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Category: General news

Managing director of Ebono Institute and major sponsor of The Generator, Geoff Ebbs, is running against Kevin Rudd in the seat of Griffith at the next Federal election. By the expression on their faces in this candid shot it looks like a pretty dull campaign. Read on

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    The John James Newsletter 51

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    John James
    		7:29 AM (40 minutes ago)

    The John James Newsletter 51
    21 March 2015

    Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner.James Bovard

    Solar and wind power have halted the rise in global emissions   !!!!!!!!!!The IEA has hailed a “surprising” and “unprecedented” halt in the rise of global CO2 emissions as directly credited to the growth in solar and wind power, increased hydro, and the decline in coal-fired generation. Global emissions stood at 32.3 billion tonnes in 2014, unchanged from the preceding year, despite a 3% increase in global economic growth. This is the first time in 40 years that a halt in emissions was not part of an economic downturn.http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/solar-wind-power-aid-unprecedented-halt-in-global-emissions-75353 http://www.vox.com/2015/3/16/8224915/economic-growth-carbon-emissions
    Because this is now the trend everywhere !Under the sun: Australia’s largest solar farm set to sprout in a Queensland fieldA sea of glass panels may soon be sprawling across a paddock in Queensland’s Darling Downs cranking out two gigawatts of energy – 100 times more than the largest solar farm in Australia today – and a former top flight barrister is the unusual shining light behind its development. That is equivalent to one fifth of the current total renewable energy target for the entire country in a single power station. It is also more power than any coal fired station in Queensland can currently muster.\http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/02/under-the-sun-australias-largest-solar-farm-set-to-sprout-in-a-queensland-field?CMP=ema_632 andTexas city to go 100% solar, wind – because it’s cheaper, more reliablehttp://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/texas-city-to-go-100-solar-wind-because-its-cheaper-more-reliable-75098 and Costa Rica powered by 100% renewables for first 75 days of 2015http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/costa-rica-powered-100-by-renewables-for-first-75-days-of-2015
    Australia top tan climate pollutersWhile most of the top 10 polluters publicly accept climate change and their responsibilities to reduce pollution, some have opposed important mechanisms such as the carbon price and the RET. All are Australian owned except for the worst which is owned by the Chinese.https://www.acfonline.org.au/sites/default/files/resources/ACF_Biggest_Polluters_Report_FINAL_V1.2.pdf

