So James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch have combined forces to take over Channel 10. Good on them - media diversity is good for the nation. Can't believe that I just wrote that ;-)
And it reminds me of the last attempt of the Packer and Murdoch boys to run a serious Australian business. Who can forget One-Tel? Certainly not the investors and probably not Jodee Rich or Brad Keeling either.
But seriously - good luck to them. I hope it goes well and with any luck they will be able to project all that excellent News Ltd content onto many more Australian eyeballs. I just can't wait to see Fox News on free to air television.
The only question is what will they call their new venture? My suggestion is "One Oh - Tel Evision". Or if they don't like that, how about "Two-Tel" or even "A^Sky^A"?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
A Carbon Price
Jeez - the monk is back into it again today talking about how a *price on carbon* will push the price of electricity up and other blah, blah, and blah.
Haven't we gotten over this yet? Didn't the people repudiate this *delay and deny* climate nonsense from the Coalition at the last election? Surely there can't be more than two or three dimwits left in the nation who haven't yet got the message?
The Government just needs to get on with it. There is more than enough information about what to do and how to do it - ask Ross Garnaut to give you a précis if you are not clear. You could develop a competent plan just by googling "Climate Change Mitigation" for christ sake.
The simple reality is - "The longer the delay then the higher the cost and the bigger the impact". Did you understand that? If not then I will repeat it - "The longer the delay then the higher the cost and the bigger the impact".
Everyone who is even half smart about the problem gets it - why not our friggin politicians?
I reckon we should give them a deadline. Either you have a price on carbon regulated and up and running by close of business next Friday - or you don't have a job - simple.
Haven't we gotten over this yet? Didn't the people repudiate this *delay and deny* climate nonsense from the Coalition at the last election? Surely there can't be more than two or three dimwits left in the nation who haven't yet got the message?
The Government just needs to get on with it. There is more than enough information about what to do and how to do it - ask Ross Garnaut to give you a précis if you are not clear. You could develop a competent plan just by googling "Climate Change Mitigation" for christ sake.
The simple reality is - "The longer the delay then the higher the cost and the bigger the impact". Did you understand that? If not then I will repeat it - "The longer the delay then the higher the cost and the bigger the impact".
Everyone who is even half smart about the problem gets it - why not our friggin politicians?
I reckon we should give them a deadline. Either you have a price on carbon regulated and up and running by close of business next Friday - or you don't have a job - simple.
Leadership
Like many Australian's I am hoping that one day soon we might see a small glimmer of the leadership that is needed to ensure we are *Moving Forward* in the right direction and heading toward a destination that most of us will be happy with.
But then I have been hoping for that since November 2007 and all we have seen is *me too* popularism and an almost complete *shirking* of responsibility by our political leaders.
Now part of that is because both major party leaders - the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition - and their staff are so disconnected from reality that it hurts.
The Prime Minister looked like an OK sort of person when she was the Deputy. She was coherent and had some passion and a persona despite the fact that she comes from Adelaide. But since she got the main gig she has become Madame Bland. She needs to resurrect some passion, acquire some courage and start to do the things that are expected of a leader and Prime Minister. Like lead and take some risks. Do some good and don't be evil. Stand up and be counted. And so on.
And the Opposition Leader really needs to take a long holiday and book himself in for the necessary surgery to have his personality bypass reversed. Because the man is seriously on the nose with a large subset of our population. He obviously knows this because he has moderated his approach recently and has turned on the invisible shield - hoping we won't notice. Where's Tony they all say? The trouble is that everyone knows he is faking it and can't wait to start rampaging again.
One of the bigger problems is that both parties have a quality problem on their front benches and so support for the leader is thin. But there are actually some good people in the Parliament - the biggest problem is that the party systems tend to bypass the doers in support of the yes men. And mostly they are old white and male ;-)
The real issue is that the party system hasn't grown up - they are still operating as though it is 1970 - fix that and I suspect that you will fix the leadership problem.
But then I have been hoping for that since November 2007 and all we have seen is *me too* popularism and an almost complete *shirking* of responsibility by our political leaders.
Now part of that is because both major party leaders - the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition - and their staff are so disconnected from reality that it hurts.
The Prime Minister looked like an OK sort of person when she was the Deputy. She was coherent and had some passion and a persona despite the fact that she comes from Adelaide. But since she got the main gig she has become Madame Bland. She needs to resurrect some passion, acquire some courage and start to do the things that are expected of a leader and Prime Minister. Like lead and take some risks. Do some good and don't be evil. Stand up and be counted. And so on.
