Education revolution falls at the first hurdle

It has always been hard to ignore the fact that federal government funding of non–government schools comes at the expense of our public schools and the new My School financial info confirms this. Take two Lismore high schools with the same postcode – one receives a grand total of $6,917 in federal funding per student and the other receives $1,467 per student from the same source. No prize for guessing which is the public secondary school with a higher number of disadvantaged students and which is the school backed by a wealthy religious organisation.

Will

Lismore

Looking back on a little alleged slander, defamation and libel

With so much abuse being hurled both inside and outside Federal Parliament these day, I thought I would take a wander through Pandora’s Trove to see how matters stood in the past with regards to civility, political or otherwise.

I uncovered these little snippets in Australian newspapers of yore………

'SLANDER' FEBRUARY 1844
The disgraceful encouragement to slander which prevails in this colony, is much more publicly injurious than it is supposed to be. That it is privately so (of course with certain exceptions; as for example that before us, for Mr. Lowe’s well-known independence 'fortunately places him beyond the reach of its baneful influence) is obvious. What “confidence" in each other can exist in any community where encouragement to the most slanderous reports of each other ' exists’ by the whispering away reputation in the first instance, and when the poison has been sufficiently privately administered [powerful….] then by certain portion of the Press has been mainly instrumental in this deadly evil, we regret to be compelled to acknowledge. When an individual to be assassinated is beyond the reach of personal slander, his circumstances or some other means of injury are assailed. The atrocious abuse of all connected with the Press who have attempted to check this detestable mode of warfare, and the great avowal that any newspaper writer who dared to oppose the opinions of others, or of their friends, was to be subjected to every unmanly abuse, has certainly in a great degree led to this. Argument not being met by reply but by slander, the most base and cowardly, of the writer either known or supposed - a system which if even thought of in England would have produced general execration the writer, not the writing, being the object of assault - has rendered personality the only mode of newspaper warfare. Yet when those with whom so diabolical a course originated are themselves subjected to their own course of practice, how loudly do they exclaim against what, as respects them, is only fair retaliation - only applying their own practice to themselves. It is this method of meeting argument by stabbing the arguer - of silencing an opponent, by destroying him either in his reputation or his circumstances - it is this exhibition of highly sublimed malice which has rendered a residence in Van Diemen's Land hateful in the eyes of the whole civilised world. We know that even in China our colony is viewed as an abode unfit for even commonly civilised man, owing to the ruffian system of personal abuse which a portion, happily certainly only a portion, of its periodical press has exhibited. But it is not to the Press alone that this ferocity of slander is confined. In street conversation, should any individual have unfortunately adopted opinions adverse to those of another, "rascal," " scoundrel," " villain," are gentle terms in comparison to those with which he is assailed. Woe to him who dares to question the claims to virgin purity of those who thus assail an opponent. As the malice engendered is without limit, so also is the method of effecting its detestable purpose. Unhappily the appetite for slander increases as it is fed. It is an ordinary question put to individuals connected with newspapers, "Have you anything ‘spicy ' to-day ?" meaning have you assailed private character - have you committed any moral murder ? Is it not the reproach of daily occurrence, " Your news-paper is too tame for me : I understand there is some delightful " spice " in the _________ of to-morrow : that's the paper for me !" This is a frightful exhibition of the morbid appetite for slander, which renders the colony a pandemonium - an abode unfitting for any but the malicious and the reckless!-Murray's Review.

Slander Gang JULY 1921
The grab, spout and slander gang are waking up to the fact that their vile methods have disgusted fair-minded residents. But like the rattle-snake, and particularly that artful dodger, the hoop-snake, that takes its tail in its mouth and rolls along to reach its intended victim, the gang's venom is so impetuous that they cannot stop themselves. With the lie on their tongues, and the " muck- rake '' in their hands, they roll on to their ignoble doom, which, happily is now not far off. In impotent rage, after innumerable vain tilts with their swelled but brainless heads against the wind- mill of truth and fact, they insult and belie all and sundry, including the three hundred petitioners for an adjustment of the trouble the gang has aggravated. Those whom the gods wish to destroy, etc

DEFAMATION AND LIBEL SEPTEMBER 1927
ALLEGATIONS BY MR. WILLIS
MR. MINAHAN'S STATEMENTS RESENTED
Charges against an unnamed New South Wales Cabinet Minister of having solicited a bribe, have been resented by Mr. A. C. Willis, and writs for defamation and libel, claiming £20,000 damages have been issued.
Sydney, September 19. Mr. A. C. Willis, vice-president of the Executive Council, instructed his solicitors to-day to issue a writ for £10,000 for alleged defamation, against Mr. P. J.Minahan, M.L.A. and another for £10,000 again Smith's Newspapers Ltd. for alleged libel. The writs were issued this afternoon. Mr. Willis stated that he observed that Mr. Minahan had made a charge against a member of past and present Cabinets of soliciting a bribe from the Wine and Spirit Growers’ Defence Association. As he was the only member of both Cabinets, apart from the Premier, and as the paper which published Mr. Minahan's charges referred to the unnamed Minister as a colleague of Mr. Lang, the charge, he alleged, was obviously aimed at him. There was only one answer to such an accusation, and he had therefore instructed writs to be issued.

