2022 Election
Can we please just skip the fantasy that the decision by Sovatare has anything at all to do with climate change?
I understand it might seem like a nifty line in the political tribalism pillow fights but can we at least try and restrict the discussion to something approaching reality?
Stan Grant, painting with characteristically broad brush strokes, does a very fair job of describing our current situation both socially and politically.
A large and growing chunk of the population see our democracy as damaged or broken, The question is how will this reconcile itself.
My money is on a further shift away from support for the two majors - as I’ve said before two party systems don’t tend to represent diversity very well and if nothing else Australia is atomising in a big way.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-24/katherine-deves-transgender-women...
Read the article you posted AndyM and attempted to turn my feelings to words..
I think this burgeoning belief that our democracy is broken and damaged is an inevitability of capitalism. Societies underlying economic structure, which determines the allocation and distribution of our resources which we are dependent upon, is utterly corrupt and weighted to benefit those with immense power already, and has proven itself incapable of addressing the problems we can no longer afford (ha ha) to ignore, lest we destroy the planet we call home. The internet has expanded our ability to see outside of our own microcosms (for better or worse) and hear voices and perspectives outside of our own tribes or units, taking the means of public messaging and information from the traditional owners and distributors, which were never fair ("If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him." - Cardinal Richelieu). Naturally through this new understanding human empathy is then extended to previously marginalised or unheard from groups and a more accurate picture of our own standing is revealed. This can be a very bitter pill to swallow (my privileges and livelihood come at the detriment and expense of what now?!) and I think we are all at differing stages of accepting this. None of us are omnipotent and all-knowing and our exposure to these 'new' realities and ability and desire to compassionately work them in to our world views are naturally creating tensions and diametrically opposed positions, resulting in a very broad sense of 'somethings not right here' across the spectrum. I'm not sure what the answer to these issues are, but its certainly not more of the same. I struggle to put these thoughts in to words and would usually not bother trying to communicate it, but its a quiet Sunday and I appreciate the discussion happening here, even if it does seem to be an exercise in reinforcing and bunkering down in existing views at times (this is not meant as a dig). Ultimately I just hope we are able to become a more open, compassionate and understanding global society, and I try in my own small ways to contribute to this, while not being swallowed up and paralysed by the inequalities and suffering our follies and greed do cause.
"The internet has expanded our ability to see outside of our own microcosms (for better or worse) and hear voices and perspectives outside of our own tribes or units,"
You think so?
I think the internet has done exactly the opposite: reinforced our thinking into hard final, tribal realities which are then further reinforced by echo chambers fed to us by social media algorithms.
I think overall people have become less flexible, not more flexible in their thinking.
Rigidity of thought and moral positions, increased polarisation and tribalism is the hallmark of the Internet age.
Thats just my impression though, I very much appreciated the intent of your post.
Totally agree with what you've said Freeride, which is why I tried to be careful and use the word 'ability' to see. It is tough for even the most scrupulous of information consumers to outwit the algorithms and recognise where they are being exploited and manipulated, and an echo-chamber can provide great comfort, but by making an effort to understand how the systems work I do believe a somewhat balanced and accurate viewpoint can be found (at least I hope). I haven't used social media for years now (and if I do its not under an account, which makes it harder for the algorithms) so I guess I am a bit disconnected from it, but have seen the devastating effects it can have on the mental health and viewpoints of family and friends. It hurts seeing those I care about argue against their best interests, defending their oppressors, but have realised that no amount of evidence or facts can change their minds, and oftentimes only serve to further entrench them in their positions, as they feel attacked. Psychological warfare is being waged and for what? Advertising dollars and clicks? I try stay open minded and not despair.
Indo writes "And Sheepdog what do you actually think these statements actually prove?
Yes trials in Cape York included pensioners that's not news"
Yes it is. I have been in contact with the ABC fact check, and Guardian. They have missed this. Expect more to come.
Anne Ruston said in June 2021 - "“Let me be perfectly clear, this government has no plan and will never have a plan to force age pensioners on to the cashless debit card,”
LIES............. Since then , aged pensioners have been put on the card.
Don't use the "indiginous" bullshit spin, Indo. Since the 1966 referendum, Aboriginies are no longer counted as "fauna". They are counted as Australian humans. And these Australian aged pemsioners are being put on the cashless welfare card.
So , pensioners need to be told this. Just as work for the dole was introduced to aboriginies first before being rolled out into mainstream society, so is the cashless card for aged pensioners.
