ttbn, I note you leave out Franklin D Roosevelt, America's greatest social progressive that ever lived. Also Abraham Lincoln who was willing to fight a civil war because of his progressive beliefs. Then there is George Washington who led a government of "radicals" there names are on the Declaration of Independence. A document that contained ever more radial ideas for its time than any communists manifesto. How about including John F Kennedy a champion of civil rights, something as alien to many Americans in those days as were men from Mars. Despite all these crazy radicals and progressives Capitalism has done very well in America over the past couple of hundred years.

"At least the ALP didn't go really bad until Keating onwards." No mention of the DLP split in 1955 which involved both ideological and religious nonsense, kept Labor out of office for nearly 20 years. You didn't include the conservatives great progressive sinner Gough Whitlam, why not?

Nothing like talking from a point of ignorance is there ttbn. On 457's, it is far more profitable for the likes of Gina Rhinovirus to import low cost labour in the guise of "tradies" rather than spend time and money training young Australians. With a few well placed singular references to "dole bludgers" by shock jocks, and populists current affairs programs people such as you are quick to accept all as being the fault of the lazy mass of unemployed. Conservative politicians included.

Paul, the numbers of 457 Visa's on Pilbara mine sites has dwindled significantly over the past 18 months. Primarily they are on the bigger construction/upgrade projects in the region.

The greater worry for Australian tradies on shutdowns & maintenance is the influx of dodgy trade certificated folk coming in from the Mumbai region. I have been told by several of their com-padres that a "trade certificate" can be obtained over there for about $350 - $375 ($Australian equivalent).

Personally having witnessed some of these people apply 3/4" inch drive pneumatic rattle guns and break off 20mm + diameter nuts by simply not knowing which direction of rotation to undo fasteners is scary to witness.

That there are also 'coded welders' with even dodgier welding test certificates signed off for a mere $500 makes me want to go back to driving taxi's in Sydney again. The chooks will no doubt come home to roost when welded joints begin to fatigue and corrode out some time in the next few years...I would hate to be on an LNG plant when this happens.

Oh Gina...did anyone happen to mention the hourly rates you pay these monkeys ? As little as $12.50 per hour (Australian) and where are the union heavies...nowhere to be seen within hundreds of kilometres of the said sites.

Paul,

Sorry. I wasn't aware that I needed to mention every Socialist dirtbag who ever ruined a country.

Paul, again,

As I just skim your posts - and then only when I seem that you mention me, I missed your reference to Goofy Gough. Since when was a Fabian a conservative? It seems to me that you only posted your unecessary tripe because you've got crap on the liver because the Yanks saw through your lot, or playing with yourself has become boring.

ttbn,

Suffering from a comprehension problem are we? I never said Gough was a conservative, I said "the conservatives (you being one) great progressive sinner Gough Whitlam, why not?

ttbn I accept your apology. Go and stand in the sorry corner for one hour, that should be sufficient penance.

Not one of our green blob contributors prepared to discuss the disgusting result of the African refugee intake making Ozzy taxpayers, who foot the bill for all this, prisoners in their own homes.

I guess our lefties are prepared to sacrifice these Ozzies, to give them that warm feeling of helping their fellow man. Pity they don't feel the same way about their fellow Ozzies, you know, the ones whose taxes pay for all this stupidity.