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| Randall_Berger | Australian Inland Sea (page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... last page) | Water | 110 | Yesterday, 12:38 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Feb 20 2008, 3:52 AM EST
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Take up Bradfield's plan to re-create an inland sea in Australia ... an enormous evaporative plain that will drought-proof the Eastern States and make a few thousand miles of new beachfront property. This is positive climate change and environmental engineering in a Snowy Mountain scale. Drive a 300km canal north from Whyalla ... nice and wide with locks ... make a nice cruise ... and then let nature take its course again.
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| snnsx | Reduce the shocking National Debt of 600 Billion (page: 1 2) | Economy | 39 | Oct 25 2009, 9:56 PM EDT by trgh | ||||
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Thread started: Mar 28 2008, 11:39 AM EDT
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Australia is one of the most indebted countries in the world.
If nothing is done, we will soon owe a Trillion Dollars. It van be easily seen by the decreasing proportion of Australia that is owned by the people who live here, that has and the increasing proportion that has been handed to others who don't. Every time you see poverty, hardship and inequality in this country, the National Debt is always lurking there in the background, making it worse. All the bad economic symptoms that people are describing in this forum have as a contributor the fact that Australia is being bled dry by the large economic forces in the world, be it multinationals (including "Aussie" companies) sending profits offshore, larger countries whom we depend on manipulating our politicians and economy (UK, USA, Japan, and now China), the absolutely appalling level of organised crime and corruption (everyone knows but no-one talks about it), or simply by the greed and ignorance (some would say stupidity) of ordinary people who overvalue foreign goods. We elect governments to help protect us from such things. All this must change very soon, or it is a one-way trip to national destitution. And for the bold, vibrant Australia we know and love being cast onto the scrap-heap of history. All government initiatives MUST be based on making Australia and Australians stronger. That seems obvious. Yet it has not been happening. We all know that. And the fact is, over the last three decades, Australia has been getting progressively weaker. All the other economic problems listed here PALE in comparison to this issue, WHY is no-one taking it seriously. Have you all given up? Or are we going to do something about it?
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| Randall_Berger | Broadband through Power Lines (BLP) | Science & Technology | 2 | Oct 18 2009, 3:20 AM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Feb 22 2008, 6:10 PM EST
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Stop all the kerfuffle about Internet access ... just bring in BPL!
Broadband through Power Lines ... aka Powerband ... is an extension of Power Line Communications (PLC). This uses everyday electricity systems to carry massive amounts of high speed communications along the same cables as the power. Probably 90% of Australia is on some sort of mains power. All you need is a kind of set top box decoder ... just plugged in the wall ... and you can receive telephone, broadband, fax, cable tv ... anything, two ways, instantly. The system would require major transmitters at power junctions, but not as complex as telephone exchanges. This is real and has already been tested in Tassie. It's just there are a lot of very big interests standing in the way. To bring in BPL and PLC into Australia ... the ideal market ... would take a government with real steel to face up to the communications giants.
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| Brispaul | Alcohol and Cigarette smoking | Health Care | 6 | Sep 12 2009, 6:03 AM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Apr 4 2008, 1:18 AM EDT
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My idea for the summit involves 3 areas alcohol, cigarette smoking and the
public health system in Australia. Australia is facing a crisis at the moment in regards to an increasing population and a public health system struggling to cope with demand because in part to a lack of funding. In order to help fund the health system i would like to see legislation put in place where ciggarette manufacturers and alcohol companies put a percentage of their profits on an annual basis into Australias public health system. Binge drinking is becoming more aparent among our youth and so I would also propose that alcohol advertising be prohibited at sporting events and on television in the same manner cigarette advertising was stopped some years ago. Limiting the promotion of alcohol would be a step in the right direction to help solve the problem of binge drinking.
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| Anonymous | Reform the structure of ministerial portfolios | Government Reform | 0 | Aug 4 2009, 4:17 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Aug 4 2009, 4:17 PM EDT
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The current structure of ministerial portfolios is an impediment to good governance as well as to effective, efficient, ethical and easy to deliver (transparent) government and leads to increasing ‘red tape’.
