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sydney alternative media - non-profit community independent trustworthy
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Sunday political talkies: Pollie talk in New York as greenhouse physics close in
Mood:  sad
Topic: aust govt

 

 

Picture: Sydney last week via local abc website, showing dust storm from central Australia travelling 2000km to the east coast, reminiscent of Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner in On the Beach

 

Author’s general introductory note   

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. Perhaps the greatest utility is the headline synthesis above of the 3 or 4 shows followed in this session.

   

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

  

Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.  

  

Media backgrounders.  

1. Adam Spencer profile in Sunday glossy reminds of ALP$10K or something pay for mere (duchessing?) mc work at a homeless conference or similar and then probing Richo getting $25K a month for developers. Mmm. The State of ALP indeed. 

2. Profile of bubble head 42 year old talker Bill Shorten in Fairfax this weekend indicative of maybe  Rudd people doing a Howard on all the ambitious wannabe leadership rivals. Or perhaps big media nurturing up trouble for the ALP via known egotists. 

3. We got a feeling after shaky St Kilda start and sure enough Cats won yesterday in AFL grand final. Not sufficiently mentally fit was our impression despite all their muscles but to their credit both teams were outstanding for endeavour and honest effort and strong skills generally. One of the best finals we’ve ever seen. Where were the federal politicians edging up to the sport festival? Seem to be missing though PM Rudd is shown watching by satellite.   

10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am 

Lead in PM Rudd sledging greed of financial system leading to GFC. Press round up re ‘waste’ of $82M stimulus overseas.

 

Guess is Wayne Swan who goes onto front foot about reciprocal welfare with other countries. Attacks Opposition for recession courting.

 

Grab of Keating in ABC World Today earlier this week re Westpac takeover of St George indirect criticism of Swan as treasurer. Says no regrets but uncertain with it. Jumps to 4 pillars certitude still. Humour out take is Keating love in with Clinton and Rudd on same interview.

 

Panel is J Irvine economics writer Fairfax, S Lewis News Corp tabloids. Both target ETS and timelines, Swan plays credibility card and national interest. Show moves to Ken Henry objectivity as public servant?

 

Exec salaries – Dixon ex Qantas $11M payout. Legislation targeting all sectors, G20 pursuing finance sector. Humour out take is Zanetti cartoon sledging Clinton love in with Rudd.

 

Footage of Rudd re G20 forum promoted in UN. Guest is Fullilove Lowy academic gun for hire. Argues Oz are joiners by instinct so worth angling for seat on Security Council, Irvine pursues cost of $35M worth it? Says half of a helicopter. Good q Irvine about ego trip or not.

 

Lewis flippant question but more serious point (and he loves pointing) about bigger international profile. Talks up interest in Iranian nuclear ambitions. Obama is a multilateralist suggests more reason to step up and get involved.

  

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

 

  

Riley Diary 7, from 8.40am 

Ex Washington journo, does rap on blue language PM Rudd big head link to low rent Rodney Rude after Clinton praise. Parallel to Oakes which overtakes for being longer. 

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend   

9 Sunday newshour Laurie Oakes interview 8.44 am 

Chainsaw McFarlane as shadow climate change minister newly inserted after Robb stands down. Dwells on Bradfield pre-selection. Pushes line Greens are extreme [coming from King Coal hypocrite] and gets to Sarkozy carbon tax on countries that don’t co-operate. Gets to Robb standing down and getting treatment.

 

McFarlane adjusts position admitting human effect on climate change being ‘part of that’. Says he believed it  a long time ‘as a farmer’.

 

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

  

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

 

Lead in with hip package about climate with Rudd [preposterous] postures at UN in New York and Turnbull ‘in the dark’ in the UK.  Cross to Lisa Miller.

 

Panel dwells on Bradfield pre-selection. Grab of Fraser winner, grey man from central casting.

 

Press round up – army widow front pager, Downer creepy visitor. Panel is RN abc Fran Kelly, Meglo News Corp broadsheet, Blair News corp tabloid (actually funny today?).

 

Grab of Rudd spruiking G20 with guest of Joe Hockey as shadow treasurer. Says it’s spin at Rudd’s best. Not created by Rudd, existed before he was PM. Trawls left of centre influences in G20. Spriuks talent of Libs in pre-selections.

 

Vox pop re our point on media backgrounders pollies not in country.

 

Strong chat about ETS and newspoll support for action, letter stunts and Wong not a great negotiator like Gareth Evans.  Grab of Keating re early elections, Fran says not an early election believer.

 

Strong chat on Ken Henry positioned by Turnbull pros and cons.

 

Blair is funny about Turnbull mystery visitor to UK conservative leader Cameron.

 

Pollie pay rates.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders

 Inside Business with Alan Kohler  

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

   

Posted by editor at 1:03 PM NZT
Updated: Sunday, 27 September 2009 1:06 PM NZT
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Red centre comes to east coast of Australia in climate portent
Mood:  spacey
Topic: ecology

 

As a religious portent out of Shakespeare that 'something is not right' the dust enveloping most all of 4 million population of Sydney metro right now, today, is hard to beat.

In the United Nations in New York as we write politicians are talking climate policy. In Sydney it's climate and traffic mayhem with 10 international flights cancelled already apparently. Biggest dust storm in Sydney for 70 years says one report, though other 'big ones' have affected other parts of Australia more often like Adelaide and Melbourne.

The politics ought not be underestimated though because Sydney is the weight in terms of concentrated population.

Public broadcaster ABC radio leads in with REMS's ironic 'End of the World as we know it'.

We remain agnostic about whether the reddish early morning glow featuring in morning newspaper websites (as above) is more sunrise refraction than actually red dust. At 9 am the light is yellowy grey and life is proceeding with say 1000 metre visibility.


Asthmatics and the unwell are being cautioned, smoke detector false alarms are at record levels, and cameras are getting dust clogged, again according to local abc radio. An articulate intrepid caller from Wilton to the same station reckons he measured 2.57 grammes of dust per square metre off an outside glass table. Now a  (foolish?) listerner is miscalculating '10,000 sq metres in a square kilometre' with Sydney metro at 2000 km sq. Actually 1000 m x 1000m means there are a whopping 1 million sq metres in a sq km.

So the amount of topsoil dumped on Sydney would be:

1 million metres sq x 2000 km sq x 2.57 grammes = 5140 million grammes

or according to a handy web converter here making 5140 tonnes.

But keep in mind that this dust has blanketed say 50% of NSW which is 80 million hectares in area (from my previous time on conservation land use policy). Converting that to km sq  by another handy web converter is 800,000 km sq. Sooo .... conservatively half of NSW at:

400,000 km sq /2000 km sq x 5140 tonnes = topsoil lost at sea.

We make it 1,028, 000 tonnes of top soil lost from the outback of NSW into the Pacific Ocean.

What effect all that dust has for good or ill will be interesting such as 

- marine life which can use the nutrients (like a documentary of Central America fish stocks and the dust off the Sahara) or 

- climate in neighbouring New Zealand (glacier melt due to darker covering and sun absorption?).

