Australian Political & Infrastructure Discussion Thread

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

*sigh*
Yesterday was 20 years since 9/11.

I can't imagine what it must have been like.

But to me, it serves as a reminder to how it was used to justify another war
and take some of our civil liberties.

and needlessly throwing our men in Afghanistan just so the Taliban can overrun their sacrifices in a matter of weeks

true.
Wonder where aus rePublic went?

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

Sure, it's just the ebb and flow of politics, rorting.
But the level of it that has happened under the LNP. Not just sports rorts, but Carparks, urban congestion, regional growth (which a company which Federal MP John McVeigh had a conflict of interest with got funds from), and bushfire recovery. The Blue Mountains seat in NSW, on a state level, got SFA from the bushfire recovery fund.

[Perikuresu]

and needlessly throwing our men in Afghanistan just so the Taliban can overrun their sacrifices in a matter of weeks

true.
Wonder where aus rePublic went?

Probably had to deal with some rl stuff, hope the best for him

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

true.
Wonder where aus rePublic went?

Probably had to deal with some rl stuff, hope the best for him

me too

[Australian rePublic]

Thanks for the concern guys, I am fine. However, I appreciate the concern. I just don't know how to reply to your most recent posts here, and don't really have anything else non-Covid related to contribute. I want to contact a political party to raise my concerns about various issues in Australa. Not one of those neiche, single issue parties, but one with a bigger agenda. Who do you think would be more likely to heed my message?

[Shrillland]

Thanks for the concern guys, I am fine. However, I appreciate the concern. I just don't know how to reply to your most recent posts here, and don't really have anything else non-Covid related to contribute. I want to contact a political party to raise my concerns about various issues in Australa. Not one of those neiche, single issue parties, but one with a bigger agenda. Who do you think would be more likely to heed my message?

Difficult to say. You've got a strong centrist streak with positions that go all over the place, and your concerns aren't all that connected with the major parties....though I think Labor would be a better fit for a lot of them.

[Australian rePublic]

Thanks for the concern guys, I am fine. However, I appreciate the concern. I just don't know how to reply to your most recent posts here, and don't really have anything else non-Covid related to contribute. I want to contact a political party to raise my concerns about various issues in Australa. Not one of those neiche, single issue parties, but one with a bigger agenda. Who do you think would be more likely to heed my message?

Difficult to say. You've got a strong centrist streak with positions that go all over the place, and your concerns aren't all that connected with the major parties....though I think Labor would be a better fit for a lot of them.

Not the major parties

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

Thanks for the concern guys, I am fine. However, I appreciate the concern. I just don't know how to reply to your most recent posts here, and don't really have anything else non-Covid related to contribute. I want to contact a political party to raise my concerns about various issues in Australa. Not one of those neiche, single issue parties, but one with a bigger agenda. Who do you think would be more likely to heed my message?

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers?
Katter's Australia Party?
One Nati-no, forget it.
The Liberal Democrats?

[Shrillland]

Thanks for the concern guys, I am fine. However, I appreciate the concern. I just don't know how to reply to your most recent posts here, and don't really have anything else non-Covid related to contribute. I want to contact a political party to raise my concerns about various issues in Australa. Not one of those neiche, single issue parties, but one with a bigger agenda. Who do you think would be more likely to heed my message?

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers?
Katter's Australia Party?
One Nati-no, forget it.
The Liberal Democrats?

Actually, SFF is an OK one to choose, he's not really in line with the Liberal Democrats though. Centre Alliance is all right, but they're mostly sticking to SA.

[Australian rePublic]

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers?
Katter's Australia Party?
One Nati-no, forget it.
The Liberal Democrats?

Actually, SFF is an OK one to choose, he's not really in line with the Liberal Democrats though. Centre Alliance is all right, but they're mostly sticking to SA.

Cheers. Thanks!

[Forsher]

News Facebook thought I absolutely needed to know...



Maiwar is in Queensland. It appears to be a suburb of Brisbane. This is (a) not somewhere I've visited in a decade, (b) some 95km or so from where my grandfather lives, (c) probably about 70km from where I think a friend of mine now lives and, most importantly, (d) some 2,300km and a different country from where I live (though I could also live in, let's see, the Northern Territory or South Australia... I should also clarify that I do not live in PNG or the Solomon Islands though they, too, are different countries).

Also, is getting a speed reduction to just 50km/h really worth celebrating? I guess he said it's a small win.

So, on the off chance anyone from Maiwar is here, congratulations, you have a marginally effective MP.

