level playing field

[incisor]

when we going to get some government with some clue?

the last few have done a pretty good job of selling us out...

Chinese 'knee-capping' solar-panel rivals (http://www.smh.com.au/business/carbon-economy/chinese-kneecapping-solarpanel-rivals-20130509-2j97b.html)

[Chucaro]

How I am going to give you a non political answer or view to comply with the forum rules :p

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/05/896.jpg

[bee utey]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/05/895.jpg

May you live in interesting times...

[KarlB]

when we going to get some government with some clue?

the last few have done a pretty good job of selling us out...

... especially to the multi-national mining companies.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

... especially to the multi-national mining companies.And now it looks like our grain delivery chains are going to the US Multinational Archer Daniels Midland so we won't even have control on the grain elevators and rail infrastructure to sell our own produce.

[Chucaro]

And very soon we and the rest of the major grain producers are not going to own their grain, Monsanto and others will be the ones that call the shots and have our food in their hands. :(

[WhiteD3]

If "We" didn't buy them "we" wouldn't have a problem. But "We" (all of us) do. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

Its the same issue with what's happening to Holden and Ford (and what happened to Mitsubishi), manufacturing in general, imported fruit, teabags (Yes, read the packet), whatever. Everyone likes a cheap buy but expects everyone else to buy with the Country's Best Interests at heart.........

FYI I'm no different but at least I acknowledge it :D

:wasntme:

[WhiteD3]

"We" have mines, manufacturing, even Banks in the US, Africa and Asia but I don't here anyone hear (in Aus) worrying about the $$ we take out of their countries to bring back here..........

Again, I'm just stating what people here choose to not acknowledge.


And very soon we and the rest of the major grain producers are not going to own their grain, Monsanto and others will be the ones that call the shots and have our food in their hands. :(

[wardy1]

Incisor there will never be a 'level playing field' in this country.
Unfortunately successive governments here seem to have it in mind that other countries give a stuff about us. Our governments keep trouping around the world setting up 'free trade agreements' without any demands on those so called 'partners' to allow our products into their markets without impedance. Sick of hearing about how 'we have to act fairly' in world trade when it seems to be only us playing the fair hand.

[schuy1]

Level playing field= Us at the bottom of a 100ft cliff throwing tennis balls over the top,,,,,,,rest of world at the top of said 100ft cliff dropping 100kg rocks............................................. .....
Cheers Scott

[d@rk51d3]

Its the same issue with what's happening to Holden and Ford

I thought that was just crap products at a premium price.

[frantic]

Maybe they should talk to bsl's lawyers who just won their anti dumping case.

[Bearman]

The Federal Government is allowing Chinese companies to buy sugar mills and even sugar plantations up this way. How long before they only process cane from their own properties and I'm guessing one day all the sugar processed in their mills will be sent to China and we will have to buy it back from there. Our ancestors who fought in world wars 1 and 2 will roll in their graves at the thought of this. Last I heard Cubby station was approved to be sold to the Chinese as well. Where is this all going to stop. One day we will have no agricultural or manufacturing assets left and the bit that angers me is that we (the tax paying population) will be keeping the prime ministers or assholes that made these irresponsible decisions in luxury for the rest of their living days.

[Ferret]

One day we will have no agricultural or manufacturing assets left ...

I think this is where Katter believes he can pick up some votes for his new party next election.

[V8Ian]

Cubby's already gone Brian. It amazes me that in the name of free enterprise and trade our Governments allow the sale of Australian land to countries that do not recipricate. The playing field is only level at one end.

[Ralph1Malph]

Before this post turns toxic and someone reports it for political post violations, I'd like to offer that many years ago, when Joh still ran QLD, someone said, and I do not know who, that selling land to foreigners is ok, because they can never take it with them!
I kinda subscribe to that. The dirt will always be here and if we can mine it, sow it, farm it, manufacture on it, faster, better, more efficiently then lets have at it. Otherwise let them do it and we should learn from it.

Ralph

[Bearman]

Cubby's already gone Brian. It amazes me that in the name of free enterprise and trade our Governments allow the sale of Australian land to countries that do not recipricate. The playing field is only level at one end.

Not wrong there Ian, imagine the reaction if you or I tried to buy some land in China.

