We will still have an election of both houses this year.
Students of politics understand next year we have a half senate election.
Had Rudd already called an election he would not have got a full term in office before another needed to be called.
Not bias but understanding tells me he just must call such an election.
While Conservatives constantly avoid the fact they are blocking a great deal they would pass if they are in office the senate will not return to sanity without both house facing election.
If nothing else the end of the wasting votes party family first will make it worth while.
SA Minister in waiting for poker machines and Murry Darling River will survive.
Rudd too will stay in office, given Abbott's free fall in that debate he can not win ,never could have roll on those debates
Senate?
Who knows Antony Green are you out there?
Wish you could post your ideas here .
But get ready for that both houses election it has to be the only way for Rudd.
Get bills passed ,rid of fools we helped into the senate and a slim chance major party's can work together to stop a lost senate.

Belly, the late mail suggests that Gillard may be leading your party into the next election and, with Anna Lie doing a splended job of ruining any womans hopes of leadership going forward, I doubt Gillard will stand a bulls roar of becoming the next PM.

That aside, as I have said before, all voters in this country, labor, liberal or even the minior parties for that matter, are in a 'no loose' situation, as TA has forced Krudd to 'sharpen his act' and, whether TA leads the libs to the polls, or not, he will always be proud that he has achieved this victory for the average punters.

At best, you can think yourself lucky if your beloved labor party gets a crack at a second term.

But at least we will see a much better performance if they do achieve such a '?'.

I was going to say 'victory', but, as usual, our future government will be decided by whether or not our sitting government looses badly enough.

Do not miss understand me rechtub, I am not trying to be rude to you.
I sometimes appear to be that way but mate in truth rebutting your post is fun.
Your mail was late in my view because it was delivered by a drunk who found it among many silly ideas out side the conservatives policy denials room.
It has no legs no chance ever.
Rudd, please be here after it is over bloke, is home he can not fail, thinking such as yours is helpful to us.
Spite, nastiness, bias, wishes, pleas even do not drive politics.
Hip pocket does self interest always, and Abbott frightens people.
If today Tony Abbott was PM confronted by this senate in Labor and the others hands.
and stopping legislation as important, he would do as Rudd will, dissolve both houses.
After this election, just maybe you will understand each of us, have views and ideas, right now some are gloating and saying how they will give it to me after this election.
Will you admit you got it wrong? or say not me mate Australian voters did.

Will you admit you got it wrong?

Sorry Belly, but I have got it right. At least with regards to Krudd having had to sharpen his act.

Now as for an 'unworkable senate', well, John Howard and the libs have 'been there, done that', so they are very well seasoned when it comes to working with the 'un-workable'.

Cast your mind back to about the 2001-2 election, when JH won a huge majority. What happened, the country BOOMED.

Why, because the 'anti employment laws' of the previous labor party were finally watered down and people , small business, started to employ.

Granted, WC, by all accounts went to far, but none the less our country boomed.

I note the reserve bank gov has idendified 'flexabillity in the workforce' as a key requirement for us to take full advantage of the forthcomming mining boom.

Remember that!

Also, put me on record as saying, I doubt the libs can win the forthcomming election as it will depend soley on how baddly labor goes.

I also think the average punter is a wake up to the previous tricks with the labor party and the unions mounting thier massive scare campaign on the labour front. Also, most have had enough of the 'pretty boy imiage' without the follow up action.

Rudds only claim to fame is the way we rode out the GFC, but hey, this only happened be casue we had 'HAD' money in the bank.

Let's face it, in the eyes of many, Rudd is a Dudd!

the conversation was to be about the coming election, why it is to be called, why it has not yet and you took the chance to interject your personal slanted view.
Rudd could never have held his huge popularity lead, Abbott is at least an opposition.
And fools rushed into Parliament hurt us and we are no longer out in front.
but you again and again claim unions pulled the wool over voters eyes, rechtub do you not understand the first victims of work choices was low income non union members, most have never been in unions?
how can you truly understand? right now, yes today, 23 workers are struggling, under John Howard's work choices, their boss marched them into the office.
One at a time, told the this has past the fairness test sign it or find another job.
today we battle still, documents from Howard's governments fairness test have emerged, showing for 3 years they have worked without proper payments ,it failed Howard's test.
10 hours with no overtime, no travel, time and a half on Sunday two 12 hour shifts no shift or penalty rates.
your flexible workforce is slavery rechtub, surely you do not want class warfare?
I truly think you require only your wellbeing, have issues with a worker wanting a fair go, how can you live with your self?

Belly, flexabillity in the workplace does not just involve wages.

You continue to judge me as one who is a 'rip off boss', yet, time and time again I have told you I do not rip staff off. Get it!

