments it allowed. Eventually though, they got citizenship and voting rights (through a referendum by the Federation rules), then won the right to claim any land not "alienated by the Crown". Extended later with the decision that government granting a lease is not alienation.

That may not be much but it's a hell of a lot better than the century before: formally a British colony though with increasing self-rule. Your objection that January 1 is "taken" is noted, but your defense of 26 January will not pass. Britain claimed for itself the eastern seaboard, which though the most heavily populated and developed side of Australia now, still includes Aboriginal land recognized by the High Court.

What began on 26 January 1788 was annexation by Britain, and white settlement. Not the nation of Australia as we know it, which began with Federation.



There are two significant days, the First Fleet and Federation. The former is (more correctly) Invasion Day, and the latter is "taken". Well so what if it's taken. New Year's Day can be Australia Day, New Year's Eve can be the celebration of the New Year (as it pretty much is).

So you want another public holiday? New Year's Eve. Or abandon the idea that a numbered day of the month is necessary to give public holidays 'legitimacy,' pick a cause and pick a day as far as possible from any other public holiday. Because that's when a public holiday will be most appreciated.



I'd make every public holiday a moveable feast, to either Monday or Friday, because random weekdays annoy business and whenever a fixed feast falls on a weekend, the government gives everyone a "real" public holiday on Monday (er, States may differ, nvm). That, as you would say "defeats the point" of having a fixed day. Is Saturday when we should be celebrating the Snowy Hydro Scheme? Or Monday? Which one is the "real" holiday?

Snowy Hydro Day is a joke, but really something like that. National Parks Day perhaps? I feel there should be something to celebrate the land itself, which the highly urbanized Australian population have become rather callous to.

Ok, first, I think you've missed the point of what I meant, though that could be my fault with regards to how I worded it. I mean that the holiday itself (Australia Day) doesn't celebrate the landing of the First Fleet, it celebrates the Commonwealth of Australia as a nation, not unlike how Independence Day is a celebration of the United States. We hold this celebration on the 26th of January because like it or not, it does hold significance to the history of Australia, like how Independence Day is on July 4 because as the name suggests it's the date of American independence. January 26 may not be our date of independence, but I doubt that you can convince me that Australia as it exists now would exist had we not been colonised by the United Kingdom. I'm not going to say that it was a good thing, but you cannot deny that Australia would be a radically different country without the British influences and demographic makeup.

I am Australian and do know what happened on the 26th of January, and I do understand why the date is viewed as problematic for some. My point has less to do with the events of the day itself, but more so what happened as a result of the events of the day, which is what warrants the significance, even if it is negative.

I think the main reason most people oppose January 1 is because it is already a public holiday, not just me. I am opposed to the suggestion that we just pick a random date with no meaning or symbolism because then what is the point. It works fine for some holidays to not have a fixed date, but there are days of national significance that are appropriate to hold a national celebration on, and as I keep saying, January 26 absolutely has significance to Australia, even if you don't like that fact.

Make every holiday an unfixed date? The days we have public holidays on are all significant to the thing they are about, and what logic would it make to hold any other holiday on a day with no meaning? And I didn't think there was even a debate about when holidays fall on weekends and a day off for it is held on a different day. I thought it was obvious that the holiday is celebrated on the day it usually is on, and the Monday or Friday that everyone gets off of work is just to make up for the fact that many people don't work on weekends so they can have a day off. Have you ever heard of a dawn service for Anzac Day being held on April 27 or whatever day Anzac Day Holiday might fall on?

I'm not opposed to a holiday for celebrating the land or nature, but I'd imagine it would have to have some meaning or importance to be considered.

January 1 - Federation
March 3 - the passing of the Australia Act, which gave Australia political independence from Britain
May 9 - the opening of federal parliament
May 27 - the referendum that allowed Aboriginal Australians to be treated equally to other races in regard to legislation and the census
9 July - the ratification of our constitution by Queen Victoria
October 24 - the speech Henry Parkes gave at Tenterfield, which started the federation movement

Some of these suggestions are good. January 1 I've done to death that it's already a public holiday, though of all the events I would deem it the most significant alternative. May 9 and July 9 don't feel important enough to make Australia Day. Of all these suggestions, my favourite would probably be October 24 since I could see a case being made for it being of comparable significance to January 26, without any negative baggage that I can see.

