About a week ago, as we Melburnians began Lockdown 2, I realised that many other cities and areas are in the same position. I realised that ‘this’ may well be our medium-term future – permanent physical distancing, local cluster lockdowns, no international (and minimum domestic) travel, no large scale events (sports, entertainment, pubs, clubs, restaurants). And I realised that no one seems to be planning for this as our ‘future’. Everyone is assuming we will return to old normal. With no vaccine on the near-term horizon, the number of global cases continuing to hit daily records, this no longer seems likely. I wondered: What might our medium-term future really look like?Read More »
Category: Business
Why Traditional Arts Are Being Ignored During Covi
I’m a financial supporter of various art forms. I love the theatre, cinema, live music, art exhibitions, drawing. So I’ve been surprised that, during this chaotic covi period, what we have heard from traditional Arts organisations and people is pleas for financial assistance. Arts are very vulnerable and deserve support, because they nurture and challenge society. They appear not to have received their ‘fair’ share of support. Here’s why.Read More »
THE UGLY TRUTH: CORONAVIRUS RESPONSES SACRIFICE THE YOUNG TO BENEFIT THE OLD
I rarely agree with Trump…but he’s right (for the wrong reasons) to call to open up the economy. The ugly truth is this: we are currently sacrificing the Young (say Under 60s) for the benefit of the Old (say Over 60s). Progressing from the current lockdowns should address this. Here’s how.Read More »
CORONAVIRUS IN AUSTRALIA: DO THE FACTS JUSTIFY THE ACTIONS?
We are all very concerned about the spread of CV, the overall risk to us and the chance of personally dying. Information from the Department of Health’s reporting (health.gov.au – coronavirus current statistics), as opposed to the media and pictures you get, show that the real story is significantly different from people’s fears. Do the facts justify the current set of actions? What should be/should have been done?Read More »
The BENEFITS of Coronavirus!
While we’re all bemoaning the impact of coronavirus on our personal worlds, crises like these often change some aspects of our behaviour positively, permanently. Since the Esso Longford Bass Strait gas explosion in 1998 stopped our gas supply for several months and we had no hot water or stove, we switched to washing clothes in cold water…and never changed back. Unpredicted stock market crashes in 1987 and 2001 (repeated in 2008 and now 2020) led me to use professional investment advice, despite my own financial background. I proved to myself that someone else made better decisions than I had…and I became more conservative as well.
So what unexpected positive changes will the coronavirus epidemic bring, as it bears down so rapidly upon us?Read More »
WHERE DO ALL THE HORSES GO?
In the middle of the current Australian horseracing season, an ABC current affairs program showed disturbing footage of some racehorses being treated badly before being killed at an abbatoirs. Australians were shocked. Various investigations and enquiries were started. One state racing organisation immediately announced a $25m program for better ‘career options’ and treatment for horses at the end of their racing life. But where do all the horses go after they have raced? Read More »
LORD HOWE ISLAND: THE FUTURE OF TOURISM?
Imagine a holiday to a destination with:
– a pleasant sub-tropical climate
– spectacular landscapes
– great walks
– great marine life, world-class coral and unique bird life
– a World Heritage Area
– no rubbish, with world class waste management systems
– very few other tourists (400 maximum by law)
– very few residents
– very few shops
– no advertising boards
– no internet, mobile phone coverage or TV
– very few cars, a 25kph speed limit, no seat belts
– cycling and walking predominate
– warm and friendly people
– no locks on homes and where possessions (bikes, kayaks, boats) can be left in public places
– no unemployment
– a functioning, transparent council
– 2 hrs from Sydney and Brisbane
Too good to be true? That’s Lord Howe Island!Read More »
Lord Howe Island is Great…but Beware of Qantas’ Flights
Lord Howe Island is a wonderful, unique environmental experience. But be warned! Qantas can ruin it for you. Here’s how and what should be done to avoid this.Read More »
WHY I’M SUPPORTING OLIVER YATES –INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR KOOYONG
As the Federal election pre-poll voting opens tomorrow (April 29), I want to tell you why I’m supporting Oliver Yates. I’ve run two ‘Meet Oliver’ sessions for friends and neighbours, organised leafletting all 93 areas by volunteers, leafletted some myself, worn my Oliver Yates teal (Independent) T-shirt and I’ll be giving out how-to-vote cards this week and next at the polling site. As you can see, I’m committed to voting out Josh Frydenberg, the current member, Treasurer, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and former Minister for the Environment, despite needing a 13% swing to unseat him.
Why??Read More »
When ‘Average’ is OK
In Garrison Keilor’s mythical town of Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, ‘all the children are above average’. And that’s where we’d all like our superannuation fund returns to be – above average. And that’s what the Productivity Commission is trying to achieve, by suggesting that all default schemes should be chosen from one of the ‘top 10’ or ‘best in show’ funds and underperforming funds should be closed. It sounds great! Where’s the flaw?Read More »