DOCTOR VERSUS PRIEST MARCH 1931
LIBEL AND SLANDER ACTIONS
JURY'S VERDICT
Sydney. Feb. 25. The hearing was concluded to-day: by Mr. Justice Davidson and a jury of four. of the action brought. By Hereward Leighton Kesteven, of Bulladeah, against. John Patrick Kelly, priest of the Roman Catholic Church, to recover £200 as damages for libel and slander. The jury, after an absence of 5 minutes, returned a verdict for the defendant on the counts alleging libel in the letters written by the priest to his parishioner, Mrs. Hickey, and to the plaintiff solicitors. On the count alleging slander by the priest in a statement from the altar, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £100…….

SLANDER AND LIBEL MAY 1931
FASCIST LEADER IMPRISONED
BERLIN April 30. The Nazi (Fascist) Leader, Dr. Joseph Goebbels, failed to appear for trial to-day on seven charges of having slandered the police. He was sentenced to a month's imprisonment and fined £80, with a further fine of £50 for having libelled the German Administration.

"A SCURRILOUS SLANDER" NOVEMBER 1936
American Libel of Anzacs
MELBOURNE, Friday; Mention at the federal congress of R.S.S.I.L.A. at Adelaide yesterday of an article in the American magazine "Liberty," asserting that the Anzacs were sent to Gallipoli as punishment for conduct in Cairo, has excited 'wide spread resentment. Extracts were read to the congress by the federal president (Sir Gilbert Dyett) from a copy of the magazine, forwarded to Adelaide by Mr. N. A. Kelly, night editor of the Vancouver "Daily Province," himself an Anzac veteran, who has already protested from Vancouver to the editors of the magazine. The article is headed "Legion of Lost Souls," and is attributed to Captain W. J. Black ledge, who has written a number of articles in the magazine dealing, among other war incidents, with the siege of Kut el Amara and post-war Indiao. frontier campaigns. Black ledge claims to have obtained his facts regarding Gallipoli from "the deeply-engraved memories of Digger Craven, an Australian trooper." Quoting his informant, the writer says: "The men of the Anzac Corps were convinced that their presence on Gallipoli was the result of their behaviour in Egypt. I never met an Australian or New Zealander who did not hold that conviction." The article also gives a highly-coloured version of the Gallipoli landing. In revealing the contents of the article to congress Sir Gilbert Dyett re marked that everyone in Australia would realise that the statements were more than ridiculous, but people in other countries might be misled.
Cosen for Efficiency
CANBERRA, Friday. "A scurrilous slander on the men of the A.I.F.," was Sir George Pearce's comment to-day, when emphatically repudiating the report published in the American journal "Liberty" that the Australian troops were sent to Gallipoli as punishment for lack of discipline in Egypt. Sir George, who was Australia's Minister for Defence during the Great War, said high efficiency was revealed by the Australian forces during their training in Egypt, and accordingly they were selected for [inclusion] in the Gallipoli campaign.
"Too Foolish"
SYDNEY, Friday. Dr. C. E. Bean, the war historian, said to-day that Captain Blackledge's story was too foolish to merit comment. He considered that not one in each million American inhabitants would be really misled by such stories.

Fitz File Gems ... well said, Peter FitzSimons

PERFECT 10

TFF heard a nice yarn this week about a young girl, Pacha Luque-Light, dancing in front of a sign saying ''BUSKING FOR A BOARD'' at the Roxy Pro surfing event on the Gold Coast last Sunday. It was the day before her 10th birthday, and a surfboard was what she wanted … so she started dancing up a storm to the music coming from the portable CD player she had brought along for the occasion, while her proud mother watched on. People stopped, watched and started putting some coins in the old grey felt hat she had by the sign. The sun shone, the people smiled and Pacha danced. And then along came the 18-year-old North Narrabeen pro surfer Laura Enever, who not only stopped, but started dancing with her, as all the people smiled some more, before the pro surfer suddenly disappeared. She returned a short time later with one of her back-up surfboards, which she gave to the young girl. Using an indelible marker, she wrote these words on the board: "To Dear Pacha, You're the most amazing dancer EVER. Now have some fun in the surf. Laura Enever." In the words of her mother, "What a beautiful life lesson about kindness and generosity and spontaneity …" Precisely. Pacha has been on the board every day after school since, and if that isn't the best story in Australian sport this week, I don't know what is.

WHAT THEY SAID
Aaron Baddeley, after fire engulfed his parents' house, tweeted: "2 min to get out 2 rooms were untouched! fam photos and my golf room with memorabilia! Amazed by God's protection 22 years of memories there." Good old God. A pity he couldn't stop the Christchurch earthquake though, what while saving your photos?

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, 5/3/2011

When political discourse goes bad an Australian MP 'dies' for almost two hours

If the Federal Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor, has upset some voters by supporting Labor as a minority federal government after the August 2010 general election – then he has obviously also enraged others by being part of the committee which brought forth the carbon price mechanism proposal recently announced by the Gillard Government.

Below is but one example of the ire created by public political discourse to date.

At 1.24am on 4 March 2011 someone calling themselves Enidblyton11 edited a Wikipedia unauthorised biography page for the Independent Member for New England to read:

Antony Harold Curties "Tony" Windsor (2 September 1950 - 4 March 2011), an Australian politician, was the independent member of the House of Representatives since 2001, representing the Division of New England, New South Wales. Prior to his election to the federal parliament, Windsor was an independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1991 to 2001, representing the electoral district of Tamworth. He became the first federal political to be assasinated in Australian history.^[1][2]

A later edit at 1.47am added the assassination claim in the page sidebar.

