Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

Basin plan draws criticism from all sides
Updated November 28, 2011 12:30:24 /ABC news online

Environmentalists are unhappy, irrigators are angry, but the people who put the Murray-Darling Basin plan together think they have it basically right.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority's draft plan released overnight has slashed its estimates on how much water is needed to save the stressed river system. ...<cont>

Australia's AAA rating secured despite risks
Peter Martin
September 7, 2010/the AGE

WHATEVER the shape of the next government, Australia remains among the safest places in the world to invest.

The credit rating agency Standard & Poor's has reaffirmed Australia's top AAA rating, saying there is no point waiting for an election outcome because it will not make any difference.

However, the agency has warned of risks including a collapse in the housing market and a squeeze on one of the banks.

''During the election it was comforting to us that both leaders were trying to almost outdo each other in a race to return the budget to surplus,'' said S&P credit analyst Kyran Curry.

''There's been a lot of talk about rising levels of debt, but on a comparative basis Australia's debt remains low. In fact, Australia is a stand out, even among AAA-rated sovereigns.'' ...<cont>

The Queensland Parliament has joined Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT in passing legislation recognising same-sex civil partnerships.

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Earlier, Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser, who put forward the private member's bill, said it was important to recognise the difference between civil unions and gay marriage.

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The vote comes just days before Labor's national conference debates whether to go a step further and legalise gay marriage.

UPDATE 1.07pm: GREENS Leader Bob Brown has blasted a pay rise for federal politicians and says it’s disgraceful the money will flow to pockets with no debate in parliament.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard's pay will soar by $90,000 to about $470,000 - more than either US President Barack Obama or British PM David Cameron are paid.

New Speaker Peter Slipper will pocket an extra $70,000, taking the Liberal turncoat's salary to at least $315,000 as part of a pay rise for federal MPs to be revealed before Christmas.

Pay of the most junior parliamentarians will jump from $140,000 to at least $180,000.

Senator Brown said the major parties had "removed the embarrassment'' of accepting the pay offer and "shed responsibility for a pay grab''.

It was double standard to debate the Budget, but not pay rises, which had budgetary implications, he said.

"It is our responsibility to justify to the electorate, to the taxpayers, the remuneration for MPs,'' he said.

Mr Brown said politicians' salaries should be compared with those of ordinary Australians, like police and nurses, not corporate executives who earned millions.