tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919999228754406096.post7757770977079598921..comments2023-04-29T20:04:52.630+10:00Comments on Kelvin Thomson MP: Selling and Tolling Existing Roads Just StupidKelvin Thomson MPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14601295736691815153noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919999228754406096.post-23765084186999676332012-07-17T13:49:40.375+10:002012-07-17T13:49:40.375+10:00These galoots are still encouraging 1500 people a ...These galoots are still encouraging 1500 people a week into Melbourne. I look out the my window at Docklands onto the freeway which moves like an arctic glacier of a morning.<br />Gradually decrease population is the only way to solve the congestion problem.Dally Messenger IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01277863550314529684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919999228754406096.post-30357282484445832222012-07-17T13:30:58.969+10:002012-07-17T13:30:58.969+10:00The only reason that a private company is willing ...The only reason that a private company is willing to invest in a toll road is to make a profit which under general circumstances should be at least 7%/year above their cost base. Once they have the asset they will do everything in their power to make this return larger. For the taxpayer this will mean a short term gain with very long term, and increasing may I suggest, pain. Just have a look at Sydney airport. I cannot think of any win-win infrastructure sale.<br /><br />In order to alleviate traffic pressure in the city governments however could start charging congestion tax and use the money to provide low cost parking around the city with low cost public transport to the center.Peter Balmainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16378001675799012993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919999228754406096.post-43949039419944376442012-07-17T13:21:09.204+10:002012-07-17T13:21:09.204+10:00Kent, public debt in this country is not a problem...Kent, public debt in this country is not a problem. Net debt is expected to peak at 9.6 per cent of GDP compared with an average net debt position of 93 per cent of GDP for the major advanced economies. Even when you look at it as a gross figure it still comes in at 20 per cent of GDP. Japan, for example, has gross debt over 200 per cent of GDP. That's a problem!! Talk of unsustainable public debt in this country by the Liberal Opposition and media commentators is just naked fear-mongering. Commonwealth government bonds have a AAA credit rating and our ten-year bond is around 3 per cent. Spain and Italy have ten-year bonds over 7 per cent. Greece's is over 20 per cent!Miltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06351276432301385830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919999228754406096.post-26070213700677156062012-07-17T12:44:04.243+10:002012-07-17T12:44:04.243+10:00While Kelvin is the champion of the environment an...While Kelvin is the champion of the environment and of capping population and God bless him for that,he does not seem to realise all labors debts have to be repaid. We have to live within our means and so the pain starts now. I used to vote labor but I cant any more because of the inter generational debt Labor have created. I am not a member of any political party and live on a small pension and the carbon tax is going to raise costs way beyond the Gillard handout. That's why other governments have to sell the family jewels Kelvin.Kent Bayleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277762347598298707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919999228754406096.post-20615897535879222162012-07-17T12:43:03.675+10:002012-07-17T12:43:03.675+10:00While Kelvin is the champion of the environment an...While Kelvin is the champion of the environment and of capping population and God bless him for that,he does not seem to realise all labors debts have to be repaid. We have to live within our means and so the pain starts now. I used to vote labor but I cant any more because of the inter generational debt Labor have created. I am not a member of any political party and live on a small pension and the carbon tax is going to raise costs way beyond the Gillard handout. That's why other governments have to sell the family jewels Kelvin.Kent Bayleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277762347598298707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919999228754406096.post-23947725211889464952012-07-17T12:34:18.344+10:002012-07-17T12:34:18.344+10:00Tolling existing roads is not only stupid but an e...Tolling existing roads is not only stupid but an evil impost on people going about their lives. Since the State government seems to want and encourages unending population and traffic growth, they need to face the consequences. It is impossible for no-one to get hurt in the process.Oraclehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15053907628364518302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919999228754406096.post-73886130253209070682012-07-17T12:12:46.386+10:002012-07-17T12:12:46.386+10:00This idea (it is not new)is a continuation of the ...This idea (it is not new)is a continuation of the privatization mania which has afflicted both Labor and Liberal governments for years.<br />It is part of the neoliberal economic dogma which is causing so much havoc in the US,UK and the EU.<br /><br />Ultimately,infrastructure in Australia is a federal government responsibility.As the issuer of the currency they hold the purse strings.The federal government can afford to buy anything available for sale in Australia for Australian dollars.<br />If necessary infrastructure is not being built or adequately maintained then that is due to ideological not monetary or fiscal constraints.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com