Queensland Election
I find it hard to get enthusiastic following state election campaigns – too many photo ops and soundbites masquerading as policies wear me down. However, I am always interested in the results of elections, both in terms of overall results as the seat by seat contests. The final makeup of the Parliament after every election obviously has significant consequences for on future policy directions.
As usual, the ABC’s Antony Green has an election website up with all the details about each electorate and the swings required.
Mark from Larvatus Prodeo has joined Possum and the Poll Bludger to establish a blog at Crikey specifically for the Qld election. I probably won’t write that much on the state election, so I’d recommend keeping an eye on that site if you’re an enthusiast for elections.
Graham Young has conducted a fair bit of research through Online Opinion tracking political opinion and plenty of experience in political matters in Queensland, so some of his posts on election matters would also be worth reading.
I’ll be interested to see how the smaller parties perform. The Greens will be trying to hold on their seat of Indooroopilly which they gained when the sitting member, Ronan Lee, changed allegiances. They will also be hoping for some sizable votes in a few electorates. I think they are at fairly long odds of winning any new seats – it will be hard enough hanging on to Indooroopilly – because it is so hard for smaller parties to get media attention or traction at election time, and they will also be dramatically outspent by the big parties. However, winning a seat or two can’t be totally ruled out.
In the last state election in 2006, Family First polled reasonably well in a few seats – in my view mostly due to the lack of any other choices for conservative leaning minor parties. However, the party polled very poorly at the subsequent federal election and has been almost invisible in Queensland since then, so it’s hard to see them having much of an impact.
Some independents with local followings will poll well. I tip all four sitting independents to retain their seats, but the last remaining One Nation MP will lose her seat, after her electorate was impacted significantly by a major boundary change. Former sitting National MP Stuart Copeland, now contesting as an independent, has a good chance of winning what is effectively a LNP primary contest against sitting MP Ray Hopper. Ronan Lee is the underdog to retain his seat as a Green, but he still has a chance.
Feel free to leave your predictions here about how many seats each party will win. I predictLabor will lose some seats the LNP will hold all the seats they hold now (including those where the redistribution has made them nominally Labor), apart from Condamine where Stuart Copeland is running as an independent. My estimate is that Labor will win 50 seats and the LNP 33, plus 5 Independents and 1 Green.
56 Comments, Comment or Ping
Sam Clifford
My guess is that Labor is going to cop a hiding in the primary vote but squeek home because of the nature of our electoral system.
Feb 24th, 2009
ken
“I find it hard to get enthusiastic following state election campaigns – too many photo ops and soundbites masquerading as policies wear me down. ”
Thats a great call – what do you think the last federal election was!!
Feb 25th, 2009
Andrew Bartlett
Indeed Ken – maybe I’m still worn down from that.
Though one benefit of being a candidate in a campaign is that you can actually get to raise issues and engage with people about the things they are concerned about or interested in. Of course none of those things get you media coverage, so unless you’ve got the big dollars for large wads of advertising, the chances of getting your message out the great majority of the electorate is fairly slim.
The media focus is almost entirely on the two major party leaders, and seeing photo ops and shallow soundbites is what gets the coverage, its no surprise that that is what the leaders provide – one can hardly blame them for doing so.
Six pages of stuff on the state election in today’s Courier-Mail, and the only mention of candidates outside the two major parties is an article on Pauline Hanson maybe running (again), and an ‘Independent’ who is actually a National MP who wasn’t pre-selected.
Feb 25th, 2009
ken
Andrew – yes even bungee jumping doesn’t get much traction!.
have a look at
http://onlineadvocacy.tacticaltech.org/
Feb 25th, 2009
lorikeet
Well, I think LNP could win the election if they didn’t have Springborg as their lacklustre leader.
I think Labor will lose more seats than expected. If Anna Bligh becomes the first woman to win an election in her own right, it will make me ashamed to be a woman.
I am hoping Tony will win the seat of Chatsworth for the DLP. The last 2 Labor MPs to hold that seat have not stood for re-election. The latest was Chris “Bomber” Bombolas (television sports) – sorry if I have spelt his name incorrectly.
I agree with you, Andrew, that the Liberals will probably hang on to their seats. Who’d want to switch to Labor after all of the anti-social mistakes they’ve made in education, health, public housing, trade etc?
