Reply #1: What a difference a few months make... [View All]

[Violet_Crumble]

Even though I liked Simon Crean, it was pretty clear Labor wasn't going to be able to win an election with him as leader. Now I think the coalition's days are numbered. I was reading this morning that Labor's going to be concentrating on areas where there's disgruntled sugar farmers, and if they're pissed off enough with this free trade agreement, then it will make a big difference come election time. They'd be in traditional Liberal/National Party electorates, and while they wouldn't make a difference if they were in a very safe Labor electorate, they'll make a real difference...

Another sticking point for a long time when it came to a free trade agreement was the US insistance that it be allowed full access to our film and television markets, which have always been protected by a local content quota system. New Zealand managed to get itself included as local content due to arguing that a free trade agreement in place made their exclusion under the quota system illegal, and while their inclusion hasn't had much effect, the US doing the same thing would obliterate the Australian film and television industries...

Oh yeah. I'm still not sure how keen I am on Mark Latham. He supports mandatory detention for asylum seekers :(

Violet...