Originally Posted by JaneandJim

Yes, the postal system here is very efficient, but have you ever tried to post a letter with the wrong postage on (overpay) because those are the stamps you happen to have to hand? The people behind the counter won't let you! Oh no, that won't do, it has to be the correct amount.

Jane :)

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

Firstly, you've completely misinterepreted my use of the word "regulated." By "regulated", I don't mean "subject to regulations", but "privatised" - ie. run by the government. (The privatisation of Australia's domestic airlines was known as "deregulation" at the time.)

And if you think that all industries should be free to practice in any way that they please, all I can say is that I don't want to live in whatever universe you're currently inhabiting.

Re. "govt restricting the rights of international carriers to land in Aus" - so what? Is Australia the only nation which does this? I hardly think so.

In fact...
Source.

Re. "preferential treatment that Qantas has on landing slots" - again, so what? And does this occur at all Australian airports? I doubt it! (Incidentally, BA enjoys the unique privilege of 224 landing slots at Heathrow, granting it unrivalled preferential status.)

Re. "recent govt report stating that Qantas needed to be 'treated differently'" - what's all that about? Details, please.

Re. "the subsequent removal of Valuair's services to Perth":
Source.

What's that got to do with the government, pray tell? Oh, wait - I've just realised! It's because for some strange reason, you think that Qantas is "majority owned by the government." Exactly why you think this, I am at a loss to say. Perhaps you're still living in 1994, when this was actually true. :rolleyes:

BTW, Jetstar itself still flies between Perth and Melbourne.

Re. "Jetstar owned by Quantas, majority owned by - you guessed it - the government" - incredibly, you're claiming that Qantas is majority owned by the government?

The most appropriate response to this absurd accusation is "ROTFL!" :D :D

Yes, Jetstar is majority owned by Qantas, but Qantas is majority owned by foreign companies (46% at last count) of which the lion's share was previously owned by British Airways.

Contrary to popular (ignorant) opinion, Qantas has not been owned by the government in any way, shape or form since it was privatised by Paul Keating in 1995. I really wish that poeple like you would get their facts straight before sticking their feet in their mouths.

Or perhaps not, since it's so immensely entertaining. ;)

Ironically, Qantas' biggest foreign rivals are themselves part-owned by their home governments, and are kept afloat by massive amounts of government money. The UK encourages this practice by exempting airlines from fuel tax; the massive shortfall is made up by (yes, you guessed it) the long-suffering British taxpayer, known for his willingness to chip in a few bob whenever the government has cocked up its accounting (again) or simply doesn't want to pay for its own policies.

Re. energy - yes, there are laws regarding the establishment of energy-providing companies, just as you will find everywhere else in the Western world (including the UK.) Is this a problem?

Re. newspapers - same as above. Is this a problem too? (Incidentally, the British newspaper industry is dominated by three major players which share around 79% of the market. Food for thought.)

Re. Telstra - see BT. Can't believe you even threw that one in, but you were clearly desperate for "examples" so perhaps it's not so surprising.

"Enough examples"? No, because I was talking about privatisation, not government regulation of industries. And as we have seen, the situation in the UK is virtually identical (and in some cases worse) so where's the beef?

Don't even get me started again on your mistake about Qantas being "majority government owned"; that's just too hilarious for words.

Or would you rather I started a thread on the laughable mess of red tape which divides British bathrooms into four different zones and specifies precisely what may and may not be installed in each one?

An excerpt follows, because I simply can't resist the temptation:

• Zone 0 is the smallest rectangular volume that contains the bathtub, shower basin, etc.
  
  
• Zone 1 is the area above Zone 0, up to a height of 2.25 m above the floor.
  
  
• Zone 2 is the area above Zone 1 up to a height of 3 m, as well as the area that is horizontally within 0.6 m from Zone 1.
  
  
• Zone 3 is the area above Zone 2 up to a height of 3 m, as well as the area that is horizontally within 2.4 m from Zone 2.
  
  Within Zone 0, only SELV devices are permitted. Any AC transformer supplying such a device must be located outside Zones 0–2. The minimum required ingress protection rating in Zone 0 is IPX7 and IPX4 in Zone 1 and 2. If water jets are likely to occur, at least IPX5 is required in Zone 1–3. Otherwise, in Zone 3 and beyond, an ingress protection rating of IP20 is the minimum required. Equipment in Zone 1–3 must be protected by a 30 mA residual-current circuit breaker (except for shower pumps and shower heaters, where the use of an RCD is so far only recommended).

