Nick Xenophon rejects the Stimulus Package

[smac]

Agree Psyber, foolish in the extreme. Pretty sure that at least one of those industries was started by an enthusiastic state government who were subsidising the creation of an industry to subsidise the demise of another.

[mick]

What has Mr X actually bought?
Will buying out water allocations in full( even though most who have an allocation are on about 2-5% of that allocation) actually deliver a drop to the river or lower lakes ?Before hailing Mr X and promising him your vote in 5 years time lets wait and see if he as actually delivered anything. He did not buy any rain today folks

P.S. has anyone seen all that water up the river that Martin Hamilton- Smith was bleating about 6 months ago about getting down to the lakes?

maintaining the party line as usual

[redandblack]

I look forward to your first left-of-centre post, mick.

[Hondo]

He brought forward future committed spending, rather than extracting any new money like the Greens managed to ($395m taken out of our $950 payouts). In other words, the Govt had already agreed to spend this money in it's water plan, Mr X just brought some of it forward a few years.

Also it's worth noting for the record that Mr X's starting position was $5m brought forward future committed spend + $2m new spending ($7m). He ended up with $1m brought forward spend only.

So did he achieved great things? Probably not. Was it worthwhile still? Probably yes.

Also worth noting that Rudd's $42b is over a 4 year period, with most being spent by 2011 ($14b this year IIRC). The media are implying that he will be writing out a cheque for $42b tomorrow.

[Psyber]

He brought forward future committed spending, rather than extracting any new money like the Greens managed to ($395m taken out of our $950 payouts). In other words, the Govt had already agreed to spend this money in it's water plan, Mr X just brought some of it forward a few years.

Also it's worth noting for the record that Mr X's starting position was $5m brought forward future committed spend + $2m new spending ($7m). He ended up with $1m brought forward spend only.

So did he achieved great things? Probably not. Was it worthwhile still? Probably yes.

Also worth noting that Rudd's $42b is over a 4 year period, with most being spent by 2011 ($14b this year IIRC). The media are implying that he will be writing out a cheque for $42b tomorrow.

Right on both counts Hondo.
I do think getting any of the money brought forward was a good thing - I suspect there is an impulse up river to stall until SA gives in an lets salt water into the lakes to counter the acidification, then say, "Now we don't need to change anything." and re-allocate the money.

[Apachebulldog]

It will help if they buy back the cubby station allocation up in QLD and also all the rice growers allocations.

This land is not meant for growing cotton and rice its only good for gum trees and kangaroos.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFWEEEEEEWANTTTTTTTTTWATERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR !!!

[redden whites]

What has Mr X actually bought?
Will buying out water allocations in full( even though most who have an allocation are on about 2-5% of that allocation) actually deliver a drop to the river or lower lakes ?Before hailing Mr X and promising him your vote in 5 years time lets wait and see if he as actually delivered anything. He did not buy any rain today folks

P.S. has anyone seen all that water up the river that Martin Hamilton- Smith was bleating about 6 months ago about getting down to the lakes?

maintaining the party line as usual

Must hurt too

[Jimmy_041]

He brought forward future committed spending, rather than extracting any new money like the Greens managed to ($395m taken out of our $950 payouts). In other words, the Govt had already agreed to spend this money in it's water plan, Mr X just brought some of it forward a few years.

Also it's worth noting for the record that Mr X's starting position was $5m brought forward future committed spend + $2m new spending ($7m). He ended up with $1m brought forward spend only.

So did he achieved great things? Probably not. Was it worthwhile? Yes.

Also worth noting that Rudd's $42b is over a 4 year period, with most being spent by 2011 ($14b this year IIRC). The media are implying that he will be writing out a cheque for $42b tomorrow.

Hondo - at first I thought he was the Messiah. But there is no new money just an acceleration. He did well but its only a start.

Note some twit in the Sunday Mail is still calling it new funds - f#wits!!!

One good thing - he showed how ineffectual Mike Rann is on the problem. And how effective a hung Senate is. Note the talk is now about a double dissolution.............