The difference between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott

During the National Apology for Forced Adoptions held in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra, the difference between the world views of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott was graphically demonstrated.

There were tears and applause for Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard:

http://youtu.be/aZ5gE_8TRzM

Full speech transcript

The first moment when approval of the Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott  turned to anger, interjection and shouting:

http://youtu.be/OAZywwaLR-o

Full speech transcript
Note: transcript appears to have been amended by author since first publication

A perspective from one of the many in the Great Hall that day:

Yesterday I stood proudly alongside my biological mother -- who I now call mum -- in Canberra to hear the historic national apology. It was a monumental occasion to be sitting next to my mother listening to Prime Minister Julia Gillard give an authentic and informed apology. Mum and I were both impressed, and you could tell by the response of other people affected by forced adoption that they were elated when she actually acknowledged the harm by talking about the loss of lives to suicide.
The emotions in the room were palpable. Gillard used the word illegal, which we were hoping for. Mum desperately needed to hear that word... 


When Abbott started speaking, immediately the tone of the room and the elated atmosphere disintegrated rapidly. Abbott obviously had not consulted with anyone. He didn’t understand the findings of the Senate inquiry and didn’t understand that language is so important when we’re talking about forced adoption. He spoke about "relinquishment" not "forced adoption". We were there for a national apology on forced adoption, not relinquishment. My mother did not relinquish me, I was taken.
He also used the term "birth mothers". For the majority, the mothers and fathers consider themselves parents, period. That’s when the heckling occurred, when he used the term birth parents. For my mother, it echoed the judgemental and insensitive practices of the past.
Everything that Gillard achieved in terms of validating all the mothers, fathers, sons and daughters was completely eroded by Abbott’s speech. One of the recommendations was to bring broader public awareness around the coercive and illegal practices that occurred. If our Opposition Leader couldn’t even understand what happened and use the appropriate words, then what hope do we have of the broader community understanding?

The ugly face of any future Abbott Government?

Hon. Christopher Pyne

Federal Liberal Member for Sturt and Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives

19 March 2013

House of Representatives Hansard Tuesday 19 March 2013:

Mr Pyne: Madam Speaker, on a point of order, the  Leader of the Opposition asked a perfectly valid question. The Prime Minister answered the question and then she as an aside said for some unknown reason, 'Misogynist Tony is back'. I would ask her to  withdraw it because it is a slur on the Leader of the Opposition and a desperate play from a desperate Prime Minister!

The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a).

Opposition members: Why?

The SPEAKER: Why? If anybody needs to ask that they might all just leave the chamber.

The member for Sturt then left the chamber.

A pinch of perspective for the Australian media and political commentators in March 2013

A little historical perspective for the Australian media and assorted journalists still hyperventilating over the third week of March 2013.

The Universe when it was only into the 380,000 year of its estimated 14 billion years of age to date.

Planck CMB, 21/03/2013 12:00 pm 

ESA and the Planck Collaboration 

Description 
The anisotropies of the Cosmic microwave background (CMB) as observed by Planck. The CMB is a snapshot of the oldest light in our Universe, imprinted on the sky when the Universe was just 380 000 years old. It shows tiny temperature fluctuations that correspond to regions of slightly different densities, representing the seeds of all future structure: the stars and galaxies of today

Just when you think the political class could not possibly become any dumber

The Raw Story 3 March 2013:

State Rep. Ed Orcutt (R), wrote an email to a constituent who disagreed with his support for a new tax on the sales of bicycles, a proposal being considered as part of a larger piece of transportation legislation. Reached by the Seattle Bike Blog, he confirmed the email is real.

In his message, sent to the owner of a bicycle shop, Orcutt wrote: “If I am not mistaken, a cyclists [sic] has an increased heart rate and respiration. That means that the act of riding a bike results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider. Since CO2 is deemed to be a greenhouse gas and a pollutant, bicyclists are actually polluting when they ride.”

He added that when citizens drive cars they are helping to pay for the roads, whereas bicyclists “need to start paying for the roads they ride on rather than make motorists pay.”