If the "change the date" movement could rally around literally any one date instead of suggesting like 10 of varying degrees of suitability, maybe it could gain more traction.

Hopefully I haven't lit another powderkeg.

You say Jan 1 is the next best choice, and didn't give any good reason why it shouldn't be Jan 1, so it looks very much like bad faith to canvass some other dates then complain that "change the date" people haven't settled on a date that is third-rate at best.

New Year's Eve should be a full holiday, Australia Day celebrating the Australian tradition of burnt and greasy meat products to cure a hangover, can be on Jan 1. Two public holidays in a row, with a displacement rule if either falls on a weekend, would mean a FOUR day weekend 5 years out of 7. In the other 2, it would at least be a 'bonus weekend'.

Breaking the tradition of everyone crowding into their nearest city "for fireworks" would actually be a good thing. There would be better ways to spend a four day weekend, less people would do that, so it would be less crowded for those who do.

[Lura]

Oh, boy, what have I created.

Ok, first, I think you've missed the point of what I meant, though that could be my fault with regards to how I worded it. I mean that the holiday itself (Australia Day) doesn't celebrate the landing of the First Fleet, it celebrates the Commonwealth of Australia as a nation, not unlike how Independence Day is a celebration of the United States. We hold this celebration on the 26th of January because like it or not, it does hold significance to the history of Australia, like how Independence Day is on July 4 because as the name suggests it's the date of American independence. January 26 may not be our date of independence, but I doubt that you can convince me that Australia as it exists now would exist had we not been colonised by the United Kingdom. I'm not going to say that it was a good thing, but you cannot deny that Australia would be a radically different country without the British influences and demographic makeup.

I am Australian and do know what happened on the 26th of January, and I do understand why the date is viewed as problematic for some. My point has less to do with the events of the day itself, but more so what happened as a result of the events of the day, which is what warrants the significance, even if it is negative.

I think the main reason most people oppose January 1 is because it is already a public holiday, not just me. I am opposed to the suggestion that we just pick a random date with no meaning or symbolism because then what is the point. It works fine for some holidays to not have a fixed date, but there are days of national significance that are appropriate to hold a national celebration on, and as I keep saying, January 26 absolutely has significance to Australia, even if you don't like that fact.

Make every holiday an unfixed date? The days we have public holidays on are all significant to the thing they are about, and what logic would it make to hold any other holiday on a day with no meaning? And I didn't think there was even a debate about when holidays fall on weekends and a day off for it is held on a different day. I thought it was obvious that the holiday is celebrated on the day it usually is on, and the Monday or Friday that everyone gets off of work is just to make up for the fact that many people don't work on weekends so they can have a day off. Have you ever heard of a dawn service for Anzac Day being held on April 27 or whatever day Anzac Day Holiday might fall on?

I'm not opposed to a holiday for celebrating the land or nature, but I'd imagine it would have to have some meaning or importance to be considered.


Some of these suggestions are good. January 1 I've done to death that it's already a public holiday, though of all the events I would deem it the most significant alternative. May 9 and July 9 don't feel important enough to make Australia Day. Of all these suggestions, my favourite would probably be October 24 since I could see a case being made for it being of comparable significance to January 26, without any negative baggage that I can see.

If the "change the date" movement could rally around literally any one date instead of suggesting like 10 of varying degrees of suitability, maybe it could gain more traction.

Hopefully I haven't lit another powderkeg.

You say Jan 1 is the next best choice, and didn't give any good reason why it shouldn't be Jan 1, so it looks very much like bad faith to canvass some other dates then complain that "change the date" people haven't settled on a date that is third-rate at best.

New Year's Eve should be a full holiday, Australia Day celebrating the Australian tradition of burnt and greasy meat products to cure a hangover, can be on Jan 1. Two public holidays in a row, with a displacement rule if either falls on a weekend, would mean a FOUR day weekend 5 years out of 7. In the other 2, it would at least be a 'bonus weekend'.

Breaking the tradition of everyone crowding into their nearest city "for fireworks" would actually be a good thing. There would be better ways to spend a four day weekend, less people would do that, so it would be less crowded for those who do.

