My readings over the last month or so...

Another catch-up of my readings via various sites and social media forums, for anyone interested (but mainly just for my own record), through the Paper.li automatic magazine tool.

There's something in here for everyone...

Week to 26 November
Week to 19 November
Week to 12 November
Week to 5 November
Week to 29 October
Week to 22 October
Week to 15 October

Want a sustainable light rail solution for Canberra? The choice is now dead simple...

Well if you want a sustainable solution to Canberra's commuter transport woes, your options for your voting in tomorrow's ACT election just became dead simple.

ABC666's Ross Solly has reported that the Liberals' Alistair Coe has ruled out the light rail option on the radio this morning.

It's what we've all been waiting to find out. The ACT Greens committed to starting construction of light rail as soon as possible. ALP promised to build the Civic—North Canberra—Gungahlin route. But we've had nothing but empty squib words from the Liberals about yet more studies... Until now—just one day before the election!

Of course Coe tries to spin a line around the cost of building light rail, and yes: rail is expensive. But it is an investment, rather than an expense. The reason for this is all the other expenses that light rail avoids or defers. Primarily among them of course is the massive cost of building more roads for ever-increasing car commuters.

Light rail on a pedestrian-friendly Hibberson Street, Gungahlin - can't you just see it?

Cyberbully pot-kettle, Greens launches, telescopes, more. The week that was.

Alan Jones learns what it's like on the receiving end; the ACT Greens campaign powers towards 20 October; the first stage of the Square Kilometre Array is turned on; a Nobel laureate yanks the rug out from under Newspoll; iPad Mini confirmed; and much more.

The week that was - my readings and posts.

ACT Greens Party Announcement from ABC TV

In the ACT all major political parties are entitled to free political announcements in the lead-up to an election.

This is the broadcast by the ACT Greens, featuring all four of our current MLAs:


I love that YouTube dished up this screen grab - our rock solid light rail commitment to build. Yeah!

It's a bit surprising just how much difference there is between the time allocated to the Greens, versus that for the ALP and Liberal.

According to the schedule on the ABC's website, the Greens get two 3-minute spots. ALP and Liberal get four 3-minute spots. plus one 10-minute spot each. That's six minutes versus 22 minutes. Yet the old parties have seven and six MLAs each, against the Greens with four. That maths doesn't seem quite right to me...

What I've been reading and writing - a bit of a catch-up

This is a catch-up of my reading and writing lists as auto-compiled into e-zines by Paper.li. As usual, it is mostly for my own reference down the track, but maybe someone is interested.

The recycling bin may no longer be full of discarded newspapers, but holy moley I'm chewing through some online reading...

Editions for the week ending:

1 October

24 September

17 September

10 September

3 September

27 August

20 August

13 August

6 August

30 July

23 July

16 July

9 July

Phew. That's it. Must keep on top of this a bit better...

Greens leader Christine Milne's address to the National Press Club last week

Christine Milne gave her first address to the National Press Club as Greens Federal Parliamentary Leader last week, with her theme being "An economy that serves people and nature, not the other way around."

Watch here, or if you prefer, the transcript is here.


A few quick extracts:

While we're talking about great ads for the Greens, remember this one - that we didn't even pay for!

Those words are worth reflecting on, because they are so right...

If you think climate change
    needs policy change
If you think dental care
    should be part of Medicare
If you think marriage is about love
    not laws
If you think boat people
    should be treated like people
If you think
    vote the Greens.

In the Australian Capital Territory on 20 October 2012,
   if you think, you know what to do.

"What have the Greens ever done for us?"

It was launch day for our ACT Greens campaign, and a perfect time to unleash our new ad:


Yes a little bit of fun thanks to the Monty Python Life of Brian crew. Here's the original:

Caretaker conventions? Who cares about them, says the ACT ALP...

The ACTPLA website, with Minister Corbell's Tuggeranong announcement, right under the notice saying
there'll be no policy updates during the caretaker period!

Just what the hell are the ACT Labor Party up to?

There have been two major policy announcements from the ALP's Simon Corbell in the last three days:

• 17 September release of the finalised Tuggeranong Town Centre Master Plan 
• 19 September release of Weathering the Change Action Plan 2

We have caretaker conventions for a reason - so that the public can be assured that an incumbent government is not misusing its access to public service staff for its own political gain.

Here we have two major policy initiatives - entirely developed by ACT public servants - agreed to by the ACT Cabinet prior to the caretaker period, but held onto until well into that period in order to maximise political gain for the Labor Party.

There is some explaining to do, as ACT Greens leader Meredith Hunter has pointed out:

The ALP has some questions to answer such as why have they waited until one month out from the election to release these public service reports.
Without a clear answer they look like they are drip feeding policy prepared by the public service for the political benefit of the ALP.
If they are ALP election promises, they should be transparent and say so. If they are Government decisions, why are they being released one month out from the election and in apparent breach of the caretaker conventions?

