I Will Return......I Have...

      I guess it is fair to say that enough is enough. After all, one cannot rest...and rest...and rest...while there is work to be done.

     Yes, the election is over, the book is out, and it would be nice to just sit a while. Alas, it cannot be so.  We are served by people who must be observed and commented upon. They are unable to simply do a job and do it well. They insist on finding the hard road; they insist on batting into the wind.  So...............

Did you really think he'd gone away,

Election over, he'd had his say?

Or did you pray he was done and dusted,

Gone for good, pen poised but rusted?

Well, it would be nice to relax and rest,

No turmoil twisting with political jest!

Yet, as politics continues with thrust and parry

Alas, poor poet, may neither linger nor tarry.

Each night, elected ones, while you hit the sack,

Someone is working, be warned, the Battler is back.

Election 2010 - V Day Plus 17 - Closure Part 1

Today, 7 September 2010, is the day that a decision was made by the three independents as to who would be Prime Minister.  This decision, some seventeen days following the vote, was the result of some very hard work by all participants.  They should all be commended.

Across the nation there was agitation,
You could smell it in the air.
The tension of sublime anticipation,
This day a decision to declare!

The Three Wise Men did meet again,
To frame their point of view,
One declaring for the Abbott, then
The Ranga surged ahead with two!

This is the way our Election ends, neither whimper nor banging loud,
And the patient Men of Wisdom have served the nation proud!

Election 2010 - V Day Plus 16

Why are we waiting?  I guess we know the answer to that.  There is no doubt that the Independents are doing what needs to be done.  Its a task they didn't seek or expect, but they do seem to have lifted for the game.  Pity others haven't been so obliging!

The Abbott puffed out his chest
The Three Wise Men to be abused.
"How can you contemplate that leftist lot,
When to us you should be fused!"

The Three Wise Men just shook their heads,
Moving forward without a fumble,
Ignoring the pathetic, pouting and posturing
Of Pride before its stumble.

Meanwhile, the Ranga in private forum
Lined up her ducks with quiet decorum.

Election 2010 - V Day Plus 6 - Still Waiting!

The Gang of Five reduced to three,
Then back to five again,
Depending if you count the Green,
Which might make four, just then!

But number four is not quite sure
Just how to play this game,
Though, as the new chum he's keen to make
His mark within the frame.

Yet, with all this did we notice four Diggers who left the stage,
More Aussie tears to spoil the ink upon this page!

Election 2010 - V Day Minus 0! Polls Closed!

Just a few minutes and the polls will close.
Who will win, nobody knows!
With bated breath the people wait
For a sign, a tweet, to reveal their fate!

The night descends and friends will gather,
Candidates, exhausted, but nerves still a lather;
Political experts poised to voice
Expert opinion on the peoples' choice.

Quietly now, tele on, we await the show,
So crack a tinny, pour a wine -get on with it, let's go!

Ex Lib Turns To Labor

In the late 1990's, I was an Electorate Chairman and State Vice President of the Liberal Party (Tasmanian Division).  I had also served as Campaign Director and Branch President.  While I ceased my involvement with the party in early 1999, due to moving interstate, I have continued to encourage and support the Liberal philosophy.  I have made this point so that the reader may appreciate the difficulty I have had in deciding that tomorrow, for the 2010 election, I will vote Labor.

The reason I will vote Labor is simple!

Australia is a large and sparsely populated country.  In terms of infrastructure development there is simply no comparison with other nations of smaller land mass or more dense populations.  The provision of national infrastructure has always been difficult and expensive.  Furthermore, Australians have always demanded equity, wherever it was possible to do so.  As a result, it has been necessary for large national infrastructure projects to be delivered by government.

The Overland Telegraph, railways, mail services, telephone, electricity, irrigation, roads and more were all, at least initially, provided by government.

The Internet is the next major tool for the future development of this nation.  Its usefulness and effectiveness depend upon speed and capacity.  High speed Internet is fundamental to the next generation of medicine, healthcare, education, small business, big business, population policy and regionalisation.  It is NOT about movies, music or Facebook!