At 1.50am the claim on Wikipedia was added to in this manner:

He became the first federal political to be assasinated in Australian history (Yes Ray Hadley It's a hack, Just so you know, Wikipedia's articles are open to editing by the user, and is the nature of Wikipedia itself) .^[1][2]

The last attempt to keep the political assassination claim alive on Wikipedia occurred around 2.33am and was finally removed by another around 3.02am.

Enidblyton11 had also added the claim to 2011 Australia where it survived until 3.10am.

At 4.41am Enidblyton11 stated that his account was hacked in order to perpetrate this startling and malicious hoax, however at least one other Wikipedia editor has disputed that assertion.

By 4pm Tony Windsor was being reported as stating that he is referring the matter to the Australian Federal Police.

A lesson from Communications 101

Sick of waiting in the far queue (repeat those last two words quickly a few times and you'll know what I mean)?

Have you contacted a company such as a telco and been put in a queue that's a mile and a half long, which tells you in no uncertain terms that your time isn't as important as theirs?

Well, here are a few words of advice about how to advance your cause and jump the queue.

If there's one thing companies hate to hear it's, "I'm going to close my account". So, next time you contact a company by phone and you're facing the prospect of waiting a month of Sundays before someone reckons you're worthy of their attention and you're heading for the place colloquially referred to as its far queue don't dilly-dally when the computerised voice starts asking questions about the reason for your call. Instead, utter "Close my account", "Billing", "Telecommunication Ombudsman", or something along those lines. You'll be pleasantly surprised how quickly your call jumps the queue and you've short-circuited their "waiting game".

Similarly, when contacting a section of the media and you want nothing less than very prompt attention, simply say these two words, "M*d*a W*t*h". (Note, to be fair to the ABC's Jonathan Holmes, the even-numbered letters have been deleted.)

Bloggers now covered by shield laws in Australia?

From Senator Scott Ludlam on 3 March 2011:

The Australian Greens welcomed the passage of new shield laws for journalists and whistleblowers through the Senate today.

The Greens shadow spokesperson for Communications, Senator Scott Ludlam, successfully secured amendments to the bill to afford the protection of the shield laws to citizen-journalists, bloggers and independent media organisations as well as news professionals from the mainstream media.

"Effective shield laws for journalists and public service whistle-blowers act as an encouragement to vigilance and integrity," said Senator Ludlam. "If journalists cannot protect their sources, we will not have people coming forward to expose wrong-doing and abuses of power."

The amendments to the EVIDENCE AMENDMENT (JOURNALISTS' PRIVILEGE) BILL 2010 of which the senator speaks are as follows:

(2) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (lines 13 and 14), omit “in
the normal course of that person’s work”, substitute “is
engaged and active in the publication of news”.
(3) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (line 17), omit “a medium”,
substitute “any medium”.

One has to wonder if Scott Ludlum is being a trifle optimistic with regard to how the courts may view these clauses and just how far they may protect bloggers.

Quote of the day on scientific whaling

The Institute for Cetacean Research in Japan, despite its unflagging efforts, has never told us a thing about the whale apart from that it tastes good with a dab of wasabi. Undaunted, that venerable institute's research continues.
(Anson Cameron at ABC The Drum)

Who knew the water raiders had a chapter so close to home?

Regional Development Australia (Mid North Coast) is according to its own website; an Australian Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to enhance the growth and development of regional Australia. To find out more please download the PDF here. The Mid North Coast covers the local government areas of Greater Taree, Port Macquarie Hastings, Kempsey, Nambucca, Bellingen and Coffs Harbour……
With our high, regular rainfall on the Mid North Coast, conditions suit many irrigated agricultural crops currently grown in the Murray-Darling Basin, including fruit and nuts, (grapes, citrus, stone fruits, tomatoes), vegetables (peas, green beans, cabbages, cauliflowers, pumpkins, onions, asparagus and potatoes), cut flowers, cultivated turf and hay production. Opportunities also exist for relocation of dairy and beef cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, goats, deer, bees, ostriches, alpacas and horses…
Much work has already been done in initiatives to improve water quality and capacity here…..

Presumably RDA Mid North Coast is a not for profit community-based organisation auspiced by the Federal Government.

What is fascinating about this entity is that it made a submission to the House Standing Committee for Regional Australia INQUIRY INTO THE PROPOSED MURRAY‐DARLING BASIN PLAN endorsing intensive farming practices which also stated; We believe members of the Murray-Darling Basin communities who are unable to sustain high irrigation farming practices in their locality may benefit from relocating to the Mid North Coast and being able to continue their farming practices, and provide skills and an increased agricultural base in the Mid North Coast.

Small problem with this generous offer though – irrigation farming requires water and under the NSW Water Management Act 2000 there are existing extraction limits set for most water sources in coastal regions.

Additionally, one local government area covered by RDA Mid North Coast relies heavily on interbasin water transfer to survive and, this water comes from the Clarence River catchment.

It seems the more the Clarence Valley attempts to honour an historical link with Coffs Harbour, the more that area is likely to demand as a 'right'.

