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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1065 - Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 8:25am

buzzanddidj wrote on Mar 1^st, 2011 at 7:31am:

Let's not KID ourselves ...
The reason behind this bogus "scientific trial" was ALWAYS clear

AUSTRALIA'S scientific community has condemned the Baillieu government's decision to return cattle grazing to the Alpine National Park under the banner of research.

In a letter to Environment Minister Ryan Smith, 125 scientists - including some of Australia's top experts in ecology, zoology, fire regimes, wetlands and threatened species - have called for the trials to be postponed. The scientists say the trials, designed to test whether grazing reduces bushfire, lack scientific integrity and warn that the government has potentially broken federal environment law.

Concern over the trials, which this month entailed 400 cattle being returned to the sensitive alpine environment, has spread to the highest reaches of the scientific community.

In an unusual move, the conservative Australian Academy of Science, a fellowship of the nation's most eminent scientists, has confirmed it is ''taking an interest'' in the issue.

The letter to Mr Smith was signed by 11 professors and nine associate professors.

The Bracks Labor government removed cattle from the national park in 2005 after an Alpine Grazing Taskforce found cattle damaged the environment and had no influence over fire behaviour.

A peer-reviewed CSIRO study in 2006 also found there were no scientific grounds that cattle grazing reduced fire risk. The government, however, now says there is a ''general lack of peer-reviewed science'' on the matter.

The Coalition, as part of its election bid to win back the seat of Gippsland East from independent Craig Ingram, promised the Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria that its long-standing practice of national park cattle grazing would be reinstated. In return, the association campaigned strongly for the election of the Baillieu government.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/top-scientists-urge-halt-to-alpine-grazing-tri...

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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1066 - Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 8:52am

buzzanddidj wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 7:09am:

LABOR has no regrets about its decision to sign the controversial desalination contract that could cost households up to $24 billion over the next 30 years.

The key architect of the project former Water Minister Tim Holding said

Victorians will thank the Bracks/Brumby government for its decision when the next drought comes.

"I don't expect bouquets for politicians but I think we will be extremely grateful as a city and a state in years to come

we used the time of the drought to diversify our water sources

,'' he said.

"We now have

a rainfall independent source of water

we know there will be dry years in the future and as our population grows this desalination plant will be a city saver. It will save our cities from future droughts and insure the city against population growth.''

Mr Holding also defend the decision to build a big desalination and said he would do the same if he had his time over again.

"It was the lowest cost option,'' he said.

Mr Holding slammed the Coalition government's attacks as being just political point scoring.

He said it is a fixed the price contract at $5.7 billion and that hasn't changed since it was first signed in mid 2009.

"The figures being bandied about our inflation adjusted dollars that seek to calculate the value of a dollar in 30 years time,'' he said.

"They are not relevant it is like asking the cost of a litre of milk in 30 years times, the cost of a loaf of bread in 30 years time... it doesn't provide any meaningful terms for Victorians.''

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melburnians-face-rocketing-water-bills...

The saving grace is that when Victoria is hit with its

NEXT 14 year drought

- Ted Baillieu will be long gone

The Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project

, the

Sugarloaf Pipeline

and the

Wonthaggi Desalination Plant

will still be there

Guaranteeing Victoria's water supply - for generations to come - when the power of prayer to fill our reservoirs is realised to be less than effective

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'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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Andrei.Hicks Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 23818 Carlsbad, CA Gender:	Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n Reply #1067 - Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 8:54am At a cost of millions and millions and millions of dollars to us the taxpayer..... Obviously not something that'd worry you though eh?
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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1068 - Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 9:25am

TED Baillieu has two weeks to hand over information on his government's alpine cattle grazing "trial" to prove it is legal.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke says cows are damaging sensitive wetlands in Victoria because of the grazing trial, but he won't act until the Gillard Government has received more information from officials.

Mr Burke said he wanted information to be passed quickly from Victoria to the federal environment department.

"I visited the park to see first-hand the damage already caused by the cattle in just a few weeks," he said.

"Victoria can't expect us to wait around while cattle are stomping over endangered wetlands."

http://www.news.com.auhttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/ted-baillieus-co...