It all reminds of this natural spectacular sunrise some months back in clear skies in the Hawkesbury:


 

 


Posted by editor at 11:26 AM NZT
Updated: Wednesday, 23 September 2009 12:48 PM NZT
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Sunday political talkies: PM Rudd cynical job offer to LibLab 'rival' ex leader Nelson evidences The Greens as the real Opposition?
Mood:  spacey
Topic: aust govt

 

Author’s general introductory note   

 

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. Perhaps the greatest utility is the headline synthesis above of the 3 or 4 shows followed in this session.

   

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

  

Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.  

  

Media backgrounders.

 

1. This week the venality of  PM Rudd is exposed like a loose thread that may unravel his career from stratospheric polling results. Appointing Nelson to “serve as Canberra's representative to NATO, the UN's World Health Organisation and as ambassador to Belgium and Luxemburg” against fast action on climate, pro Iraq war/admitting war for oil, and proven disloyalty to the Liberal Party, shows Rudd as a political chancer/opportunist. Good short term politics, but setting a deep neurosis into the fabric of the ALP which may see it shatter with a glancing blow from any David versus Goliath. The appointment is proof positive of Lib Lab fusion in thrall to big business, and says volumes about The Greens being the real opposition.

 2. Similar to point 1, Godwin Grech has not been charged with anything by the AFP. Why? Because the ALP have real accountability issues yet? ‘Doogie Howser’ Charlton has never been forced to answer any questions publicly. Nor has any other PM staff. Just saying. They may be as innocent as driven snow. And still GG has not been charged. Why is it so?

3. Keating in the SMH broadsheet is portrayed as Napoleon over planning issues on prime Sydney harbourside area. What is the self interest of PK we wonder. He was also consultant to Frank Lowy on the oversized Westfield at Bondi late 90ies – a regional sized complex in a sub region wiping out satellite shops. Why is he referred to as in effect regressing back to the value system of his youth over natural landscapes? A sense of guilt over failure of the environment as former PM? In the age of disastrous climate change? Mmmm. Good story Matthew Moore, SMH. 

4 (a) Minister Kristine Keneally on Stateline last Friday revealed she doesn't know who leading planning law barrister Tim Robertson is, being a Labor Lawyer (at least previously), joint architect of Carr’s early 90ies forest protection led famous election victory March 1995 (as legal counsel for North East Forest Alliance in marginal seats there), and if memory serves brother to famous Geofrey. Which despite the Minister's telegenic appeal and yankee verbal mastery, this ignorance also echoes with her frightened and inadequate interview as new planning minister with abc radio’s Deborah Cameron some months ago. She appeared on the Stateline footage in tandem with head of planning Sam Haddad. Recently we wrote to SMH journo Kate Mclymont about Haddad meeting a developer father and son team in about 2000 with their senior counsel in tow (a senior figure in NSW institutions now). Developer  then left the meeting stating “we have 2 green lights” which begs the question 'What open and transparent planning system?'

 

(b) Our other information about Haddad is that he presented in effect as a highly politicised instrument of the govt back in 2005 when he refused our FoI request in lead up to the September 2005 byelection of Carmel Tebbutt from Upper to Lower House seat in Marrickville. We wanted the Commission of Inquiry report relating to Port Botany economic drivers for the infamous $5B truck tunnel Port Botany to M4 East ….through Marrickville involving smog stacks ….completed some months before by respected Commissioner Kevin Cleland. Then Planning Minister Frank Sartor then released the report three weeks after the vote to announce an expansion of Port Botany prefaces smog stacks in Marrickville. The Dept even effectively refused to release their 'refusal of the FoI' letter in a timely way. They appeared to us very much to be running the clock down to only 5 days before the byelection. We complained bitterly and even stamped our feet in the foyer of their city office. We blogged about the curious adjustment of dates on the refusal letter signed by Haddad here: 

Thursday, 21 February 2008 Dept of Planning DG Sam Haddad politicised in Marrickville by-election 2005? Mood:  sharp Topic: nsw govtAt http://www.sydneyalternativemedia.com/blog/index.blog/1790631/dept-of-planning-dg-sam-haddad-politicised-in-marrickville-byelection-2005/ 

and notice image here:

Marrickville byelection: State ALP suppress Cleland Report into Port expansion  

And up to 2007 here:

 

Picture above and more below: Community rally at Botany Bay Beach off Foreshore Rd, Botany Saturday 3rd March, against expansion of Port Botany guaranteed to increase toxic transport congestion in most of southern metropolitan Sydney. Shade was a premium under the burning late summer day.

Marrickville by-election photo gallery 9/05 and more background here  Botany Bay heritage  

 

5. It’s mayoral election season in NSW and the ALP beat up of Waverley Liberal Mayor chubby Sally Betts over car parking fees is underway. People forget that the parking fees regime was rolled out under Labor Mayor now local state MP Paul Pearce, with help of loyal Kim Anson now GM at Marrickville Council but at that time a departmental director at Waverley late 90ies. Even back then it was a clichéd political attack over so called westies versus easties. But late 90ies it was ALP Right at state level ‘friendly fire’ against ALP Left controllers of Waverley Council over planning powers for Bondi Junction (read Keating backing Lowy expansion of Westfield there). We don’t vote Liberal but as Bondi Ward Councillor 1995-99 we know the federal and state govts have been absolutely derelict in funding tourism impacts at Bondi and gouging local ratepayers. In short the political attack on current mayor or any of Waverly is dirty hypocrisy.      

6. The Opposition are ‘revolting’ according to this image lifted off question time in Federal Parliament mid last week (and yes you read that right "question time" despite a division being called as a protest by the Opposition regarding a minister no longer be heard. 


 

 

10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am 

 

First guest is Infrastructure Minister Albanese. Mostly boilerplate and opportunistic splitting of Opposition.

 

Compere Bonge tackles Albo about ALP lack of talent to appoint Nelson to Nato diplomacy.

 

Panel Fran Kelly ABC RN,  Glenn Milne News Corp Sunday Telegraph.

 

Second guest is former Opposition leader Nelson in cosy Govt job

 

Panel rightly target Nelson on internal inconsistency regarding climate policy [but perhaps reinforcing the truth of the ALP falsity on any real reduction in emissions here and pro coal generation and export donors both union and business]

   

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

 

Riley Diary 7, from 8.40am 

Very funny Gene Wilder Frankenstein visual metaphors (and over acting) re alleged Work Choices resurrection, dismissed by Riley as opportunistic but reinforcing the damaging beat up by ALP on opposition leader Turnbull ruling it dead on YouTube.   

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend   

9 Sunday newshour Laurie Oakes interview 8.44 am 

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith mostly sidelined by funny Riley Diary. Mostly boilerplate. 

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

  

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

 

Riley Diary style intro featuring Gillard, and expulsion of Tony Abbott and other question time hysteria.

 

Cross to Lisa Miller in US re PM visit to New York/UN.

 

Panel is Schubert Fairfax Age, Coorey Fairfax SMH, Toohey Fairfax AFR.

 

Minchin re Telstra break up policy. Guest is Lindsay Tanner, former shadow minister.

 

Women in politics vox pop.