The gentle and generous humour of Prime Minister Julia Gillard

The ABC’s Sally Sara tweeted this image of Paul Bongiorno replacing Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard at her desk to celebrate his 25 years as a member of the Press Gallery. The Prime Minister is acting as one of his ‘assistants’ for the camera.

Cycling NSW: when corporate vision goes wrong

Cycling NSW laid out its vision in the 2012-15 strategic business plan – it wants to be a voyeur!

Earth Hour challenge from Clarence Valley Council Mayor

The NSW North Coast has an estimated 80,000> small-scale roof top solar systems installed on buildings/homes in the region – making it an area with a strong commitment to renewable energy.

Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson would like everyone to make an extra effort to reduce electricity consumption tonight and, those still  without solar power to consider switching to renewable energy.

Mayor: Richie Williamson General Manager: Scott Greensill                                                                   22 March 2013 Earth Hour challenge from the Mayor On Saturday 23 March from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, hundreds of millions of people around the world will again unite for one hour – Earth Hour – as a symbolic expression of concern for the environment and the future of our planet. "The Clarence Valley area is already a leader at the forefront of the renewables revolution. This Earth Hour, the goal is to bring renewable energy to the top of our minds with the 'Switch to Renewables' campaign"  Mayor Richie Williamson said. Via the Earth Hour website, Australians are being asked to 'pledge to switch' or register as 'already switched' to renewable energy. "In 2013 we'd like to see a 12% or greater reduction in energy consumption during Earth Hour in the Clarence!  All households, communities and businesses are urged to switch off their non-essential lighting and appliances during Earth Hour, and consider adopting these practices from now on" Mayor Richie Williamson said. "Earth Hour illustrates how simple it is for each of us to take action against global warming. We look forward to another successful Earth Hour, making a big difference in just one hour". Release ends. Authorised by: Richie Williamson Mayor   02 6643 0245  or  0427 457 382 For further information contact: Des Schroder  Deputy General Manager (Environment & Economic)  6643 0203 Clarence Valley Council Locked Bag 23 Grafton, NSW, 2460 Australia

Want to have your say on the latest O'Farrell Government attempt to force CSG mining on reluctant communities?

 

 

The NSW Government intends to implement the proposed coal seam gas mining and exploration exclusion zones for residential areas and critical industry clusters, as an amendment to the Mining State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), titled State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) Amendment(Coal Seam Gas Exclusion Zones) 2013.

What the advertisement currently appearing in selected local papers on the NSW North Coast doesn't say is that this change will also give local councils the right to override proposed CSG mining exclusion zones provisions to allow for exploration and mining:

 

 

The draft amendment is currently on public exhibition and can be viewed here.

 

The deadline for submissions is Friday 12 April 2013.

 

Submissions can be mailed to:

 

The Director – Strategic Regional Policy,

NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure,

GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001

 

Or lodged online at: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/onexhibition

 

Further information can be obtained at Department of Planning and Infrastructure’s Information Centre on 1300 305 695 or by emailing to srlup@planning.nsw.gov.au

Clarence Valley Council Votes For Halt To CSG Mining Activity

On Tuesday 19th March Clarence Valley Council voted on the coal seam gas (CSG) motion which had been introduced at the previous week's Environment, Economic and Community Committee.

The motion had called on Council to write to MPs and relevant state and federal ministers calling for a halt to "coal seam gas mining activity and all other forms of unconventional gas mining" until the impacts of this mining were properly assessed in studies currently being undertaken by various expert committees.  If that assessment indicated that CSG mining was safe, the community could be assured that there would be no detrimental health or environmental impacts and the mining activity could then proceed.

Cr Kingsley moved the motion with several brief amendments. He said that the motion was not about the pros and cons of CSG but was rather in response to the concerns of the local community, concerns which have been acknowledged by both State and Federal governments.  He added that as the risks appeared to be there, governments should go one step further than their inquiries and halt mining activities until the risks have been dealt with.

Other councillors who spoke to support the motion were Crs Hughes, Howe, McKenna and Williamson. 

Those who spoke against were Crs Toms and Baker. 

