Popeye works don't it?
- but was Joe Hockey meant to be?
Coalition divisions emerge over climate report
Updated 1 hour 26 minutes ago
The Climate Commission says evidence for climate change has never been stronger. (Library of Congress)
Divisions within the Federal Coalition over climate change have been on show after the Climate Commission released its first report yesterday.
The commission, whose report says the evidence that the planet is warming is now even stronger, will host a forum for politicians in Canberra today to discuss the findings.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says there is bipartisan support for the science in the report.
But in a Senate estimates hearing, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz questioned the credibility of the commission and its chairman, Professor Tim Flannery....<cont>
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You and whose army?
11:35AM Tuesday May 24, 2011
EVEN by Bob Katter's Olympian standards in the art of calling a press conference to announce nothing at all, it was a triple gold-medal effort.
''I'm not saying yes, I'm not saying no, I'm not saying anything,'' he declared, before continuing to say it in a stream of consciousness that would leave Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Pauline Hanson and possibly James Joyce gasping in admiration.
What he was saying, or not, was that he would set up a new independent political party or movement, or not, and that whatever it was, he'd be calling another press conference in a few days, or perhaps a few weeks, or maybe a few months, to announce it. ...<cont>
Also....I read in the NYT that the anti-carbon tax people have brought in an Australian man who worked for the tea-baggers....it was noting concerns about the decline of political debate in Australia....that it was becoming like the worst of the US stuff, and attributing some of it ti teabag methods.
I am sick.
Blanchett exposed for the 'crime' of speaking up
Tom Arup/the AGE
May 30, 2011 - 12:09PM
Comments 447
Opposition slams a new television ad featuring Cate Blanchett and Michael Caton advocating a carbon tax.
Who knew Cate Blanchett was so wicked? Finally, she's been exposed, and a good thing too.
If you've missed the weekend kerfuffle, we've learnt that Cate Blanchett is the wrong kind of rich — a person of means and profile prepared to stand up for causes more general than her own self-interest.
What was the woman thinking?
Blanchett's crime was lending her name to a cause she has long advocated: addressing climate change. Blanchett is appearing for free in television ads — launched last night — advocating Australia ''Say Yes'' to a carbon price.
The $1 million advertising campaign is driven by a coalition of green groups and unions, including the ACTU, WWF and Greenpeace.
Her reward for speaking on an issue she cares about? A Sunday Telegraph front page story headlined ''Carbon Cate.'' The story suggested Blanchett — worth $53 million — was too rich to speak in favour of a carbon tax that is going to push up utility bills for battlers - who will, however, receive compensation.
The justification for the story was the community outrage Blanchett had sparked for her views. Pretty incredible that outrage, particularly given it manifested itself hours before the ads even appeared.
And who exactly was outraged? The Australian Family Association and Barnaby Joyce. (Riots in the street!) Joyce said he hadn't even seen the ad when he was contacted by the Telegraph.
Wealthy Australian women entering the public policy debate seems to be in fashion.
Last year, Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart — worth $10.3 billion on last count — climbed on the back of a truck with a megaphone to campaign against the mining super profits tax.
It is not known whether Rinehart, or other mining magnates Andrew Forrest or Clive Palmer, helped fund a $22 million industry advertising campaign against the mining tax. The current disclosure laws mean we don't know.
Of course Rinehart — who inherited a mining company from her father — had a lot to lose from the tax.
Remember that's the same mining tax that was going to be used to fund a 2 per cent tax cut to all small businesses and build a mix of public and industry infrastructure.
This is how The Telegraph lead its page seven story of Rinehart's public protest at the time: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had to dodge Australia's first ever protest rally led by billionaires as he set about spending a few billion himself buying tax support yesterday.
Oh what it may have been in the Telegraph's hands if it was prepared to apply some consistency: Australia's richest woman says hard-working mums and dads trying to keep their suburban small business afloat should pay more tax so she can pay less.
Presumably Blanchett has nothing to gain from a carbon tax. Rinehart had a lot to gain in derailing the mining tax.
The lesson in the Telegraph world?
No good deed goes unpunished.
Tom Arup is The Age and Sydney Morning Herald's environment correspondent
Quote:Poll: Do you support Cate Blanchett's right to speak out in support of a carbon price?
Yes
80%
No
18%
Not sure
2%
Total votes: 11532.
Greens motion condemns asylum policy
By Jeremy Thompson
Updated 57 minutes ago
Andrew Wilkie says the asylum deal has "cast a shadow" over Australia's human rights record (AFP: Roslan Rahman)
Australia's mandatory detention system for asylum seekers has been slammed in federal Parliament as an abomination, cruel, expensive and ineffective.
A Greens motion condemning the Government over its Malaysian asylum seeker deal has been supported by Opposition members and independent Andrew Wilkie, who says it has "cast a shadow" over Australia's human rights record.
The motion calls on the Government to scrap its in-principle agreement to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in return for accepting 4,000 refugees.
If passed, it will mean both houses of Parliament have taken the unusual path of condemning a government policy.
Moving the motion, Greens MP Adam Bandt described mandatory detention as a "political race to the bottom" as the major parties try to attract votes from marginal seats.
"On the one side you have the Coalition, the party of razor wire and children overboard, peddling fear and stoking resentment in the community," he said.
"On the other you have Labor, the party of mandatory detention, promising a new direction at the election, but then again giving in to fear and refusing to lead public opinion on this issue."
Mr Bandt said Malaysia has not signed the United Nations Convention on Human Rights and "has a history of caning asylum seekers".
"Why do we sign up to international conventions if we are not going to abide by them?" he asked. ....<cont>