Why is it that the fact that it's already a public holiday not good enough? I've literally said in like every post that the date of federation would be good if not for that fact you keep ignoring. As a result I don’t find it to be the next best date, as you've wrongly assumed. I merely suggested that as far as significant days go, it would be up there. Given that everyone has spent the previous night staying up partying why would you expect anyone to even engage in New Year's Day Australia Day?

And what's wrong with looking at other dates that are neither public holidays nor problematic (probably)? I'm sorry that the one day most people suggest (on the occasions they actually suggest a date) is a terrible choice and that some other suggestions could be a good compromise. If all the alternative dates are "third-rate at best" as you say, then "change the date" has no leg to stand on and we could stop complaining about January 26.

Also don't people usually take the week between Christmas and New Year's off anyway? Nothing would be accomplished by making New Year's Eve a holiday to make way for a public holiday we already have.

[A-Series-Of-Tubes]

You say Jan 1 is the next best choice, and didn't give any good reason why it shouldn't be Jan 1, so it looks very much like bad faith to canvass some other dates then complain that "change the date" people haven't settled on a date that is third-rate at best.

New Year's Eve should be a full holiday, Australia Day celebrating the Australian tradition of burnt and greasy meat products to cure a hangover, can be on Jan 1. Two public holidays in a row, with a displacement rule if either falls on a weekend, would mean a FOUR day weekend 5 years out of 7. In the other 2, it would at least be a 'bonus weekend'.

Breaking the tradition of everyone crowding into their nearest city "for fireworks" would actually be a good thing. There would be better ways to spend a four day weekend, less people would do that, so it would be less crowded for those who do.

Why is it that the fact that it's already a public holiday not good enough? I've literally said in like every post that the date of federation would be good if not for that fact you keep ignoring. As a result I don’t find it to be the next best date, as you've wrongly assumed. I merely suggested that as far as significant days go, it would be up there. Given that everyone has spent the previous night staying up partying why would you expect anyone to even engage in New Year's Day Australia Day?

And what's wrong with looking at other dates that are neither public holidays nor problematic (probably)? I'm sorry that the one day most people suggest (on the occasions they actually suggest a date) is a terrible choice and that some other suggestions could be a good compromise. If all the alternative dates are "third-rate at best" as you say, then "change the date" has no leg to stand on and we could stop complaining about January 26.

Also don't people usually take the week between Christmas and New Year's off anyway? Nothing would be accomplished by making New Year's Eve a holiday to make way for a public holiday we already have.

What is being celebrated on New Year's Day, which is more important than "the founding of the nation"? The year part of the date just went up one ... wait, didn't we celebrate this last night?

And your resort to "de facto" holidays, when people who can, "take the week off" really just makes my idea of an official four day weekend with Australia day in it (5 out of 7 years) more compelling. Everyone should get the benefit of public holidays, not just people with nice jobs that allow them flexi days.

"It's already a holiday" really is a weak reason when talking about moving the date of an important holiday. New Year's Eve is EXACTLY as significant a day as New Year's Day. And two holiday-days in a row seems better not worse. For one thing you can visit distant friends and family and drive back the next day. Or take a similar mini-holiday, which isn't always possible with kids playing sport etc on a weekend. Most of all, it's more likely to create a 4-day weekend, than a 1-day holiday is to create a 3-day weekend:

2-day holiday (black creates 4-day weekend without displacement)
MT
TW
WT
TF

1-day holiday
M
T
W
T
F

[Lura]

Why is it that the fact that it's already a public holiday not good enough? I've literally said in like every post that the date of federation would be good if not for that fact you keep ignoring. As a result I don’t find it to be the next best date, as you've wrongly assumed. I merely suggested that as far as significant days go, it would be up there. Given that everyone has spent the previous night staying up partying why would you expect anyone to even engage in New Year's Day Australia Day?

And what's wrong with looking at other dates that are neither public holidays nor problematic (probably)? I'm sorry that the one day most people suggest (on the occasions they actually suggest a date) is a terrible choice and that some other suggestions could be a good compromise. If all the alternative dates are "third-rate at best" as you say, then "change the date" has no leg to stand on and we could stop complaining about January 26.

