When so many in business started stressing the need for the government to tackle the COVID-19 recovery and action on climate change, simultaneously, I foolishly let my hopes rise that the government might, for once, recognise that planning for the future took priority over courting favours from the fossil fuel industry.
Silly me!
Clearly the $60 billion stuff-up over the stimulus package has substantially undermined any remaining credibility which might have still adhered to the Coalition’s claims to being better managers of the economy than the ALP.
Body language is an important aspect of communication, and Scott Morrison’s projects a man whose stubbornness prevents him from ever taking advice or changing a policy if there is the least chance that he might appear weak in the process.
He does not have the right mentality to lead a nation!
A leader listens to others, sifts through the views and advice, weighs up the consequences of alternatives, and assesses the path to follow which will most benefit all of those affected by the decision.
In Morrison, we have a man who, for reasons known only to him, has decided the goal he wants the country to reach, ignores advice which conflicts with his predetermined destination, and listens only to those who support his limited policies.
The National Cabinet has, at least, managed to achieve some outcomes which would never have been possible if he had been left to his own devices.
Never in a blue moon would he have produced a stimulus package, so similar to that developed by the Labor government in the GFC, if he had not been under pressure from the State Premiers.
As has been noted elsewhere, he ensures that he is only ever delivering good news, and when things go $60 billion wrong, he is nowhere in sight.
This way, he hopes to receive all the kudos while lesser people cop the brickbats.
It is little wonder he forms a bond with Trump. They are both narcissists and power hungry, and their own status is far more important to them than leading a country to a destination which improves the health and well-being of those who most need help.
In years gone by, those who claimed to be adherents of a religion, yet whose behaviour did not match that required by that religion, were referred to as whited sepulchres.
This is, IMHO, an apt description for Morrison.
This country seems to be hell-bent on ending up with a small number of very rich people, dictating terms to an increasingly disadvantaged population, which is struggling to survive.
This is the outcome of seeing us as responsible for supporting the economy, instead of accepting that the purpose of economic policy is to support the people – particularly those least able to support themselves.
Climate change is real – we have seen the extent to which the skies have cleared with fewer planes in the air and cars on the road, but that situation will be reversed if we do not change our policies.
Severe weather events are still occurring, and the resulting loss of life and creation of refugees will increase, at the same times as melting ice will raise sea levels.
We can slow the frequency, and possibly reduce the severity, of these disasters – but only if we do not further delay action.
Gas might be less polluting than other fossil fuels, but those promoting its use are only telling part of the story.
If our grandchildren are to have a world worth living in, we have to stop fiddling at the edges of the problem, take a deep breath and dive in.
Having lived, during WWII in the UK, under massive restrictions, with associated shortages, I know that, if people can be convinced of the necessity of foregoing some conveniences for the benefit of coming generations, they will accept the need to do so.
It will not be easy and it requires a complete re-think about priorities and the necessities of life, but it needs to be done if we are not to bequeath to future generations a world that destroys life on a grand scale.
It also requires a change of policies which give tax benefits to the wealthy while disproportionately, through GST, taxing the poor more heavily.
Mankind is already the world’s most destructive predator.
Can we make sufficient effort to be the saviour of the environment?
Without that effort, ‘leaders’ such as Trump, Putin, Bolsonaro, Xi Jinping, Modi – and Morrison – will create a world with a hostile environment.
Hopefully, in those circumstances, there will be species other than human beings who will survive our destructive influence!
We in Australia may only be a small part of the world’s polities. But we are all under the same obligation to protect the future for our descendants.
Let’s see our elected politicians earn their title of “Honourable Member”!
I end as always – this is my 2020 New Year Resolution:
“I will do everything in my power to enable Australia to be restored to responsible government.”
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“We in Australia may only be a small part of the world’s polities.”
China doesn’t seem to think so at the moment, but then, they know who we’re being a mouthpiece for.
It is plain to see that Morrison doesn’t give a big rat’s arse about the poor or the environment,he has an eye only on his coming transportation to his heavenly reward.It is also obvious that his bullshit,greed is good bizarre cult informs his every slippery move.We must be the only secular country on earth led by a ‘religious’ zealot .
It will be extremely interesting to see the Liar from the Shire’s speech next week..that’s if anyone can find him.Expect another avalanche of bullshit.Nothing will change for the better until these utter fools are gone.
And yet Rosemary J36, given that the numbers of poor and working class are far greater than the numbers of the wealthy overlords, for the life of me I will never understand why the majority keep voting for those who seek to work them to the bone and benefit their mates? 🤔🙄😥
Kerri – inbuilt conservatism plus suspicion of politicians and believing Coalition lies. Labor has lost its union base and the spat with the Greens has been damaging.
“It will not be easy and it requires a complete re-think about priorities and the necessities of life, but it needs to be done if we are not to bequeath to future generations a world that destroys life on a grand scale.” In truth Rosemary J36, the only people who are going to face the harshest of setbacks are the very wealthy, being/or the very stupid: The rest of us have been making adjustments at our own expense for years now and are probably half-way to living an environmentally responsible, sustainable life. We just need a price on carbon.
Kerri,
As in other fake democracies, Australian governments are not elected by a majority of the people. As John Howard use to say when questioned about his repeated election wins in spite of the will of the majority, it is the number of seats won by a party, not the number of people who voted for them, that counts.
In the last federal election the Queensland Liberal National party delivered Morrison 23 out of 150 parliamentary seats with just 9% of the primary vote. More than 10% of the people voted for the Greens but they only won one seat with which to oppose Morrison’s environmentally destructive policies of privilege.
Contrary to the popular lie, we do not get the government we deserve.
Once upon a time, in a land far far away, a queen once said “Let them eat cake” in response to the shortage of bread for the masses, and look what happened to her and the rest of her (un)kind.
When Australia runs short of basics like , oh, employment for the masses whilst the 0.1% are raking it in, healthcare and education for those born here, heaven forbid (decent) food and shelter, and are clamouring at the gates armed with whatever we have fashioned, where and to whom are our illustrious dealers going to turn ?
It is time for us to take Australia back, and 2022 is too far away.
New Bruce
Australians have always seen ‘the masses’ as being the migrants. Wops, Dagoes, Spics, Balts, Krauts et al. The pejoratives faded until the Vietnamese boat people started coming here, and it started again ‘they’re taking our jobs’. If you disagree, listen to Eric Bogle’s song ‘ I Hate Wogs’. It’s all there, but the irony escapes most listeners. We love to have someone to look down on.
But our craven fawning over the ANUS connection has changed the worlds view of Australians. We are just people who occupy a quarry.
To be extremely blunt, the governments of Australia, USA and Brazil have virtually created war against their own citizens and other citizens from around the globe through their push for greater use of fossil fuels. China and Russia are also not pristine; though, the three countries listed first are considered the worst offenders.
Millions of people die from the emissions from fossil fuels each year. Disease vectors are moving North and South of the Equator. Drought creates a break down in food production and results in starvation. Storms enhanced through climate change kill people and destroy homes and private and publicly owned infrastructure. Severe mental health disorders can result from these factors.
It boils down to greed and inaction kill.
These comments, are not reasons to give up trying to effect positive changes, we must continue to push hard against the dark forces destroying the biosphere and human lives.
Renewable energy is available at cheaper prices than “investment” in energy from gas and coal.
People around the world are already dying from the climate crisis, and yet all too often, official death records do not reflect the impact of these large-scale environmental catastrophes.
I think it is very important to find a link between funding companies and environment. Austria was successful in getting a deal with Austrian Airlines which makes them at least consider trying to find more sustainable ways to carry out their work