Kerry Packer umm. Well i guess you would have to feel sorry for his family considering the legacy left to them. Packer mananged to keep the cruelty of his doing quite regarding live exports for years along with the other media gaint Mr M.
For his family i feel their loss of a Dad and understanding having just lost my own Dad. The pride at what he acheived through his bullying and disregard for basic compashion replaced by the old power trip.Many Country Towns have closed through the purchase of abattoirs. He employed the very grateful locals only to close them later and re divert to live exports.
Some friend of the Ausie farmer hay! I dont think so. The average farmer does not get involved in trade and make the pertinant enquirys to cover himself or herself. However Packer did. He and his buddy Howard along with the nationals have conned the best blokes of our country long enough. Tax dodges by running abattoirs at a loss then diverting to live exports>. Then used OUR tax money to peddle THEIR cruelty Shame on HIM AND the Goverment!What good is money without pride and who can be proud of making millions out of the suffering of Animals and the loss of Ausie jobs?I feel sorry for his family because as the years go by the truth will be known more and more about this sO CALLED Hero.it is to be hoped that James Packer can have the goodwill to convet these poor animals to be slaughtered here and give us our jobs back. He has a big job to do but something tells me we are in better hands with James than we were before. Mean time we can only grieve for the family personally as we all know what is like to loose a loved one and i wish James and his family wisdom and compashion!

I know nothing of Packer: I suspect few do; and those that know something probably do not know as much as they think.
It is always hard to find the measure of a man but if his legacy has anything to do with broadcasting Bolton is not far from the mark. Free to air television is slowly becoming a thing of the past; with the exception of the ABC abd SBS - whether they be captives of the left or not - demonstrate a commitment ot quality broadcasting and innovative production.

Boltons characteristion of Free to air product is as accurate as it is depressing.

The most interesting thing to look out for is what young James does with the network - he is apparently not as commited to Television as was his father - no doubt their will be wild jockying for position under the new leadership witihn the ranks of senior management and the "star" system to curry favour with the new regime.

It started when the Nine cricket commentators waxed lyrical about the old boss passing on - more interesting than the cricket itself I must say.

The publishing axiom of giving peolpe what they want might make for a helathy bottom line but it sure falls short of the mark when you look to commercial television for some degree of window to the world - unless of course you are fascinated by youngster falling flat on their faces from bicycles or hapless dads taking a shot to the groin in a back yard cricket match - ( or more likely baseball as most of the footage is sourced from the US ) - which it seems is what we crave- along with fad diets, expose's of shonky builders and who got pissed at the logies this year.

Kerry Packer was a hard nosed arrogant man, but when you are in his position you have to be....simple.

And as for your live animal export crap, good on him for doing so, he is allowed to be entreprenurial and to capture emerging trends.

You do not know much about the bush by the sounds, packer has achieved great things for the cattle industry. There are usfficient abbotoirs around, and sufficient Jobs in the industry. Go to Rockhampton, Dinmore or Inverell and you will get work immediately.

He contributed to the economy and ensured that our cattle industry did not rot in the dark ages. For farming to be successful in this day and age, economies of scale must be achieved and new markets must be introduced to improve demand for the product.

Those poor animals? you have not mentioned the feed lots that produce most of your abbotoir animals. That is humane though. That is the industry.

When you have a wealth base so large, it is easy to loose it. many people have. You should applaud him not only for protecting his family's interests, but making a positive impact on Australia and increasing his wealth doing it.

Look at the lives he has changed with cricket, the jobs he has created, the products he has created, look at the innovations he has overseen, The cattle industry is much healthier now thanks to Kerry.

An arrogant man yes, but like a true Aussie, he looks after many and stood by his mates and his country.

RIP

What dribble to say "So but like a true Aussie, he looks after many and stood by his mates and his country." To quote the Age of 28 December, "reputedly the nation's greatest tax minimiser — and proud of it."
On a billion dollars of income, where the ATO sought a modest $40million in 1998, hey that's just FOUR percent, by placing his businesses overseas, settled with the ATO for just $30.55 and earned according to the Age, $370 million tax free. Is this a guy "who stood by his mates and country"?

And hey, who was the Goanna?

It's time our taxation system became more equitable, not just aimed at the majority of wages and salaries earners, but those using family trusts, Bahamas and other fiddles.

I suggest good Ausies are those that put a little back into the country and really take care of the mates, not exploit the loopholes and fiddles with a little guilt based facading.