What part of the Not A Drop campaign to stop water raids on the Clarence River and its tributaries doesn't this merry band of board members understand?

Liberal Senator Mary Jo Fisher embarasses both herself and The Rocky Horror Show

Watching the Liberal Party of Australia unravel under the inept leadership of the Hon. Tony Abbott has an awful fascination.
Nevermore so than in this excruciating video of 2 March 2011 - that "tits on a bull" comment combined with a "pelvic thrust" for the camera exposed Mary Jo Fisher in a way she must later regret.
Didn't her staff manage to medicate her that morning?

The 'tax' word doesn't have to hold us back from commencing a serious discussion about carbon pricing

With Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and his merry band of hysterics literally frothing at the mouth over the carbon pricing proposal (announced by the Gillard Government on 24 February 2011) and seeking to distort any legitimate debate, perhaps it is time average Australians wrested back control from those conservative prima donnas now prancing across the nations television screens shouting various versions of “L.I.E. Tax!”

One of the first ways to do this is to look again at the information which is at hand.

Cast your mind back to those media reports prior to the August 2010 federal election which clearly show that the Gillard Government had let the electorate know its thinking on establishing a carbon price in 2012 and, recall the fact that in December 2010 the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet was reported as having; sent a strong signal the federal government is considering implementing a fixed carbon price, followed by a fully fledged emissions trading scheme, to solve the political impasse. Mr Combet said while the government had not formed its final position on carbon pricing, a fixed-price start could defer the divisive debate on emissions reduction targets, but ensure short-term investment certainty for business.

Then go to the MULTI-PARTY CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE created in the wake of the last federal election.

Membership of this committee comprises:Prime Minister Gillard (Chair), Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan, Minister for Climate Change & Energy Efficiency Greg Combet, Senator Christine Milne (Deputy Chair), Senator Bob Brown, Tony Windsor MP, Rob Oakeshott MP. Assisted by Adam Bandt MP and Mark Dreyfus MP, with Professor Ross Garnaut, Professor Will Steffen, Rod Sims and Ms Patricia Faulkner acting as advisors.

Opposition MPs are noticeable by their absence from this committee because the invitation to join was firmly rejected by Tony Abbott in 2010.

The Committee’s stated operating principles for creation of a carbon price mechanism are:

1. Environmental effectiveness: The mechanism should be capable of delivering reductions in carbon pollution that are informed by the climate science, to ensure that Australia contributes to the global mitigation task and to help transform our economy by driving investment and innovation in clean energy and low emissions technologies and processes.
2. Economic efficiency: A mechanism to price carbon should harness the most cost-effective pollution reduction options and facilitate informed and efficient investment decisions. It should also minimise costs of our pollution reduction to the economy as a whole and be consistent with Australia’s broader economic reform agenda.
3. Budget neutrality: The overall package of a carbon price mechanism and associated assistance measures should be budget-neutral. This does not preclude other measures to address climate change being funded from the Budget, consistent with the Government’s fiscal strategy.
4. Competitiveness of Australian industries: The overall package of carbon price design and associated assistance measures should take appropriate account of impacts on the competitiveness of all Australian industries, having regard to carbon prices in other countries, while maintaining incentives to reduce pollution.
5. Energy security: Introduction of the carbon price should be accompanied by measures that are necessary for maintaining energy security.
6. Investment certainty: A mechanism to price carbon should provide businesses with the confidence needed to undertake long-term investments in low emissions technology and infrastructure, which will reduce costs for households and businesses in the long-term. It should keep our industries at the forefront of the research, development and deployment of new clean technologies, attracting global investment flows and creating new jobs.
7. Fairness: The introduction of a carbon price will affect Australian households and communities. Assistance should be provided to those households and communities most needing help to adjust to a carbon price, while striving to maintain incentives to change behaviour and reduce pollution.
8. Flexibility: Internationally, climate change policy is continuing to evolve. A mechanism to price carbon should be sufficiently flexible to respond to changing international circumstances, including improvements in international accounting rules, developments in climate change science, and tangible international action to deliver an effective global solution.
9. Administrative simplicity: A mechanism to price carbon should be designed with a view to minimising both compliance costs and implementation risks.
10. Clear accountabilities: A mechanism with transparent scheme rules and clear accountabilities will help promote business and community confidence in carbon pricing.
11. Supports Australia’s international objectives and obligations: An effective global solution requires action from all major emitters to limit the global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees. A carbon price mechanism should support the goal of promoting international action to deliver an effective global solution, and be consistent with Australia’s foreign policy and trade objectives.

The Multi-party Climate Change Committee webpage contains a history of how this particular carbon pricing mechanism proposal actually came about:

• Meeting 4 - 18 February 2011: Communiqué—18 February 2011
• Meeting 3 - 21 December 2010: Communiqué—21 December 2010
• Meeting 2 – 10 November 2010: Communiqué—10 November 2010
• Meeting 1 – 7 October 2010: Communiqué—07 October 2010
• Establishment of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee—27 September 2010: Prime Minister establishes climate change committee

Papers have been released by the Committee since November 2010 and on 24 February 2011 it invited members of the public and interested parties to provide input on this approach via an email to: MPCCC@climatechange.gov.au, or by letter to The Multi-Party Climate Change Committee Secretariat, GPO Box 854, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

Despite the accusations about specific cost of living increases being thrown about by Opposition MPs; To date no final decisions have been taken about the design of a carbon price or its associated features including assistance packages for households and industry.

