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isn't it thursday they are voting on it but with the fires and floods i can understand why everyone is a little preoccupied
Actually someone just told me tonight that the money might go to the bushfire victims, and I totally understand that. I'm not going to complain about money when people have lost their homes and loved ones. :(
I don't know if it will or not, but yes, some of the money is now being redirected to the bushfire victims, I don't know if that will impact on the cash payments or not. I actually thought the Govt had a disaster relief fund to deal with this anyway, so not sure on the finer details.
I know the government does have a relief fund for this kind of terrible situation but not sure how much. I think they would have to delay everything else at the moment and sort out the most important first. So i wouldnt think that there will be a vote for awhile.
news this morning said there were heaps of changes made to the package in the senate so it will have to go back to house of reps to be passed there again, then back to the senate
looks to be at least another week before decisions are made
All reports are that it will be voted upon Thursday night as planned. Life goes on I am afraid senate will continue despite the tragedy in Victoria and far north Qld. Government does have funds to support the events of far north Qld and Victoria.:
Stimulus discussions to continue
AAPFebruary 11, 2009 07:37am+-PrintEmailShare
KEY senators expect to have further talks with the Federal Government today to hammer out an agreement on its $42 billion economic stimulus package.
The Government needs the support of all seven crossbench senators to have legislation implementing the package pass through parliament.
But all seven senators want the Government to make changes.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding wants $4 billion spent on job creation in local communities.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon wants cash bonuses slashed and that money pumped into the ailing Murray-Darling Basin.
The Australian Greens have concerns over access to the dole and the one-off cash payments to millions of Australians, with Greens leader Bob Brown saying the money could be better spent.
"We are not going to stand in the way of the nation getting an economic stimulus, but it doesn't mean we have to accept everything that's in the package," he told ABC radio.
The one-off cash payments was the weakest part of the package, he said.
Senator Brown expects to meet officials from Treasurer Wayne Swan's office today.
"I'm hoping we get toward some sort of finality."
The Government wants its legislation approved by the end of senate business tomorrow.
Ok..doesn't sound like it will go through. But you never know..
I'm so glad they are helping out the bushfire victims though. They really need it the most right now.
TBH I'm quite impressed by these politicians (although I'm not comfortable with the overall platform of one of them). It would be so easy to take the populist road and give everyone $950 but instead they have chosen to follow a less popular path and say that all those $950 payments should be spent on things that they believe will be more beneficial to the community as a whole. It's so rare that politicians have the courage to be unpopular.:
Stimulus discussions to continue
But all seven senators want the Government to make changes.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding wants $4 billion spent on job creation in local communities.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon wants cash bonuses slashed and that money pumped into the ailing Murray-Darling Basin.
The Australian Greens have concerns over access to the dole and the one-off cash payments to millions of Australians, with Greens leader Bob Brown saying the money could be better spent.
"We are not going to stand in the way of the nation getting an economic stimulus, but it doesn't mean we have to accept everything that's in the package," he told ABC radio.
The one-off cash payments was the weakest part of the package, he said.
Personally, I think the Murray Darling basin is a lost cause - what Nick Xenophon wants is just unrealistic - he wants the Govt to buy back the water licenses, but all that will do is make that farming land unsaleable because it's usually unproductive as anything else BUT irrigated farming because of the way it is set up. Plus if there is no one growing the fruit and vege that rely in irrigation in those areas, then that becomes more costly to us as a whole as we have to rely on imported foods - meaning that they are kept in cold storage for longer and we are being forced to buy sub-standard food. It was the Governments fault in the first place that it's in the state it is in by over-selling the water allocations (seriously, they have sold more water than what is even in the river to start with) so they could get their greedy little hands on more money for essentially nothing.
Even though the cash handouts are the weakest link, I still think it will go through with some modifications to it, maybe that we don't get as much etc - it's ridiculous that if it went through as it was I would get nearly $5000.
I hear what you are saying Dachlostar. However, I think it will go thru much as it is - it's just being pulled apart.
Analytically it will be political suicide for the opposition to stop the cash payments - & I may be proven wrong but methinks that will not happen (the opposition stopping the cash payments).
More likely the money will be more equally divided between education, environmental support and health (I think).
Cathy the payments will not be stopped because of the fires - that funding is quite separate. Economically the fires will help to boost the economy due to the rebuilding that will be necessary. That may sound odd but that is how the economy works...
Its funny because I had to ring C'link the other day and they have a recorded message informing ppl of what dates these payments will be made between.
If it hasnt been passed in the Senate yet how can they know if or when to make these payments.
I think Morgan as it's more unlikely that it won't - AND because people have the Lemmings affect and it just blocks up phone lines.
It will take a lot to over turn this - & again I think it's unlikely.
Morgan, they may just have had the dates to ward off people asking kwim? If that's all you wanted to know, then you'd hang up and free the lines etc.
Deb, I read some articles on the Age online and it said that the approval rating for Labor has increased and the opposition has dropped back, and KR is preferred PM by a long shot now, but I don't think it has come down this, I just don't think LIbs are very appealing to the voters atm, although this certainly hasn't helped. Also 52% of people said that they thought the coalition wouldn't have had a better package if it were them, so I don't think that people are 100% happy with it, but they just don't think the libs could have done better.