Also don't people usually take the week between Christmas and New Year's off anyway? Nothing would be accomplished by making New Year's Eve a holiday to make way for a public holiday we already have.

What is being celebrated on New Year's Day, which is more important than "the founding of the nation"? The year part of the date just went up one ... wait, didn't we celebrate this last night?

And your resort to "de facto" holidays, when people who can, "take the week off" really just makes my idea of an official four day weekend with Australia day in it (5 out of 7 years) more compelling. Everyone should get the benefit of public holidays, not just people with nice jobs that allow them flexi days.

"It's already a holiday" really is a weak reason when talking about moving the date of an important holiday. New Year's Eve is EXACTLY as significant a day as New Year's Day. And two holiday-days in a row seems better not worse. For one thing you can visit distant friends and family and drive back the next day. Or take a similar mini-holiday, which isn't always possible with kids playing sport etc on a weekend. Most of all, it's more likely to create a 4-day weekend, than a 1-day holiday is to create a 3-day weekend:

2-day holiday (black creates 4-day weekend without displacement)
MT
TW
WT
TF

1-day holiday
M
T
W
T
F

I don’t care that two consecutive holidays create four day weekends, and that's not the point at all.

And if "It's already a holiday" is a weak reason to change the date of an important holiday, then I'd argue "A few people don't like the current date" is an even weaker reason to change the date of an important holiday.

I'm not going to discuss this further because neither my nor your efforts are making any impact and it's clear that we must agree to disagree.

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

In my opinion, the NSW LNP are really good at building transpirt infrastructure really badly

How so, Aus rePublic?

[Dazchan]

In my opinion, the NSW LNP are really good at building transpirt infrastructure really badly

How so, Aus rePublic?

Something something light rail something something ferries too tall.

Objectively, the current NSW Government have done more to increase and improve public transport in Sydney than any other government in my lifetime (I might not like the Berejiklian government, but credit where it’s due). There have been a couple of hiccups and problems, which the media has pounced on. Nobody reports the projects that go well.

[A-Series-Of-Tubes]

Anyone watch Twiggy Forest's Hydrogen rant?

I'm still not clear where he plans to get zero-emission hydrogen from, but he's an impressive public speaker.

[A-Series-Of-Tubes]

How so, Aus rePublic?

Something something light rail something something ferries too tall.

Objectively, the current NSW Government have done more to increase and improve public transport in Sydney than any other government in my lifetime (I might not like the Berejiklian government, but credit where it’s due). There have been a couple of hiccups and problems, which the media has pounced on. Nobody reports the projects that go well.

A lot of these projects have long time-spans. Credit is due to governments that spent the money, not those who started construction or opened the new facility.

[Australian rePublic]

In my opinion, the NSW LNP are really good at building transpirt infrastructure really badly

How so, Aus rePublic?

Aside from all the toll roads I've complained about:

