I once had a thread on Margo Kingston's webdiary called "The Senate".  Unfortunately it died due to lack of oxygen.The latest performance of the hostile Senate is as unreasonable as I have previously argued.The Liberal Opposition doesn't have any plan or ideas concerning the massive financial disaster caused by the extreme capitalists in the US, nor do they have any concern about the difficulties that the western world is suffering due to their counterparts in America.But, once again the powers that be (the media) protects their exponents of "have and have nots" by excusing the most grubby and un-Australian behaviour by all Senators on the cross benches.Those people who were elected only by their State - to represent only their State - have been given an opportunity by the Liberal/National neo-capitalists to take advantage of the horrendous downturn in the world's economic turmoil to sabotage the democratically elected Government of Australia for the sole selfish purpose of trying to impress that they "know better". Or, urged on by the Liberals – here is a chance where a country is on its knees and the government is unable to function without the support of the Xenothons; the Fieldings and the hypocritical Bob Browns.I not only criticise Xenothon for his "put my views first" (for his constituents in every State?) in the absolute abuse of Section 7 of the Constitution but then using his undemocratic power to have his own way irrespective of the effect on the general public - not even in his State.Likewise, the foolish Liberalised Fielding is having a "field day" so much so that now he doesn't know where he is.Just imagine - a popularly elected Australian government is unable to function without the support of selfish individuals (including Bob Brown) who put their own political futures ahead of the welfare of our nation.Whatever happens, the Liberals should never be able to live down the fact that in these extreme times, caused by whoever, they have undermined every attempt by our Government to soften the blow of extreme capitalism on our population.Bob Brown has said "the government takes the Senate for granted".  Now there is an example of a person who has gained seats and power in the Senate. Struth.Xenothon gains the support of the capitalist media by being a well-spoken power-crazed individual.Fielding - Fielding - what can we say? In support of the alcohol industry he kills the legislation which was a major step in the direction of his hypocritical claim of caring for teen-drinkers. Fair dinkum.If for no other reason, I suggest that this forum looks at the Constitution and wonders why the Senate doesn't function as it was intended.

NE OUBLIE.

This will be cross-posted with http://webdiary-crippled.blogspot.com/

 

 

from the ABC

The Federal Government's second bid to impose a 70 per cent increase on pre-mixed drinks already looks shaky, with the Opposition vowing it will not support it.

Depending on when the bill heads to the Senate, it may also provide a trigger for a double dissolution election.

The Government may be forced into more negotiations with Family First Senator Steve Fielding to get its alcopops laws through but he too says he is standing firm on his demands.

Last month Senator Fielding and the Coalition voted down legislation to lift the tax on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks by 70 per cent, denying the Government of $1.6 billion of revenue over the next four years.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon has today announced the Government will again use its powers to impose a regulation to collect the tax for another 12 months while it seeks to get legislation through Parliament to make the tax rise permanent.

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Steve Fielding and the Libs seem to be singing and dancing to the tune of the brewers. Alcohol used in excess, especially in "under 25s" can lead to ugly behavior, although the yooooouth don't have to drink alcohol to behave badly... Under 25s can really be ugly and I don't mean just pimples — as some university study showed that between age 12 and 25, the human brain reorganises itself, leading to some stupid daring activities, etc ...

The "alcopops" are designed for these young people (girls mostly) who can't stop just at one drink, but get blotto on these alcohol medium-loaded soft-drinks. Not only already addicted to sugar and caffeine, the kids become addicted to alcohol too, like me ... Most beers are designed for the "blokes" in singlets (now to be made in China)... May be the tax should go across all booze and stop me getting blotto every night on red ned... Am I kidding?... Of course.

But if Fielding of Family First still oppose the tax on alcopops to force the government to make "sport and alcohol" advertising/promotion combo illegal (this will come in time), he'll shoot himself — and what he stands for, the family — in the foot (or the head, should the government go to a double dissolution). The libs only oppose the tax because they don't have anything else to do... They might loose their pants too... Who knows...

see toon at top...

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will try one more time to get his increased tax on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks through both houses of Parliament on the day that the federal Budget is unveiled.

The Government has been collecting an extra 70 per cent excise on alcopops since April last year, but earlier this year the Senate blocked its move to make the higher rate of tax permanent.

Today the Government wants both houses to pass the legislation to validate the already collected alcopops tax.

