Forget lining gurus pockets, check this out!.

[markpatric]

Here`s a link to a free course with a lot of good info, totally free.

Ten lessons and a video.

http://www.success.org/re/10.shtml

 

[Michael Yardney]

Here`s a link to a free course with a lot of good info, totally free.

Ten lessons and a video.

http://www.success.org/re/10.shtml

This initially looked interesting, but how relevant is it to Australia?

I only skimmed through the first lesson and found this:

Master's Tip: In the real world, a contribution to political campaigns buys access. Example. Let's say you wish to convert a large house into apartments. The value of that property may differ significantly based on the number of units that you are permitted to create. In other words, permission to create six units may be worth a lot more than permission to create two units.

 

[Mr. Fabulous]

Well, if it's free and you pick up one good piece of info, where's the harm?

Mark

 

[MarkB]

This initially looked interesting, but how relevant is it to Australia?

I only skimmed through the first lesson and found this:

Master's Tip: In the real world, a contribution to political campaigns buys access. Example. Let's say you wish to convert a large house into apartments. The value of that property may differ significantly based on the number of units that you are permitted to create. In other words, permission to create six units may be worth a lot more than permission to create two units.

I think it is very relevant Micheal.

Whether we like it or not, this sort of stuff does happen both covertly (over the table political donations) and overtly (money filled paper bags in car lots).

But what else can we expect?

You have local government councillors earning maybe $15k per year making decisions on developments worth tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars to developers.

Tell me who has the bigger economic incentive there?


I'm not saying it's legal.

I'm not saying it's moral.


But, there is a clear incentive for the developers to throw $ at politicians.

There is also a clear incentive for the politicians to take the money.



Of course, many developers do not resort to such tactics, and many politicians don't either - but it does happen.


Mark


ps. You need only look at at what happened to Tweed Shire Council

 

[geoffw]

I agree that it can, and probably does, happen here. But I don't agree that it's right to advocate that people do. Any property promoter in Australia would Henry Kayed if he advocated this here- but as it's being advocated in the US, nothing can be done.

 

[MarkB]

I agree that it can, and probably does, happen here. But I don't agree that it's right to advocate that people do. Any property promoter in Australia would Henry Kayed if he advocated this here- but as it's being advocated in the US, nothing can be done.

I agree when it comes to the illegal stuff, but do you care to show me where making above-the-table political donations is illegal in Australia?

As far as I know, any person or entity can make donations to any political party. Donations over a certain amount (I think it is about $500 or so) must be declared publicly.

If I were a developer with deep pockets and I saw fit to donate $1 million dollars to a particular politician or party then, call me greedy but, I'd expect a "thank you" phone call from the leader of that party.

Now if that donation does in fact buy me a new best friend, I'm not breaking any laws.

Mark


ps. A a predominantly residential property investor forum, I have always felt that we tend to see the government as some big hairy animal that growls when it wants to and we do our best to keep one step ahead of it so that we dont become its next meal.

With all due respect to us, we are pretty low on what I like to call the property food chain.

Persons who develop land and/or buildings are higher on the food chain. And the bigger their developments the higher they are on that chain. Such persons, by way of money, power and influence, do have access to major policians and, covertly at least, they do play a role in shaping policies.

That's not illegal, that's just business and life.

 

[Peter Parker]

I agree when it comes to the illegal stuff, but do you care to show me where making above-the-table political donations is illegal in Australia?

As far as I know, any person or entity can make donations to any political party. Donations over a certain amount (I think it is about $500 or so) must be declared publicly.

Yep. Apparently the limit is currently $1500, but a government-controlled parliamentary committee wants to increase it to $10 000.

Also they want tax deductibility for donations to increase 20 fold from $100 to $2000, and for it to apply to companies. As if they don't already get enough, that's more of our tax dollars to prop up the parties!

http://www.pollbludger.com/archives/295

http://margokingston.typepad.com/harry_version_2/2005/11/the_rules_of_th.html

http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/fiddling-the-ballot-books/2005/11/02/1130823280514.html

If I were a developer with deep pockets and I saw fit to donate $1 million dollars to a particular politician or party then, call me greedy but, I'd expect a "thank you" phone call from the leader of that party.

If you only got that, consider yourself short-changed!

Political parties (both sides) typically hold 'fundraising dinners' where attendees pay (say) $1000 each. Leaders and other senior people are in attendance, which gives you 'access' to the people that matter (a bit like guru investment seminars, but in this case it's the attendees who have the dough).

The diminishing number of 'Joe Average' party members generally don't get invited to these things; they're really only good for handing out how to vote cards at elections, letterboxing and for numbers in stacking branches.

Another trick is to set up little front groups and/or seperate slush funds. This is so politicians can get around disclosure regulations that apply to registered political parties. Tony Abbott (aka 'Australians for Honest Politics') apparently knows a bit about this:

http://crikey.com.au////articles/2004/12/30-0002.html

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/02/1062403506222.html

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/31/1062268457439.html

http://www.tonyabbott.com.au/dailytele.html

Peter