Parra=Parramatta

-The pointless Bankstown metro which will convert the perfectly good Bankstown train line to a metro for no reason, instead of building new train lines where they're needed (I have a theory about this one, but I won't get into that)
-The North West metro, which was a necessary rail which ended just 3 km short of the closest rail station at Schofields, which would have made Schofields a hub
-Shutting the Newcastle rail line to replace it with a light rail line running the exact same route and only adding one additional stop (not the I'm complaining, it's the only place where you can legally drive on tram tracks without having to find loopholes, and as a crackpot,I am very, very, very, very happy about that, where was I? Oh yea) tearing down the --Newcastle rail in order to replace it with a light rail line running the exact same route, adding only one additional stop, thus requiring anyone travelling from the Hunter Valley or Sydney/Central Coast to change from a train to a tram to get to Newcastle CBD (when before it used to be a direct train), calling the last station along the route Newcastle Beach, despite the fact that it's 350 metres and there was no reason why they couldn't actually extend it to the actual beach whilst calling that stop the more accurately named "Pacific Park". The light rail is also supposed to be extended to justify building it, but the extension is low priority, meaning I can't see it happening for at least 2 decades, even though Newcastle is in desperate need of a link from Broadmeadow station to the sports stadium
-The CBD/South-East light rail, which was 4x over-budget and took more than 5 years to build, and when it finally opened in late 2019/2020, it was slowest tram line in the world. Not to mention the heart-ache suffered by the businesses and residents along the route during the construction faze
-Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail Line, which will run 3 kilometres short of Epping station. Part of Stage 1 will run along the old Carlingford rail line, and converting it to light rail. This was the perfect oppertunity to extend the line to Epping, but that would be too logical (FYI, Epping is a major rail interchange between suburban trains, the northwest metro, intercity trains to Central Coast/Newcastle and even trains to regional NSW and Brisbane), despite many people demanding that the line be extended to Epping, and Parra light rail's own website acknowledging those demands in their Q&A). Parramatta is Sydney's second CBD and an extremely important centre for the people of Western Sydney
-All but cancelling Stage 2 of the Parra light rail line, despite the fact that it's really needed and people having purchased appartments along the route being promised a tram line.
-Permanently closing Rosehill train station. The train station served Rosehill race course, and on race days, it was the only station which saw any non-negliable patronage. As the Parra light rail stage 1 will bipass Rosehill station, it has been shut as part of the conversion of the Carlingford Line and won't be replaced
-Parra light rail stage 1 (yes again) was supposed to provide a transport link to Bankwest stadium, the third most prominate stadium in NSW, but the LR stop which serves the stadium is like a 10 minute walk or so from the stadium
-And don't even get me started on shutting down the Sydney monorail

I complain though, I must admit that LNP has done a much better job than the ALP when it comes to building transport infrastructure. If it wasn't for the Olympics, the ALP wouldn't have built anything, and even what they did build was minimal, and for everything that LNP did build, there were some things they did right, and at least under the LNP the trains actually run on time. The ALP's on-time performance record for trains was laughable at best. I forgot the Epping to Chatswood rail line, the non-Olympics rail line the NSW ALP built, which also happened to be their biggest fuck up

[Australian rePublic]

How so, Aus rePublic?

Something something light rail something something ferries too tall.

Objectively, the current NSW Government have done more to increase and improve public transport in Sydney than any other government in my lifetime (I might not like the Berejiklian government, but credit where it’s due). There have been a couple of hiccups and problems, which the media has pounced on. Nobody reports the projects that go well.

I like Gladys, but I don't like her transport. For starters, the North West line should have been a fully intergrated suburban rail line and should have run to Schofields. I am pro-metro, and I support the Parramatta metro. However, metro is for high-capacity short distance lines, not long distance low density lines such as the north-west line. Read the rest of my rant about everything else. I will admit though that a lot of the transport infrastructure built by Gladys has been good, even though it's a few km too short to reach its full potential

[Maroochydore]

Very satisfied with Palaszczuk and Dr. Young here in Queensland.

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

Aside from all the toll roads I've complained about:

Parra=Parramatta

-The pointless Bankstown metro which will convert the perfectly good Bankstown train line to a metro for no reason, instead of building new train lines where they're needed (I have a theory about this one, but I won't get into that)
-The North West metro, which was a necessary rail which ended just 3 km short of the closest rail station at Schofields, which would have made Schofields a hub
-Shutting the Newcastle rail line to replace it with a light rail line running the exact same route and only adding one additional stop (not the I'm complaining, it's the only place where you can legally drive on tram tracks without having to find loopholes, and as a crackpot,I am very, very, very, very happy about that, where was I? Oh yea) tearing down the --Newcastle rail in order to replace it with a light rail line running the exact same route, adding only one additional stop, thus requiring anyone travelling from the Hunter Valley or Sydney/Central Coast to change from a train to a tram to get to Newcastle CBD (when before it used to be a direct train), calling the last station along the route Newcastle Beach, despite the fact that it's 350 metres and there was no reason why they couldn't actually extend it to the actual beach whilst calling that stop the more accurately named "Pacific Park". The light rail is also supposed to be extended to justify building it, but the extension is low priority, meaning I can't see it happening for at least 2 decades, even though Newcastle is in desperate need of a link from Broadmeadow station to the sports stadium
-The CBD/South-East light rail, which was 4x over-budget and took more than 5 years to build, and when it finally opened in late 2019/2020, it was slowest tram line in the world. Not to mention the heart-ache suffered by the businesses and residents along the route during the construction faze
-Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail Line, which will run 3 kilometres short of Epping station. Part of Stage 1 will run along the old Carlingford rail line, and converting it to light rail. This was the perfect oppertunity to extend the line to Epping, but that would be too logical (FYI, Epping is a major rail interchange between suburban trains, the northwest metro, intercity trains to Central Coast/Newcastle and even trains to regional NSW and Brisbane), despite many people demanding that the line be extended to Epping, and Parra light rail's own website acknowledging those demands in their Q&A). Parramatta is Sydney's second CBD and an extremely important centre for the people of Western Sydney
-All but cancelling Stage 2 of the Parra light rail line, despite the fact that it's really needed and people having purchased appartments along the route being promised a tram line.
-Permanently closing Rosehill train station. The train station served Rosehill race course, and on race days, it was the only station which saw any non-negliable patronage. As the Parra light rail stage 1 will bipass Rosehill station, it has been shut as part of the conversion of the Carlingford Line and won't be replaced
-Parra light rail stage 1 (yes again) was supposed to provide a transport link to Bankwest stadium, the third most prominate stadium in NSW, but the LR stop which serves the stadium is like a 10 minute walk or so from the stadium
-And don't even get me started on shutting down the Sydney monorail