The Greens and the independent Senator Nick Xenophon say it must go through.

see toon at top

Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has given a stronger indication that the Coalition is prepared to pass the Government's higher tax on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks.

The Government failed earlier this year in its first attempt to make the higher rate of tax on alcopops permanent, when Coalition and the Family First Senator Steve Fielding voted against it.

The Government is expected to introduce a bill in the next few weeks to try again.

Mr Turnbull has told Channel Nine that the Opposition is prepared to re-examine the issue.

"We will definitely look at it again, in the context of what they present us with," he said.

"We haven't seen the new bill, and also, we've got to take into account that the budgetary environment has changed.

"Last year the Budget was solidly in surplus. This year we have a record deficit, a deficit so large, so shameful, that the Treasurer wasn't even prepared to mention it in his speech."

Government Business manager Anthony Albanese says a change of heart from the Opposition would be welcome.

"For months you've had the absurd argument that somehow revenue and tax issues can't have an impact on behaviour when it comes to health," he said.

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Last year, the budget was still pinned to an over-inflated booming world economy that had been over-spruiked by Howard and his worldwide friends, including Bush and Greenspan — a boom that anyone with a brain would have had to know was going to tank real bad as the figures did not add up despite the hype — and take government surpluses down the toilet as well...The Rudd government was left with no options but to secure bank deposits, give away some cash to businesses and individuals while taking a negative surplus (a "debt")... Under these measures, the Aussie trade went positive, while under Costello (Turnbull team) this never happened: the more Australia dug holes, the more his trade deficits ballooned beyond a billion dollar month after month after month, if it was not by two billions or more during some months... see toon at top.

from Bob Ellis...

I came from the dream-time, from the dusty red soil plains
I am the ancient heart, the keeper of the flame.
I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come.
For forty thousand years I've been the first Australian.
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian
I came upon the prison ship, bowed down by iron chains.
I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.
I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man, I became Australian...

...

Gus adds the next verse:

and then I became an American...

There has been a huge drop in the sales of pre-mixed alcoholic drinks following the introduction of the so-called alcopops tax.

Official figures show the consumption of pre-mixed alcoholic drinks fell by 30 per cent in the 2008-09 financial year.

There was an increase, however, in the sale of other alcoholic drinks including beer, wine and spirits, meaning there was only a small decline in overall alcohol consumption.

The Federal Government increased the tax on pre-mixed drinks by 70 per cent in April 2008.

Professor Mike Daube from the Public Health Association of Australia says the tax rise has worked as a public health measure.

"The figures released today show exactly why the drinks industry opposed this measure so strongly," he said.

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see toon at top...

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has been criticised for telling radio listeners they can avoid detection for drink-driving by eating Kool Mints.

Mr Kennett claims he has been able to mask his alcohol intake on several occasions by eating the mints.

This has angered police and drug and alcohol education groups, who have condemned the comments.

Mr Kennett told Fairfax Radio drink drivers will feel like a "new person" if they take the mints after drinking too much.

"You should always carry some in your car," he said.

"If you have had a couple of drinks and you want to absorb the alcohol quickly, Kool Mints will do it.

"I would very rarely drink and drive, but if I've had anything at all to drink I will reach into my little pocket.

"To everyone out there I can only suggest if you're ever stupid enough to drink and drive - there are some who do drink and drive - and I'm just saying even if you have one drink, if you have two drinks, reach into the console of your car and have a couple of Kool Mints - you'll feel a new person."

Victoria's Transport Accident Commission (TAC) says anyone who relies on Kool Mints to lower their blood-alcohol levels is a "bloody idiot!".

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/18/3070269.htm

see toon and story at top...

THE alcopops tax has ''probably'' reduced heavy drinking by young people but Australia's overall alcohol consumption still remains marginally higher than five years ago, fuelling expert calls for wider liquor reforms.

The latest available statistics on alcohol consumption show that alcopops sales have continued to fall in the wake of the 70 per cent tax increase imposed in 2008 on the pre-mixed spirit drinks.

In an article in The Medical Journal of Australia published today, a group of experts say new statistics challenge the finding of a Victorian survey last year that suggested the tax increase had not changed secondary students' preference for alcopops.

However, the article cites recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing a drop of about 40 per cent in the sales of alcopops between 2008 and 2010.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/tax-helps-push-sales-of-alcopops-down-but-nation-still-thirsty-whatever-the-flavour-20110717-1hk3k.html#ixzz1SRZdyCrI