One of Cr Baker arguments was to dispute the need for a halt because the experts who were undertaking the studies had not seen fit to recommend a halt. 

Cr Baker is naïve in imagining that experts engaged by the government would take it upon themselves to call for a halt to mining while the studies were done. Obviously a precautionary approach would indicate that was desirable – but the governments would have to make that decision.  And there is no doubt that both the State and Federal Governments, both wholehearted supporters of CSG mining, would not make that call.

Cr Toms' main argument was that there was no point of writing the letters on this matter to government ministers, because nothing would happen as a result.  She also said that, while she understood people's concerns, the matter was outside Council's area of responsibility and that Council needed to wait to see what the experts said.  She added that the issue was about our energy security.

While it appears that Cr Toms has more understanding of the issue than Cr Baker, at least two of the reasons quoted above can be disputed. 

Though it is extremely unlikely that letters to Ministers will persuade them to halt mining until the studies are completed and assessed, these letters are yet another indication – and a strong one – that a local community is very concerned about the likely impacts of CSG mining.  They will be in addition to the increasing numbers of letters, phone calls, emails, marches, protests and deputations from individuals and organisations that ensure that the message gets through to decision-makers in their "ivory towers" in Sydney and Canberra.

Cr Toms has obviously accepted the pro-CSG lobby's claim that CSG mining in NSW is essential for our energy security because NSW is running out of gas.  It's interesting that while they talk of local energy security, the companies mining CSG are more interested in exporting it than in providing for the domestic market. In relation to the claimed shortage, it has been established that there are plentiful supplies of gas in other areas – for example the Bass Strait.  So the energy security claim is a furphy.

The vote for the motion was six in favour (Kingsley, Howe, Hughes, McKenna, Simmons, Williamson) and three against (Baker, Challacombe, Toms).

Cr Challacombe did not speak in the debate and when the vote was taken indicated that he wished to abstain. The Mayor informed him that an abstention was recorded as a vote against.  Cr Challacombe reportedly informed the media later that his background in environmental science meant he thought the council was ill-qualified to assess the industry's impact. (The Daily Examiner, 20 March 2013, p. 4).  He has obviously missed the point that it was government experts, not the Council, who were going to assess the industry impacts.

Hildegard

Northern Rivers

21 March 2013

GuestSpeak is a feature of North Coast Voices allowing Northern Rivers residents to make satirical or serious comment on issues that concern them. Posts of 250-300 words or less can be submitted to ncvguestspeak AT gmail.com.au for consideration

You Are Known By The Company You Keep: another 'good friend' from Oppostion Leader Tony Abbott's past

The Daily Telegraph 29 November 2007:

The Manly Daily yesterday published a picture of a devastated Mr Abbott commiserating Saturday night's election loss with a convicted criminal.

Reflecting on winning his seat of Warringah -- as well as the Liberals' dramatic demise -- the outgoing health minister welcomed the former Manly councillor and solicitor Ian MacDonald to the Manly Leagues Club, where Mr Abbott was holding his official election party.

Mr MacDonald, who spent three years in jail on fraud-related charges, helped Mr Abbott in his quest for another three-year term by handing out how-to-vote cards.

Describing himself as a "good friend" of Mr Abbott, Mr MacDonald later spent time at the club with other Liberal Party die-hards.

Mr MacDonald was Mr Abbott's campaign director in 1995 -- the year before John Howard won government.

The Sydney Morning Herald 26 June 2004:

The grim doors of Silverwater Jail swung open at 9am last Monday to set free the struck-off Manly solicitor Ian "Macca" MacDonald after had served three years of a 5 year sentence for fraud. He was granted parole by the NSW Parole Board after successfully taking part in a work release program.

Macca will be enthusiastically welcomed back into Manly's rugger and Liberal circles, although some former clients who lost their savings when he looted their trust accounts will be less friendly.

Among those who will be sharing a beer with the convicted fraudster will be the federal Health Minister, Tony Abbott, who told a recent function to mark his 10 years in Canberra: "Just because he [MacDonald] made a few mistakes doesn't mean that he shouldn't be honoured. I look forward to rekindling my friendship with him."

