The Brits or the Australians?

Ignoring your blindingly obvious comment, the fact remains the Oz is a very low spender (as % of GDP) on R&D. And investment in R&D is usually correlated with long-term economic success. But, even if it wasn't (!), the fact remains, there are very few large Oz companies.

For all its self-congratulation, Oz has an economy smaller than the Netherlands, but with a larger population.

Want to do something? Oz wants to become the financial hub of the Pacific. Fat chance. So, bring down Oz taxes and wages. Do you want to break it to Johnny Howard or shall I?

In the 21st century, having a "militarily superior nation" is not a requirement to attack a country. Just recall 11/9/01.

Wrong. Aussies were deliberate targets.

Just check out http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...725719934.html and a host of other links.

No country was behind September 11. There's a difference between a terrorist attack by a group with a vested interest, and a military invasion by a sovereign country. No comparison is valid.

I don't remember mentioning that Indonesia would invade Oz : I stated you would have to be naive etc to state

Given the growing influence of Islamic fundamentalism, it doesn't take too much imagination to see that a more extreme government could govern Indonesia. And that in turn, could sponsor localised terrorist attacks. Just as Iran are claimed to do in Israel.

Oz might like to believe it is isolated from terrorist attacks. It isn't. NZ is a much lower risk and even they had a Greenpeace boat blown up by 2 French agents.

Finance goes to the open economy, not the cheap economy. Rule of law and transparency are what matters and compared to the neighbours Oz wins hands down on that.

And here is the other part of my post:
"I'm sure there are many businesses in Aus only too interested to know which higher value-added goods they could produce more profitably in Aus than elsewhere. Suggestions?" Answer: none - just waffle.

Netherlands, UK & Australia all have very similar GDP per capita - the differences are trivial in relation to exchange rate movements - as is your specious arguement. GDP (per capita)

I currently own 9 royalty generating patents resulting from personal private research so I think I have some knowledge on matters R&D and IP. Their biggest market: the USA. Where are most of the products made: the USA. Would it make financial sense to make them in Australia and ship to the USA: No. Why: the products are made from raw materials imported from Mongolia and manufactured in response to market demand - shipping manufactured product from Aus to the US would be too slow.

How many patents do you own? I searched the USPTO and found only two in/Stanton-Michael$ - neither look like your work. Also looked on eSpaceNet - anything of yours there?

Should we reduce the Aus tax take even further below the UK tax take?
Should we legislate to reduce demand for Australian labour so that wages fall below that of China?
Should we force our customers to take manufactured products rather than raw materials?

I'm looking for something useful - I doubt you have it.

Mike Stanton is a switched on accountant/management guru - I am sure he would not publish his real name on expats as his clients and competitors could find him here.

For a hot air-powered bean-counting machine?

Cost of capital is the crucial issue. "Rule of law and transparency" are necessary, but not sufficient conditions - transaction costs are increasingly important. Oz and NZ markets are very small by comparison with US, UK or Japan - but the costs of setting up financial infrastructures for trading and clearing are comparable. Oz and NZ should start by merging their stock exchanges and clearing houses. Or even better, take the lead and form an Asia-wide stock exchange with Singapore, Japan, Malaysia etc. But, lack of foresight means it's going to be a case of too little, too late. China is likely to smother them all.

HK will take a good proportion of china's finance. ASX should form deals with whoever wherever. Cost of capital is important and has been raised by Qantas as limiting factor because they can only raise money on the ASX. Still the changes needed for Sydney's finance industry to grow are minor as the basic institutions are there. Openess and transparancy are not there for China and one has to question HKs future commitment to the rule of law. Singapore and Malaysia also have the same issues which all add the the risk and cost of any transaction.

The main sticking point is Australia's weakening obsession with Aussie owned.

Lack of openess has always limited the Japanese finance industry despite the country having some of the worlds largest banks.

Back on the asylum issue.
our experience is that some not all asylum seekers tend not to intergrate, have the opinion that if you eat pork you are gay (this applies to both male and Female) .
My husband and I both work with asylum seekers and yes some do want to work,yet as with all races,creed and religions some do not.
We have found it difficult to find staff who will work alongside people who want to live in the u.k be paid and get the benefits of living in the u.k (healthcare etc) but are not prepared to compromise thier beliefs in any way.
We have been called racist because we havent been able to offer overtime , directors of the company have been threatend by means of arson and threats made towards thier children for laying staff off whom have been employed on seasonal contracts.
We have had to explain to fellow european's working on student visa's how after coming to the country legally, they have to leave now their visa has expired, where as assylum seekers can work indefinatly and have three chances of appeal, but have usually disapeared to another area by thier second appeal.
We some times think that political correctness has gone to far in the U.k.

Austrailia is firm regarding the issues of illegal entrants (the Dob in line) etc
after all if were as easy going as the U.K.you would not get all these postings regarding visa's . I find it a comfort when passing through passport control I am asked the reason of my visit etc.
(Jan 2003 Brisbane Airport, witnessed british passport holder of ethnic origin try to enter Australia to work without correct visa, had a letter offering a job ,but no idea where he was going or who he was going to see)

Your country has the right approach you should have basic skills and something to offer , after all a migrant (economic) is being offerd the chance to change their lifestyle.Its only fair that Australia should want to know who and what they are letting in.

It costs a lot of money to Migrate to Australia ,that in it self is a good clearing system and surely the Australian economic system should benefit from this rather then the poeple traffikers who cause so much pain and suffering.

for people to live in a mulicultural society, we must all be prepared to accept and be tollerant of each others beliefs .

Are you saying British migration deliberately lets in assylum seekers or that Australia does not consider assylum applications. Have you seen the non EU q at Heathrow? What is your knowledge of UK assylum and compared to Australian assylum regarding fees.

Your fellow European students I guess were from non EU countries.

Why did the ethnicity of the person at Brisbane customs matter?

Didn't think you had a sarcastic bone!

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