[Bearman]

Before this post turns toxic and someone reports it for political post violations, I'd like to offer that many years ago, when Joh still ran QLD, someone said, and I do not know who, that selling land to foreigners is ok, because they can never take it with them!
I kinda subscribe to that. The dirt will always be here and if we can mine it, sow it, farm it, manufacture on it, faster, better, more efficiently then lets have at it. Otherwise let them do it and we should learn from it.

Ralph

I certainly don't subscribe to that theory. The dirt may be here but if we (Australians) don't own it and some foreign company legally does, who is going to have the balls to stand up to them and say what they can or can't do with the produce that comes off that land.

[V8Ian]

I certainly don't subscribe to that theory. The dirt may be here but if we (Australians) don't own it and some foreign company legally does, who is going to have the balls to stand up to them and say what they can or can't do with the produce that comes off that land.
Going on the previous record of some countries' methods of farming and fishing, will our dirt be worth owning after the land has been raped and poisoned by them?

[Chucaro]

I think this is where Katter believes he can pick up some votes for his new party next election.

The late Hugo Chavez natinalized the oil in Venezuela to keep the money in the country and look what was the reaction of USA and others.
I do not think that here we have a politician with the balls to protect Australian assets and also have the support of the people.

[KarlB]

I think it is always a good idea to get some facts onto the table before we run of half-cocked. The top ten foreign nations with investement in Australia (foreign 'ownership' if you like) (as of 31 Dec 2009) as a percentage of the total foreign investment:

United states 27.1%
United Kingdom 26.3%
Japan 5.4%
Netherlands 2.3%
Hong Kong SAR 2.3%
Singapore 2.1%
Germany 2.0%
Switzerland 1.7%
New Zealand 1.6%
If you are primarily interested in agricultural land ownership you may like to have a look here: 7127.0 - Agricultural Land and Water Ownership, December 2010 (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/7127.0~December+2010~Main+Features~Ownership+of+ag ricultural+land?OpenDocument).

While the figures will have changed in the last few years, they will not have changed very much.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[Mick_Marsh]

If "We" didn't buy them "we" wouldn't have a problem. But "We" (all of us) do. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

Its the same issue with what's happening to Holden and Ford (and what happened to Mitsubishi), manufacturing in general, imported fruit, teabags (Yes, read the packet), whatever. Everyone likes a cheap buy but expects everyone else to buy with the Country's Best Interests at heart.........

FYI I'm no different but at least I acknowledge it :D

:wasntme:
Point taken. I would like to point out I own a Commodore. An old one with the aussie eight. Not a new one that has been assembled in Australia from imported Chinese parts and assemblies.

I try to buy Australian as much as I can but sometimes it is so difficult.
Farmers markets are about the only place you can get Australian produced now.

[incisor]

I think this is where Katter believes he can pick up some votes for his new party next election.

on the money i think


Bob Katter

There is an exponential collapse of our food processors while our farmers are being forced to let their fruit rot on the ground but the Government still has not directly responded to SPC Ardmona’s month-old request for the temporary emergency safeguards.

The flood of cheap foreign fruit has seen SPC market share of canned fruit in Australia had dropped to 33 per cent while the supermarkets’ imported “private label” products had grown to 58 per cent.

It’s not ‘free trade’ when Australians are not competing on a level playing field. We pay 20 per cent tariffs to export to China while being unable to compete domestically because the high AUD has facilitated a flood of overseas produce.

Free trade is a ‘free kick’ for our foreigner competitors and a ‘kick in the guts’ for Australians.

We have pleaded with the Prime Minister not to underestimate the deep concern of the Australian people over figures that show that food imports have soared to $11.5 billion a year, up from $8.5 billion in 2008-09.

We are introducing laws to reduce the supermarket giants’ massive market share and mandate warning labels on foreign produce which can be harm health if not grown to Australia’s health and hygiene standards.

[Chucaro]

[COLOR=black]I think it is always a good idea to get some facts onto the table before we run of half-cocked. [FONT=Verdana]While the figures will have changed in the last few years, they will not have changed very much.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

Valid point Karl, perhaps instead of looking these figures we have to look the type of assets that are on the hands of OS capitals.
As an example South Arabian capitals have a very small investment in percentajes in USA by they own the most important ports in the country.
I do not know wath it is the case regarding the quality of assets on the hand of OS capitals in Australia.

