This is a bumper version of the BISONs. Latest Updates – 22/03/2012:
New BISONs (Beautiful Inspirng Set Of Numbers):
1. Australia No: 1 – 2012 RANKING OF 25 COUNTRIES FOR MINING INVESTMENT. Since 1999, the Behre Dolbear Group Inc. has compiled annual political risk assessments of the key players in the global mining industry. Over time, our assessment indicates a positive correlation between the growth of a nation’s wealth and the prosperity of its mining industry – only when a country recognizes its critical need to adapt, and restructures burdensome policy, will it truly optimize this economic potential. READ MORE
2. Inflation measure hits two-year low, inflation gauge shows prices rose 0.1 per cent in February, taking the
annual rate to 2 per cent – Inflation reached a two-year low in February, a closely-watched price measure shows, giving the Reserve Bank room to cut interest rates this month. . READ MORE
3. Hiring intentions have reached their highest level in more than three years as a report shows the jobs market has posted solid growth for the second consecutive month.The monthly ANZ job advertisement series shows the total number of positions advertised rose 3.3 per cent in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, driven by a strong 3.8 per cent rise in online job ads. ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan believes the labour market will see gradual improvement throughout 2012 based on this result. READ MORE
4. Our economy is up by 7.4 per cent on pre-GFC levels. Canada +3.5% USA & Germany +1%, UK -2.75%, Japan -3% Italy – 4.5% READ MORE
5. Australia’s GDP in 2011 was $1.444 trillion. Will be above $1.5 trillion next year
6. PM Gillard gets A-plus on International Women’s Day – Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been given the tick of approval by an executive leadership expert on International Women’s Day. The Australian Graduate School of Management’s Executive Education executive director Rosemary Howard has given Ms Gillard an A-plus for conflict management, legislative change and re-engaging with the public service in Canberra. READ MORE
7. Since 2007 the ratio of net debt to GDP of the leading western economies has grown from 52% to 82%”(a swing of 30%). In Australia, minus 3.8% to 8.9%(a swing of 13%)
8. The 10 year government bond yield is now around 4.0% having recent hit an all time low of 3.65% – it was above 6% in late 2007 when the Coalition was in office
9. The size of government – taken as government spending – will fall from 26.0% of GDP in 2009-10 during GFC to 23.6% of GDP in 2012-13. The Howard government’s average government spending to GDP ratio was 24.2% of GDP.
10. The Tax to GDP ratio will rise from a 30 year low of 20.0% of GDP in 2010-11 and will reach 22.3% of GDP in 2012-13.The Tax to GDP ratio in the last Howard year was 23.7% and the average Tax to GDP ratio under Howard was 23.4% of GDP.
11. Francis Fukuyama, the doyen of US Conservatives endorsed the #MRRT: “Developing countries are giving away the store because they let the benefits of the mining industry flow to a small group. You’re not going to end up like Peru or Bolivia because you have a strong democracy. All developed countries have some redistribution. In the long-term interests of social stability you have to redistribute.” The proposed tax on Australian mining super profits “seems just fine to me”. READ MORE
12. New figures show Australia’s resources and energy exports predicted to reach a massive $225 billion in 2016-17 READ MORE
13. Australia leads the OECD pack in GDP forecasts – Mar 8th 2012, 20:24 by The Economist online. READ MORE
14. The Gillard Govt has committed more funding to urban public transport since 2007 than all Govts combined since Federation
15. #MRRT will ensure Australians get more Super from 9% to 12%. FIND OUT MORE
16. NAB chief economist just told insolvency conference media is over blowing carbon tax which only cuts 0.25% off GDP growth and clips 25k jobs
17. The profits-based Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) for iron ore and coal will begin on July 1, 2012, and apply to all new and existing iron ore and coal projects. The Treasury estimates the tax will generate A$3.7 billion in fiscal 2012/13, A$3.8 billion in 2013/14 and A$3.1 billion in 2014/15.
