Thursday 28th of March 2024

swine fever .....

swine fever .....

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says his bid to defer a vote on an emissions trading scheme is not designed to delay action on climate change.

He wants debate on the scheme to be pushed back to the next sitting period in August to allow more economic modelling to be done.

Senator Xenophon says the Parliament should consider alternative designs for the scheme that would have less economic impact.

But he says a decision should be made during the next sitting week.

"We will resolve those bills once and for all in the week commencing August 11," he said.

"We will continue sitting that week for as long as it takes so that when some in the Government say that you're trying to delay this on a never-never, that's not true.

"I think that the Government in their heart of hearts knows, that given that they're delaying this scheme by 12 months, no harm is being done and in fact a lot of good can come out of this."

But the Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong says Australia cannot afford any more delays.

She has blamed Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull for the hold-up.

for a few dollars more....

The Coalition and Independent Senator Nick Xenophon have combined to delay the vote on the Government's carbon trading scheme until August.

The Government had wanted its legislation for the scheme to be passed by today, arguing that business needed certainty on how the scheme would operate.

But the Coalition and all crossbench senators have refused to support it.

The Opposition and Senator Xenophon have passed a motion which commits the Senate to a vote in the first week of August sittings.

They have also commissioned economic modelling on alternative schemes to be undertaken and completed before the August vote.

Senator Xenophon says an August vote cannot be avoided.

"The Emissions Trading Scheme legislation will be dealt with in that week, come what may, and that's a commitment the Coalition's made, it's something the Government has signed on to," he said.

"It's not their preferred course but it means we'll have some certainty as to where we're going with this legislation, but it's important we have the facts."

Opposition emissions trading spokesman Andrew Robb says more information must be given on how the scheme will impact Australians.

--------------------------

see toon at top...

little green men...

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has urged people to come forward about what they may have experienced as members of the Church of Scientology, following his explosive allegations in Parliament last night.

The South Australian Senator used parliamentary privilege to launch a scathing attack on the Church of Scientology and tabled seven letters from former members of the church that alleged extensive criminal activity, claims of blackmail and coerced abortions.

He has now forwarded the letters to police and wants a Senate inquiry into the church's tax-exempt status.

The Church of Scientology has always been veiled in secrecy and controversy since it was founded by science fiction author L Ron Hubbard in 1953 and has many high-profile members across the world such as actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

---------------------------

Very very brave of our senator Xenophon to tackle the church of the little green men... The scientologists use very powerful brainwashing techniques — including one-to-one eyeballing/cleansing — and powerful bank account draining techniques to capture and hook people... But then if decent intelligent people are willing to be part of such association, who cares?

Well, criminal activities, you may reply? Blackmail, extortion? Sounds like the other people who "own" intellectual properties (such as exclusivity of the little green men belief) don't like anyone outside the circle to blab about the little green men from planet dork... No-one knows what's in Coca-Cola?...

You know what I mean...

... Pharmaceuticals and their patents... But pharmaceuticals don't claim church status nor full tax benefits although they reap huge benefits from governments health systems... The catholic popes though did the same extortionist activities in the middle ages... Decent people were burned to the stakes. And extremist clerics are doing the same inside the Muslim world. It's all about control of others by a few spruikers who delude (sometimes they just play a game) themselves (and others) being doodahs of this and that, using greed, fear and insecurities and "motivation" in a world where purpose is no more than a flimsy illusion, but to survive with imputed crap in one's head...