    How plants FEEL when insects eat them A cabbage knows what creature is attacking it by the way it chews. Caterpillars produce more drool when eating a plant leaf so  it responded to caterpillars differently. The plant could tell various caterpillars apart, and can identify nearby sounds of eatinghttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2988798/How-plants-FEEL-insects-eating-alive-cabbage-knows-creature-attacking-way-chews-claims-study.html
    Kurds of Syria, Turkey and Iraq unite to build Kurdistan Is this possible when these three states would have to give up territory to achieve it? And when you read how this wrong was inflicted after WWI.‘A consolidated Kurdistan is an impossibility. There is no reason why the distribution of the Kurds should dictate frontiers or why Kurds should be regarded as a people who require consolidation.’ – Lt Col Sir Mark Sykes, March 15, 1915’Major Noel . . . considered that British policy demanded the setting-up of a Kurdish buffer state which could be used to counterbalance any strong anti-British movement which might occur in Mesopotamia.” – minutes of Cairo Conference, March 15, 1921. Meeting chaired by Winston Churchill.’We demand that independence which is our birthright, and which alone will permit us to fight our way along the road of progress and civilisation, to turn to account the resources of our country and to live in peace with our neighbours.’ – General Sherif Pasha, president of the Kurdish delegation to the Peace Conference in Paris, March 22, 1919.http://www.smh.com.au/world/kurds-of-syria-turkey-and-iraqi-unite-to-build-kurdistan–an-alternative-state-and-direct-challenge-to-islamic-states-caliphate-20150314-141xwp.html
    After four years of conflict, Syria is ‘entering the dark ages’83% of the country’s lights have gone out since its conflict began and life expectancy has dropped by 20 years, As the conflict enters its fifth year this month, the death toll stands at more than 200,000, Nearly 11 million have been forced to flee their homes, including hundreds of thousands trapped in combat zones with little access to food, shelter or medical care. More than 3 million have sought shelter in neighbouring countries, whose governments say they are struggling to cope. Syria is entering the dark ages, literally and metaphorically,http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-syria-lights-20150312-story.html
    Moscow Launches Ruble-Renminbi Futures To “Facilitate Trade Between China And Russia”http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-03-17/moscow-launches-ruble-renminbi-futures-facilitate-trade-between-china-and-russia After the UK announced it will join the new China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as a founding member, Germany, France and Italy decided to follow Britain’s lead and join as well (AND possibly Australia too!). Is this the end of the US dollar’s dominance? Is one reason that the total net assets of the US — every acre of land, every tank, every drone, every drop of oil in the strategic reserve – leave the US government owning MINUS $60 trillion.http://www.bbc.com/news/world/asia/china/ http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australia-ready-to-join-us100-billion-china-bank-20150319-1m33pa.html
    Poor Farmers Bear The Brunt Natural Disasters In Developing CountriesTwenty-two percent of all damages inflicted by natural hazards such as drought, floods storms or tsunamis are registered within the agriculture sector, most often incurred by poor rural and semi-rural communities without insurance and lacking the financial resources needed to regain lost livelihoods. Yet only 4.5 percent of post-disaster humanitarian aid in the 2003-2013 period targeted agriculture.http://www.countercurrents.org/cc170315.htm
    Watch how 7-12 metre waves battered the Arctic ice between March 13-20http://arctic-news.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/strong-winds-and-waves-batter-arctic-sea-ice.html The latest sea ice thickness measurement (9th March 2015) for the US Navy submarines shows that the thick and rigid multiyear sea ice congestion has cleared from the Fram Strait between Greenland and the Svalbard Archipelago. The wave penetration is stronger within soft and highly fragmented seasonal ice packs, and so, the sea ice is now primed for faster transport out of the Arctic Ocean.https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153101217844449&set=p.10153101217844449&type=1
    German Officials: Claims of Russian Invasion of Ukraine Are American Propaganda
    US officials regularly claim ceasefire violations in Ukraine, and Russian “invasions” that no one questions. The German government is increasingly annoyed over “dangerous propaganda” meant to sabotage the ceasefire, saying that the US claims are wildly inaccurate or unconfirmed.
    http://www.mintpressnews.com/german-officials-claims-of-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-are-american-propaganda/203338/
    Putin in film on Crimea: US masterminds behind Ukraine coup, helped train radicals“The Ukrainian armed coup was organised from Washington. The Americans tried to hide behind the Europeans, but we saw through it. The trick was to get the [Ukrainian] opposition supported by the Europeans whereas we knew for sure that the real masterminds were our American friends. They helped train the nationalists and facilitated the armed coup.http://rt.com/news/240921-us-masterminds-ukraine-putin/
    What They’re Not Telling You About Monsanto’s Role in Ukraine In the guise of ‘aid,’ a claim has been made on Ukraine’s vast agricultural riches. It is the world’s third largest exporter of corn and fifth largest exporter of wheat. Ukraine has deep, rich, black soil that can grow almost anything, and its ability to produce high volumes of GM grain is what made biotech come rushing to take it over.http://naturalsociety.com/theyre-not-telling-monsantos-role-ukraine/
    Terrorists: The US Creates Them, Turkey Trains Them, Qatar Finances ThemFew are aware that Turkey is ruled by a Muslim Brotherhood government. As a NATO member, Turkey has long provided recruitment, intelligence, training and armaments (including a daily flow of ammunition and spare parts) on behalf of US interests. With Qatari financing, American equipment and Turkish training, it was like a marriage made in heaven. Although the Syrian army and security forces were exhausted they were not defeated. But the problems in this clever scheme came when IS started beheading Westerners and using the universal reach of social media to ensure that the whole world would see it. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article41244.htm