Any one with parents on the pension need to note page 2, 6, and 11 of the parliament doc' I posted above
Sheepdog wrote:Indo writes "And Sheepdog what do you actually think these statements actually prove?
Yes trials in Cape York included pensioners that's not news"Yes it is. I have been in contact with the ABC fact check, and Guardian. They have missed this. Expect more to come.
Anne Ruston said in June 2021 - "“Let me be perfectly clear, this government has no plan and will never have a plan to force age pensioners on to the cashless debit card,”
LIES............. Since then , aged pensioners have been put on the card.
Don't use the "indiginous" bullshit spin, Indo. Since the 1966 referendum, Aboriginies are no longer counted as "fauna". They are counted as Australian humans. And these Australian aged pemsioners are being put on the cashless welfare card.
So , pensioners need to be told this. Just as work for the dole was introduced to aboriginies first before being rolled out into mainstream society, so is the cashless card for aged pensioners.Any one with parents on the pension need to note page 2, 6, and 11 of the parliament doc' I posted above
It's pretty clear you believe anything you read on social media, every post is full of blatant and busted mis-information/lies/wife's tales.
I didn't know there was people who still believed this one though.
"Fact check: Were Indigenous Australians classified under a flora and fauna act until the 1967 referendum?
The verdict
Ms Clanton's claim is a myth.
Aboriginal people in Australia have never been covered by a flora and fauna act, either under federal or state law.
But despite several attempts by various people to set the record straight, the myth continues to circulate, perhaps because, as one academic told Fact Check, it "embodies elements of a deeper truth about discrimination".
Although the claim has been repeated more frequently during the past 10 years, there is evidence to suggest the myth originated in the early 1970s."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-20/fact-check-flora-and-fauna-1967-r...
BTW. I wouldn't be surprised if your claim that work for the dole started in indigenous communities is also false, i can't find anything online to support that.
Actually it seems like an idea Hawk had that Howard then implemented .
https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parlia...
I do know there was similar employment aimed programs before it though that were voluntary based because i did one about 95 called LEAP(Land Environmental Action Program), basically same thing as work for the dole, but you got paid like $50 extra or something a week, we helped build local step's/boardwalks to beaches and did stuff with Landcare etc
BTW. work for the dole was actually something that really pushed me to get off the dole, it sucked when it came in, it was like the salad days were over.
jwithay wrote:I think this burgeoning belief that our democracy is broken and damaged is an inevitability of capitalism.
Capitalism is really just the freedom for anyone to be able to partake in trade and business be it individual or business..
Democracy is really just the freedom for anyone(of a legal age) to be able to elect those to represent them and govern them.
The two fit together perfectly like a hand in a glove or a fish in water, because they are both based on freedom for the individual.
What i can only assume you are mistaking capitalism for is crony capitalism something different again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crony_capitalism
Indo writes "It's pretty clear you believe anything you read on social media, every post is full of blatant and busted mis-information/lies/wife's tales."
Gaslighting doesn't work with me indo. Everyone here can see it's a PARLIAMENTARY DOCUMENT, not "social media". Stop maing a total fool of yourself for once.
The link even states "parliament.qld.gov.au". .... I'm starting to doubt you are even a surfer.
https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2022/5722T222-9761.pdf?fbclid...
indo-dreaming wrote:But if he doesn't understand how corruption works on a world wide level, what's the point???
Indo that's very naïve, I have travelled extensively through Central / South America where corruption there makes Indonesia look completely honest.
Its you that doesn't understand or choose not to, watch MW that SF posted and get your head around the numbers and where the aid money was spent.
Its a nonsense to try and frame the whole Solomon's mess as a corruption issue.
Indo writes "Aboriginal people in Australia have never been covered by a flora and fauna act, either under federal or state law."
Talk about ROPE A DOPE HAHAHAHAHA
2017 Aboriginal artist Vernon Ah Kee told the ABC that it was only in jest that a 'flora and fauna act' was mentioned by Aboriginal people.
"Blackfellas jokingly say that we weren't considered people so we must be part of the flora and fauna act, but that's not even true. THE FACT IS WE DIDN'T EXIST AT ALL."
indo-dreaming wrote:jwithay wrote:I think this burgeoning belief that our democracy is broken and damaged is an inevitability of capitalism.