I think that most people following State politics are fairly cheesed off with Labor. They just need to bite the bullet and vote for the Independents and smaller party candidates (preferably not Greens).
Feb 25th, 2009
Andrew Bartlett
Sadly Ken, bungee jumping was about the only thing I did that did get media during the 2004 election, but seeing it was bad media, that was hardly a good thing.
Although I noticed the Green Party leader in New Zealand did a bungee jump during their election campaign and managed to get some OK media out of it. I guess some people can carry off that sort of stuff, and other people can’t.
Feb 25th, 2009
philip travers
I feel your tiredness Andrew.Have you seen what Gareth Evans had to say about Nuke threat!? Grandstanding comes to mind!?Must know whose pocket he puts his hand in when there is a worry worry.Has he been so consistent about American use of spent Nuke Rods!?Please comment,I think it is directed at the Queensland election as any other latent election they have going up their sleeve.
Feb 26th, 2009
lorikeet
Andrew:
Do you think a Green could win a seat encompassing the site of the proposed Traveston Dam?
Feb 28th, 2009
QLD Election
Andrew, is it true you have agreed to become Warrick Capper’s campaign manager for his bid to be elected member for Beaudesert?
Mar 3rd, 2009
TerjeP (say tay-a)
The media isn’t interested in policy unless in involves egg on somebodies face. As an event they are tribal occasions not intellectual. The media commentates as if it was a horse race and all we want from them is an update on who is ahead. And at the end of the day perhaps that is all the masses really care about.
Mar 3rd, 2009
lorikeet
Warwick Capper? Now that’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
You should see the dork LNP is running in my electorate.
Mar 3rd, 2009
Tony
Lorikeet:
” Warrick Capper”
He forgot to register…… Something went missing again
Tony
Mar 3rd, 2009
James Sinnamon
I will be standing as a candidate against the Minister for Privatisation, namely Andrew Fraser, in the seat of Mount Coot-tha
I will be standing in order to promote a number of causes, which I support, both ‘politically correct’ and ‘politically incorrect’.
For further information, please visit http://candobetter.org/QldElections/MountCoot-tha (empty at this point), http://candobetter.org/QldElections http://candobetter.org
All constructive comments, whether supportive or critical, will be welcome.
Mar 4th, 2009
lorikeet
Tony:
It must have been his brain that went missing. I think we all know where it’s kept.
Mar 4th, 2009
lorikeet
With Anna Bligh being so unpopular, and memories of John Howard still not being too far from the forefront of our minds, I have not been surprised to see a few minor parties and individuals putting up their hands.
I think this is the best chance anyone SMALL has had in a long time, other than the Greens, whose goose was largely cooked in the Victorian fires. But it hasn’t stopped them from running quite a few candidates anyway.
The Labor candidate for Ferny Grove will get the donkey vote. He seems in a fairly strong position to hold the seat without it, but I don’t know why. He’s been in power for a couple of decades, and in that time, we haven’t been able to get even ONE new school, despite a huge increase in student populations.
There are also long-term significant problems for rail commuters which he has failed to solve – but managed to STUFF UP a couple of times.
Add to that the proposed closure of the Royal Children’s Hospital and you’d wonder why anyone would want to give him YET ANOTHER CHANCE!
I think I will be forced to vote for Family First, even though they’re closet Liberals.
Mar 4th, 2009
Daniel
Interesting prediction Andrew. Lets hope the Green gets reelected. It would be fantastic. I feel the way politics is in QLD it is hard for any minor parties t get up in QLD. The house there really needs some serious reform in my opinion. If it was more like NSW it would be more representative.
Mar 4th, 2009
Dolphins
I’m interested in the link between the Victorian fires and the Greens … I don’t see any, especially since the fires in Vic would have little to do with the greens would have thought.
Mar 4th, 2009
Tony
DOLPHINS:
Dolphins Says: I’m interested in the link between the Victorian fires and the Greens … I don’t see any, especially since the fires in Vic would have little to do with the greens would have thought
The green policy is not to burn off. This policy has lead to a large portion of fire fuel making the situation a lot worse.
This is just another example of Green ideology gone mad.
Lorikeet says: Add to that the proposed closure of the Royal Children’s Hospital and you’d wonder why anyone would want to give him YET ANOTHER CHANCE
Anna Blighs chances are gone. Yes she may gain a few votes from the mule voters (Im voteing labor because my dad and his dad etc etc).