    Please pass this newsletter on to your friends.

    to John

  • 5&5 Tony Burke Labor
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    5&5

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    Tony Burke via sendgrid.info 
    4:32 PM (25 minutes ago)
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    .
    Neville –
    The final afternoon of Parliament this week needs a quick explanation. It was extraordinary. Our questions were going right to the heart of the Government’s economic credibility and the Libs and Nats were hating it. Tony Abbott finally snapped and made an unbelievable reference to Nazi Germany. Bill Shorten then moved a motion to condemn the Prime Minister for the cruelty of the budget and the appalling economic management. When the debate ended Tony Abbott left the chamber as quickly as he could and Bill stood up to talk calmly in a nonpartisan way about closing the gap with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

    Anyone watching could only be left with one impression. Tony Abbott publicly demonstrated he wasn’t fit to lead Australia. As he left the room, Bill stood up and showed the decency Australia needs.

    BEST:

    1. On Wednesday the Government’s higher education changes were voted down in the Senate. This is good news, but it’s not the end of the fight against $100,000 degrees. Christopher Pyne says he’s not backing down and will reintroduce the legislation later this year. Bill gave a speech on Monday on all the reasons why Labor will continue to stand and fight against these unfair changes.
    2. On Tuesday the Parliament debated a piece of legislation called the Succession to the Crown Bill 2015. This bill changes the law to allow Australia’s next Head of State (the Monarch) to be chosen on birthright, not gender, and to also be a Catholic. While Labor doesn’t oppose these changes, Bill gave a great speech questioning why, in 2015, we’re still having this debate in Australia.
    3. When it comes to the Budget, the Australian Financial Review headline on Thursday said it all: “Abbott loses the plot on debt”. As Opposition Leader Tony Abbott called a debt to GDP ratio of 13% a “debt and deficit disaster”, yet a debt to GDP ratio of 50-60% under his watch “a pretty good result”. Chris Bowen slammed Tony Abbott for his hypocrisy in this speech on Thursday.
    4. Last week Tony Abbott said Indigenous Australians living in remote communities were making a “lifestyle choice.” On Thursday Labor made indigenous disadvantage a Matter of Public Importance. Bill Shorten, Shayne Neumann, Catherine King, Warren Snowdon and Stephen Jones gave speeches about investing in policies to close the gap, not close the door, on indigenous disadvantage.
    5. Tomorrow is the 15th anniversary of Harmony Day. Harmony Day is about celebrating cultural diversity, inclusiveness, respect and sense of belonging for everyone who lives in Australia. This week Michelle Rowland organised A Taste of Harmony morning tea in Parliament House for MPs to share the many and diverse cultures that make up our electorates.

    WORST:

    1. On Monday afternoon Christopher Pyne gave an interview on Sky News that would not have looked out of place on Clarke and Dawe. It is one of the most bizarre interviews I have ever seen on television. He called himself “The Fixer”. No really, he did.
    2. Despite saying in January if the Senate voted down the Government’s higher education scheme for $100,000 degrees it “will have expressed its will”, Christopher Pyne this week committed to reintroduce the legislation later this year. Sometimes I have to remind myself that Christopher Pyne is real.
    3. The Budget is in chaos. They can’t decide if there’s an emergency, or if everything is awesome. They can’t decide if we should be confident or if we should be concerned. They can’t even decide which decisions they’ve made, attributing to Labor billions of dollars worth of decisions they made in the Intergenerational Report. The nickname “Captain Chaos” will stick.
    4. I’ve shared with you previously the the saga around Barnaby Joyce changing his official Hansard record. Well, late last week Tony Abbott sacked the Head of the Department of Agriculture, Dr Paul Grimes PSM. Dr Grimes is the epitome of the frank and fearless public servant and his sacking is a disgrace. There were plenty of questions from Bill and from Joel Fitzgibbon on this, which Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce were refusing to answer.
    5. This week Tony Abbott managed to offend the Irish community, the Greek community and then wanted to compare Bill Shorten to one of the most evil people in Hitler’s regime. He’s completely out of control. No one knows what will come out of his mouth next.

