I wonder if Protagoras knows which sector is the biggest employer of Indigenous Australians? Take a wild guess! Those who want to keep the natives on welfare "down on the reservation" are backing this tax grab as hard as they can. Would want them natives to be independent of Government!

Garum Marsala

The most current international survey of 50 cities on the cost of living lists Oslo as the 14th most expensive city.

http://www.mercer.us/summary.htm?idContent=1311145#top_50

Furthermore, Norway has a small population, a high income and has managed to deal with the current financial crisis very well. Yet we in Australia must endure the rants of 'populate or perish' nonsense! The fact remains that it is the disciplined and common sense approach to economic management that has ensured smooth sailing for the Norwegian economy.

The most current annual report by the United Nations has found that Norway has the highest standard of living for its citizens and came in ahead of Australia.

The UN looked at life expectancy, literacy rates, school enrolment and country economies to make their decision. Norway has set a worthy example in economic management that Australia should well consider emulating.

Do try to keep up.

“I wonder if Protagoras knows which sector is the biggest employer of Indigenous Australians? Take a wild guess! Those who want to keep the natives on welfare "down on the reservation" are backing this tax grab as hard as they can. Would want them natives to be independent of Government!”

Not only pretty sick comments from Siltstone but they're also racist and false. Indigenous Australians are employed in many different industries and the bulk of the massive welfare payments in this nation go to white Australians. With a population of 22 million including 500,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders - go figure!

http://www.aboriginalworkersunion.com.au/page37.html

The only reason indigenous people were employed in the mining industry is because the army of slimy, profiteering bastards in mining were dragged kicking and screaming into submission. The industry’s boast of indigenous employment in mining is as insincere as their duplicitous ‘sustainability’ reports but when has this industry ever let the truth get in the way of self-interest?

Thanks Protagoras, Saturday, 15 May 2010 11:22:02 PM , you know I have been a bit suspicious for a while that Rudd might have been burgling the poor old Aboriginals to pay my pension .

Protagoras,

Norway has vast oil reserves, hydro electric power, and a population of 4m. Holding them as a model to emulate is as facile as using Saudi Arabia.

Other than your colourful invective you have yet to provide any economically sound argument as to why mining in Aus should be the highest taxed in the world.

Perhaps a little less flowery emotion against the tall poppies and a smidgen of reason.

its clear bhp has money comming out of its ears..By Rebecca Keenan

Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) -- BHP Billiton Ltd.,..the world’s largest mining company,..may resume buying back shares as rising metal prices increase its available cash,..UBS AG said.

The company may announce a buy back as soon as Feb. 10,/..when Melbourne-based BHP releases its first-half profit,..UBS analysts led by Glyn Lawcock..said in a report dated yesterday.

“In financial year 2011 we expect free cash flow of $17 billion and excess cash of $7 billion”..and free cash flow of $4 billion in the year ending June 30, 2010, ..awcock said...“Since suspending its buyback program in December 2007,..BHP has only returned cash to shareholders via the ordinary dividend route.”

so what is the 'dividend'...
http://au.finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=BHP

says its $1.46 cents per share..[share price=$66.39 cents in us dollars]..meaning..only a few cents per dollar return/effectivly..less than cash in a bank

butt..i hear you say..the share price has gone up..[so what says i..see our retirment DEPENDS on return...not share price...bhp shareprice is a delusion..

WHY?..because buggy whips went bust..how do we know those bhp shares will still have any value tomorrow?

study the chart..bhp debt[for egsample..over 16 billion DEBT..and then whats the total debt equity..NOT AVAIL:ABLE..

bhp like all the other multinationals not paying their way..is plasying games..ALL THE CREAM..goes to bonus..in the end the shareholder get nothing but the debt...

and the fixup costs..to fill in the great big holes..they leave in the ground and our COMPUSLORY pension SCEMES..well let govt pay for that with yet another big/new/tax

its sad that the super/we MUST PAY..has enritched the few..sad that bloggers defend the indefensable...sad public servants dont do their duty..and media dont report..aLL THE FACTS

one bad investment..its all gone..
except for the bonus..they gave themselves..on the way to the poor house