 

Toohey goes hard on Nelson inconsistency, lack of credibility. Coorey agrees Nelson has no credibility. Paul Kelly agrees Nelson is now property of PM Kevin Rudd. Toohey scathing of Nelson not believing in ALP govt policy on climate.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders

  

Inside Business with Alan Kohler 

Fallout of structural separation of Telstra so called ‘choice’ ultimatum to Telstra by federal govt with interview with Minister Stephen Conroy, morphs into discussion of CEO remuneration need to hypothecate to performance.

 

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

   

Posted by editor at 12:35 PM NZT
Updated: Tuesday, 22 September 2009 1:02 AM NZT
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Sunday political talkies: Rudd-ick* tell**: Furrowed brow, earnest tone presages DD trigger on $2B health shortfall

 

 

* refer fictional ‘Furian’ sci fi movie character Riddick – a uniquely lethal night vision specialist.

 

 

 

** reference to PM Rudd’s similar tired, serious expression during parade of People’s Republic of China troops with their Premier. Soon after the Australian Govt Defence White paper was released and surprised many including the PRC by taking a harsh line on China threats to security in the 21C. It’s PM Rudd’s ‘I am seriously worried so look out’ expression.

 


 

Author’s general introductory note    

 

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. Perhaps the greatest utility is the headline synthesis above of the 3 or 4 shows followed in this session.

   

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

  

Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.  

  

Media backgrounders.

 

 1. NSW Govt moves to sell of energy retailers reminds of the origins of the whole saga in 1996 – Bob Carr copying Howard’s $1B NHT in a greenwash steer through of the sale of Telstra worth how much ($50B?) In Carr’s case it was the $25B NSW energy generators and lines and retailers, with a $450M green fund. Who knows this may have been to pay out the woodchippers at Eden and get rid of them Do the Greens who trenchantly opposed that sale on the principle that climate policy is better handled within public ownership have a view about all this? It sure is a confusing morally speaking not least given the Carr led and ALP generally notorious self interest over public interest. Witness for instance consultant Keating barracking in 2007 for a mini sell off formula but listing maximum revenue figures. Apples and oranges Paul, called to account by Green MP John Kaye. Now all this is served up to new NSW environment and energy minister John Robertson, and Green MP cross benchers. 

 

2. Paddy Manning continues to write up the real issues of business in a sustainable world hidden from the crowds in the back of the newspaper. In some ways more important than the former Eco section of the paper. And what ever happened to that? The greenie bashing following the Victorian bushfires, that’s what. 

 

3. Lisa Carty in Sun Herald writes up Koperberg article today. How many florid metaphors this time? Is she the lightest feather weight state political reporter in the reptile park? Without Kerry Ann Walsh who will provide the gravitas the paper so badly needs? There we are first sentence “kamikaze” soon followed by “absolute hatred”  “stuff up” “disastrous” “disenchantment”. Meanwhile big Phil probably, in reality, has a mild headache thinking about the next fire season? The story is an obvious reprise of the ALP Right friendly fire over his personal life over 20 years ago to blast him out of his Blue Mtns seat. 

 

4. Is it us, or is Crikey’s expansion into multiple blog endeavours weakening the daily tealeaves of the ezine mailout contrary to the punchy name? And how is rival Punch going. Still haven’t bothered. Nor Twitted which surely is a Big Media conspiracy against web 2.0 credibility: A gotcha form of stupidity anathema to say wikipedia, or learned blogs. 

 

5. Very amusing reality tv show star, the Asian dry cleaner guy now spruiking  30 second cleaner product via Bunnings tv advert. Complete with new teeth. A small business man ‘hero’. 

6. Channel’s 7 and 9 are going head to head now at about 8.40 am Riley Diary versus Laurie Oakes respectively on Sunday mornings. Ouch. Oakes is a no show today. 

7. Worth keeping in mind in the slow motion implosion that is the NSW Govt that the NSW Left ALP are on a personal level a mirror of the ALP Right. Quite vicious and ruthless in a whatever it takes sort of way with highly flexible handle on reality. That’s what hatred does in a family – clones of slightly different flavour.

 

 


8. Latest NSW Govt reshuffle related email corro:

 

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2009 2:10 PM
Subject: [] metro v RARA* land, Work Choices lens, Lee is da Woman, what Simon did next ...Re: [chipstop] John Robertson minister for environment and energy

* Rural & regional areas.
True enough re Currawong, but that was also related to funding the ouster of Howard on Work Choices which was an even bigger deal for the unions. So one might like to read that down regarding regional rural chipstop agenda. It's not the same as the blessed northern suburbs of metro Sydney hung up on their amenity issues (!?). (feel free to argue against).
Lee Rhiannon's office will be even more crucial now in relations with the ALP given her union antecedents, but that will probably be better too than Jeff Angel as the interface with the ALP Right delivering us many horrors (lets start with land 'bribe'/swap conceptual framework Jeff blessed in 1997 - Brigalow Belt South deal with farmers/WWF(Jamie Piddock) resulting eventually in Catherine Hill 2009). Indeed Jeff would know the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Note also FoE Sydney and Greens played a very strong role in preventing energy privatisation in 1997 - stay tuned for a historical brief on that via link to SAM blog, and Greens again in 2007. These were main platforms for Robertson policy speaking. He will be about public intervention for green collar jobs and the joke that is CCS (as per 4 corners last week - excellent show).
As to Part 3A analysis Tim Robertson on Stateline last night was confirmation of my view years now, that the 1979 L&E Act is broken - he said 'back to 1965' Askin era. Significant because (a) Tim is an SC barrister, (b) Labor Lawyer's group (c) NEFA legal strike in famous Chaelundi/Corkill legal victory 1991 re need for State Forests to do EIS's under the same Act (d) he is feeling brave enough to go public including via from his developer client's AND public interest group clients. (There is a first cab rank rule for barristers to not refuse clients which may explain some things.)
But Tim told me about 10 years back in his office once he doesn't believe in wilderness, rather refugia old growth with critters there to recolonise disturbed sustainably logged areas. Trouble is he is ignorant about island biogeography/edge effects because unlike moi he doesn't have a zoology degree to speak on such matters: If Wilderness as an ecological concept didn't exist it would have to be invented. Refugia is too limited a design framework. But he means well and is generally sincere. He was instrumental in Carr pre 1995 forest policy approach IMHO.
So much for theory and practice.
....
The other interesting revelation is reference by Lincoln Hall in his mountaineering story in the SMH today to one Geof Bartram (?) 1983-4 expedition to Everest with a journalist .... Simon Baulderstone. SB was ex minder staffer of Peter Garrett for the ALP in recent years 2004 onwards, and known recently to defend PG zeolously in the comment strings of crikey (where I outed him!).
Just saying ...
Yours truly, etc
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 5:46 PM
Subject: Re: [] John Robertson minister for environment and energy

hi all
it seems that Minister for Health is somewhat unhealthy
john robertson is poisonously disliked by many left leaning ALP members and conservationoists for his heavy handed tactics in pushing on (after Michael Decosta - remember him?) with the fire sale of the wonderful Pittwater foreshore property 'Currawong", an ALP retreat and holdiday resort for its rank and file members,and much used by teachers, nurses and local government employees at all levels, for sale to ALP mates/property developers who are part of the Bondi Beach Whiteshoe Brigade.
He is now core ALP right - an apparent disaster for us BUT he needs to be formally approached abouit his views on forests and biomas/biofuels/woodchipping calamities.
regards

Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 5:18 PM
Subject: [] John Robertson minister for environment and energy

Info.
"John Robertson will pick up Ms Tebbutt's former environment portfolio, as well as continue as the Minister for Prisons. He will also pick up energy from Mr Macdonald."
Robertson defied the unions on privatisation of prison services, but I think it is most unlikely he would do anything the CFMEU didn't like.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/kelly-dumped-as-police-minister-20090911-fk8z.html

Tony Kelly has been dumped as the NSW Police Minister after criticism that he mishandled a police pay dispute and was devoting more time to campaigning for a leadership challenge.

