Month: June 2016

Politics

Has Shorten’s Campaign Been White-anted?

If you haven’t been following the Victorian CFA issue closely, let me quickly bring you up to speed: Daniel Andrews and the Victorian State Labor government are pushing to bring the Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA) (a volunteer organisation) under the control of the United Firefighters Union (UFU).

At face value, Andrews is simply paying back a debt owed to the UFU – largely for its assistance during the 2014 Victorian state election campaign. However, there’s a lot more to this than meets the eye.

Although a state matter, the Victorian CFA issue has not been confined to Victoria. It has has involved years of treachery, intrigue and opportunism all rolled into a broad factional and union power struggle. As you’ll soon see, the CFA and Andrews are merely pawns – and they’ve had a far greater and more targeted impact on the 2016 federal election than you might think.

Continue reading “Has Shorten’s Campaign Been White-anted?” →

Politics

Where Do You Sit on the Political Spectrum?

I found this via Steve Kates and Catallaxy Files. It’s a set of 30 or so survey questions from the Sydney Morning Herald which show where you sit politically based on current issues.

Some of the questions are horribly loaded, such as:

  • ‘Large multinational companies should be heavily penalised for offshore tax avoidance’ (TMR: you mean for legally minimising tax?).
  • ‘The health of the Great Barrier Reef should be prioritised over coal mining’.

That said, it’s still fun to do and you’ll only need about 5-10 minutes all up. Take the survey here and feel free to post your result in the comments section below.

There’s a big post coming tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Federal Budget, Politics

Demolishing the Education Revolution

Not long ago, The Marcus Review provided a list of 18 key Labor spending decisions which largely contributed to our $400 billion loan.

Today, Nick Cater provides an all-too-typical footnote to No. 6 on the list – the $20b ‘Education Revolution’ ($16.2 billion of which was committed to ‘Building the Education Revolution’). Read it and weep:

Continue reading “Demolishing the Education Revolution” →

Events, Politics

Now For the Rest (UPDATE – The Left Keeps Throwing Its Toys)

The Brexit vote has highlighted the age old difference between the collectivist totalitarians of the left – and the rest of society which simply wants to find its own way in life.

No other statistic better demonstrated the need for Brexit than this one which Judith Sloan reminded us of via Catallaxy Files:

Continue reading “Now For the Rest (UPDATE – The Left Keeps Throwing Its Toys)” →

Climate Change, Politics

Guest Post – CDP Senate Candidate, Dr Mark Imisides

In the Cask of Amontillado, one of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories, we hear of a man named Fortunato who is bricked up alive in a wine cellar, and left to die.

Imagine for a moment you find yourself in that wine cellar a couple of hours later. You can hear Fortunato’s cries for help, but before you can rescue him, you must find a way to break down the brick wall. It doesn’t matter how much you want to rescue him, unless you find a way to break down the brick wall he is doomed.

We find ourselves in a chillingly similar circumstances today, with the issue of “climate change” (Anthropogenic Global Warming – AGW). No matter how scientifically literate you are, and no matter how good your polemic skills may be, you will repeatedly come up against the brick wall of “but the science is settled – (insert name of Prof or research institution here) says so.”

Continue reading “Guest Post – CDP Senate Candidate, Dr Mark Imisides” →

Politics

Shorten’s Values

Bill Shorten has claimed that Medicare reflects his values.

By this, Shorten could only possibly mean that it reflects his values in the sense of taking money away from large quantities of people, giving only some of it back via an administration and keeping a cut for himself along the way. For example:

Continue reading “Shorten’s Values” →

Politics

Editorial – How to Vote Conservative

Now that pre-polling has opened for the 2016 federal election, The Marcus Review considers how small government and conservative voters can go about getting the job done at the ballot box.

Continue reading “Editorial – How to Vote Conservative” →

Politics

Aldi Bad, BWS Good

The latest WA liquor licensing fiasco surrounding retailer Aldi provides yet another example of ill-conceived and wasteful government intervention. This time, the main argument is that Aldi wants to sell its liquor too cheaply. No, I’m not joking:

Continue reading “Aldi Bad, BWS Good” →

Climate Change, Politics

Hydro Tasmania Does it ‘Nature’s Way’

A week ago, The Marcus Review started counting the cost of Tasmania’s energy scandal before wondering if Hydro Tasmania had learnt anything from the experience:

Tasmania currently completely renewable

For the first time this year, mainland Tasmania is being continuously and completely powered by renewable energy.

Over the past week, Hydro Tasmania has stopped all diesel generation and wound back gas to prevent spill in smaller hydro storages because of high inflows.

Yesterday, the combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) at the Tamar Valley Power Station was turned off, as continued high inflows push storages close to spilling at a number of locations.

Jo Nova brings our attention to yet another slice of the pie of incompetence being smashed into our faces:

Continue reading “Hydro Tasmania Does it ‘Nature’s Way’” →

Politics

Ward’s Marxist War Continues

The Marcus Review looks at the latest instalment in the Roz Ward saga, before breaking down and responding to leftist commentator Jeff Sparrow’s arguments in support of her conduct.

Continue reading “Ward’s Marxist War Continues” →