If you skip the greens their are a number of good candidates both independant and minor that are really worth voteing for.
The green in my electorate lives over the other side of town and only threw his hat into the ring to be a nuisance, the daylight saving (One policy and lets split the state on time zones party) lives no where near my electorate.
Lets hope that the electorate really has a good look this time and doesnt waste their vote on a major
Tony
Mar 5th, 2009
Bob
Huh? I’ve never heard that, other than out of the mouths of far right newspaper columnists trying to boost sales by trash-talking on matters they know nothing and care less about.
Please provide a quote from a Greens policy or MP that says burn offs should never happen.
Mar 5th, 2009
Tony
BOB:
Back Burning
Maybe your branch doesnt but I think most greens have been against it for years.
Tony
Mar 5th, 2009
Dolphins
Rather than guessing, I did some looking.
1. http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/time-heal-not-hate%E2%80%94brown
“Those pursuing destructive hate rather than constructive compassion in the wake of the Victorian bushfire tragedy should haul off, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.
“There are media commentators who have gone out of their way to vilify people, including, by inference, many who have died, for having a different view on life, including a love for local bushland and wildlife,” Senator Brown said.
“While there can be no censorship, some of this commentary is callous, unwarranted and distressing to people already suffering from the tragedy.”
Senator Brown reiterated that the Australian Greens’ well-publicised policy is for prescribed burn-offs.”
2.The senate inquiry in 2007
The last senate inquiry into bushfires was at pains to point out that in uncontrollable
firestorms like this, tenure and land management is irrelevant and we have to build
community preparedness to survive the onslaught. The full quote from conclusions is:
“… there will always be uncontrollable bushfires from time to time. This is most
evident from evidence regarding the Australian Alps, which experienced their worst
fires in 1939, under a completely different land tenure and management regime to that
in place when fires burnt there in 2003. A significant part of living in and managing
the environment must be acceptance of fire and ensuring preparedness for it.”
Mar 5th, 2009
lorikeet
Dolphins:
The answer is simple. Greens oppose any form of Fuel Reduction. This includes backburning, slashing, mowing, and removal of deadfall to establish firebreaks.
After more than 200 people died in the Victorian bushfires, along with hundreds of millions of Mother Nature’s creatures, I asked someone from my local council why the Bunya Forest which comes right up to the back of the local primary school wasn’t backburned in August last year, as it usually is. He said Greens and Labor government wouldn’t allow it.
The school grounds are so overloaded with students that there are buildings right up near the back fence.
I have also seen the risk of another inferno right across the street. My street goes right up to the forest, and homeowners on the other side have retained sufficient gum trees for a bushfire to roar straight down and across the road.
Neighbours directly across the road and down the back all have HUGE gum trees (some PLANTED by residents).
In Brisbane’s November storms, lots of trees and branches came down and damaged rooves on houses. Trees left us without power for 36 hours. Some people will have to live elsewhere for up to 2 years due to gum tree damage to their homes.
I just looked out the window. There’s a bushfire burning about 2 kilometres away and there is smoke in the air. That fire’s quite near the nursing home, which came close to destruction only 2 years ago.
Bob:
I don’t know where you’ve been for the past 20 years, but Green agendas are at work everywhere.
If Greens aren’t stopped, they’ll also destroy our nation’s economy. It’s bad enough that Labor and Liberals keep selling us out.
Tony:
Maybe a new rule should be made. Perhaps candidates should only be allowed to stand in the electorates in which they live. We should all know the main issues in our local area.
Mar 5th, 2009
Bob
Tony
As I already said, where is some evidence “other than out of the mouths of far right newspaper columnists trying to boost sales by trash-talking on matters they know nothing and care less about”. Deliberately outrageous rantings by Miranda Divine aimed at boosting newspapers sales and her profile do not equate to a reference from a Greens policy document or Green MP. Would you accept an article from Green Left Weekley as ‘proof’ of an allegation about what the DLP’s policy might be on an issue?
Lorikeet
For the last 20 years and more I’ve been living in the real world, and when I am asked to back up an outrageous allegation with proof, I just ask the guy down the road. I go to the source. If you don’t have one, just say so
Mar 5th, 2009
lorikeet
Bob:
Do you really think the Greens would put “burnoffs should never happen” into a policy statement? How naive is that?