What world are you living in?

Many of those blokes with balls today are sheilas.

Traditional media outlets today are experiencing falling circulation.
The older readers are a dying breed and younger people haven't time. Although the trend has been held back in Sydney and Melbourne with the introduction of the tabloid type newspaper, but time will tell.

Kerry Packer's piddling 7 billion for a life times effort is nothing compared to the billions wasted each year by our Govts,yet we focus on a few rich people who create the wealth that can be taxed and thus wasted on Colins Class Submarines,welfare fraud,and Govt bureaucracies.Time for some perspective.

While Kerry rightfully didn't pay more tax than was legally due,the spin offs from his enterprises certainly did.

So then because a tiny percent (yes it is tiny) of the 37 per cent of national income managed by governments is wasted, it then legitimises the Packers paying just 4 per cent of their income. What a nonsense argument! Australia would be on its knees in just a few months if we were able to do what the Packers were able to do.

A caring Australian?

Well I had alot of respect for Packer. I admired the fact that he lived life on his terms. I also happen to know that he was extremely generous, far more generous then the public is perhaps aware of.

Unlike Murdoch, he actually did pay a hell of a lot of tax in Australia.

On Channel 9 he gave the masses what they wanted. Duh, that is the job of business, to satisfy consumer needs! Sounds like the author
would soon go broke running channel 9, if she was boss.

Personally I watch alot of ABC and SBS. They are Govt funded, so the consumer has options. But I also understand that Trish has no concept of business. Commercial tv is there to satisfy the wants and desires of the masses and in turn make a profit. Perhaps Trish
lacks the balls to understand that :)

And to add to Remco’ statement - the richest 20% of Australian households own 63% of all net wealth in the country; the bottom 20% own just 0.2%. At least one million Australians live in poverty. 54% of Australian’s wealth is made up by property ownership and Packer is/was by far the wealthiest land owner in this nation. But these statistics are irrelevant aren’t they Arjay? KP a caring Australian? I’d just love to see all them big fat camels galloping through the eyes of needles while the big fella looks on incredulously. Amen.

The government spends over $200 billion of our dollars every year. And thats just the Federal government. If you gave the government the worth of the entire Packer empire then they would spend the whole lot in under four weeks. If we want to look for the big gorilla in the market place then its none other than the government.

Should Kerry have paid more tax? Like he told the senate enquiry all those years ago they make the laws not him.

What bugs me is that every time there is talk about reducing the top tax rate people bang on about the rich not paying their share. As if somebody on a six figure salary is in the same league as Kerry Packer or has any control at all over what Kerry Packer pays in tax.

QUOTE: the richest 20% of Australian households own 63% of all net wealth in the country; the bottom 20% own just 0.2%.

RESPONSE: Lets not forget that the oldest 20% of people have had very man more years to accumulate assets compared with the youngest 20%. Why would you expect a 60 year old to have as few assets as a 20 year old.

20% of Australians means 4 million people. You are talking about the elderly couple next door. Their average net worth is equivalent to a modest house in Sydney

No points for joining the media feeding frenzy, Trish Bolton. Australia's mourning is justified.

You conveniently ignore Packer's many achievements: getting filthy rich and doing a lot for cricket. And let's not forget that he managed to amass an enormous fortune and revive Australian cricket.

In addition to making many loyal, rich, friends and government vassals, this generous man found time to become enormously wealthy and broadcast test matches.

What more do you want? Blood?

Detractors like Bolton ignore the fact that Packer not only made himself rich, but boosted cricket too.

How many media moguls would provide emergency defibrillators for ambulances after suffering a heart attack which required emergency defibrillation from an ambulance? His generosity knew no bounds.

Tax minimising is insignificant when you consider how much cricket Packer brought to the people of Australia, and how unbelievably wealthy he made himself.

When you are so rich you can play polo with the Queen, Trish, and when you have ensured that the average Aussie can watch heavily-sponsored cricket matches instead of ho-hum current affairs and incisive documentaries, THEN you can criticise the great man who was Kerry Packer.

I'm ashamed to live in a country where the average taxpayer receives subsidised education and healthcare while a multi-millionaire like Kerry Packer gets only one state funeral out of the public purse.

Hey Trish,

Seems you have used someone else's celebrity to boost your article. Isn't that sort of thing exactly what you are criticizing the public and rest of the media for? People in glass houses....