What i can only assume you are mistaking capitalism for is crony capitalism something different again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crony_capitalism
No mistake. Crony capitalism is, from the best of my understanding and experience, a natural evolution of capitalism (which is a fairy tale in the first place), hence the inevitability. Power amasses power, and since we aren't starting from scratch (and never can), capitalism (or cronyism) is the means through which the powers that be continue to reign.
Since I don't believe in any real difference in the two (on a realistic, not ideological basis), but you seem to, may I ask whether you think that the system we are currently operating under is pure capitalism or crony?
I had a bit of a laugh at this statement “ The problem is many Australians think the world works the way things work in Australia, which it doesn't, its pointless for me to keep trying to explain to him about how corruption in these areas works, you either get it or you dont. “. Indo doesn’t think corruption exists in our government, well not the Scott Morrison Party anyway .
Totally off course.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-12/why-did-northern-territory-sell-d.... How and why did the Northern Territory lease the Darwin Port to China, and at what risk?
I focus wrote:indo-dreaming wrote:But if he doesn't understand how corruption works on a world wide level, what's the point???
Indo that's very naïve, I have travelled extensively through Central / South America where corruption there makes Indonesia look completely honest.
Its you that doesn't understand or choose not to, watch MW that SF posted and get your head around the numbers and where the aid money was spent.
Its a nonsense to try and frame the whole Solomon's mess as a corruption issue.
Ive said I'm not going to give MW any views, but it's hard to argue against something you havent watched so i clicked on the MW video and i really thought maybe he might have some decent points and i might have trouble tying to fault him
But OMFG it was so weak and trashy,(especially when he went off on his boat people angle) i thought he use to be a proper journalist????
The guy now is just a complete Labor shill and just comes across as an everyday Youtuber with pretty weak poorly researched arguments full of holes.
The climate change aspect was downright laughable and makes no sense.
Aust= less than 2% of global emissions and reducing emissions.
China= 30% of global emissions and increasing emissions. (by 2030 they could make up 50% of world emissions)
Don't you think if global warming is of concern to Solomon Islands China is the last country they are going to get in bed with???????????????????
Aid: Direct Aid Program (DAP) Yes it has been reduced slightly, but its still a shit load of money "over $161.7 million of Official Development Assistance in 2019-20." the reduction of 12% over almost ten years is a drop in the ocean.
Something MW conveniently didn't mention: is we pay a lot more than just aid, we also have a thing called "National Development Strategy" thats also worth a shit load.
"Australia is Solomon Islands' main development partner, providing over $174 million of Official Development Assistance in 2019-20. Australian development cooperation focuses on supporting stability, enabling economic growth and enhancing human development"
.
https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/solomon-islands/development-assistance/devel...
To give you an idea:
"Key recent achievements that Australian development assistance has delivered in Solomon Islands include:
Completion of the Coral Sea Cable in 2020; a submarine fibre optic telecommunications cable linking Honiara to Sydney, delivering faster more reliable internet connectivity to the Solomon Islands. Australia majority funded the project committing $200 million.
Significant progress on the Tina River Hydropower Development Project. A step closer to providing clean energy to Honiara. Australia was the largest grant financier with an investment of $28.4 million.
Australia's Health Sector Support Program has helped register 66 new doctors in Solomon Islands since 2015. This increase in qualified doctors has improved the quality of health services, with 13 additional doctors posted to provincial health facilities in 2019 (a 45 per cent increase on 2018).
In 2019-20, Australia's Education Sector Support Program (ESSP) has helped train 267 teachers and supported the construction of four girls' dormitories and ablution blocks, one science lab and three classrooms and repairs to eight school buildings. ESSP support has helped Solomon Islands to achieve improvements in primary literacy and numeracy results in regional tests.
Australia supported 37 Solomon Islanders in 2019-20 to commence tertiary studies in Australia and the Pacific region under the Australia Awards program. Almost half the scholarships were awarded to women.
In 2019, Australia funded the maintenance and improvement of 142 kilometres of roads in Solomon Islands to improve transport infrastructure and help support increased economic activity.
Australia's rural development and private sector programs have improved provincial services including water supply, village halls and market houses, and established 35 linkages between producers and market outlets. These programs have also helped more than 1874 women gain access to finance or report an increase in income in 2019.
Since 2017, the Pacific Financial Inclusion Program has enabled over 15,000 Solomon Islanders working in the informal sector to save for their futures with the youSave superannuation program; over 300 businesses and 12 licensed tax agents now use the new online tax payment system with the Solomon Islands Inland Revenue Department.
