Josh Frydenberg’s comments on National Energy Guarantee need clarification
WHO is best placed to fix a pending energy crisis, more horrific bank behaviour and the plight of the Bulldogs coach are on Ray’s radar this week.
NSW
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1 The debate about the National Energy Guarantee needs to continue and honesty needs to be displayed by the federal government. The Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg appeared on my program this week and compared our reliance on coal with that of the US, stating the Americans only get 30 per cent of their power from coal while our figure is 70 per cent or more.
The minister was guilty of a glaring omission as he failed to reveal the US gets 31 per cent from gas and 20 per cent from nuclear and less than 20 per cent from renewables.
2 The Nationals might be the hope of the side.
They want $5 billion set aside to fund base-load generators relying on either gas or coal or both.
3 Bill Shorten’s thought bubble on repealing company tax cuts is no longer an off-the-cuff remark.
His Labor cabinet colleagues, one by one, have fallen into line with the leader’s thought bubble. Of course they’ll battle to get any changes through the Senate given, even after an election, the crossbenches will hold the balance of power.
4 Just when you thought the Royal Commission into the banks couldn’t get any worse, it does. The ANZ Bank’s treatment of farmers is simply disgraceful and unconscionable. They should hang their collective heads in shame.
5 Minister Gabrielle Upton has announced a public inquiry into the rabble that is the Blue Mountains City Council under Mayor Mark Greenhill.
Those whistleblowers on staff who’ve been telling me about the inept way the council has dealt with asbestos issues will finally be vindicated.
6 I’ve been campaigning against so-called share bikes for a long time. First it was revealed they got users to put a holding deposit of $69 which of course is held by the share bike companies.
They invested that money and reaped the benefits. Now we learn at least one of the companies is preventing users from redeeming their deposit.
It’s only a rort if you’re not involved.
7 When I learnt of the death of child rapist and murderer Neville Raymond Towner my first thoughts were for the family of four-year-old Lauren Hickson, who was brutally murdered by this creature in 1989. He was seeking release on parole two days before his death. Lauren’s family will no longer live in fear of this evil creature being free.
8 ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie must not have read the contract with Channel 9 when he called for Sunday afternoon Origin games. He told Channel 9 to listen to the fans. The new contract gives the ARL/NRL complete control of match scheduling, including kick-off times.
Once a populist politician, always a populist politician.
9 Today is Red Nose Day. Please give generously.
The incidence of SIDS has greatly reduced but there’s still work to be done.
10 I feel very sorry for Canterbury coach Dean Pay. The salary cap blunders confronting the Bulldogs is the work of a previous administration.
It seems remarkable one of the people in control at the Bulldogs through this period, Raelene Castle, is now running Australian Rugby Union. Good luck to the rah rahs.
Originally published as Josh Frydenberg’s comments on National Energy Guarantee need clarification
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