So he's actually a Chinese agent. Is there no level these ex-politicians won't stoop to?

Look at what some sitting politicians have done/did state and federally....

With regards to Keating - he's working for the Chinese government AKA an "investment bank". As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald last year:

The former prime minister sits on an advisory council to the China Development Bank, a state-owned bank that raises money for large infrastructure projects. Mr Keating declined to comment on Wednesday.

So he's actually a Chinese agent. Is there no level these ex-politicians won't stoop to?

Do ex PMs or ex politicians need to have a "product disclosure statement?" Or do they, already?
What could possibly be on offer, other than influence, connections and access.

So he's actually a Chinese agent. Is there no level these ex-politicians won't stoop to?

Look at what some sitting politicians have done/did state and federally....

Precisely why there is no federal ICAC, or equivalent!

Bed and board at HM pleasure.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/comment-victorian-government-secret-deal-china/de1589cb-ab2f-4f76-8da8-d9d541607d18
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/chinese-telco-huawei-wins-136m-contract-with-wa-government-despite-security-concerns-20180709-p4zqen.html

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-12/why-did-northern-territory-sell-darwin-port-to-china-what-risk/10755720

someone is clearly asleep at the wheel.....

I will soon be voting in a federal election.. If the federal govt is not needed any more, I needn't bother.

While the Left are obsessed with Russian interference in Western Elections, we are sleep-walking into the arms of the Chinese Communist Party.

Even the British Conservative Party is Exhibit A by rolling out the welcome mat to Huawei last week, potentially destroying the 5 eyes alliance between the UK, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand...

Before long we'll have extradition agreements with the Chinese, as Hong Kong are about to do.

Goes to show people and influence can be bought. Probably been going on for ages, but with the Chinese we seem to be offended by what to them is normally part of the process.

The difference nowadays I suspect, is that those who give a crap and can want to prevent this untoward behaviour are now in the minority???

What's the saying- If you can't beat em, join em.

As unpalatable as that may be, show me a mandate that proves it won't be so........

Regards

I'm looking forward to seeing John, Tony, Malcolm and Scott on the same stage...

Goes to show people and influence can be bought. Probably been going on for ages, but with the Chinese we seem to be offended by what to them is normally part of the process.

The difference nowadays I suspect, is that those who give a crap and can want to prevent this untoward behaviour are now in the minority???

What's the saying- If you can't beat em, join em.

As unpalatable as that may be, show me a mandate that proves it won't be so........

Regards

If the TV series GoT has any resemblance of historical fact in it, it shows people in high places were being bought centuries ago.

While the Left are obsessed with Russian interference in Western Elections, we are sleep-walking into the arms of the Chinese Communist Party.

Even the British Conservative Party is Exhibit A by rolling out the welcome mat to Huawei last week, potentially destroying the 5 eyes alliance between the UK, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand...

Before long we'll have extradition agreements with the Chinese, as Hong Kong are about to do.

Don't often agree with you but you're 100% on the money here; there's been a relentless soft power push for the last ten years but also I'm concerned about the activity of Chinese Intelligence here policing Australians for "correct thinking". Australian citizens should frankly expect the Australian law to be upheld if they're being intimidated or otherwise harassed by foreign intermediaries in this country. Full-stop.

That fact that the perennial grub Keating has sold out to working for an "advisory group" for the Chinese Development Bank isn't surprising in the least but the fact that he felt it was necessary to tell Shorten to sack independent public servants because of the advice that they're giving was borderline treasonous.

In other news the RBA are meeting tomorrow but I think despite what people are saying they still won't cut rates, not this close to an election.

Anyone else have an opinion?

I'm looking forward to seeing John, Tony, Malcolm and Scott on the same stage...

There would be a rip in the space/time continuum and the universe would implode. Then again I did notice Rudd and Gillard on the same stage the other day and that didn't happen...

Goes to show people and influence can be bought. Probably been going on for ages, but with the Chinese we seem to be offended by what to them is normally part of the process.

Yeah so that's a cultural difference isn't it. They're also not told about the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution and Tienanmen Square.

It all boils down to one thing, money.

As a nation we have to choose between the nation that feeds us, and the nation that defends us.

There WILL be trouble on the high seas. There will likely be a flashpoint between the major powers and we will need to choose wisely.

At this point, there will be many of us out of work, and the only work available will be in our defence forces...

.... Also, a message to prospective politicians, never put anything in writing...

https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/heres-how-to-delete-your-social-media-history/11079118

Starting to think now the United Australia Party is starting to get some traction in the election.  $50m in media advertising and still going.

I'm looking forward to seeing John, Tony, Malcolm and Scott on the same stage...

There would be a rip in the space/time continuum and the universe would implode. Then again I did notice Rudd and Gillard on the same stage the other day and that didn't happen...

Difference between having Lil'Johnny, Tones, MT and ScoMo on the same stage and Keating, Hwake, Rudd and Gillard on the same stage is that at least the later all bat for the same team.

It all boils down to one thing, money.

As a nation we have to choose between the nation that feeds us, and the nation that defends us.

There WILL be trouble on the high seas. There will likely be a flashpoint between the major powers and we will need to choose wisely.

At this point, there will be many of us out of work, and the only work available will be in our defence forces...