ACT Greens launch plan to deliver light rail for Canberra

Regular readers would know that I believe that Canberra's transport woes (and resulting budget woes) can be helped in large part by embracing a combined light rail/bus public transport solution. So I'm very happy to be a part of the launch of this policy today by the ACT Greens.

We are sick of old party promises made just before each election. The ALP commissioned and received a cost-benefit analysis by PriceWaterhouseCoopers that showed that the ACT would be in front by more than a billion dollars if it built a light rail network. To my mind that says to not go ahead is to actually be fiscally irresponsible with the ACT Budget. But the ALP just put the report on the shelf.

It's time Canberra got the transport solution it deserves and needs.

Here's today's official media release:

The ACT Greens have launched a key election initiative that would see a light rail public transport system built in Canberra, with the first tracks laid in 2015. Greens Transport spokesperson, Amanda Bresnan MLA, launched the plan which will see the first funding commitment to light rail in Canberra. “Canberra is ready for light rail. It’s achievable, a sound investment, and the best available option for the long term liveability and sustainability of Canberra,” said Ms Bresnan. “After more than a decade of Government talk, this ACT Greens initiative will ensure action, making the financial commitment to finally see a light rail system built. “The Greens plan commits the initial $200M of capital funding, which can join financing through private partnerships, land development opportunities, and Federal Government funding. "Light rail is experiencing a renaissance in cities around the world for good reasons. It has many advantages over buses, including speed, reliability and appeal to passengers.

Do you support light rail for Canberra's public transport? Here's a dead easy way to have your say.

Canberra Loves 40 is a local lobby group representing a coalition of community groups all supporting the ambitious ACT target for reducing greenhouse emissions to 40% of 1990 levels by 2020.

They have set up a really simple way that you can voice your support for their campaign to get the ACT Government to get serious about light rail as a solution for Canberra's public transport woes.


Just jump over to this web page, plug in your postcode, and up will come a list of your current local ACT MLAs. Select those you want to email, modify the draft email text if desired, then click Get On Board, and the rest is done for you. 

Then enjoy this short video by the group of what a light rail car could look like down Northbourne Avenue - it was shown on the big screen at the latest Raiders game at Bruce Stadium - great to have the Raiders on board with this campaign!

End to battery cage egg farming is a big win for animal welfare

Parkwood egg farm and industrial estate

The move this week to put an end to battery cage based egg farming within the ACT borders is a big win for animal welfare, and a big win for the ACT Greens. Greens MLA Caroline le Couteur has doggedly pursued this issue virtually since she was elected, despite no small amount of ridicule from political opponents.

Recently the Tasmanian Government though became the first state or territory to outlaw "cage eggs". Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, the ACT ALP has reached an unusual agreement with Parkwood Egg Farm to purchase surplus land back from them for eventual conversion into industrial land. The funds from the land swap can then be used by Parkwood to convert their facilities to barn-laid production.

Catch-up on The Beach House Weekly reading summaries

The weekly Paper.li digital magazine tool dropped off for a while and they lost the ability to call up archive copies by week.

It's sorted now, so here's a catch-up . Likely this isn't of much interest to anyone else - more for my own record. But feel free to check them out if you like!


What I've been reading and/or writing about:
July 2
June 25
June 18
June 11
June 3

Does it feel like Tony Abbott and Co are just talking from a script? Maybe this is why.

Listening in on political interviews can be a frustrating past-time. With Tony Abbott's Liberals in particular it's like they are just parroting speaking notes from a script.

And Tony Abbott himself is getting  growing reputation for turning and walking away whenever he questioning wanders away from the "standard fare".

This week, someone turned up a copy of that very script - the Federal Coalition Speakers Notes. And there you have it - every unsubstantiated or just plain false claim accusation and assertion that we've heard over and over ad nauseum for months.

Coalition Speakers Notes 1 July 2012

Opposition to the Muslim church in Gungahlin is being led by Christian evangelists with links to the US.

The letter circulated in Gungahlin, via www.the-riotact.com 

I can’t believe we are here again, with yet another protest action against the proposal by the Canberra Muslim Community to build a church in the Gungahlin district.

Except of course I can believe it. Nay - I fully expected it once the development application went in. But that doesn’t make it any less disappointing.

What is even more disappointing though is to find that it seems to be led by a so-called "Christian" pastor who is practising here in Canberra.


Canberra Times journalist Lisa Cox (to her great credit) has been working all week to try to get to the bottom of who the organisers are. She has identified this pastor as Irwin Ross - who doesn't even live in Gungahlin. He's from the Belconnen area. And he identifies himself as belonging to Olive Tree Ministries - a Jewish-Christian evangelist group based in the USA.


Cox has also reported that in the same week these objections were circulated in Gungahlin, other anti-Islamic leaflets were also circulated in Canberra. These ones were produced by "Chick Publications" - another USA evangelist organisation that is blatantly pushing anti-Islamic propaganda.