If they did, most people would recognise how bloody stupid they are.
I suggest you start using your eyes and ears, and think ahead to the damage the Greens could do to Australia, even with some of their STATED social and industrial “green” policies.
BTW the council worker I spoke with was an Engineer, Head of a Local Government Department, not some guy down the street. He was looking for someone SMALL to vote for in the upcoming State election.
I live near that school and the unmanaged bushland that threatens both it and our homes.
Think about what the aborigines did. They set up camp in a good area, and after they had hunted and gathered anything worth knowing about, they burnt the area so it could regenerate. Then they moved on i.e. they created firebreaks as they went. They had already EATEN anything that might die.
To my knowledge, I’m the only person who thinks Labor will amalgamate with the Greens. Others I have not met, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
Yesterday on “The 7.30 Report” I heard that the Labor government is to reduce tariffs on imports, so really terrible governments such as Burma can start unfairly competing with what is left of our secondary industries using their enslavement agenda.
If people vote for Labor, Greens or Liberals – they are selling out their own nation to a global government.
Mar 6th, 2009
beevo
Hi Lorikeet: It seems Victoria is changing it’s laws after the fires (BOB, comments?):
http://www.theage.com.au/national/landclearing-laws-to-change-in-wake-of-fires-20090223-8fvo.html
Note that the Vic laws fall under the Dept of Sustainability and Environment presently but will likely change to town planning or some-such as stated in the Age.
Note also the comment in reply…”The Australian Conservation Foundation’s Corey Watts also called for a cautious approach.”
“It would be wrong to leap to simplistic conclusions based on a simplistic analysis of the causes,” he said.
Hmmm still not listening in conservation land?
The residents blamed “green” local council laws:
http://www.theage.com.au/national/angry-survivors-blame-council-green-policy-20090211-83p0.html?page=-1
Lorikeet you raised what I considered to be the most overlooked fallout: … the tremendous destruction to the environment and it’s creatures which ensued. Even if fire breaks could have only helped to reduce the damage (which I am sure they would have) this would have saved many lives. The defensive reaction of the verdant left shows that human lives take a back-seat. Sadly they may react more to the Koala’s plight…
A victorian man was fined $50K for clearing his own land in 2006 as a fire-break (this worked out to $450/tree) without permission, spent another $50K in court costs over a few years. his house was the only one left standing in a 2km radius.
I am happy to provide references Bob… Shall we go on?
BOB “when I am asked to back up an outrageous allegation with proof, I just ask the guy down the road. I go to the source. If you don’t have one, just say so”…
If I were to ask someone in this street:
Another resident said she had asked the council four times to tend to out-of-control growth on public land near her home, but her pleas had been ignored.
Mar 6th, 2009
Bob
Lorikett said:
“Do you really think the Greens would put “burnoffs should never happen” into a policy statement? How naive is that?”
Well Lorikeet, if someone states, as Tony did, that “the Green policy is not to burn off”, or as you did that “the Greens oppose any form of fuel reduction”, then yes I do expect them to be able to point to a policy document or statement of the Greens that says “the Greens oppose any burning off” or words to that effect.
Dolphin has provided a link to a Senate Committee report which contained a balanced assessment backed by ALL parties that particpated, including the Greens.
Thank you Beevo for at least pulling the debate back towards some actual facts. Debates about how much burning is appropriate is very different to saying there should be no burning off at all. Other wise you may as well say that the only alternative position is to have absolutely no control on land clearing, which is just as extreme , and inaccurate, as the alleged alternative position which Tony and Lorikeet have falsely ascribed to the Greens.
Mar 6th, 2009
Dolphins
I’ve heard many discussions on this subject, and await with interest the results of the various enquiries on this dreadful series of tragedies we have all been horrified by in Victoria. Maybe they will throw a bit of light on the subject, rather than the ill-considered heat some feel the need to add to the issue, no pun intended. It’s interesting to see the Conservation FOundation criticised for being cautious when some fires are still burning, many people still homeless and victims still in hospitals. Would calm reflection on what has been learned be a bad idea? That requires thought, though, and effort, so much harder than a bit of mindless mud-slinging. I’m waiting for someone to blame Muslims.
