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@kiwiwomble said in Aussie Politics:
@pepe i do wonder about who negotiates these contracts, if were late in the construction industry we have huge penalties...these should be free by now!
The French sent competent negotiators.
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lol. NSFW.
So there is a ... well, let's say "a person" here who goes by the title of friendlyjordies, who is either a divisive little dickhead or a funny as fuck depending on who you are, but also what mood you're in.
Anyway, it seems that Waste of Oxygen Craig Kelly MP (formerly a lib, then independent, now fluffing Clive Palmer) didn't renew his domain name. So...
"Craig forgot to renew his fucking lease. Suck shit fluffybunny."
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@antipodean said in Aussie Politics:
@kiwiwomble said in Aussie Politics:
@pepe i do wonder about who negotiates these contracts, if were late in the construction industry we have huge penalties...these should be free by now!
The French sent competent negotiators.
hmmm Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur?
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@kiwiwomble said in Aussie Politics:
@pepe i do wonder about who negotiates these contracts, if were late in the construction industry we have huge penalties...these should be free by now!
followed by a 5yr court case
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@chimoaus said in Aussie Politics:
@antipodean said in Aussie Politics:
@chimoaus said in Aussie Politics:
I wish I understood defence spending and why it's necessary for the world to continually use enormous resources to continually compete with one another. Does Australia need a submarine fleet? I guess it just annoys me that the billions and billions spent on defence around the world could be used in far better ways.
Two reasons:
- We're an island, and
- Antipodean needs a job.
Out of interest below is the military spending from some other island nations. I am surprised Japan which has a sordid history with China doesn't spend more. And nations like Ireland have drastically reduced their spend from around 1.7% of GDP down to 0.3%. I am kind of surprised NZ spends as much as they do. Perhaps we deem the threat higher so need to spend more. I just wonder if it really matters how much we spend in relation to the risk of being invaded by "The Enemy"
Per capita spend on Military ($USD)
Australia $1079
New Zealand $624
Japan $388
Ireland $231Share of GDP
Australia 2.1%
New Zealand 1.5%
Japan 1.0%
Ireland 0.3%NZ spend would be a lot on support in times of need, disaster relief, helping our Pacific neighbours etc and we did have a commitment in Afghanistan until recently so that 1.5 might comedown a bit next year
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@chimoaus said in Aussie Politics:
spend on Military ($USD)
Australia $1079
New Zealand $624
Japan $388
Ireland $231Share of GDP
Australia 2.1%
New Zealand 1.5%
Japan 1.0%
Ireland 0.3%One of these things is not like the others...
Try per acre of land mass or kilometre of coastline.
Australia is only 20 times larger than Japan and 110 times larger than Ireland (who also share a land border with an ally).
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@chimoaus said in Aussie Politics:
@hooroo I understand that, but the question is if "The Enemy" invaded Ireland would we all just do nothing because they clearly aren't spending much.
I guess it just annoys me that we spend so much on "Securing our future" when the likelihood of all-out war must be very slim. China seems to be taking over the world with their economy not their tanks.
There would be huge responsibilities on the United Kingdom if somebody was to invade Ireland. That why Ireland need not spend a dime on their military.
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@rotated You could argue that Japan has a shitload more people to protect as well. There are also plenty of tiny countries that spend more than we do GDP wise. It just seems very random how some nations spend a lot more than others. I guess I am wondering if there is a set risk assessment or analysis done on military spending vs not spending and who decides how much money we spend just in case.
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@majorrage Maybe I'm ignorant but I find it farcical to think in 2021 that a developed nation would "invade" another developed nation, it's not 1939.
The world economy is so intertwined that we are all reliant on one another, it makes no sense, I really cannot see why China would invade any nation for their resources when they can just buy them. Yes, there are long standing tensions between certain nations but that is very much localised land disputes, and they are not going to blitzkrieg the world.
Wouldn't it be great if the world could somehow come together and agree to drastically reduce military spending, very much like the Paris climate agreement.
