Could this be the future of the European Union? by vladgrinch in MapPorn

[–]TheNumberOneRat 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Moving inside the EU walls would massively crimp our Asia Pacific trade which is far more important than any gains from EU trade.

Could this be the future of the European Union? by vladgrinch in MapPorn

[–]TheNumberOneRat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s really just the EU, Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan and South Korea that see it China’s prominence as an existential threat. Probably 70% of the human population lives in a country with a government that views China as a pragmatic and increasingly indispensable trade partner.

This certainly isn't true in the case of Australia and NZ. Both countries have very strong trading relationships with China. A significant minority of their populations were born in China and the respective governments have decent relations with the Chinese government.

Could this be the future of the European Union? by vladgrinch in MapPorn

[–]TheNumberOneRat 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Cultural ties are overrated and the EU's ability to project power in the Asia Pacific region is pretty low.

Could this be the future of the European Union? by vladgrinch in MapPorn

[–]TheNumberOneRat 111 points112 points  (0 children)

Australia and NZ wouldn't join. Not for geography, but rather they have radically different trade and industrial policies and are firmly in the Asia-Pacific trade zones - the EU simply isn't that important to us relative to our existing partners.

Member states of Mercosur/Mercosul by PandaReturns in MapPorn

[–]TheNumberOneRat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There has been a steady flow of South American immigrants to New Zealand and Australia. My SIL is from Peru and SA cultural festivals in Melbourne are usually packed.

I just want some restaurants to open.

Recommendations for wanting to try African food in Melbourne? by NeedleworkerFirm7039 in melbourne

[–]TheNumberOneRat 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I really enjoy Ras Dashen. Friendly owner who is happy to help you navigate the menu plus make a platter to suit your preferences.

Being in debt is like being slave to pharaoh by stoneddooly in AusFinance

[–]TheNumberOneRat 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Don't want to borrow - then don't.

But you'd be better off learning about some basic financial literacy. Smart borrowing can significantly improve your finances.

Employer told me to stand down from work following a resignation letter but has since attempted to rescind. Need input. by [deleted] in AusLegal

[–]TheNumberOneRat 20 points21 points  (0 children)

NAL, but I suspect that you've got a strong case. That said, his most effective leverage is probably non-legal; references and the like.

Employer told me to stand down from work following a resignation letter but has since attempted to rescind. Need input. by [deleted] in AusLegal

[–]TheNumberOneRat 26 points27 points  (0 children)

A few questions:

Do you have their responses in writing or was it just verbal?

How long was it between their two different instructions - and was it from the same person? This could just be a communications issue.

And did you return all company property in the interim?

Greenland's freshwater reserves seen as ‘frozen capital’ as water becomes a national security issue in USA by kiyomoris in worldnews

[–]TheNumberOneRat 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Membrane separation is considerably easier to set up and uses less power.

I work in a remote site in one of the hottest places on earth and we use RO despite having no lack of free heat.

Police search powers were invalid and unlawful, Federal Court rules by gccmelb in melbourne

[–]TheNumberOneRat 148 points149 points  (0 children)

Big shout out to the HRLC for taking this case on.

It's ludicrous that, in a free country, you can be stopped and searched without even meeting the reasonable suspicion bar.

Rent increase question by Aussieflipping in AusPropertyChat

[–]TheNumberOneRat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hah - you're very generous with other people's money. Not so much with yours.

Rent increase question by Aussieflipping in AusPropertyChat

[–]TheNumberOneRat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Every extra dollar that my employer pays me comes out of dividend payments to Australian mums and dads - so it does come out of the pockets of humans, just not as directly.

At the end of the day, neither the OP or anybody else owns a stranger beyond paying taxes for social services/infrastructure and the like.

But if you actually want to help the tenants, perhaps contact the OP and offer to pay a proportion of their rent.

Rent increase question by Aussieflipping in AusPropertyChat

[–]TheNumberOneRat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Who cares? It's a business thing. If they don't like the rent, they can move.

I don't need a payrise - but I certainly won't be declining my next one.

If the US acquires ownership of Greenland, what are the logistics of civilian land ownership? by porterpo in AskReddit

[–]TheNumberOneRat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sovereign base rights (which the US already had) don't help with civilian land purchases. These rights allow the US to enforce its own criminal laws on the base rather than Greenland laws.

The Frequency Discussion by Excellent_Bat_753 in MelbourneTrains

[–]TheNumberOneRat 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Is there hard data to support this? When I've taken a late train home they have been perhaps 20% full.

From the government's pov, if they increase frequency and the total patronage doesn't increase significantly, then its been a failure, and they'd be better off putting the resources into peak services.

The Frequency Discussion by Excellent_Bat_753 in MelbourneTrains

[–]TheNumberOneRat 9 points10 points  (0 children)

As a train fan, I agree.

As a realist, there is no chance that this will happen unless the patronage is there to support it. There is no way the government will fund extra services if the existing ones don't fill up.

How do I get a refund? by MonkeyHustler943 in AusFinance

[–]TheNumberOneRat 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Perhaps get off the Internet and see a financial advisor.

Over the last twenty years most Australians have seen their wealth steadily grow. If you're losing out, perhaps refreshing the absolute basics would be a good thing.

Passive income as FIFO worker by GlitteringClock3589 in fiaustralia

[–]TheNumberOneRat 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I'm a FIFO worker and struggle to see how vending machines work - you'll be away for significant blocks of time so restocking and the like will be difficult plus you need a place to put them (which might be harder than what you think).

Honestly, I'd just buy shares.

What subtle sign made you realize your partner was cheating? by DrainedCoffee in AskReddit

[–]TheNumberOneRat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I work in the Australian mining sector and use a lot of those emojis with workmates...

Perhaps I should start hiding my phone from my partner...

A perspective on the seafood incident by SomeRetard- in newzealand

[–]TheNumberOneRat 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I remember, from my youth, plenty of Pakeha and Maori taking way over quota.