Articles
GM Canola buffer lifted from 5 metres to 1.1 km
Scott Kinnear, Director, The Safe Food Foundation
14.05.12 4:54 am
Farmers considering whether to risk their independence for a long-term relationship with a patent holder will be further discouraged by this huge and significant increase in the informal buffer zone. Steve Marsh – like any farmer – has the right to make a living from his farm. And he has a right to control what happens on his property.
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Health | SocietyBring It On – the Australian Greens Build Credibility?
Kate Crowley. Pic: of Christine Milne
14.05.12 4:54 am
Of Milne’s many pressing tasks, one of the most crucial and requiring all her negotiating acumen and skill at consensus politics will be to tend to the many shades of Green now jostling within the party. But for outgoing Senator Bob Brown, Whish-Wilson, the merchant banker, is no contradiction; he is an embodiment of ‘clean, green and clever’ that has inspired Greens for many decades. Brown is confident that, just like his family’s wines, Whish-Wilson will be a gold medal Greens Senator for Tasmania.
Politics | National | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Opinion | SocietyOur beloved green rectangle: New York’s (fraught) romance with Central Park
New York Times
14.05.12 4:21 am
Donald Knowler from “The Falconer of Central Park”: (Our very own Don Knowler of Tassie Times The Chronicle fame) “The hard-core Central Park birding fraternity [includes]...a man who talks loudly because he spent his working life in the railroad switching yard, a viola player with the New York Philharmonic who has an ear for bird songs, and a used-car salesman who frequently warned me about ‘lemons,’ which I did not know grew in the park. Another birder is a retired policeman, and another, I am told, was a bank robber, now deceased.”
Writers | Don Knowler | Environment | Media | SocietyThe disinfectant aroma of burns-tainted wine
Clive Stott http://www.cleanairtas.com
14.05.12 4:18 am
Wines made from grapes exposed to smoke exhibit various aroma characters with some smoke tainted wines containing ‘burnt’, ‘smoked meat’, ‘leather’, ‘disinfectant’, ‘charred’, ‘ashtray’ and ‘salami’ aromas.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Health | Society | Wine‘Next month’ ... and ‘APRIL’ ...
The Hag
14.05.12 4:15 am
Sumatra: This land was once rainforest, but has now been cleared, burned, planted, harvested and burned again
What was that all about ... ? Hag was sitting in a downtown Hobart cafe in recovery from far too much Green Fairy absinthe, natch, when she overheard two middle-aged gentlemen discussing that ghastly proposition, a pulp mill in the Tamar Valley. She didn’t hear much ... other than refs to ‘next month’ and APRIL. Surely, god no, not this mob ...
• Richard Colbeck: Even Prof. West says forestry deal set to fail ...
• Gunns’ latest announcement: The Company requests that its suspension from trading continues until ...
Regulars | The Hag | Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Health | SocietyWhite Australian Policy Affecting our Jobs!
Jack LeRoux
14.05.12 4:06 am
I can imagine the fuss that would be made, if the government announced it would be bringing in 150,000 Africans, Indians, Asians or people from the Middle East to do work. We claim that we can’t possibly accommodate a few thousand asylum-seekers and then the government goes and makes a move like this. Something doesn’t add up.
Politics | International | National | Economy | Opinion | Media | SocietyJean Drake
14.05.12 3:50 am
Barnaby Drake (a long-time TT reader, writer and commenter) passed away on the 11th of May at the Claude Bernard clinic in Albi, France, after a short illness with cancer.
TributeMandy Jackson-Beverly
14.05.12 3:42 am
My mind was repeating over and over to itself, non-fat latte, non-fat latte, non-fat latte, but the minute I arrived at the counter I spat out the words, “a non-fat latte and an apple cinnamon muffin, please.” Right then, that familiar conversation between Mandy the health fairy and her evil sister Mandy the ‘oh for God’s sake, you only live once – live a little’ degenerate erupted in my head.