Before his fraud exploits, MacDonald, a former senior partner in the law firm MacDonald Yeldham, was a Liberal councillor on Manly Council, president of the Manly District Rugby Union Club, member of the Manly District Hospital Board and a fundraiser and cheerleader for Abbott in election campaigns.

He came within an ace of becoming Liberal candidate to take the state seat of Manly but the NSW Law Society's hound dogs caught up with him first. [my bolding]

Crikey 6 March 2007:

Abbott became a regular visitor at Kirkconnell Prison where Macdonald was serving his five-and-a-half year sentence for embezzling more than $5 million from his clients.

Macdonald, who was once a prominent figure in the Liberal Party, was found guilty on June 29, 2001 of fraudulently omitting to account, making false statements and obtaining money by deception in relation to his clients’ affairs.

What might one risk associated with coal seam gas mining look like?

 

There has been some talk in the Australian media about land subsidence and sinkholes suddenly occurring overseas.

 

In June 2012 the Australian Water Commission published a CSG water management position paper which stated:
  

Potential risks to sustainable water management 

• Extracting large volumes of low-quality water will impact on connected surface and groundwater systems, some of which may already be fully or over allocated, including the Great Artesian Basin and Murray-Darling Basin. 

• Impacts on other water users and the environment may occur due to the dramatic depressurisation of the coal seam, including: - changes in pressures of adjacent aquifers with consequential changes in water availability - reductions in surface water flows in connected systems - land subsidence over large areas, affecting surface water systems, ecosystems, irrigation and grazing lands. 

 

Now this clearly identifies risk, but doesn’t give any idea of what land subsidence might look like for NSW property owners and residents unlucky enough to experience it.

 

Sinkholes range in size from square meters to square hectares in size.

They usually form when there is either a collapse of an underground cave, or mining/excessive groundwater flow creates unstable soil/bedrock conditions, or mining results in water pressure levels changes in a natural aquifer which cannot sustain the weight of rock and soil above it.

 

This 2011 sink hole in Gosford NSW was caused by a leaking underground sewer:

 

 

In 2012 this sinkhole appeared in a Sydney suburb:

 

 

Another small sinkhole which opened up at Ocean Shores NSW in 2013:

 

 

Yet another sinkhole in Newcastle NSW on a residential property which
sits atop old mine workings:

 

 

One of the fourteen homes in one suburb damaged due to mine
subsidence in the Newcastle area last year:

 

 

House collapse due to mine subsidence in Newcastle NSW in 1953:

 

 

This is a very old natural sink hole in the mining town of Mt. Gambier
SA caused by cave collapse:

 

1925 to 1977 markers showing land subsidence due to over extraction
of groundwater in San Joaquin Valley, California USA

Letter to the Editor sparks Ballina Shire Council investgation

 

On 18 March 2013 The Northern Star reported that Ballina Shire Council was not happy with a particular Letter to the Editor:

 

The council's general manager, Paul Hickey, has confirmed the publication this week of the confidential figures had led to the launch of an investigation about where Mr Kelly got his information from, and a possible breach of the Code of Conduct which applies to staff and councillors.

The issue of council acting as a developer has been around for some time and, Vince Kelly raised the matter in 2009 and again in 2012 when he also wrote this letter to Echonetdaily.

Given that Vince Kelly appears to watch council closely and speak to any number of people, I imagine that Paul Hickey may find it difficult to track down the person who informed the content of Kelly’s last letter.

Kelly should take heart – he could live further south where Clarence Valley Council management have turned losing money into an art form.

Here is that last letter in the Echonetdaily online which is currently causing Ballina local government angst:

 

Council prefers property over pool

Vince Kelly, East Ballina

Ballina Shire Council has again preferred commercial property speculation ahead of community infrastructure. This time it is in respect to an indoor heated swimming pool.

On February 26 Ballina Council’s Commercial Services Committee met in secret to consider two offers to purchase council’s commercial site in Tamarine Drive. But property markets being what they are nothing stays secret for long.

At the meeting Council rejected a fair value cash offer of $860,000 from a private consortium. They planned to build a new indoor heated pool and gymnasium within twelve months.

