Just wonder whether any of you prospective migrants are gong to cancel your applications now that Australia looks set to be run by a "gang of union bullies". That has been the propaganda pumped out solidly on TV by the now defeated Liberal Party over the last month. Labor and Kevin Rudd have won the election.
I don't want to get political, but from a migrant's point of view this could mean a winding back on some of the daft "patriotic" migration legislation we have had from the Liberals over the last few years, such as increasing the time to be eligible for citizenship from two to four years and the written citizenship knowledge tests.
Me, I'm going to go dance down the street in Kirribilli tomorrow morning outside John Howard's official residence singing something like "Bye Bye Baby"by the Bay City Rollers.
One good thing to come out of this - an end to the wall to wall TV adverts/political propaganda masquerading as public information about "Work Choices"/National Security etc etc
Hi Micheal
Well do you reckon its for the better or for the worse and what about migration issues dom you think it will contiue or do you think they will narrow the amount of mgrants entering oz
Cheers Ron
I haven't read Labor's immigration policies but I would guess they are a lot more pragmatic and less ideological than the Liberals, who seemed to be obsessed with "Border Security" and assimilation [is that how you spell it?] - hence their citizenship knowledge tests and extended periods for gaining citizenship.
Labor have traditionally been a pro-immigration party and they introduced liberal [small l] immigration policies to attract migrants in the 80s. Don't hold your breath, but I would guess they will be more favourable in their migration policies.
I haven't read Labor's immigration policies but I would guess they are a lot more pragmatic and less ideological than the Liberals, who seemed to be obsessed with "Border Security" and assimilation [is that how you spell it?] - hence their citizenship knowledge tests and extended periods for gaining citizenship.
Labor have traditionally been a pro-immigration party and they introduced liberal [small l] immigration policies to attract migrants in the 80s. Don't hold your breath, but I would guess they will be more favourable in their migration policies.
Hi Michael
Do you know whether the result for Bennelong has been declared formally yet? I've just looked on the ABC News website but the info is way out of date by now, I would think. It is predicting that Howard will only lose the seat by around 500 votes, so it may still be too close to call, I suspect.
It's 1.13am here in Strathfield (not far from the Epping centre of the Bennelong electorate) but still too close to call. There are still postal etc votes to count. I'm off to bed - hoping to wake up to see that worm John Howard learn a little humility. I think Maxine McKew will be a great improvement!
As Kevin Rudd said (and I'm not a Labor voter) it's a great day for all Australians - and I might add would-be Australians..
It will be a couple of days before the results in Bennelong is known as they are waiting on the Postal vote - to do a final tally. But Howards gone anyway he will most likely resign from Parliament in the next week or two
As regards immigration - it stay the same way for the next couple of years - as Australia needs people As regards Labour changing the rules to become Australian I don't think so.
No matter who is in power neither party is going to show weakness towards Australia being flooded by illegal immigrants the under lining thinking in Australia is "we will decide who comes here not the UN nor some people smuggler "
My greatest hope is that Rudd keeps his promise of ratifying the Kyoto agreement asap. I want a long life in Australia with a clean, well thought out and future-proofed (as much as it can be) environment for us, our kids and grandkids. There has been much comment in the press on how Australia manages energy etc. and the effect this is having on the environment and ultimately global warming, decreased rainfall leading to shortages in water and eventually food. Personally I would be pleased to see any increased effort to keep Australia a great and safe place to live for many generations to come. If Rudd can deliver this, then I welcome him. I am not aware of his other plans but I will watch with interest, and to see if he sticks to his environment policies. Let's hope it was more than a campaign ploy.
Political rant over - Susie :-)
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The postal vote in Bennelong is unusually large and according to Senator Minchin from mainly the Liberal heartlands of Bennelong.
You have to wonder whether the party faithful were mobilised to do a postal vote to stave off the possibility of a very humiliating 'on the night' loss of his seat?
This way he can resign like all defeated PM's do before the real shock of his seat is confirmed? A much bettter way for 'the old bastard' to go I think? :)
Actually on past history of the Labor party, immigration will continue but not from white anglo countries. The left like to have immigration from countries which are more likely to be Labor voters so expect more Asian/Indian/African migrants. Under previous Labor governments it was very difficult for whites to come.
Unemployment will rise so there may not be as many job opportunities for incoming migrants and employers may find that it is not worth their while to cover the costs of skilled migrant visas. Businesses will not be taking on new employees if the unfair dismissal rules and collective bargaining return. The resources boom will probably falter because of the uncertainty in the market about whether the unions will disrupt exports (like they did last time).
If Australia does ratify Kyoto (they signed it ages ago) then the economy will really go down the gurgler and Australia will be brought to the edge of bankruptcy by having to pay the penalties (which are seriously impacting on NZ and Canada at the moment). He would be very silly to do that. Australia's emissions are negligible in the global scheme of things and the jury is still out on whether reducing carbon emissions is going to have any signficant impact on what is natural cyclical change (dont believe the IPCC on everything!).
We will be governed by a series of enquiries, commissions and other politically correct group speak workshops for the first part until Krudd is dumped (end 2008??) and the left faction takes control. Then all bets are off, it will be horrible!
Australia will regret that they dumped John Howard just because he was "old". His concession speech will show you that he has more class and statesmanship in his little finger than the new earwaxmunching PM!
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