• redneck ecologist, in Comments: nice work Mandy… makes for a refreshing read amid the on-going forest debate, dying devils, frog deaths, platypus leisons, undrinkable water, moronic politicians, a failed government, the Tarkine, the imminent recession, high unemployment, a failed public health system and the failed attempt to revamp our planning system… maybe we just need to move all meetings to a bakery and sensibility will prevail… Think I’m in need of a bigger set of blinkers or a shot of optimism…
Writers | Mandy Jackson-Beverly | Opinion | PersonalThe vanishing bee ... and economic catastrophe
Washington Times, via Dr Alison Bleaney
14.05.12 3:34 am
A major loss of bees would be an economic catastrophe. And experts say that’s where we’re headed.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Health | SocietyExtinction’s toll could rival climate change
Futurity
14.05.12 3:18 am
Picture: SB
A new study published in the journal Nature directly compares the effects of biological diversity loss to the anticipated effects of a host of other human-caused environmental changes—and highlights the need for stronger local, national, and international efforts to protect biodiversity and the benefits it provides.
Environment | SocietyUrban Design Forum. Picture: of Peter Poulet
14.05.12 2:38 am
In January, Peter Poulet resigned after three years in that position in Tasmania, and has been appointed as the NSW State Architect. Peter says, “The Tasmanian Government should consider employing a Tasmanian this time, because there are many good local people who can do the job. In many ways my job was really to establish the position, establish its credentials, and a local person who understands the nuances of doing business in Tasmania could hit the ground running and not have to spend that time as I did understanding the place.”
Politics | State | Economy | Environment | Planning/Heritage | MediaGreens pan Libs’ plan to cut 10 Days’ funding
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Arts spokesperson
14.05.12 1:02 am
Greens Arts spokesperson, Cassy O’Connor MP, said the Liberals clearly have no idea of the enormous value of the arts sector and the Ten Days festival to the Tasmanian economy.
Politics | Local | State | Arts | SocietyAndrew Nikolic and The New Examiner. 48,000 visit New Examiner ...
Martin Gaylord Editor-in-chief New Examiner
14.05.12 12:57 am
But what did concern us was Nikolic’s next action, informing us that `if we didn’t remove the offending story by 5pm Sunday, he would write to the employers of all the individuals who had ‘‘liked’’ the story.’ He continued to list the names, and employers of some 17 people who had dared tick the `like’ button on Facebook. He’s also used Facebook to endorse a program of contacting public sector employers to inform of which employees were involved in such a `pathetic and disrespectful farce.’ Is there a precedent for this? We can’t recall a single instance of a would-be politician using his perceived position of authority to harass individuals and threaten to risk their employment, simply because of a disagreement of what constitutes satire.
• Cameron, in Comments: Text of my letter to the editor of the Examiner, emailed today 7/5/2012: Recently, my name was included in a post on Andrew Nikolic’s Facebook page in response to a satirical story, also posted on Facebook, at which Mr Nikolic has taken offence. Mr Nikolic’s actions in “naming and shaming” those who ‘liked’ the ‘offensive’ story are reprehensible. His threat to write to my employer is simply juvenile. I am surprised to learn that the concept of free speech is apparently so foreign to someone seeking elected office. His attempt to score cheap points for political gain will win him no fans outside of the rusted-on Liberal Party support base. I invite him to write to my employer, who at least has a sense of humour. C Hindrum, Launceston
• SMH, Wednesday: Liberal candidate threatens Facebook users over satirical article
• YouTube: CurtisLeMaysNose ...
• And it’s popped up in the UK, but no mention in The Examiner or The Advocate
• … But Mercury wakes up, Lib candidate in Facebook spat
• As, finally, does The Examiner: Nikolic branded an online bully ...
• Cameron, in Comments; Gaylord, Cocker, none of these people are the story here. A political candidate losing his shit bigtime and threatening to endanger the livelihoods of some members of his potential electorate—that is the story. And I would think, come the federal election campaign, Mr Nikolic will be reminded of it. People have a right to know who they are voting for.