Did you get all of that, boys? Tucked it away for future reference, eh? Because you'll need to know it all when you eventually go back home... that and the other 52 pages of bathroom regulations... :D

BTW, according to Wikipedia, "The 2001 edition of the Wiring Regulations is more flexible now." If this is true, I shudder to think of the prehistoric conditions which must have prevailed in British bathrooms during the 20th Century.

Heck, in many cases, they still do - just look at all those ridiculous cord-pull switches.

It's like stepping into the Dark Ages. :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by jad n rich

SOURCESource

Source

source

source

source


Hell thats a good feature :D People will really believe everything I post now, it must be correct :D

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

You're getting there, mate; now all you need to do is add some hyperlinks to verifiable facts, and you'll have the makings of what might one day be a legitimate point. :)

Originally Posted by jad n rich

Vash has it ever occured to you, young australian men go to the UK to drink beer, shag women, party, live it up, travel all over europe, party, shag women, drink beer and live it up. Maybe you would enjoy the UK a bit more if you just got out now and again.

Originally Posted by jad n rich

Oh really I thought you just had to stick colourful sources on utter crap, righty ho then, will give it a go :D

Originally Posted by TanyaN

That's because you're at the counter you twit so obviously they're wonderiing why the hell you just didn't buy the correct stamp. Australia Post employees need to be paid twice as much if they're constantly having to deal with idiots like this.

Originally Posted by jad n rich

SOURCESource

Source

source

source

source


Hell thats a good feature :D People will really believe everything I post now, it must be correct :D

Originally Posted by TanyaN

That's because you're at the counter you twit so obviously they're wonderiing why the hell you just didn't buy the correct stamp. Australia Post employees need to be paid twice as much if they're constantly having to deal with idiots like this.

Originally Posted by arkon

Tomato Source

HP Source

BBQ Source

Horseradish Source

Getting the hang of this now....

And before some pickle headed Australian tells me I've spelt source wrong, I know!

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

Or would you rather I started a thread on the laughable mess of red tape which divides British bathrooms into four different zones and specifies precisely what may and may not be installed in each one?

An excerpt follows, because I simply can't resist the temptation:

• Zone 0 is the smallest rectangular volume that contains the bathtub, shower basin, etc.
  
  
• Zone 1 is the area above Zone 0, up to a height of 2.25 m above the floor.
  
  
• Zone 2 is the area above Zone 1 up to a height of 3 m, as well as the area that is horizontally within 0.6 m from Zone 1.
  
  
• Zone 3 is the area above Zone 2 up to a height of 3 m, as well as the area that is horizontally within 2.4 m from Zone 2.
  
  Within Zone 0, only SELV devices are permitted. Any AC transformer supplying such a device must be located outside Zones 0–2. The minimum required ingress protection rating in Zone 0 is IPX7 and IPX4 in Zone 1 and 2. If water jets are likely to occur, at least IPX5 is required in Zone 1–3. Otherwise, in Zone 3 and beyond, an ingress protection rating of IP20 is the minimum required. Equipment in Zone 1–3 must be protected by a 30 mA residual-current circuit breaker (except for shower pumps and shower heaters, where the use of an RCD is so far only recommended).

Did you get all of that, boys? Tucked it away for future reference, eh? Because you'll need to know it all when you eventually go back home... that and the other 52 pages of bathroom regulations... :D

BTW, according to Wikipedia, "The 2001 edition of the Wiring Regulations is more flexible now." If this is true, I shudder to think of the prehistoric conditions which must have prevailed in British bathrooms during the 20th Century.

Heck, in many cases, they still do - just look at all those ridiculous cord-pull switches.

It's like stepping into the Dark Ages. :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by TanyaN

You don't need to be a graduate to do an MBA. Like I said, pay the fees and that's enough. The only reason a lot of these major companies ask for it just means if you get the job they know you won't be slugging them for it down the road.

If Australians are so slack and you're so wonderful, why aren't employers snapping you up? Maybe because a lot of Aussies have worked in the UK and know how slack Brits can be.

Originally Posted by Grayling

Another 'touchy' Aussie :rolleyes:

G