In relation to people being entertained by Channel 9, come on Trish. As you wrote most of what's on free to air commercial tv is tripe and people know it. They are stuck between still trying to believe that free to air should provide quality and competition but it's mostly infommercials dressed up as "shows". Channel 10 don't even pretend late night to early morning.

It's about forcing people to pay TV and there really isn't a choice if people want to watch TV is there? Channel 9 has killed live broadcasts of sport, not developed it.

Those that are lauding Packer for bringing cricket to the people obviously don't recall it was free to air, full game, when the ABC last had it. It still is on ABC radio where all games are covered, live. In the current Test between Aus and SAfrica the early start has been ignored in deference to " Here's Humphrey ". So anyone watching misses the first half hour as Humphrey is more important ( I don't argue that he isn't really ).

Anyone seen a live NRL match on 9 in recent years? Excepting Grand Finals and State of Origin that is. Even pay tv can't broadcast any games until Channel 9 have refused to show them. If 9 is covering a game with their delayed telecasts then pay tv cannot replay the game until 9 has. The same will apply to Aussie Rules if 9 get the rights to that as well. How will they cover both sports? Replays is the only answer. Replays. What absolute rubbish.

Reply to Realist. Part one.
Well I suppose you could be forgiven for being so badly misinformed, considering you probably got all your facts from reading HIS papers. However the TRUTH is very different. I will give you one example that I was personally involved in OK. Good old Aussie farmer wanted to purchase an abattoir in NSW. He applied for a grant of 500 thousand dollars ONLY having the rest himself. No grants available the farmer was told. Three weeks later with Packers assistance a Japanese company was given 40 million dollars by way of a grant for the SAME abattoir. The Government actually has a clause [known as the Packer clause] re this Industry. As for feed lots well now you are talking. If you claim to know anything at all about livestock you would have to be aware that intensive farming is the cause of diseases. This includes bird flu, foot and mouth etc.
I could even tell you when the first case of foot and mouth came to this country and where it came from. In those days they just blocked off the whole area and this was known as the cow paddocks in Sydney. There were very strict penalties for anybody caught slaughtering these animals. If you take ANY ANIMAL and put him on a ship leaving Australia you take him in his most valuable form. You take the wool on his back and those jobs, the hides, and those jobs for tanneries and the by-products that you produce your small goods from. Not to mention the meat itself and those jobs. A similar competitive scenario has developed between feed lotters and live exporters at the level of supply. Over the last decade in particular, the phenomenal rise of the cattle trade into Asia and the Middle East.
How many more abattoirs have to shut down and how many more workers have to lose their jobs before it is realized that more than just live stock is being sacrificed to the live export trade? We intend to introduce share abattoirs and farms throughout Australia.

Wendy, there's no point in responding to Realist - he is a 24 year-old Real Estate agent from Queensland (aren't you, Glen?). He equates success with money, and believes that every true Australian should do the same. He also assumes that if you don't agree with him, you must be a) poor and b) therefore by definition, a loser. He isn't worth the keyboard effort.

Ozone - nice summary. One of the really horrifying aspects of the post-mortem adulation has been the efforts by Packer's hagiographers to attribute to him some form of sense of humour. The examples were uniformly lame (tripping up an underling who disagreed with him at a function, and laughing "for several minutes") that they could have been ironic. But weren't.

You have to feel very sad for a man who has gone through life with more money than he could throw across the world's gambling tables, but lacked a sense of humour.

Pericles,

Thanks for the ambush and the big wrap. i am not a real estate agent by the way, as much as it pleases you to think that.

I wont mention my thoughts on you as you are after a slinging match. Any prudent reader will see the inadequacies you see in yourself behind your words.

I sympathise with you Wendy. It is taking jobs from (often) the bush. As with feed lots, i apologise i write fast and forgot the question mark on the end of the feed lot sentance. feed lots are just as bad was my point. FYI i am from the bush Wendy, from an abbotoirs town in fact, but its not just the cattle industry suffering decline, it is most primary industries so at least he innovates and keeps the numbers up.

What about the jobs created via this exporting? i wont rattle off, but the glass can be half full.

He may have been a bad man in your eyes, but he has shown many others how to make the most of a primary industry by steering away from the conventional. if he has ruined you, i am sorry, but take your blinkers off and i am sure you have a world of opportunities.

Scald me for this, especially you pericles. The person who's kids 'will work until they drop' due to the pessimistic attitude ingrained in them due to their parent not having the strengh to achieve. i still hope your kids do achieve pericles, they deserve it.

