Greens Bob Brown talk at the Press club today

Bob Brown spoke today at the national press club, and emphasised his plan to tax the miners and use that money for education and other causes.
The chances that the greens will hold the balance of power in the senate after Saturday 21.8.10 is very high, and the MRRT/Prrt will be revitalised. He gave the undertaking that he will try to take it further than Julia Gillard, and certainly seems determined.

Meg critised the greens today in saying that: the greens are not sticking to their green platform.
" they haven't even stopped the over- use of electricity in city office blocks at night. All they had to do was to stop or reduce the amounts claimable on tax by 50%. Businesses have been able to claim electricity costs on their tax returns, and
that means that the taxpayer has been funding this shocking waste".
She added,
"1. The Greens have not stopped pamphlets in letterboxes,(they are delivering their own electoral material)
2. The Greens are still going to hand out at polling booths despite knowing that the electoral office
attaches a booklet in the polling booth with all the preferences directed by all parties and groups
3. They have had 3 years to negotiate with labor for a better outcome for climate change and didn't do it.
4. The greens have accepted large donations from unions,(I thought he said 3 million?) despite Bob Brown's pontification that all donations should not be allowed. The federal election is already funded by $2.30 for every vote over the minimum 4% and the greens and the other big parties, will be given that money, as well as having been given donations.
Surely they should have to repay to the government,the donation amount. But I cant see that ever getting past the senate.. they all have their own self interest to protect, rather than the interest of the voters.
5. If the greens do win the balance of power in the senate, it is likely that there will be a double dissolution within 18 months.

Is mark Latham guilty of sedition?

see http://megansampson.blogspot.com re supporting Mark Latham and his call "not to vote"

re Sedition laws: Not old or outdated..

Australian sedition law is the area of the criminal law of Australia relating to the crime of sedition.Effectively defunct for nearly half a century, these laws returned to public notice in 2005 when changes were included in an Anti-terrorism Bill announced by Prime Minister Howard prior to a "counter-terrorism summit" of the Council of Australian Governments on September 27.
The Bill was introduced on November 3 and passed into law on December 6, 2005 after government amendments adding some protection for the reporting of news and matters of public interest were introduced in response to community pressure. The changed laws are to be reviewed in 2006.

Early prosecutions for sedition in Australia include:

the conviction of Henry Seekamp for seditious libel over the Eureka Rebellion in 1854; (how amazing that Julia Gillard is standing in the seat of Lalor Victoria- named after Peter Lalor the Eukeka Hero!)

the conviction of 13 trade union leaders of the 1891 Australian shearers' strike for sedition and conspiracy; and

the action against radical Harry Holland, jailed for two years in 1909 over his advocacy of violent revolution during the Broken Hill miners' strike.
During the First World War Sedition laws were used against those who opposed conscription and war, in particular the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in Australia [1]. In 1916 members of the IWW in Perth were charged with sedition including 83 year old Montague Miller, known as the grand old man of the labour movement. Miller was released after serving a few weeks of his sentence but was re-arrested in 1917 in Sydney at the age of 84 and sentenced to six months jail with hard labour at Long Bay Gaol on the charge of belonging to an unlawful association [2].

The Sydney Twelve were all charged and convicted with various offences including sedition.
ref wikpedia.

here's the link re the campaign junket

Here's the link to the campaign junket.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/05/2974190.htm?site=thedrum

And you can go to my blog http://megansamspon.blogspot.com

My campaign is not going forward.. as well as it should.
I'm not sure whether to agree to be a victim of the gruen nation or not..
I'll put up a pic of me in a tablecloth opposing the GG's 28,000 a year clothing allowance. Not sure if that will work.

The "status" of the election

I hate to say it, but it's enough to make one physically ill. The constant critising by labor and the continued nastiness. Even to calling Abbott a rabbit. So petty, so unproductive.I think we have to take the view that everyone who is brave enough to stand deserves some respect. But of course, the journalists are carted along on the free gravy train, ferried about like an exclusive entourage. All at the campaigners cost.(with launches at taxpayer expense!) Annabel Crab gives a good description of what happens.

While this two party preferred system continues to be promoted, no one else can even get a press release printed. The neilesen poll came out a few days ago and you can go to Anthony greens blog or to the abc.net.au/elections page, for a clearer picture.
The mining tax has become lost. dead , buried and cremated?

It seems to have been agreed by the big miners and that's that.. until it comes before the senate.. and a greens held senate will support labor!

right now, I would have to say that labor will win with the greens preferences. Even german TV is pronouncing that..

The sad thing is this: so many voters are saying they cant be bothered voting. they will just get their name crossed off. What a waste!

Labors' Pattern Bargaining & I'm standing for the senate NSW

Miners are threatening to place ads during the election campaign.
well. so they should.
why? BECAUSE the Rudd/Gillard labor government engaged in PATTERN BARGAINING. essentially divide and conquer.
that's what the teamsters union do in the USA, and what our unions could do in AUSTRALIA. It's also what work choices was trying to stop.

LABOR picked an industry that they thought they could force to pay more money and one that they hoped that the voters would condone on moral grounds. THEN THEY picked only a few companies to force to an agreement. Then they would use that agreement to force others.

I oppose the mining tax because (1) it is against the constitution (you cannot create tax laws which might not treat the states fairly- in this case WA and QLD were being offered extra incentives.) and ( 2) because of this deceptive way of getting agreement instead of our representatives debating and creating a law about it..which could then be challenged in the supreme court.

(3) by abolishing the royalty system, labor is taking money from the states, and gaining more federally.

(4) Labor will target more industry sectors and bring them to heel one by one. It shouldn't be allowed.

(5) I also oppose the secrecy clauses in the PRRT (and in 176 other pieces of legislation.)

read these articles, and vote for me - Megan Sampson in the NSW senate.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/newmont-mining-and-barrick-gold-threaten-newcrests-lihir-bid/story-e6frg9df-1225876664954

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/clive-palmer-angry-over-mining-super-proft-taxation-advertisements/story-e6freon6-1225873061291

Fed. Election announced 21st August 2010

So the election is announced for 21st August 2010., with the issue of writs on Monday(?)This will effectively cut off all new voters, and also the election will be fought on the old federal bondaries.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISSUES?

WELL JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM ILLEGAL BOAT PEOPLE (PEACEFUL INVASION?) to employment, climate change, global financial crisis, schools funding and of course 50% tax deduction for school uniforms. etc etc.

Not much about the miners tax (MRRT) to the PRRT, yet anyway.
did you know that the PRRT has secrecy provisions as does 176 pieces of legislation.
Not just fines of $10,000 and or 2 years jail if you relay information but also saying you can't show a can't any documents from the company in question.

Might be great for AWB Directors but horrifying when you think that OUR government applies a law to prevent justice.

RSPT R.I.P MRRT THE real reasons

The bigger picture about the RSPT and the MRRT is that the Australian industry groups (esp H Ridout et) were all pushing to get company tax down to King Henry's reform of 25%.
The Government promised company tax reduced from 30% to 28% so that it could get paid maternity leave and higher super through, without companies saying they couldnt afford it.

so who pays? the taxpayer. and who pays for the MRRT windfall ? the end users.
the taxpayer and the poor, in higher energy and other flow on costs.

Why should Woollies, Coles, banks, etc all pay less company tax ? especially with a double dip recession looming and the central banks (BIS) now pushing for higher interests rates and an end to stimulus. Mega from http://megamoneybox.blogspot.com