Victorian Election 2010 , Bass

I'm in the seat of Bass, I think the main issue is health. Considering it has the largest population in the electorate it is strange their is no adequate hospital or 24hr medial coverage.  It would be the largest town in the state without a proper medial coverage.
(Phillip Island has a polutaltion 7000,  in 2001, Wanthaggi has a hospital 6500 in 2001, Koorumbura a population 4500 has a hospital. In summer the population can be 50000 with all the tourists).
The only other issues is a swimming pool for kids to at least learn to swim and also a secondary college which is been talked about in Anderson.
Otherwise for me their is no other aspects that are a strong concern.

I suspect that the labour party has conceded the seat already so wont be making any promises in the area. Yet Metropolitan creep is occurring in Pakenham which might alter the results.

Here are some of my thoughts on the candidates and some information from the ABC's website::

:: Liberals Ken Smith

Aged 65, Smith worked for two decades as a self-employed plumbing contractor, and later served as Executive Officer of the Master Plumbers Association. Smith also served on Hastings Shire Council 1982-88. He was elected MLC for South Eastern province in 1988, and re-elected in 1996. At the 2002 election, he chose to contest the lower house seat of Bass, winning the seat for the Liberal Party from former Independent MP Susan Davies. A former Government then Opposition whip in the Legislative Council, Smith served on the Liberal Party frontbench from 2002 to 2008, but was not included on the formation of a new Coalition Shadow Ministry.

Some thoughts::


Ken appears to be a hard worker. His sign-age is all over the place. He is often advising to be meet down the main street or other important community gathering. Has replyed to my letters regarding the health care on the island, and appears to realise this is a real community concern.
Have meet him at Churchill island when he set up his tent. But he seemed to be talking more to tourists concerned about not allowing their dogs off the lead when at the beach. (So what I'm sick of avoiding dog shit all over the beach, keep them well and truly on the lead I say)
Aged 65, I'd be thinking about my trip around Australia rather than my whining electorate.

Also interesting Smith put up a private members bill on Euthanasia.

n 2008 Smith put forward a Private Member's Bill that would allow euthanasia in Victoria. The bill was similar to the Dying With Dignity Act in Oregon in the United States, and generated considerable controversy. The bill was defeated in the Victorian Legislative Council. ^[1]
 
I would have expected this legislation from the Greens!

Greens :: Neil Rankin

Rankine has lived in Wonthaggi for 25 years and has spent much of his career in science education and running a small engineering firm. These days he is a stay at home parent while his wife works as a local GP.

Some thoughts::


Has been at a few things around the traps. The aboriginal flag raising for one, which I was at. Signs have been around. Seems to be putting in a good effort.


Labor :: Gerry Longergan

Lonergan was born and bred in Korumburra and first joined the Labor Party in 1996 to support a colleague. He is a retired teacher, lives in Inverloch, and has been President of the Labor Party's Wonthaggi-Bass branch for ten years. This is his first election.

Haven't seen him or his sign-age. At least we have a local as opposed to the candidate from the Federal election.

How big is your God?

Image via Wikipedia

I had a interesting conversation the other day. Talking to a person who goes to a Church down my way. I asked what the preaching was about this Sunday. (I think you can often remember how well a speaker is by what is remembered.)
There reply was that it was about the 'Greens' and how they are out to wreck everything Christian.
I replied that I didn't think this was true that many of the greens policy's where similar to Jesus actions. Such as looking out for the disadvantaged, renewal of the earth etc etc.
Then they laid out what they thought was their winning hand.
"But Bob Brown is a homosexual".

In many ways I'm glad I've moved on from Charismatic / Evangelical Church. The theology for me is just barrier to loving people.