Despite these extremely concerning revelations, let's consider whether the opponents have any valid points in their claims against the Gungahlin mosque - a church by another name, and in a street where two other churches have already even approved (one built so far):

Asylum seekers - there is a better way to "stop the boats"

Most Australians have been disgusted by what they saw in Parliament House last week during the rushed asylum seeker debate. They've seen the Labor and Liberal Parties bickering over which off-shore processing solution is the best, tears shed, and Tony Abbott proclaiming "I just don't like it." Oh OK then...

This is a lengthy post sorry. But it is a complex issue and eight-second sound bites cannot do it justice.

The reality is that both ALP and Liberals have painted themselves into corners. John Howard served his political purposes of the day to sow fear and uncertainty around the whole issue of border protection. Then to get elected, Kevin Rudd painted himself the same as Howard in order to remove that point of difference (and several others). Many ALP and Rudd supporters went along with it, believing that once elected, Rudd's ethics would win through and he'd take a more humane approach. But Rudd locked himself into his own rhetoric - instead of being a leader and bringing a more educated community along with the need to change, he locked the off-shore solution in even firmer.

Julia Gillard had a chance to leverage her "good party that had lost its way" speech and make changes for the better. But she also adopted a "don't scare the horses" path to asylum seekers and other contentious issues - and she's being paying the price for her lack of leadership on these issues ever since.

Interesting ACT election predictions over on the Canberra Causerie forum

The Canberra Causerie is a Canberra community discussion forum.

Member Phil Officer has posted an interesting precise of the possible outcomes from the next ACT election. And I think a little better considered than some of the predictions I've seen elsewhere. They usually just pass a summary judgement based on booth results last time and barely a passing consideration of who is actually standing this time - and what the performances have been like in the meantime.

I wasn't "dragged in" though! I joined the Greens after I decided to ease myself out of the Gungahlin Community Council. It was the Greens because they have the policies that I believe in. And during the past three years that they've had the balance of power in the ACT, the Greens have been doggedly pursuing the kinds of changes for the better that I've been campaigning for during my whole time with GCC. So the Greens were a natural fit for me.

Dental care breakthrough negotiated by the Greens

There's been a great breakthrough today in the Greens' campaign to get dental care properly funded and included in Medicare. Greens Senator Dr Richard di Natale announced successful negotiations with the Government to get half a billion dollars worth of dental care improvements included in Tuesday's Budget:

• $345.9 million for a public dental waiting list blitz, to help the 400,000 Australians on public waiting lists get treatment faster
• the Chronic Dental Disease Scheme will be saved from Budget cuts, until we can develop a comprehensive national scheme with the Government to replace it
• $158.6 million to train more dentists and oral health therapists, and help dental professionals set up practices in rural areas
• $10.5 million to promote good oral health.

But di Natale has said this is just the start:

Join Senator Bob Brown at the ACT Greens Meet the Candidates Drinks (including yours truly!)

Senator Bob Brown

Join us for drinks on Friday 11 May, 5pm for a 5.30 start

Ivy Cafe, Old Canberra House, Lennox Crossing, Acton

Bring your friends to meet the 10 ACT Greens candidates for the October 2012 election

Drinks at bar prices. Light refreshments will be served

For more information, call the Greens office on 6140 3220

ACT Greens Candidates

Location map:

Canberra - we have a serious light pollution problem. And it's costing us all...

ANU's big dish is a much favoured location for politicians
launching big environmental promises that often don't go anywhere...
Photo: The Australian

An amazing body of work was released today by the ACT Greens' Shane Rattenbury. It's a "Report Card" on the ALP Government's performance in meeting the promises they made in 2007 through their Weathering the Change climate change action plan.

I was there in 2007 representing the Gungahlin Community Council when John Stanhope launched this new action plan in the shadow of ANU's big dish solar concentrator. I was pleased to see a number of the initiatives in the plan, but as always, the delivery is more important than the promises.

So it's good to see the ACT Greens have done this work to hold the ALP to account. The ALP - through Environment Minister Simon Corbell - continue to make grand promises about greenhouse reduction targets, but what has their delivery been like to date? According to the Greens' report card, not too well, despite some good intentions and some action.

And what of my pet hate of streetlights lighting the sky?

ALP Promise #13:

Undertake energy efficient street light replacement.

Greens Assessment:

• 1713 lights replaced in 2007
• 5600 installed through 2008-09 budget
• LED trials underway
• future roll-out plans unclear.

Hmm ... not much chop...

To which I'd add criticism of the woeful controls on the Land Development Agency - wilfully rolling out new streetlights 10 to the dozen that all have protruding luminaires, thereby ensuring that we all will be locked in for decades of paying for maybe 30% of the electricity to go straight up into the sky!

Surely the first step in fixing a problem is to stop making it worse??