[The United Colonies of Earth]

Sup. I occasionally read about Aussie PMs and Vic premiers wanting to build more freeways in Victoria's LA. Last I heard, they were going to duplicate the M1 with a tunnel, after shuffling a plan to extend the Eastern Freeway westward down the Yarra. That still ongoing?
And any Sydneysiders know much about the expansion of the freeway grid outside of the CBD courtesy of...Transurban and company?

*sigh*
Yesterday was 20 years since 9/11.

I can't imagine what it must have been like.

But to me, it serves as a reminder to how it was used to justify another war
and take some of our civil liberties.

and needlessly throwing our men in Afghanistan just so the Taliban can overrun their sacrifices in a matter of weeks

*wonders if I should narcissistically claim the credit for the mismanagement of Afghan nation-building belongs to my birth country*

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

Sup. I occasionally read about Aussie PMs and Vic premiers wanting to build more freeways in Victoria's LA. Last I heard, they were going to duplicate the M1 with a tunnel, after shuffling a plan to extend the Eastern Freeway westward down the Yarra. That still ongoing?
And any Sydneysiders know much about the expansion of the freeway grid outside of the CBD courtesy of...Transurban and company?

Transurban & Company - Australia's Tollroad Overlord.

[Australian rePublic]

All I can say is that, in my opinion, Australia would benefit greatly from a civil rights charter

As for infrastructure, I believe that Australia should bid to hosythe winter Olympics. Even if it's a pie-in-the-sky bid that'll go nowhere, we'd be able to build a much, much better winter tourism industry. If we really cared to do so, we could even become the main snow centre of the Asia-Pacific region.imagine Singaporeans, for example, travelling to Australia to see snow. Australia will never have the snow to attract people globally, but baring New Zealand, there isn't much snow elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific Region. If it were up to me, I'd work with the Kiwis to form a Trans-Tasman winter playground, complete with international flights to the snowy parts of our country


I'm also really glad that Scott Morrison has formed AUKUS and am really greatful for the work he is doing to keep our region safe from China

[Shrillland]

France doesn't seem all that thrilled with AUKUS, but then they got shorted out of all that money.

Personally, I'd add Canada and New Zealand and make Five Eyes a genuine start for a Pacific version of NATO.

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

All I can say is that, in my opinion, Australia would benefit greatly from a civil rights charter

As for infrastructure, I believe that Australia should bid to hosythe winter Olympics. Even if it's a pie-in-the-sky bid that'll go nowhere, we'd be able to build a much, much better winter tourism industry. If we really cared to do so, we could even become the main snow centre of the Asia-Pacific region.imagine Singaporeans, for example, travelling to Australia to see snow. Australia will never have the snow to attract people globally, but baring New Zealand, there isn't much snow elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific Region. If it were up to me, I'd work with the Kiwis to form a Trans-Tasman winter playground, complete with international flights to the snowy parts of our country


I'm also really glad that Scott Morrison has formed AUKUS and am really greatful for the work he is doing to keep our region safe from China

NZ doesn't want to join the party. Why?
it doesn't want nuclear submarines in its waters. And neither do I. The media (especially Sky News) will likely trumpet
that it means 'nuclear power is safe to pursue now' throughout this whole thing.

Jacinda Ardern has some common sense.

I don't want a war with China. I think they just want to keep to themselves. I'm not an apologist for the CCP, I think their treatment of the Uyghurs is horrible (but that's from the perspective of a Western person such as myself) and they are ramping up authoritarian legislation, but then again, so is Australia; they can now infiltrate devices and social media accounts and add, delete and alter data - and now the High Court has ruled that social media companies are responsible for everything published in comment sections - treated as a publisher, as it were.

Trying to provoke a war with our biggest trade partner isn't going to work out well. The US would prefer we stuck with them, cause the last time a prime minister dared try to challenge the US by saying they were going to close Pine Gap, a surveillance facility near Alice Springs, for spying on Asia, and trying to nationalise Australia's mines, there was an apparent coup and Whitlam was ousted.

[Imperial isa]

France doesn't seem all that thrilled with AUKUS, but then they got shorted out of all that money.

Personally, I'd add Canada and New Zealand and make Five Eyes a genuine start for a Pacific version of NATO.

I was told the Canadian government got upset when the military moved to cancel exercises with China so maybe wait with them.