Right now, as I write, there is a willingness and a corporate structure to enable the building of a high speed National Broadband Network (NBN).  This can only be built, as a truly nation building project, by government.  In 48 hours or less, that willingness or structure may no longer exist.

I am totally committed to the need for the NBN and its development must continue.  This is not for me, I am 62.  It is for my children and grandchildren who I do not wish to see consigned to a technological dark age.

I am voting for the NBN!  As a result, I am voting Labor.

If you agree with this, its needs to go viral now.

Election 2010 - V Day Minus 2! - Tony's Campaignathon!

After the non-debate in Brisbane last night we have spent most of today hearing how Tony Abbott is to undertake a campaignathon of 36 hours.  I guess that's fair enough!  After all, surely he can make his own choices at work?

"I'll campaign all night long," he said

"For 36 hours straight!"

"I want the people to really know

I'm ready to guide their fate."

"I tell you now I've learned a lot

And in understanding truly grown."

"I'm packed for moving to the Lodge

Smugglers, bike and tin can phone."

Whispers, "Now listen Andrew, Joe and July, tell me what you think;

Do you think we can get Work..you know...in without a bleedin' stink?"

Election 2010 - V Day Minus 4! - Another Debate....

It would seem that another election debate is on its way.  Oh well....

Hooray! Another debate forthcoming

Or, at least, its on the cards.

More fuel for pencil and cartoonist skill,

More fun for cranky, part-time, bards.

Will we suffer just thirty minutes,

Or will we cop an hour?

Will it be a public hall discussion,

Or an economic punch-up, each the other to devour?

Bring it on folks, get it under way,

But be assured 'tis we, who have the final say!

Election 2010 - V Day Minus 5! - The NBN

During the Labor policy launch today, Prime Minister Julia Gillard offered some health policies which seriously emphasised the advantages of the National Broadband Network.  So perhaps......yeh, I know...corny!

She lay there, shivering, in constant pain,

Girl of ten, don't know her name,

Living in a town, somewhere out west,

Out there, outback, where they breed the best.

Struggling to wake from a restless dream,

Her mother approaches with a tiny screen,

And waves it over her, like a magic wand,

Listening to a voice, familiar and fond.

The Doctor's Hotline does the job again,

But only because of the NBN!

Election 2010 - V Day Minus 5!

This is the first day of the final week and already we have seen the Labor official campaign launch, together with a bundle of new promises from the major parties.  It probably won't end here.

So quiet, the breaking of the dawn;

The people innocent of the coming storm

To chase them, screaming, from their beds,

Media blaring in their heads,

Newsprint all scattered on the lawn,

"Sssh! The kids are up. I shouldn't have sworn!"

And as the sun peaks over trees and sheds

The people await the policy dregs!

But this is the week that requires some thought

Lest our vote, uncaring, is cast for nought!

The Final Week Approaches

The final week of this 2010 election is almost upon us.  What will it bring?  More lack of vision, or perhaps........?

So, here we are, just a week to go,

Not a time for leaders to slacken or slow.

Its onward, upward, charge for the guns,

This week the winner must score all the runs!

The people shudder and squirm about,

Their voice unheard midst the tumult and shout.

Hopes for a future of visionary style

All fallen victim to political guile!

Yet, perhaps one ray of hope, moving forward, that fits,

Could it be fibre optics, the NBN and a hundred megabits?

Messaging - The Opposition Way

At the risk of making a blatantly political point, we now know why the Opposition has chosen to keep Australia in the technological dark ages.  Very simply, they do not understand the importance of the internet and the importance of download speed to its use and viability.  This became abundantly clear during Tony Abbott's interview on the 7.30 Report last night.

I saw a man upon a hill
Waving arms, he looked a dill.
Nearby, smoke puffed long and short
While pigeons flew, not just for sport!
Mirrors flashed, all bright and keen
As bonfires flared and yearned to be seen;
A runner speeding with message stick
Anything to send news quick!