I noticed that Costa Rica has not had an army since 1949. "Costa Rica's track record of 72 years without a standing army demonstrates in a convincing way that it is possible, as well as positive, to organize a state on the principles of mutual trust, peace and non-violence." https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7038431/costa-rica-abolished-its-military-other-countries-can-too/
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in a super crowded field, yesterday saw what might be my favourite Betoota headline of all time
Chine Panics After Learning They've Only Got 25 Years Until Australia Gets 8 New Submarines
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@mariner4life said in Aussie Politics:
in a super crowded field, yesterday saw what might be my favourite Betoota headline of all time
Chine Panics After Learning They've Only Got 25 Years Until Australia Gets 8 New Submarines
We will be up to Covid Zulu by then.
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@chimoaus said in Aussie Politics:
@majorrage Maybe I'm ignorant but I find it farcical to think in 2021 that a developed nation would "invade" another developed nation, it's not 1939.
The world economy is so intertwined that we are all reliant on one another, it makes no sense, I really cannot see why China would invade any nation for their resources when they can just buy them. Yes, there are long standing tensions between certain nations but that is very much localised land disputes, and they are not going to blitzkrieg the world.
Wouldn't it be great if the world could somehow come together and agree to drastically reduce military spending, very much like the Paris climate agreement.
I noticed that Costa Rica has not had an army since 1949. "Costa Rica's track record of 72 years without a standing army demonstrates in a convincing way that it is possible, as well as positive, to organize a state on the principles of mutual trust, peace and non-violence." https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7038431/costa-rica-abolished-its-military-other-countries-can-too/
Crimea says hi. 2.5 million people invaded by Russia.
This post reminds me of Helen Clark talking about the end of war, a few short years before 9/11.
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@kirwan said in Aussie Politics:
@chimoaus said in Aussie Politics:
@majorrage Maybe I'm ignorant but I find it farcical to think in 2021 that a developed nation would "invade" another developed nation, it's not 1939.
The world economy is so intertwined that we are all reliant on one another, it makes no sense, I really cannot see why China would invade any nation for their resources when they can just buy them. Yes, there are long standing tensions between certain nations but that is very much localised land disputes, and they are not going to blitzkrieg the world.
Wouldn't it be great if the world could somehow come together and agree to drastically reduce military spending, very much like the Paris climate agreement.
I noticed that Costa Rica has not had an army since 1949. "Costa Rica's track record of 72 years without a standing army demonstrates in a convincing way that it is possible, as well as positive, to organize a state on the principles of mutual trust, peace and non-violence." https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7038431/costa-rica-abolished-its-military-other-countries-can-too/
Crimea says hi. 2.5 million people invaded by Russia.
This post reminds me of Helen Clark talking about the end of war, a few short years before 9/11.
maybe the more pertinent question is, what should our military look like in 2021? or 2031
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@chimoaus said in Aussie Politics:
@majorrage Maybe I'm ignorant but I find it farcical to think in 2021 that a developed nation would "invade" another developed nation, it's not 1939.
The world economy is so intertwined that we are all reliant on one another, it makes no sense, I really cannot see why China would invade any nation for their resources when they can just buy them. Yes, there are long standing tensions between certain nations but that is very much localised land disputes, and they are not going to blitzkrieg the world.
Wouldn't it be great if the world could somehow come together and agree to drastically reduce military spending, very much like the Paris climate agreement.
I noticed that Costa Rica has not had an army since 1949. "Costa Rica's track record of 72 years without a standing army demonstrates in a convincing way that it is possible, as well as positive, to organize a state on the principles of mutual trust, peace and non-violence." https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7038431/costa-rica-abolished-its-military-other-countries-can-too/
Costa Rica's relationship with the USA underscores their ability to forego a military. In much the same way NZ and Ireland are military mendicant States; dependent on others. Any invading force really has to go through someone else first.
Australia is dependent on maritime trade for its prosperity and the wealth corridor is threatened by a dictatorship that thinks nothing of the rule of law, or the rights of its own citizens.
Aussie Politics