18. MP Rob Oakeshott says “this parliament is working and I’m proud of it” – 300 bills passed
19. GM Holden will promise today to keep making cars in Australia for at least another decade after securing a subsidy package from the federal and South Australian governments worth more than $200 million. READ MORE
20. We are in Asia. Time to reform to meet Asia challenge, says former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn. March 22, 2012. FORMER World Bank president James Wolfensohn has warned that the world is not prepared for the global power shift from West to East, as Asia drives the international economy’s future prospects.In a speech to the Asia Society last night, Sir James said Asia was forecast to account for nearly 60 per cent of the world’s economy within the next four decades.However, he said, most Western nations – led by the US and those in Europe, but including Australia – were still discounting the fact that the composition of the global economy was rapidly changing. READ MORE
101 Economic Fundamental:
1. Unemployment 5.1% (Canada 7.5, EUROZONE Avg 9.3, UK 8.7, USA 8.3, Japan 4.1, NZ 6.6, China 4.1, India 9.4, Brazil 4.7. South Africa 25%, Singapore 1.9, South Korea 3.7)
2. Inflation 2%%
3. GDP Growth 3.5% – The Australian economy is now around 7 per cent larger than it was prior to GFC Mark 1. By way of comparison, most developed countries have gone backward.
4. RBA Interest Rate – 4.25% – RBA Interest rate 4.25%, compared to 6.75% when Howard was voted out.
5. Current Govt Net Debt – 8.9%
6. Total Public Debt – 27% GDP (Canada 81%, EURO 97%, France 99%, Germany 84%, Japan 205%, UK 91%, USA 95%)
7. Trade Surplus $22.4 billion last financial year – easily the biggest surplus in raw terms for the past 40 years
of records compiled by the ABS
8. Sovereign Rating – Australia one of just 15 countries to hold the top AAA Rating from all Agencies
9. Currency – AUD/USD 1.04, AUD/UK 0.68 AUD/Euro 0.82 – The floating of AUD is the single most important economic reform introduced by Labor. It acts as a shock absorber to external economic conditions
10. Australia is in Asia, the growth engine averaging 6% and part of the Asian Century. It’s middle and aspiration class is expected to hit 800 millions by 2020. Double of USA+Europe.
11. NBN – One of the most advanced high speed Internet enabled network in the world. Australia’s first national wide, open access FTTP broadband network with minimum 93% coverage, capable of achieving 1 gigabit per second broadband speeds.
12. Australia is the richest country in the world according to Credit Suisse Research Institute’s most recent
Global Wealth Report, the median wealth of Australians now is well over $200,000, ahead of Switzerland, 4 times USA.
13. Under Coalition spending grew by average of 3.7% per annum, under the current Labor spending growth is
averaging 1.5%
14. More people at work today than any time in our Nation’s history. In Jan 2012, 46,300 new jobs created for the month of which 12,300 full-time jobs and the Unemployment rate is now 5.1% from previous 5.2%
15. Australia net debt is expected to peak only at 8.9% in 2016 (MYEFO) – READ MORE
16. THE Gillard government’s reforms to financial advice will boost the retirement savings of Australian workers by $130 billion over 15 years
17. Retail turnover up 0.3% in January. (0.1% fall in December.) from ABS
102. Political Fundamental
1. “ALP best manager of money, history shows” – George Megalogenis READ MORE
2. No interest rise for the 14th consecutive month (last rise was Nov 2010) Vs 10 consecutive rises under
Howard/Costello. The lowest rate, since 1960, of 3% was in April 2009 under Labor. Lowest under Howard 4.25%,
Fraser 7.65%, Gorton 5.7%, McMahon 4.3%). Interest rates will always be lower under Labor.
3. “The Atlantic magazine named Gillard as one of its “2011 brave thinkers” for her resolute strength in pushing through a carbon tax. “Whether you see the move as politically expedient or as a principled course correction, there’s no denying the risk that it entails in a country where climate change is a wildly contentious issue,” writes Geoffrey Gagnon”
4. NEW Treasury analysis finds Mining played minor role during GFC, it says service industries such as retail -
which received a hefty boost from Kevin Rudd’s stimulus package – were crucial in sustaining the economy during its darkest days.
5. Wayne Swan – Treasurer of the Year 2011
6. PM Gillard solved #QANTAS dispute in 36 hrs, Hawke solved the Pilot Dispute in 1 month and Howard solved the Waterfront Dispute in 6 months.