• Martin Gaylord, in Comments: Since the Sydney Morning Heard published a story about Nikolic’s outburst, some 48,000 people have read the original New Examiner post. Not bad for a harmless little blog. Of the 1,600 emails received, most recognised the satirical nature of the story. About 20 constituted barely literate abuse. The news here, if there is any, is the fact a candidate for public office used threats in response to his misinterpretation of a satirical comment. More damaging, as has been mentioned by others in this thread, is the suggestion Nikolic tried to cover his tracks, and then lied about his actions. I understand others with genuine political motivation are considering legal action against the individual involved, and I have cooperated by providing full transcripts of every comment made on the New Examiner in respect of these matters. The identity of the individual who plagiarised a story and published it on a Facebook page visited by around 10 people on a good week is not news. I note there hasn’t been a single call for the identity of the person who wrote the original Onion story. I know who that person is. They emailed us pointing out the New Examiner had a far better response than they ever did, even though they lampooned a major US public figure. Who, as an aside, saw the humour in the story. I guess some politicians overseas are made of sterner stuff than some of ours.
• Ben Quin, in Comments: We know from past articles that Nikolic monitors TT and has been willing to participate in on-line debate here. What is different this time? Could it be disinterest, bloody-mindedness, cowardice, orders from higher ups? Perhaps he thinks the matter will just subside with time and be forgotten. Whatever reason, it is a shame that we have not heard from him. He is clearly a good prospect at the election and a possible lead player in an Abbott government. Here was the perfect chance for him to present his credentials to a much wider audience than just his facebook friends. There are several topics he may have picked up, most of which have been introduced in comments on this thread. As tough as the discussion would have been, the perspective of the Liberal candidate for Bass would have been welcome.
Politics | National | State | Editor's Choice | Media | SatireIsland may be devil’s last chance
Andrew Darby. Age
14.05.12 12:56 am
A government plan to turn Tasmania’s Maria Island national park into a last refuge for the disease-plagued Tasmanian devil has sparked strong opposition from wildlife advocates.
Politics | National | State | Environment | MediaIs Tasmania a failed state ... ?
Lindsay Tuffin
13.05.12 7:01 am
You have to wonder how much worse it can get ...
• Kim Booth MP: Secrecy around Hydro’s Malaysian dam consultancy, Tasmanian Power Users Left Exposed: The Tasmanian Greens today expressed concern over the lack of transparency around Hydro Tasmania’s risky hydroelectric dam building venture in Malaysia, which had potentially exposed the Tasmanian public to further power price rises. Greens Energy spokesperson Kim Booth MP said his Right to Information request regarding Hydro subsidiary Entura Energy’s consultancy work for the Bakun Dam project in Sarawak had been refused on questionable commercial in-confidence grounds. … First raised on TT here (with not a hint of mainstream media interest)
• Anne Cadwallader. in Comments: Yay to Estelle and Scarlett, this is a FANTASTIC state, just a few dead dinosaurs stinking it up a bit. The west winds will soon blow that all away. Composting works miracles. Perspective is very important ... maybe Tasmanian Times needs a parallel column, the beautiful and brave side of Tasmanian living.
• ABC Online: Power price relief ‘overdue’
• Marta Lenton, in Comments Lindsay’s analogy about the canary in the mineshaft resonates with me. To anybody that has lived interstate and overseas, it may be obvious that many of the same industry-government idiosyncrasies we see here in Tasmania are not unique, indeed they are rife in other places too, but because we are a smaller community, it is simply easier to see them here. A couple of Australian examples recently would be the whole mining tax kerfuffle, or the way that fraccing has menaced even highly populated areas of Sydney around Marrickville. When we ask whether Tasmania is a failed state, it depends on what metric we want to measure it by
Writers | Lindsay Tuffin | Politics | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Editor's Choice | Health | Opinion | SocietyGo back to the days of Electric Eric and The Emperor, says Howes
Matt Smith, Mercury.