Pericles,

One further point. My transperancy it with my age etc should not be used as a tool for you to attack me with. You are very liberal with your words under the mask of anonymity as i have said to you many times.

I never mentioned my name to you from memory, i was wondering where you retrieved it from? it disturbs me that you are crossing the line by doing this.

Now, you know i am a determined little fellow arnt i? If i was to conversely start to look for you, as your cowardess and lack of anything will mean you will never reveal who you are, you know that i could find you very quickly.

Dont cross the line, you have crossed the line on occasions and i have warned you my patience is waivering, if i recieve attacks like that again, with personal information i did not reveal attached, i will turn my attention to you.

Final warning. You dont take the polite ones. Let this one sink in.

gee your so brave trish having a go at someone when their pushing up the daisys.......they cant respond anymore.

i would take notice of you if you had the balls to get stuck into big kerry when he was alive.

Well Wendy, you need to understand all the benefits of the live export trade too. Here in WA we depend on it to a huge extent.
If it were not for the live trade, the market would collapse
completely.

Regional abbatoirs simply can't find staff, young Aussies don't want to work there anymore, playing video games seems like more fun.
WA sheep and lamb prices are well below the Eastern States, simply
because we lack abbatoirs and people who want to work in them.

So if you know of workers or abbatoirs who want to make money, send them over here as we urgently need them. Meanwhile for us anyhow,
the live trade is a huge bonus.

Packer was tough in business, but then business is tough, if you want to survive. The dreamers soon go under...

Second Part two Re balls for Brains

We are giving the jobs back to the Australian Country People. Do you have any idea the amount of jobs that could be and SHOULD be available to the Indigenous people?

If the Australian Government is to remain committed to creating more employment and stronger economic foundations for regional communities through increase value adding, then a more relevant long term strategy and vision into the marketing and selling of one of Australia’s most potentially lucrative resources must be sought. Even the live exporters themselves recognize that the value and profitability of the trade is not intrinsic to the product itself, but rather a product of market distortion in the form of tariff and non tariff barriers. Apart from all those facts it is a fact the 96 percent of Australia’s WANT live exports stopped for many reasons. It is a FACT that WE the Tax payer pay millions each year to prop this barbaric trade up AGAINST our wishes. It is a FACT that millions of dollars are being spent overseas to build infrastructure IN OTHER COUNTRIES! The Last 4 enquiries into Live Exports ALL recommended and found that it should be BANNED immediately over the last twenty years. By the way the tax payers paid MILLIONS again for THOSE enquiries ONLY to have the findings ignored because of the bullying of certain people. So Kerry Packer was a bully and certainly no friend to his fellow Aussies and farmers. His family should not be blamed for that. however all eyes will be on James Packer to see if HE is willing to help us STOP the Barbaric treatment of Animals in feedlots and live exports. FREE and Green is what we were. Australia has much to be proud of and we together can get a good world wide meat trade WITHOUT this cruelty and WITH giving our jobs BACK to our country towns.

Do I detect a threat, Realist?

>>Dont cross the line, you have crossed the line ... if i recieve attacks like that again ... i will turn my attention to you. Final warning. You dont take the polite ones. Let this one sink in.<<

Surely not. That's only for small people.

But you might like to cogitate upon the contradictions in your post.

For one thing, advertising a web address australianpropertyonline on your OLO profile hardly indicates someone with privacy on their mind. It also provides a clue to your line of business, to those astute enough to relate "property" to "real estate". Even though the page it links to just says says "This site is currently under construction."

The only piece of information I used that is not contained within your posts was your forename. Big deal. That took nearly three minutes to find, given all the other clues you littered around the place.

I have been wondering what it is about you that causes me to react to you the way I do. I can only think that it must be your open and uncritical worship of money that offends me most. That leads to idolizing values and people that I have found consistently offensive for most of my life. Certainly since before I was your age.

But you will be glad to hear that I am becoming bored with it. If you promise not to write such egregious rubbish in future, stop pretending that you have the answer to life, the universe and everything, and above all stop promoting yourself in such distasteful ways, I shall stop responding.

Deal?

The ultimate insult was perpetrated on Australians when the taxpayer was forced to funds the memorial service for Kerry PACKER. Just what was John HOWARD thinking when he approved this payment. Did he owe the Packer for a favourable HOWARD spin during elections ?

