Australianewsflash

One of the greatest women tennis players ever, our own Margaret Court, has come out strongly in support of marriage being between a man and a woman as stated in the Bible.  She is entitled to free speech on this matter and does not deserve the vitriol of the many who are speaking out about what she said.  Some are even wanting to have the Margaret Court tennis arena renamed.  This is ridiculous as her views have nothing to do with her tennis prowess.  Margaret's statement was triggered by her intention to boycott travel on QANTAS airlines as its CEO, along with other business heads, came out publicly in favour of gay marriage equality.  Maybe Margaret's intention to boycott QANTAS is a bit over the top.  It would have been enough for her to declare that CEOs of businesses should not get into such matters as it might muddy the waters for their shareholders. I have listened to this very committed Christian, who leads a wonderful charity (Victory Life) that ...

There is a lot of suspicion across the Australian population about the wisdom of our immigration policy that welcomes refugees who are Muslims. A letter in the West Australian newspaper, May 31, 2017, (p25), titled 'The Koran's violence' cited three Koran passages to support the notion "But any follower of Islam who reads and takes seriously the Koran is duty bound to follow it's every word."  The Koran passages were: "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve.  Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them." "Slay the idolaters wherever you fond them and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush." Ch 5, Verse 8 warns Muslims not to befriend Jews and Christians. The first point to make is that the writer of this letter to the Editor is acting on an incorrect assumption that all Muslims are duty bound to act on such statements, that is to take them litera...

We have a lot of giant holes across Australia where large mining companies dig up our resources and send them off overseas.  These companies make mega profits and there is a sense across Australia that they are taking what belongs to Australia, not adding much value and leaving us in the future with large worthless holes. This applies also to the gas companies who sell gas at a price overseas that is less than they sell to us for local consumption. A previous Labor federal government tried to implement a mining tax on the large miners excessive profits but failed miserably and the conservative government were elected and removed the tax.  A Western Australian politician who did much for regional (rural) Australia recently lost his seat as he had proposed lifting the levy per tonne charged to the mining companies.  A sad loss. These mining and gas companies pay royalties to the state governments where the mines and gas wells exist but there is a groundswell that they s...

In our Australian Westminster system of government anyone can be elected by forming their own party and complying with the electoral commission regulations.  They can also be elected as a pre-selected member of an existing political party.  Of course their eventual election depends on the voters ticking the right box.  Voting in Australia is compulsory. In theory this means that a person from a humble blue collar background can make it into parliament. In reality there are few, almost none, who get into parliament today unless they have some prior politically active background experience and/or are educated to a reasonably high level mainly at tertiary level.  I am old enough to recall Ben Chifley, a past Prime Minister of Australia who was a locomotive driver but I think it is reasonable to say that these days are gone. Having said that we currently have out there in the community a groundswell of feeling against Muslim migration to Australia and one party in pa...

The federal government is in a constant state of paranoia about our debt.  It would be good to be in surplus and they are working towards that.  We were in surplus just prior to the GFC.  This is what saved us from recession at that time. Our debt ratio to GDP is one of the lowest ratios in the developed world.  We have been in a state of growth for a long time now.  Other countries envy us. I may be wrong but I think the USA has been in debt for a very long time and they seem to manage. In the 2017 budget the big banks took a hit as they are to come up with $6.2 billion over the next several years to help ease the debt situation.  The banks have vowed to pass on this levee (pollies' euphemism for a tax) to their customers and maybe even their shareholders.  A lot of mum and dad investors hold substantial numbers of bank shares in their superannuation portfolios.  Australia is a bank bashing place as the profits of the big 4 banks are seen to ...

During and since WWII the Australian government has forged close relationships with the USA.  Now that the Donald is in charge in the US there needs to be a rethink in at least two areas, namely, international trade and climate change.  Paul Keating, a former Labor Prime Minister, has warned us to rethink our relationship with the USA and to be prepared to go it alone on some matters or form new alliances.  I think he is right. May the Force be with Australia! GD

The Hon Bill Shorten, leader of the Federal Labor opposition in parliament, has recently been accused of not listening to members of his shadow cabinet on reacting to various budget measures of the Coalition government.  I hope this is not true.  If he decides to go it alone he can kiss goodbye to ever being Prime Minister of Australia. May the Force for consensus be with us! GD

Out of the mouths of our politicians come sets of statistics with the government side having their spin on say a budget figure for education and the opposition side having their spin on those costings.  They twist the interpretations obviously to their own advantage, but who is correct? As one of the voters, the great unwashed, I am sick of it all.  Why can't they say to as it is, a number being a number when I last looked. How do we voters tell them to cut the bull! May the Force give we the voters the patience to put up with this nonsense! GD

Have a look at the Australian Federal Parliament, House of Representatives in session.  Up they get at the dispatch box and shout at one another.  Makes my shudder at the immaturity of my country when this is how our elected representatives perform. I dont mind the odd bit of banter but this shouting is pathetic. May the Force be with us! GD