Ian Macdonald loses his energy portfolio, but remains Minister for Primary Industries.

Premier Nathan Rees announced a cabinet reshuffle this afternoon after John Della Bosca quit the cabinet over an affair. Mr Rees said the reshuffle was about loyalty and discipline, indicating that he had punished Mr Kelly and Mr Macdonald for working behind the scenes against him.

The NSW Deputy Premier, Carmel Tebbutt, has taken over as the state's new Health Minister.

Ms Tebbutt, from the Labor Left, has been the environment minister for the past year.

Michael Daley will become the new Minister for Police.

John Robertson will pick up Ms Tebbutt's former environment portfolio, as well as continue as the Minister for Prisons. He will also pick up energy from Mr Macdonald.

The Minister for Transport David Campbell picks up Mr Daley's Roads portfolio. Mr Campbell will be assisted by David Borger, who will continue as Minister for Housing.

Mr Della Bosca quit the ministry last week after admitting to the affair with 26-year-old Kate Neill.

Ms Tebbutt has previously served as the minister for education, from 2005 to 2007, before she resigned from the frontbench to spend more time with her young son.

The Marrickville MP is married to federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese.

She agreed to return to the frontbench when Nathan Rees became Premier but has held a relatively minor portfolio.

Three recent former health ministers have become political casualties, with two quitting Parliament and one now relegated to the back bench.

Former premier Morris Iemma was health minister in 2005, followed by Attorney-General John Hatzistergos in 2006/07, Reba Meagher in 2007/08 and Mr Della Bosca took on the job a year ago. Mr Hatzistergos took over the portfolio for about a week after Mr Della Bosca resigned.

Andrew Clennell is the Herald’s State Political Editor.

- with AAP

 

 10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am 

 

Lead in on economic credentials of Oppositions leader with Govt’s Emerson trying his Peter Costello style theatrics (complete with mock Garrett arm waving, and florid phraseology).

 

Guest is Steven Smith on G20 re Hockey sledge it’s going centre left. Smith indulges more sledging of Hockey. Move on to Balibo 5 relations with Indonesia. PB as compere chases the filibuster answer sharply which is good. Senior politician alleged suspect footage shown.

 

1st out take is Albanese sledge of Turnbull side stepping Fielding’s pressure moment doorstop fiscal, physical stuff up. Nice on many levels given Albo was being smeared last week re Badgerys creek land deal, shows Fielding as the flake he is, and of course dumping on Opposition leader ALP corporate self interest.

 

Mid show section re Afghanistan rorted election. Smith finally makes the point re Sept 11 anniversary. Sri Lanka ejects child rights campaigning Australian working for UN. What is Australia doing about it? Good one Bonge.

 

Out take is cartoon at expense of Turnbull re Fielding learning difficulty.

 

Last section of show Rudd footage of history wars. Tony Roberts history of govt slaughters in NT under South Australian Govt semi official policy. Outstanding testimony of psycho sadistic murder of Black Australians.

 

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

 

 

Riley Diary 7, from 8.40am 

Fielding special satire, man under pressure and flaking badly.Albanese sledge rerun. Heart to heart about learning difficulty with Mark Riley. 29/100 HSC. Struggled back with higher degrees. Riley gives him a vote of support for being “fair dinkum”.  Riley agrees with view above re Emerson going OTT with Costello style theatrics. 

 http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend   

 

9 Sunday newshour Laurie Oakes interview 8.44 am 

 

“Given the week off”. That’s flippant. 

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

  

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

 

Riley Diary style package on economics, Fielding, Emerson, Greens Brown fiscal responsibility.  Albanese sledge 3 times today now. Abbott madness about “shit eating grin”. Gomer Pyle impersonations. [All about twitter and Sienfeldisation of public forums in a race to ecological dysfunction]

 

Panel Lenore Taylor News Corp all in white but not her employer (!), Glen Milne re policy of Work Choices,

 

David Marr “

 

Rudd grab off 7.30 Report – he’s got that earnest look like when he was paraded in front of PRC crack troops on parade. It’s the tell, re double dissolution on health funding of $2B. Guest is Minister Roxon rolling out the policy and rhetoric on health portfolio (got distracted from the mousy one).

 

Vox pop is woodchop with Foster etc re Fielding stuff up and pollie perks, and senator gets off light in his heartland demographic.

 

Debate follows re double dissolution prospects re health issue. [re read tell on Rudd furrowed brow and earnest tone]

 

Legacy debate over economics reform. Taylor says it’s painfull and tedious, and also patronizing [my words – and she is so right – what pollies do, jaw boning as the ecological wheels fall off in lead up to Copenhagen climate talks?].

   

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders

  

Inside Business with Alan Kohler 

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

   

 

 


Posted by editor at 12:13 PM NZT
Updated: Sunday, 13 September 2009 12:47 PM NZT
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
World heritage sandmine scandal: Wrong EIS submitted to Environment Court by miner and council legal teams?
Mood:  sharp
Topic: legal

Picture: Approach to Tinda sandmine quarry on Putty/Singleton Rd with Yengo NP in the Blue Mtns World Heritage area in the background. Tailings ponds are out of sight behind the cyclone sand washing plant in foreground. The site is an inholding surrounded by national park including Wollemi NP to the west. The mine itself is on what used to be headwaters of Tinda creek.

SAM wrote of this controversial sandmine previously here:

Friday, 28 August 2009

There we detail misleading and deceptive evidence by the sandminer expert Peter Jamieson regarding size of extraction exceeding the approval plan area. 

Similarly the mine is opposed by peak green groups The Wilderness Society, National Parks Association, Blue Mtns Conservation Society, and Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

Although the mine is now extended and approved by the Land & Environment Court's Commissioner Brown recently it's been a rocky road for Birdon Pty Ltd as sandminer, and Hawkesbury City Council as regulator, in the world heritage area precinct: In the last year or so the opponents have noted:

  1.  
    1. 10 DECC (Dept of Environment etc) conditions inserted albeit waffly language
    2. mine forced them to dewater the highly evaporative tailings dam
    3. a chief of DECC engaged now, perhaps due to sudden death of their responsible officer Jo Zurrer only 45 years old with stroke in her office;
    4. exposed HCC failures to partially vindicate Diamond's crusade
    5. lawyer Webster, expert Jamieson, and mine manager Ray Bygraves on the backfoot re illegal behaviour.
    6. Birdon spent something like $200K in legal gymnastics to defend their history of vandalism and short payments of s.94 contributions.
    7. LEC did their job and heard the objectors at an onsite inspection, with valid evidence and submissions
    8. objectors starting to move on from this planning farce

The LEC has not seen fit to web publish the verbal decision handed down by Commissioner Brown at 3pm 18th August 2009 witnessed by this writer and objectors.