Meanwhile, a little boy given cans and string
Could not figure out how to work the thing!

Oh Sweet Ecstasy - A Double Dose of Delicious Policy!

At long, long last both the Opposition and Government put forward a couple of policies that touched on areas slightly more important than the usual pork barrelling.  I have become so excited with this strange duel development, that I may need to present two offerings for your edification and enjoyment.

Prime Minister Gillard offered a commitment to fully implement the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's water plan to assist in restoring the health of that ailing river system.

Like a long brown snake it wanders,
From the mountains to the sea;
Slowly now, without much zest,
Not the beast it used to be.

Mighty red-gums stand in fearsome struggle
So desperate to survive,
While wetlands wither and recede
Perhaps too shattered to survive.

So now we'll buy the water back, the river to restore
And keep our fingers crossed, in hope, the people they'll not ignore!

____________________

Meanwhile, the Opposition, having previously stated their distaste for the Government's National Broadband Network, offered their alternative plan.  This was announced as "...more than $6b....".  In actual fact, it adds up to almost double at $11.8b.

Sadly for the Opposition, their Andrew Robb had a conversation on ABC's "AM" program (transcript here) many hours before their broadband policy announcement.  In part, it went like this...

"ANDREW ROBB: There is no confusion on our side of politics on this issue. We have got savings, fully costed and presented, at $28.5 billion and we have got expenditure of $25.5 billion fully costed and fully presented. 

That is a difference, over and above the costs and expenditure, of $3 billion.

LYNDAL CURTIS: And will that gap stay or are you going to commit to spending some more money during the remainder of the campaign?

ANDREW ROBB: We're committing to both spending some more- a little amount more money and also to identify more savings. So we'll give you the final figure long before the election."


That looks to me like a total spend on promises of $37.3b, which leaves a deficiency of a mere $8.8b above their stated savings.  Oh well, its only an election after all, and I wasn't very good at maths.


While I wasn't very good at maths
I could multiply and add,
Because of which I could "take away"
And at division I was quite dab.


Now,  Andrew made it very clear he had $3b left,
After adding in their savings and deducting what they spent.
This afternoon the bill went higher, for Internet you know,
Which leaves his promised surplus battered and badly dent.


So now twelve thousand workers are heading for the sack
And we get basic broadband, with the budget deficit back!

Back To The Past, Perhaps?

     There has been much discussion during today's electioneering regarding the National Broadband Network.  The government released details of enhanced plans for the roll out of the fibre optic infrastructure, together with updated maps relating to the project.  There was also repeated reminders of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's promise to dismantle the project , should he win the forthcoming election.

     Although this subject has been mentioned in these pages already, the issue is of such national importance that it is worthy of further comment.  This will probably not be the last time!

     During today's reporting, I was reminded (somehow??) of a much earlier telecommunication service.  During the 1950's, I lived with my parents and siblings in the Sydney suburb of Brighton le Sands.  We were blessed with a telephone, the number of which I have never forgotten.....

Sydney 'phone number, 1950's, LX6180;
Black baker-lite handset, pretty flash, LX6180.
"Long distance, please," calling out of town, "This is LX6180."
"What's that? Speak up!" Calling Brissie, long distance, you know.

Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter,
Google, Yahoo, Blogspot, Flikr,
Gmail, Hotmail - its email and quicker,
Phone the world - no cost - what a ripper!

Copper lines gone, fibre on the go,
Tony gets in, we're back to LX6180!

The 2010 Election - Week 1

This is the week that was!

A discourse on population became an immigration hoax,
While adding to the fear campaign over desperate folk in boats!
We heard about a deficit and the chance of growing debt,
Yet not too much of the GFC, or that it hasn't hit us, yet.
One Leader wants the NBN with web speed rated tops,
And the other will have a telephone, with calls through dear old POTS.

So, the first week ends without much ticker;
We're looking forward, but the fog is thicker.
Perhaps I'll go and just follow twitter!
_______________________________________________

GFC - Global Financial Crises
NBN - National Broadband Network
POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service