[Australian rePublic]

All I can say is that, in my opinion, Australia would benefit greatly from a civil rights charter

As for infrastructure, I believe that Australia should bid to hosythe winter Olympics. Even if it's a pie-in-the-sky bid that'll go nowhere, we'd be able to build a much, much better winter tourism industry. If we really cared to do so, we could even become the main snow centre of the Asia-Pacific region.imagine Singaporeans, for example, travelling to Australia to see snow. Australia will never have the snow to attract people globally, but baring New Zealand, there isn't much snow elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific Region. If it were up to me, I'd work with the Kiwis to form a Trans-Tasman winter playground, complete with international flights to the snowy parts of our country


I'm also really glad that Scott Morrison has formed AUKUS and am really greatful for the work he is doing to keep our region safe from China

NZ doesn't want to join the party. Why?
it doesn't want nuclear submarines in its waters. And neither do I. The media (especially Sky News) will likely trumpet
that it means 'nuclear power is safe to pursue now' throughout this whole thing.

Jacinda Ardern has some common sense.

I don't want a war with China. I think they just want to keep to themselves. I'm not an apologist for the CCP, I think their treatment of the Uyghurs is horrible (but that's from the perspective of a Western person such as myself) and they are ramping up authoritarian legislation, but then again, so is Australia; they can now infiltrate devices and social media accounts and add, delete and alter data - and now the High Court has ruled that social media companies are responsible for everything published in comment sections - treated as a publisher, as it were.

Trying to provoke a war with our biggest trade partner isn't going to work out well. The US would prefer we stuck with them, cause the last time a prime minister dared try to challenge the US by saying they were going to close Pine Gap, a surveillance facility near Alice Springs, for spying on Asia, and trying to nationalise Australia's mines, there was an apparent coup and Whitlam was ousted.

China mostly keeps to themselves? You're joking right? Chinais the Asia-Pacific's larget threat probably since the Japanese in WWII. China's regime is a malicious organisation to the security of the region and they most certainly do not keep to themselves. Between the South China Sea, Taiwan, Salami slicing of India, debt trap diplomacy, Belt and Road debt-trap diplomacy, banning reincarnation without government concent in order to further oppress Tibet (yes, they actually did that), trying to claim themselves as a "near Arctic state", I wouldn't know how it's possible for any non-appologist to consider China to "keep to themselves". Seriously, mate, you're way, way off on that one.

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

China mostly keeps to themselves? You're joking right? Chinais the Asia-Pacific's larget threat probably since the Japanese in WWII. China's regime is a malicious organisation to the security of the region and they most certainly do not keep to themselves. Between the South China Sea, Taiwan, Salami slicing of India, debt trap diplomacy, Belt and Road debt-trap diplomacy, banning reincarnation without government concent in order to further oppress Tibet (yes, they actually did that), trying to claim themselves as a "near Arctic state", I wouldn't know how it's possible for any non-appologist to consider China to "keep to themselves". Seriously, mate, you're way, way off on that one.

Okay, I retract my previous statement.
Still think it's better to not go to war with - or keep provoking China, for that matter.
I think Australia's becoming a laughingstock on many things - still down there with Poland in terms of vaccinations according to the OECD, worst on climate action in the developed world, 54th in fixed internet speed, some of the most draconian laws passed since 9/11, more than the US or UK, actually, some of the most concentrated media ownership in the world, some of the worst defamation laws in the world, you get it.

Australia's not exactly a role model on the world stage either.

Not an apologist for C H Y N A, but I do like to keep in mind that America's not great either, and Australia's bad as well.

[Imperial isa]

Wasn't it Tony Abbott who when to come to upgrading the internet say something about not wanting to pay for everyone entertainment?

[Australian rePublic]

China mostly keeps to themselves? You're joking right? Chinais the Asia-Pacific's larget threat probably since the Japanese in WWII. China's regime is a malicious organisation to the security of the region and they most certainly do not keep to themselves. Between the South China Sea, Taiwan, Salami slicing of India, debt trap diplomacy, Belt and Road debt-trap diplomacy, banning reincarnation without government concent in order to further oppress Tibet (yes, they actually did that), trying to claim themselves as a "near Arctic state", I wouldn't know how it's possible for any non-appologist to consider China to "keep to themselves". Seriously, mate, you're way, way off on that one.

Okay, I retract my previous statement.
Still think it's better to not go to war with - or keep provoking China, for that matter.
I think Australia's becoming a laughingstock on many things - still down there with Poland in terms of vaccinations according to the OECD, worst on climate action in the developed world, 54th in fixed internet speed, some of the most draconian laws passed since 9/11, more than the US or UK, actually, some of the most concentrated media ownership in the world, some of the worst defamation laws in the world, you get it.