However the general proposal is clearly outlined by the Committee:

…….a proposed carbon price mechanism that has been discussed by members of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee (MPCCC). The proposal has been agreed by the Government and Greens members of the Committee. Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott have agreed that the proposal be released to enable consideration by the community and to demonstrate the progress that has been made.

The MPCCC has discussed a number of different ways in which a carbon price could be introduced into the economy and the advantages and disadvantages of each. This paper outlines the result of that discussion.

The proposal focuses on the high level architecture, start date, potential mechanisms to allow flexibility to move to emissions trading, sectoral coverage and international linking arrangements.

Further detailed discussions will be required in relation a starting price for the carbon price mechanism, and in relation to the associated assistance arrangements for households, communities and industry, and support for low emissions technology and innovation.

The outlined architecture also allows for consideration of other design options such as phased coverage of sectors over time and coverage of the electricity sector via an intensity-based allocation scheme.

Broad architecture of the carbon price mechanism

A carbon price mechanism could commence with a fixed price (through the issuance of fixed price units within an emissions trading scheme) before converting to a cap-and-trade emissions trading scheme, with the following broad architecture.

Start date

The mechanism could commence as early as 1 July 2012, subject to the ability to negotiate agreement with a majority in both houses of Parliament and pass legislation this year.

Length of fixed price period

The fixed price phase could be of between three and five years, with the price increasing annually at a pre-determined rate. The initial fixed price could begin to drive economic transformation and investment in low emission technologies, and ensure greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Transition arrangements

At the end of the fixed price period, the clear intent would be that the scheme convert to a flexible price cap-and-trade emissions trading scheme. In relation to the transition to a flexible price, it would be important to design the arrangements so as to promote business certainty and a smooth transition from the fixed to flexible price……………….

The full version of this document can be downloaded as:

• Multi-Party Climate Change Committee - Carbon Price Mechanism (RTF 83Kb)
• Multi-Party Climate Change Committee - Carbon Price Mechanism (PDF 135Kb)

In the last few days an unlikely duo, Joe Hockey and Gretel Killeen, have independently complained that this ‘tax’ has been sprung unannounced on an unwitting population reeling from domestic natural disasters and international political unrest and that this was unfair – presumably because they both consider that a national government should not continue with policy implementation whenever communities are rebuilding or news is bad somewhere in the world.

Indeed on the ABC’s Q&A on 28 February Killeen waxed poetic on the subject in a manner which demonstrated that she had probably not investigated the issue beyond a quick look at the mainstream media or cheat sheets used Coalition politicians:

There was no catalyst to cause this announcement to be made. It's not as though we suddenly got now [sic] figures on global warming, let's come in with our tax. It came out of the blue and when I say out of the blue after, what, five days of us being shattered in sharing the New Zealand earthquake trauma, Egypt, Libya, another boy dying in Afghanistan. We were preoccupied with other issues. This one came in for no apparent reason. Not only did it come in, it came in unprepared. We didn't even get any facts.

While Liberal Party MP Hockey stated on 1 March in a doorstop interview:

Now, to add on top of that rising interest rates, to add on top of that a flood levy, to add on top of that now a carbon tax, it’s going to rip the heart and soul out of small business and families and here’s the proof. And they’re dealing with all the other impacts, as Rita was saying, the impact of the cyclone and the floods, it’s around you.

So what does all this tell us?

Well it indicates that:

1. Australia went to the ballot box in August 2010 knowing that a re-elected Federal Labor Government would introduce a carbon price and after that general election the country also knew that, despite having to form a minority government, Labor’s plans for a carbon price were proceeding.

2. Ordinary Australians can contact the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee and give their personal opinions of carbon pricing before all details of the plan are finalised.

3. Tony Abbott and assorted Coalition MPs are issuing media releases and conducting interviews which deliberately ignore the fact that the electorate could hardly have been ignorant of the coming national price on carbon and are telling hardcore political lies with impunity because they apparently believe journalists and voters are monumentally stupid.

4. Some allegedly intelligent adults are obviously basing their own positions solely on Coalition political spin and looking no further into the matter of carbon pricing.

5. To date there is very little reasoned and reasonable national discussion on the announced carbon price mechanism framework.

6. Remedy for any deficiency in either the national discussion or the mechanism currently under contruction lies in our hands.

So if you believe climate change must be addressed with strong mitigation measures it's time to shake off that natural lethagy and start reading and writing - you only get what you fight for in any democracy.

STOP YELLING ACROSS THE HOUSE

Thanks, GG from Dubbo, for passing this one on.  

Ahhhhhhhhhh! The memories!

Albanese and Borger find something to crow about

In a tough fortnight in politics, a good news media release last Monday from Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Roads Minister David Borger:

NORTHERN SECTION OF BALLINA BYPASS OPENS TO TRAFFIC

The newly completed northern section of the Ballina Bypass on the Pacific Highway will tomorrow – Tuesday, 1 March 2011 – open to traffic for the first time.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said this opening is occurring many months earlier than original scheduled thanks to the Federal Labor Government’s decision to bring forward $100 million in our very first budget.

“The opening of the 5.9 kilometres northern section between Cumbalum and Ross Lane marks a major milestone in the delivery of the Bypass,” said Mr Albanese.

