On Climate Change

It comes as no surprise that Rudd has ditched the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS. Public sceptism has only increased following the spectacular failure of the Copenhagen Summit. True it has only been postponed because of the current economic crisis yet it is likely to become permanent.

There is a complete worldwide re-evaluation of
Climate Change at present.Accusations have
been bandied about of scientific data being
doctored or hidden or destroyed. Will we
ever discover the real truth or are we a
captive to spin doctors on either side? The reality is
that worldwide action of climnate change is virtually
impossible to implement given the opposition of two of the
most populous nations in India and China.Economically
also it is impossible to get complete agreement on anything.

I know there are quite a number of people and
organisations, committed to the Climate Change
debate. They are convinced that it is a
complete manmade phenomenon and want to stop all
industrial activity and much human activity
"to save the Planet". The reality is, however, that
Clinate Change is entirely cyclical in nature
and is related to the Sun and not man.True,
manmade activity does contribute to the
pollution yet is not responsible for
this naturally occuring cyclical activity.

Robin 0529 UTC April 28th 2010

We have a government finally.

Today the Governor, Mr Peter Underwood, swore in the new coalition Tasmanian government. The Greens have two cabinet positions and the rest are Labor.

Here is a list of Cabinet ministers as appointed this afternoon.


THE NEW CABINET


DAVID BARTLETT

Premier

Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology


LARA GIDDINGS

Deputy Premier

Attorney-General

Minister for Justice

Minister for Economic Development

Minister for Infrastructure


MICHAEL AIRD

Treasurer

Minister for Industry


BRYAN GREEN

Minister for Primary Industries and Water

Minister for Energy and Resources

Minister for Local Government

Minister for Planning

Minister for Racing

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs


NICK McKIM

Minister for Human Services

Minister for Corrections and Consumer Protection

Minister for Community Development

Minister for Climate Change

Minister for Sustainable Transport and Alternative Energy


DAVID O'BYRNE

Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage

Minister for Workplace Relations

Minister for the Arts

Minister for Hospitality

Minister for Sport and Recreation


MICHELLE O'BYRNE

Minister for Health

Minister for Tourism


LIN THORP

Minister for Education and Skills

Minister for Children

Minister for Police and Emergency Management


CASSY O'CONNOR

Secretary to Cabinet


DOUG PARKINSON

Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council


I laughed so hard when I saw that the Greens leader was now Minister
of Corrections. Yes Tasmania's prisons and its inmates!
Quite a change from protesting about environmental issues.

Robin 1125 UTC April 21st 2010

It is even sillier now!

It is now over a month since we went to the polls to elect the
Tasmanian Government for another four year term. Well we don't have a viable government yet.Just to remind everyone, we ended up with a cliffhanger with the minority Green party holding the balance of power between Labor and the conservative Liberals. Well Mc.Kim, the Greens leader has been haggling with the Bartlett government for a coalition . He initially rejected a ministry and said they deserved more. Well it turns out now that his partner,Cassy, who was also elected, has been offerred a position as cabinet secretary. Hang on that is nepotism?

Media outlets are hinting that this has divided the three other Green members. Oh what a mess! We did want a change but not this
charade.If this stalemate continues then we should go back to the ballot box.You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that there will be a backlash against Labor and the Greens. I would not be
surprised also that a new political movement could emerge out
of this.Errol Stewart did try and organise a party
but it fizzled before commencing.

Robin 0530 April 20th 2010.

It's settled for now?

Well after 19 to 20 days after the election, the position was 10-10-5. That is neither party has a clear majority with the leading parties refusing to entertain a coalition with the Greens. Yesterday it was up tothe Governor, ( Peter Underwood) to decide which party was to form a minority government. Today the Greens leader came out and announced that they will support the continuation of the Labor Government, despite not receiving support from them for a coalition. It was a move to really flush out the Governor into making a decision.Hodgman announced that he will not support having a coalition with McKim.

Bartlett has now been commisioned by the Governor to form a minority government and it has to be tested on the floor of the House of Assembly. Now what is going to happen from here? The Greens say they will not support any no-confidence motion in Parliament unless there is corruption of other malfeance. In other words Labor will stay on for now but really are at the mercy of the Greens. No coalition but they do wield some clout. It can't last of course and previous minority governments here in Tasmania have failed. An election is inevitable but probably will be in six to
18 months time. The Greens really do hold the balance of
power but I think would suffer at the polls as would Labor.

I will write more later, when I am not as tired as I am now.



Robin 1245 UTC April 8th 2009