The current structure (see http://www.aph.gov.au/library/parl/42/ministry/ministry.htm) shows that some ministers are overloaded with portfolios and that the portfolios they hold cut across multiple disciplines. This could explain why a number of department heads burn out staff at such a high rate Which is a waste of taxpayers money. A sound hierarchical structure is required to overcome this problem. The opposition and public service should also have the same structure in order to: reduce misunderstandings brought about by not knowing who to speak to about what policy; Burning out staff by overloading the elected representative and their staff. One of my concerns is the 3 hours sleep the Prime Minister seems to ‘boast’ about. I do not believe that it is in the best interest of the Australian public to have a PM (or indeed any elected representative) who is afflicted by sleep deprivation (even if it is self inflicted). A better portfolio structure will reduce stress and burn out (by enabling more efficient delegation of duties), save millions of dollars (by reducing redundant activities caused by cross portfolio disciplines, that often lead to ‘red tape’) and improve all our standard of living. |
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| gg39au | population | Growth | 3 | Jun 21 2009, 10:11 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Mar 9 2008, 3:58 PM EDT
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Environmental impact = (population) multiplied by (per capita impact)
Much has been said about reducing per capita impact, for example renewable technologies, per capita consumption reduction. But NO amount of reduction of per capita impact will save planet Earth from ruin if the human population never stops increasing. I’m not suggesting draconian population policies. But we must not be afraid to talk about population issues. Earth can sustainably support between one and two billion people. We have at present over six and a half billion people. Australia must not wait for others to move. Australians must at least be courageous enough to talk about stable human populations. This will involve redesigning economic thinking. Economies must be steady-state and sustainable. Economic growth cannot continue to be the basic goal.
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| quagga | A method for setting a politicians pay | Government Reform | 0 | Jun 5 2009, 3:37 AM EDT by quagga | ||||
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Thread started: Jun 5 2009, 3:37 AM EDT
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This idea presents a fair mechanism for determining a politician's salary.
At election time, a politician offers to supply their skills to perform the job of representing an electorate in parliament and the electorate accepts or rejects the offer by voting. However, the crucial difference between how a politician's renumeration is determined and how ours is, is that they set their own pay at will without having to bargain with their employers-- their employers being us, the voting public. A solution to this discrepancy is to print on the election ballot-papers, right next to their name, the total amount that they offer to do the job for. Each politician sets their own individual bid. This binding bid is the TOTAL remuneration they receive- it includes their salary, super and any other monetary entitlements. In this way the politicians within an electorate are now competitively bidding against each other. This solution determines a politician’s salary according to a pricing mechanism common to almost all transactions of goods and services in our economy. This is the simplest, cheapest and easiest system to implement that provides a mechanism of negotiation between the politicians and the public. Since as a society we support the principal of a minimum wage to maintain living standards the proposal is modified to embrace this by imposing a minimum allowed bid. It is set to the average Australian income to provide extra incentive for politicians to increase the financial well being of the public. It should be pointed that by this system it is possible for politicians to be paid a lot more than current. This is expected to happen, because if the voters think they're worth it they should be paid more. Its also likely that some are paid less. However, since their salary has been determined by a mechanism common to almost all other wages and salaries in society they have no grounds to complain. |
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| Anonymous | Man made mountain | Discussion Forum | 0 | Jun 4 2009, 9:09 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Jun 4 2009, 9:09 PM EDT
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This idea is borrowed from the book Man Made Mountain by L.J.Hogan. The idea is to construct a mountain west of the great artesian basin which in turn would greatly increase rain fall in the arid centre of Australia.