“Once fully completed in 2012, this new piece of road infrastructure will improve safety, cut travel times by up to 12 minutes and ease congestion on the streets of Ballina.”

“Importantly, the construction of the Bypass is just one of many projects being funded as part of the $3.6 billion capital works program being rolling out up and down the Pacific Highway.

“Indeed compared to the former Howard Government we’re investing more than twice as much in the half the time.”

The Ballina Bypass is a jointly funded project, with the Gillard Labor Government contributing $526 million and the Keneally Labor Government a further $114 million.

NSW Roads Minister David Borger said work began on the wider Ballina bypass in 2008, and is on schedule for the southern section to be open to traffic next year.

“This is good news not only for motorists using the Pacific Highway, but for the people of Ballina – as it will improve both local road safety and traffic flow,” Mr Borger said.

The fully built Ballina bypass will feature 12 kilometres of four-lane divided road – six lanes between the Bruxner Highway and Teven Road – as well as new interchanges at Teven Road and Ross Lane, and bridges over Emigrant and Sandy Flat creeks.

The southern section will also include a new Cumbalum interchange with roundabouts on both sides of the Cumbalum bridges.

Some MPs shouldn't tweet without a pocket dictionary handy

At least the NSW Member for Clarence spells his own name correctly on his Twitter account which displays less than ninety tweets sent since September 2009:

Premier Paris Hilton is making her altar ego look intelligent,,,,,& boring #fb
4:39 PM May 13th, 2010 via OpenBeak

Altar ego?

Premier Paris Hilton is starring in a remake of a classic all time great movie as capton of the "TITANIC" #fb
5:01 PM May 12th, 2010 via web

Capton?

C'mon Paris, I know ur reading this. Show some real compassion & contact the Zanuso family & give them some digree of closure #fb
Tuesday, 18 May 2010 4:08:10 PM via OpenBeak

Digree?

And a few more......

birth cirtificate
thankU cirtificates
bi-election in penrith
There aim is
THE Opeta House

Meanwhile, a Cansdell former staffer gets the twittervese spelling correct but the sentiment very wrong as he embarrasses this Nationals MP.

Japanese response to whaling fleet returning home early

The Asahi Shimbun newspaper editorial of February 22, 2011 indicates that whaling is still being supported by elements within Japanese society, but the focus appears to be turning towards coastal hunts in the vicinity of Japan's territorial waters:

Violent acts of harassment must never be condoned, but the victims should not allow themselves to be pushed around and resort to knee-jerk reactions.

After repeated harassment of Japanese whalers by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the government last week called off a research whaling mission in the Antarctic Ocean.

Sea Shepherd's harassment tactics included bringing their vessels dangerously close to Japanese whalers and hurling bottles of hazardous chemicals at them. The international community must condemn such activities by this radical anti-whaling group.

That said, however, anti-whaling sentiments run high in the governments and societies of the West. Together with other whaling nations, Japan has for years asserted and defended its right to whaling before the International Whaling Commission (IWC), but there is no solution in sight.

The arguments of the opposing camps are fundamentally irreconcilable. The pro-whaling camp asserts that whales are a "utilizable resource," while the anti-whaling camp sees them as "wild animals that need to be protected."

The Japanese government makes a scientifically valid argument when it points out that there are species of "resource whales," such as Antarctic minkes, that whalers are allowed to hunt. However, the prevalent thinking around the world today is that there is no need to hunt and eat those whales just because of their large population.

So long as the opposing camps hold on to their mutually unacceptable arguments, no resolution to the dispute can be hoped for. Both sides must recognize that no single value system should be forced on the entire world, and try to seek a compromise.

Following last week's decision, the government must think calmly about its future policy. While planning a long-range strategy, we believe the government should ask itself this fundamental question: Is Antarctic whaling truly necessary for Japan?

Japan's position is that it wants to resume commercial whaling in the Antarctic, and that research whaling is a preparatory step. Anti-whaling nations have all sorts of reasons of their own, but they are united in their opposition to commercial whaling in any form, and they are not giving an inch.

Demand for whale meat is not growing at all in Japan, and the nation's ocean-going whaling industry is effectively dead. Given this reality, there is little justification for Japan's stated need to resume commercial whaling in the Antarctic.

The most notable compromise plan so far floated by the IWC is to allow coastal whaling but ban hunting beyond 200 miles of the coast. The basic thinking is that each country should engage in coastal whaling at its discretion. But the international community's majority opinion should be honored for whaling in the Antarctic and other open seas.

We believe this is an appropriate plan. It requires anti-whaling nations to acknowledge whales as a "utilizable resource." But at the same time, Japan should rethink its position and switch course, namely, to downscale and eventually give up Antarctic whaling so long as its right to coastal whaling is guaranteed.

Whether we eat whale meat is our business and nobody else's. And we tend to react with anger when foreign countries tell us we shouldn't eat it. But while refusing to bend to the tactics of Sea Shepherd, we do need to explore a new way of whaling.