    Finally, Speaker Bronwyn Bishop appeared to rule that answering questions during Question Time was optional, saying: “If the Honourable Treasurer wishes to answer the question, he may.” Maybe we should rename it to “Optional Question Time”. Chris Bowen opened the next question with the words “My question is to the Prime Minister, if he chooses to answer”. Bronwyn Bishop was unimpressed.

    On a final note, many people have been wanting information on the reasons behind Labor taking the stance we did on data retention. I’d encourage you to have a look at Shadow Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus’, speech in the Parliament which covers how the Bill was changed from what the Government first tried to do.

    The #5and5 will be back next week.
    Tony

    PS: I know I used Pearl Jam last week, but in dedication to Christopher Pyne, this week’s #5and5 song had to be “The Fixer”.
    Australian Labor Party
    Authorised by G. Wright, Australian Labor, 5/9 Sydney Avenue, Barton 2600 ACT
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  • NSW’s fossil fuel madness ramps up 350 org

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    NSW’s fossil fuel madness ramps up

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    Blair Palese – 350.org Australia <australia@350.org>
    8:34 AM (33 minutes ago)
    to me

    Dear friend,

    As you probably know, NSW has a history scarred by fossil fuels — endless stories of coal and gas projects thrust upon communities, trashing precious places and productive lands, and forcing climate change impacts upon the world.

    This past month, in the lead up to a state election, it seems the fossil fuel madness has gone to the next level in NSW.

    We’ve had leaked proposals for 16 new coal mines in the Upper Hunter Valley*, a region already grappling with decades of pit digging and coal dust. Then the cancellation of coal seam gas licences over large parts of central Sydney and the Illawarra, a great win for many in the area! But still no commitment from the Government to permanently rule out coal seam gas licences that cover NSW water catchments. And just yesterday, Premier Baird said that, if granted another term, he’d work hard to expand the industry.

    And then there’s the logic-defying approval of Rio Tinto’s Warkworth Coal Mine, and the suggestion that the nearby village of Bulga may be relocated. Yes, that’s right, an entire town to be moved because Rio Tinto wants to scrape the last profits from the bottom of the coal barrel.

    With an election just around the corner, and public outrage swelling, now is the time to show Premier Baird that we believe in a future powered by the sun and wind, and that communities deserve to be protected from Big Coal and Gas who’ll stop at nothing to make a buck.

    Premier Baird needs to hear loud and clear from voters that it’s time for coal seam gas to be banned in NSW and to leave Bulga alone. Call his office today – (02) 8574 5000 and register your concerns. Then click here to encourage others to call Premier Baird too.

    The story of Bulga speaks to what is so deeply wrong about the coal industry and their influence over our politicians. Twice, the community has challenged approval of the mine in the courts, and twice they have won. But rather than respect the verdict of the people and the courts, the Government has worked behind the scenes with Rio Tinto to rewrite the legislation and once again have the mine approved.

    Make sure the Premier hears how outrageous this proposal is and that its time to stop new coal mines and rule out coal seam gas. Call now – (02) 8574 5000.

    As the Queensland election showed, when we mobilise at the right moment, communities can change who holds power and lay down strong demands. This is the opportunity that the next few weeks present. Help build this pressure by putting through a call to the Premier’s office today – (02) 8574 5000.

    Thanks for all you do!

    Blair – for the 350.org Australia Team

    P.S: Check out Lock the Gates’ infographic to learn more about where coal and coal seam gas expansion is proposed for NSW. Sign up to learn more about the Bulga campaign here.

    —

    *Sydney Morning Herald, “A Massive Increase in Coal Mining is a Cause for Concern“, March 4th.