In 2019-20, 228 workers (28 female) participated in the Seasonal Workers Programme (a decrease of 86 workers from last year due to COVID-19 travel restrictions) and 134 Solomon Islanders (6 female) were mobilised under the Pacific Labour Scheme (an increase of 114 workers from last year).
In 2019-20 Australian governance and justice achievements included: 124 (50 female and 74 men) law and justice officials receiving training; 1,100 cases were heard and disposed of in Magistrates Court in 2019-20, an increase of 87 from 2018–19; 1,342 women used emergency shelter, health, sexual abuse or referral services, an increase from 919 in 2018–19.
Through support from Australia's gender program, more women have accessed violence support services, the number of women accessing counselling increased from 580 in 2018 to 1,240 in 2019; of this, a total of 256 rural women and girls accessed services from the five provincial volunteer committees.
In 2019, through the Australia Pacific Training Coalition, (APTC) 100 Solomon Islands (53 female) now have an Australian-recognised qualification; Solomon Islands has the highest female graduate ratio across the APTC platform. Thirty-four per cent of graduates reported being in a higher role after graduating."
Then there is things like "Solomon Islands COVID-19 Development Response Plan"
https://www.dfat.gov.au/development/australias-development-program/covid...
Work opportunities: Does China provide them employment opportunities???? I dont expect so, we do https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/pacific/engagement/pacific-labour-mobility
And i highly doubt any of the workers would feel exploited, the work conditions and pay you can bet would be much much better than back home, these visas are golden tickets for people from developing nations.
Who's more likely to keep this program LNP or Labor?
It's also an area that we are increasing opportunities in https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/pacific/engagement/pacific-labour-mobility
Security and stability: As most know we have a history of trying to help provide stability, even right now we still have police stationed there
Most notably was our involvement in "Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
"RAMSI was a long-term commitment aimed at creating the conditions necessary for a return to stability, peace and a growing economy. RAMSI arrived in Solomon Islands in July 2003 and was a partnership between Solomon Islands, Australia and fifteen contributing countries of the Pacific region. Australia led a contingent of military personnel, police and civilians. On 1 July 2013, RAMSI's military component was withdrawn and development assistance activities transferred to the programs of other donors, mainly Australia's. RAMSI concluded on 30 June 2017.
https://www.ramsi.org/about/
Then there's things like the more recent security treaty.
https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/solomon-islands/Pages/Bilateral-security-treaty
I could probably go on if dug deeper, but the idea China is moving in because Australia has cut aid by a little bit or neglect Solomon islands is just complete garbage
BUT it all means nothing if you pay more where needed, and that doesn't mean Aid or development programs or things that benefit the people, if you dont pay the bribes to the right people and someone like China does, it's all irrelevant.
Further reading https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/solomon-islands/solomon-islands-country-brief
Supafreak wrote:I had a bit of a laugh at this statement “ The problem is many Australians think the world works the way things work in Australia, which it doesn't, its pointless for me to keep trying to explain to him about how corruption in these areas works, you either get it or you dont. “. Indo doesn’t think corruption exists in our government, well not the Scott Morrison Party anyway .
Corruption exist everywhere in the world, but on very different levels, Australias corruption(that Labor are in no way immune too) is low say compared to Indo, Indo is probably low compared to places like Solomon Islands or PNG.
Again who knows what happens behind closed doors between countries, but even if we are willing to play by their rules which is unlikely, China will out bid us every time when it comes to bribes.
And in these countries, it's bribes that get deals done, not always what is best for the people.
You can choose to ignore this for political reasons, but it's fact.
@jwithay
Okay so you don't believe people should have the freedom to be able to partake in trade and business be it individual or business. (capitalism)
Im a little scared to ask, so what would you prefer?
Do you also not believe democracy is a good thing?
The system we have is capitalism but yes there is big business that operate more in a crony capitalism realm.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/16/fiji-pm-frank-bainimarama-.... Fiji PM accuses Scott Morrison of ‘insulting’ and alienating Pacific leaders
Sorry to flood thread with post, but i was curious to what level corruption is a problem in the Solomon islands, from a Guardian article.(Nov 2021) on corruption in the Pacific region
It seems it is quite a problem, you would expect on all levels.
“What we can now see is that bribery is worse in the Pacific region than any other region in the world,” said Mariam Mathew, Pacific regional lead at Transparency International. “It’s certainly very alarming.”
"In Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, 97% and 96% respectively believe that corruption in the government is a big problem."