Now as for your '35' staff, wow, is that the worst case you could find, out of some 6 million.

Flexability is more about bosses being able to have staff working when they are needed the most, not have them sitting around waiting until some 'breakdown' is repaired, or sitting in some shed playing cards waiting for the rain to pass.

Now I am not suggesting they should be working in heavy rain, or in a breakdown for that matter, but why should they be paid while doing nothing? This is not flexabillity!

Our forthcomming mining boom has the potential to set us up and, the mining industry was very favourable with AWA's. So to were the employees I believe.

This is what the flexabillity is about, not your ongoing rant about people being ripped off.

Now as for the unions, they invested millions last election on scare ads. They, along with Rudd guaranteed no worker would be worse off under labor. More lies!

Finnally, you repeatidly kept stating, 'increased majority' again and again.

As I said, we, the voters of this country have already had a huge victory thanks to TA. Who knows, the libs may just form government yet, esspecially if more of your hard-nose unionists loose faith in your almighty like you seem to be doing.

I recon Rudd has not got the balls to call an early election. Bring it on I say!

rechtub while it seems the thread has become one of verbal tennis between me and you facts remain.
We ARE going to have such an election, soon.
While I hope you are not Representative you concern me.
You sound like an American Republican.
America in my view has never been more under threat, from its own people.
True I FEAR for America.
It is the engine room for the western world, freedom, human rights, a lot more .
But it may be dieing the early promise of the new President has gone, largely under a hail of lies, some even claim he is the anti Christ, not a few big numbers.
Others think he is a Muslim plant, going to hand the country over.
Americas as unfocused as any country in the world, lies are as common in its politics's in the middle east.
And you mob Australian conservatives, are following that trend, we however are far better than that.
Your post explains you do not read others words just rant.
35 workers?
Are you a republican butch?
Or did you think you read it.
Flexible workforce has been a mantra from both sides for 25 years, I agree, you devalue the ongoing progress.
Mining boom? yes ongoing , but do you want everything exported? can we not get proper wages for such remote workers.

I did not want to divert the thread, some are truly not aware we are on the verge of such an election.
Room existed in my view to talk about it.
Rechtub in your post I see something others may not agree with.
But if America and Australia did elect current conservatives, with current policy's, we would truly be in very big trouble.
Bomb Iran? lucky if Australia was not shooting refugees boats out of the water.
A close look at current world trends in lies and right wing rabble rouser's is surely a threat.
FLEXIBILITY
well yes but not slavery you quote things you do not understand.
If I held the power I Would, future unions will, while rewarding workers who work 7 day rosters set an annualized wage so , with worthwhile increases all hours worked would be one rate.
Rudd is no God, but he is in front and it is not hard to be better than his opponent.
Spend some time watching the oppositions out puts you may think twice.
and rechtub you must never, not ever say anyone is fixed in opinion until you understand issues.

Belly, many people choose to work overtime, or six or seven days as they want the money.

Now if you have a situation whereby a boss wants to employ you for 80 hours per week. Common in the butchery industry and, you want to work those hours, at normal time rates, then why can't you do that?

Why is it that unions have to become involved between two parties wanting to enjoy a mutually acceptable working arrangement?

In many industries, 38 hours simply won't pay the bills, yet, to be allowed overtime means penalty rates and, due to the tax system, the worker realy only gets normal rates for their overtime after taxes and loss of government assistance.

So the net result is that you often have your regular staff, scaping by on 38hr, then, you have a team of casuals working on weekends.

Now if these weekend workers have to declair this as a 'second job', then they get taxed to the point where it wasn't worth it. So, they often try to survive on part time work.

The governments laws mean that many cafe staff have sacked thier weekend staff and are now working themselves. How smart is that?

Remember. Bacon and eggs cost the same to buy on a monday, as on a sunday. So why should it cost more to produce?

This is what flexabillity in the workforce is about.

It has been interesting to observe that the majority of the new jobs that have been filled have been casual.

In 2007 the majority were full time, I suppose that with flexibiity there was no need to casualize these jobs.

Well done labor.

Belly, with elections due shortly, and as many labor senators with 3 years still to go would have to stand for election, the time for double dissolution has passed.

Our "separation of powers" principals supposedly separate our Legislature, from our Executive, and both from our Judiciary.

However "separation of powers" vanished, taken over by our Executive Government controlling our House of Representatives.

Australia's Executive Government decides what legislation considered, what proceeds, and what passes, within our House of Representatives.

Total power only requires obtaining control of the Senate.

Many argue the necessity, an excuse for so many abuses.

