There's no fool like an old fool.

One can only wonder at the back door deal done to orchestrate this but it is probably quite reasonable to assume there was some clandestine offers made to garner the support of groups like Greenpeace and celebrities like Cate Blanchette to not only endorse Labor's poverty invoking Carbon Tax, but now actively promote it as being equal to overseas countries Emissions Trading Schemes.

Cate Blanchette has little knowledge of how a Carbon Tax will affect the poor and disadvantaged, she is one of the "nouveau riche" and has millions and servants and probably creates more pollution in a week than a suburban street full of Australian people do in a year with the jetset lifestyle she leads and of course she supports a carbon tax where everyone pays a bit more for everything rather than the actual polluters paying and actually passing the costs on to their users, her air flights first class might just go up by ten fold and we can't have that, no every one else must pay for her and of course if she lives here even? she will pay the same as a pensioner will who will not even be able to put on the heater in winter with out a handout from the government to do so.

Michael Caton is another supporter of the Carbon Tax and it's no surprise really, he knows quite a few of the front bench and is obviously friends with them and is always happy to take money to say anything, that's his job ; he's not an expert, he's an actor.

While Michael Caton defends his position and Blanchette's by saying they have a right to voice their opinion just like everyone else, the reality is he is using his minor celebrity status to influence people by making statements that do not provide a balance view and are intended to paint a mental picture that is deliberately divisive and intended to make viewers believe his opinion is correct and factual.

Michael Caton forgets that this is still a democracy where he has only the same right as anyone else and that is one vote , thank god, and that he only has the right to his free speech just like everyone else and that he should respect the right of people to criticise him and Blanchette for being too wealthy to understand the implications to the poor and disadvantaged and that he and she are not presenting an objective opinion they are doing a promotional add for a political policy which will affect the lives of a great many people who do not have the ability to have their say on national TV.

I'd like to ask Caton, Blanchette and the other celebrities just why they expect everyone to fall for the Con that Carbon dioxide (Co2) is pollution, it is a naturally occurring part of our atmosphere which we exhale and plants need for survival.

I think any of the scientists who have promoted the deforestation issue for the last 20 years which they predicted would lead to increased levels of naturally occurring Co2 and global Warming as a consequence have been shut down with funding being given to those who back the carbon tax as a way of keeping an income stream coming into the government's coffers.

The price on Carbon cannot stay the same either because as our population increases our carbon footprint will naturally increase even with all the pensioners freezing to death in the cold of winter due to unaffordable electricity bills, just through naturally increasing usage, I'll wager it's not the pensioners living in Mc Mansions with fully integrated air conditioning and three cars in the garage a pool and every electrical gadget money (credit) can buy, that will be the younger to middle aged people, and almost all the new arrivals who expect things to be better than where they came from.

As our farmland is ripped and stripped for more mining and our urban fringes and perri urban areas a re cleared for massive housing estates to bring more and more people here how can our carbon footprint got down? it's simply not possible and that means the price per tonne will go up.

I'm totally disgusted with the likes of Michael Caton and Blanchette et al, who are giving such a myopic position they advertise as fact because it is not the whole story it is a promotional add for Labor, and we will have to pay the cost.


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Paul Lucas' insane rabid attack on Ratepayers,. . . gives developers a chance to make more profit.

Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State
The Honourable Paul Lucas
25/05/2011
Bill passed to clarify infrastructure charges


High infrastructure charges that stall new projects, cost jobs and push up the price of housing in Queensland are now a thing of the past following the passing of the Sustainable Planning (Housing Affordability and Infrastructure Charges Reform) Amendment Bill 2011 during Regional Parliament in Mackay today.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government Paul Lucas said the Bligh Government's overhaul of the infrastructure charging system would stimulate growth and in turn generate jobs and improve housing affordability.

"The Bill passed in Parliament today will provide transparency and certainty to developers and home buyers and will help get the ball rolling on development again," Mr Lucas said.

"The construction and building industry is extremely important to Queensland as about a third of our jobs are in this sector and it is responsible for delivering the new homes and places of business our growing state needs."

Mr Lucas said the legislation passed the House with only two votes opposed.

"This legislation is essentially needed because the government has had to step in to resolve a dispute between councils and developers about the money that councils, not the State, collects from them," he said.

"No developer likes to pay money for infrastructure charges and no council likes to forgo the payment but to get development going, create jobs in the building industry and housing for Queenslanders, we must strike a balance.

"Whilst the opposition used the debate to criticise the government, they voted with the government to support its passage and moved no amendments."

Mr Lucas said last year's Growth Management Summit established an independent Taskforce to review this complex area.

"As recommended by the independent Infrastructure Charges Taskforce, we've set maximum prices for trunk infrastructure charges on new development, including $28,000 for a home with three or more bedrooms, and $20,000 for one and two-bedroom homes.

"These new maximum charges will go a long way to ensuring Queenslanders are able to afford the great Australian dream of owning their own home, while still funding the infrastructure needed to service their communities.