"The Solomon Islands was a reoccurring worst performer on a number of those business-related questions, such as obtaining government contracts where over 90% of respondents said businesses at least occasionally rely on connections or offering money to obtain these contracts.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/17/one-third-of-people-in-pac...
"Capitalism is really just the freedom for anyone to be able to partake in trade and business be it individual or business..
Democracy is really just the freedom for anyone(of a legal age) to be able to elect those to represent them and govern them.
The two fit together perfectly like a hand in a glove or a fish in water, because they are both based on freedom for the individual."
This has to be some of the most breathtakingly simplistic and wilfully naive stuff to ever grace this site.
I responded to you in good faith indo-dreaming, please don't put words in my mouth.
I would prefer far more socialist policies, that looks to provide everybody with the shelter, food, and opportunities that are necessary for survival. Comfortably. Not some survival of the fittest competitive Darwinian nightmare that favours the most able and entrenched power and wealth (i'm sure you've read the stats on the personality types that thrive in high end business and politics).
Democracy is a good thing, and a good functioning democracy depends on well informed voters. Media reform, yes please.
I'm not railing against 'mom and pops' small businesses here...this is a common divide and conquer tactic espoused by the vested interests of capital when challenged, and further propagated by it's adherents, regardless of whether they stand to benefit. What percentage of wealth and power do you believe these small businesses currently hold? They're toiling to stay afloat under the same wealth-weighted system as the majority of us. Whats to be done about those big business cronies you admit to? Who has the power to put them in line? How would that look? I have more questions than answers, don't have all the solutions, but defending the status quo and pretending everything is gravy is not working out for us, nor our planet and all who call it home.
"Capitalism is really just the freedom for anyone to be able to partake in trade and business be it individual or business..
Democracy is really just the freedom for anyone(of a legal age) to be able to elect those to represent them and govern them.
Freeballin' is really just the freedom for anyone (legal age or not) to be able to elect to go undies free.
The three fit together perfectly like a hand in a glove or a fish in water, because they are based on freedom for the individual."
38 years free here
adam12 wrote:"Capitalism is really just the freedom for anyone to be able to partake in trade and business be it individual or business..
Democracy is really just the freedom for anyone(of a legal age) to be able to elect those to represent them and govern them.
Freeballin' is really just the freedom for anyone (legal age or not) to be able to elect to go undies free.
The three fit together perfectly like a hand in a glove or a fish in water, because they are based on freedom for the individual."
Did you hear about the man with 5 penises?
His pants fit him like a glove.
jwithay wrote:I responded to you in good faith indo-dreaming, please don't put words in my mouth.
I would prefer far more socialist policies, that looks to provide everybody with the shelter, food, and opportunities that are necessary for survival. Comfortably. Not some survival of the fittest competitive Darwinian nightmare that favours the most able and entrenched power and wealth (i'm sure you've read the stats on the personality types that thrive in high end business and politics).
Democracy is a good thing, and a good functioning democracy depends on well informed voters. Media reform, yes please.
I'm not railing against 'mom and pops' small businesses here...this is a common divide and conquer tactic espoused by the vested interests of capital when challenged, and further propagated by it's adherents, regardless of whether they stand to benefit. What percentage of wealth and power do you believe these small businesses currently hold? They're toiling to stay afloat under the same wealth-weighted system as the majority of us. Whats to be done about those big business cronies you admit to? Who has the power to put them in line? How would that look? I have more questions than answers, don't have all the solutions, but defending the status quo and pretending everything is gravy is not working out for us, nor our planet and all who call it home.
Capitalism and democracy a match made in heaven?
More like capitalism is killing democracy.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2009/10/12/how-capitalism-is-killing-democracy/
Thanks for sharing that article AndyM. I can't seem to get the whole thing to load on the PC, but it's working on the phone. Huge respect for Robert Reich's thoughts and writings and will give it a good and proper read through tomorrow, cheers.
Id nice try but.... the aid budget was cut from Labors $234m 10 years ago to $189m then to $155m then to $142m then to $103m under the Coalition $65m came out of those numbers to built the High Commission building.
Given they have thrown away $40bil of tax payers money during the COVID pandemic for zero return to profitable company's of which CEO's paid themselves fat bonuses I guess there is no surprise.
Anyway the Coalition has overseen the biggest national security threat to Australia shores in peaceful times.
BTW MW back in the day had no peers as an fearless investigative jurno of businesses he hates corruption with a passion so yes Morrison is on his hit list.... so much material to work with.