Barry O'Farrell and electoral priorities on the NSW North Coast

These problem are chronic and will affect tens of thousands of NSW families - many of them living on the North Coast:

BABY BOOMERS taking a seachange in their dotage face the prospect of widespread shortages in aged care, revised projections of the impact of dementia show.Australia will be 279,000 aged care places short by 2050 without significant policy changes, and hardest hit will be coastal areas popular with retirees, a study by Access Economics has found.The heavier than expected demand for aged care results from the failure of official projections to take account of the increased prevalence of dementia that has emerged from the growing number of people aged 85 and over, the report says.At present, aged care projections are based on numbers of people aged over 70.The expected growth points in elderly populations show that sea-change locations such as Port Macquarie, Tweed Heads and the NSW south coast would experience shortages of 2000 or more aged-care places by 2050 without a change in policy. In the Paterson electorate in the Hunter region, the shortfall would be just under 3000 places. [The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 February 2011]

TWO crashes, two dead, two injured, two straight stretches of road, but only one question: how did it happen? [The Daily Examiner,25 February 2011]

Erosion due to higher sea levels is also a key risk for coastal areas. In New South Wales there are approximately 3,600 residential buildings located within 110 metres of ‘soft’ erodible shorelines, of which approximately 700 are located within 55 metres of ‘soft’ coast. [NSW Parliament, Briefing Paper,June 2010]

So what is NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell focusing on as he begins election campaigning?

Mr O'Farrell on Thursday said that, if he wins government at the March 26 state election, he will take his fight against the introduction of a national carbon price to Canberra. [The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 February 2011]

While at the regional launch of the Coalition election campaign last Sunday O'Farrell endorsed the possibility that speed limits would be increased on country single lane highways.

That’s right. O'Farrell appears to believe that one size fits all. That on the NSW North Coast where we are on the climate change front line in many small towns and villages, where highway deaths are a constant concern and where an aging population is a big issue; ignoring the coming dementia care crisis, adding another 10k per hour to traffic speed and actively fighting against climate change mitigation measures will win over local voters in March.

Can’t you just tell that his focus groups are probably all in metropolitan areas and that the North Coast comprises very safe state Nationals seats this time around.

One of life's little mysteries........

One small cyberspace puzzle courtesy of Google's search engine on 25 February 2011:

The requested domain name is not configured for any web site: http://www.abbotttaxhike.com/
If you're an administrator of this site, you need to go to Site Manager -> Sites and use the following domain name either in the Site properties or add a new domain alias: www.abbotttaxhike.com

Sarah Palin is elevated to higher office

Had to share this piece of weirdness on a Christian far right blog called “ChrisTwire”.

Until Jesus comes back, we have Mrs. Palin. She selflessly stands up for the rights of all Americans, only to be thanked by the liberal media with unflattering stories containing outright lies and communist propaganda. The women who hate her are jealous of her, the men who hate her are gay.

Maeve

Coffs Harbour

The Abbott Monologues: a shrill man falls foul of Shakespeare and history

Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is nothing if not predictable – back with his great big new tax on everything mantra and a time wasting censure motion on the last parliamentary sitting day of the week which inevitably fails to get up.

This week's obviously rehearsed sound bite was; She has never seen a tax she did not like. She has never seen a tax she would not hike. Unfortunately the contrived nature of this utterance was exposed by the grinning backbencher sitting immediately him in the House clearly mouthing the words along with his leader.

Last Thursday’s very shrill effort during Question Time also saw the inevitable botching of detail as Abbott got carried away for the benefit of cameras and media.

Though this time one of the wonky details came from a surprising source. Waxing lyrical when speaking of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, he cried “Out, out foul spot” when supposedly quoting from Shakespeare’s play Lady Macbeth.

Of course Year 10 high school students would be able to tell him that the spot was not foul but damned and, although Lady Macbeth was a notorious sleepwalker she was not given to stuttering.

But then, at the beginning of this week Abbott obviously thought a form of modern government existed in New South Wales during the time William Bligh when he attempted a comparison with the Keneally Government. Bligh of course as a military governor of a British colony was virtually an absolute local ruler answerable only to the British Parliament. He had long left the colony by the time a legislature came into being. Abbott also appears to believe that it was definitely warmer when Jesus allegedly walked the earth than it is today.

Northern Rivers studies in browns

Penny Evans, The Swarm 2008 (top)
Ron Leonard, Cage One (centre)
Lae Oldmeadow, Canopy Sacred Seed 1 2008 (bottom)

Arts Northern Rivers

Sometimes a cartoon is all too accurate....

A small hint received from a friend.....