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'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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mantra

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1069 - Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 9:45am

Quote:

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke says cows are damaging sensitive wetlands in Victoria because of the grazing trial, but he won't act until the Gillard Government has received more information from officials.

Mr Burke said he wanted information to be passed quickly from Victoria to the federal environment department.

"I visited the park to see first-hand the damage already caused by the cattle in just a few weeks," he said.

"Victoria can't expect us to wait around while cattle are stomping over endangered wetlands."

This is all about self interest. It wouldn't surprise me if Baillieu has family or friends who are graziers or he's being paid off by one of the corporations who have bought up most of our cattle stations.

He's persistent, but then our politicians will do anything for cash for a short term fix.

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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1070 - Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 10:01am

mantra wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 9:45am:

Quote:

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke says cows are damaging sensitive wetlands in Victoria because of the grazing trial, but he won't act until the Gillard Government has received more information from officials.

Mr Burke said he wanted information to be passed quickly from Victoria to the federal environment department.

"I visited the park to see first-hand the damage already caused by the cattle in just a few weeks," he said.

"Victoria can't expect us to wait around while cattle are stomping over endangered wetlands."

This is all about self interest. It wouldn't surprise me if Baillieu has family or friends who are graziers or he's being paid off by one of the corporations who have bought up most of our cattle stations.

It was ALL to do with THIS ...

The Coalition, as part of its election bid to win back the seat of Gippsland East from independent Craig Ingram, promised the Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria that its long-standing practice of national park cattle grazing would be reinstated. In return, the association campaigned strongly for the election of the Baillieu government.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/top-scientists-urge-halt-to-alpine-grazing-tri...

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'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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mantra

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1071 - Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 10:11am

I missed that - I haven't been following Victorian politics properly. There's worse going on in NSW with the coal & gas exploration.

There's the reason for selling out the wetlands - votes. What a creep and it's a pity Labor was so terrible in Victoria - otherwise Baillieu would never have got in.

He's even ignoring the Federal government.

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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1072 - Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 4:28pm

"Transparency"- Liberal Style

March 02, 2011 12:00AM

POLICE Minister Peter Ryan has done a

massive backflip

on his promise to make public a report into Victoria Police manipulating crime statistics.

After pledging to release the report today, Mr Ryan now says the Ombudsman's investigation into Victoria Police takes precedent and the report must be kept secret.

The controversy was sparked by allegations that misleading crime statistics were understating CBD assault figures.

After almost a week of allegations, the State Government demanded Chief Commissioner Simon Overland submit a report on allegations the force fudged its crime statistics.

Last week, Mr Ryan also wrote to the Ombudsman asking for an investigation into Victoria Police's crime statistics after the Herald Sun revealed police had understated CBD assault figures.

Police have strongly denied they have attempted to mislead the public with the crime data

This morning Mr Ryan issued a statement that he had received the report but wouldn't be making it public

.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/simon-overland-accounts-for-crime-data...

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'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1073 - Mar 3^rd, 2011 at 5:59am

VICTORIA'S axed water consumption target was directly responsible for saving more than 53 billion litres of drinking water, according to a report that has put Melbourne's water retailers at odds with the new Coalition government.

Less than a week after

Water Minister Peter Walsh axed the Target 155 strategy

because he believed it was having little influence on consumption, City West Water boss Anne Barker released a report that credited the scheme with saving almost eight weeks worth of water supply for the city.

Release of the report came as Yarra Valley Water boss Tony Kelly - the face of the Target 155 campaign during the Brumby government years - described the strategy as ''very popular'' and ''very valuable''.

Mr Walsh axed the target - which asked Melburnians to limit their daily water to use to just 155 litres per person - declaring it to be little more than a ''political slogan'' that was not having a significant influence on consumption.

But the report released by Ms Barker yesterday - which was jointly conducted by Melbourne's three water retailers - claimed the influence of Target 155 could be identified using modelling that eliminated the impact of daily temperatures and rainfall on consumption.

The modelling found the introduction of Target 155 sent consumption below the volumes that would have been expected in the weather conditions that occurred.

Water savings of 53 billion litres

were calculated for the period between the scheme's introduction in December 2008, and August 2010.

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/water-issues/dumped-target-155-water-scheme...

