Oceania LOL! Apparently, "Free" trade > culture

Gath, the free trade agreement (ie: topic of this thread) relates directly to putting Australia back on the sheeps back. IMO, we never fell out of that particular saddle but the FTO will cement that position.

 

OH
MY
GOD.

Sil is a farm girl!!

That's it, dump this british Git of yours, the PoT is comin'.


As I've said, not other industry is as important to our civilisation in this nation. To suggest that Farmers are somehow "bludging" off the government or "leeching" from the 'hard-working' taxpayers is utter crap. They pay as much tax as anyone else and I'll wager they work twice as hard as most folk.

They deserve to be propped up when times are tough, they truly do a service to the community of sorts.

 

How do they do us a service? By seeking their own profits like any other entrepreneaur?

So by your reckoning, they do us the same service as Franchiser of McDonalds, KFC, BP, Shell, small restraunteur, or ANY OTHER Business Owner.

Yet, you don't see these people taking govt. handouts.

They only reason they get them is because of the National Party.

 

Because they are primary producers, Gath. Without them we have to import a lot of essential stuff which costs the country a lot of money.

Hurry up, PoT. I've only got a few weeks left in this damn country.

 

Looks at airfare prices, pats pockets, snarls violently and begins to jog northward.

 

The only primary producers that I like are CUB, Toohey's, Bundaberg Rum, etc...

 

Ooh, I hear you there!

 

So being a Qld'er... I take it your are a Bundy Girl?!

 

If farmers aren't producing at a profit, then why the hell are they out there anyway? Maybe it is just to collect government handouts, which may provide a good proportion of their income. In this case, perhaps it is better to just import from overseas. Australia's main strength lies in the technology and service sectors.

 

Sil admits to being a farmgirl, thus cementing her place as the pin-up girl of all nerdville

 

and when Stinky says "all nerdville", he quiet literally adresses the whole world.

None come close, which is why I'm ringing my mates in Al Qaeda to ensure no planes leave Queensland for the next 4 years.



Please note: The above does not indicate that T8C has any connections with terrorist organisations real or imagined, and even if he did, he wouldn't really organise anything that might be disruptive to Australian international air travel.
ASIO, please don't hurt me.

 

If there are no farmers, there's no food. I like food. Yay farmers.

 

Yes, but do you think Australia survives solely on Australian farmers?

 

Of course not, that's silly. But do you think Australia could survive without farmers?

 

Yes, honestly, I think we could.

 

I bet those 150,000 people employed in relation to primary industries in QUEENSLAND ALONE would be pretty pissed with your statement.

 

Then you might need to revise where a large amount of our GDP comes from. I don't know a huge amount about economics (I'm an engineering student, gimme a break) but we still rely fairly heavily on primary industry. Where would all the money from exports come from if we didn't export things like wool and other agricultural products?

Edit: to Gath. I know a farm girl like yourself doesn't need persuading, Sil.

 

Well, Hawk, did you know that the total production value of Queensland's primary industries, before value-adding, is $9.3 billion?

Marvellous, isn't it?!

 

And how much of that is government subsidised?

And how much of that is supported by the average taxpayer?

 

Well the QLD DPI was kind enough to provide information on its government subsidies for primary industries. The three subsidies listed are:

Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA)
aims to support rural enterprises to enhance competitiveness, self-reliance and sustainability through the provision of financial support and specialised programs.

FarmBis
provides grants to primary producers, wild catch fishers and wild game harvesters to undertake learning activities that contribute to their knowledge and expertise in business improvement.

Futureprofit
is a partnership between Government and industry designed to assist Queensland?s primary producers manage change and strengthen their decision-making ability by helping primary producers secure their long-term viability and sustainability and ultimately achieve their goals.


I have no idea what that last one means, but I don't think they're pumping a hell of a lot of subsidies in there...

I tried to find information on how your tax dollar gets broken down, but to no avail. I guess it all gets taken up on those pesky roads, and health and education and stuff (ha).

 

As an average taxpayer, I'm quite happy to support farmers who can't make a living thanks to this drought. They need it more than soldiers or politicians.

 

Well if you want to donate money to farmers, do it to your hearts content, but don't try and force the rest of us to give up our hard earned to support these bludgers.

And agriculture is far from the dominant sector in our economy. Agriculture is the staple of developing poor countries who we would do better buying off for lower prices at market rates.

 

Drought assistance is no different from welfare or the first home buyer's grant. It's not like farmers are the only ones getting support. And they are really struggling. Not because they're "bludgers", but because of the drought. You know, that annoying thing that means we can't turn our sprinklers on whenever we want. We are in a much better off position in the city, so a few tax dollars isn't going to hurt anyone. Its called humanity, giving a little.

Agriculture is the staple of developing poor countries who we would do better buying off for lower prices at market rates.

Developing poor countries remain poor because they are exploited by the First World, in the exact way that you stated. How can you justify that?

 

Nyder, I don't agree with the subsidies, but also don't agree with your comment that farmers are bludgers. This is something that they are definately NOT!

 

Well if you want to donate money to farmers, do it to your hearts content, but don't try and force the rest of us to give up our hard earned to support these bludgers.

Nyder is an economist, which means he knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

I wonder; do Econ students do better at Uni if they sell their heart and soul, as seems to be the case more and more often?

E_S