The reason in submitting this idea is to discuss the theory, and explore how high the mountain would need to be, how long the mountain needs to be, how much increase in rainfall and where it would fall. |
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| Dooley1 | Make Salary Sacrifice Agreements illegal | Economy | 0 | Apr 18 2009, 10:34 AM EDT by Dooley1 | ||||
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Thread started: Apr 18 2009, 10:34 AM EDT
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Salary Sacrificing is just another middle class welfare fraud that the Howard government put in place to keep poor people and low income wage earners poor at their expense. Why should higher income saleried income earners and public servants have tax deductions that poorer people can't access? there isn't any reason to justify this now the economy is in recession. Ban Salary Sacrificing agreements and make people pay full weight on their taxable incomes like everybody else.
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| Anonymous | Throw out 457 Visa's | Jobs / IR Laws | 2 | Apr 18 2009, 10:24 AM EDT by Dooley1 | ||||
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Thread started: Mar 4 2008, 5:55 AM EST
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This is just an excuse to keep wage pressure down on casual jobs across all industries. If a natural employment balance was allowed in the market place there would be a lot less casual jobs and a bit more respect, dignity and a real wage for people to jobs that not many people like to do out of choice. 457 Visa's allow international students and workers to profit at our students and workers (working mothers, students, ageing populace) expense. It is also an established avenue for slave/prostitution rings and other undesirable elements to gain easy access to our shores. Repeal the 457 Visa's.
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| Anonymous | Free Immigration Agreements | Immigration | 6 | Apr 14 2009, 2:02 AM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Feb 26 2008, 8:18 AM EST
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Australia has a free immigration agreement with New Zealand where by any New Zealander can fly into Australia and reside as a permanent resident and Australians can fly to New Zealand and do the same. The Australian government should work to strike similar agreements with other nations that have similar political institutions (rule of law) and similar economic circumstances. Examples might include Ireland, Singapore or Canada.
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| Randall_Berger | "Obligatory" Organ Donation | Health Care | 18 | Mar 30 2009, 10:19 AM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Feb 22 2008, 2:13 AM EST
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Bite the bullet and enact the opt-out, obligatory organ donation scheme, like they have in Europe ... save billions and get all those hundreds of people dying on organ waiting lists back into society.
Only one in so many people die under the right circumstances and then things have to happen quickly. Unless the deceased has opted out of the scheme for religious or cultural reasons, the health system should be able to use this final gift. Australia has invested a lot in you over the years … education, health care, social support … why take something so valuable to your grave? Consider it the final Medicare levy.
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| Anonymous | Population control | Growth | 13 | Mar 22 2009, 8:39 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Mar 3 2008, 3:15 AM EST
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Remove the $4,000 baby bonus given for the birth of a child.
Give the $4,000 to males who have an irreversable vasectomy, or to females of birthing age who have a tubal ligation.
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| PacShady | Switch to Open Source | Science & Technology | 9 | Feb 25 2009, 4:38 PM EST by old-bonez | ||||
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Thread started: Feb 29 2008, 3:18 AM EST
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The Government today relies heavily on computers, and in many circumstances rely on using costly, proprietary software to conduct business. As far as I'm aware, the current system when it comes to choosing open source solutions is that, if an open source product can perform at the same level as a proprietary product, it may be considered as a solution. I propose firstly, that ALL Government computers be switched over to a free operating system (Linux, BSD, etc) if at all possible, and that open source products get PRIORITY over their costly, closed source counterparts (rather than just being "considered" and eventually rejected over favoured, better advertised proprietary systems). This will decrease the amount of money spent needing to upgrade systems such as Microsoft Windows and Office on a regular (sometimes yearly) basis, while at the same time providing greater stability and security.
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| IanGo | Re-establish independence from commercial interests | Other Issues | 3 | Feb 19 2009, 11:22 PM EST by trgh | ||||
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Thread started: Mar 3 2008, 7:56 AM EST
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Most fundamental to our society is information - the ABC and SBS need proper funding, to restore our access to authoritative, unbiased sources which provide a proper spread of ideas and opinion - unlike commercial media.