Council accepted a ‘cash and land swap’ offer of $1.2 million from Fire and Rescue NSW, who plan to build a new fire station. The purchase consideration comprises cash of only $500,000 and the transfer of the exiting fire station in Crane Street to the council for a non cash consideration of $700,000.

The $700,000 is an inflated figure fabricated by Council’s Commercial Services Division and substantially overvalues the fire station. This portrays the Firies’ offer of $1.2 million as more generous. But when the true value of the fire station is factored in the two offers are comparable.

On a cash basis the consortium’s offer is substantially better as ratepayers receive $860,000 in cash compared to the Firies’ offer of only $500,000 in cash. With the consortium’s offer the community obtains a new indoor heated swimming pool, gymnasium and additional lifestyle facilities. Ratepayers’ funds will not be required to build and maintain the facility or cover the ongoing operating costs.

With the Fires’ offer ratepayers receive $360,000 less in cash and a special purpose building with restricted usage. The property is of little strategic benefit and does nothing to assist Council meet the community’s expectations regarding infrastructure delivery.

At its Finance Committee meeting on March 4 Council discussed building its own indoor heated pool adjacent to Ballina swimming pool. This will cost ratepayers at least $2 million and it will not be ready for about two years. Plus there will be ongoing maintenance and operating costs.

If the consortium’s offer had been accepted there would have been a cash generation of $2.86 million which could have been used to fund other infrastructure projects.

Of course the acceptance of the Firies’ offer does not make sense when compared to the consortium’s offer. So why did the council decide in favour of the Firies? Is there a hidden agenda? Well yes, there is!

You see, Council already owns properties adjoining the Crane Street fire station and Council is more interested in consolidating a future commercial development site than providing community infrastructure.
 

UPDATE

This is the letter to the editor in The Northern Star on 21 March 2013 which took the fire out of Paul Hickey's bullish game of hunt-the-councillor:

Council secrecy

The general manager of Ballina Shire Council, Mr Paul Hickey, has merged the separate issues of secrecy and confidentiality (Concern over leaked figures N/S 18/3).

I described the Commercial Services Committee meeting as a 'secret meeting' because Mr Hickey did not disclose the nature of the business transaction in the agenda.

Was this a deliberate ploy to stop ratepayer opposition to a commercial transaction which was perhaps not in their best interest?

It is hard to object to something if you do not know what it is about. It was only after the minutes of the meeting had been posted on the council's website that it was confirmed that councillors had approved a land swap with Fire and Rescue NSW. Mr Hickey's secret was out.

Mr Hickey has been reported as saying that "Fire and Rescue had asked council that we not release any information in respect to this matter".

So did Mr Hickey advise the councillors that the way in which they had expressed their resolution would not comply with the wishes of the firies?

If there has been a breach of council's code of conduct who is the real culprit?

Council's Tamarind Drive property has been on the market for several years and has been commented on in numerous council reports which are public documents.

There is a lot of information in the marketplace about council's property holdings and activities.

If Mr Hickey wants to play monopoly and wheel, deal and speculate in freely traded property markets with ratepayers' money then he needs to understand that information about his activities will find its way to the marketplace. The market is dynamic and full of rumours, hearsay and facts.

Market intelligence is continually being gathered, filtered, dissected and analysed by people who will comment and opine on a whole range of issues.

Transactions are continually being negotiated, finessed and documented.

Often there are many players involved in both sides of a deal.

Just because Mr Hickey submits a business paper on one of his property proposals to a council meeting and the councillors resolve to consider it in a confidential session does not mean that the information is not already in the marketplace.

It is only councillors and council staff who are subject to a confidential resolution.

It does not apply to the general public who may be in possession of the information.

Vince Kelly

East Ballina

When Richard met Eddie

In 1999 George Richard Torbay contested and won the NSW seat of New England as an independent.
In 2013 he intended to stand for Federal Parliament as a National Party candidate.
On the 20th March he suddenly resigned from the NSW Parliament and from the Nats, allegedly because his relationship with Eddie Obeid has been referred to ICAC. He also resigned as UNE Chancellor.
Richard and Eddie Obeid came into contact early in his political career and the Torbay-Obeid connection was so well-known it was raised in parliament over 5 years ago.