7. How good are nations at keeping the promises made at G20 summits? – Australia NO: 1 – READ MORE
8. PM Julia Gillard elected & confirmed as PM with the greatest thumping winning margin in history 71-31 with one supporter away on leave, otherwise it will be 72-31
103. Social Fundamental
1. Australian families depending on one breadwinner pay among the lowest amounts of tax in the world and have become better off under the Gillard Government – Natsem
2. The Herald/Lateral Economics Index of Australia’s Wellbeing rose 2.2 per cent in the quarter, outstripping GDP growth of 1 per cent. READ MORE
3. The number of people filling for bankruptcy in Australia has fallen by 16%.
4. Recently released IMF estimates show that Australians are the fifth richest people in the world, behind only
those living in Luxembourg, Qatar, Norway and Switzerland READ MORE
5. AUSTRALIA is second best – almost but not quite the greatest place in which to live, according to the latest
United Nations human development index. Norway pips us by a flared nostril. Australia scores 0.93 on a scale of 0 to 1, where 1 is the highest score possible. At 0.94, Norway’s margin over Australia is close to invisible
6. Ave weekly earning +4.7% in yr to Aug. 10 years of real wage gains.
7. Aust & Holland have the best pension systems in the world followed by Sweden, Swiss, Canada, UK READ MORE
8. Australia top destination for expats globally: HSBC – AUSTRALIA’S image of healthy outdoor living and reputation for a work-life balance has elevated it to the top destination for expatriates globally, according to a worldwide survey by HSBC.
9. THE Gillard government’s reforms to financial advice will boost the retirement savings of Australian workers by $130 billion over 15 years
10. From Mega: Costs of the Paretal Leave Scheme: The total cost of the government scheme is $1.4
billion in 2012-13, covering 126,000 families. The Coalition’s 2010 election policy document put the cost of the
Abbott scheme at $4.3bn in 2012-13. A professional woman on more than $150,000 a year would receive $75,000 from Abbott and nothing from Labor. READ MORE
104. The Future
1. Business investment spending is expected to grow by 15 per cent this year and another 15 per cent next year. – Ross Gittin
2. Australia in good shape if another crisis hits, says IMF – 8/8/11
3. BHP Billiton $80B Olympic Dam copper/uranium/gold mine in South Australia creating 6000 jobs during a decade- long construction phase, 4000 ongoing jobs at the mine and 15,000 indirect jobs.This is despite the Resource Tax
4. The strength of the nation’s markets during the Global Financial Crisis was highlighted by the World Economic Forum, which in 2009 ranked Australia as the world’s second-best financial centre after the UK. Australia was the only country in the top 20 to improve its ranking.With around A$1.7 trillion in assets under management, Australia is the largest funds management market in Asia, and the fourth-largest in the world. Australia has one of the highest levels of managed funds per capita in the world, with total investment fund assets in Australia projected to reach A$7 trillion by 2028.
5. For dealmakers Down Under, 2011 will go down as a vintage year for inbound M&A activity, according to the latest data from Dealogic.So far this year, Australia has attracted a record US$59.9 billion of total inbound deals, already surpassing US$55 billion achieved in the whole of 2010, according to the data provider. READ MORE
6. The figures show September quarter spending on exploration for coal up 12 per cent to a new record high of $227 million, spending on iron ore exploration up 9 per cent to a new record high of $235 million, and spending on onshore petroleum exploration up 33 per cent to a new record high of $249 million.
7. The ABS figures follow Tuesday’s Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics forecast of record energy and minerals export earnings of $206 billion in 2012. If realised, they will boost government revenue, making its forecast surplus easier to attain. The bureau says capital expenditure by resource companies stands at a record high of $232 billion.
8. Bloomberg has done a survey and found that Australia is the 5th best and easiest place in the world to do
business after HK, Netherlands, USA and UK. READ MORE
9. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Australia is probably the best positioned of the developed countries to handle a further deterioration in the global economy. IMF Asia and Pacific region director Anoop Singh told a media briefing in Washington that the institution supports the Australian government’s plan to return the federal budget to surplus in 2012/13.
10. Manufacturing activity remained in positive territory in January 2012, according to the latest Australian
Industry Group. Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) is 51.6, readings above 50 indicate an
expansion in activity
11. Trade surplus up $366m in Dec to $1.7b. Total exports second highest monthly level on record at $27.7billion.
12. A SURGE of global demand for Australian government bonds has saved the federal government from issuing at least $10 billion in debt, cutting more than $500 million a year from its future interest bills.
13. The rate for Australian Government 10 year bonds (the “yield”) is at record low 3.75%
14. Amid the global economic turmoil and credit squeeze, Australia remains a gold standard country to invest in, says BHP Billiton boss Marius Kloppers, as BHP Billiton delivered a $US9.941 billion ($A9.23 billion) first-half profit.
15. Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Philip Lowe: business investment had jumped about 20 per cent in 2011, and the Reserve Bank expected “double-digit increases in business investment in each of the next couple of years,” he said.
remember when TAbbott’s gaffes were a) called gaffes and not policy statemens, and b) made the news? good times
29/03/12 5:38 PM
rnm1953: It’s better to have a leader with “a big arse” than a big arse for a “leader”.