Australia's not exactly a role model on the world stage either.

Not an apologist for C H Y N A, but I do like to keep in mind that America's not great either, and Australia's bad as well.

The thing is with China, we're either their puppets or we provoke them. It's a case of either or, and I don't know which is worse. Cutting a single string, even by accident, provokes them. However, I don't think China would actually start a war. Not only are they weaker than they'd like to admit, but also, they've pissed a lot of countries recently. A lot of countries already had the shits with China, but the Covid cover-up has made everyone even angrier with China, and in many cases, became the straw in terms of diplomatic relations with these countries. China has pissed off so many countries (which the great Covid cover up has exasserbated) that I believe that they'd be too scared to start a war. In the meanwhile, Australia has created more and more friendly relationships with countries that have the shits with China. These include, amongst others, Japan, India, etc. These countries already have the shits with China, and probably wouldn't take too kindly to China threatening us. I don't think China would takethe chance. Say what you want about Morisson's government, but gosh, they're damned good at diplomacy.

As for climate change, that's a whole other issue, which warrants its own post

As for the vaccines and NBN, yea, both of those were fuck ups, but at least the vaccine roll out has finally gathered pace. New South Wales and Victoria at least have caught up, but unfortunately, Queensland and Western Australia are lagging bhind. Say what you want about Berejiklian, but I am glad she had the foresight to set up mass vaccination hubs before recieving large quantities of doses, so that way, once we received the doses, we were ready to administer them. No other premier had that kind of foresight. It also didn't help that there was a huge, unnecessary fear campaign around AstroZenica. If people weren't so unnecessarily fearful about AZ, we'd've completed the roll our by now, but you know, the media need some kind of fear-mongering I guess, and it didn't help that Palaszczuk played into the fear-mongering. I, both my parents have recieved both AZ shots, we're all fully vaccinated with AstroZenica, and we're all fine.

[Perikuresu]

All I can say is that, in my opinion, Australia would benefit greatly from a civil rights charter

As for infrastructure, I believe that Australia should bid to hosythe winter Olympics. Even if it's a pie-in-the-sky bid that'll go nowhere, we'd be able to build a much, much better winter tourism industry. If we really cared to do so, we could even become the main snow centre of the Asia-Pacific region.imagine Singaporeans, for example, travelling to Australia to see snow. Australia will never have the snow to attract people globally, but baring New Zealand, there isn't much snow elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific Region. If it were up to me, I'd work with the Kiwis to form a Trans-Tasman winter playground, complete with international flights to the snowy parts of our country

I'm also really glad that Scott Morrison has formed AUKUS and am really greatful for the work he is doing to keep our region safe from China

1. Considering the laws passed recently, I would have to agree, even though we have precedents set by the courts, but let's be honest, Laws > Precedents. (Also idk if c'est just me or is it that we're slowly becoming America 2.0? Anyways, would be hilarious to see Sovereign Citizens/Other nutbags try to use this as a form of justification on why they shouldn't get arrested for that bad thing they did)

2. Lately, there's been debates on whether to abolish the Olympics or whatnot, mainly because it's costs outweigh the outcomes and it's a big financial drain, and ngl nobody (except Anastasia) gave a crap about the Tokyo Olympics (mainly because we're trying not to die in a pandemic and whatnot + more) Tbh, I think the money spent on bidding for the Olympics is better spent on other stuff, like idk, Jobkeeper, so workers don't get fired from their jobs because their employers can't pay them, or trying to convert to renewables and making Australia more sustainable

3. Seems like a bit of a gamble tbh, we're not a nation known for snow, and ik you've acknowledged that. On one hand, it could work, but it wouldn't bring in as much money as tourism in other parts of Australia, like our beaches or something, but the silver lining is that it's going to encourage domestic tourism, considering that not many Australians get the chance to see snow, and with the whole COVID thing. On the other, it could just be worthless because everyone's just gonna go to Switzerland.

4. Omfg just create Asian NATO already. Tbh I used to think that our policy with China should be similar to Japan. Keep trading with them, but slowly become economically independent on them, sell our goods to other nations, and source raw materials from the 2nd largest producers of them (e.g. iirc China made trade of some specific metal needed for tech production harder to be exported to Japan, so Japan just sourced them from Vietnam instead) Though the latter is pretty useless, considering the fact that we produce alot of raw materials. Sounds starry eyed, even ik myself. Considering the trade war China dragged us in because ScoMo wanted an independent inquiry on the origins of COVID (which ngl, they tried to conceal information about it from coming out, until they couldn't. Also imo the lab leak theory is just wacky) Rather than try to suck up to China again, we should try to suck up to other nations, like India, Indonesia or Vietnam, and also try to bring manufacturing jobs back to Australia. We should capitalise on our abundant raw resources.