Trish BOLTONS posting was spot on. Australian commercial television is not the place to tune in, but to tune out. Its overbearing obsession with celebrity is sickening, and we would better closing the Australian commercial channels and taking direct feed from the US channels, given the almost identical format, style and content.

Kerry PACKER did nothing to expand (or better) the Australian cattle herd. He simply traded in properties to his advantage.

Jamed PACKER seems to be less the bully boy, but it appears he is more interested in that holy alter of capitalism - gambling.

These discussions (apart from the inappropriate personal diatribes of Pericles and Realist) goes to show that:

1. one can exploit loopholes in the tax system to pay virtually no tax which is then apologised if you make a "substantial" contribution to the community.

It seems to be ignored that these contributions are miniscule compared to what you have screwed and legitimised as being the 'system' or the government is wasteful in some areas. One respondent even said "but like a true Aussie, he looks after many and stood by his mates and his country." Gawd.

2. On the subject of "stood by his mates", the government who received $30.51 out of a $40m tax claim can offer a state funeral - dare I suggest, to ensure continued favourable media coverage.

3. Some respect entrepreneurs even when they are exploiters - even Alan Bond remains admired in some circles despite his $1bn rape of a company. What happened to the "fair go"?

Who control the media, wins the people and hence the syncophancy of government.

"Who controls the media wins the people and hence the syncophancy of government" Spot on Remco.All the tosh about what Packer did for charity, his business interests, improving the cattle industry,and other such accolades, are irrelavent to what the real game was and is "Australia incorperated" total control.My estimation of this man fell when he pulled a story on a current affairs programme and a heap of journos resigned over it.Its one thing to own a media outlet,but it's another to intefere with its content.

PhilB and Remco,

And let’s not forget the role of Murdoch in this too.
Their supposed (gammon) rivalry hid a deep comradery and desire to manipulate politics and politicians for their own capitalist ends. 60% to 70% of the Australian mainstream press is owned by Newscorp, which is much too large.

Only a diversity of media can deliver the kind of diversity of public opinion that good democracies thrive on. I find it strange that the free marketeer gurus and neo-cons don’t seem to argue this media ownership and regulation.

Over the past 10 years many people who are small-l liberal, and not necessarily left-wing even, understand that something big has happened to the country. Packer and Murdock have much to answer for.

So talk of Packer’s virtues does not hide his engagement with the devaluing and diminishing of our public democracy and the role that his media outlets have played in this erosion.

Why are most people blind to this manufacturing of consent around the status quo? Because this is a fundamental part of their blindness.

I'm seriously sick of reading little epithets about Packer giving money (tax deductible) and donations. Measure this against lots of community minded people right across the nation who give time and money regularly for the common good and you realize how cheap the big goanna was.

He was reptile with reptilian instincts and desires -but to be fair to our scaled mates, I've had pet carpet snakes with better manners and personalities.

Hello to Yabbie and others,

It sounds like you know a bit about abattoirs. We agree with everything you are saying.

It just so happens we do know people looking to open abattoirs there. We are also looking for someone like yourself to spread the word.

You pick up good money as well. Take a look at this please and pass it around, about our share farms and abattoirs. We are starting www.halakindmeats.com . Please note our server is down until Wednesday. Anybody interested in more Money for stock can call us on 07 5539 2369.

My Name is Angie and I work with Wendy

Rainier excellent post ref media.Have you seen the Fox Media network that comes out of the U.S.(Fox news fair and balanced) owned by Murduck?.It is a right wing talk fest love in to be sure.Fox would have you believe that George Bush as well as bringing peace and democracy to the world,was the first man to split the atom,discover penicillin,and is well on the way to finding a cure for aids.I have never experienced such bias reporting in my life.For good measure they bring on some old hack country music stars to sing you some good old patriotic clap trap which would drive some people to drink.

The reporting on the current situation in Iraq is something else.Fox would have you believe that a new Disney Park will be opening there next week,and it will be a great place to take the family on hols.I have already made a booking.Apparently they are planning a Disney Park in Iran and Syria.

Of course our own media is not much better,the hard indepth investigative reporting on shows like a Current Affair in Oz are real mind benders.e.g Will Mrs Jones cat tabby get down from the tree by tea time, take our poll and ring blah blah blah.Is it any wonder the population is being dumbed down.

How many of the posters here throw in an extra couple of thousand dollars tax at the end of the year to be good Australian citizens?