Australia's Constitution - read it, is designed with a separate Executive Government, with Ministers required to be members of either House of Representatives or Senate in order they be accountable to our people's legislative authorities.

The means to select Australia's Governor-General, our head of Executive Government, was left for Australians to determine.

Australians appear to have decided they want this by popular election.

Our Executive Government, controlling the House of Representatives has killed the clear desire by Australians to chose - by popular vote, who would be their Governor-General, their selected head of Executive Government.

Firstly, Executive Government's with control of our House of Representatives, all seek control of the Senate, so they can do whatever they wish.

Yes, it matter little which team controls Executive Government, both wish total control.

What has this to do with the coming elections ?

We need elect MHRs and Senators with clear commitments to introduce and pass a single bill for popular election of our Governor-General.

This does not require a Constitutional Amendment.

IF such bill unsuccessful, then needs a Constitutional amemndment, which any one house can achieve.

Then we shall have a popularly elected Executive Governor-General, with her/his Ministers which is separate, but still answerable, to our legislative chambers

Shadow Minister I truly thought you would know better.
Rudd even if he wins a normal election can not pass his bills.
He will call an election of both houses this year, watch.
rechtub I have shown you before how annualized wages works.
You did not under stand it, but it is in use today and both sides like it.
Both sides of the house want productivity increases, EBA currently gives such.
Other ways exist and we will look back on these days in wounder as we explore new ways, better ways.

Belly >>>rechtub I have shown you before how annualized wages works.
You did not under stand it, but it is in use today and both sides like it.

I think they work well, at least it gives some certainty to the business owner about costs.

I was also of the opinion that they were outlawed with the new award.

Are they still being used within the hospitality and retail industries?

If so, why the new penalty rates?

I also agree with SM. Rudd has been presented with a few opportunities to go to the poles, it's just that voters have found out that he is no longer the 'golden boy' he portayed himself to be and, with each passing day, another S-fight that he has resided over rares its ugly head.

Let's face it, there are many stuff ups to choose from, solar, insulation, health, education, fuel watch, grocery watch and boat people and, who can forget Copenhagen. In fact, Rudd and Gilard will be so busy dodging bullets that they won't have time to plan an early election, don't you recon?

Has anyone got any idea just how much this fool has pissed away on failed schemes? Most failures of this magnitude take decades, even generations, this guy has managed to achieve these milestones in little more than two years. And you think he is a legend!

He is S-scared, just hoping for TA to present him with another life line, like the maternity leave proposal, although I doubt that will happen.

I say again, Rudd is a dud! What a pitty he will still be very rich when he is finnished playing PM.

Actually Belly,

The senators standing for re election are those voted in in 2004. The ones voted in in 2007 are safe. (ie the labor majority). A double dissolution will not do labor any favours.

Belly, due to the fact that I have diverted this thread somewhat, unintentionally I must add, I have started a thread on wage rates, as it is something I would like to discuss with you, and others, but not here.

Funny how these conversations always seem to wonder on to personal opinion. The next election does not have to happen till early next year. It could possibly be called early but with what reason, the government would surely be better to wait while they fix a few issues and develop a policy run that would build momentum.

The vote in the senate as well as a possible vote on health will have a big effect on the future direction. We will not need a double dissolution to effect change in the senate. Family first will certainly not return and the most likely outcome will be a greens balance. this will be more workable for all.

the vote on the health issue has a much more profound effect as it could well undermine the powers of the state governments which with few exceptions over the years have proven to be problematic at best. Are we really ready for such change or is health more important.

Either way lets hope both the government and the opposition start to suppl some clear policy and future direction for their prospective administrations for the next term so we can make an informed choise and not a guess.

Sorry nairbe, you got that wrong, very wrong, the election has to take place this year.
In truth most Australians, challenge it if you can, would be unhappy with a greens balance of power.
Shadow minister you did not get my point, others will know why we will have a DD election, Rudd has no other path.
Rechtub, yet again you did not truly under stand annualized salary's.
Those who get such are paid based on average income of past few years.
To do one take all overtime worked in those years, average it out.
Put those hours as future out of hours expected to be worked, same average.
Work out a true average pay rate that is all hours worked rate, if it is not less than they earn now.
FWA Fair Work Australian should pass it and you have a workplace agreement in place one rate of pay.
Protection is needed, some to will find are working 26 weekends now, some bosses would then want 36 or even 52 weekends a year.
Those extra to the average? if you want to pay the agreed rate then pay extra day of as well for every extra day worked.
A boss would need protection too, his workers who constantly do not work extra hours would be paid a lower rate, remember the new rate is to compensate for out of hours work.
FWA is flexible if workers are no worse of most things are possible.