Nationals Leader Andrew Stoner wastes space in The Northern Star letters to the editor column

NSW Deputy Premier, Leader of the NSW Nationals, Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services and Member for Oxley, Andrew Stoner, writing in Lismore’s The Northern Star on 26 June 2013:

Funding for regions

IF regional communities need more proof that the NSW Liberals and Nationals government is committed to improving their infrastructure and services, they need look no further than the NSW Budget 2013-14.

I was recently pleased to announce that more than a billion dollars worth of state funds would be delivered to regional hospitals, schools and roads and to crucial services like transport, education, training and emergency services.

These communities are finally getting the funding they deserve from this government, unlike the 16 long years of neglect under Labor.

For regional mining affected communities in particular, it is important they get a fair return of the riches their local lands produce when their infrastructure needs are put under pressure by extra heavy vehicles and industrial activities, whether directly or indirectly.

That is why the NSW Government's Resources for Regions program was established - to relieve infrastructure constraints and support communities in regional areas affected by mining.

This year, eight local government areas were eligible for assistance under the program; from Muswellbrook, Singleton and Newcastle in the Hunter to Narrabri in the North West, Cobar in the West, Lithgow in the Central West, Wollongong in the Illawarra, and the Mid-Western Regional Council area including towns like Mudgee and Gulgong.

These eight areas were identified as needing funding most urgently and they had the opportunity to share in up to $120 million on offer.

I look forward to announcing the successful infrastructure projects these communities applied for later this year, with around $40 million on offer in the initial round of the fund.

And now I look forward to inviting more applications from these communities in a supplementary round of Resources for Regions, thanks to the additional funds from Restart NSW made available by the proceeds from the long term leases of Port Botany and Port Kembla.

Around $80 million will be available for successful applications received in the supplementary round that will open in September. With this additional funding on offer, I encourage the eight areas eligible under this year's program to put forward an application.

This opportunity shows that the NSW Government will continue to deliver for regional communities by ensuring they receive a fair share of this state's wealth, with a further round under Resources for Regions in 2014-15 providing other eligible local government areas with the chance to apply for funding next year.

Andrew Stoner

NSW Deputy Premier

Unfortunately funding available under the Resources for Regions program in 2013/14 do not apply to the Northern Rivers region – so Mr. Stoner’s letter is a complete waste of space and one wonders why it was published at all.

Japan has admitted to the International Court of Justice that Australia considers whales are "sacred"

In the early hours of 3 June 2013 (Australian Eastern Standard Time) Japan - in its opening argument in Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening) before the International Court of Justice - admitted that Australia considers whales are "sacred".

Every Aboriginal community and group who made this fact known to the world can be very proud today that Japan was forced to admit this fact to the Court.

Unfortunately Japan went on to characterize its alleged cultural right to slaughter whales as taking precedence over other peoples cultural rights.

Japan also asserted that Australia had politicized science and is bringing the International Whaling Commission to "the brink of collapse".

Today's court transcripts will be found at Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening) Oral Proceedings.

Background:

Indigenous Whale Dreaming in Australia - then and now....*ATSIC readers please note that this post may contain images of persons who are deceased

If you own a suit and tie or a party dress you can't be an alcoholic or an addict?

The faces of alcoholism and gambling addiction are not likely to be those seen smiling behind suits, ties and race dresses. [The Daily Examiner 27 June 2013]

Now there is a breathtaking example of social and cultural bias if ever there was one – apparently this journalist believes that most alcoholics and gambling addicts can be identified by their attire and the events they attend.

On that basis he obviously wants to believe that Grafton’s July Racing Carnival is a substance abuse & addiction-free zone peopled by the smiling and well-dressed.

The fight in the Members Stand at Grafton Race Course in 2011 does not suggest the journalist's view of racegoers is an entirely accurate one.

It is also possible that last year local police were not so sure either; The court heard that Coffs/Clarence Police had liaised with Grafton licensed premises in the lead-up to last year's Grafton Cup week to develop strategies to manage alcohol-related anti-social behaviour…..OLGR director of compliance Paul Newson said the office and police would be active again at this year's Grafton Cup race week.

While this advertisement sets a somewhat dubious tone for this year, when even 'staff' at a private party are invited to imbibe:

Date Listed: 26/06/2013 Last Edited: 26/06/2013 Advertised By: Private Job Type:Temp

Waitressing $$$ FUN GIRLS wanted 5th - 8th of July 

Backpackers welcome for this great event !!!!

Your Accommodation, transportation, Alcohol, food and drinks will ALL be provided and you can party whilst your working/having fun. The event is a road trip up North Coast and to attend Grafton Cup race day. we can provide transportation leaving from Sydney on Friday @ approx 2.30pm great opportunity to see NSW beautiful north coast and get paid to do so.

We require 2 girls to come and party with a bunch of fun loving and respectful guys. You would be required to help out with some small tasks like serving drinks and food at the races for the group of 20 gentlemen. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FUN WHILST DOING IT!!! It will more like a wkend away fully catered for with some cash in your pocket!

Please send a photo with you application to waitresesnow@hotmail.com, I look forward to chatting soon

Seems the 'real' Tony Abbott doesn't travel anywhere without his makeup these days

Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott preparing for one of his staged outdoor appearances for the media's benefit on 27 June 2013:

*Photograph from Google Images

Little Georgie Brandis can't so his sums

This was Libs Senator George Brandis on ABC TV Q&A Monday 24th June 2013:

“As everybody - as Graham Richardson and Judith Sloane have pointed out, abortion has not been in issue in this country for more than a decade.” 

More than a decade? No, no, no, Georgie!

Abortion was still a big issue in 2006 when the then Health Minister Tony Abbott fought to keep the drug RU486 from Australian women.

On 9th February that year Georgie told the Senate that he was voting in defence of Abbott's move.

Even using his fingers to count Brandis must be able to reach the number 7 for the years since then.

Photograph from Granny Herald

Antony Green runs Australian Federal Election numbers based on Morgan Poll of 1 July 2013

Roy Morgan Research 1 July 2013:

• Finding No. 5010 
• Topic: Federal Poll

Finding No. 5010 - This multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention was conducted over the last few days via Face-to-Face, Internet and SMS interviewing, June 28-30, 2013 with an Australia-wide cross-section of 3,438 Australian electors aged 18+, of all electors surveyed 1.5% (down 0.5%) did not name a party.

This week’s Morgan Poll, the second since Kevin Rudd became Prime Minister, shows another swing to the ALP. The ALP 51.5% (up 2% since last Wednesday’s special snap SMS Morgan Poll) is now ahead of the L-NP 48.5% (down 2%) on a two-party preferred basis.

The L-NP primary vote is 40.5% (down 2.5%) slightly ahead of the ALP 39.5% (up 1.5%). Among the minor parties Greens support is 8.5% (unchanged) and support for Independents/ Others is 11.5% (up 1%) – including within that support for Katter’s Australian Party of 1.5% and support for the Palmer United Party of 1.5%.

If a Federal Election were held today the result would be a close ALP win according to this weekend’s multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention with an Australia-wide cross-section of 3,438 Australian electors aged 18+.

The Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has improved strongly after Rudd’s return – up 12.5pts to 106 – the highest since mid March 2013. Now 43.5% (up 5%) say Australia is ‘heading in the right direction’ and 37.5% (down 7.5%) say Australia is ‘heading in the wrong direction’....

Antony Green's Election Calculator 1 July 2013:

Calculations based on 1 July 2013 Morgan Poll