It was lost on the other page so here it is again, the matter clearly isn't about some reduction in Aid money which is only one aspect of the long running help and assistance including peacekeeping we provide Solomon islands with.
ha ha MW hates corruption but is so naive to not understand corruption is the key element of the issue and instead in a crappy six min video clings onto climate change, aid money and then goes off on some uneducated irrelevant rant about refugees no even related to the issues.
indo-dreaming wrote:Ive said I'm not going to give MW any views, but it's hard to argue against something you havent watched so i clicked on the MW video and i really thought maybe he might have some decent points and i might have trouble tying to fault him
But OMFG it was so weak and trashy,(especially when he went off on his boat people angle) i thought he use to be a proper journalist????
The guy now is just a complete Labor shill and just comes across as an everyday Youtuber with pretty weak poorly researched arguments full of holes.
The climate change aspect was downright laughable and makes no sense.
Aust= less than 2% of global emissions and reducing emissions.
China= 30% of global emissions and increasing emissions. (by 2030 they could make up 50% of world emissions)
Don't you think if global warming is of concern to Solomon Islands China is the last country they are going to get in bed with???????????????????
Aid: Direct Aid Program (DAP) Yes it has been reduced slightly, but its still a shit load of money "over $161.7 million of Official Development Assistance in 2019-20." the reduction of 12% over almost ten years is a drop in the ocean.
Something MW conveniently didn't mention: is we pay a lot more than just aid, we also have a thing called "National Development Strategy" thats also worth a shit load.
"Australia is Solomon Islands' main development partner, providing over $174 million of Official Development Assistance in 2019-20. Australian development cooperation focuses on supporting stability, enabling economic growth and enhancing human development"
.
https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/solomon-islands/development-assistance/devel...To give you an idea:
"Key recent achievements that Australian development assistance has delivered in Solomon Islands include:
Completion of the Coral Sea Cable in 2020; a submarine fibre optic telecommunications cable linking Honiara to Sydney, delivering faster more reliable internet connectivity to the Solomon Islands. Australia majority funded the project committing $200 million.
Significant progress on the Tina River Hydropower Development Project. A step closer to providing clean energy to Honiara. Australia was the largest grant financier with an investment of $28.4 million.
Australia's Health Sector Support Program has helped register 66 new doctors in Solomon Islands since 2015. This increase in qualified doctors has improved the quality of health services, with 13 additional doctors posted to provincial health facilities in 2019 (a 45 per cent increase on 2018).
In 2019-20, Australia's Education Sector Support Program (ESSP) has helped train 267 teachers and supported the construction of four girls' dormitories and ablution blocks, one science lab and three classrooms and repairs to eight school buildings. ESSP support has helped Solomon Islands to achieve improvements in primary literacy and numeracy results in regional tests.
Australia supported 37 Solomon Islanders in 2019-20 to commence tertiary studies in Australia and the Pacific region under the Australia Awards program. Almost half the scholarships were awarded to women.
In 2019, Australia funded the maintenance and improvement of 142 kilometres of roads in Solomon Islands to improve transport infrastructure and help support increased economic activity.
Australia's rural development and private sector programs have improved provincial services including water supply, village halls and market houses, and established 35 linkages between producers and market outlets. These programs have also helped more than 1874 women gain access to finance or report an increase in income in 2019.
Since 2017, the Pacific Financial Inclusion Program has enabled over 15,000 Solomon Islanders working in the informal sector to save for their futures with the youSave superannuation program; over 300 businesses and 12 licensed tax agents now use the new online tax payment system with the Solomon Islands Inland Revenue Department.
In 2019-20, 228 workers (28 female) participated in the Seasonal Workers Programme (a decrease of 86 workers from last year due to COVID-19 travel restrictions) and 134 Solomon Islanders (6 female) were mobilised under the Pacific Labour Scheme (an increase of 114 workers from last year).
In 2019-20 Australian governance and justice achievements included: 124 (50 female and 74 men) law and justice officials receiving training; 1,100 cases were heard and disposed of in Magistrates Court in 2019-20, an increase of 87 from 2018–19; 1,342 women used emergency shelter, health, sexual abuse or referral services, an increase from 919 in 2018–19.
Through support from Australia's gender program, more women have accessed violence support services, the number of women accessing counselling increased from 580 in 2018 to 1,240 in 2019; of this, a total of 256 rural women and girls accessed services from the five provincial volunteer committees.
