BMW boasts battery power
BMW boasts battery power
JACK EWING, MUNICH
July 3, 2010
BMW lifted the veil this week on its planned battery-powered car, indicating it is serious about building a new class of vehicle and delivering big numbers to showrooms by 2013.
The German car maker created project i in late 2007, aiming to build a car for urban areas – where more than half the world’s people live. But, as with many corporate green projects, it was sometimes hard to tell if the effort was sincere or just a way to generate sustainability credentials.
In two days of media briefings at a plant outside Munich, BMW devoted big resources to proving that battery-powered cars were practical. The demonstration was intended to allay doubts about whether car makers were innovative enough to make the leap from petrol.
Gillard’s appeal to voters
Note population policy will be on the Govt’s agenda. Neville Gillmore. Gillard’s appeal to voters Updated: 13:15, Saturday July 3, 2010 Prime Minister Julia Gillard has appealed to voters to judge her on how she does her job, not how she got there. In an interview with Fairfax newspapers on Friday hours after announcing key Continue Reading →
Door still open for mining tax input: Gillard
Door still open for mining tax input: Gillard
Updated
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has toured a north Queensland mine to sell the Mineral Resources Rent Tax. (AAP/ABC: Wolf Cocklin/Alan Porritt)
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says there will be further consultation with the mining industry on the implementation of the new resources tax.
Ms Gillard and Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan toured the Hay Point coal port in north Queensland on Saturday to sell the Mineral Resources Rent Tax.
The tax, announced on Friday, includes reducing the new impost on mining companies from 40 to 30 per cent.
Ms Gillard says while some companies are still looking at the details there will be further opportunity for input.
“The good faith and good will that we’ve brought this week as we’ve sat round a table to get the agreement … will continue through the process chaired by Don Argus, working with my Minister Martin Ferguson,” she said.
“[They will] work on the implementation of these new arrangements.”
Immigration Minister Chris Evans has also rejected claims the mining tax could be unconstitutional, saying the Government has advice it is legal.
“We believe the tax is constitutionally valid,” he said.
Wind farms get clean bill of health
Wind farms get clean bill of health Media release: 3 July 2010 Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) today cleared wind farms of accusations of health impacts on nearby residents, according to Greens NSW MP and Energy spokesperson John Kaye. (‘No evidence of wind farm health impact’, SMH on line at http://bit.ly/smh100703) Dr Kaye said: “The Continue Reading →
Battle over tax leaves Labor with bloody nose
Battle over tax leaves Labor with bloody nose
The deal Julia Gillard has done on the mining tax is bad for her government’s reputation, bad for democracy and bad for the future of economic reform, but not too bad for the economy.
The immediate reaction of most parties will be relief. What was seen as a great threat has gone away.
The big miners will be quietly congratulating themselves on the extent of their victory, but leaving it to their friendly business commentators to do the crowing for them.
Concessions extracted from the government because the big mining companies were holding a gun to its head will be interpreted as proof that all the miners’ dubious arguments against the resources super profits tax were valid.
But the initial emotional reaction to the deal is one thing, the longer-term consequences are another.
Young SA Drivers banned from high-powered cars
NB. All states should introduce this ban.
Young SA drivers banned from high-powered cars
Updated
Young drivers to be banned from high-powered cars due to accident risk
A list of high-powered cars to be banned for P-plate drivers under 25 has been released by the South Australian Government.
The ban from September includes any petrol car that is turbo-charged or super-charged or has an engine with eight or more cylinders.
Among the banned cars are some BMWs and Nissans, the Honda NSX, Mercedes Benz SLK-350 and any Porsche made after 1994.