In the interim, I suggest a few people consider the parallels and differences between the horrible fires of 1939 and those of 2009. Parallels are : a long drought and a severe, hot, dry summer, water restrictions in Melbourne, etc. When extreme winds arose, those fires burned large areas of Victoria . Differences: in 1939 there was no possible influence of “Geenies” as an organised force, and lack of co-ordination in training of volunteeers, and the various bodies such as police, fireys, etc. Some lessons regarding burning off were learned then, and forgotten since, but I also think we need to look at who is responsible for the running of the National Parks, Local councils, etc, which have jurisdiction over public and private land. If councils won’t clear rubbish, who votes them in? If alderpersons allow unsafe development, or refuse to clear rubbish, who votes THEM in? Which State governments or councils are run by Greenies? Can we have names, please? Can we have citations for authoritative statements, policy documents, legislation even, that points back to the immensely powerful Green influence?
Mar 6th, 2009
philip travers
Hello.Andrew! How are you today! In Queensland! Seen any Bunya nuts out your way! ? Queensland must look sound and have the same rainfall as Victoria with all these comments about Greens’ policies here,must have the eyesight I have as I view this site! Although there seems many quite willing everywhere to not recognise that a Council Engineer isn’t always going to be a fountain of perpetual insight into everything on the planet! Not even every terrain.Still we all have our collective Experts,I suppose.The Council Engineer unnamed I am sure, is one of those decent citizens everywhere who know to criticize the Greens is a truth in and of itself,and thus has the meaning of truth in it to enclass perpetuity.
Mar 6th, 2009
lorikeet
Hi, Beevo:
Thanks for the links.
Yes, I heard about the guy who had to pay $100,000 for being the only SENSIBLE person to clear a firebreak around his property. Lots of Queenslanders are very angry with the Victorian government.
The government is also to blame for having only one road coming out of some of these areas.
Bob:
Then who do YOU think is actively preventing fuel reduction? Could it be the neighbour’s dog?
No one is saying that the only alternative position is to have absolutely no control on land clearing.
Beevo has provided some excellent input, but you still seem to be hell bent on closing your mind to the truth regardless.
I don’t suppose you have ever heard of “Blind Eye” legislation either.
But at least you have one thing right – putting the word “extreme” in the same sentence as “Greens”. In their case, “extreme” is accurate.
Dolphins:
Thanks for the link. Surely you must be aware that Bob Brown’s main agenda is to brush both the ashes and responsibility from his own shoulders, which must be seriously drooping under such a huge burden of guilt. Blaming the media is just a buck-passing attempt.
Where I live, the Bunya Forest is under the jurisdiction of the State Government (Labor).
I don’t think governments have “forgotten” about fuel reduction at all. (Bushfires around Canberra and Blue Mountains aren’t long behind us.) They just haven’t been doing it due to pressure from those with dangerous Green agendas.
Even Malcolm Turnbull (Liberals) has become a bit green lately, to try and win votes. Unfortunately for him, the “colour of the month” has changed from Green to Black.
Mar 7th, 2009
Daniel
BOB,
The Greens policy is being misquoted by you once again. You are selectivly reading to be mean and tricky like Howard used to do.
Mar 7th, 2009
Bob
What are you talking about Daniel!? I haven’t quoted the Greens’ policy or anyone else’s!!
I’ve been asking other people to provide some evidence of what the Green’s policy is – which of course they havent been able to do, responding instead as usual with mindless abuse.
Lorikeet said:
“Then who do YOU think is actively preventing fuel reduction? Could it be the neighbour’s dog?
No one is saying that the only alternative position is to have absolutely no control on land clearing.”
I didn’t say that the only alternative position is to have absolutely no control on land clearing. I was indicating that to say that was your view was an grossly exaggerated as your unfounded accusations that “the Greens oppose any form of fuel reduction.”
As Dolphins has pointed out a couple of times in his futile efforts to encourage people to take a balanced approach, similar things happened in the past under completely different land management practices.
Personally, I think people should wait until all the evidence from the Royal Commission is in before they start throwing blame around, but I suppose that ruins people’s enjoyment in being self-righteous.
Mar 7th, 2009
Dolphins
Ah yes .. the old “If they have not said it in public that’s becuase they really think it but only speak it aloud in their secret cabals” trick.
Sheesh – this blog is sometimes like the annual general meeting of the Aluminium Hat society (Qld branch).
I can see why the entire popluation of Queensland would be angry with teh Victorian Government, all right .. I mean, causing all those nasty floods!