    350.org is building a global climate movement.You can connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and become a sustaining donor to keep this movement strong and growing.

  • We need renewable energy MARK BUTLER LABOR
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    We need renewable energy

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    Mark Butler via sendgrid.info 
    1:52 PM (2 minutes ago)
    to me
    .
    Neville,

    The clock is ticking for the Government to fix its renewable energy mess.

    In the next two weeks, some companies will be forced to pay millions in liabilities and renewable energy projects could go off shore as this financial quarter draws to a close.

    Despite these disastrous outcomes for renewable energy in Australia, the Government is still refusing to budge from its position of trashing the renewable energy target (RET).

    Labor and the renewable energy industry want a resolution now, but we won’t take a deal that doesn’t support growth and job creation. And we won’t cop any change at all to the highly successful rooftop solar program.

    That’s why it’s time for you and I both to do all we can to get the Liberal National Government to support a strong Renewable Energy Target. Can you sign our petition to say you stand for a strong RET that supports job creation in the renewable energy industry? 

    Labor has stood up to the Liberal’s agenda against renewable energy — especially since the Liberals ambushed the industry with Tony Abbott’s backflip on his election promise to support the RET more than 12 months ago.

    And thanks to the support of so many of you, the Government has been forced to back down on its plans to scrap the RET altogether. But the uncertainty remains and it’s costing jobs as well as Australia’s renewable energy future.

    That’s why together, we need to show we support a strong stance on the RET — and the Liberal National Government must reach an agreement with Labor which delivers a strong renewable energy industry. Click here to sign the petition today.

    Renewable energy is key to making sure we’ve got a sustainable planet for the future. Sign our petition and stand with Labor for a strong renewable energy future.

    Thanks for your support,

    Mark Butler
    Minister for the Environment, Water and Climate Change

  • The inconvenient truth about Vanuatu SAM GET-UP

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    Recycling Fact
    Recycled cans can be made into airplanes, appliances, furniture and more.

    The inconvenient truth about Vanuatu

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    Sam – GetUp!
    8:06 PM (1 hour ago)
    to me

    “Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle and the Gold Coast have been flattened overnight – the vast majority of their populations left homeless.”

    NEVILLE,

    Just imagine that headline. That’s pretty much what’s happened to Vanuatu, when category 5 Cyclone Pam bore down on the tiny island nation. It’s still chaotic, but early estimates say 70 per cent of their population has been left homeless overnight, and more than 24 people have lost their lives. How would Australia rebuild and recover from that? It’s impossible to even imagine – and it’s not just Vanuatu. Kiribati and Tuvalu have also been devastated.

    It almost goes without saying that our immediate and first thoughts, priority and responses as Australians should be to reach out to our Pacific neighbours and help them rebuild and recover in whatever large and small ways we can. In fact, many Australians are already doing that, including our government. But on its own, it’s not enough – not for Vanuatu – or any other country at the frontline of the threats created by our changing climate.

    If you would like to contribute, these organisations are doing great work on the ground: http://www.getup.org.au/help-vanuatu

    But, we can’t stop there.

    It may feel uncomfortable to talk about right now, and a great many people will want to deny it, but we need to have a serious talk about climate change.

    Baldwin Lonsdale, the President of Vanuatu – who knows this all too well – has already started the conversation:

    Yes, climate change is contributing to this

    “We see the level of sea rise… The cyclone seasons, the warm, the rain, all this is affected.”

    The UN Secretary General has also pointed out that climate change is making extreme weather events like Cyclone Pam far more damaging. That’s because sea levels have already risen – although not nearly as much as they will if we don’t act – meaning more water in cyclone storm surges, which is what causes most of the damage. Low-lying pacific islands, like our neighbouring countries, are particularly vulnerable, as this week shows.