Clarence Valley's 'professional' contrarians are at it again

Mighty Clarence
Ed,
Over the years there has been a resistance to building a dam on the Clarence River – “Not One Drop – The Mighty Clarence”. This seems to be irrational and a case of NFromMBY. It’s not as though we use very much of the water. According to government figures < 1% of the water is being used with the other 99% going out to sea. And the new Shannon Creek Dam will provide our domestic water if necessary. So why should we reconsider? There have been two major floods in two years, (and there will be more). These have caused considerable hardship, disruption and cost in the valley and to the state’s transportation corridors. Current articles talk about the cane farmers being adversely affected for up to two years; prawn stocks being washed out to sea; fish kills due to deoxygenation; river events being cancelled; major infrastructure damage or destruction; people and trucks stranded for days; health alerts; sugar and fishing jobs threatened… Maybe it should be called “The Mighty Destructive Clarence”. We need a dam that can be used for flood mitigation, (which does not mean flood prevention) and provide water to the Murray Darling Basin. It would also provide a great fresh water recreation area for the Clarence Valley.
A plan put forward by the late Professor Lance Endersbee included five dams and multiple pipelines. A mini-Snowy Mountains scheme is not needed. The fallacy of his scheme is that lots of water needs to be stored. It doesn’t, because of the Clarence’s large catchment and the generally reliable, high rainfall. It needs only one dam on the eastern side of the range that would provide mitigation and MDB water.
The dam would be built after the major tributaries, such as the Timbarra and the Nymboida/Mann flowed into the Clarence. The best site for the dam would be in the Clarence River Gorge. From this dam the water would be pumped over the Great Divide, to a holding dam that would then release water into the Severn River and the existing Pindari Dam. From there it would flow through the Macintyre-Dumaresq-Barwon Rivers, and into the Darling. The 80km pipeline would be a straightforward project compared to say the Trans Alaska Pipeline, which I worked on for a number of years.
It is a dam that would be beneficial for the Clarence Valley and our inland neighbours, who provide much of the food WE eat and who will again, be subject to long, severe droughts. If the Mighty Clarence can’t offer a parched neighbour “ONE drop”, it does not deserve to be called mighty. The dam should not be damned. It deserves to be discussed in a no-parochial, unemotional manner. I would be happy to provide more information, to any interested parties.
John Ibbotson*
Gulmarrad
[The Clarence Valley Review, letter to the Editor,9 February 2011]

* Mr. Ibbotson describes himself variously as Metallurgist, Systems Analyst, Photographer, Author. His submission to Federal Paliament Water Proofing the Murray-Darling Basin contains the same arguments as those in his letter. Ibbotson is something of a conspiracy theorist and anthropomorphic global warming denialist.

Worth thinking about
Ed,
I found it a pleasure to read John Ibbotson’s easily understood and emotionally unbiased letter (CVR 9/2/11) on that perennial question that is too much of a hotcake for any local politician to pick up on.
Personally I agree with Mr. Ibbotson’s opinion.I further offer the following. Having studied a rather crude topographical map, a dam at the Gorge would probably require a construction and service road from Summerland Way to the site which in turn would require a second bridge across the Clarence River.
Worth thinking about?
And certainly worth further discussion
Thomas Macindoe *
Yamba
[The Clarence Valley Review, letter to the Editor, 23 February 2011]

* Mr. Macindoe is one of the Clarence Valley’s resident contrarians who in retirement will often take contradictory positions on given issues providing his stance runs counter to either expert opinion or public sentiment. One of his most endearing traits is his predictability.

The Bobbsy Twins Pell & Plimer get a dose of legitimate science

Finally! In the Senate Hansard, showing restraint and respect, Dr Greg Ayers exposes Cardinal George Pell for the foolish man that he is (subsequent to certain correspondence between the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the prelate).

Despite a valiant attempt by Senator McDonald, to divert and over talk Ayers in order to protect this meddlesome priest and his pet climate change denier, the following went into the historical record as part of ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE ESTIMATES (Additional Estimates) MONDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2011

Dr. Ayers full statement here - with interruptions and senatorial dummy spits removed.

What Julia Gillard really said about pricing carbon

Listening to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott lay into Prime Minister Gillard over the announcement that her government was moving towards setting an interim price on carbon from 1 July 2012 as a precursor to an national emissions trading scheme by 2017 and, then hearing knuckle-dragging radio ‘personality’ Alan Jones’ near hysterical rant on the same subject (full transcript here) one could be forgiven for thinking that Ms. Gillard had never let the Australian electorate know her thinking before the last federal election held on 21 August 2010.

Both of these gentleman forget the enduring convenience of Google when it comes to checking if one’s memory is correct or not.

Yes, she did say that there would not be a carbon tax and, despite Abbott and Jones trying to rewrite history, a stand alone, permanent carbon tax is not what is being planned for now.

However, Gillard did go to some pains to let us all know that carbon pricing was going to occur if Labor was re-elected.

In June 2010 The Australian reported:

Julia Gillard will pursue a carbon price if she wins the next election…

In July 2010 The Herald Sun also reported the Prime Minister’s position:

"We will have that price on carbon when we have a deep community consensus."
Today, Ms Gillard emphatically ruled out a price on carbon before 2012 as she prepares to release a new policy on climate change.
That means no ETS, no carbon tax and no interim carbon levy until then.

The Business Spectator in July 2010:

The federal government has agreed new policies on climate change, including a commitment to set an interim price on carbon, the Australian Financial Review reports.

On the day before we all went to the polls Gillard was reported at news.com.au:

Julia Gillard says she is prepared to legislate a carbon price in the next term as part of a bold series of reforms

In The Australian on the same day:

In an election-eve interview with The Australian, the Prime Minister revealed she would view victory tomorrow as a mandate for a carbon price, provided the community was ready for this step.

Even Tony Abbott was aware of Gillard’s commitment to pricing carbon. His own website contained this post almost two months before the last federal election:

If she is serious about putting a price on carbon she shouldn’t wait until after the election, she should sit down with Bob Brown now, come up with something, tell us now what she’s going to do rather than just fudge this until after the election. But it’s typical of the new Prime Minister that she wants to get credit for wanting to do something without getting the blame for actually doing something and this is a Prime Minister who will tell people what she thinks they want to hear but she won’t then put the policies in place to deliver on that.