And the Opposition Leader really needs to take a long holiday and book himself in for the necessary surgery to have his personality bypass reversed. Because the man is seriously on the nose with a large subset of our population. He obviously knows this because he has moderated his approach recently and has turned on the invisible shield - hoping we won't notice. Where's Tony they all say? The trouble is that everyone knows he is faking it and can't wait to start rampaging again.
One of the bigger problems is that both parties have a quality problem on their front benches and so support for the leader is thin. But there are actually some good people in the Parliament - the biggest problem is that the party systems tend to bypass the doers in support of the yes men. And mostly they are old white and male ;-)
The real issue is that the party system hasn't grown up - they are still operating as though it is 1970 - fix that and I suspect that you will fix the leadership problem.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Three Things
I want to nominate three things that our government can do to earn itself some credibility while demonstrating leadership on three issues of national importance.
1. Our Media - Have the Communications Minister inform the ABC Leadership that they are to no longer provide a forum for News Ltd to push their right wing agenda. Make sure the ABC Board understands that this includes getting rid of the News Ltd staffers who *appear* on ABC shows. Tell them that if News Ltd wants a television platform then they should go see James and Lachlan and get engaged to Channel 10 - and pay the appropriate commercial rates.
2. Our Housing System - Get the Productivity Commission (or some other appropriate body) to enquire into the housing market including the banks, the developers, the state governments and everyone else who makes money by selling housing and its components to the poor old *buyers*. With the objective being to "level the playing field" and to remove the "distortions" that end up by lining the pockets of the *sellers* while ripping off the *buyers*. Regulate if necessary to ensure that all participants have equal knowledge, information and power - starting next week. Heavily tax the excessive profits of the profiteers - including the State Governments.
3. Our Personal Transport - Introduce a large *annoyance* tax on our oversized personal transport vehicles - that has the effect of seriously *increasing* the tax on large, heavy and fuel inefficient vehicles. If necessary, double or even triple this tax on large truck like 4wd's that are garaged in urban areas. Use this tax to actively discourage the use of heavy vehicles in urban areas. Introduce a rebate (that is funded by this tax) to people who choose to walk or use bicycles or other non-polluting urban transport. And do it now.
And use these things to buy some breathing space while you work out and start to execute a real plan for the nation.
1. Our Media - Have the Communications Minister inform the ABC Leadership that they are to no longer provide a forum for News Ltd to push their right wing agenda. Make sure the ABC Board understands that this includes getting rid of the News Ltd staffers who *appear* on ABC shows. Tell them that if News Ltd wants a television platform then they should go see James and Lachlan and get engaged to Channel 10 - and pay the appropriate commercial rates.
2. Our Housing System - Get the Productivity Commission (or some other appropriate body) to enquire into the housing market including the banks, the developers, the state governments and everyone else who makes money by selling housing and its components to the poor old *buyers*. With the objective being to "level the playing field" and to remove the "distortions" that end up by lining the pockets of the *sellers* while ripping off the *buyers*. Regulate if necessary to ensure that all participants have equal knowledge, information and power - starting next week. Heavily tax the excessive profits of the profiteers - including the State Governments.
3. Our Personal Transport - Introduce a large *annoyance* tax on our oversized personal transport vehicles - that has the effect of seriously *increasing* the tax on large, heavy and fuel inefficient vehicles. If necessary, double or even triple this tax on large truck like 4wd's that are garaged in urban areas. Use this tax to actively discourage the use of heavy vehicles in urban areas. Introduce a rebate (that is funded by this tax) to people who choose to walk or use bicycles or other non-polluting urban transport. And do it now.
And use these things to buy some breathing space while you work out and start to execute a real plan for the nation.
Monday, November 15, 2010
QandA
I don't know who watches Q and A and why they would - but I won't.
Doesn't anyone else wonder why your ABC makes extra special effort to accommodate many of the right wing dingbats from the Murdoch press every other week?
I am happy to fund the ABC - but I choose not to read the crap that oozes from Rupert's minions. My choice.
So why do I have to listen to and look at those same people who have a semi-permanent invitation on QandA and Insiders and a raft of other ABC shows?
Is Rupert owed something by your ABC? Does the ABC leadership think they owe him something? Are they all interviewing at NEWS Corp? Is there something Mark Scott should be telling Australian's? Is this the Board's idea?
It's weird - and it is outrageous - your ABC is not NEWS Corp yet - so please get the dingbats off the friggin show!
Doesn't anyone else wonder why your ABC makes extra special effort to accommodate many of the right wing dingbats from the Murdoch press every other week?