I complain though, I must admit that LNP has done a much better job than the ALP when it comes to building transport infrastructure. If it wasn't for the Olympics, the ALP wouldn't have built anything, and even what they did build was minimal, and for everything that LNP did build, there were some things they did right, and at least under the LNP the trains actually run on time. The ALP on-time performance record for trains was laughable at best

Brisbane's infrastructure ain't too bad. Although the Centenary and Gateway need fixing. And the Ipswich Mwy. If there's one thing I'm waiting on Annastacia for, it's going full Daniel Andrews and removing some of Brisbane's most sh*thouse level crossings, like at Coopers Plains. Any southern Brisbanians would know what I'm talking about.

That's a thing I like about Dan, he doesn't f*** around with Infrastructure (removing 75 of Melby's worst rail crossings, like at the horror spaghetti junction in Reservoir.) Like how Anna does a good job at handling COVID while being, as you might say, 'a doorknob'.

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

Very satisfied with Palaszczuk and Dr. Young here in Queensland.

Me too,
I know that's not a very popular opinion,
but still.

But hey, still fun to call her a doorknob.

[Australian rePublic]

Aside from all the toll roads I've complained about:

Parra=Parramatta

-The pointless Bankstown metro which will convert the perfectly good Bankstown train line to a metro for no reason, instead of building new train lines where they're needed (I have a theory about this one, but I won't get into that)
-The North West metro, which was a necessary rail which ended just 3 km short of the closest rail station at Schofields, which would have made Schofields a hub
-Shutting the Newcastle rail line to replace it with a light rail line running the exact same route and only adding one additional stop (not the I'm complaining, it's the only place where you can legally drive on tram tracks without having to find loopholes, and as a crackpot,I am very, very, very, very happy about that, where was I? Oh yea) tearing down the --Newcastle rail in order to replace it with a light rail line running the exact same route, adding only one additional stop, thus requiring anyone travelling from the Hunter Valley or Sydney/Central Coast to change from a train to a tram to get to Newcastle CBD (when before it used to be a direct train), calling the last station along the route Newcastle Beach, despite the fact that it's 350 metres and there was no reason why they couldn't actually extend it to the actual beach whilst calling that stop the more accurately named "Pacific Park". The light rail is also supposed to be extended to justify building it, but the extension is low priority, meaning I can't see it happening for at least 2 decades, even though Newcastle is in desperate need of a link from Broadmeadow station to the sports stadium
-The CBD/South-East light rail, which was 4x over-budget and took more than 5 years to build, and when it finally opened in late 2019/2020, it was slowest tram line in the world. Not to mention the heart-ache suffered by the businesses and residents along the route during the construction faze
-Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail Line, which will run 3 kilometres short of Epping station. Part of Stage 1 will run along the old Carlingford rail line, and converting it to light rail. This was the perfect oppertunity to extend the line to Epping, but that would be too logical (FYI, Epping is a major rail interchange between suburban trains, the northwest metro, intercity trains to Central Coast/Newcastle and even trains to regional NSW and Brisbane), despite many people demanding that the line be extended to Epping, and Parra light rail's own website acknowledging those demands in their Q&A). Parramatta is Sydney's second CBD and an extremely important centre for the people of Western Sydney
-All but cancelling Stage 2 of the Parra light rail line, despite the fact that it's really needed and people having purchased appartments along the route being promised a tram line.
-Permanently closing Rosehill train station. The train station served Rosehill race course, and on race days, it was the only station which saw any non-negliable patronage. As the Parra light rail stage 1 will bipass Rosehill station, it has been shut as part of the conversion of the Carlingford Line and won't be replaced
-Parra light rail stage 1 (yes again) was supposed to provide a transport link to Bankwest stadium, the third most prominate stadium in NSW, but the LR stop which serves the stadium is like a 10 minute walk or so from the stadium
-And don't even get me started on shutting down the Sydney monorail

