What we're talking about

Dianne on The Burkha The Burkha Many years ago I also was confronted with a vision of women shrouded in a Burkha. It left an enormous impact on ... more
Robert Bailey on The Burkha One easy way to outlaw the burka is to enlist the help of the rebel motorcycle gang. Have them introduce a custom into their ... more
Albert on The Burkha Bigfella, I believe we may agree on what the word freedom really means, so the decision to ban the burqa liberated many and ... more
Albert on The Aboriginal Disgrace Smithy, You must be aware that the percentage of sexual abuse of Aboriginal children is no worse than in the white ... more
John Forrest on The Burkha Hi Jason, Bigfella picked picked you like a dirty nose.You really do need to broaden your thinking and show some level of ... more
bigfella on The Burkha Albert, The passage that you have taken from Ms Haussegger's blog is actually from the Australian constitution. It would ... more
Albert on The Burkha Bigfella, what is our responsibility when we know of women and young girls who are beaten because they do not want to wear ... more
Jason on The Burkha Bigfella, before we get back to the burka, i'm entitled to reply to your logic and insults. Which you leftards are so well ... more
john on The Burkha New product aimed at the Muslim market The Burkhie more
Albert on The Aboriginal Disgrace When the Prime Minister was making the Sorry Speech, 13 February 2008, I was reading his face, it was saying, as from Kath ... more
bigfella on The Burkha Hey Jason, The great thing about the Austrlian culture is that it draws from so many other cultures. That's why we embrace a ... more
Jason on The Burkha Hey Bigfella, Why do you want to change Australia so much? If you want to see mosques and Islamic schools going up every ... more
bigfella on The Burkha Michael, So Virginia Haussegger works for the ABC, is a feminist, and has won a United Nations Association award. I would ... more
Phil - Springwood on The Welfare State Anna Campbell -29.06.09 - The more I read this article, the angrier I become; and I call to arms my practice of ... more
bigfella on The Burkha Michael, Perhaps the debate has moved on for some. However, I suspect that many will simply jump on the bandwagon with this ... more
Norm on The Burkha Most of these women don't have a choice and if we in the West don't put a stop to it, for their sake,I fear we will see more ... more
Jeff MAURICE on The Burkha I like many other Aussies believe that if you come here to our fair land, you should be ready to join our society, our ways, ... more
rick on The Burkha this is australia, not the middle east. the burqa was designed to protect oneself from desert sand storms.(it has nothing to ... more
Albert on The Burkha Al Qaeda vows revenge on France over plans to ban the burqa. I suggest they study they Koran, then be the first to applaud ... more
Phil - Springwood on The Welfare State Anna Campbell - 27th. June. 09 I was the person who used the word scum; See Anna, I am on Disability Support, I have told my ... more

'Kooky, whacky, voodoo' politics

Posted by: Michael Smith | 1 December, 2008 - 12:06 PM

Anna Bligh was a pretty good arts minister. She did pretty well in the education portfolio too.

But she's a very disappointing premier. Maybe the job is just beyond her.

When she was deputy premier under Peter Beattie Anna put together the water grid with its recycled sewage, desalination plant and the Traveston Crossing dam. If it had all gone to plan she'd be riding high in the opinion polls right now - with lots of photo opportunities at the various tap-turning-on ceremonies.

But she's turned it into a debacle - politically and practically.

She's not bringing us with her. She hasn't dealt with the real concerns many people have about drinking recycled sewage and fluoride. I think the low point for Anna's leadership was when she told people who have concerns that their views were "kooky, whacky, voodoo science." That's not the language of someone who wants to bring the community along with them.

And it's hard to know what she really stands for - she's just so weak. If she really did believe in recycled sewage she'd have stuck to her guns, debated the issues and brought the community with her. But at the first sign of electoral pressure she folded - which leads you to ask, how would she react to more difficult issues.

I know Anna avoids conflict. She won't front up to me on the radio - her office constantly offers Paul Lucas for me to interview. He's a bloke who can handle himself, like Rod Welford, John Mickel and other ministers in our government. Anna gives the impression that she doesn't like difficult situations - as a leader that's just hopeless. We deserve better.

