4 ms·

"Asked about the spying revelations in a separate interview, Abbott said: "To use the term spying, it's kind of loaded language … researching maybe. Talking to

"Asked about the spying revelations in a separate interview, Abbott said: "To use the term spying, it's kind of loaded language … researching maybe. Talking to people. Understanding what's going on."" Is this the onion?

alwaysinshade 13y ago
No, that's just Tony Abbott. Expect more hilarity in the years (days?) to come. If you can't wait, just Google some of his past statements. If you like prejudice, two-dimensional thinking and more meaningless rhetoric than you can shake a stick at, then you're going to love Tony Abbott. Let's see where he can take a country that ranked #2 on the Human Development Index and the highest of 34 countries on the OECD Better Life index. Should be interesting, considering he was voted in by the "Aussie battlers" who were enjoying a better quality of life than they've ever experienced in Australian history (notice Australia doesn't move on the HDI even when you account for inequality? The US sure does, from #3 to #16). Should be great when, under the Trans-Pacific Partnership he sells out to the US to trade a few horses [1] and our healthcare/pharmaceutical industry emulates the American system. Good times ahead. [1] "there's always horse-trading in these negotiations, but in the end … everyone is better off" - Tony Abbot, November 14, 2013
- voltagex_ 13y ago
  If I think pessimistically, between the TPP, NBN and carbon "tax", this government could do 50+ years worth of damage to Australia's economy, not to mention damage to reputation. What can we do?
  - MetallicCloud 13y ago
    I think the chance to do anything finished after the election.
    - dwd 13y ago
      There's any number of controversial bills that could trigger a Double Dissolution. The near doubling of the debt ceiling is one, though I expect Hockey to capitulate and take the 400 billion option. Clive Palmer's senate team are the ones to watch as they will be key in blocking the passage of any supply bills.
  - SyneRyder 13y ago
    Worth noting that the spying incident occurred in April 2009, which was under the leadership of Kevin Rudd... who would have been Prime Minister if Abbott hadn't won. Voting the other way may not have reduced the impact of this incident at all. I think all we can do is stop looking to government to solve everything for us. Work on your own sphere of influence, what you can improve yourself. All sides of politics are failing Australia right now, maybe it's better to just bypass government wherever you can, do things yourself or work with the people who can do things directly.
    - voltagex_ 13y ago
      Unfortunately I was relying on having 100+ megabit internet for working remotely.
boogydown2 13y ago
For anyone who doesn't know, Tony Abbot == George Bush Jr. He's incredible repugnant & stupid. It is definitely damning when someone like him actually could get elected. What a time to live in...
- girvo 13y ago
  I for one, am leaving. Wasn't born here anyway, if I'm not careful they'll consider me fishing in the river in my tinny "illegal boat person", etc. sigh. What happened? :(
  - boogydown2 13y ago
    Globalisation of western politics? IDK but I feel like every single country is trying to emulate each other; Particularly America. I personally would like to leave but because of the absurd immigration policies of the countries I'd prefer, I cannot afford to leave or scared to go through some arduous transfer. Why does everything have to have this bureaucratic boloney in the way? I just want to be somewhere that doesn't have some group thinking they are at war with some people for some reason. So they then can repress/punish/victimise them for some form of gain (power, greed, jealousy, stupidity, etc). All the while they do this under the guise of their morality to protect their people. A man can dream.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- zaqokm 13y ago
  Like him or not, the documents were dated 2009 so at least part of this took place during the Rudd era. So I gather that makes Rudd, Dick Cheney ;).

alwaysinshade 13y ago

No, that's just Tony Abbott. Expect more hilarity in the years (days?) to come. If you can't wait, just Google some of his past statements. If you like prejudice, two-dimensional thinking and more meaningless rhetoric than you can shake a stick at, then you're going to love Tony Abbott. Let's see where he can take a country that ranked #2 on the Human Development Index and the highest of 34 countries on the OECD Better Life index. Should be interesting, considering he was voted in by the "Aussie battlers" who were enjoying a better quality of life than they've ever experienced in Australian history (notice Australia doesn't move on the HDI even when you account for inequality? The US sure does, from #3 to #16). Should be great when, under the Trans-Pacific Partnership he sells out to the US to trade a few horses [1] and our healthcare/pharmaceutical industry emulates the American system. Good times ahead. [1] "there's always horse-trading in these negotiations, but in the end … everyone is better off" - Tony Abbot, November 14, 2013

voltagex_ 13y ago
If I think pessimistically, between the TPP, NBN and carbon "tax", this government could do 50+ years worth of damage to Australia's economy, not to mention damage to reputation. What can we do?
- MetallicCloud 13y ago
  I think the chance to do anything finished after the election.
  - dwd 13y ago
    There's any number of controversial bills that could trigger a Double Dissolution. The near doubling of the debt ceiling is one, though I expect Hockey to capitulate and take the 400 billion option. Clive Palmer's senate team are the ones to watch as they will be key in blocking the passage of any supply bills.
- SyneRyder 13y ago
  Worth noting that the spying incident occurred in April 2009, which was under the leadership of Kevin Rudd... who would have been Prime Minister if Abbott hadn't won. Voting the other way may not have reduced the impact of this incident at all. I think all we can do is stop looking to government to solve everything for us. Work on your own sphere of influence, what you can improve yourself. All sides of politics are failing Australia right now, maybe it's better to just bypass government wherever you can, do things yourself or work with the people who can do things directly.
  - voltagex_ 13y ago
    Unfortunately I was relying on having 100+ megabit internet for working remotely.

boogydown2 13y ago

For anyone who doesn't know, Tony Abbot == George Bush Jr. He's incredible repugnant & stupid. It is definitely damning when someone like him actually could get elected. What a time to live in...

girvo 13y ago
I for one, am leaving. Wasn't born here anyway, if I'm not careful they'll consider me fishing in the river in my tinny "illegal boat person", etc. sigh. What happened? :(
- boogydown2 13y ago
  Globalisation of western politics? IDK but I feel like every single country is trying to emulate each other; Particularly America. I personally would like to leave but because of the absurd immigration policies of the countries I'd prefer, I cannot afford to leave or scared to go through some arduous transfer. Why does everything have to have this bureaucratic boloney in the way? I just want to be somewhere that doesn't have some group thinking they are at war with some people for some reason. So they then can repress/punish/victimise them for some form of gain (power, greed, jealousy, stupidity, etc). All the while they do this under the guise of their morality to protect their people. A man can dream.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
zaqokm 13y ago
Like him or not, the documents were dated 2009 so at least part of this took place during the Rudd era. So I gather that makes Rudd, Dick Cheney ;).