Sunday, October 28, 2007

Another bad campaign day for PM, by Michelle Grattan - The Age - 28th October 2007

Perhaps he thought if he ignored it, the question would go away. It didn't. Again and again, John Howard was asked about the report in the weekend Australian Financial Review that Malcolm Turnbull had recently urged that the Government, even at this late stage, ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Repeatedly, Howard simply parrotted that what we need is a new agreement.

The political embarrassment in the small shopfront in North Parramatta was palpable. It was one of the bad moments of the Coalition's campaign, of which there are now a few.

For once Howard's Saturday did not take him to Bennelong. Instead he turned up in a Labor seat that the redistribution has made Liberal.

The chances of Liberal candidate for Parramatta Colin Robinson reaching Parliament in the present climate appear zilch, but Robinson has a special claim to fame. He's a member of the Electrical Trades Union ("proudly so," the PM said). That means he shares a kennel of sorts with Dean Mighell.

The ETU is a punching bag for the Government but Robinson can be held up to prove the PM's point that he's not against unions as such — anyway, Robinson has never been an official. (Robinson said people very rarely talk to him about WorkChoices and don't complain about it, which seems rather surprising.)

Howard's day began badly. A Canberra Times poll in the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro indicated that Special Minister of State Gary Nairn may be headed for a big loss. This was at odds with Liberal polling Howard reported to the party room before Parliament rose. A Nielsen Online national poll had Labor ahead 56-44 per cent.

The PM had no fewer than three press secretaries in attendance for his doorstop in the shopfront. After some Howard words about full employment and union thuggery, questioning soon turned to why he hadn't agreed to Turnbull's proposition. "What we need is a new international agreement … with all of the major emitters," the PM said. He did not talk about what was said in cabinet, he said, relaunching into the need for a new international agreement, a line he delivered at least half a dozen times.

Howard's (and later Turnbull's) failure to deny it has effectively confirmed the report about Turnbull's proposal. It is very damaging for the Government, showing ministers divided over what has been a key difference between Labor and the Coalition. Turnbull also emerges publicly as the good guy on climate change, something that won't endear him to a few of his colleagues.

The proposal apparently came up as ministers cast around for ways to improve the Government's fortunes as it headed to the election. It is not that surprising it was rejected. It would have gone back on what the Government has said for years. Whether such a last-minute repentance would have done much good is questionable anyway — it might have just been seen as total expediency. But that it was discussed is a measure of the Government's concern about the climate change issue, and its wider situation.

Asked whether he was worried about electoral defeat, Howard scoffed yesterday, asking for the next question. That was when David Luff, one of the press secretaries, decided enough was enough, and ended the news conference.

The PM soon made for his car, telling journalists to go and see the new anti-union power ad Joe Hockey was launching. Then he sped off. We are left to speculate about who leaked the Kyoto story — in which Turnbull declined to comment on the cabinet discussion but agreed that there were arguments for such a "symbolic" move — and with what motive.

The cabinet has usually been nearly leak proof. Perhaps some are now writing the history before what they see as a likely defeat.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Candidates to face off at public forum - St George and Sutherland Shire Leader - 25th October 2007

Voters will have a chance to see candidates for the seat of Cook in action at a public forum on climate change next week.

Liberal candidate Scott Morrison will face Labor's Mark Buttigieg and the Greens' Naomi Waizer at Hazelhurst Regional Gallery on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

Mr Buttigieg has been hailed by the Sutherland Climate Action Network as being "well ahead of his own party" on climate change.

Forum organiser Jonathan Doig said Mr Buttigieg's responses to the environment movement's survey at TheBigSwitch.org.au had been impressive.

"It's exciting to see a local politician openly support what the scientists tell us is necessary, which the vast majority of voters also want," he said.

"We look forward to a lively and informative debate on Tuesday night."

Mr Doig said Mr Morrison had not yet responded to The Big Switch survey, but has agreed to attend the forum. Candidates will present their climate solutions and then face audience questions.