Here is an earlier procedural contest which was lost by council and sandminer in favour of the non party objectors presided over by Biscoe J which has been published:

Birdon Contracting Pty Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council [2009] NSWLEC 143 (10 August 2009)

It has been suggested to us that because the final outcome before C'er Brown is 'an order by consent of the parties', there is no judgement to be published. However a decision by C'er Brown was in fact delivered verbally on 18th August 2009 cross referencing the evidence and legal submissions of the objectors. Indeed council and sandminer were unusually cooperative in this legal 'contest' so there was not much to decide there.

As indicated above wrong evidence was submitted to the C'er in making his decision. Cynics have suggested Council was not vigorous in pursuing the large number of blatant non compliances over 13 years by this sandminer.

Today SAM can reveal that the NSW Land & Environment Court presided over by Commissioner Brown in this part of the proceedings was also provided with the wrong Environmental Impact Statement. We have been told by a senior barrister that providing the wrong EIS 'will have serious consequences' for those involved.

Here is a picture of the redundant May 1995 EIS, next to the operative November 1995 EIS:

We are advised that the correct EIS may also have been removed from council's own file.

SAM as legal agent for objectors Messrs Diamond and Sneddon has inspected the the court exhibits including court bundle of documents from the parties being Birdon Pty Ltd (owned by Tom Bruce, represented by Russel Byrnes solicitor, John Webster barrister) and Hawkesbury City Council (represented by solicitor Stephen Griffiths, instructed by Chief Planner Matthew Owens).

The only EIS in court exhibits is "May 1995" - the incorrect EIS. We have written to council's lawyers on this very point previously. Why does it matter?

Here below at right (compare old EIS at left) for instance is the correct EIS requirement at p23 for

"In addition, a series of bores will be installed to monitor groundwater behaviour."


 

This requirmement for monitoring bores has the force of a consent condition as indicated in the picture below at the pink underline:

 


 

An issue in the recent LEC merits hearing raised by objectors was whether under clause 36, schedule 3, part 2 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Regulation 2000, there have been sufficient non compliances to require a new EIS in 2009. We said there was failure to implement for 13 years the monitoring bores required by the EIS and the Nov EIS is critical to that claim, withheld from the LEC.

Indeed the monitoring bores were also the subject of a court order in 2005 via a consultant recommendations (see clause 4d "EcoWise" below) but still never implemented. Both that court order and the EcoWise report were excluded from the court bundle provided to the Commissioner, presumably to further mask the incredible non compliances in this case.

 

 

Here are the recommendations of the mystery Ecowise(Golder) report referenced in the 2005 LEC order requiring (again like the 1995 EIS) for the groundwater monitoring bores to be implemented, also exluded from the court bundle until the objectors submitted the documents:


Indeed the expert for sandminer Birdon (an engineer Peter Jamieson) was able to argue his water modelling was authoritive in the absence of such baseline monitoring bore data. Jamieson was contradicted by an expert hydrologist proper, Chris Jewell employed by Council. Jewell lamented the lack of monitoring bore data in his July 2007 report. But the council declined to pursue any cross examination of the water modelling report for the sandminer.

There are other irregularities in this environment case: A critical governmet memo (by DLWC) as to Tinda Ck falling within protections of the now defunct Rivers & Foreshores Protection Act is missing the critical 2nd page in the court bundle (at page 132):

Here is that memo in full and note 2nd page stating the Rivers & Foreshores Protection Act (now repealed) did apply to Tinda Ck:

 


 

Is this a fix being run through the LEC by a bogus 'order by consent'? Certainly we think the Chief Judge Brian Preston at the LEC who literally wrote the book on "Environmental Litigation"  should be briefed on the irregularities in this case all at the expense of Tinda Ck. And so should the Dept of Environment as well as the Dept of Mines.

Stay tuned for the next installment in the Tinda Ck series of stories: When did approved plans become optional extras? When the sandminer says they are 'confusing'!?


Posted by editor at 1:30 PM NZT
Updated: Tuesday, 8 September 2009 3:44 PM NZT
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Sunday political talkies: Menacing big media and brush turkeys have NSW Govt poised on the edge
Mood:  chatty
Topic: aust govt
  


 

Author’s general introductory note   

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. Perhaps the greatest utility is the headline synthesis above of the 3 or 4 shows followed in this session.

   

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

  

Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.  

  

Media backgrounders.

 1. Oakes yesterday in News Corp tabloids goes at Greens Senator Rachel Siewert only she shares presser platform with PM Rudd. Go figure. Oakes nitpicks on 60 versus 90 nautical miles and 300 barrels versus 3000 litres?  

2. Shame of land bribes backgrounder here on SAM late last week, originating in compromised farmer- green movement alliance to extinguish Wik claims on western division land. SAM expose is no doubt a taboo amongst the hypocrites we used to work with late 90ies until their self interest and ignorance become insufferably immoral in the State of ALP. 

3. SAM assistance on sandmine in Blue Mtns world heritage precinct getting curiouser and curiouser. Not only deceptive evidence appears to mislead C’er Brown, and now confirmed wrong 1995 EIS in court bundle. May 1995, not later version November 1995 to address criticisms of govt authorities and public. All because silt pollution resulted in $10K fine in 1989 and the location is highly sensitive. We hear from senior barrister this will have ‘consequences’. CJ Preston will have to hear of this sooner or later. 

4. Tim Holding minister in Victorian Govt failed to carry ice axe for safety in snow and ice? That’s a real deficit of judgement given it’s mountaineering A01 according to our training at Wanaka NZ in 1989. Tsk tsk. And it seems the big media at a packed presser didn’t even ask him whether he had an ice axe and whether he knew how to use one? 

5. Pure Big Media sophistry about coverage of Della Bosca in breach of private lives convention to ignore. Shows BM fear of web based media stealing their dominance and reach by going so low rent.


 

 

10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am 

 

Greens Bob Brown is talent. Various issues eg stimulus job creation, ceo excessive pay rates, private lives of MPs, Bradfield by election ALP “dipped out”.

 

Brown sounding clear and broadly engaged, skinny and fit like former Tas senator from DLP (name?)

 

Panel Stephanie Balogh Courier Mail, Marius Benson

 

Marius Benson picks up LO critique, LO “got his facts wrong”, 6,500 square km and challenges media on lack of analysis or investigation. Covers for colleague.

 

Warren cartoon out take re blind mystery woman with Della? Dep PM Gillard profile builder on some dumb game show.

 

…………….

 

2nd guest, Barry OFarrell leader nsw opposition. 5th health minister in 4 years but double counts Hatzistergos. Hypocrisy

 

Faith in ICAC? Excellent question. Says ‘inner spring has wound down’ Good line. Raises Ian Temby exemplar mid 90ies. ICAC low hanging fruit re govt agencies and local govt but not senior govt.

 

His agenda, planning, payroll deductions, scrap metro rail.

  

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

 

 

Riley Diary 7, from 8.40am  

Missed it  

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend   

 

9 Sunday newshour Laurie Oakes interview 8.44 am 

Turnbull is guest. Happy Fathers Day all round. NSW issue of developer murdered. Runs line Labor machine state to federal. No Labor candidate in Bradfield byelection. Argues Chris Bowen federal MP exemplar of NSW ALP Right influence on federal govt. Replumbing irrigation districts better use of stimulus money.  

