The Rudd fast train is another back of envelope on a flight NBN.
Very Fast Trains would be very expensive considering the distances and
population. They are virtually line of sight construction.

What we need is fast enough trains.
We need to get to UK standards and speeds before we attempt VFTs.
The XPTs are the same design as the UKs 125s which run at 125 MPH speeds
over most of the UK.
That would mean a big project of track straightening.
Remember our main lines were built before earth moving machines were so
readily available. They were built with horses and scoops.
They went around hills rather than through them.

If we could update to UK standards we could use the same trains we
have now and cut the Sydney to Melbourne time in half.
However that would not give the show pony such a good skiting feeling.

Stop Press! He's done it again. Now we're going to move the navy to Brisbane.

That shouldn't cost much more than a few tens of billions, as a quick back of the envelop costing favored by our KRuddy.

Do any of you get the feeling I'm getting? It seems to me that he has decided he's going down, so is going to take as many of the others with him as possible. Why else would he be talking such nonsense?

Hasbeen,
If Rudd got his idea of the VFT from playing with Thomas the Tank Engine while visiting a pre-school, then he probably got the idea of moving the navy to Brisbane while he was in the bath. After all what is a promise of many billions if it helps Beattie in Forde. It does not matter that a special committee thought Brisbane was not suitable.

The current PM is a fraud. He told journalists he was suspending campaigning for the day because of the Syria situation, then promptly flew to Brisbane to record a cooking show. Since then he arranged to talk to some parents at a pre-school whose kids did not attend the school. Everything is a set up with spin.

<< I think you may be suffering a bit of "rusted on " syndrome old mate >>

Remind me never to be drinking a coffee again while reading your posts Hazza. A mouthful of the good brew ended up all over my laptop screen and keyboard!¡!¡!

Sheesh, I am the most unrustedon person in the whole wide world!! (( :> /

As you should be well aware; both major parties, which are highly antisustainable in their basic modus operandi, are totally not going to be voted for by this little black duck! And that’s the way it has been for at least twenty years!

Unless of course Rudd was to do something like I suggested, and actually move towards a sustainable future!

Now, I detect a contradiction in your post of 27 August 2013 12:13:58 PM….

You say:

<< …nothing could change Rudd for the better… >>

And

<< I agree completely we must reduce immigration to population maintenance level as soon as possible >>

Well… if Rudd was to do this, he’d be implementing a very significant change for the better, yes?

Sure it would take time to pull the immigration rate down to net zero. As with anything, there will be some negative consequences. But it damn well should be started forthwith…. and I don’t think it would be anywhere near as long-term as you suggest.

If we weighed up the advantages of stabilising our population compared to the loss of some of the jobs that are geared to the continuous-rapid-population-growth paradigm, the former would come out miles ahead.

Hey, Rudd is DESPERATE for something decisive to get him back in the race. So surely he should embrace Gillard’s widely applauded ‘sustainable Australia’, with the assistance of one of his most senior ministers: Bob Carr, who has been very vocally in favour of this for decades.

Luddy there is one thing Gillard has taught us. Don't believe what they say, get inside their heads, their history, to see what they mean.

I would never believe a single word Rudd said. He is a construct, not a man, & I don't think he believes in anything except buying votes, & what that can do for him personally. I think this is a fact with the entire party. What they tell you before a vote has no meaning to them after, unless it suits them.

If he announced he would personally turn every boat around, you could bet your boots, he'd be having a quiet word around the Bellmore & Lakemba mosque telling them it was only an election ploy.

We are seeing the true Rudd all right. The ratbag who will do or say anything, without even think of the consequences, let alone thinking the thing right through.

I can't understand how any thinking person could even consider voting Labor with him as leader.

Ludwig,
This should explain it all to you.

http://www.2gb.com/audioplayer/10457