The Green Left on the 23rd June 1999:

“On January 19, around 100 protesters constructed four tripods on Timbarra Road. Police panicked at the size of the protest and reacted violently, arresting 12 protesters. In early May, more than 100 protesters blockaded the access road between Tenterfield and the mine site. Ross Mining and its government supporters are moving to clamp down on the campaigners. A delegation of Tenterfield local government leaders, Ross Mining executives and local MP Richard Torbay are to meet with NSW resources minister Eddie Obeid later this month. Torbay threatened: "I support people's right to protest in an orderly manner, but I am concerned that protesters seem intent on disruption, regardless of the merits of the mine. I will be working hard to change the laws to protect companies that are doing the right thing." Ross Mining admits that it plans to use 700 tonnes of cyanide each year to extract gold from the mine. One gram of cyanide is the lethal dose for humans. The mine will also use 75 tonnes of caustic soda and 60 tonnes of hydrochloric acid to extract 50,000 ounces of gold, worth $20 million a year. These chemicals represent a significant environmental threat to the region because the mine is on a highlands, which feed into the Clarence River.”

Part of a Melinda Pavey MLC motion listed in the NSWLC Notice Paper for 27^th February 2007:

“That this House further notes:

(b) the continued close relationship of the Honourable Eddie Obeid as a strategist with the Member for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay’s Independent Party,

(c) that the Honourable Eddie Obeid was instrumental in Labor’s decision not to run in the Dubbo by-election last November, deserting the local ALP membership and providing back door support to Richard Torbay's candidate Dawn Fardell,”

Granny Herald on 23rd November 2008:

“He said politics is tougher and crueller than he had anticipated. During one campaign, he says, some Nationals apparatchiks played the race card, suggesting to anyone who'd listen that he was related to unpopular Labor right-wing number cruncher Eddie Obeid, also of Lebanese background. "I had to remind them that there were lots of people from Lebanon I wasn't related to."

Tony Abbott's 'Australians for Honest Politics Trust' may come under the legal spotlight

Former One Nation Co-founder states intention to sue Liberal Party Leader Tony Abbott

Making sure that one remnant of the Howard era, NGO gag orders, never surfaces again

Introduced into the Australian Senate on 13 March 2013:

A Bill for an Act to prohibit Commonwealth agreements from restricting or preventing not-for-profit entities from commenting on, advocating support for or opposing changes to Commonwealth law, policy or practice, and for related purposes.

The Bill engages and promotes the right of freedom of expression as set out in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right (ICCPR). The Bill will prevent the Commonwealth from including clauses in agreements that prevent or restrict NFP entities from advocating on Commonwealth policy issues.

What will the Australian Press Council do about this?

The Daily Telegraph's blatantly false Page One headline of 18 March 2013

Mr Denmore ‏@MrDenmore

Oh, the author of The Tele's carbon collapse fiction is our friend Steve Lewis, he of Ozcar and Ashby fame.

Mr Denmore ‏@MrDenmore

The Tele's source for the 'carbon collapse' are unnamed 'experts'. Odd as the share market is at a 4-year high and business confidence is up