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

  

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

 

Riley Diary type intro re Della NSW media gossip ‘scandal’. Mostly gratuitous.

 

Sunday press A Crabb refers to developer murder scandals. Tape is with police. Akerman rezoning of Badgery Ck area involved re federal proposal. Cassidy challenges wider scope. Argues federal instruments involving banks also.

 

Crabb looking duly rococo. Stutchbury refers to Della 100 day plan in Sunday Telegraph. Does have claim to serious policy brain.

 

Interview with Wayne Swan in London. Chat about why Australia’s economy avoided recession via structural reforms, commodity based, industrial relations flexibility.

 

Pure sophistry  about big media trawling through the gutter of ex minister Della Bosca private life.

 

Talking Pictures with Gillard in India.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders

 

 

Inside Business with Alan Kohler 

 

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

  

………………………..

 


 


Posted by editor at 1:04 PM NZT
Updated: Sunday, 6 September 2009 1:08 PM NZT
Friday, 4 September 2009
Minister Holding's mountaineer incompetence is about poor judgement?
Mood:  lazy
Topic: big media

 

Traditional training for ice axe self belay and arrest 


Head first, on the stomach, axe in right hand. Note that runs must be made with both the right and left hands.
(Remember, the axe must be changed to the up-hill hand at every switch-back.)

 


"Great job! Try to stop with the axe head a little closer to your shoulder."

 ............................

We hear water minister in Victoria Tim Holding is "impressive" "lucky" regretful, ex commando, fitness fanatic, and to balance up all this ALP spin for a protege, actually a "super dill". Here is some coverage:

Tim Holding speaks about his dramatic rescue from Mt Feathertop ...2 Sep 2009 ... UPDATE 3.45pm: TIM Holding has revealed he feared the worst as he slid ... Tim Holding at his press conference.

Have a look at exactly why his 100 m slide on ice reflects on Holding's judgment and quite possibly misplaced, probably arrogant self confidence in snow and ice. Reckless? You bet. 

Did any journalist ask him whether he had an ice axe? Or knew how to use it? We wonder.

----- Original Message -----
From: Ecology Action To: Chipstop, Environment East Gippsland
Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 8:30 AM
Subject: ice axe mountaineering A01 Re: [chipstop] FDOTM vs The Tim Holding search

By the way the very very first lesson one gets in basic mountaineering as per my course in 1989 at Wanaka NZ, Mt Aspiring national park with a company called Mountain Recreation is this:

Traditional training for ice axe self belay and arrest

This so called ex commando, rising star of the ALP was totally out of his depth on his chosen hobby of bushwalking/mountaineering.
What does it say about his ability to manage conservation of water issues?
Signed
Cynical Media Watcher!
.......................

Picture: wonderful Mt Aspring south island NZ a tad under 13,000 feet, climbed in 1989 by the main face. 


Posted by editor at 10:45 AM NZT
Updated: Friday, 4 September 2009 10:55 AM NZT
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Provenance of "land bribe" scheme back to 1997 via farmer green moral 'leadership' in NSW
Mood:  sharp
Topic: local news

The front pager report of the court decision here

 ALP donor projects scuttled

and

'Land bribe' exposes Labor's coziness with property developers

and editorial here 

Della Bosca's quick exit … focuses minds on the real shemozzle

and "withering" decision of the court by Lloyd J here at their homepage:

Gwandalan Summerland Point Action Group Inc v Minister for Planning [2009] NSWLEC 140 (31 August 2009)

relates to our backgrounder back in December 2008 re turn of events back in 1997 where the SAM editor was an uncomfortable witness. This was about the time the creeping corruption of environmental ngo movement by the Carr state government started taking hold one year after the death of leader Milo Dunphy - at least in our humble opinion:

Monday, 17 December 2007
Systemic racism in NSW behind the 1997 origins of 'bio banking' aka 'tradeoff' land clearing?
Mood:  sharp
Topic: indigenous


When we first read Henry Reynolds - Law of the Land published 1987 - we were shocked by the reference to 'sado masochistic Sunday afternoon hunting parties', and of 'childrens skulls smashed in'. This was Tasmania of 19th and 18th century colonial times that Julia Gillard euphemistically calls "settlement" surely not realising the unintended fiction - at the hands of brutalised convicts doing the British Govt's dirty work. As eloquently argued by many since it would take a triumph of willful blindess for we the Australian ancestral benefactors of the active theft or inheritors via disease and violence to quiet the whispering in our hearts, just as the UK Govt with the remoteness of distance might effectively ignore the truth.

We wove that 1987 book into our honours law thesis in 1989 called A Legal Foundation for Aboriginal Land Rights around the nascent concept of Native Title which was in fact recognised by the High Court of Australia 3 years later in Dec 1992. The famous Mabo Case and surely a hero of the age. But in 1989 we never quite nailed down what Australia was legally because the British empire had officially 'conquered' some of their global dominion in which case local people's land law continued in some form say under a treaty like Waitangi in NZ, and 'settled' other 'empty' land. But Australia seemed to be "sui generis" which is latin meaning "one of a kind" mentioned in some of the writings in dusty old common law cases from India and South Africa. 

Now we conclude Australia was neither empty/settled or peopled/conquered in the minds of the UK seat of government. We personally have no doubt it was a covert creeping invasion and consquest using convicts as the catspaw of the Empire. It was invaded by convict criminals sent in with sickness and violence to clear out whatever they came across. All very convenient and racist to not even formalise an international legal categorisation for the hapless Aborigines who lived so very close to nature.

In 1993-4 we played an active role at least here in NSW in reforming The Wilderness Society's national approach to such issues into a quite strong and ethical Land & Rights Policy which prefaced alliances over such campaigns in Starcke and Jabiluka of the 1990ies with Traditional Aboriginal owners of land. (We were not the instigator of such a reform, rather this was a couple Larry and Marg from memory, but we loved the change.) This was in a time when Noel Pearson was pretty friendly to the non govt group too. 

The essence of the TWS reformed policy was to recognise large intact natural areas known as wilderness under the NSW 1987 legislation as in fact Indigenous land, and secondly while never walking away from the goal to conserve such lands, to never seek to pre emtively extinguish that traditional, custodial Indigenous history in any deal making with other stakeholders in land such as govt, agri or other resource extraction industries.

One implication of that huge symbolic shift was that it could theoretically involve the TWS both supporting a native title holder's ownership and at the same time campaigning against them if they sought to act as a vandalistic black developer of crucial conservation values. This was a risk deemed essential in a new moral path for the green movement and for the nation post Mabo. It felt right and it was right.

5 years later 1997 we realised the game of covert extinguishment was still under way in NSW but this time by the NSW Govt Depts,  farmers and also either using or willingly with the aid of certain green groups.