I found this interesting transcript of Bob Brown when he had a meeting with the "Exclusive Brethern" regarding his senate enqurie

ON GAY RELATIONSHIPS
Bob Brown: As you probably know, I'm gay and I have a same-sex partner and that's a loving relationship.
David Thomas: But that's against, that's against — we repel it because it's against God's word.
BB: God is love, you know. It may be against a written scripture, but you know there is a lot in the scripture that would be horrified if it were brought into reality and were carried out in its literal word.
DT: We don't want to debate it … I'm just saying my reaction to it when you read Romans 1, I mean it's what happens. People get themselves so perverted and they just can't think morally.
BB: My thinking may have been like that many, many years ago. But I've realised that God has created a very diverse world in which love is a big key and hate is a very big foe. But we get ourselves into trouble when we think we can define where the boundaries are where love should be cut short.
Richard Garrett: We've got to discern, we're mixing up love and lust. Now you referred to yourself personally, it certainly wasn't my, I mean I didn't intend to bring it up at all. You're happy to, I appreciate that. My concern is when policies like that, same-sex marriages, are being put forward as it's becoming law. Government making provision for same-sex marriages, now that is completely and utterly wrong. It's against God.
BB: My view is that it is completely and utterly right and it's part of God's creation.

 Also I find it interesting his description of been a "lapsed Presbyterian" .

I would be genuinely interested in Bob Browns understanding of God. His story of been a Presbyterian then becoming a homosexual then to the leader of the 'Greens'. I'm sure that for many his story would be helpful. Especially for those Christians who because of there gender orientation have had to walk away. Often with very painful experiences.

Related articles by Zemanta

• The Church Needs to Stop the Hate for Gays: There, I Said It (psychologytoday.com)
• Brown 'horrified' at Wong's gay marriage stance (theage.com.au)

Election 2010 :: electionleaflet

Great tip for the upcoming election from Antony Green on the ABC::

Electionleaflets.org.au

Leaflets from electorates are uploaded so you can get a bit of a glimps at what the candidates and parties are up to, as well for a historical record.

For my electorate of Flinders ::

Greg Hunt is the only person with any material

"Working hard for our coasts"
and
"Greg Hunt MP"

Good to see local issues are addressed :: Hospital at Phillip Island, aquatic center at Phillip Island, and the Car Ferry at Cowes front beach.

Now where are the Greens or Labor's local policies???

Related articles by Zemanta

• Garrett should go over LNG delays: Hunt (news.theage.com.au)

Election 2010: What is happening in Flinders

After been in other electorates which are marginal I'm amazed at the lack lustre performance by candidates in Flinders . I've not received any information from any of the candidates regarding how if their government would affect local issues!

What is alarming is the Labor candidate. All that I can gather is from Anthony Green's site on the ABC 

Mr Ventura is a Youth Ambassador with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and was previously a Youth Reference Group Member on the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVIC).

There's not much information on Mr Venturas blog. Any content has mysteriously disappeared including his opinion on the Australian Flag, I actually thought his stuff on the Human Rights was really good. Its a pity to see it down.

As a voter there are numerous questions which I think are important for the Mr Ventura the local Labour candidate.

Does he live here or at Melbourne University?
Dose he know local issues? The car ferry at Cowes for example?

At this stage I'm highly sceptical.

Lets see what the next few weeks brings....

election 2010:: Things that matter

Living in Phillip Island their are certain things which I belive the are important and should be addressed by the political powers that be.

Greg Hunt sitting liberal member is off and running. He has sent through some stuff in the mail
Adrian Schonfelder for Labour, heard nothing
Robert Brown for the Greens, heard nothing

Here is my selfish list for the election

Health:: Phillip Island. A population that fluctuate between 7-60k people. It needs some sort of 24hr medical emergency centre. Good health care for all.
Telecomunication:: Only one way to get fixed broad band, Telstra. This is not good enough.
Education:: Closest public secondary school is Wonthagi rumours of somthing at Anderson.
Environment:: As a person who is interested in getting Solar it will be interesting what the policys will be. It ranks pretty highly for me. Protecting our environment for generations to come. I also believe that Australian reliance on foreign domestic oil should be curbed for of a more green alternative.
Roads:: The Car ferry is a big issue here. I don't think the majority object to the idea. Just the current location it is planned for.
Foreign affairs :: Need to get out of Afghanistan.
Good financial management:: enough said, keep interest rates low, I've got a mortgage.

Closer to the election I'll see how the candidates line up with me election wish list.

Good bye family first...

When Mark Latham was defeated in 2004 the 'Family First' candidate snuck under the radar of all major political parties.