How many of you donated defibrilliators to ambulances (and don't give me the "he was rich he gambled more than that" line - it was precisely because of his wealth he could do both things, and did. Earning money brings with it the freedom to spend it how you will)?

How many people have employed thousands of people in their lifetime?

How many hate the idea that other people have the nous and acumen to make themselves wealthy and powerful, so they poo-poo the achievements of others?

Packer might not have been perfect but he was a good businessman, who over his lifetime employed many people, helping them put food on the table, raise kids, contributing to a growing, prosperous economy.

As for all the whingers complaining about entertainment on television - why don't you start up your own television station (or raise money to buy an existing one) and see how far you get without giving the audience what they want.

I have said it before on these forums - the reason people accept and actually want copious amounts of entertainment and sport on television and in print is because people are generally happy with their lot in life.

Aussies just aren't interested in politics or the so-called hard news because we live in a pretty good society, with a good economy.

If you don't like it, turn off and spend your available free time quoting sob stories on internet forums about how evil people are because they like earning money.

And just for the record - capitalism actually works - if you want your news to be dictated to you from higher powers, even though the majority of the population couldn't care less, why don't you move to Cuba. Because you know, Castro is such a gentle benevolent fellow who would have killed or imprisoned Kerry Packer years ago for trying to give the people what they want.

t.u.s.

Hey t.u.s - chill out dude.

No one has argued against capitalism. The problem many people have (and the includes yours truly) is unfettered monopolies.

A truly competitive, high-level of employment market is one where many small to medium businesses are challenging each other. Vast monopolies restrict and limit creativity and diversity.

BTW - if Aussies aren't interested in politics what the .... are we all doing here, mate?

Packer may have employed many people, however a truly diverse media with many players rather than just two would employ a lot more - and provide a broad range of opinion and entertainment. As for what the majority wants - if that was really true then shows like Jon Daly (USA) or our own John Safran wouldn't even get off the the ground.

People aren't as stupid as you seem to think.

Just imagine (if you can) a media that is as diverse and complex and competitive as the world in which we live.

Scout, I never said anyone is stupid - it is the people on this forum who are critical of Aussies who watch Channel 9 or Big Brother who assume the general populace is stupid.

And remember, neither PBL or News Ltd started out as huge companies -they have been built over many decades by hard-nosed entrepreneurs who made tough decisions and gave the audience what they wanted.

The reason they do well is because they provide the best possible service to the most people.

Like I said, if you think there is a market for more hard news, go start it up. Use a community radio station to attract your loyal following and build from there.

Better yet, allow the ABC to have advertisements so it can pay for more of the programming you like to see, rather than my tax dollars substituting re-runs of BBC comedies and biased news reporting.

(BTW - if you were serious about eliminating monopolies, why don't you petition to have the ABC allow advertisements. As it is, they are allowed to promote, aka advertise, all their Bananas in Pyjamas and other merchandise while no other companies are allowed the same privilege.)

And you didn't answer my question about donating extra tax dollars to those nice men and women at the ATO.

t.u.s

I believe it was a Roman Emperor, who said it best: "Give the people a circus...". Hence, who cares about the collapse in Australia's education system, the loss our of civil liberties or the sorry plight of South African nations, when we can watch Shane Warne bowl somebody out or read about Willam Winsor going to Sandhurst? Packer knew this and played on it.

No doubt Packer was a success by several measures. But this noted motor mouth was also a cold and calculating bully-boy and an associate of toe-cutter Al Dunlap, not just John Howard.

I wonder how many common people, who lost their "rice bowl" (as the Chinese say), feel elated about tax money funding a Packer memorial. None, I suspect.

In the scheme of things, I would much prefer the very real contributions of Jane Goodall and Susan Greenfield, for having a beneficial drive, balls in absentia.

Of Packer:

$7,000,000,000 in life. One grave in death:

" 'My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away."

Percy Bysshe Shelley

"capitilism actually works"
My god!how astute, you must put yourself forward for the Nobel economic prize.With all the bluster that comes from the right about the left progressives associating them selves with the communists,one would think there would be one post advocating a communist government .I havn't seen one. What drivel.Ive got a hot flash for you!true communism hasn't been tried anywhere nada, no, non,nien.Castro,Tito,Stalin,Mussolini Mao etc, were all fascist dictators.Even the Nazi Party which had the label National Socialist Party(misnomer) were right wing cracker jack fascists,and he gained power by manipulating the press and scaring the be-jesus out of the people, just like some of your heroes Bush/Howard.Castro who you seem to despise so much is a rat bag to be sure,however he has seen off 5 presidents of the U.S who have all tried to liquidate him and failed.He will expire naturally before they get to him.Remember the Bay of Pigs?sorry you are probably to young.I know you aint gonna like it,but a cuban has more chance of getting surgery,or a uni education than some hillbily from the southern states of the U.S.And before you ask,No I wouldn't live there.