And yeah, as odd as it sounds, what's happened in vic and qld will help to boost things along, it's just and awful catch22.
working for c'link, i can tell you they'd have put that reference up based on what was released to them to get people off the phones ASAP - the volume of calls coming in when something is announced (even though not passed) is HUGE and it impacts on the number of calls for genuine enquiries that can get through. IF the payments are changed when the stimulus package passes through the senate (which, to a degree, you can guarantee it will be passed in some form) the message will reflect that.:
just judging by the initial thread in here in which there were at least 30 or 40 individuals asking questions, imagine the phone load if everyone with questions rang! those people just from BB would be enough to tie up one person for at least half a day, longer depending on how long that customer asked questions for - and we only have 13000 members here. imagine the call volume from the wider community.
this is ESPECIALLY relevant now that c'link are also taking calls for the bushfire grant packages - several staff members (at a guess, i'd say at least 1 of the call centres, perhaps more) have been taken OFF general enquiries to help the members of the community that need to get those grants paid ASAP. bringing in temps to cover things like this just isn't viable - training to use the systems, even for the most basic of enquiries, takes a minimum 2 weeks, usually more...
I read that too Trill - the Libs are going to have to be very very careful with how they deal with this.
I like to think of it as there is always something positive that comes from tragedy. The beautiful outpouring of kindness and support - fair dinkum empathy really! Then the increase in employment due to the rebuilding.
Saying this of coursse nobody would want or invite this tragedy - but the balance of life brings the beauty of the compassion for other Beings and the increase in employment etc.
I hope that has come out right...:rolleyes:
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Australian Greens back Kevin Rudd's financial stimulus package
NEWS.com.auFebruary 12, 2009 02:25pm+-PrintEmailShare
THE Australian Greens will vote for the federal government's $42 billion stimulus package.
Greens leader Bob Brown made the announcement in the Senate shortly after 2pm (AEDT).
Senator Brown outlined the deal struck between Labor and the Greens.
The Government has agreed to hive off $435 million from proposed tax bonuses and cash payments and instead spend the money on programs Senator Brown said were about "job creation and nation-building infrastructure".
"Many projects which are shovel ready will now get the funding they deserve," he said.
Senator Brown also hinted at the beginning of a deal to build extra bicycle paths across the country.
"Bikeways are now at a premium, bicycles are becoming a matter of new attention, " he said, adding $40 million would be spent on cycleways across the country.
Somewhere between 500 and 700 jobs will be created by construction of the paths.
Part of the stimulus package will be spent on social and defence housing.
Related Coverage
Greens agree to Rudd stimulus plan
NEWS.com.au, 12 Feb 2009
Bike paths win Greens stimulus backing
The Australian, 12 Feb 2009
Amendments fail to win Xenophon vote
The Australian, 12 Feb 2009
Government to force vote on stimulus
The Australian, 12 Feb 2009
Labor 'delaying' stimulus plan vote
The Australian, 11 Feb 2009
Senator Brown said the Government had agreed to a Greens request that energy efficiency be considered in the housing tranche of the stimulus.
But the Government and Greens couldn't reach an agreement on any component to bring forward funding for the Lower Murray, he said.
"There is, to say the least, resistance in government to bringing forward expenditure for the crisis faced (in the) Lower Murray," Senator Brown said.
The Greens also wanted to see water moved down to the Lower Murray to give the Lower Lakes "a drink", but Water Minister Penny Wong "was not accommodating", he said.
:
THE Federal Government will reintroduce legislation advancing its $42 billion economic stimulus package this afternoon after it was rejected by the Senate, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has told Parliament.
The Senate voted down the Government's legislation, implementing the package, after independent senator Nick Xenophon voted with the Coalition.
The Australian Greens and Family First's Steve Fielding voted with the Government, tying the vote at 35-35.
Mr Rudd said his Government would not be deterred from taking "whatever action is necessary" in the national economic interest.
"For those reasons I formally notify the house that later today legislation will be reintroduced to advance this nation's national economic interest at a time of global economic crisis," he said.
Mr Rudd highlighted the wide range of groups which supported the need for stimulus during this time of financial crisis, including the Reserve Bank of Australia, the International Monetary Fund and the Business Council of Australia.
"This crisis now affects Australia fundamentally," he said.
Related Coverage
Senate blocks stimulus plan
Adelaide Now, 12 Feb 2009
Senate rejects Rudd stimulus plan
NEWS.com.au, 12 Feb 2009
Deals for $42b rescue cash
Herald Sun, 11 Feb 2009
Voters punish Turnbull over handouts
NEWS.com.au, 9 Feb 2009
Rudd presses Turnbull to end impasse
The Australian, 6 Feb 2009
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said the prime minister had treated the Parliament with "disingenuous contempt".
The Government refused to negotiate with the Opposition on a more balanced package, Mr Turnbull said, and that was why the vote failed.
"He (Rudd) has said there is no alternative to this proposal, and yet we all know ... not one of us is the repository of all wisdom on this or any other issue," Mr Turnbull told Parliament.
Instead Mr Rudd chose to present a package that would just saddle Australians with debt, Mr Turnbull said.