1.Government’s Malaysia deal is off – for now.
The Federal Government has been forced to scrap its plans to process asylum seekers in Malaysia after it failed to get the numbers of support required for the deal to go ahead. The retreat came after crossbench MP Tony Crook – who vote was needed to get the bill through the lower house – said he will not support the government in its attempt to change the Migration Act.
What it means it that onshore processing will now become the norm and asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat will be given bridging visas, enabling them to live in the community and work while they wait for their claims to be processed. PM Julia Gillard says the Federal Government will continue to push for the Malaysia people-swap deal. And for the record, the government will still take 4000 refugees from Malaysia as initially negotiated.
2. Australia is the 13th happiest country in the world.
A ‘How’s Life?’ report for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development that measures well-being across the world has listed Australia as number 13 behind Denmark (1), Iceland (2) and the UK (9). The OECD asked people in its member countries to report whether they felt more positive than negative emotions in a typical day, and studied 11 aspects surrounding people’s overall well-being, including health, jobs, housing and work-life balance to come up with the findings. How are you feeling today?
3. US President Barack Obama will address Australian Parliament in November.
The US President will be in Australia from November 16-17 for a visit that will be “firmly focused on the future”, according to PM Gillard, and during that time he’ll address Federal Parliament. President Obama canceled his last two scheduled trips to Australia, so fingers crossed he makes it this time.
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Top Comments
Hi, what a week we have had, people worried because we now have a carbon tax (I say ye ha) and that Australia is far too expensive to live in, and now we have other people worried because people actually want to come and live here at a huge cost and at great personal risk.
Forgive me if I'm a little confused and then they say bring back little Johnny Howard give me a break the only thing worse than Johnny coming back would be the budgie smuggler himself Tony Abbott, it not a budgie in his red togs its a python ready to strangle the live out of the country and turn us into a fundamentalist catholic state.
Enough negativity I love my life and my country and frankly would not want to live anywhere else and if the Libs put Malcolm Turnbull in charge then the country my be even better.
Couldn't agree more!
Oh this comment I'm sure will go down well with many....I actualy miss the Howard days, not as many boats arrived back then.........
Gillard is an absolute joke as PM
Regardless of what political flavour anyone is, the bigger joke is how short and selective everyone's memory seems to be about Mr Rudd's lacklustre performance, and the fact that there is a growing number braying for Ms Gillard's head so as to reinstate him. The page may turn but the book is still the same.
Oh I SO agree! As much as I have trouble with Julia, I would much rather her over Kevin. The thought of having him back and his vainglorious demeanour makes me feel physically ill - argh!
Yes, please will you come back Howard, all is forgiven. Remember those days? - everything just kinda worked. Whereas now, it's one debacle after the next.
Except nobody would have said sorry. Thats enough for me to be happy Mr Howard is gone.