Most lefty's are pragmatic in the affairs of politics unlike you they care that capitilism gives every one a fair share of the pie.With out the so called lefty's you may still be living in a cave.As for Packer if you think dumping 30 mil into a casino,the amount of which could build a hospital is not obscene. I suggest you take a pill and a long lay down.Enjoy your time in the sun as a conservative,all things must change.Thatcher thought she was born to rule,sent to the dustbin of history,with some of the most conservative pundits in Britain reminding us daily of the damage she had done

Hello Trish

Great article. So timely.

Hope you can get it published in The Australian, SMH, etc.

Perhaps you should find out the trick that Kevin Donnelly and David Flint seem to employ - get their articles published in the broadsheet and enjoy replays soon after on this forum. Some sort of syndication?

Cheers

Chek

So much rage PhilB, so few actual arguments. So how much extra tax do you pay - we are talking principle here not scale. Did you give the tax office extra money or did you try to minimise it and then spend it on other things.

$30 million is a lot to gamble but that money doesn't exist in a vaccuum. Crown Casino wouldn't sweep it under the carpet - they would use it to employ people - like my mates who used to deal black jack to help pay for uni.

People like you don't understand that money spent - whether from necessity or indulgence ends up in the pockets of other people.

I would much rather spend my money buying a new television than giving to as tax to go to the welfare of someone not willing to work.

At least the salesperson has earned their commission and willing to get out of bed to help himself.

And finally, doesn't it say something to you that despite the Communist Manifesto being 150 years old and the numerous failed attempts you mention demonstrate that is can't work. Or maybe it is waiting for someone of your superior intellect to get things up and running.

(PS I have never lived in a cave, so I don't know how I would still be living there without you progressive lefties. Unless of course you mean the human race in general. Unfortunately, if you go back through your ancient history, the first civilisations weren't exactly the bastion of progressiveness either. Mesopotamia, Egypt, etc didn't have many people living in caves but they were all dictatorships or despotic monarchies. Perhaps it is you who has been living in a cave?)

"So much rage PhilB" Yes and so little time.Now Im gonna try this one more time, are you paying attention t.u.s.?.Are you awake t.u.s.?Have you taken your valium today t.u.s.?.Now repeat after uncle Phill.Phill has never been a member of the communist party,never been associated with members of the communist party,sh@t he doesn't even like communists.Now that's better.Hey call me crazy that sounds like something out of the Mc Carthy hearings.Hey that's when they persecuted all those mis-guided millionair capitilist lefty's.You know the ones, the ones you would like to be but just can't get there.

Are you still awake t.u.s?.Im throwing pearls of wisdom at you here boy.Now O.L.O. I would have thought in my own deranged lefty mind,is where peoples opinions are all valued the same,because at the end of the day that's just what they are opinions..Unlike a lot of posters here my bursts come straight off the cuff from lifes experiences,I don't trawl through mountains of encyclopedia's or dictionary's to prop up my point of view.I read something,hear something,see something just like you and my head crunches the information,and presto an opinion.

Now back to Packer and the dreaded casino.Please don't insult my intelligence with the fairy story,that all the money spent at the casino goes back into employing people,and other such waffle.It is in the public domain that most of it,after the government takes its cut,ends up in the cayman islands or swiss bank accounts.

Maybe it is you who needs to take a valium Uncle Phil. You brought up Communism, all i did was mention Cuba as a country where media freedom is well and truly non existent.

As for tax havens - i don't know how you look after your money but I try to pay as little tax as is legally possible and when it comes to investing, I go for things which bring the best return on investment at an appropriate risk.

Other than that - except for claiming vehemently that you are a not a red ragger, which I believe, you have not really answered any of my questions.

Do you not invest where you get a good return?

Do you pay extra tax just out of the goodness of your heart?

Do you regularly give to charity?

Have you ever gambled at casino or on the horses?

Do you generally hold yourself to the same principles with which you are holding Kerry Packer?