<br> Provide greatly increased funding for pure research in our universities - so that research can again operate in topics that have no commercial gain. Also restore the research and development, and investment tax subsidies for Australian companies, so they are assisted to establish themselves - and to be independent of overseas companies for information and techniques. <br> Restore the rights (and even the responsibilities) of CSIRO and other scientists to again speak out on issues freely, and establish this as an essential source of information in a democratic society, even when contrary to government opinion.
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| Anonymous | National Debt Free | Economy | 1 | Feb 19 2009, 11:14 PM EST by trgh | ||||
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Thread started: Feb 13 2009, 3:07 AM EST
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The Government is always keen to throw money at every situation that arises. The handouts are not the way to go. They are short term.
The First homebuyer scheme, was a great idea, However it still costs us money. Immediately affecting the hard earnt reserves. How about ideas that dont cost us money. (reserves). Idea 1: Tax cuts. These should be brought in much quicker. Larger tax breaks of up to 50%, if only for a 12 month period, for all small business. This will help employment. Idea 2: NO Capital Gains Tax on ANY property purchased for investment for the next 12 months. This will get the economy and housing market moving. How many investors will instantly start putting all their spare cash into property? This may cost in the long run, and only intermittently, But its something that stimulates the economy and costs NO reserves. And will create employment in the housing sector. The first home buyer grant was a great idea, But its run its course, and its not the first homebuyers that have enough money to stimulate this economy. Its the working class man and woman. The ones building this country. Why shouldnt we get a break or have a win somewhere...
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| old-bonez | Climate change & the dry latitude | Environment | 0 | Jan 28 2009, 5:55 PM EST by old-bonez | ||||
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Thread started: Jan 28 2009, 5:55 PM EST
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All the great deserts of the world are the same distance from the equator. Will this change with Global Warming?
Recently in Australia it appears that the droughts are prolonged now when getting down around the Murray River. This indicates to me that the "no rain latitude" has moved south. Does anybody have information on the northern hemisphere that also fits in with this? Possibly the dry band is on a wobble and will dissapear completely. Any thoughts please?? |
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| Brispaul | Unite Australia | Other Issues | 2 | Jan 26 2009, 10:54 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Apr 4 2008, 1:25 AM EDT
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I would like to see each State of Australia have the same laws and regulations. As an example each State has their own Police Force. Still keeping the same Police Force in each State but let it be administered from Canberra as a Branch of the Federal Police. There are so many different things between States today its common sence to put some of these things under a national banner.
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| pyno | A superfast train between Melbourne and Sydney | Transportation | 8 | Jan 21 2009, 5:54 PM EST by antipathyincarnate | ||||
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Thread started: Mar 3 2008, 6:48 AM EST
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Open up rail as an alternative to aircraft travel between this route... of course we'd have to make sure to aviod potential railway crossing disasters.
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| Mugwort | The Great Firewall of Australia | Science & Technology | 2 | Nov 20 2008, 2:18 AM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 18 2008, 1:22 AM EDT
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In case you guys weren't aware, the current govt in all it's wisdom is planning to place a mandatory ISP level filter on the whole of the country's internet. Apart from the abuses of government censorship this will screwup the web pretty badly. More details here:
"Australians will be unable to opt-out of the government's pending Internet content filtering scheme, and will instead be placed on a watered-down blacklist, experts say. Under the government's $125.8 million Plan for Cyber-Safety, users can switch between two blacklists which block content inappropriate for children, and a separate list which blocks illegal material. Pundits say consumers have been lulled into believing the opt-out proviso would remove content filtering altogether. The government reported it does not expected to prescribe which filtering technologies ISPs can use, and will only set blacklists of filtered content, supplied by the Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). EFA chair Dale Clapperton said in a previous article that Internet content filtering could lead to censorship of drugs, political dissident and other legal freedoms. “Once the public has allowed the system to be established, it is much easier to block other material,” Clapperton said. According to preliminary trials, the best Internet content filters would incorrectly block about 10,000 Web pages from one million. " http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1399635276 There is an action site here: http://nocleanfeed.com/takeaction.html This is obscene abuse of power akin to what was attempted in China. Is this the type of government we want in Australia?
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