Yesterday morning I happened on these two tweets and this snapshot on Twitter. Given New Limited's involvement in the current hysteria surrounding the Federal Government's response to the 2011 and 2012 independent media reviews, I went to that day's issue of The Daily Telegraph and this is what I found. The Daily Telegraph's Steve Lewis and Phil Jacob are asserting that: New data from the corporate regulator reveals insolvencies have hit a record high over the past 12 months, led by widespread failures in manufacturing and construction, which accounted for almost one-fifth of collapses. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission reports there were 10,632 company collapses for the 12 months to March 1 - averaging 886 a month - with the number of firms being placed in administration more than 12 per cent higher than during the global financial crisis. While the high Australian dollar is seen as the main factor behind manufacturing closures, experts say the carbon tax is adding to increasing cost burdens for many firms struggling to stay afloat. The first problem with this statement is that it is plain wrong. The "10,632" figure does not come from a twelve month period ending on 1 March this year - this total is for the 2012 calendar year. A clue for these two journalists might have been found in the fact that the data set was released on 18 February 2013. What The Daily Telegraph journalists also do not say is that in the total figure quoted almost half of these external administration/insolvencies occurred before the introduction of the 'cabon tax' and, that prior to the tax, in February-March 2012 there were 2,137 insolvencies which made this the highest combined figure for two consecutive months in a data set which begins in 1996. As for the more than one business is going the wall every hour in Australia found in text in the snapshot above - I suggest that The Daily Telegraph invest in new batteries for the office calculator as that Page One assertion is wrong on so many levels. So what else in that Lewis-Jacob article is open to question? Well, let me start with Grain Products Australia the country’s only manufacturer of caramel and dextrin and one of only two wheat starch and gluten manufacturers. A company in liquidation since 11 March this year and one the journalists try hard to mold into a carbon tax victim. Over six months before the introduction of the carbon price, this company went into voluntary administration citing the high cost of wheat and what were then solely state electricity charges. That leaves Penrice Soda Holdings the only Australian soda ash manufacturer. It was quoted by the Lewis-Jacob team as saying that the reason it was ceasing local raw material quarrying and importing its soda ash was that the carbon tax was effectively the straw that broke the camel's back. However, a little basic fact checking would have shown that last February it told its shareholders and the Australian Stock Exchange that the factory closure was reflecting deteriorating demand conditions in soda ash and quarry material markets as well as impacts from a high Australian dollar. There was not one word about the carbon tax. Finally, the biggest whopper these two journalists told about the business sector in 2012 which is this line; with the number of firms being placed in administration more than 12 per cent higher than during the global financial crisis. The Global Financial Crisis began in 2007-08 and did not lose momentum until 2009-10. Even the most mathematically challenged News Limited employee would realise that the business external administration/insolvency totals for those years far exceed the 2012 total which The Daily Telegraph is currently treating as an end of days event. So what will the Australian Press Council do about a newspaper which so distorts the facts and journalists whom I'm told now know that they have based their 10,632 company collapses on a dodgy premise? Why its twenty-three members will pretend that they never saw or heard of this article - unless a member of the public makes a formal complaint. UPDATE: The Leader of the Opposition makes the mistake of relying on the Lewis-Jacob article during the House of Representatives Question Time on 18 March 2013. A reliance the Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, notes during that same Question Time: ...over the last couple of days the Leader of the Opposition, the New South Wales government and the Daily Telegraph have been misleading the public yet again about the impact of carbon pricing. Yesterday it was a false claim about electricity prices in New South Wales. Today the Daily Telegraph is back with ridiculous claims about economic catastrophe, repeated here today in the very first question by the Leader of the Opposition—there seems to be some commonality of approach that we are witnessing. The Telegraph story today takes the misuse of statistics, hysterical headlines and distortion of facts to levels that would have done Pravda proud during the height of the Cold War.

One young regional journalist is man enough to eat humble pie

Unlike many of his big city counterparts, The Daily Examiner  journalist Lachlan Thompson is prepared to admit that he misread the political runes when it came to concerns about coal seam:

It is time for me to eat some humble pie.

After attacking Member for Page Janelle Saffin for speaking out about CSG for the sole purpose of gaining votes, it appears the Federal Government is united on this issue.

It is now set to take action and I owe Ms Saffin an apology.

The company holding petroleum exploration licences in the Valley, Metgasco, has decided to suspend its activities on the North Coast.

Metgasco said it is because of changes in state, not federal regulations.

Frankly, when I saw the NSW Government's regulatory changes, I thought they had as much sturdiness as a soaked toilet roll.

The reason was they did not seem to prevent companies from putting CSG wells in rural residential areas like Glenugie.

The federal legislation, on the other hand, could mean no wells go ahead unless the science on this issue is completely clear. I hope the Gillard government can move this legislation through before the election.

Lachlan’s willingness to re-evaluate his previous opinions is refreshing and well done.