In 2019, through the Australia Pacific Training Coalition, (APTC) 100 Solomon Islands (53 female) now have an Australian-recognised qualification; Solomon Islands has the highest female graduate ratio across the APTC platform. Thirty-four per cent of graduates reported being in a higher role after graduating."
Then there is things like "Solomon Islands COVID-19 Development Response Plan"
https://www.dfat.gov.au/development/australias-development-program/covid...Work opportunities: Does China provide them employment opportunities???? I dont expect so, we do https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/pacific/engagement/pacific-labour-mobility
And i highly doubt any of the workers would feel exploited, the work conditions and pay you can bet would be much much better than back home, these visas are golden tickets for people from developing nations.
Who's more likely to keep this program LNP or Labor?
It's also an area that we are increasing opportunities in https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/pacific/engagement/pacific-labour-mobility
Security and stability: As most know we have a history of trying to help provide stability, even right now we still have police stationed there
Most notably was our involvement in "Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
"RAMSI was a long-term commitment aimed at creating the conditions necessary for a return to stability, peace and a growing economy. RAMSI arrived in Solomon Islands in July 2003 and was a partnership between Solomon Islands, Australia and fifteen contributing countries of the Pacific region. Australia led a contingent of military personnel, police and civilians. On 1 July 2013, RAMSI's military component was withdrawn and development assistance activities transferred to the programs of other donors, mainly Australia's. RAMSI concluded on 30 June 2017.
https://www.ramsi.org/about/Then there's things like the more recent security treaty.
https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/solomon-islands/Pages/Bilateral-security-treatyI could probably go on if dug deeper, but the idea China is moving in because Australia has cut aid by a little bit or neglect Solomon islands is just complete garbage
BUT it all means nothing if you pay more where needed, and that doesn't mean Aid or development programs or things that benefit the people, if you dont pay the bribes to the right people and someone like China does, it's all irrelevant.
Further reading https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/solomon-islands/solomon-islands-country-brief
Better economic managers ? Hmmmmm. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-13/fact-check-budget-debt-coronaviru.... "Something like two-thirds of the debt in the budget was borrowed by the Government before this outbreak of COVID-19," Mr Chalmers said.
What do the records show? RMIT ABC Fact Check investigates.
The verdict
Mr Chalmers is correct.
Anyway its ANZAC day I'm no going to bother with the anti freedom, anti capitalism, pro socialist pro communist today, because many people including my old man, risked their lives fighting against those ideologies to try to help bring freedom to others, the freedoms that you all enjoy but strangely don't appreciate and would rather destroy..
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/04/25/michael-pascoe-australia-s.... Meanwhile, the wrecking ball that is Peter Dutton goes on its merry way, always happy to make a bad situation worse.
ID please be objective MW was comparing the threat of boat refugees against the threat of China setting up military bases hosting naval war ships on our door step.
Now the Coalition have been beating their hairy chests over how tuff they are on refugees (locking up children for 9 years) while ignoring the real threats.
Both my grandfathers fought in the trenches of France in W1 on my fathers side my grandfather lost his leg (only survivor of 15 after a shell made a direct hit on their trench).
He never received a war pension and both certainly never fought for a an Australian Government that has taken money off the lowest paid workers and as corrupted / incompetent / lazy as Morrison's.
Lest We Forget.
The comparison is silly, Australia can control who comes here and by what mean's.
Australia does not have control of who other countries do business with.
BTW. Nobody has been locked up for nine years, people are free to go at anytime and have turned their noses up at resettlement in both PNG and Cambodia, Children were only ever on Nauru where all families have had the choice to live in the community just like Nauruan people, people were/are even free to work and even run business, they could even apply to holiday in the South Pacific region one refugee man went to Fiji for his 21st Birthday.
Anyone in Australia in hotels came through he medivac scam and im sure the government would be happy for any to return to Nauru.
indo-dreaming wrote:Anyway its ANZAC day I'm no going to bother with the anti freedom, anti capitalism, pro socialist pro communist today, because many people including my old man, risked their lives fighting against those ideologies to try to help bring freedom to others, the freedoms that you all enjoy but strangely don't appreciate and would rather destroy..
Most of the comments on this forum are pro social equality. I’ve yet to see anyone advocating for communism or full on anti capitalism. Plenty of comments against crony capitalism and capitalist welfare though and I'm fairly sure our forefathers didn't fight for those rights
I'm glad you could be bothered Fliplid, Indo just doesn't seem to get it.
