Dear Aidan,

OK, so what alternative(s) do you suggest?
Not reliance on America, I hope?

«China wouldn't even want to invade us, as it's only interested in territory that it has a historical claim to.»

Oh I see, you mean just Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Alsace-Lorraine, Eupen-Malmedy, Memel, Lower Styria, Upper Carniola, Southern Carinthia, parts of Poland, the Netherlands, the Flemish part of Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and the German-speaking parts of Switzerland and Liechtenstein?

«Developing the capability to kill millions of innocent people at a time is worse than doing nothing.»

Developing this capability is likely the best way to ensure that millions of innocent people are NOT killed. This is because nobody would then take the risk of invading Australia.

"Saying that it's class warfare to tax investment income at the same rate as employment income (which is a bigger change than Labor's prepared to make) is laughable"

I didn't say it. I explained the CGT change after it's fair inception that requires tax to be paid even when the investor has made a real (i.e. after indexing for inflation) loss, even though a nominal gain is made. I'm not arguing against the change itself, but against the fact that that the tax paid on the nominal gain behind the real loss is now to increase. This stifles investor capital risk-taking.

Abolition of NG without allowing operating losses to be carried forward against future profits will do the same, since taxes will be paid on a profit in the tax year it is made while a loss through any number of events (e.g. a bad tenant or no tenant) must be worn by the investor. This will ensure a good number of investors stay out of the established housing market, depressing prices there. They'll stay out of the new housing market too as they'll be selling into that established market in the future.

On the flip, if operating losses were to be able to be carried forward under Labor, which it hasn't said, its claim that the abolition of NG will fill its coffers is BS viewed long term.

"Even going to 90% is unlikely to be very difficult. The last 10% is much harder (though not impossible) with current technology"

Aidan, SA has already achieved 100% renewables generation at times, so you're there! The problem is it varies between that and nothing, meaning 100% fossil-fueled backup contingency is on standby and continuously running at high cost to justify its commercial existence. Storage would make this redundant, but that's where the whole thing collapses further into a screaming heap given the enormity of that fantasy to power a modern civilization.

Re Shorten's rhetoric, I not John Howard agrees with me about where this stands in history. http://tinyurl.com/y6kqo78e

Issy, a real problem putting the Shooters and Hooters Party anywhere, the clowns failed to nominate candidates on time. Bob Ballsup is a real balls up. These melon heads are a joke!

After missing the bus this time around Bob Ballup is believed to have said; "but we will gear up to make a strategic push at the next federal election in three years' time". Issy where is all the dosh from the NRA?

The shooters and Hooters have one solitary candidate, some bloke named Sam running in the seat of Claire, runs around all day in a
flak jacket, has no real policies, just wants the gig.

Shooters and fishers signs from state election still up here
Nailed to trees too
One broke every law and entered the no go zone putting his HTV at the very door
Soon made him bring them back
Not sure how they get away with leaving those posters up on National Highway?
Still finding barnaby's latest head shaking stuff
He seem to want the leadership back more than the election

Previous link paywalled
Try http://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-election-2019/federal-election-2019-former-prime-minister-john-howards-explosive-bill-shorten-spray-ng-b881198226z

If John Howard is so concerned about Bill Shorten
becoming PM why wasn't Howard at the Liberal Party
Campaign Launch in Melbourne supporting Morrison?

Or was he not invited - because he's so out of touch
that he's an embarrassment?