"We've also set maximum charges for job-creating projects, including commercial, retail and industrial development."

Mr Lucas said local governments now have the flexibility to choose whether they adopted the maximum charges, or charge lesser amounts.

"The new rules give councils the ability to choose lower infrastructure charges that are appropriate for their local communities, while stimulating construction activity and competing for investment," he said.

"What we've set is a maximum charge and it's important to note that local governments will be responsible for setting their own local charges.

"If local governments want to subsidise infrastructure charges to stimulate development and encourage jobs growth they will still be allowed to - in fact we encourage it."

"We've already seen councils such as Townsville, Moreton Bay, Fraser Coast and Cairns publicly declare their support for the changes or initiate their own capping and discounting because they know it will kickstart much-needed development revivals in their areas."

Mr Lucas said this legislation would now be followed by a consultation process with local government and the development industry over the regulatory provisions to implement the charges regime.

"The State will also shortly embark upon a process - as recommended by the taskforce - with local government and developers to seek more uniformity in conditions opposed upon development approvals," he said.

Reading between the lines there is only one way that infrastructure can be provided to satellite developments by Councils, and that is if the ratepayers make up the gap between the maximum charge and what it costs.

Ratepayers have been slugged by Lucas and co. for the abysmal amalgamation costs, for the inept mismanagement of water supply and sewer charges and there seems no likely hood of being let up by the state government as the attack on ratepayers is set to continue when a tax is placed on the air we breathe out, carbon dioxide.

We must support our councils by objecting to development where it comes from big development because we just cannot afford to pay while big developers get rich.

Paul Lucas is just a gormless dickhead in my opinion, he's too stupid or just so badly out of touch with ratepayers that he thinks more charges are OK.

If we let Labor get away with this once more we deserve everything we get.

The Fire Ant Saga,. . . . . sigh. . .

I have been a critic of the way the fire ant program and management has been both implemented and run, from a management level right down to those on the ground with their sticks actually doing the search.

My first encounter with the DPI's fire ant people was when I was trying to get some excavation done for an additional room and garage and before I could have the earth removed, or even disturbed really I was advised to get a fire ant inspection as I was in the fire ant area on the latest expanded list.

After calling them and arranging the inspection and waiting at home for them only to have their inspector not turn up, I called them the next day to be told he did and that a report would be sent in the mail, now I can tell you there is no possible way anyone could have come up here with out my knowledge, the gate is closed and the dog will bark, and I had deliberately set myself up in the car port with a little refinishing job on a cabinet so i would be available.

After the work was done, I began to reinstate gardens around the area and came across some ants that were very lively, had a quite nasty bite/sting and were consistent in colour with what I'd read fire ants were so i called the number on my information to have them assessed, again they didn't come out. After a week or so I called to remind them and they told me they'd looked and that they were a kind of native ant. There was again no way they could have been here without my knowing it.

I continued with my gardening and used a strong pesticide to thoroughly drench the mulch in which I'd seen them (two trees had to be removed for the garage area and I'd had them mulched for this purpose)

I have also talked to others who have worked in the industry (earthmoving) and they have similar stories about nonchalance of the DPI's fire ant people and the utter lack of care, one who used to own a site where a refuse transfer station was on a portion, and turf on the rest of it told me of stories where fire ant people would turn up in a bus and sit under the trees for the day and then go home.

This was in the Courier Mail (Sunday Edition)

THE war against deadly fire ants could be lost amid claims the $250 million program to eradicate the pest has been badly mismanaged.

Scientists say mishandling of the program has sparked widespread "cynicism" about Queensland's claims to have the problem under control.

They are demanding an independent review before a national disaster develops.

Efforts to wipe out the pest have descended into a blame game, with Queensland Agriculture Minister Tim Mulherin accusing the Federal Government of putting national biosecurity at risk through years of inadequate funding of the state's eradication program.

The State Government has warned the $15 million being injected into the problem each year might not be enough to stop the species invading other states and potentially causing billions of dollars damage to the national economy.

"Queensland does not believe $15 million is sufficient to fund a fire-ant eradication program," Mr Mulherin said.

"We need a stronger ongoing funding commitment from all states and the Commonwealth to continue the eradication program in Queensland so that we don't see fire ants marching into NSW and Victoria," he said.

Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said Canberra had provided half the $245 million spent on the fire-ant program since 2001.

"The Gillard Government takes any potential threat to Australia's biosecurity seriously," he said.

Queensland receives $15 million a year under national funding arrangements to combat fire ants, with the Bligh Government injecting an extra $6 million this year.

The stoush has hit a crucial point following the discovery of hundreds of new infestations in Brisbane's southwest since 2010.

Members of the National Management Group the key decision-making body on fire ants will meet next month to consider "further advice on the program".

The meeting could determine the future direction and funding for the fire-ant program, with the group responsible for deciding on the best combat method.