I complain though, I must admit that LNP has done a much better job than the ALP when it comes to building transport infrastructure. If it wasn't for the Olympics, the ALP wouldn't have built anything, and even what they did build was minimal, and for everything that LNP did build, there were some things they did right, and at least under the LNP the trains actually run on time. The ALP on-time performance record for trains was laughable at best

Brisbane's infrastructure ain't too bad. Although the Centenary and Gateway need fixing. And the Ipswich Mwy. If there's one thing I'm waiting on Annastacia for, it's going full Daniel Andrews and removing some of Brisbane's most sh*thouse level crossings, like at Coopers Plains. Any southern Brisbanians would know what I'm talking about.

That's a thing I like about Dan, he doesn't f*** around with Infrastructure (removing 75 of Melby's worst rail crossings, like at the horror spaghetti junction in Reservoir.) Like how Anna does a good job at handling COVID while being, as you might say, 'a doorknob'.

Gladys has built a lot of infrastructure and as transport minister, I'll give her that, however, most of what she built would have been better if it was just a few km longer. Not only would have it had promoted more patronage, but also would have been orders of magnitude more useful. The biggest criticism I have for the Parra light rail line is that it doesm't go to Epping, and the biggest criticims I have for the North-west metro is that it doesn't go to Schofields, other than that, and the fact that it's a metro, I can't really fault it, and whilst the Parra light rail is still under construction, I can't really fault that either, other than it should have gone to Epping. Yea, they converted the Carlingford line, but with the exception of race days (which had full, 8 carriage trains), the number of people who rode the half-hourly Carlingford Line trains could be counted on one hand, so therefore the Carlingford Line was unsustainable as a stand-alone rail line

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

Gee, not much to talk about other than Australia Day, is there?

[Australian rePublic]

The NSW government was complaining for several days about how low testing numbers are. Tomorrow, Tuesday, beint the Australia Day public holiday will probably see numbers skyrocket. My hypothosis is, so that everyone can get a 4 day weekend, people have told their bosses that they can't come in today because they have to get Covid tests. I also wonder if the government has thought of this this but doesn't want to say anything to avoid giving people ideas

Gee, not much to talk about other than Australia Day, is there?

Not really. Fortunately, we live in a boring country politically. Boringness=good when it comes to politics

[Albrenia]

The NSW government was complaining for several days about how low testing numbers are. Tomorrow, Tuesday, beint the Australia Day public holiday will probably see numbers skyrocket. My hypothosis is, so that everyone can get a 4 day weekend, people have told their bosses that they can't come in today because they have to get Covid tests. I also wonder if the government has thought of this this but doesn't want to say anything to avoid giving people ideas

Gee, not much to talk about other than Australia Day, is there?

Not really. Fortunately, we live in a boring country politically. Boringness=good when it comes to politics

I know right. I'm not even that fussed who wins the next election.

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

The NSW government was complaining for several days about how low testing numbers are. Tomorrow, Tuesday, beint the Australia Day public holiday will probably see numbers skyrocket. My hypothosis is, so that everyone can get a 4 day weekend, people have told their bosses that they can't come in today because they have to get Covid tests. I also wonder if the government has thought of this this but doesn't want to say anything to avoid giving people ideas


Not really. Fortunately, we live in a boring country politically. Boringness=good when it comes to politics

I know right. I'm not even that fussed who wins the next election.

