For the second time the High Court of Australia rules the National School Chaplaincy and Welfare Program unlawful

Click on image to enlarge

This is the second time that the High Court of Australia has ruled that the Commonwealth funding of the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program was not supported under provisions contained in the Australian Constitution and/or flowed from unlawful legislation.

Time for the Abbott and Baird governments to finally recognise that religion has no place in public education and, that this particular program violates the principle of separation of church and state.

First High Court judgement in Williams v Commonwealth of Australia [2012] HCA 23 (20 June 2012) and second judgement in Williams v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] HCA 23 (19 June 2014).

Watching the weather with bated breath......

Photograph: Queensland Country Life 24 January 2014

The Sydney Morning Herald 17 June 2014:

The world’s meteorologists and climate experts are watching closely for another burst of westerly winds across the Pacific that could trigger the first El Nino weather pattern since 2009-2010.

“Basically it is primed for a strong El Nino, but it needs the final push,” said Axel Timmermann, the professor of oceanography at the international Pacific research centre, University of Hawaii. “This is perhaps the most-watched El Nino of all time.”

The weather watch comes as winter remains largely at bay for much of Australia. Sydney and Melbourne broke heat records during autumn and maximums in both cities have been about 2-3 degrees above average for June.

This week, Sydney can expect tops most days of 20-22 degrees, or about 3-5 degrees above normal, while Melbourne's maximums will be 1-2 degrees above the June average of 14 degrees, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

An El Nino could make this year another warm one for Australia. Last year was the country's warmest in more than a century of records.

El Ninos form when waters in the eastern Pacific turn unusually warm compared with the west, stalling or reversing the easterly trade winds. The pattern is a major driver of the world’s climate and can trigger droughts and bushfires in Australia and east Asia, while bringing heavy rains to countries bordering the eastern Pacific……

National Climate Centre Drought Statement 4 June 2014

NSW Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis still resented for past performance and present posturing

Letter to the editor in The Daily Examiner online 26 May 2014:

Comments appalling

I AM appalled at the comments made by Chris Gulaptis to the Grafton Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Having worked at the gaol and representing the staff in the role of union representative at the time of the downgrading in 2012 of Grafton Correctional Centre, I went personally and informed Chris Gulaptis at his office in Grafton when we were officially informed by the Department Of Corrective Services of their intentions to downgrade the gaol.

At this meeting with Mr Gulaptis he informed he was aware of the closure and there was nothing he could do about the closure of the gaol and he would be supporting the State Government in their decision, with no regard for the staff at the gaol or the flow-on effect on the community and the impact on the businesses in Grafton or the surrounding communities.

After leaving Chris Gulaptis' office I also contacted the Mayor of Grafton, Richard Williamson, and the head of the Clarence Valley Union, Tony King.

The Chamber of Commerce were also informed and showed serious concern on the impact on the community.

Both Richard Williamson and Tony King gave their complete support to gaol staff and the union reps of the PSA Union to keep the gaol open but this was going to be an uphill battle without the support of the people's elected State member.

With the overwhelming support from the community by signing petitions, community attendance at organised rallies in Memorial Park and the 24-hour community protest outside the gaol, Mr Gulaptis was forced due to overwhelming support to keep the gaol open.

At the community rally there were many speakers talking about why the gaol should stay open. When Mr Gulaptis was called to speak he did so in a sheepish way and his comment was "I was wrong". But by then it was too late as the horse had bolted.

Every comment he makes now are matters that were brought up at meetings by other concerned people to keep the gaol open, with nothing new in his portfolio that has not been said before by other people.

The community of Grafton have long memories with the non-support given by Mr Gulaptis.

Stephen Jeffs,
former prison officer

NSW Deputy Premier Stoner calls Bentley protesters "professional bludgers"

I’m sure that members of NSW Northern Coast farming communities and concerned local residents will be impressed by how Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner and presumably most of his National Party MPs are characterizing the region’s commitment to a gasfield-free Northern Rivers.

As for Stoner’s desire to go head-to-head, along with the police riot squad, with the estimated 2,000 protestors who regularly gathered at Metgasco’s Bentley drilling site, all I can say is that I’m sure this attitude is going to lose the Nationals quite a few votes at the 28 March 2015 state election.

Despite his past support for the gas industry, Nationals MP for Page Chris Gulaptis bustled out to inform his state electorate that:

"As much as some conservatives may like to ... label them as long-haired and braided protesters - and there were some of those people - there were also ordinary everyday people who do work and who do live on the land and do have genuine concerns," he said.

"I'm glad that confrontation (between police and protesters) didn't take place. It wouldn't have been good for anyone. "Clearly there's something fundamentally wrong when so many people object to an activity."

The Land 16 June 2014:

Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner told the NSW National Party annual conference last Friday he spoke with Premier Mike Baird, telling him he was concerned about the "bullying and harassment" protesters engaged in at Bentley.

"We were prepared to go head to head with the protesters to preserve Metgasco's rights," Mr Stoner told the state conference.

He said among the protesters existed a core of "extreme anarchists" who had outstanding warrants against them from other states.

"It breaks my heart that it (the decision to suspend Metgasco's licence) was seen by some as the professional bludgers having a win," Mr Stoner said.

Mr Roberts said previously that Metgasco’s licence was suspended due to concerns that the company had not adequately consulted with the community.

The Office of Coal Seam Gas (OCSG) advised him the community had expressed fundamental concerns about the way in which Metgasco had characterised its activities, Mr Roberts said.

“On 13 May, 2014, the director of OCSG and the NSW Land and Water Commissioner held a meeting with local landholders, at which matters of consultation between the community and Metgasco were raised.”

Nine months in office and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's disapproval rating stands at 61% according to Newspoll

Only nine months in office and Tony Abbott is fast turning into the most disliked Australia prime minister for decades, if the latest Newspoll is any indication

The Australian 17 June 2014

When NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner "(@AndrewStoner) replied to one of your Tweets!"

Sometimes a minor classic in political stupidity reveals itself. This is NSW Deputy Premier and National Party Leader Andrew Stoner giving his head for a Streisand Effect-style washing on social media:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Andrew Stoner (via Twitter) <notify@twitter.com>
Date: 17 June 2014 08:48
Subject: Andrew Stoner (@AndrewStoner) replied to one of your Tweets!
To: Jenna Cairney <jenna.cairney@fairfaxmedia.com.au>

@JennaCairney1 great piece of journalism, take 1 comment completely out of context to sensationalise it & rev up anti gas protestors #agenda - @AndrewStoner

Jenna Cairney, Andrew Stoner replied to your Tweet!   Jenna Cairney @JennaCairney1 "It broke my heart that some of those professional bludgers thought they had a win." @AndrewStoner on some of the protesters at Bentley - 13 Jun Andrew Stoner @AndrewStoner @JennaCairney1 great piece of journalism, take 1 comment completely out of context to sensationalise it & rev up anti gas protestors #agenda 16 Jun 2014 22:48 Reply to @AndrewStoner Retweet Favorite

One interesting twist in this Twitter email is that it reveals the fact that the foolish Andrew Stoner regards tweeting his comments (made at a National Party conference attended as a member of the press by Ms. Cairney) as evidence of the grave sin of journalism.

Stoner remains resolutely silent on two other quotes concerning protesters at the Metgasco Limited drilling site at Bentley in north-east New South Wales:

It should also be noted for the record that the 16 June The Land article, which also quoted the Deputy Premier, was actually written by Mike Foley. I wonder what sort of email he received from the obviously irate politician?