Shock absorbers

Agreed. It won't last long, they're hardly ever there.

Remember they are your elected representatives. They only came to Canberra to show they care for their constituants (YOU).
Yes I am from Canberra and we only have 2 representatives in the big house.

Gary I dont know where you get such strange ideas. They are there because they had the financial resources and networking to get the selection, preferences and votes. That trail almost always involves more deals than you can poke a stick at.

In general they don't give a rats for anyone but themselves, otherwise why would they raise their salaries at percentages far above the ability of their beloved constituants to do so? Why would they lie every time they open their mouths? An honest polly is a contradiction of terms. I've never known a competant ex polly to be unemployed. And there's a very good reason why that is.

And let's face it, the majority of voters voted for them. But that majority may be 51%. So the other 49% didn't vote for them.
Our beloved Govt is a coalition. In other words the majority of voters didnt vote for either of the parties.

I'm afraid that anyone who swallows the feel good guff from their spin doctors deserves every bit of legislation that they pass.

LOL, Gary I hope you're just taking the pi.. otherwise I think you had better get back on your medication.

"They only came to Canberra to show they care for their constituants (YOU)." Give me a break.

Hey guys
easy
Gramps
you are right they are never here. last count they are here for 22 out of 52 weeks. The only medication I need is a nice beutiful night under the stars and a good camp fire and a drop of port to go with it.
Footloose
I dont care if they get 50.1% (after preferences) or 99.9%. They are still the elected representatives of each Australian.
The point I was trying to make is that a percentage of Australians put
sh*t on Canberra, when as a resident for the best part of 48 years I get really cranky with they way some of my country men/women blame Canberra for the ills of the the nation, when it is the elected representatives of all Austarlians that decide on our future direction. Would you do the same if the Federal Parliament was in your city? I do agree with you footloose that there are a portion (large or otherwise) of those that are there for there own self gratification and could not give a rats about those that did/did not vote for them.
I am just protecting the city that I happen to have grown up in. It only takes a drive of 20 minutes to be up in the beautiful Brindabellas that surround Canberra or a max of 2 hours and I am in some of natures most incredible places along the south coast, high country or if i head west then i can be almost in the back of beyond. I am one of you guys, a 4by owner, and cant abide the way we are being locked out of some of the most fascinating parts of australia. I value the the advice I read in the forum and enjoy the commentry that comes along with it but like you am voicing my opinion.

Gary,

As you may have guessed, I have no time for politicians of any persuasion. As Footloose put it "they lie every time they open their mouths". Unfortunately they are a necessary evil in our society. That does'nt mean I have to respect them. I quite like Canberra actually. It's just the scumbags on the hill I can't stand.

Where do I get a prescription for your medication? I am sure it would do me a world of good as well ;-)