Blog comments

Premier in line for more water torture

.... The Lancet medical journal and Scientific American put the cat among the pigeons with negative comments about water fluoridation and its effects on body systems.

Add to that data from the national survey of adult oral health (2004-06), published in 2007, which showed no difference in the dental health of Queenslanders and people in other states.

Some medical professionals have tried to stem the flow of indoctrination but have been ridiculed for their objections. A prime example is the highly respected Brisbane-based general practitioner John Ryan, who has postgraduate qualifications in nutrition and children's diseases and in environmental medicine.

What irritates him is the failure of the Bligh Government to tell Queenslanders of the NHMCR fluoride warnings to mothers with babies. "Where is the Government's duty of care?" he asks.

Ryan is angry that the Government would deceive the public about data from a much-publicised Townsville study. Oral health data was collected about children living in Brisbane (non-fluoridated) and Townsville (fluoridated). There was much publicity by the Government indicating a supposedly vast difference between the two cities. In fact, the study showed there was less that half a tooth difference.

This, Ryan says, is an ancient and poor quality study, on which the media indoctrination largely is based. "We were so shocked by five very significant untruths told to the public by the Government," he says. As a consequence, opponents of introducing fluoride into the water supply took the matter to the Criminal Misconduct Commission. The CMC indicated it was not within its brief and referred the matter back to Queensland Health. Eight months later it has still not responded.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24736142-32543,00.html

? Tuesday 2 December, 2008 - 9:40 AM
Clarke seeks water grid recognition

The Gold Coast Mayor is calling for the Queensland Water Commission to recognise the Gold Coast's input into the south-east water grid.

Ron Clarke says the Hinze Dam is now part of the grid and its contribution should further delay the 40 per cent trigger to add recycled water to the Wivenhoe system.

Councillor Clarke says the Gold Coast's total contribution could negate any need for recycled water.

"If you add ours to the 45 per cent that is in the other three dams then that would push it up to over 50 per cent, the dam's full so the reckoning point even further, but if you also add the 125 megalitres a day from the desalination plant then that would extend it so much that I don't think we would ever reach that point again," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/02/2435057.htm

Add ALL SEQ water storages for the combined % Tuesday 2 December, 2008 - 9:18 AM
Recycled water boss denies conflicting roles

THE bureaucrat charged with overseeing Queensland's recycled and desalinated water schemes and providing expert advice to the state Government also chairs a company which has had close commercial ties to the firm that will operate the projects.

Elizabeth Nosworthy denied there was a potential conflict of interest between her roles as chair of both the Queensland Water Commission and beleaguered investment management company Babcock & Brown.

The Sydney-based firm, which has an extensive water infrastructure portfolio, has been involved in several business relationships with French company Veolia.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24737447-2702,00.html

Smithy - another question for your list Tuesday 2 December, 2008 - 7:55 AM
Can you imagine Lucas as premier. The goon show lead by Bligh have no idea of running a state.
Perfect Pete left us with a load of mis-fits and clowns.
Bring on the election and elect Independents not union or big business candidates.
Queensland needs a new political party with candidates that are truthful and sincere not media tarts.

RONNY Tuesday 2 December, 2008 - 6:50 AM
Yes Michael she does seem a little weak. I agree Queensland does deserve better.

Its the first time she's faced the electorate as leader. lets face it, with her record and her bag of tricks she's trying to take to the polls wouldn't you be nervous.

Lawrence Springboard though has not taken her up on the recycled sewage issue though, and only seems concerned at what level the sewage will stop being pumped into the dams.

Perhaps its time for him to take a firm stand on this and other issues.

Tony Monday 1 December, 2008 - 11:32 PM
Keep trying Smithy - you've got some "dam" good questions to ask, regarding water in the great south east - so don't give up ... Anna: "where is the love?"

wont even taste - Recycled Waste Monday 1 December, 2008 - 7:32 PM