I am happy to fund the ABC - but I choose not to read the crap that oozes from Rupert's minions. My choice.
So why do I have to listen to and look at those same people who have a semi-permanent invitation on QandA and Insiders and a raft of other ABC shows?
Is Rupert owed something by your ABC? Does the ABC leadership think they owe him something? Are they all interviewing at NEWS Corp? Is there something Mark Scott should be telling Australian's? Is this the Board's idea?
It's weird - and it is outrageous - your ABC is not NEWS Corp yet - so please get the dingbats off the friggin show!
Immigration Scam
Finally Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has got his act together and *fixed* one of the worst immigration scams that was perfected under the Howard government.
"The existing points test has not always led to outcomes consistent with the objectives of the skilled migration program." Mr Bowen said.
"For example, the current test puts an overseas student with a short term vocational qualification and one year’s work experience in Australia ahead of a Harvard educated environmental engineer with three years relevant work experience."
"The new points test will ensure we select the best and brightest people from a large pool of potential migrants."
The previous system was a smokescreen - designed to enrich at least three conservative constituencies.
Firstly, the not quite tertiary education colleges who were making money hand over fist from migrants who were here to gain residency - with an education being a secondary consideration.
Secondly, the real estate industry who were using this large inflow of tenants to sell us all on a manufactured property *growth* story in our mainland capitals - but particularly Melbourne.
Thirdly, the fast food and convenience store industry and other casual employers who were hiring these people on very low and sometimes quite illegal rates.
This immigration scam was a way to satisfy all three and keep everyone voting conservative. You could view it as a prototype for what was to become WorkChoices.
Isn't free enterprise a marvellous thing - especially when you have a nice little scam managed for you by the government? The amazing thing is how it went unreported for so long - clearly our media have lost the ability to inquire and expose. What a surprise?
"The existing points test has not always led to outcomes consistent with the objectives of the skilled migration program." Mr Bowen said.
"For example, the current test puts an overseas student with a short term vocational qualification and one year’s work experience in Australia ahead of a Harvard educated environmental engineer with three years relevant work experience."
"The new points test will ensure we select the best and brightest people from a large pool of potential migrants."
The previous system was a smokescreen - designed to enrich at least three conservative constituencies.
Firstly, the not quite tertiary education colleges who were making money hand over fist from migrants who were here to gain residency - with an education being a secondary consideration.
Secondly, the real estate industry who were using this large inflow of tenants to sell us all on a manufactured property *growth* story in our mainland capitals - but particularly Melbourne.
Thirdly, the fast food and convenience store industry and other casual employers who were hiring these people on very low and sometimes quite illegal rates.
This immigration scam was a way to satisfy all three and keep everyone voting conservative. You could view it as a prototype for what was to become WorkChoices.
Isn't free enterprise a marvellous thing - especially when you have a nice little scam managed for you by the government? The amazing thing is how it went unreported for so long - clearly our media have lost the ability to inquire and expose. What a surprise?
OECD Economic Survey
There has been and will continue to be a lot of nonsense written about the recently released OECD Economic Survey of Australia. Most people won't get to read the detail for themselves and will have to make do with having it presented to them through the *filter* of our "high quality" media ;-)
There are lots to digest and most of it is top notch. Chapter 3 focuses on infrastructure - and as some of us will be aware various Australian governments have underfunded the national infrastructure for decades.
Nothing illustrates this more than "Figure 3.4 Commonwealth spending on road and rail infrastructure" - sorry but I can't show it or point to it here.
But the numbers are telling - during the last 5 years of the Howard/Costello government spending was at an average of a little more than $2 billion each year. The first five years of the Rudd/Gillard/Swan government (actual and projected) has spending at an average of a little more than $5 billion each year. A 2.5 times increase!
That well illustrates the scale of the problem that was created by the conservatives - and which now needs to be addressed by our national government. But you probably won't see that discussed in the main stream media.
There are lots to digest and most of it is top notch. Chapter 3 focuses on infrastructure - and as some of us will be aware various Australian governments have underfunded the national infrastructure for decades.
Nothing illustrates this more than "Figure 3.4 Commonwealth spending on road and rail infrastructure" - sorry but I can't show it or point to it here.
But the numbers are telling - during the last 5 years of the Howard/Costello government spending was at an average of a little more than $2 billion each year. The first five years of the Rudd/Gillard/Swan government (actual and projected) has spending at an average of a little more than $5 billion each year. A 2.5 times increase!
That well illustrates the scale of the problem that was created by the conservatives - and which now needs to be addressed by our national government. But you probably won't see that discussed in the main stream media.
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