Yesterdays agreement by the Greens and Labour appears to mark the end of 'Family First'.

At the 2004 Senate election in Victoria, the Coalition polled 44.1% (3.1 quotas), Labor 36.1% (2.5 quotas) and the Greens 8.8% (0.6 quotas). The Coalition had a clear three quotas, Labor two full quotas, with Labor and the Greens competing for the final seat seat normally won by the left of politics. Labor's preference deal with minor parties was done to get Labor's third candidate ahead of the lead Green candidate. In the end, Labor's vote was lower than expected, and the preference deal with Family First and other micro-parties put Fielding ahead of the third Labor candidate, resulting in Labor's preferences being distributed instead and electing Steve Fielding. Fielding effectively grabbed one of the left's seats.

I can remember in 2004 there was more "Christian" motivation in the election than I've ever seen. Danny Nahlor was on the tick as was Alan Myers from Careforce. It seems with Rudd in 2007 the Labor party made a decicive effort to neurtralise the Christian partys.

In some ways I find the 'Green's' more in line with Jesus bringing in the kingdom. While tradition 'Christian' parties are about 'morals'. Its interesting.

Election 2010

"Game On", as Julia whispered to Tony Abbot, in the last sitting parliament

Well I'll go with the polls and predict this one early and give it to Julia. There have been few good political poles which have not predicted the outcome of elections in the last decade.

But I'll follow along closely. My source like '07 Antony Green on the ABC::

Now what I've found interesting is the electorate which I'm in Flinders and the canditidates. Again from the ABC

The sitting member is Liberal, Mr Greg Hunt

He has been the Opposition spokesman on Climate Change since 2007, a position he is well qualified for, having completed a thesis on whether greenhouse gases are best reduced by taxes, trading rights or regulation.

It would be interesting what he really thought about the 'Carbon Tax' would he have voted for the the tax under the liberal last leader Mr Turnbull.... At this stage I think he would just say the party line. Politician talk.

Adrian Schonfelder for Labour

He was a member of the Liberal Party before joining Labor in 2003.

Interesting!

And the Greens, Robert Brown

...his credits include co-writing 'Give Me a Home Among the Gumtrees' with John Williamson.

 What more credentials do you need, perfect.

Watch out for "Green" companies (Nature Organics)

Shampooing up the other day I noticed the "Nature Organics" two in one shampoo had the ingredients of glycol stearate (from palm oil).

From the Ethical.org.au web site

Palm oil is found in 1 in 10 supermarket products including shampoos, baking oil, chocolate, cosmetics, chips, cookies, margarine and soaps. It has recently been deemed a potential saviour as a renewable resource for use as a biofuel.
Unfortunately, not only does palm oil promote heart disease, but the vast plantations that grow oil palm trees have contributed to the destruction of the rainforest of South east Asia and threaten the survival of animals such as the Orangutan in Borneo, the Sumatran tiger, and Asian rhinoceros. Additionally, burning after deforestation accounts for significant greenhouse gas emissions.

• Learn about the issues and sign the petition for compulsory labeling at Melbourne Zoos "Don't Palm Us Off" campaign website. www.zoo.org.au/palmoil
  
• Check the ingredients - if there is palm oil, avoid it, send a letter to the manufacturer telling them of your action. (note, it may be labeled as simply “vegetable oil”).
• See the 'Helping you buy responsibly' section on the BOS Australia website at www.orangutans.com.au for a list of manufacturers who are committed to avoiding the use of palm oil.
  
• See also www.palmoilaction.org.au and www.orangutan.org.au

Shame on you "Nature Organics" for sprucing as a "natural company" looking after the environment.

Australian Politics

I havn't given much commentary on politics for a while, yet much has happened.

The most interesting is the dramatic drop in support for the government in the polls. Which it appears is related to Mr Rudd's performance.

It would appear to me that a few things have hit Rudd hard

-Pink bats,
-ETS,
-Back tracking with ausilum seekers policy.

