WAR ON TERROR COSTINGS. |
Sunday November 10, 05:53 PM
Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill said he had put costings to fund the war on terror to the federal government.
He declined to reveal his costings and would not speculate on a war tax but said Australia's increasing involvement would have to be paid for.
Speculation has been mounting whether the current three per cent annual defence spending increase would be anywhere near enough to cover defence projections.
"You can estimate on the basis of what's been our cost to date of operations, and how much that will cost," Senator Hill told Channel 10.
"But in terms of increasing capability that's necessary to meet this much, much more complex strategic environment, I've put some figures to the government but it would be obviously inappropriate for me to repeat them."
Asked about the potential for $1 billion having to be raised quickly, Senator Hill said it was not his place to speculate on taxes.
"But we will need to fund the ongoing operations," he said.
Mmmmm, I think it was the very same great and powerful Dubbya for whom we are going in to bat, who put increased tariffs on Australian wheat, beef and steel. If we humble, ever so humble, ever so ingratiating Australians were able to sell our exports into the USA at a half decent price then our beloved government would be awash with the readies to underpin this noble high principled crusade. The Minister might then find the appropriateness to inform the Australian people about the magnitude of the inevitable war tax.
"He declined to reveal his costings and would not speculate on a war tax but said Australia's increasing involvement would have to be paid for."
Well he can't say I'm not doing my bit. So far I've run 3 chook raffles down at our local, the missus has been knitting socks for our boys at the Front like Madame de Farge up to her yeux balls on speed and I've been putting out at $20 a pop (plus tips) at the public dunny in Strathmore Park. I can tell you that the word has gotten about pretty damn quickly. Our local member was first in the queue, and I was gobsmacked at how many of the Government ministers were so generous with their tips. On the other hand, and you can't have too many of them in this line of