[ramblingboy42]

I cant stand any of these posts about selling out......get hold of the oz-buy guide and buy AUSTRALIAN......how many times do we have to tell you. I never hear anyone praising and lauding McDonalds, but they exist....ONLY BECAUSE YOU BUY THEIR PRODUCT.....if you don't like it , do something about it.... don't whinge here, do something.....the best way is to look at yourself.....what you buy , where you spend your money. The politicians are going to welcome whoever is trading well, regardless of who they are because the taxes will come in from spending. Ultimately you can control this by making Australian businesses the ones paying the big taxes.

[Chucaro]

I cant stand any of these posts about selling out......get hold of the oz-buy guide and buy AUSTRALIAN......how many times do we have to tell you. I never hear anyone praising and lauding McDonalds, but they exist....ONLY BECAUSE YOU BUY THEIR PRODUCT.....if you don't like it , do something about it.... don't whinge here, do something.....the best way is to look at yourself.....what you buy , where you spend your money. The politicians are going to welcome whoever is trading well, regardless of who they are because the taxes will come in from spending. Ultimately you can control this by making Australian businesses the ones paying the big taxes.

Do you sold your LR an have a falcodore?
You still have the old AWA TV and stereo made in North Ryde?
how many electrodomestics in your home are made in Oz?
Have a look how many bulding components like locks and tap ware are in your home made in Oz.
Yes, you can still get some things made in Australia and many of them own by OS companies.
Soon here in Tasmania all the big dairy farms will be in the hands of asian interest. it would be interesting to get Tasmanian milk produced and own by Australinas.
I repet what I have said, until we do not have politician with the courage to do something and people to support them we do not have a hope.

[bee utey]

... it would be interesting to get Tasmanian milk produced and own by Australinas....

Price war drives demand for farmhouse milk - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-10/price-war-drives-demand-for-farmhouse-milk/4681996)

[Biron]

Always buy local, best to go for free from chemicals food, but who really never ever uses some kind of fast food once in a while at least? That's why that end will never change.

[vnx205]

Price war drives demand for farmhouse milk - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-10/price-war-drives-demand-for-farmhouse-milk/4681996)

When we were in Tasmania in February this year, we bought some Pyengana Dairy unhomogenised milk as well as some of their cheeses.
Pyengana Dairy Company - Real Milk (http://pyenganadairy.com.au/milk/)
We also bought some sheep's milk cheese at Grandvewe Cheeses and tried the coffee made with sheep's milk. Great taste!
http://grandvewe.com.au/

We could probably claim that we did it to support Aussie primary producers, but the real reason we bought the products was because they tasted great.:)

[Chops]

Interesting thread,,
I too do not believe we are anywhere near a level field, and this has seemed to be the case for quite some time. I remember discussions with my parents about how USA subsidise most of their farmers one way or another, making it impossible for us (Aus) to compete.
As well, having worked alongside a lot of Asians, the OS Govts may not own "lots" of our country (yet), but I can tell you that the individuals of these countries own heaps. Not only that, they send a fair portion of their cash "back home".
Their businesses are everywhere, and as such have taken over our own. We cant help but support them.
I'm all for buying Aus made, but when funds are tight, which for the majority of us is the norm, there's not much we can do. We probably all live well above our means because we want the "best" of everything, (my Puma :cool:) thus the cycle repeats itself :(

Somehow we need to do something so that the Govt will listen and "heed" our thoughts and worries, although I wouldn't really know where to start. So many things here seem unfair when it comes to farming/manufacturing and exporting etc. And the more the other countries buy into us, the harder it will become in the future.
We don't help ourselves in other ways either,, we buy the best farming land to build our houses on, close to the major cities, then the smaller farms cant compete, its just not economical to plough/crop small acres, or run a handful of sheep, they get even smaller, as in hobby farms, so they go by the wayside, (turn into horse agistment :angel::wasntme:) .
Essentially our own selfish ego's will be our demise.

[Chucaro]

China targets dairy industry (http://www.afr.com/p/national/china_targets_dairy_industry_NHncXIXLg4pJ5zC4BO0s0 L)

China’s giant sovereign wealth fund is looking to make its first significant investment in the Australian dairy industry, as it tries to lock up food *supplies for its growing middle class.

In a potential test case for foreign investment laws, China Investment Corp, which is estimated to have $US190 billion to invest outside its home market, sent four executives to Tasmania this month.

They inspected two large dairy operations in the state’s north which have a combined value of more than $200 million and significant capacity for expansion.

http://www.afr.com/rf/image/2009-2014/AFR/2012/09/23/Photos/cee04f2e-0562-11e2-8661-b87060ecc32b_24p08china.jpg