Jaeager
Loved the quote! Posted it over at PB for their enjoyment
Rua,
Batphone:-)
Probyn doing Ruddstoration – BOOOOO
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/opinion/post/-/blog/13307622/queensland-labor-rout-a-headache-for-gillard/
Bit too late Tony:
Newmans con trick on electricity. He even conned the ABC – how unusual.
Poor Colin :-)
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/13300369/watchdog-eases-power-bill-pressure/
Thanks to Jaeger – can you let mm1953 know what a help his comment has been. Not sure who or where he is. Have yet to put this title on it. Not sure if it can be illustrated, what do you think George? Glad of feed back.
Abbott’s Such An Ass!
Said Germaine, with a lack of class.
The media couldn’t let that pass!
Had women’s lib become a farce?
Asking around, as per habit,
They got the nod from Tony Abbott,
Who didn’t stop to think a bit
What someone else might make of it.
He’d forgot the enormous frame
Of Gina Rinehart whose nickname,
The big Australian, only came
To mind too late to him. Oh, the shame!
Her fortune being so gigantic
He’d become quite sycophantic;
Talked to her in terms romantic
Which, now recalled, sent him quite frantic.
He took little time to agonise
But hurried out to apologise
And tell a load of PR lies,
Cos something else had made him wise.
He’s been told, Labor love their leader,
Big arse and all, and they heed her.
But his team are grumbling. “Do they need a
Big arse like him for leader?”
PatriciaWA, this pic was put out earlier, fits your great poem well I think: http://www.flickr.com/photos/64041833@N04/7026317657/in/photostream
Thanks George, I’m torn. It fits the theme I really like this one too which matches verse 4. Maybe I can wangle both in.
Methinks Sattlers attacks on the Mining Tax sound a bit tainted,
Parties to the agreement: Howard Sattler & Department of Mines & Petroleum
Presenter’s obligations: Media Training
Party providing the benefit: Department of Mines & Petroleum
Consideration: Less than $10,000
Whilst fed Labor is in the process of reforms, our msm is too busy writing the govt eulogy. In fact they have been writing it for a few years now.
Yes, the Qld state result was very bad, but what is Fed Labor supposed to do? It was the coalition who opposed the flood levy to assist Qld to rebuild after the floods and cyclone. It is the govt who has passed legislation to use super profits from mining to be redistrubted to the rest of the economy, not the coalition.
Oakes thinks that the govt is not recognising this moment of truth.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/its-time-labor-took-a-hard-look-at-itself/story-e6frezz0-1226314756207
Have there been any updates on those rumours in relation to Abbott’s alleged, ahem, peccadillos?
Laocoon2
Why do you ask? Have you heard something further?
Victoria
Yeah, but not sure of its credibility…not especially one to rumour-monger. We’ll see in due course, no doubt
Laocoon2
As you would be aware the rumours have been doing the rounds for months. Dont have to say too much, but what was the gist of what you have heard?
Test Post
Now that works – Rua – Batphobe plase
.
Victoria – fwiw, just that “the story” would “break” imminently…
Laocoon2
That too has been said in the past. Ie that the story was going to go public. Apparently it is the worst kept secret in Canberra
Bridget Abbott’s new public profile is being overseen by her father’s parliamentary office to shield the 19-year-old from making any political ”gotcha” moments for Tony Abbott.
The Opposition Leader’s youngest daughter made her fashion debut yesterday as one of the ambassadors for the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/abbott-oversees-daughters-pr-20120331-1w52l.html
Good to see Mr Abbott has his daughter doing something productive and contributing to Australian society. </sarcasm>.
Rua,
Batphone
Hi Victoria, I still don’t know where Jaeger found that comment from – rnm1953: “It’s better to have a leader with “a big arse” than a big arse for a “leader.” I have acknowledged it though at polliepomes.
I finally got a title, sorted out some iffy rhymes and then did a post on it for Cafe Whispers with some observations on Abbott’s need to apologise so often. The illustrations, George, I decided were better as simply a couple of pix demonstrating how silly Greer’s comments were. Thanks for the offer though, and I’ll be watching you as always for further inspiration.
Patricia,
Jaeger is the source of that quote ( wish it was mine). I’d made a comment wtte that if Abbott was talking about big arses he should not talk given the small dick and no balls. Jaeger responded in kind re better having a big arse than being a big arse.