He does love his false binaries.
If it were remotely possible after years and year of tripe, codswallop and verbal diarrhoea @info has become increasingly more shrill and stupid in his defence of the indefensible in his fear that his political gods are about to fall of the electoral cliff. Give up guys it's a total waste of your time and energy engaging him in any meaningful debate.
Says the Guy that adds nothing but cheap trolls.
BTW. As ive said before regarding this election, my heart wants LNP to win, my head says in the long run it might be better Labor win, as no matter who gets in there is challenging times ahead. Interest rates will rise and labor will be kicked out after one to two terms max and lose even more credibility and cement their place as being associated with hard times, and then LNP will have another decade long run.
Its win win for LNP whatever happens and lose lose for Labor whatever happens
indo-dreaming wrote:Anyway its ANZAC day I'm no going to bother with the anti freedom, anti capitalism, pro socialist pro communist today, because many people including my old man, risked their lives fighting against those ideologies to try to help bring freedom to others, the freedoms that you all enjoy but strangely don't appreciate and would rather destroy..
The Bay of Tonkin was a false flag event orchestrated by the US government to manufacture consent to engage in Vietnam. A war that the French had already lost and a war the US and allies could never win.
Your father and his comrades where sent to war based on a lie. Because of communist Cold War scare mongering. Much like the retoric in regards to communism and socialism that you spread here. So go wave your little flag mate, all the while remaining ignorant, but all the while condoning the conditions that sent your own father to a war that we should never have engaged in.
"all the while condoning the conditions that sent your own father to a war"
That's the real irony.
Im not getting into a discussion about Vietnam, but at least he had the balls to go and fight for people's freedoms.
I bet some of you are old enough to be conscripted and ran and hid.
Any confessions?
@info you know jackshit but that never stops you ever. I feel for your father and his mates fighting the false war but your ignorance and stupidity knows no bounds.
Now if you want to talk about service to your country defending its real values I can tell you about a 17 year old who lied about his age to enlist and who was in Darwin when it was bombed and spent the next 3 years in PNG and the islands in the Bismarck Sea before being medically evacuated on death's door with a cocktail of tropical diseases (my father) or my uncle who spent a day covered in oil clinging to debris having had his ship blown from under him in the battle for the Coral Sea.
Abusing Anzac Day toDogWhistle War...shame Peter Dutton. Our people fought to stop war not to upset it to win an election.#auspol
— Tony Windsor (@TonyHWindsor) April 25, 2022
indo-dreaming wrote:Im not getting into a discussion about Vietnam, but at least he had the balls to go and fight for people's freedoms.
I bet some of you are old enough to be conscripted and ran and hid.
Any confessions?
Off course indo here brags about how he went on the dole instead of getting a job, but would like us to believe that he would've gone to war.
indo-dreaming wrote:Im not getting into a discussion about Vietnam, but at least he had the balls to go and fight for people's freedoms.
I bet some of you are old enough to be conscripted and ran and hid.
Any confessions?
He fought for a lie, it had nothing to do with freedom. A sitting US president, who had no interest in war in Vietnam, was assasinated so others could engage in this mindless war in Vietnam. A president that actually believed in freedom and equality and had a vision for peace and prosperity for all people.
I’d try and explain further but I know with you it’s a complete waste of time, because you’re an ignorant dolt.
indo-dreaming wrote:Im not getting into a discussion about Vietnam, but at least he had the balls to go and fight for people's freedoms.
I bet some of you are old enough to be conscripted and ran and hid.
Any confessions?
What freedoms?
What are you talking about?
"During the war, the United States pledged to fight for freedom and democracy in Vietnam.
President after president characterized the war as part of the struggle between the Free World and Communism. Some 55,000 Americans lost their lives fighting to keep South Vietnam free.
But Vietnam has never had a democracy in its long history.
And the United States propped up one dictatorship after another in the Republic of South Vietnam.
The regimes in Saigon were as autocratic as the present regime in Hanoi."
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-17-me-1244-story.html
The Vietnam War was never about "freedom" or "democracy" and if you believe it was, you're a fool and a stooge.
Katherine Deves- "I have received death threats, I have had to have the police and the AFP involved".
Police - "not aware of any threats made against Katherine Deves".
Deves a confirmed LIAR by police. No wonder Morrison the liar likes her.
https://7news.com.au/politics/election/police-have-no-record-of-deves-th...
.