Indeed the name of the game in conservative politics under the federal Howard govt was extinguishment of the Mabo legal test of 'ongoing physical connection with the land' and in the most redneck parts of the nation it looked like the bulldozer was the preferred method as here in Qld:

And not just the bulldozer to ensure extinguishment of native title with ongoing agri industry pressure on govt for corporate welfare via freeholding of govt leasehold land to the non indigenous squattocracy of the Western Division here:


And the farmers had their reasons to seek out their "bucket loads of extinguishment" as the Howard Govt proudly expressed in Federal Parliament, if they didn't care about the morals, because they knew they were being stalked legally after Mabo and after the Wik case earlier like this report dated April 2000:

This particular legal saga was trashed by the High Court of Australia in August 2002 as explained here [pdf file]

Native Title and the Western Division of NSW

eventually raising the question whether all that pre emptive land clearing was really needed in either NSW (see one report of the sorry landclearing detail here) or Qld (above) up to that point.

In 1997 the green groups were not to know how the legals would work out not least after the Federal Court decision in favour of the native title claim relevant to a huge areas of western NSW.

It was in this context that the 'leaders' of the NSW green movement were summonsed to this:

We particularly remember Jeff Angel blessing these endeavours by Jamie Piddock and being "very impressed" for franchising the idea of "clearing tradeoffs" by farmers. Jeff's blessing some 10 years ago is in stark contrast to some quotes in the press last Saturday Dec 15th 07 (below). Not a mention of native title extinguishment. Not a mention except by this writer as confirmed by the contemporaneous notes of the time. Here is Piddock's briefing note of this 'environmental' initiative to keep the farmers happy, and sideline the Blacks altogether (and note our very bad handwriting):

 

Our alarm at this attempt to promote trade offs of one area of native bush for another, after 200 years of land clearing and a general scientific understanding that no more land clearing was desirable in Australia at all, let alone to extinguish critical historical native title rights, and with a green stamp on them was pretty much ignored. This was a shameful day for the NSW green movment with Jeff Angel ascendant. Hence the careful notation of the documentation and signature and dating by hand above. Angel in particular should account for this (while Jamie Piddock is God knows where). Not least because he was busy on ABC radio last Saturday morning Dec 15th and in the Sydney Morning Herald with pretty much the direct opposite view against exactly this kind of 'bio banking tradeoff land clearing in favour of regional conservation outcomes' which the govt jargon for green lighting, greenwashing developer bush clearance.

 


In principle 1997 good, 2007 bad? Western NSW 'Black Land' good. Sydney urban bushland bad? Go figure. This may be what Jeff Angel said on 702 on air to be 'good in principle, its the implementation that matterrs'.

Angel is clearly right in 2007. But he was woefully wrong in 1997 so what's changed? Bob Carr is no longer premier is one significant factor. The ascendancy of the far more independent and fiesty Green Party is another.

Are you reading this Warren Mundine, prominent in the NSW ALP?

Some of us have a long memory about such things and we can prove it. Here is some of our confidential briefing notes of that shameful May 12 1997 cave in to redneck land clearing deal to further oust the Blacks from the Western Division:

 

 

 


Posted by editor at 10:00 AM NZT
Updated: Friday, 4 September 2009 10:16 AM NZT
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Sunday political talkies: Dep. PM Gillard gets Big Media scrutiny, Dr Nelson aka ‘Higgy*’ throws verbal acid at Lib leader
Mood:  quizzical
Topic: aust govt

 * Refer Crabb story referred below regarding Higgy the Human

Sponge. 

Author’s general introductory note   

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. Perhaps the greatest utility is the headline synthesis above of the 3 or 4 shows followed in this session.

   

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

  

Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.  

  

Media backgrounders.

 
  1. News Corp blinks in campaign to spook ALP and Rees out of his premier’s job in NSW with front cover by Simon Benson leading corporate back down in press late this week. Shows how web fracturing of big media influence has taken the sting out of News Corp bully boys.
  2. Will Federal minister Anthony Albanese ever do the right thing on asbestos in the heart of his own electorate e.g. Addison Rd Community Centre? See picture in due course. We reported on this over a year ago:
  3. Nelson bail out claiming equanimity while ruthlessly sledging Turnbull in Hartcher column in SMH this Saturday. Crabb same paper nails him with hilarious journalistic metaphor Higgy The Human Sponge. Fact is Nelson is tarred by failed rationale of Iraq war. The chill of that goes on forever … Howard, Costello, Downer, Vaile, Nelson etc etc all gone as they must. Turnbull elected post invasion in 2004.
  4. Paul Kelly News Corp broadsheet and Laurie Oakes both put the boot into Julia Gillard including pretensions to overtake PM Rudd in “authority”.
  5. Greg Hunt federal shadow Env spokes joins Greens Senator in raising alarm over ongoing bad oil spill in NW Australia. Good whistleblowing work.
  6. NSW State Forests fuel reduction burn runs wild according to our sources:
 

Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 3:29 PM

Subject: [chipstop] Fire on Gulaga Mountain

 

>A ‘fuel management’ fire that was started by Forests NSW (Hazard
> Advisory FNSW to RFS 28 August) in
> compartments west of Gulaga Mountain, has jumped containment lines and
> ‘got away’ burning out of control up the mountain and continuing to
> burn down the eastern flank threatening the two Tilba villages.
> Previously communities had called for no burns on the mountain and
> requested Forests NSW to extinguish this fire.  This fire had been burning
> for two weeks.  Forests NSW ignored community concerns and the severe
> drought and weather conditions.  Homes are threatened, sacred sites burned
> and rainforest decimated.
…….> (End)
> For more information contact SEFR on 0437471763 [Refer penultimate post for full statement].

 

7. Our suggestion on $20M branding Australia – “Australia honest”. Comes from student days brit girlfriend law student who ‘liked’ Australian because they were so ‘simple’. They are patronizing like that. The better view is Oz is relatively more straight, and direct not scheming or neurotic unlike the Old World countries or USA desperate capitalism. Only trouble with this

 

8. Foreign Correspondent stunning story by Sally Sara on acid throwing in Bangladesh – fantastic reportage and Walkley material.

9. Good round up of extreme Shooter lobby on Stateline, echoes Cumberland press front pager – picture in due course. About time these unscientific cranks and their land grab were challenged. On the other hand there is a valid case for top level predators assisting ecology but in a programmatic way.

  1. 10. We recall only a month back a very nervy planning interview on abc 702 with Cameron shows KKK (says Joe Hilderbrand pushing his red neck sticht) is way under done as premier material, and Rees delivered the $2B desal plant with public meetings all over the place. That’s the tribal difference

 11. Land  & Environment Court appear to take a curious  attitude to vandals in the Blue Mtns World Heritage precinct. See story 2 back from this post. SAM after a year of research has exposed systematic illegality and misleading evidence to the LEC, as well as ruthless behaviour by the sandminer agents. Is this really good enough in the 21C? Stay tuned for more on this story.

    

10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am 

Press round up, mortgage stress, Kennedy (another one) dead,

 

Talent is Pyne Opp business manager. Re Gillard expenditure management, excessive advertising. [Compare road funding signs up for years after project finished.] Gillard grab says standard practice.]

 

First out take Rudd pushed for new hospital by sick patient.

 

Turnbull grab re News poll still low. Panel is Hewitt, Mal Farr both News Corp.

 

Polling dead bat re only one that counts is election. Brendan Nelson decided to leave “not a life sentence”. Farr says Rudd doing better ‘no one likes to call their own baby ugly’ vote by the public.

