federal government

Federal Budget 2008-09: Janelle Saffin delivers for Page

North Coast Voices - May 15, 2008 - 1:10am

While those on a full disability support pension are reeling from Wayne Swan's slap in the face (which saw them excluded from any cost-of-living mitigation bonus), those who have spent years on the public dental service waiting list are in flat despair and many others on the NSW North Coast are wondering about the Rudd Government's commitment to tackle climate change in light of the poor funding spread contained in this year's budget papers.

However, what cannot be gainsayed is the commitment of the Labor MP for Page, Janelle Saffin. Read more »

Australia 2008: What the unions create the unions can take away

North Coast Voices - May 8, 2008 - 1:05am

Neither Our Kev or Little Morrie have had their history hats on over this last month or so as they both push the privatisation of NSW power industry assets, in the face of widespread ge Read more »

Mrs. Iemma - do us all a favour and wash your son's mouth out with Sunlight soap

North Coast Voices - May 1, 2008 - 3:42am

Little Morrie Iemma must be a constant shame to his mother.His constant ducks and drakes approach to the truth would worry any parent.It certainly worries NSW voters if the latest Newspoll survey, showing a 56% dissatisfaction rate for the Premier, is any indication.Here is his latest. Read more »

A very personal kneejerk reaction to the Rudd-Swan 2008-09 Federal Budget

North Coast Voices - May 14, 2008 - 1:15am

Belonging to a recognised category of poor that contains less than half a million souls and has little political clout, it has been so long since a Federal Budget gave me anything that I now Read more »

Debit card reeks of Big Brother

North Coast Voices - May 13, 2008 - 1:15am

So ran the banner above yesterday's editorial penned by David Bancroft in Grafton's The Daily Examiner (Clarence Valley locals will remember David as a former staffer for then NSW Labor Minister for Local Government, Harry Woods).

SOME disturbing signs of social engineering are starting to appear from the new Rudd Government. Read more »

Psst....heard the one about a republic?

North Coast Voices - May 9, 2008 - 1:10am

Anyone else notice just how fast talk of an Australian republic died down after Federal Labor's Australia 2020 summiteers disappeared into the sunset?Roy Morgan Research gives a clue as to why in the results of a telephone poll taken last weekend. Read more »

Sorry, Janelle - Rudd and Iemma just shortened your political honeymoon

North Coast Voices - May 7, 2008 - 1:18am

When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd openly supported the Iemma-Costa proposal to sell-off NSW electricity retailers he ran the risk of tarring all his MPs with this unpopular brush, because let's face it - Australia is wall to wall Labor governments right now.It was always going to be a hard ask for federal MPs to retain that just married feeling with their local electorates once the 2008 budget is handed down later this month. Read more »

Views on the Iraq War five years on

North Coast Voices - April 29, 2008 - 3:50am

It seems forever since I stood with hundreds of others on a NSW North Coast beach and spelt out the message "NO WAR!", before a crusading Howard Government launched Australia into the war against Iraq. Despite claims to the contrary, the Rudd Government is not completely withdrawing Australian defence forces from that country, so the nation is still exposed to the vagaries and ramifications of this continuing conflict.  &nb Read more »