MALCOLM Fraser and Margaret Thatcher were fond of likening government to a household. A household that spent more than it earned was headed for trouble, they argued. They had a point, up to a point. The conservative side of politics has extolled the virtue of fiscal rectitude. And it is a worthy cause. Without it, society’s ideals cannot be met. But there is more to house-keeping and government budgeting than ensuring you are on the right side of Micawber’s equation*. Continue reading “More than Micawber to good government”
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Useful but lethal — Coal is looking more like asbestos
IN THE 1960s asbestos mining was a very profitable business. And it created a lot of jobs. Asbestos was very useful – indeed one of the best insulating materials known to humankind. Continue reading “Useful but lethal — Coal is looking more like asbestos”
Ita reveals the business case for acting on climate change
YOU cannot unboil an egg. I know the expression is supposed to be “you cannot unscramble an egg”, and you would think that that would be more appropriate in a discussion about Cyclone Ita, but we have 22 boiled eggs in the fridge right now at home in Port Douglas. Continue reading “Ita reveals the business case for acting on climate change”
A secret no financial adviser will tell you
THIS is something no financial adviser will tell you (and more on freedom of speech later). By far the best investment you can make today with totally guaranteed returns is to put a solar voltaic system on your roof. Continue reading “A secret no financial adviser will tell you”
Benighted Labor failed to create a true Order of Australia
THE real lesson from the knights and dames event is that Labor has naively believed in the march of progress. Labor has imagined that, once a significant reform has been achieved, everyone will see is merits and it will not be unwound. Continue reading “Benighted Labor failed to create a true Order of Australia”
A plan for the ABC and SBS
OUR household has just subscribed to the wonderful BBC iPlayer app. The event has led me to suggest a plan for the ABC when it inevitably has to respond to the politically biased cuts in funding that loom in the May budget. Continue reading “A plan for the ABC and SBS”
Axe double dissolutions — there are better ways
SO, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has almost got his trigger for a double dissolution election. It is very unlikely he will use it, at least not for a while. But it does raise the question of how the system deals with an obstructionist Opposition. Continue reading “Axe double dissolutions — there are better ways”
Ouch — the senator who thought money drove everything
WHAT a joy to hear in the past week or so two voices of disinterested reason rising above the special interest groups. It would be a greater joy if their sensible words were listened to and acted upon. The voices were those of Professor Ross Garnaut and Dr Ken Henry. Continue reading “Ouch — the senator who thought money drove everything”
Anti-social Tweet’s $105,000 deterrent
BE CAREFUL using Twitter, you might be sued for defamation.
There, I have said it in less than the 140 character limit, but there is much more to the story than that.
Much was made this week of an award of $105,000 against a 20-year-old Orange former schoolboy Andrew Farley who used Twitter to defame a music teacher who was appointed to a position vacated by his father on medical grounds. Continue reading “Anti-social Tweet’s $105,000 deterrent”
Of droughts and flooding farmers’ gains
JOHN Howard had it right on agriculture. Tony Abbott has it wrong. The latest farm hand-out is another example of the Abbott Government’s inconsistency and justification-on-the-run when it comes to government assistance. Continue reading “Of droughts and flooding farmers’ gains”