Mangled Thoughts

Posted by D
Having mentioned national socialism, whatever the distinctions between the coalition parties and the ALP ( the Dems and Greens are just commie ratbags), natioanl socialism and central economic planning and interventionism and running command economies is not one of them. The only shift was the final recognition by the Hawke govt. economic reality cannot be denied altogether and switched to `welfarism’, the `safety net’, and forced consumption through medicare, universities and schools, environmentalism, superannuation, as the major intstruments of central planning.

It is forgotten these days, income tax was a war measure which , on the end of WWII the federal govt did not abolish. It used an emotional appeal and an appeal to greed to justify the retention of income taxes, by promising to pay Austrlians retirement pensions. Thus began the onward march of all capital and income guzzling big fat bastard govt. From that modest aim, compared to todays largesse, the hard usage by legalised extortion called taxation has been advanced to free universites, schools, hospitals, medicine, locking up economic land in the name of environmentalism and to build and buy the votes of those pol potian commies the greenies.

The genius of Menzies was he relaised that there was a large section of the population who, over-time might not endure market fixing, non-lawful privileges bestowed to protected intersts, manufacturers in Melbourne, rural producers and unionised labour. Menzies cured that by bribing the rest of Australia by offering false opportunites imitating aspirational and middle class values by rapid escalation of govt. consumption, with middle class careers redefined as employment in bureacracy and govt owned monopolies, backed by the expansion of universities. This descennt into fraud, theft and central planning was mirrored at state and local govts.

It is appalling what is increasingly detectable, both major parties are atavisiti

MEDIA RELEASE
The Hon John Anderson MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Transport and Regional Services
Leader of the National Party
12 September 2002
A117/2002
ETHANOL DECISION

Local ethanol production has been given a shot in the arm today with the announcement today of two decisions encouraging the use of sustainable energy sources in our fuel.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson, said the decisions relating to the taxation of ethanol and a producer subsidy provide an avenue for achieving greater use of biofuels in Australia.

While not a short-term solution to the difficulties facing industries such as sugar, today’s steps offer a more sustainable future for primary producers whose crops can be used as feedstock for ethanol production.

The Federal Government has decided that an excise on ethanol used in petrol is to be imposed at the same rate already applying to petrol, or 38.143 cents per litre. The change will take effect from 17 September.

At the same time, the Government will provide a production subsidy of 38.143 cents per litre for ethanol used in fuel, paid to domestic producers of ethanol. This producer subsidy will be provided over the next 12 months while the Government considers long-term arrangements for the renewable energy industry.

“This will be a major boost to local producers and help cement moves made by some oil refiners to use increasing quantities of ethanol in the fuel sold to the motoring public,” Mr Anderson said. He congratulated his National Party colleagues, Federal and State, for their solid support of the local ethanol industry.

The sugar assistance package also announced this week will go a long way towards reinvigorating this crucial Australian industry, he said.

“Many thousands of Australian sugar growers and their communities are suffering, largely through circumstances beyond their or the Government’s control.

“The Federal Coalition Government has acted this week to help some of the nation’s most hard-pressed and hard working people. The $150 million assistance package over four years will help reform the industry and put it on a profitable footing.”

The package provides welfare assistance through Centrelink, exit assistance for marginal growers, interest rate subsidies for replanting and substantial funding for regional industry initiatives for viable growers in diversification, regeneration and innovation.

Central to the package is industry reform, which includes every facet of the industry including culture, transport, marketing, management and by products.

“I know I speak on behalf of the Government and also the industry when I express my extreme disappointment that the Federal Labor Party has decided not to support our package.

“The comments by Labor Leader Simon Crean yesterday only confirm that the ALP has no interest in those who live and work outside the big cities. Shadow Treasurer Bob McMullan could only rail on about an “unfair tax”.

“The NSW Agriculture Minister, Richard Amery, showed Labor’s colours clearly. On Wollongong radio, he complained about the idea of a small levy on domestic sugar sales, saying this would penalise those who did not live in sugar growing areas.

“Mr Amery might like to know that the economies in towns like Murwillumbah, Harwood, Broadwater, Maclean, Woodburn, Lawrence and Grafton in northern NSW depend at least in part upon sugar production. The entire nation uses sugar and appreciates its low cost compared to world prices, but to maintain that we obviously need a viable industry.

“It must take a very hard-hearted politician to look these people in the eye and say, “no, we won’t help you’. But Federal Labor has managed to do it.”

The details of the Federal Government’s comprehensive package are being urgently finalised over the next few weeks. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss, has worked with tremendous energy and vision in developing the package in consultation with the industry and affected communities.

AUSTRALIA’S ETHANOL INDUSTRY AT RISK BECAUSE OF LABOR’S EXTRAORDINARY POLITICS

Regional hopes for an ethanol industry are now at a crossroads because of Labor’s extraordinary attacks on ethanol - the damage already done puts this important emerging industry at serious risk.

