579, tourism. The main force that drives tourism, is the value of our dollar. Anything else comes a distant second.

There has been a saying about local tourism for years, that being, "see Australia first, but only if you can afford it". Bottom line, it's simply unaffordable at present, as you can get a OS holiday for about the same price as a flight to a local tourism hot spot.

As for the Barrier Reef, it has been under pressure for decades from farming and reckless tourist operators.

As for mining the reef, I fully support a NO GO ZONE, no exceptions.

Public servants.
The real problem is where the money is wasted on top end positions. For every top end worker, there at least one observer and several under worked support staff.

But hey, it did create jobs I guess. Ha Ha!

As for winding back mining, gee, if only our billions THAT'S BILLIONS hadn't been flushed down the toilet we may be able to, but in reality, we need it now more than ever as we literally have nothing else left.

I can't imagine how the worlds largest tax on carbon is gong to make that any better.

As for CN, gee, I recon you must be the last of the die hard Bligh supporters, just a pity 95% don't agree with you.

Now to butcher shops.
A butcher, after having served a four year apprenticeship, at least in my day, now earns less than 10% more than the person who cleans up after they Finnish work.

And you fools wonder why we have a skill shortage. Simple, why bother, when you can sweep floors, have a few kids and earn more money than a butcher.

BTW, butchery was good to me, at least until the past five years where I lost about half a million. But hey, we all have to take a small hit occasionally. Whoops, sorry about that

The odious carbon tax will be here in a few days, and you will not enjoy it.
The results will be catastrophic for the noalition.
The leader who does not support bad policy, Has got the blood of 90 people on his hands.
Butch. I am talking about home grown tourism, not foreign tourists. They are selling Gold coast apartment bookings for $150 for a week, in Vic.
WA is stuffed for travelers and now QLD is going the same way.

579, it's all about confidence. I warned five years ago that this government would effect people's confidence, but hey, what would I know.

You see, it's not rocket science, as people will spend money if they know they can replace it. However, there are very few out there today who can honestly say they have a job for life. And that's the main problem when governments interfere with employers and stuff up most of what they touch.

The most absurd part of this carbon tax is that it has the potential to cost jobs, and will do nothing to address the worlds climate issues.

Look rechtub, I kmow you viscerally hate Labor, but it's rarely prudent to let one's hatred distort reality.
First, you blame this government for a loss of confidence. Remember a little event called the Global Financial Crisis? You think that might not have affected confidence? Of course it did.
Heard of a little country with a few financial problems, named Greece? You think that isn't affecting confidence? Get real.
As for the Carbon Tax,, you're right insofar as physically it will have little if any impact on global warning.
But, here's the thing. Politicians think short term, and this is a long, very long, term prpblem. Hence, it's practically impossible to get world leaders to come together with a concerted action plan.
But, as one country, couragously to quote the Secretary General of the UN, after another takes steps, then the psychological effect is huge.
And that is why Australia, as the world's highest per capita polluter, taking action matters. The psychological effect will get us all that one - big - step closer to a global solution.
Anthony
http://www.observationpointcom.au

Anton, I don't hate labor, just this labor. I changed my vote when labor dumped Bob. I would change back again if they did it for me.

As for the GFC, yes, you are correct, however, you may also recall that there were worrying signs surfacing about Americas sub prime mortage debts when labor came to power.

Now the one thing you don't do is take unessesary risks when there is trouble looming, like taxing an axe to IR laws, laws that helped our country boom.

So here we are again, similar scenario, things are looking shaky globally, only worse, as the trillions already spent have not fixed the problems.

So here we have labor, once again implementing changes (carbon tax) that COULD potentially cost hundreds of jobs and willing to gamble on a tax that just could effect the one sector that is doing well, mining.

As I have said before, there are two ways to spread the wealth, either buy shares, or, increase royalties.

Increased royalties stand a chance of being passed on, whereas a huge after tax, tax can't be.

So no, I don't hate labor, just this labor.

As for TA having blood on his hands, how dare you. Keving Rudd and Julia Gillard are the ones with blood on their hands, as it was they who abolished a working system.

Sure, their system would have required some changes by now, but the roots were there and the boats had stopped coming.

Easier to improve something that is working, than to chuck it out and start again, which is what labor did.

They need to remember, if it ain't broken, don't fix it!

Did you see Joe Hockey's address to parliment yesterday?

If you didn't, I suggest you find it as it pretty much says it all.

Rechtub,
Two points you make are problematic.
First, the Coalition had a plan re the boats, you say. One that was working, you say.
And I reply, yes, but the rules were illegal under international law.
And, far worse, the rules themselves caused huge human suffering.
Second, you blame Labor for axing Workchoices, yet you ignore the fact that workchoices took an axe to just rights workers fought for over many decades.
Your philosophy seems to be based on two ideas.
One, that the end justifies the means. Believe that and you can find a way to condone anything.
And two, that the only thing that counts is the economy. It's called the Scrooge phenomenon, where people believe that financial wealth is the most important thing.
Not a recipe for happiness, as evidenced by your long litany of unhappy, angry posts.
I strive for a world where humanity and justice are at the forefront and where wealth is merely a tool to build a better world.
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au