The forum will be introduced by University of NSW renewable energy expert and author Dr Mark Diesendorf.

Details: 7.30pm Tuesday, October 30, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, 782 Kingsway, Gymea. Entry by donation. No bookings needed, 0409 049 185.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Rudd yet to give the nod on Sunday debate, by Stephanie Peatling - The Sydney Morning Herald - 16th October 2007

I was interviewed on ABC Radio Mid North Coast this morning by Fiona Wyllie on this matter. I made it clear to her and the audience that an election is for everyone and not supposed to be elitist, and also that pay TV was a luxury of sorts, and that I in face used to work directly in the pay television industry. In addition, that by Howard wanting the debate to be on pay TV only is yet another example of him being out of touch with everyday Australians, some of which can't afford pay TV.
http://www.abc.net.au/midnorthcoast


Two national television networks are busily making arrangements for a debate between the two leaders to take place this Sunday night, but whether the Labor leader, Kevin Rudd, will turn up has yet to be confirmed.

The ABC and Sky TV are preparing for a 90-minute debate between the Prime Minister, John Howard, and Mr Rudd that will be organised by the National Press Club.

The ABC is planning to broadcast the debate live on television, radio and the internet from 7.30pm, with commercial networks also expected to show it.

Although Mr Howard is keen for the encounter, Mr Rudd refuses to say whether he will be there. Mr Rudd wants three debates, including one on industrial relations, over the campaign.
"Let's be fair dinkum about this," Mr Rudd said.

"If you get to this Saturday or Sunday, at the end of the first week of a six-week campaign, will all of Mr Howard's policies be on the table? No, will all of our policies be on the table? No."
Mr Rudd also wants to establish an independent commission to set the terms of election debates. He said it was "silly and just wrong for the government of the day … to set the rules, the timing and the contents of the debate".

But Mr Howard scoffed at the idea saying it was "the bureaucrat coming out in Mr Rudd, rather than the leader".

He is unlikely to change his mind and agree to any further debates.

A letter from the federal director of the Liberal Party, Brian Loughnane, to his Labor counterpart, Tim Gartrell, put no less than 15 stipulations on the debate.

The Great Hall of Parliament House will be the venue for Sunday night's debate. A panel of five journalists will be chosen by the National Press Club.

Sky TV confirmed the political editor of its news channel, David Speers,would moderate the debate.

The Greens leader, Bob Brown, weighed in, saying there should be three debates and he, too, should participate.

"There are many issues where Labor and the Coalition have exactly the same position … The Greens are the real opposition and should be included in the debates," Senator Brown said.

The Greens - Craige McWhirter - Solar power to Re-energise Mackellar - 22nd August 2007

This weekend I will commence my campaign to “Re-energise Mackellar” by taking renewable energy to the people of Sydney’s northern beaches Mackellar electorate.

By powering common household items, I will be bringing home the practical reality of solar power at Winnermerey Bay on Saturday, from 10-4pm and Avalon Markets on Sunday, from 10-4pm.

I’ll be taking an array of 6 solar panels to public parks, providing an opportunity for people to get hands on experience with solar power. The panels will be running a variety of household electrical goods, such as televisions, water pumps, DVD's, computers and even a Nintendo Wii console.

By taking renewable energy out to the public, I will be demonstrating the viability of renewable energy to the general public and commencing my efforts to re-energise the electorate of Mackellar.

Once people begin to become familiar with renewable energy, they will realise that climate change is not an economic cost but an economic opportunity that this nation cannot afford to miss.

By failing to make renewable energy affordable to the average Australian, Bronwyn Bishop and the Howard government have failed the Australian people by placing their ideological faith in iron-age fuels such as coal and the ironically named "clean coal" before the best advice of our leading scientists and economists who are advocating national investment into renewable energy.

The Greens believe that the transition to renewable energy can provide a jobs-rich era of sustainable economic prosperity. It's an opportunity that we can't afford to miss out on.
More information: Craige McWhirter, 0415958783