12.05.12 6:40 am
“Voters in the eastern suburbs of Sydney who think they are working to help preserve some kind of pristine, untouched natural paradise have no understanding that this is a pulp mill being built in an industrial zone in an area where there is already significant industrial activity and has been for generations” … Mr Howes said the state needed to take the lead of previous state premiers such as Eric Reece and Jim Bacon and stand up to environmental groups. “There is a lot to be said for this state,” he said.
• Anne Cadwallader, in Comments: Go home Mr Howes. Being a “labor powerbroker” - look where that has got us!
• Cameron, in Comments: Finally, the attitude that we can simply continue using resources, unsustainably, as cash cows is also an economic throwback to the 1970s. The cargo cult mentality is, or should be, gone; Gunns has established that woodchip markets are highly volatile (or at best, unreliable) and—pay attention please, Mr Howes—we now need to think outside the box.
• John Biggs, in Comments: Well said Cameron, that just about covers it. Likewise Anne. ” ... no understanding that this is a pulp mill being built in an industrial zone in an area where there is already significant industrial activity and has been for generations.” What an ignorant statement. No distinction between heavy polluting industry and environmentally friendly primary industry, wine, fishing, tourism, the proceeds of which are far greater than anything the mill will produce and would put in jeopardy. How many experts have predicted the mill would be uneconomic in view of the dollar, the declining world market and the competition from S America and China? But Howes is only echoing what both major parties, state and federal, are saying about the mill. How can so many get it so wrong? The question that nags me: what’s in it for the Liberals, Labor and Howes in particular to push this patently uneconomic and divisive project? Can it simply be that they have a mid20th century mindset that their rigid little minds are unable to shake off? Kudelka’s cartoon (HERE) In today’s Mercury was right on, if a little too kind:
• Nick McKim: Tasmania needs to smarten up, not toughen up … populist grandstanding from an old-school unionist stuck in a last-century economic mindset.
• Anne Layton-Bennett, in Comments, Here we go again. So Mr Howes thinks: “that this is a pulp mill being built in an industrial zone in an area where there is already significant industrial activity and has been for generations.” Pretty clear he’s never visited the Long Reach site then. Because contrary to Gunns’ factsheet, (presumably the script Mr Howes is reading from) the mill site is NOT at Bell Bay. There is NO industrial plant or factory anywhere close to the mill site. Until Gunns bulldozed it the site was a native reserve for heaven’s sake. It is surrounded by bushland - crucial habitat for several threatened and endangered species. Like others before him who only ever want to mine, plunder and chop to oblivion Tasmania’s natural resources, Mr Howes does not appear to conceive there are many alternate ways of investing in Tasmania, providing employment and developing economic wealth, that don’t involve the brutal destruction of our environment.
• Tomas, in Comments: This is all becoming just a little too predictable. Editor posts article, rapid rabid pack (terms used advisedly) sets to insults, finger-pointing and general ill behaviour (that I suspect you wouldn’t see if all met face to face, but then again…). I wonder about this group of people who are poised to repeat themselves with the same slogans on any whiff of provocation, so quickly after something like this comes up on a web page. Editor, a suggestion, why don’t you see if you can get a couple of people lined up to produce some interesting comment when you put something like this up - doesn’t have to be balanced dear editor, but it should be polite, thoughtful and perhaps, oh god please just once in a while, not so repetitive in prose?
• Pete Godfrey, in Comments: No company wants to lend Gunns the money because we are a basket case of a state led by idiots who worship the shiny seats that a few privileged bums sit on. They spend too much time listening to lobbyists from companies who want to dig it up and sell it as Mr Howes does. So here are a couple of ideas that have sunk Tasmania in the mire. MIS schemes, Basslink, Selling everything that makes a profit such as Pine Plantations for short term political gain.
• Mike, Gary: Pulpmill site, Bell Bay or Long Reach?
• Richard Colbeck: Heed Paul Howes ...