 

Gillard in adbreak ‘smarter than a 5th grader?’

 

Grab of Turnbull must engage on ETS. Talent no. 2 is Nationals Fiona Nash [very telegenic, probably a better look for leader post Truss?] RARA tub thump re “no negative impact”. Chat moves to leadership discussion. Good speaking voice. Unashamably parochial. Notes Joyce has a lot of “spirit”.

 

Challenged on business support for ETS engagement. RARA tub thump. Product differentiation.

 

[Nash is a minor revelation in tv stakes offsetting Julia Gillard profile, and more reasoned presentation ]

 

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

  

Riley Diary 7, from 8.40am   

Missed most of it. Theme on Crean better branding for Australia. Disappointing to miss.  

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend   

 

9 Sunday newshour Laurie Oakes interview 8.44 am 

Albanese as Infrastructure minister, NSW Govt ‘turmoil’ media stories are a beat up in NSW. Challenged on costs blowout in Education. Looking very ALP with bulging suit coat but talking a good game.  Dense policy traverse including social housing, education infra, interest rates re stimulus. Oakes turns “Narcacistic personality disorder” attack by Nelson on rival Turnbull (in Hartcher article in Fairfax) around to Rudd’s personality too?  Strong interview and strong performance from Albanese [maybe he can fix the asbestos all through Marrickville including Addison Rd Community Centre – see picture above.  

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

  

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

 

Lead in on Gillard on excessive workload including $16B infra project in primary schools. [Makes three heavyweights Kelly, Oakes, now Cassidy]

 

Kennedy funeral wrap. Panel is Schubert, Atkins, Henderson

 

Press roundup – Gerard Henderson – apology on welfare kids mistreatment. Not drought rather climate change permanent re aerosols. Discussion re 1950-1970 were unseasonably wet and now reverting?

 

UN criticism of suspension of RDA, bipartisan approach to pragmatism. Tony Abbott responds in person as guest. Says grog is stopped and all night parties stopped school attendance is 70%. Basic law and order really as per Aurukun example, claiming Noel Pearson and Howard Govt agenda.

 

On Nelson verbal acid in Hartcher article says got to have steel and effectively dismisses the attack by Nelson, normal to have an ego and robust discussions. Refers to NSW ALP more like an opposition – which was probably SAM’s line first of all re Rees Govt.

 

[Echoed by Marr story Fairfax this last weekend profile of Barry OFarrell, effectively anointing him as Premier in waiting.]

 

Chat about Abbott interview concurring on Nelson excessive emoting. Everyperson segment on Nelson.

 

Kelly and panel on Gillard ‘halo slipping’ and contrarian mild support from Henderson rolling back some centralized IR platform. Cassidy refers to “market correction”.

 

Excellent Talking pictures with Bruce Petty re Nelson great escape and Womans Day on Rudd Rein GG ALP rose tinted show.

 

NSW Govt Rees presser shown. Keneally mentioned [very nervy planning interview on 702 with Cameron is way under done as premier material, and Rees delivered the $2B desal plant with public meetings all over the place. That’s the tribal difference.]

  

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders

  Inside Business with Alan Kohler 

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

  

………………………..

 

Posted by editor at 12:28 PM NZT
Updated: Sunday, 30 August 2009 12:33 PM NZT
NSW State Forests 'cause wildfire threatening south coast tourism'
Mood:  loud
Topic: wildfires
 The strong green movement on the NSW South Coast have gone into print about their local area:
We posted this gallery some years ago:
Gulaga/Dromadery Forest photo gallery protests 2005-2007
One example only:

gulagacollagemay07.jpg

Here is there statement
Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 3:29 PM
Subject: [chipstop] Fire on Gulaga Mountain

>A ‘fuel management’ fire that was started by Forests NSW (Hazard
> Advisory FNSW to RFS 28 August) in
> compartments west of Gulaga Mountain, has jumped containment lines and
> ‘got away’ burning out of control up the mountain and continuing to
> burn down the eastern flank threatening the two Tilba villages.
> Previously communities had called for no burns on the mountain and
> requested Forests NSW to extinguish this fire.  This fire had been burning
> for two weeks.  Forests NSW ignored community concerns and the severe
> drought and weather conditions.  Homes are threatened, sacred sites burned
> and rainforest decimated.
> Forests NSW “Southern Region Burning Proposals 2007” contains burn plan
> No. 07BAN3053 (the one that ‘got away’) further stating that the
> area’s last burn was in 1996, yet on the adjoining Burning Plan No.
> 07BAN3048 parts of the area were mapped as last burnt in 2000, 2001 and
> 2005.  FNSW intended to burn 1,103 ha.
> The 850 hectare fire is burning in State forest and National Park on the
> south-western side of Mount Gulaga, three kilometres west of Tilba.
> The main fire is burning on the western and south western side of the
> mountain, being pushed by westerly winds.
> A spokesman Greg Potts says a long 'finger' of fire is burning slowly
> downhill in an easterly direction towards the Dromedary walking trail that
> is near private property.
> "That fire is burning down towards the private property on the eastern
> side," he said.
> "It still is totally inaccessible to fire crews so as it starts to get
> closer to the private property then we'll have patrolling units there
> ready."
> Mr Potts says fire is also burning slowly downhill in a south easterly
> direction towards Dignams Creek. There are two spot fires causing concern,
> one on the northern end of Gulaga Mountain and the other on the south
> eastern side above Tilba.  The fire is currently burning on all sides of
> the mountain.
> Residents were being urged to decide whether to stay and defend or leave
> early and to have their evacuation plan in place. 
> At a town meeting held at the Central Tilba community building last night
> Julian Armstrong FNSW Burning Operations Unit Manager stated that Forests
> NSW started the prescribed burn in late July. 
> “The fire was kept going because the area was too inaccessible, once it
> got to 450 ha it was too big to water bomb.”
> “FNSW initially lit couple of hundred hectares,” he said.
> Fergus Thompson chaired the meeting and was noted to have stifled
> information and debate on how the fires began.
> “Neighbours  were not notified prior to the burns commencement,” said
> concerned resident Judy Beggs.  “My life and livelihood are in danger
> because of Forests NSW incompetence.”
> Smoke has affected residents at Dignams Creek, Akolele, Wallaga Lake,
> Bermagui and Bega 70kms away.
> “FNSW administrative breaches have resulted in damaging consequences,”
> said South East Forest Rescue spokesperson Tony Whan.  “But as is plainly
> shown in the Draft Report documentation for the current Regional Forest
> Agreement review process, FNSW threw out the concept of ecologically
> sustainable forest management many years ago.”
> Mr Potts said the cause of the fire and how it broke containment lines was
> under investigation.
> Fire activity yesterday and over night saw extensive spotting over the
> summit, resulting in several small spot fires, which are now burning in
> inaccessible terrain in the Gulaga National Park and Bodalla State Forest
> The community is stridently calling for a judicial inquiry into the
> incident and Forests NSW mismanagement, maladministration and criminal
> neglect of the events.
> (End)
> For more information contact SEFR on 0437471763

 


Posted by editor at 11:08 AM NZT
Updated: Sunday, 30 August 2009 12:13 PM NZT

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