France doesn't seem all that thrilled with AUKUS, but then they got shorted out of all that money.

Personally, I'd add Canada and New Zealand and make Five Eyes a genuine start for a Pacific version of NATO.

Tbh the Quad's a better jumping off point for an APAC version of NATO, Canada, US, NZ and Australia are basically Western nations.
If I were to see an Asian NATO be formed (I'll name it APTO or IPATO, short for Asia-Pacific Treaty Organisation or Indo-Pacific Asia Treaty Organisation), I would see America, Australia, NZ, India, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Phillipines, South Korea, Palau, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, UK (for Pitcairn Is.) and France (French Polynesia and NC, the latter I believe would probably be the next Overseas Department), and if it includes the Middle East, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

NZ doesn't want to join the party. Why?
it doesn't want nuclear submarines in its waters. And neither do I. The media (especially Sky News) will likely trumpet
that it means 'nuclear power is safe to pursue now' throughout this whole thing.
Jacinda Ardern has some common sense.

Trying to provoke a war with our biggest trade partner isn't going to work out well. The US would prefer we stuck with them, cause the last time a prime minister dared try to challenge the US by saying they were going to close Pine Gap, a surveillance facility near Alice Springs, for spying on Asia, and trying to nationalise Australia's mines, there was an apparent coup and Whitlam was ousted.

1. Agreed, not to mention the jobs that would be lost considering that most the workers were skilled in making Subs fuelled on fossil fuels. Extra note: It's most likely gonna be made in SA. I don't think McGowen would take too kindly to have Nuclear power in WA.
2. Ngl, China started it first, but we made it worse by clapping back, but tbh who wouldn't. Also the Whitlam coup thing is alledged, but I think that's just us being skeptic towards America

Okay, I retract my previous statement.
Still think it's better to not go to war with - or keep provoking China, for that matter.
I think Australia's becoming a laughingstock on many things - still down there with Poland in terms of vaccinations according to the OECD, worst on climate action in the developed world, 54th in fixed internet speed, some of the most draconian laws passed since 9/11, more than the US or UK, actually, some of the most concentrated media ownership in the world, some of the worst defamation laws in the world, you get it.

Australia's not exactly a role model on the world stage either.

Not an apologist for C H Y N A, but I do like to keep in mind that America's not great either, and Australia's bad as well.

The thing is with China, we're either their puppets or we provoke them. It's a case of either or, and I don't know which is worse. Cutting a single string, even by accident, provokes them. However, I don't think China would actually start a war. Not only are they weaker than they'd like to admit, but also, they've pissed a lot of countries recently. A lot of countries already had the shits with China, but the Covid cover-up has made everyone even angrier with China, and in many cases, became the straw in terms of diplomatic relations with these countries. China has pissed off so many countries (which the great Covid cover up has exasserbated) that I believe that they'd be too scared to start a war. In the meanwhile, Australia has created more and more friendly relationships with countries that have the shits with China. These include, amongst others, Japan, India, etc. These countries already have the shits with China, and probably wouldn't take too kindly to China threatening us. I don't think China would takethe chance. Say what you want about Morisson's government, but gosh, they're damned good at diplomacy.

1. Ok, I'm not the kindest when it comes to China, but too scared to start a war is laughable. Their population trumps literally every country in the world and their Navy outsizes America's by a margin. India is basically surrounded by Chinese allies (except in the East, not sure on Bangladesh or Burma), so they're already at a disadvantage there, if they play their cards wrong (e.g. not rushing to Islamabad and starting offensives into Tibet) and China passes the Himalayas, better relocate your capital to the South because I see no hope in defending New Delhi. I don't think a nation America made sure to demilitarise would be scary for China, with the exception of Japan's geography, China's gonna have a field day in Japan.
Imo, the reason that they won't dare to start a war against anyone is that economic warfare is more beneficial.

[Amorosa-Coonarra Coasts]

Reckon I should start a new thread around climate change?

[Perikuresu]

Reckon I should start a new thread around climate change?

How many potshots to the Liberals can we make?

[Diahon]

oi, oi, what's this about an asian nato?