Mar 7th, 2009
lorikeet
Bob:
Dolphins is a woman, possibly in her 60s. Yes, even hers is a better perspective than your head-in-the-sand approach.
I will try to make the point again that governments don’t necessarily do what is in either their policy statements or election promises. There’s nothing new about either of those things.
In relation to the excessively verdant, uncontrolled forest near my home, I think you can expect a Labor/Greens amalgamation in the very near future, which will be a reflection of voters’ lack of respect for BOTH parties.
There are plenty of pressure groups and plenty of “Blind Eye” legislation around.
But if you still want to be unnecessarily fussy, I suggest you look up the Greens policy and tell us what it says. Not that it will make much difference to what ANYONE in government, or influencing government, does.
Daniel:
Better read Andrew’s post and all of the comments again. Then tell us who you think is responsible for lack of Fuel Reduction, since you are a member of the Greens.
Mar 7th, 2009
Daniel
The Greens do not oppose any form of fuel reduction in high risk high prone areas.
Mar 7th, 2009
Bob
“But if you still want to be unnecessarily fussy, I suggest you look up the Greens policy and tell us what it says.”
I see. YOU make the totally unsubstantiated smear, and not only do you say that asking for any proof at all is “unnecessarily fussy”, but that I have to do your work for you in substantiating it. Still it makes it patently clear that you haven’t read their policy, not that it has stopped you from making your false allegation.
Still it makes as much sense as your silly assertion that think there will be a Labor / Greens amalgamation.
Obviously your much vaunted high IQ still isn’t high enough to get you in touch with the real world.
As Dolphin says, the comments part of this blog resembles the Tin Hat Brigade. No wonder no other commenters hang round for long. Buggered if I know why Bartlett allows this endless noxious unsubstantiated smears and abuse to pollute his blog, but I’ve certainly had enough. No wonder there’s hardly any new posts here anymore.
Mar 7th, 2009
philip travers
Old Aluminum Hat N.S.W. here.Well I hope they make their hats out of recycled drinking cans in Queensland. And I am sure Andrew gets a bit of a laugh out of even smears sometimes.Concentrate on responding with all the whistles and bells you can muster.Otherwise,why should the obvious nature of an opinion upset!? Its sport!? Like a holidaying Bunyip in Queensland who has been trained to think it is a dog in a cyclone,and needs another nature call besides the one it is hearing. Dont let them Bunya nuts drop on you!? I feel sorry for Queenslanders with these floods and cyclones as much as I have for many in my old state Victoria recently.
Mar 7th, 2009
Caroline Church
P-Plates will cost Bligh government. Young voters, normally friendly to the ALP, are not this time. They resent a heavy fine and the loss of demerit points for something so trivial.
Wake up ALP. You deserve to lose.
There is also likely to be an increase in the votes of Rosa Lee Long in Dalrymple and Pauline Hanson in Beaudesert. Two good women who are much better than Bligh will ever be.
Mar 8th, 2009
lorikeet
Bob:
Thanks for all of your compliments. It’s because I am VERY MUCH in touch with the real world that I find looking up policy statements pretty much pointless, for reasons already set out.
Since you still wanted to get picky, I thought it was a reasonable assumption that you knew Greens policy almost like the back of your hand.
Dolphins:
Flooding rains are somewhat harder to prevent than huge losses of life due to the lack of Fuel Reduction.
We elect politicians – then they do whatever they want. That’s if the candidates running for election are not blocked by “stooges”, paid off, or whatever skulduggerous agendas the more financially powerful people might want to apply.
I have emailed the local councillor to see what he has to say about lack of Fuel Reduction next to the school, and he has immediately contacted State Forestry Dept and Council Parks Section in his search for an answer. He generally knows what’s going on, and who is responsible for it. If not, he will get to the bottom of it fairly quickly.
It’s also important for people to know that both federal and state governments have the power to walk straight over local councils any time they choose. Right here we received council amalgamations without a referendum, and Telstra putting anything they chose on council property, regardless of court action.
Mar 8th, 2009
lorikeet
I’m still waiting on an answer from the Parks Section of Council as to why Fuel Reduction wasn’t done last August.
My guess is that the local councillor will spur the State Forestry Department into action with a controlled burnoff at the earliest opportunity, now that he’s aware the school could burn down.