“The ALP thinks its attacks on ethanol are great political sport,” the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson, said today. “The truth is it is undermining a wholly Australian-owned and substantial regional investor in Manildra and putting at risk the jobs of many people employed by that company.

“Already, Manildra has closed a plant in Altona, Melbourne, at the cost of 50 jobs, blaming its decision upon Labor’s hysterical anti-ethanol campaign. The risk is now that other plants in other places could suffer if Labor’s vitriol continues.

“Not only that, a raft of potential new players must now be reconsidering their involvement in this fledgling industry. These plants are proposed for various localities in regional Australia, offering new job opportunities and an economic base for communities that badly need new development.

“The fact is that a number of Labor MPs deliberately started out last year to undermine the ethanol industry, purely as a political tactic to try to undermine the Prime Minister. They created false stories for the media about ethanol damaging engines and have continued to attack the fuel, its producers and the whole industry ever since.

“They have never recanted their false claims or apologised for making them, yet have the hide to accuse the Prime Minister of misleading Parliament. The only misleading that has been done is by the ALP, and it has been misleading on a massive scale.

“I remain committed to doing everything I can to develop this industry. I will continue to fight for ethanol.
public - if a sustainable ethanol industry fails to materialise, then it will be because of the bastardry of the Australian Labor Party.”

http://www.affa.gov.au/ministers/truss/releases/00/00175wt.html

Sugar support needed

A report claiming that Australian Government support for the sugar industry will cause more harm than good is ill informed and ignores the vital role the sugar industry plays in our national economy, Australian Agriculture Minister Warren Truss said today.

The report, Sweet and Sour Pork Barrelling: the case of Queensland Sugar, by Dr Alex Robson from the Centre for Independent Studies, argues that there are negative effects in providing assistance to the sugar industry.

“Dr Robson writes in the luxurious isolation of a Canberra think tank and has no understanding of practical reality,” Mr Truss said.

Mr Truss said the sugar industry knows that, in order to survive and prosper into the future, the industry will need to undertake significant reform.

“To help facilitate reform it will be necessary to deliver assistance in a timely manner to help the industry explore new opportunities for diversification, restructuring and rationalisation.”

Mr Truss said Australian Government assistance would allow industry participants experiencing difficulties to examine their prospects for the future, and pursue whatever steps are necessary to improve their situation.

“A strong and successful sugar industry is vital to many rural and regional communities, particularly in Queensland where there are over 6,500 cane growers, over 10,000 mill workers, harvesters and other dependent employees, as well as many small businesses that rely on the industry.

“The wider Australian community also benefits from a vibrant sugar industry. Despite complaints from Dr Robson about the sugar levy, Australian food manufacturers and consumers have access to some of the cheapest sugar in the world.

“The Australian Government is not ready to give up on this major Australian industry. There are many opportunities for the sugar industry to explore and the Government is committed to providing appropriate assistance to help manage the change process.”

Mr Truss said the current difficulties facing the industry were largely a result of lower returns on sugar brought about by a corrupt world market beyond the Australian industry’s control.

“The Australian Government will not be put off by Dr Robson’s report and remains committed to working in partnership with the sugar industry to facilitate a viable and sustainable future.”

http://www.affa.gov.au/ministers/truss/releases/04/04074wt.html

Australian Government assists Mossman sugar community

Australian Agriculture Minister Warren Truss today announced that the Australian Government would provide up to $500,000 to assist the Mossman Central Sugar Mill in far north Queensland. The grant follows representations on behalf of the mill by the Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch.

“The Australian Government recognises the serious situation facing the mill in the Douglas Shire, and the need for the mill to implement a number of reforms,” said Mr Truss.

“The Government understands the importance of the sugar industry to the local community and the potential consequences of a mill closure, particularly at a time when the industry is looking to reform and move onto a more sustainable footing,” he added.

“The negative impacts of the global sugar market, including current sustained low world prices, have meant that without immediate assistance the mill may not be able to survive into the medium term.”

Mr Truss explained that Mossman Mill faces a set of unique challenges because of its geographic isolation and cane supply arrangements.

“The fortunes of the mill affect over 190 sugar cane growers who supply the mill, their families, as well as mill employees, harvesters, transport workers and other businesses in the region,” he said.

http://www.affa.gov.au/ministers/truss/releases/04/04075wt.html

Mr Truss said that the mill has been active in pursuing productivity improvements, as well as new opportunities for diversification.

“Furthermore, it is important to note that Mossman cane growers themselves are also contributing up to $900,000 of their own funds to further implement reforms.”

The Australian Government’s assistance will be used to improve efficiencies, including cane supply arrangements, transport infrastructure modification and operational improvements at the mill. The mill will report regularly to Government on progress and outcomes.

“The Australian Government is committed to ensuring the long-term economic viability and efficiency of the sugar industry and will work with all sectors of the sugar industry toward sensible and responsible options for a sustainable future.”