I was thinking the other day about what Australia really needs from its Government, to replace the current broken down corrupt and incompetent LNP Government, so I wrote Albo’s victory speech for him: “Ladies and Gentlemen, friends, fellow Australians. Thank you all for that welcome. Tonight, after nine long years of conservative Government, is a... Continue Reading →
Saying what others are thinking – Wishing ill on others
Like many others I was brought up with the adage that it was wrong to wish ill on others. It’s part of basic Christian precepts of turning the other cheek and could be seen as among a range of other adages such as loving thine enemy and, politically, “keeping your friends close and your enemies... Continue Reading →
The Most Corrupt Government in Australian History – a summary
The current government is the most dishonest, dangerous, incompetent, corrupt, hypocritical and unaccountable government in Australian political history. By this, I mean the Liberal National party in it’s three terms of office stretching back over eight years. It has undermined every notion of good government and ministerial accountability.
Environmental Anecdotes (Episode 4) The Franklin: A Federal Government Wedding Team from the SMH
THIS IS NOT A HISTORICAL RECORD. AS PER TRUMPIAN LOGIC, NO APOLOGIES MADE FOR ERRORS, EXAGGERATION, OMISSIONS, BAD TASTE OR MISREPRESENTATIONS. The call came to Bob Brown's office at the Davey St head office of the Wilderness Society (TWS). Or at least what purported to be the head office, since no part of the organisation's... Continue Reading →
Environmental Anecdotes (Episode 3) The Franklin Campaign: The Leaker – they came in the Dead of Night.
THIS IS NOT A HISTORICAL RECORD. AS PER TRUMPIAN LOGIC, NO APOLOGIES MADE FOR ERRORS, EXAGGERATION, OMISSIONS, BAD TASTE OR MISREPRESENTATIONS. The call came from Canberra. I'd spent a year there as National Liaison Officer (NLO) for the Wilderness Society (TWS). A grand title but little else. I had been lobbying politicians and the media... Continue Reading →
A lie is better than the truth in our society
We increasingly live in an Orwellian age where speaking out can have a high cost. Historically that has also been true - we need only think of the Nazis, Stalinism, the Inquisition, Pol Pot. But Governments have never been more capable of monitoring our every move. Our employers monitor our Facebook posts. Every phone has a built in recording device.
The premium on truth has never been higher. And nowhere more so than in politics and political parties. For the Greens, which claim higher standards, the challenge has never been greater. We need internal systems that promote honest discussion rather than suppressing them; that provide clear and independent complaints processes. We need to take the beam out of our own eye. Because blind loyalty is a curse for organisations, and one that leads to corruption and incompetence.
The Failure of Representative Politics
Repudiating Representative Politics Replacing career politicians with citizen politicians If you start with the assumption that the worst possible person to whom one should give power is someone who is narcissistic, ambitious, arrogant and self-interested, and one would almost automatically disqualify from political office every single person who puts their hand up to be... Continue Reading →