That’s the sort of thing he does. Once a problem of any kind is identified, he does his best to fix it as quickly as possible, according to his ability.
Mar 10th, 2009
lorikeet
I have now been promised an answer from Parks Section of Council tomorrow.
Mar 16th, 2009
evan robinson
Isn’t it amazing the amount of advertising on TV for this election, arn’t we supposed to be in a recession. The amount of money that has been spent on advertising is ridiculous, it could have been better spent on saving jobs and put back into the economy. I think all parties should be restricted on how much money they spend on campaigning. Why can’t all parties submit a leaflet with all there campaigning promises and ideas, and that be it, and let the people make up there own mind, instead of ear bashing us (the people) with propaganda Tv ads.
Mar 18th, 2009
lorikeet
I’ve drawn a dead end on Council Parks Section, so I have emailed the local Councillor again for help.
When I was out and about today, I saw one group of council workers testing large trees with hammers in a park near home. They said a friendly hello and told me what they were doing.
Then closer to home, I saw another group of council workers coming down from the local bush.
Interesting!
Mar 18th, 2009
lorikeet
The local Councillor who used to be so helpful has now replied that Fuel Reduction is a State Govt issue and not his problem.
He thinks the Forestry Dept couldn’t complete all of their backburning last Winter due to unsuitable conditions (strong winds, rain).
Previously large parts of Keperra and The Gap were devastated by bushfires, with some homes being affected, and a very near miss for the nursing home.
So now I suppose the Forestry Dept has a lot more areas to backburn, especially with new estates being established close to the Samford State Forest and houses being built among the trees.
There could also be a manpower issue if the State government hasn’t increased the number of employees engaged in this work.
Mar 19th, 2009
Caroline Church
Pauline Hanson in those alleged nude picks looks lovely. I’m sure a lot of males will vote for her as a result, even if the pics are fakes.
Rosa Lee Long is a good MP, and she deserves to be re-elected, One Nation or not.
Mar 19th, 2009
lorikeet
Caroline:
It now seems as if you were wrong. Pauline only picked up about 20% of the votes. It is possible those pictures (which weren’t of her) did her campaign quite a lot of damage. We must also remember that more than half of the voting population are women, and not all men are sleazebuckets.
But it just goes to show the depths to which some people are likely to sink in order to get elected – trying to make a woman look as if she is little more than a prostitute.
Mar 22nd, 2009
lorikeet
Caroline:
To my knowledge, the One Nation candidate lost her seat.
One Nation is part of the Save Australia Alliance. I think the vast majority of their policies are quite good.
Mar 27th, 2009
lorikeet
The Northern Territory government has now employed aboriginal people to do some strategic burning off in order to avoid the devastation that “wild fires” can cause.
They said the aboriginal people know exactly what they’re doing where backburning is concerned.
What an excellent idea!
Mar 28th, 2009
Dolphins
Lorikeet .. if this is where the “Save Australia Allance” started … http://members.iimetro.com.au/~hubbca/save-australia-alliance.htm .. then I suggest you look at some of the links on the left of the page and work out whether you agree with them. Start with the zionism one – that ought to sort out the sheep form the goats. For the record, I have serious reservations about the polcies of the current government of Israel, but in no way could I support a group that deals out anti-semitism. I have trouble taking anythign seriously that suggests that USA is covertly under communist control. Your feelings may differ.
Mar 29th, 2009
lorikeet
Dolphins:
Thanks for the link.
To my knowledge, there is a list of 300 people who virtually “own” the world. I can’t tell you how many of them are Jews, but there are a considerable number of very wealthy Jewish families among them. Some are from South Africa, Germany and USA.
Save Australia Alliance has as its primary agenda, the desire to stop our nation from being sold out globally, and to rein in free trade agreements that put our own people out of work.
It matters little to me who the SAA think is behind the very real possibility of a global takeover resulting in international communism – but their general concerns are quite valid.
Can I please ask you to evaluate all of the things that go on in the world, and then ask yourself where they are leading?
If you read the main body of your link again, I think you will find quite a few thought provoking ideas.
SAA is not the only group with these views (it varies a bit from group to group), but all are effectively silenced by the media whenever issues of global significance are raised, particularly when an election is in the offing.
Mar 29th, 2009
lorikeet
Dolphins:
To my knowledge, the USA owes trillions of dollars to China.
Last week I heard a US politician complaining about his government not being able to break into the Chinese market.