I think the government when the election starts will start to ramp up his positive

-getting through the 'Global financal crisis'
-negotiating with a single funding for health with the states (Except WA)
-The new broadband looking like a viable competition to Telstra

While I think Mr Abbott is still Mr Negative, he seems to be a bit more conciliatory?
I've got to say I was pretty impressed with his ultra triathlon stuff.

The Greens look like the biggest winner in the poles.
Overall if this translated to votes it would be a good thing. For two reasons, A third party 'Keeps the barsteds honest', I'm all for a more 'Greener' Australia.

Athiests religion and politics

For me a refreshing blast from the media covering the atheists in Melbourne.

One interesting quote from The Age, that the convention resembled 'a religion'. I would have to agree. It seemed most similar to a Hillsong conference that would be put on in Sydney.

The other interesting thing was how the Australian media went out to ask to ask our politians what they belived in. Some mixed results.

The coalition shadow ministry; non, as I expected described themselves as atheist.
Most of the actual leaders of both party described themselfs as 'lapsed', catholic, anglican, prespitarian, etc etc. I found this a bit of a cop out. I suspect if pushed they would actually end up saying they are agnoistic. The cynical side of me says that there are votes in this. Considering that 19% of the populations call themselves atheist something is not representative...

What I found the most fascinating was Bob Browns answer. "'lapsed Presbyterian''. He could have said anything and I wouldn't have been surprised. Yet I think there is a story to be told with this answer. considering he is gay. It is a story which I would really be interested in hearing considering his passion for the environment.

Copenhagen, a Christian response

Its been a bit disappointing to me to see that there has not been much of a buzz around the Christian literature that I read, no real mention of the environmental efforts at Copenhagen. Or any Christian lobbying regarding the issues.

Politically it was also pretty disappointing.

I think our government went in really wanting to make a change but that didn't happen.

The Australian opposition just looked on trying to score political points with 'I told you so' attitude. Especially after the leadership spill.

The Australian Greens just winged saying it was not enough and a failure.

I can always remember at school during a religious education the discussion came up, 'How will the earth end? The teacher was pointing towards some sort of Spiritual Armageddon. One smart lad said the world would end with a nuclear war... I thought this was the most insightful (It was still during the cold war). But I realize now it will most probably be due to our environmental negligence.

Anyway, I've found the good old wikipedia the best for news on Copenhagan. No real spin, and just trying to report what is really happening. Here is what I think is a good summary::

On December 18 after a day of frantic negotiations between heads of state, it was announced that a "meaningful agreement" had been reached between the United States, China, India, South Africa, and Brazil.^[77] The use of "meaningful" was viewed as being political spin by an editorial in The Guardian.^[78] An unnamed US government official was reported as stating that the deal was a "historic step forward" but was not enough to prevent dangerous climate change in the future. However, the BBC's environment correspondent stated: "While the White House was announcing the agreement, many other – perhaps most other – delegations had not even seen it. A comment from a UK official suggested the text was not yet final and the Bolivian delegation has already complained about the way it was reached – 'anti-democratic, anti-transparent and unacceptable'. With no firm target for limiting the global temperature rise, no commitment to a legal treaty and no target year for peaking emissions, countries most vulnerable to climate impacts have not got the deal they wanted."^[79]

Early on Saturday 19 December, delegates approved a motion to "take note of the Copenhagen Accord^[80] of December 18, 2009". However it was reported that it was not yet clear whether the motion was unanimous, or what its legal implications are. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the US-backed climate deal as an "essential beginning". It was unclear whether all 192 countries in attendance would also adopt the deal. The so-called Copenhagen Accord recognises the scientific case for keeping temperature rises below 2°C, but does not contain commitments for reduced emissions that would be necessary to achieve that aim. One part of the agreement pledges US$ 30 billion to the developing world over the next three years, rising to US$ 100 billion per year by 2020, to help poor countries adapt to climate change. Earlier proposals, that would have aimed to limit temperature rises to 1.5°C and cut CO₂ emissions by 80% by 2050 were dropped. An agreement was also reached that would set up a deal to reduce deforestation in return for cash from developed countries.^[81] The agreement made was non-binding but U.S. President Obama said that countries could show the world their achievements. He said that if they had waited for a binding agreement, no progress would have been made.^[82]