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | SocietyABC Online
12.05.12 3:07 am
There are calls for a Royal Commission into Tote Tasmania. The call has been prompted by revelations the State Government could be exposed to a multi million dollar damages claim because of Tote’s investment in a failed online betting agency, before its sale to the Melbourne-based Tatts group earlier this year for $103 million. In 2009, the then state-owned agency invested $5 million the online bookmaker, Sports Alive, which later collapsed, owing millions.
• Kim Booth ...
Politics | State | Economy | SocietyRupert: Lots of Love, or is that laughs, from Rebekah ...
The Guardian
12.05.12 1:33 am
This way David ... Rebekah Brooks shows PM Cameron the way ... Picture, from New Yorker here, in an article which is an insight into this incestuous world ...
Though less damaging than some in Downing Street had feared, Brooks’ testimony also proved embarrassing for David Cameron. She revealed the prime minister signed texts “DC” or sometimes “LOL” – until she explained that the phrase meant “laugh out loud”, not “lots of love”. She said she typically texted Cameron once a week, and twice a week during the 2010 election campaign, dismissing as preposterous reports that he sometimes texted her up to 12 times per day.
Politics | International | Media | SocietyHeart-wrenching stories of addiction. Stand up to pokie barons
Kim Booth MP Greens Gaming Spokesperson MR
11.05.12 6:45 am
Mercury: Ex-addict tells of pokie hell. Pic, first used here. Please tell TT who took the pic so we can credit it.
“The Greens can’t say how much we appreciate these people having the courage to come forward and to talk about their addiction, in the hope that others won’t have to go through the same ordeal.” “We heard evidence of families who’d lost loved ones to suicide, of time spent in prison because of crimes committed to feed an addiction and of children going to bed without meals because there was only a salt and pepper shaker on the table.” “These are stories of family destruction, community destruction and loss of productivity right across the economy.”
• Kim Booth: Stand up to pokie barons ...
• Greg James, in Comments: re:5, The gaming deed does not come up for review, it now exists on options that are agreed between Treasury and Federal Hotels. This is a product of Bacon, Aird, Crean and Challen, all of whom have now gone and retarded the State with this long term problem. Crean was even prepared to mislead Parliament by stating that the Competition Authority had no interest in this continuation of the Deed, when they had indicated otherwise. The Liberals led by Rene Hidding gave Federal Hotels all the support they needed for this travesty and Hidding did not have the mental acuity to work out if the Deed had any value. The Liberals then announced their support for the $1.00 bet, but withdrew that support after Greg Farrell bought 3 pages in the local papers denouncing Will Hodgman. The Liberals who were intimidated by the power of advertising withdrew their support and now are actively trying to cancel Kim Booth’s $1.00 committee with the support of the ALP. This is the support both parties give to the new poor who play pokies.
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Personal | SocietyCutting Edge Forest Protest on Hobart’s waterfront last night
Jenny Weber Huon Valley Environment Centre http://www.huon.org http://www.nativeforest.net MR.
11.05.12 6:05 am
“In a cutting edge action, Huon Valley Environment Centre projected messages saying ‘Stop Selling Forest Destruction’, and images of logging areas that Ta Ann has received timber from,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said. “Last night’s innovative projected images will be used online to continue to expose the practices of this Malaysian logging company and the loss of forests in Tasmania to feed their contract,” Jenny Weber said.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Economy | Environment | SocietyMercury
11.05.12 6:01 am
Image: J
The jump from 7 per cent took the unemployment rate to its highest level since June 2003. The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal a loss of 2500 jobs in April.
• Harkins pulls out of Senate race, leaving Thorp in ...
