Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

Gillard shades Abbott as preferred PM
Posted November 22, 2011 07:21:11/ABC News online

A new poll shows the Coalition has pulled further ahead of Labor, but Julia Gillard has edged ahead of Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister.

The latest Newspoll, published in the Australian newspaper, shows the Opposition Leader's rating as preferred prime minister has slumped by five points to 35 per cent, while Ms Gillard's position has risen one point to 40 per cent.

It is the first time in five months that Mr Abbott has trailed Ms Gillard in the preferred prime minister stakes.

However, the Coalition has pulled further ahead of Labor on a two-party preferred basis, 57 to 43 per cent.

Every single vote counts at this point.

Stay tuned!

Gillard-Greens mining tax talks inconclusive
By Stephen Dziedzic/ABC news
Updated November 22, 2011 20:30:18

The Greens says a vote may not be held tonight on the Federal Government's mining tax, as talks to reach a deal with the Prime Minister prove inconclusive.

Greens Leader Bob Brown says the Government has not accepted any of the suggestions he made about ways to raise the $20 million-a-year shortfall in the mining tax.

Senator Brown is withholding his party's crucial support for the bill until the Government finds a way to make up the revenue it lost when it agreed to independent MP Andrew Wilkie's demand to lift the tax threshold from $50 million to $75 million.

He held talks with Julia Gillard this afternoon but says they did not reach an agreement.

"We don't want $100 million cut from schools and hospitals or child care over the forward estimates," Senator Brown said.

"We've put forward half a dozen options, but the Government has rejected these - including raising the mining tax rate from 22.5 per cent to 22.7 per cent to make up the shortfall.

"There is $1 billion in infrastructure monies tied up with spending of the mining resources tax - just 2 per cent of that would be enough to make up the shortfall which otherwise is going to have to come out of public services like schools and hospitals."

Senator Brown says negotiations are expected to continue but that "debate in the House might not be concluded tonight". ...Cont>

Mining tax bills pass Lower House
Updated November 23, 2011 08:27:17/ABC news online

The Federal Government's mining tax passed through the House of Representatives early this morning after a late-night deal was struck with the Greens.

The tax will apply to iron ore, coal and petroleum, but the Opposition has promised to repeal it if it wins Government.

It finally went through the Lower House early this morning after a special extended session of Parliament.

The legislation will now go to the Senate early next year.

The Greens agreed to back the deal after receiving assurances about how the Government would cover a $20 million shortfall on the original revenue forecasts.

The shortfall emerged after independent MP Andrew Wilkie negotiated an amendment to raise the tax's threshold in a move he said would be more fair to smaller mining companies.

The tax will now kick in when a company makes $75 million per year in profit rather than $50 million.

The Greens will not give details of how the shortfall will be covered but MP Adam Bandt says the party is satisfied that it is a "progressive measure and that the savings will now not be coming from schools, from childcare, from hospitals."

"I'd like to tell you what that offsetting measure is, but the Government has said that they'll make that announcement in the next couple of days."

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan says the tax is in the national interest because the revenue raised will help fund tax breaks for small business, higher superannuation and infrastructure projects.

"If we want to leave a stronger Australia for our children, if we want to build the nation, then it takes brave policy proposals like this which spread the bounty of our country to every corner of the nation," he said.

"This is what is required to build a prosperous Australian nation in the 21st Century."

Opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb has defended the Coalition's decision not to back the mining tax, saying rescinding it will be one of the first things a Tony Abbot-led government would do.

"The spending commitment tied to this mining tax will be unsustainable," he said.

"The mining tax will never deliver the revenue in the years ahead that is necessary to meet those commitments, and yet again we'll be back borrowing money for the reckless spending initiatives of this government."

Opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb has defended the Coalition's decision not to back the mining tax, saying rescinding it will be one of the first things a Tony Abbot-led government would do.

video: Paul Keating welcomes the rise of China
Updated November 24, 2011 00:00:00/Lateline/ABC

Former prime minister Paul Keating says China must be welcomed into the world as a shared partner and a vital economic power, not a military or political challenge to be contained.