What we're talking about

Trevor on Water is important Anna Bligh knows that Fluoride is a Poison however she says her job is on the line IF she does not follow the Instructions ... more
luke151165 on Andre Rieu We went to the 2nd evening in Brisbane and sat up on level 7 directly in front of the stage and could see absolutely ... more
Michael on The Exclusive Brethren I recently taught Brethren children in a Central-Western NSW state public school. The children are always very polite and ... more
Lynette on Alert but not Alarmed Unfortunately for Australia, most muslims remain silent to the behaviour of their radical nutters within their communities ... more
Kane on The Exclusive Brethren i hate brethren more
Nicky Aplin on Andre Rieu I love your show, have alovely Christmas, hear you in the new year. more
Damien Fay on I'm entitled As Peter Garrett (ex Midnight oil frontman)once wailed/protested in one of their greatest songs - 'everythings set, ... more
Geoff Cass on Rudd's asylum policy Those who are seeking a country that will provide them with a place to live, food, clothing, education, tramsport, medical ... more
David Oliver on Spare a thought We... are hoping for a ham and a couple of nice presents.... They are....HOPING TO COME HOME..... "Doesn't that make you ... more
Anne Scott on Spare a thought Here here Michael. Beautifully put. We have one who has been there 3 times and about to go back again. Whilst that grubby ... more
Nikki on Alert but not Alarmed Smithy, Can we keep this on the agenda? Don't let it get put in the too hard basket. As Australian's we need to keep ... more
Nikki on Alert but not Alarmed Hi Smithy, I listened to your program yesterday and was horrified by the comments of Sheik Feiz Mohammad. What blows my mind ... more
Jason on Alert but not Alarmed One thing about John Howard, is that when he was in charge, I felt safe that Australia's culture and security would be ... more
Hard Worker on I'm entitled I have worked all my working life, 20 plus years. I have never depended on Government hand outs at all. I think its time ... more
Greg Williams on Alert but not Alarmed Every Western nation allowed the socialists to champion the cause of foreign cultures and to embrace them at the expense of ... more
Geoff Cass on Rudd's asylum policy It is quite obvious why he did this - he really does believe that he is THE WORLD RULER IN EVERYTHING, and he just won't ... more
Geoff Cass on Alert but not Alarmed Adding to my last note: maybe those allowing these illegal migrants entry are secretly Muslim supporters, and are keen to ... more
Geoff Cass on Alert but not Alarmed Why are our leading politicians so criminaly stupid as to allow illegal would-be immigrants to come and stay, at taxpayer's ... more
Anne Scott on I'm entitled Too sickening to comment on. Michael, will you head a new party to stop all this crap? I promise I will vote for you. I'm ... more
Anne Scott on Alert but not Alarmed Appalling and disgusting, but sadly not surprising. Every intelligent person knows how bad the problem is getting, yet ... 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

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
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
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
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
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
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