Shorten has been yesterday’s man since 2019. When Albo gets replaced, I would be astounded if it is not by someone younger. Pilbersek has been passed by, Marles would be unelectable by Caucus. Bowen would be about the oldest of the contenders, and he is about 10 years younger than Albanese.
His commitment to NDIS is outstanding.
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It will be charmers surely.
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Bargain compared to what it would’ve cost.
Onto the SRL!
He is retiring from politics.
VC University of Canberra
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2024/09/04/babet-senate-report
Senate report rips into uncharacteristically quiet Ralph Babet
More importantly, I wonder how we would have gone…
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The sheer stupidity of this nation when it comes to resources.
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I reckon those canny Scots have nicked the plan that @Chris_1993 and I cooked up in the Olympics thread for a cheaper games. Inspired by inter school athletics in the 1980s.
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I think the same central theme applies.
He wasn’t a good politician, so the odds are we’d be under a Liberal Government right now.
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True, swings and roundabouts.
This effectively makes the “sliding doors” question: Were we better off having Scummo when we did or Dutton a few years later?
What a horrible hypothetical.
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I wonder if Shorten’s retirement is related to the announcement today that the AEC has abolished the seat of Higgins. If he vacates Maribyrnong, is allows Michelle Ananda-Rajah to move across from Higgins.
The athletes were complaining about uncomfortable beds in Paris, so the Kmart tents, sleeping bags, and inflatable mattresses are going to be a pleasant change for them all.
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Aussies said they got bed toppers so wasn’t too bad.
but yeh some athletes stayed outside of the village and had an advantage, due to in the village at risk of getting woken up at all hours and broken sleep due to others staying in apartment getting up early for races etc.
I also heard complaints about the food from athletes.
Well, we’ve been listening. Fishing rods are supplied (byo bait and gear), there are a couple of taps (with surveillance on the hoses, IYKYK), and we’ve supplied maps with overhanging fruit trees.
Otherwise, there are plenty of recommendations. But it’s at athletes own cost.
I could have got these Commonwealth Games cost down to like $150,000 (plus consulting fees). So a total of like $57 million.
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I wasn’t surprised at the timing of the retirement. He looked spent from the effort in getting the NDIS reforms through.
It’s one thing to get a policy up, but to put so much effort towards delivering on a high cost program for the more marginalised in society is remarkable in politicians.
In taking on a job as VC of a low profile University, he is having a laugh at all those conjecturing at his ambitions in politics, his next moves to satisfy his personal vanity.
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RBA Governor Michelle Bullock doing a presser. Few key points:
Inflation unlikely to return to target level until the end of 2025
Bringing inflation down RBA’s key aim
Inflation will stick around longer than expected
Labor market still tight
No plans to cut rates in the near term - premature to be talking about rate cuts
Housing costs including rents and construction costs continuing to have an impact on inflation - limited property supply of impacting rents (upward pressure)
Impact of Ukraine war on consumer prices has now subsided (sorry Jim can’t blame that anymore)
Market services costs having a large impact on inflation
Productivity growth weak
Higher interest rates are having an impact on inflation but still further to go - restrictive monetary policy settings to remain (ie higher interest rates)
Inflation as well as interest rates hurts consumers
She also gave a bit of history on inflation in 1975 and period after this. Her point was inflation can hurt businesses and consumers
Younger households and lower income households being impacted the most by inflation
Future cost of not containing inflation impacts all but lower income households impacted more
RBAs interest rate messaging not welcome to borrowers
Small risk of mortgage default because of strong labor market (around 5% of mortgage holders with cashflow shortfall)
RBA trying hard to manage monetary policy in a way that is less restrictive than other countries but if inflation persists rates might have to go up (the best medicine for the economy)
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He is not well, so a job at a University will be a good retirement.
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Vice Chancellor isn’t a cushy gig, it’s the equivalent of a CEO role.