Gillard fiddles while the country burns
Gillard fiddles while the country burns
The jaws of death are opening wider for Australia, ensuring maximum economic damage when they finally snap shut, crocodile-style.
Instead of making a smooth, early transition to a clean economy we are doubling up our coal bet, and the latest manifestation – coal-to-liquids – is a perfect example.
Backed into a corner, the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, showed her true colours on climate on Lateline on Wednesday night, and guess what? They look to be the same – if not browner – than Kevin Rudd’s.
So Gillard has urged the deferral of the emissions trading scheme, watched the party’s polls freefall, taken over the leadership as a direct result … and still is maintaining we have until 2013 to introduce a price on carbon. A fatal misconception.
Her hair may be red, but she’s no bleeding heart
Her hair may be red, but she’s no bleeding heart
PETER HARTCHER
July 10, 2010
The closest thing to a Rosetta Stone for interpreting Julia Gillard’s prime ministership is an exchange she had on Darwin radio this week.
During a talkback session on ABC 105.7, a caller asked: “I’d like to know your personal definition – not necessarily the community’s view – of marriage. As, for example, do you believe that it’s between one man and one woman, or two people who love each other?”
Gillard’s reply: “My definition of marriage is the same definition as the Marriage Act that we have now, which is that marriage is between a man and a woman. Obviously, we live in an age where there are all sorts of committed relationships which are not marriages.
“I’m in a committed relationship of that nature myself with my partner Tim, so I think this all boils down to personal choices. Obviously, we want every individual treating others with decency and respect, but it does boil down to personal choices.”
We see here a rigorous separation of Gillard the private citizen from Gillard the politician. She has no intention of legislating to make her own life’s choices national policy.
There is no substitute for carbon price action now -Greens
10 July 2010There is no substitute for carbon price action now – Greens The Australian Greens want action now on a carbon price set bylegislation as critical for climate change action Australian GreensLeader Bob Brown said in Canberra today. “Energy efficiency, renewable energy measures and saving forests – asalready put to Parliament by the Greens Continue Reading →
PM Julia Gillard told to slow down on climate
PM Julia Gillard told to slow down on climate
- From: The Australian
- July 10, 2010
LABOR’S closest business adviser, Heather Ridout, has warned Julia Gillard to slow down as the PM prepares to rush out a climate change policy.
As chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, Ms Ridout has offered consistently strong support to the Labor government and was a member of the Henry tax review panel.
She told The Weekend Australian yesterday that it would be “over-reaching” for the government to roll out a replacement for the emissions trading scheme ahead of the election and cautioned Ms Gillard to avoid embracing a carbon-tax quick fix, warning that business was not prepared nor ready.
“It is totally the wrong atmosphere — we are getting way ahead of ourselves,” Ms Ridout said. “I think the confidence of business has been really shaken by the breakdown of the domestic consensus on this issue. Business doesn’t want the government to be in any hurry to come up with this in the lead-up to the election.”
Opposition wants Greens Loans inquiry
NB How much more of this incompetence will we see from the Labor
Govt? The Govt. investigating themselves????
Opposition wants Green Loans inquiry
Updated
Under the original Green Loans scheme householders were offered $50 vouchers to spend on green products and access to interest-free loans. (ABC News)
The Federal Opposition is calling for a police inquiry into the Government’s dumped Green Loans scheme, which was set up to allow Australians to make their homes more energy efficient.
The Government has announced it is replacing the Green Loans scheme in response to three highly critical reviews of the household energy efficiency program.
It is also investigating allegations of kickbacks to staff at the Environment Department.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says Prime Minister Julia Gillard should be held accountable for the failure of the program.
“There must be an apology by Julia Gillard to taxpayers and to assessors and to homeowners for a program which ran off the rails,” he said.
“This was pink batts, fortunately, without the tragic consequences.”
Mr Hunt also says former Climate Change Minister Peter Garrett should be sacked.
“Not just the home insulation program, not just the solar program but now the Green Loans program has been systemically rorted,” he said.
GREENS REFUGEE POLICY, THE PRACTICAL HUMANE ALTERNATIVE
9th July, 2010 GREENS REFUGEE POLICY THE PRACTICAL HUMANE ALTERNATIVE The Australian Greens refugee policy is a compassionate, commonsensealternative to the way the old parties want to treat vulnerableasylum-seekers, according to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Senator Hanson-Young, Greens Spokesperson on Immigration and HumanRights, says the Federal Government’s ill-prepared East Timor processingcentre idea coupled with the Continue Reading →