Is the Chinese government Communist? (Is the Pope a Catholic?)
Who do you think is in control in such a situation?
Mar 30th, 2009
Naomi Cartledge
LORIKEET – “Think about what the aborigines did. They set up camp in a good area, and after they had hunted and gathered anything worth knowing about, they burnt the area so it could regenerate. Then they moved on i.e. they created firebreaks as they went. They had already EATEN anything that might die.”
Look at NSW population?I live in an area that lies between the mountains and the sea – with a large population that is slowly building on much available land. It is ludicrous to think, that in this area, we could ‘burn the area so it could regenerate’?Where do you suggest the houses go while this takes place, not to mention the people. Unlike aboriginals we love to ‘own’ property – huge difference. As others have said, there were unique contributions in Vic. I’ve been taking notice since the tragedies in Vic, and have noticed the rubbish and dead trees along the road – that’s councils’ responsibility – the same applies when areas are flooded! Creek beds with overgrowth or rubbish/garbage stop the natural flow, so water banks up, or developers being allowed to build on flood plains, only filled in with coal wash – no protection or absorption or run off = floods! Older people can’t check guttering for leaves etc, nor can older people check weed growth etc. Need planning and a wide intelligent view of a myriad of aggravations – it’s not simplistic as you imply.
I don’t believe that the Greens are against back burning or other intelligent precautions, but the gung-ho approach to appease the ignorant is not the answer, nor will it prevent tragedies! We need to look where and HOW houses are being built. People love the bush – that’s why they choose to live there! If you look where homes in Aust.are built(majority) they’re either along the coast (which is still densely covered in bushland) or close to the bush – they’re both potentially dangerous but beautiful. Intelligent planning is the answer! I can drive from my home(sea side) to the mountain ranges in 30-50 mins
Apr 1st, 2009
lorikeet
Naomi:
Yes, I agree with most of that. One of my neighbours said in the southern states the government is very stringent about not allowing people to cut down trees on their property.
As soon as she came to Queensland, she had large gum trees on her property cut down very quickly. I think the rules have been relaxed here since the devastating storms of November 2008 (probably due to insurance companies complaining).
I think the government should have to pay for all of the damage caused to homes during bushfires and storms if they won’t allow the people to protect themselves and their property.
BTW I was talking about burning regular firebreaks, just as aboriginal people are being paid to do in NT to avoid the damage caused by “wild fires”.
We also need firebreaks between the bush and our schools and homes.
Apr 1st, 2009
The Grey Ghost
Bob: I have just been reading through all the posts on this line. I totally agree with you. In situations such as the recent Victorian bushfires people inevitably search for a scapegoat. It is just so convenient to blame “the greenies”. Other than the 3 Upper House MP’s in Victoria and a smattering of green councillers, I don’t think people have any idea who they are referring to when they use the term greenies. It’s like the faceless “they”. “They” should do something about fuel recuction. Who should? Who is the “they”? Presumably the answer is the government. Okay, well, do three Upper House MP’s who don’t even hold the balance of power really have that much influence? I think not.
Granted, forestry management is a natural area for Greens to be concenred with – along with social justice, the economy, transpport, energy, water, etc…..Get my point. So many people believe the Greens to be a single issue party and so when forestry management issues come clearly to the forefront of the public consciousness the so called “greenies” cop the blame for all that has gone wrong.
Besides it is foolhardy in the extreme to think that greens are opposed to any burning off. Fire is a natural part of the ecosystem and many plants need fire in order to regenerate. Greens know this and also know that low inensity burns, ie prescribed burn offs, are far better than a once in a generation fire that burns with such intensity that the damage caused is catastrophic. Good on you Bob for bringing some much needed sense into this debate.
Apr 2nd, 2009
lorikeet
The Grey Ghost:
That’s a good question: “Who are they?”
I think it is fairly clear that those with Green agendas are riding on the backs of possibly every world government leader or politician. That seems like a very great amount of influence to me.
In the Senate, The Greens seem to vote exclusively with Labor. Some Greens are members of the Labor party, and I suspect, funded by them in elections.
If people with Green agendas influence people to build houses among the trees and don’t allow them to cut them down – and then the people die in bushfires – whose fault do you really think it is?
I think The Greens and their various derivative groups are very dangerous people from many perspectives.
Apr 5th, 2009