Like I said before - it is a matter of scale not principles. A five buck bet on the ponies could have fed a poor person for a day. Where's your guilt?

It is easy to criticise someone who is now dead using the anonymity of an internet forum (and yes your opinion is just as valid as little old anonymous t.u.s) but unless you hold yourself to the same standards it is a little hollow.

I would say Kerry Packer, with all his faults, has done a great deal of good for Australia and Australians, a lot more than you or I or any other forum poster has.

And yes, he didn't because he had the balls to do it.

t.u.s.

t.u.s. To answer some of your questions,,
Investments.No. Money has and never will mean anything to me.I ran my own business for other reasons.I own my own home have all the capitilist luxuries,and am happy with my lot. I am not on the bones of my arse,but not rich either.I came into this world with nothing,like you I will leave it the same way.
Charity.Yes.To list here who I give to would be absurd,like the above you'll just have to take my word for it.
Gamble.No.I have seen what this poison can do to people, in my opinion worse than being an alcoholic,or heroin user.
Priciples.I try but am only human,I will f@%k up just like anyone.

Now back to Packer.I have not attacked this man on his character,it is the power that he had,and no doubt will continue to have to influence the political discourse of Australia.Now you may say"What's wrong with that"I would say "Nothing"however if what I read in your posts is correct with hard work and diligence we can all own a news paper and t.v. station,and we all get to put our point of view fine,but we don't.There are not enough trees to print the papers or radio frequency's on the planet,patently absurd.

To say it is weak to attack someone when they have left this mortal coil is fine,however, Australia is probably the only place left in the world you can be sued for telling the truth.(Fairfax v Tom Uren)

Now what Packer has done for Australia and its people I will let the historians decide, to say he has done more than anyone who posts here is absurd.(Do you know them all)There are people who this very evening will be wiping some poor bastards arse in a wheel chair,an ambulance driver pulling a mangled corpse out of a car wreck,a fireman rescuing some old grany out of a house fire,a copper trying to sort out some domestic in Redfurn,a soldier potentially getting his arse shot off in one of our phony wars.It is these people I salute,not some office johny who plays polo.

The question of charity and, to a greater extent, altruism, is a complicated one since it is now possible to market such things. Did Kerry Packer give to charity out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Or did he do it to improve his public reputation and with prospect of a later return? Did he do it as a humanitarian or a businessman?

Both? I guess we'll never know. To me, the purist form of charity is to give without anyone ever knowing. That way you know you've done it for sheer good. Personally I have more respect to the low-middle income earner who secretly dumps a fiver in a tin, than the millionaire who gives thousands and tells the world about it.

In the case of Packer, I guess he's the only one who will have known. Can't ask him now in any case.

Packer, good bye and good riddance.Why do i have to pay for it? Me thinks Bullimore may have made a valid point at those Senate hearings,we are not spending it wisely.

Hedgehog. You are correct. He was mean and cruel and enjoyed using others. little JH at least understood him being out of the same [padock .Years ago Packer used to put his sick skinny lame horses in my property when i had a riding school[close to the casino]We Vetted and fed them. He would ring 6 month later and ask[ hows that pony of mine?By the way the staff had to cut through our chain to do this,. He then was not happy when i regected his offer for a partnership . Tough Luck Kerry. Howard gave him the best parting gift. Somebody else to pay fopr his funeral. Kerry would like that.

To Trish bolton. Ok Trish its a start but speaking of media with balls where is yours. After speaking to several of our media giants nobody has the balls to report the link to live exports and the fact that the AWB own the live exports interest. So either you didnt know they brought it from Westfarmers in a mad scramble to keep it out of public knowledge around the Cormo or like everybody else you lack the balls to tell the story.Either way if Andrews saying nothing and your saying nothing we all must ask > Why Would That Be. Umm I wonder.?

It is really sad that Australia has produced so many left wing losers that just want a regieme of higher taxation so they can have a cushy Govt job that involves no risk.

Govts cannot run a competitive businesses;the only thing they can run is monopolies whereby they can charge at will.Remember the Labor affiliated ACTU and the debacle of Solo Service stations?When Govts try to redistribute income via taxation,they kill the work ethic and become the creators of poverty.

Where is the incentive to work really hard in Australia these days?15% of our working age population is being supported full time by the tax payer.

Don't blame the rich for your woes,but look at the weak and feeble minded Govts you elect,that pander to your weakness.

Who's fault is it?Have a look in the mirror.