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Not sure how the written word will interpret my intention (maybe I should say there is a touch of sarcasm). At certain places all is lovey dovey. Everyone is now a true believer and all is forgiven.
End of sarcasm. Even some of the temporary escapees have been sucked in again. There are some phoney people out there so be careful of them.
Phil Coorey today
”I’m good mates with Barack Obama,” Gillard was quoted as saying.
”I tell him: ‘You think it’s tough being African-American? Try being me … Try being an atheist, childless, single woman as Prime Minister.”’
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/atheist-childless-single-gillard-has-faith-in-poll-resurrection-20120401-1w6b7.html#ixzz1qpAKkLHZ
Patricia,
rmn1953 is correct: I was responding to their earlier comment, but the quotes were intended as “air quotes”, not direct quotes (though “a big arse” from rmn1953′s post was I believe quoting Germaine Greer.)
Apologies for the delay in clearing up this confusion; my rounds of the various forums are intermittent at best, and I didn’t realise an off-the-cuff remark would spawn a pome!
P.S. Your photo at 12 explains a lot about Abbott – Gina ate his brain.
GrogsGamut A good read, as ever. RT @mumbletwits: Me with a list of things I don’t believe about Australian elections. bit.ly/H9u5CR
15 minutes ago
There are things I don’t believe about elections in Australia.
I don’t believe the Labor people who campaigned brilliantly in Queensland in 2009 became, in three years, hopeless neophytes. And that strategists on the other side somehow transformed from zero to indescribably brilliant practitioners, deserving of awe.
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mumble/index.php/theaustralian/comments/things_i_dont_believe/
Thanks Jaeger! I’ve corrected it on my site. I have to thank you again, though. That comment of yours was briliant and has brought me some new visitors! I*’ve added your comment above to my collection to muse over in my dotage which I’m hoping the pome writing will stave off a little longer!
It’s a small thing I know, but history will have it right; http://polliepomes.wordpress.com/ has recently been included in the National Archives!
Victoria, further to mumble and Queensland, not sure if you’ve seen this, I found it linked by NormanK at The Political Sword this morning, I’d been having my doubts about how devastating the Labor loss was.
http://www.crispinhull.com.au/2012/03/31/democratic-dysfunction-in-thumping-qld-result/#more-10162
When asked how his push to repeal the carbon tax was different to Labor’s campaign to roll back the GST, Mr Abbott replied: “It differs because it is different.”
What a tosser.
I note that t6he naysayers over athe other place are slitting their wrists over Nielsen – with one citing an article from UK Labour saying Australian Labor is doomed.
A Couple of things:
a) Voting in the UK is voluntary and is first past the post
b) Tony Blair – Nuff Said.
The Nielsen is weird, the fact that the numbers don’t add up (literally) is a given.
The NSW sample is hugely different to that last poll. Is the landline phone effect slowly beginning to bite, the major polls have been up and down a huge amount around a 53-47 norm. Crazy stuff.
Phone Polls are now a joke – bite the bullet and do dield interviews.
ruawake
ru
All the polls are crap for Labor atm. Nielsen is the worst of the lot. I am not giving up., but the current state of play is pissing me off. The coalition are an absolute joke. How in dog’s name can they be this popular!!!
The state polling and the election results for NSW and Qld were pretty much right. In fact, Qld polling was generous to Labor. The outcome was worse than the polls were suggesting
PaulBongiorno Tony Abbott on John Laws accepts that hiss levy on 3000 coys is a tax. But there will be a tax cut too. Compensation? Or a con?
41 minutes ago
victoria
Why are 1 in 7 of Newspolls rogue when it should be 1 in 20? My theory is that phone polling is approaching its useby date. Wait until voip number mobility hits them in the data centre.
ru
Whilst there appears to be poll volatility, the Qld result was reflected in the polling.
Except the ones that were wrong.
Gordon Graham @gordongraham Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
suggest listening to Tony Abbott’s interview with John Laws. April 2nd, Show Highlights 33 minute mark http://bit.ly/Hg0HsC
How Surprissement:
George is extracting the audio, but in the interim:
Gordon Graham @gordongraham Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
we are badly let down by the media in this country. They go on and on about Julia, but when Tone makes some big gaffes … silence!
New posts:
Tony Abbott’s New WARTHOG – The Nanny Tax
Abbott: on Carbon Tax, Great New Taxes, GST and PPL, and when a “Levy” isn’t a “Tax”
Texts draw Premier BOF into Star Casino scandal
http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/article/13321109/casino-allegations-referred-to-police/