• Paul O’Halloran MR: Childcare review a step closer
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | SocietyLucy Poskitt, The Examiner. Pic: of Greg L'Estrange
11.05.12 5:44 am
Managing director Greg L’Estrange said yesterday that Gunns had a strong commitment to sustainability, and the grant showed the company was working with the community to address issues of local interest and concern. Two years ago, Gunns welcomed a report that found there were no water quality issues with the George River, after an independent inquiry investigated concerns that toxicants from eucalypt plantations were affecting public health and the health of farmed oysters at St Helens.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | SocietyAmid Abbott’s criticisms, unanswered questions fester
Lenore Taylor, Camden Town Courier. Michelle Grattan. Tim Lester
11.05.12 5:28 am
But the broken-down state of Australian politics means both Labor’s budget and the Coalition’s reply are, more than ever before, determined by short term political tactics rather than the real long term vision that could inspire the national mind.
• Michelle Grattan, The Age: Workmanlike Abbott presents a small target
• ‘Bugger the numbers’ says angry Oakeshott on Thomson saga
• Liberals’ toxic war ...
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | SocietyJan Davis' Tasmanian Country column today. MR
11.05.12 3:53 am
Jan Davis, ABC pic
I have said before that the ideal of locking most of Tasmania away as a world heritage national park comes at a huge cost. Interstate resentment at footing the bill for this is growing. We are also beginning to hear reports of concerns about how you protect such a huge area of reserved forested land. Who fights the bushfires in the parks? Not the conservation organisations that demanded their creation. They are nowhere to be seen.
• TFGA welcomes Libs commitment to agriculture
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Opinion | SocietyThe National Unaustralian Bank
Independent Australia contributing editor-at-large Tess Lawrence. Pic: of Tess Lawrence
11.05.12 3:37 am
Professor Evan Jones, a political economist who continues to be a fearless campaigner and researcher into the corruption of the NAB and Judiciary – as well as other banks – said today that he was not surprised about the Affidavit of Service. “Given my accumulated experience of over a decade of collecting information on victims of major bank malpractice in Australia, nothing should surprise me anymore,” said Mr Jones. “But the more the information flows in, and new victims continue to contact me (not the least, victims of the NAB), the extent and character of the corruption continues to shock me,” he said. “The number of bottom-feeders living off bank corruption is a shocker; but on top of it all, the associated corruption of the judiciary is the most disgraceful dimension of the whole stinking mess.”
• SMH: NAB’s record first-half cash profit.
Economy | Legal | Personal | SocietyTell me why. The Obama Bombshell. Rallies ...
Rodney Croome, Australian Marriage Equality Campaign Director
10.05.12 5:03 am
The research also shows something which is obvious to anyone with eyes to see: the predictions made by campaigners against marriage equality have not come true. Heterosexual people have not stopped marrying, children are not confused about who their parents are, and people are not marrying their pets.
• The Obama Bombshell, NYT: Obama Says Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legal, HERE WASHINGTON — President Obama on Wednesday ended nearly two years of “evolving” on the issue of same-sex marriage by publicly endorsing it in a television interview, taking a definitive stand on one of the most contentious and politically charged social issues of the day.
• Alex Greenwich, Australian Marriage Equality ...
• Nick McKim ...
• AME: NZ PM’s support further isolates Gillard Abbott ...
Toon via Baz
‘New life ahead for Zombie’. Ta Ann ship protest
Paddy Manning BusinessDay, SMH
10.05.12 1:46 am
Greg L’Estrange: He’s done an enormous job
Gunns’s chief executive, Greg L’Estrange, whose contract expires in July, was overseas meeting investors this week and would not comment on the capital raising but has told BusinessDay the pulp mill was in the top quartile of cost-competitiveness worldwide.
• SMH, Wednesday, May 9: New life ahead for zombie Gunns, HERE: It is no surprise that Tasmanian forestry business Gunns still wants to build its $2.3 billion pulp mill at Bell Bay in the Tamar Valley. What is surprising is that anyone wants to fund it. Yet as BusinessDay reported on the weekend, a handful of key institutional shareholders are poised to do just that, backing a circa $400 million capital raising to stave off Gunns’ bankers and get the project moving along without an equity partner. Good money after bad? Not the way the instos see it. Gunns current share price – 16 cents, where it was suspended on March 9 – puts them in a difficult situation. The company’s reported asset backing is 88 cents a share and while there may be a degree of scepticism about that number, key fund managers believe the share price does not reflect anything like the value of Gunns’ 150,000-hectare hardwood plantation estate, let alone ascribe any value to the pulp mill project which has all necessary approvals.