A Campbell Newman-led LNP government has pledged an independent review of the program amid claims the Bligh Government has overstated its achievements.

LNP agriculture spokesman Andrew Cripps said the government "does not appear to be making substantial headway". "We definitely need to have a good solid look at why the response is not being effective," he said.

Former top government adviser on fire ants Pam Swepson, who became a whistleblower, said the country would pay the price for government bungles and cover-ups.

"We are yet to have a death in Queensland but it's just a matter of time," she said.

Dr Swepson said the extent of the fire-ant infestation in Queensland has been covered up to stop the Federal Government pulling funding.

"While they (the State Government) were continuing to call it an eradication program, even though it was extremely compromised and there's no chance we can eradicate it any more, the funding kept coming which would give them reason for under-reporting," she said.

Experts in the US, where people die from fire-ant stings every year, say the state has little chance of eradication.

Fire-ant expert Dr Bart Drees, from Texas, where $US1.2 billion ($1.1 billion) a year is spent on containing fire ants, said eradication had not been achieved anywhere, and University of NSW entomologist Dr Chris Orton has called for an independent assessment of claimed successes.

Biosecurity Queensland fire-ant eradication program deputy director Craig Jennings insisted Queensland could still wipe out the pest.

An estimated 65,000 colonies were detected when fire ants were first found in 2001, but last year that was down to about 500 colonies.

Mr Jennings said the strategy could now shift from large-scale treatments to surveillance and more targeted treatments.

The number of fire-ant staff has grown from 100 workers five years ago to 190 staff less than half the number on the program in 2001.

With such a huge department, and the manner in which the public service goes about it's work, is it any wonder those in charge of a large workforce with importance and control and I assume very high salaries would actually want to succeed in the task and see it all over, the answer in short is No.



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Bloomin' Marvelous,. . . .not in Tassie!

Gardening Australia veteran presenter and green activist Peter Cundall has been found guilty of of disobeying the direction of a police officer during a rally at Parliament House in Hobart.

Cundall, 83, and 56 other protesters were arrested after refusing to move from the Parliament's steps during an anti-pulp mill protest in November 2009.

He and fellow protester, wheelchair-bound nurse Molly Taylor were today found guilty without conviction and were ordered to pay about $47 in court costs.

Cundall says it is disappointing.

"We've been found guilty of standing up for the truth and standing up for justice. It's as simple as that," he said.

But he says he will continue to peacefully protest against Gunns' proposed Tasmanian pulp mill.

"The protest and the battle against the pulp mill will never stop and we'll never give in," he said.

"As far as I and the others are concerned, we'll do everything we can, as we've always done, not to break the law."

I happen to agree with Peter Cundall, this is big business using the Police and the Law to silence protesters and reduce the visibility of public objections.

The fact is that the courts are on the side of big business, the courts are on the side of the Police and the courts are on the side of the government which pays them and those within the system.

When we see blatant big brother against one man type situations like this it can only mean one thing, the government cares more about one big business than it does about, people, flora, fauna and it is not above using it's thugs, the police to make up some bogus charge to punish and threaten anyone who would dare to question them.

Peter, If I was in Tasmania right now I'd be there beside you, you're a great role model for those who care about making the world a more sustainable place for all of us to inhabit.

Crikey, there's no denying it.

Watching Doctor Norman Finklestein deal with questions at public rallies and speaking engagements is an experience, the man is knowledgeable, articulate, passionate, unbiased and yet precise about the way he both dissects criticism from genuine questions and ruthless without compromise in giving direct truthful answers.

That does upset some people, and it certainly make others appear to be foolish in trying to take him on in a debate where they are armed with vitriolic propaganda against his recounting of pure fact and eye witnessed information.

I'd be very interested to see just what the Doctor would make of our own Hagnal Ban (Black) who made claim in the public electronic media to being a Holocaust survivor by the rationale that her grandfather was SO therefore she is.

In the past Dr. Finklestein has been critical of people who have used the Holocaust as a way to silence criticism, who have used the term anti-Semitic to describe those who oppose their views on the basis that they are Jews and that those who may ask questions and look for the truth are in league with or just are "Nazi's"

I can understand totally why he has those opinions and looking at the above video shows that he has every reason to support the shutting down of questioning Jews on any particular matter, since he has at least a generational head start in the role of being offspring of survivors than our local claimant.

Recently crikey blog has reason to also question the good councillor on these claims and you cam see the blog here and see that her threats do not just come to the little people in Logan who dare criticise her. Crikey Blog

After various threats by Anonymous (not) on other blogs when comments got a bit close to the truth and when crikey was mentioned, and even when others were blamed outright for comments that even I had made there, I thought it was time to introduce you all to Dr. Norman Finklestein, of course you can look up youtube for yourselves to see what he's about and how badly he is thought of by Israel and it's government for daring to ask why after all these years they have not followed the UN and why they are still killing Palestinians.