THE CLIMATE ELECTION??? WHERE’S THE EVIDENCE WE REALLY CARE?

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If we are to believe the experts, we have only 12 years to turn around the carbon emissions of the planet. So, this month’s Australian national election has been dubbed the ‘climate election’. Yet, the Government has no climate policy at all and the Opposition is only planning to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030. Meanwhile the Greens, which do propose to reduce emissions to net zero by 2040, are only attracting 9% in opinion polls.

What’s wrong with this country? And is it the parties, the media or the people who are at fault?Read More »

HOW TO FIX AFL SCORING: SUPPORT THE ATTACKING PLAYER!

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The AFL made a whole series of rule changes this year, designed to make it easier to score, since scoring is declining and defensiveness is winning matches. The results of the first 6 rounds show…scoring continues to decline!! It is the lowest it has been for many years.

After watching several tightly-contested, scrappy, hard-fought games, I’m convinced the answer is not more rule changes, but a return to earlier rule interpretations: support the attacking player!Read More »

WHY I’M SUPPORTING OLIVER YATES –INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR KOOYONG

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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

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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 »

Dear Bill (Shorten)

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You’ll probably be Prime Minister next May, given the current Government rabble. Friends who know you tell me you’re a good man, but from what I see on TV and read, you’re very difficult to believe in. And your performance yesterday – in Parliament and on TV – was so disappointing. It was the last day of Parliament for the year (not your fault). Yet there you were, bickering over the optics, the politics, not discussing what your Party’s principles or policies would be if/when you are in government, not motivating or building credibility with a cynical electorate.

Read More »

LAW 5 JUSTICE 0: The Predicted Score of the Royal Commission into Victorian Policy Informer 3838

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So a Victorian police informer has been revealed, a(nother) Royal Commission announced and major gangland criminals are lining up to have their cases reviewed and decisions annulled, due to legal procedural errors by the Victorian Police. A whistleblower is struck down. The Police’s reputation is trashed. Criminals are likely to win. I predict the score will be Law 5 Justice 0 – a thrashing for Justice. We will all be losers. Here’s why.Read More »

Dear John Pesutto: Climate Change, the Liberal Party and the Victorian State Election

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Dear John (Pesutto),
I went to a ‘Climate change: why should I care?’ meeting this week. You and the other candidates for the State electoral seat of Hawthorn were there to present your policies for this month’s election, along with experts talking about the current state of our reactions to climate change. Given the global importance and urgency of this issue, yours – and the Liberal – response was so disappointing. No wonder you were booed.Read More »