Now to 2015

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 1/9/2011
Now to 2015
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

On the negatives, this is what will happen:

1. Gillard will step down;
2. Early election before next budget when Australia's financial blackhole will experience massive blowout;
3. Bob Brown will stay but the rest of The Greens will be pulverised;
4. Rudd will return as leader of opposition;
5. Housing downturn will continue until March/April 2013;
6. Official unemployment rate will reach 6.5%, but unofficial should be around 18%.
7. Many online shoppers will get badly burnt by cheats and unethical traders;
8. Online shopping sourced from overseas will be subjected to GST plus a new tax called custom handling tax.

Will Australians learn a lesson? Many will but some will still live in la-la land.

On the positives:

1. Both Upper and Lower Houses will be back in control of one Party;
2. There will less talk and more action to "move" Australia forward;
3. More satellite surveillance will be deployed for international water border control to curb illegal boats coming;
4. Boat people and asylum seekers when accepted to remain in Australia will be duty-bound for a fixed term to develop Christmas Island or similar places. This is not dissimilar to many immigrants to Australia who have work in country towns;
5. Reform and revitalise international education industry worth $18b just prior to sudden collapse in July 2010;
6. Reform higher education to ensure the degrees / certificates are up-to-scratch;
7. Sale of productive farm land to overseas investors will stop;
8. Coal seam gas production will not proceed;
9. Provide more research grant on combining carbon dioxide and salt;
10. Work towards a balanced model for primary industry, secondary industry and tertiary industry;
11. Savings will become a norm;
12. People are more cautious in spending including choosing among home-cook meals, frozen food, dine-out and takeaway foods.