• Thursday, May 10: Protest at Ta Ann timber vessel in Tasmania; Two arrests. Two released
• Senator Richard Colbeck ...
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | SocietyMore bad news for Tasmania. Wilkie’s plea to PM on Tassie Health
ABC Online
09.05.12 6:35 am
Image: J
The Budget papers show GST revenue delivered to the island state will be $114 million less than forecast for the coming financial year, falling to $2.6 billion. Looking ahead, the amount of GST revenue the State Government was expecting to receive over the next four years is forecast to fall by almost $0.5 billion.
• Keep up-to-date with the range of breaking stories and opinions on The Budget by using the Tasmanian Times’ NEWS Dropdown (top nav bar). NEWS gives you the Australian and World Google news-wrap. Breaking News in the Dropdown the latest in your area’s browser. And use the Dropdown to keep abreast of the daily breaking stories from around the world …
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia: Business certainty destroyed on path towards budget surplus
• Andrew Wilkie ...
• Jan Davis, TFGA ...
• Andrew Wilkie: The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has written to the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, calling for a $400m federal rescue package for Tasmania’s public health system.
• Christine Milne: Biodiversity Fund delivers $271 million for climate and regional Australia
• Nick McKim: Green dividend to Tasmanians
• ABC Online, via Jude, in Comments: Senator Sherry brings forward retirement ...
...As Lin Thorp throws her hat in the ring. ABC Online HERE The Tasmanian Premier says she would support the nomination of former Labor Government Minister Lin Thorp if she enters the contest for a Labor Senate seat which becomes vacant next month. Longtime incumbent and former frontbencher Nick Sherry has told the Tasmanian branch of the Labor Party that he will leave the Senate in June. The party needs to choose a replacement by June the 19th, when the Tasmanian Parliament returns from recess, and two high profile Labor figures have already suggested they are interested, including Lin Thorp. The Secretary of Unions Tasmania Secretary Kevin Harkins is also considering his options, but has not decided whether he will nominate. Mr Harkins’ bid for a Senate spot in 2009 was thwarted by the intervention of the then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | SocietyMinerals Council claims don’t add up
Scott Jordan, Campaign Coordinator, Tarkine National Coalition, Paul Oosting, Campaigns Director, GetUp!
09.05.12 2:55 am
“Mr Long’s has deliberately misled the public on the size of proposed mining, despite company documents being on the public record”, said Tarkine National Coalition spokesperson Scott Jordan. “A football oval is roughly 2 hectares, a little less. The smallest of the Venture Minerals proposals is Riley Creek at 118 hectares, or 59 football ovals. The Stanley River proposal is 362 hectares or 161 football ovals. The largest at Mt Lindsay being a whopping 1104 hectares the equivalent of (including grandstands) 420 Melbourne Cricket Grounds, with a 1.5km open cut pit depth of 220 metres or twice the height of the Sydney Harbour Bridge”.
SocietyThe flip side to Bill Gates’ charity billions
Andrew Bowman. New Internationalist
09.05.12 2:50 am
Microsoft’s former CEO has made record-breaking donations to global health programmes – but an investigation by Andrew Bowman reveals some unpleasant side-effects. Depending on what side of bed Gates gets out of in the morning, it can shift the terrain of global health. Appealing to the mega-rich to be more charitable is not a solution to global health problems. This kind of philanthropy is either a distraction or potentially harmful.
Meanwhile: The Gillard government breaks it’s promise to increase Australia’s foreign aid contribution: in today’s Age HERE:
Politics | International | National | Economy | Opinion | Media | Society