Aus rePublic, if you want to start up your own party, just do it! You might even win a seat!

And regarding the next election, I'd be surprised if Labor does get in. Not over policy, even - just because I want something different - might be sh*t, but I think the controversy and criticism the LNP's been subjected to - and this comes from a former vocal supporter of the LNP - might just give the other parties a decent edge.

Unless Sky and (the majority of) the rest bury it under a pile of bulls**t identity politics.

That's a general problem, I think too many people (and the media) focus on 'oh, Michael Daley said the word Asians' or the latest Bachelor episode, rather than the real nitty-gritty of what these politicians want to do.

I just want some open telling-it-like-it-is, rather than diverting the conversation to whether or not Eddie McGuire has an appealing smile.

[Australian rePublic]

I know right. I'm not even that fussed who wins the next election.

Aus rePublic, if you want to start up your own party, just do it! You might even win a seat!

And regarding the next election, I'd be surprised if Labor does get in. Not over policy, even - just because I want something different - might be sh*t, but I think the controversy and criticism the LNP's been subjected to - and this comes from a former vocal supporter of the LNP - might just give the other parties a decent edge.

Unless Sky and (the majority of) the rest bury it under a pile of bulls**t identity politics.

That's a general problem, I think too many people (and the media) focus on 'oh, Michael Daley said the word Asians' or the latest Bachelor episode, rather than the real nitty-gritty of what these politicians want to do.

I just want some open telling-it-like-it-is, rather than diverting the conversation to whether or not Eddie McGuire has an appealing smile.

I don't wanna start my own party, I have thought about in the past, but it's too much of a commitment that I'm not willing to make and I also don't want to become a public figure, I like being a private citizen. Besides, I'm happy with my current carrer. However, I would like the ability to comission infrastructure. Identity politics gives me the shits. Identity politics and the fact that we're an over-regulated nanny state is what's wrong with this country. Having said that however, you can't be a self-proclaimed SJW if you don't like identity politics

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

[
I don't wanna start my own party, I have thought about in the past, but it's too much of a commitment that I'm not willing to make and I also don't want to become a public figure, I like being a private citizen. Besides, I'm happy with my current carrer. However, I would like the ability to comission infrastructure. Identity politics gives me the shits. Identity politics and the fact that we're an over-regulated nanny state is what's wrong with this country. Having said that however, you can't be a self-proclaimed SJW if you don't like identity politics

What do you mean by the last sentence? 'you can't be a self-proclaimed SJW if you don't like identity politics'

I don't understand

[Australian rePublic]

[
I don't wanna start my own party, I have thought about in the past, but it's too much of a commitment that I'm not willing to make and I also don't want to become a public figure, I like being a private citizen. Besides, I'm happy with my current carrer. However, I would like the ability to comission infrastructure. Identity politics gives me the shits. Identity politics and the fact that we're an over-regulated nanny state is what's wrong with this country. Having said that however, you can't be a self-proclaimed SJW if you don't like identity politics

What do you mean by the last sentence? 'you can't be a self-proclaimed SJW if you don't like identity politics'

I don't understand

You're a self-proclaimed SJW aren't you?

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

*Redacted*

[Australian rePublic]

[
You're a self-proclaimed SJW aren't you?

tbh, I'm not 100% sure. I'm a little more towards the left,
but I don't think i'm a SJW.

Usually SJWs say 'you are 100% wrong, my opinion's absolute, f*** off if you don't like it'.

Early on I might have sounded like that,
but I'm trying to improve on that so people don't see me as an SJW left-tard.

That's 50% of what SJWs do, however the other 50% is identity politics

[Maroochydore]

About Oz day,
We should remove the Union Jack out of our national flag.
We're an independent country. We shouldn't have a flag of an other country in our own flag?

[A-Series-Of-Tubes]

About Oz day,
We should remove the Union Jack out of our national flag.
We're an independent country. We shouldn't have a flag of an other country in our own flag?

No, make the old Union Jack the Commonwealth flag. Then require the UK to have every other Commonwealth nation's flag, on their own.