May I take a second to break this up.
Is it not true bank interests got higher than this under Howard?
What did he do about it?

Ah, Boazy watches channel 7 and sucks in every word, like most
gullible consumers.

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Westpac-interest-rates-margins-mortgage-lending-pd20101103-ATW4X?OpenDocument&src=sph

In fact Westpac's retail banking margins declined, but we won't
let the facts interfere with a good story.

Now I don't expect the Arjay or Boazys of this world, to have the
ability to understand bank figures, which they clearly don't.

But Hockey claims to want to be treasurer. He should know. If he
doesen't, then he is unqualified to be treasurer IMHO and is simply
a shin kicker.

I consider it laughable but despicable that Wayne Swan rages about the high salaries and other aspects of bank charges, and many other incidents relating to overcharging of goods and services, after all, over the last five years, he has been the treasurer, he is the one who is responsible for this being able to happen. The tax system is there specifiably for that purpose. He and the party have determined the conditions which allow the high salaries and the high cost of goods and services. If the treasurers over the last 40 years had accepted the 66.6% top tax that had been successful during the previous 20 years, and applied no tax on the incomes below about $30,000, This recession – or near recession would never have happened and our workers would not be kicked out of their homes and losing their employment, apparently they like the brown stain on their face, as they make no attempt to avoid it. And when the Liberal party or any other party is in power, they are the ones responsible. They cannot blame “Global” for every fault that the party comes up with, they have to be man enough – or women – and have the integrity and decency to accept their own blame, when it applies, and try to ensure that our workers are not disadvantaged as they have been by the stupid or corrupt people who have brought this derogatory situation into the lives of our workers, by those people who are supposed to be ensuring good management of our country and good economy.

"""
Is it not true bank interests got higher than this under Howard?
What did he do about it?
"""

If we're going to quote history, I'm glad he didn't give us a recession we had to have!

Terry McCrann on the herald sun reports "Westpac took a hit. Only a small one, but a hit nevertheless."

Hmm, I wish I could have a business that takes a hit and still returns 6.4 billion in profit, one can dream I suppose.
Thieves they are, nothing but thieves!

*Hmm, I wish I could have a business that takes a hit and still returns 6.4 billion in profit, one can dream I suppose*

You sure can RawMustard. You can invest those hard earned savings
and buy bank shares. Given that Westpac is capitalised at around
70 billion, your return will be a bit over bank interest, but with
alot more risk involved.

They will even send you a detailed, annual report. On page 87
you'll read that things are going backwards in the retail market,
as the cost of finance is increasing faster then what the bank
can charge.

You'll also read that as some of the bad loans allowed for last
year, did not all go bad, the bank made significant extra profit
this year. So next year those magic figures simply won't be there.

So there you go Rawmustard, your wish and dream can come true,
if you are prepared to take the risk and cop abuse from those
who simply don't understand the figures.

Any body want to join me with a LARGE sign outside the Westpac 'bunker' saying "Robber Barrons and their Mansions" :)

Photo of WP ceo's new digs included.