It just reinforces the old adage in business, you never put all your eggs in one basket, no matter how attractive it may appear at the time.  It's a recipe for ultimate catastrophe when relationships sour.  Wiser heads foster a broader international trade relationship.  Our national security should outweigh all other considerations, even at the risk of an economic deficit.  Those who sell their souls for economic gain will ultimately suffer the consequences of a loss of sovereign freedom.

Starting to think now the United Australia Party is starting to get some traction in the election.  $50m in media advertising and still going.

Anyone that votes for that grub Palmer is intellectually impaired.  Regrettably, there are no doubt many who will, not that it's going to have a significant impact in the scheme of things.

I'm looking forward to seeing John, Tony, Malcolm and Scott on the same stage...

There would be a rip in the space/time continuum and the universe would implode. Then again I did notice Rudd and Gillard on the same stage the other day and that didn't happen...

Difference between having Lil'Johnny, Tones, MT and ScoMo on the same stage and Keating, Hwake, Rudd and Gillard on the same stage is that at least the later all bat for the same team.

Yes I agree, whether it's contrived or not.  The mere fact that Rudd and Gillard in particular were there together, both of whom were stabbed in the back by Shorten, makes a strong statement.  They could have easily and with some justification declined to attend.  Hawke wasn't there, no doubt because of ill health, but his presence would have further reinforced the perception of a strong united Labor team.  A masterstroke IMO.

Rudd was in Eastwood last week in the Bennelong electorate supporting the Labor challenger, Brian Owler, who is running against the Liberal incumbent John Alexander.  It has a strong Asian community and is John Howard's former seat, where he was defeated by the Rudd Labor government in 2007.

Watched the start of Q&A and noticed Bill mentioned a similar Dental theme to what I have been pushing lately on this thread.  Dental health, like other basic health matters, is a necessity not an optional extra

The focus must shift to buying Australian made. Only then could the brick companies or steel companies etc stay in business and keep Australians employed.

We gotta keep something up our sleeve. Are we that pathetic? Why buy bricks from anywhere but Australia? It doesn't make sense. I would never use a brick from anywhere but here... If they were to be no longer available, I would go back to stone or corrugated iron.

Not everywhere in Australia has the resources to manufacture bricks. Bricks are imported because Australian docks and shipping are so expensive that it's cheaper to make offshore and ship to Australia, passing through our ports once, than to make in Australia and ship between locales using our ports twice and expensive shipping.

Lots of people claim to want to buy Australian, and they're genuine in that want, but when offered something Australian made or something imported significantly cheaper, guess which product MOST people buy?

I used to work in the AV game, and after that in furniture, people used to always ask me 'why are no TVs made in Australia?' and at the time there was ONE, yes briefly Australia made its own flat panel LCD TVs. They were small, horrendously expensive for the size/features (the digital tuner - SD only, was literally a set top box bolted to the back of the panel, when every other TV on the market was integrated HD tuner) and just rubbish. Guess what, everyone purchased Pioneer, Sony, Panasonic, Hitachi and Samsung (in that order) instead, in many cases paying less for bigger size and significant increase in quality - I do not miss the lack of an Australian TV hardware industry.

In furniture, the story is the same, Moran (leather) has not been made in Australia in something like 15 years, aside from the fact that if it were made in Australia the price tag would be 70% higher, next to none of my clients even knew the product was made off shore. The fabric line moved off shore two to three years ago, and likewise no one noticed. You can still buy serious quality made in Australia furniture, you'll be buying from Molmic in Melbourne, or the exquisite gear from Design Furniture here in Adelaide but you'll pay an absolute premium (especially in leather, Molmic source only Kiwi made leather). I worked in the industry, and could have got a much better rate on furniture than most, but I can tell you my imported couch is doing just fine, and will continue to do so long after I have decided to replace it. Would something made in Australia last longer? Maybe, but will I still have the same taste in furniture in fifteen years time? Probably not, so who cares if my couch actually lasts only 10 years - I'll probably be sick of it by then anyway.

Why are we buying our trains from Spain?

Because they'll be potentially better, and certainly cheaper, and likely quicker to arrive.

Why do we as voters put up with mediocre politicians?

Because invariably we have no choice, we get the politicians we are given.

Aaron, when it comes to consumer electronics, I agree with you. There is only one place to source them - OS.

But,

For everything else including furniture and bricks, it's from here.


Part of the problem is that much of what we used to manufacture is now from China.

There is a company that used to make home grown car radiators. I thought I would replace my OEM car radiator with an Aussie one. They had a good reputation. I went through two in four months. They leaked badly and separated on the sides. Found out they were made in China. I cut my losses and ordered an OEM one again...

Outstanding performance by bill shorten last night on Q and A. He has now got my vote for the election based on his performance. He is a man who could lead this country and make all of us feel better about a country which has been in social decline for years. He is on about the environment and is investing big in rail and public transport.

Go bill.

There are real differences between shorten and morrison when it comes to impromptu door stop it media conferences. Bill thinks and speaks from the top of his head and his answers are carefully crafted, sometimes amusing whereas Scomo sounds like a walking sound byte.

I won't vote on the basis of what I think of the leaders. Rather, I will vote on the state of my electorate and what the candidates and their backers are offering. At the moment it is labor/green v Coalition/uap, and then everyone else. I will be taking a good look at...  Everyone else including independents.

Proof now the public are just over our political system and our politicians. SCOMO was egged in Albury today.

Proof now the public are just over our political system and our politicians. SCOMO was egged in Albury today.

And the crazy young woman was also found allegedly in possession of cannabis.

Politics has really gone to pot this year.