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Shez on Flying Foxes and little girls I wouldn't wish bad on anyone, but maybe if one of these judges that give out these so called punishments are victims of a ... more
Shez on Halal certification Halal in the Bible... FROM THE BIBLE: Deuteronomy 14:3-10. Do not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals you may ... more
David T on Tony Abbott does a Turnbull Tony, we need a strong opposition not a fickle oppostion. Please don't give the government any more ammunition as this will ... more
Albert on Flying Foxes and little girls These laws prove once again that the environmental movement is not about taking action to protect human life and future ... more
angry on ETS Police SUBJECT: 'Execute' Skeptics! Shock Call To Action: 'At what point do we jail or execute global warming deniers' -- ... more
unimpressed on Flying Foxes and little girls Fetalaiga's 18 month ban from driving just shows the level of stupidity of both the law makers and the magistrates that ... more
Lynne on Flying Foxes and little girls The only thing in Queensland that is better protected than these disease riddled flying vermin are bureaucrats. When are ... more
LEONARD on Separation of Powers The Doctrine of the Separation of Powers has become simply a joke. It purpose is to separate the Legislature, the Executive ... more
Anne Scott on Halal certification You are missing the point, Shez. We, Australian taxpayers, begrudge paying Mr El-Mouelhy a levy on products he has managed ... more
Wobblyone on Halal certification Hey Angry... Shez is either Muslim or one of the idiot do-gooders that can't tell which way its bum is pointed. And Shez... ... more
Shez on Halal certification G'day angry. How are you today? Yes I am Australian, and bloody proud of it. I'm off to have some Cadbury's Dairy Milk. If ... more
Shez on Halal certification You are refusing to buy Bega cheese for what reason?! As I said earlier, Bananas are Halal. As are apples, and most food ... more
angry on Halal certification Obviously, this "Shez" has no concept of the problem in the UK caused by these muslims! Clearly, YOU, have no care or ... more
Wobblyone on Halal certification Everybody should try requiring the cashier to check all your items for Halel Certification. And then refuse them. or, If ... more
Ian Daft on Racists in our midst It get to me, evey time a knock on the door it has to be a Indian what is going on with australia more
Liberator on Racists in our midst No, Smithy. I don't want an apology. If that's how the sanctimonious pseudo "anti-racist" media and Indian Community are ... more
Shez on Halal certification You guys really crack me up. Carry on with the ignorance, It's making me laugh! Boycott vegemite! More for me! more
unimpressed on Racists in our midst After years of being abused when I have refused to buy yet another bloody mobile phone from an Indian caller and after ... more
Justin on Tony Abbott does a Turnbull Is anyone else getting sick of public policy being determined by Tony Abbott's daughters? Just when you thought there might ... more
Carole on Racists in our midst Every time an Indian (Unusally a taxi driver)is responsible for a rape or a manslaughter on an Australian -it's barely ... more

We need strong, united leadership...

Posted by: Michael Smith | 17 October, 2008 - 12:21 PM

On Wednesday this week (15 October) I had a chat with the Education Minister Rod Welford. We were speaking mainly about education, but I also spoke with him as a cabinet minister about the state's finances.

Rod said that he had spoken with the Treasurer Andrew Fraser who told him that stamp duty revenues from property sales had ground to a halt. Rod said the cabinet had been told about the financial situation. Have a listen for yourself here

The next day The Premier was interviewed about Rod's comments. At a press conference with our reporter she rebuked Minister Welford's position listen here. She was keen to allay fears about the state's budget.

I believe Rod Welford was speaking the truth, without spin. It just has the ring of truth about it - common sense. In fact it was so truthful and real that there was no real fall-out on our radio station from the initial comments - our listeners pretty much said that's what they expected the situation to be.

Why would the Premier try to put a different spin on those facts? Why not face up to the reality and level with us like her Education Minister did?

Later on that second day, the media started to take up the issue of cabinet solidarity - that is the media started reporting about cabinet appearing to be divided. I've been speaking about that for some time and the issue was the topic of my blog a couple of days ago.

So the Premier's spin started to change by 8.30pm, the Premier said the Education Minister's gloomy comments about the economy are consistent with hers, have a read of the report.

We need strong, united leadership with the whole team singing from the same hymn book. We have a 31 year old treasurer - a young bloke with very limited life experience. He was 11 the last time Australia was looking at recession. He's had no experience of life under anything other than times of exceptional economic strength. That leaves the Premier and ministers like Rod Welford as the most experienced hands in the team. The Premier would do well to take Rod's lead and level with the people.

Blog comments

I will believe Penny Wong's THEORY on climate change IF/WHEN the Federal Govt. forbids the sale of coal to overseas interests---in order to put a halt to this "Time running out" for GLOBAL warming. Does Rudd think the carbons won't cross the borders of China and Pakistan. All bull Mr Rudd Act intelligently or stop acting!! Margaret

Margaret Gannon Friday 17 October, 2008 - 4:35 PM
Doesn't matter what Michael Smith says - he's been punted off air at last to do sport???

MIchael Friday 17 October, 2008 - 4:24 PM