Yet ANOTHER example of the Baillieu Government's partisan approch of trashing any trace of the Bracks/Brumby Government's legacy - AT ALL COST

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« Last Edit: Mar 3^rd, 2011 at 6:11am by buzzanddidj »

'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1074 - Mar 3^rd, 2011 at 9:16am

THE OPPOSITION has slammed the Coalition for turning its back on regional communities and failing to deliver the Regional Rail Link.
But Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said the Coalition was dutybound to thoroughly review the Link because of Labor's cost blowout and inadequate scoping.

During a visit to Ballarat yesterday, opposition leader Daniel Andrews said the state government had forgotten about regional Victorians and was playing a game of

"political football"

rather than focusing on community needs.

"Once again, Ted Baillieu and Peter Ryan have turned their backs on regional Victorians at a time when V/Line is recording the highest numbers of passengers," Mr Andrews said. "It was Labor that upgraded rail lines to Ballarat ... and ordered 134 new Vlocity carriages, as well as pledged to deliver 20 new VLocity rail carriages providing thousands of extra seats across the V/Line network

."

Ballarat West MP Sharon Knight said with an

increasing number of Ballarat commuters travelling to Melbourne

, it was vital the state government backed the rail link and provided more carriages to meet the demand.

She said the Coalition was not categorically saying it would commit to the Link whereas the federal government was "very much committed" and needed the state government's support.

"I have a concern that if the RRL doesn't go ahead it will really impact on the people who commute to Ballarat now and the residents who are considering moving to Ballarat."

http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/regional-rail-link-coalitio...

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'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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Andrei.Hicks Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 23818 Carlsbad, CA Gender:	Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n Reply #1075 - Mar 3^rd, 2011 at 10:12am This thread explained without words....
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buzzanddidj Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 14169 Eganstown, via Daylesford, VIC Gender:	Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n Reply #1076 - Mar 3^rd, 2011 at 10:43am http://youcantcallitit.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/ostrich1.jpgw=460&h=310 A meeting of the "Baillieu Government Support Group"
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Andrei.Hicks Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 23818 Carlsbad, CA Gender:	Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n Reply #1077 - Mar 3^rd, 2011 at 10:48am Our finest hour in Victoria when we all breathed a sigh of relief. "What about Myki John?" And with that he was gone and a by-election in his bogan electorate.
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vegitamite

Ex Member

Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1078 - Mar 3^rd, 2011 at 11:25am

Baillieu accused of finding 'jobs for mates'

Jason Dowling and Royce Millar
March 3, 2011 - 10:59AM
Warnings of conflicts of interest have met the news that prominent Liberal Party figure and Melbourne council planning chairman Peter Clarke is being lined up by the Baillieu government for a senior planning appointment.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/baillieu-accused-of-finding-jobs-for-mates-201...

I thought Baillieu stated he was AGAINST this sort of stuff...

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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1079 - Mar 3^rd, 2011 at 11:30am

buzzanddidj wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 4:28pm:

"Transparency"- Liberal Style

March 02, 2011 12:00AM

POLICE Minister Peter Ryan has done a

massive backflip

on his promise to make public a report into Victoria Police manipulating crime statistics.

After pledging to release the report today, Mr Ryan now says the Ombudsman's investigation into Victoria Police takes precedent and the report must be kept secret.

The controversy was sparked by allegations that misleading crime statistics were understating CBD assault figures.

After almost a week of allegations, the State Government demanded Chief Commissioner Simon Overland submit a report on allegations the force fudged its crime statistics.

Last week, Mr Ryan also wrote to the Ombudsman asking for an investigation into Victoria Police's crime statistics after the Herald Sun revealed police had understated CBD assault figures.

Police have strongly denied they have attempted to mislead the public with the crime data

This morning Mr Ryan issued a statement that he had received the report but wouldn't be making it public

.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/simon-overland-accounts-for-crime-data...

"WHATS you will see is what you will get,'' says Victoria's new premier, Ted Baillieu.

"There will be no hidden agenda, no spin, no secrecy. Accountability and transparency will the principles that underpin our government,''

Mr Baillieu said in his first press conference as State leader.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/11/30/229711_news.html

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'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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