    For decades, Vanuatu and other countries argued their urgent need for international help to prepare for foreseeable climate events, like Cyclone Pam. Instead of answering this call for help, last year the Abbott Government drastically cut Australia’s foreign aid and scarapped legislation that was driving down our contrubtion to climate change. Not only are we contributing more to climate change, we’re simultaneously contributing less to help those most affected. And when disasters like this happen, no matter how generous we are personally, we will never make up for the $8 billion cuts this Government took from people who desperately needed it.

    So pick up the phone, or get online, and donate to support the organisations working tirelessly on the ground in Vanuatu right now. But – and this is important – before you put the phone down or log off your computer, why not advocate for lasting change by calling your local MP? Tell them you’ve donated, and that you give a damn about our foreign aid, and our policies on climate change – the bigger picture.

    No doubt, some may criticise anyone who dares to make the obvious link to climate change for “politicising” this disaster. We aren’t. To do everything we can to help those affected, we need to confront the elephant in the room and speak honestly. So why not start the conversation right now? Click here to contact your MP or Senator, or you could start the conversation at home as a warm up. Forward this email to your friends and family and use this as an opportunity to discuss how you intend to, personally, confront the greatest challenge of our time.

    For years, every budget has seen Australian aid cut, because we don’t speak out loudly when it is. For years, climate action has been delayed or wound back, because our government is playing the short, easy game instead of the critical long game. We need to change that.

    Climate change is here. It is affecting Australians and our neighbours. These are not easy conversations to have, but with each and every bushfire, heatwave, flood, drought and other climate excacerbated natural disasters it’s a conversation we’re going to need to get better and better at having.

    Hopefully, one day soon, we’ll be so good at having it – and so many of us will be having it – that our government will finally put its money where our mouths are. Hopefully one day soon Australia can be a proud Pacific neighbour, joined in solidarity with our friends, as we all get on with the job of adapting to our new climate reality.

    Yours in hope,

    Sam and Erin for the GetUp team.

    PS. In his most recent communication to 350 Pacific staff, Isso Nihmei, 350 Vanuatu Coordinator said: “Now that Cyclone Pam has left, it’s like a heat wave has hit us. Climate change is bringing new extremes to Vanuatu. It’s devastating us.” So while you’re considering what else you might do, why not consider joining a climate advocacy group in the region like 350 Pacific who work on the ground day-in and day-out with Pacific Islanders to bring awareness to the issue of climate change and its dramatic effects in the region? Click here to find out how: http://www.getup.org.au/cyclone-pam

    PPS. Check out GetUp’s oped on this subject published in Fairfax media today, Cyclone Pam and Vanuatu: don’t just give cash, give a damn

    GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you’d like to contribute to help fund GetUp’s work, please donate now! To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here. Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders – past, present and future – and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia and the GetUp community.

    Authorised by Sam Mclean, Level 2, 104 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.

  • BREAKING: Senate votes on $100,000 degrees Shorten

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    BREAKING: Senate votes on $100,000 degrees

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    Bill Shorten via sendgrid.info 
    6:51 PM (0 minutes ago)
    to me
    .
    BREAKING NEWS: Senate votes down $100,000 Degrees

    Neville,

    I’ve just received word that moments ago the Senate voted down the Liberals’ plan for $100,000 degrees.

    This would not have happened without your support and that of thousands of others like you.

    Whether you signed our petition, campaigned to your friends and family on social media or donated for posters and TV ads — you joined thousands of others to make it clear that Australians don’t want $100,000 university degrees.

    But even after the vote today, the Liberal National Government has made it clear that they won’t give up on this plan to make $100,000 degrees a reality.

    Earlier today, Education Minister Christopher Pyne said that he will “never give up” on making $100,000 degrees a reality.

    You and I both know what these unfair reforms to our universities mean for our kids. That’s why I’ll need your support in the future to make sure these plans never see the light of day.

    Thanks for standing with me on this,

    Bill

    P.S. With the Liberals not giving up on the plan, can you share our petition on Facebook and help us continue gaining community support against $100,000 degrees?