A coal-fired power plant could be the government’s circuit breaker to usurp Bill Shorten
After another Newspoll loss the federal government is hoping to promote the sort of ideas that could give PM Scott Morrison a chance in 2019. A coal-fired power station might do just that, writes Ray Hadley.`
Opinion
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1 After another 55 per cent-45 per cent Newspoll loss the federal government will be hoping the “loony left” can somehow usurp Bill Shorten and get to promote the sort of ideas that could give PM Scott Morrison a chance in 2019. The government needs a circuit breaker. A coal-fired power station might be just that.
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2 That coal-fired power station is waiting to be built in the Hunter Valley. A DA with the support of the Cessnock City Council has gone to NSW Planning. The proponents own the land, have the funding, and are all set to go. The site is zoned for a power station with a coal rail line going through the middle of the site. The new generation coal-fired plant proposed is exactly the same as the ones in Japan that we export Hunter Valley coal to. Despite numerous requests the people wanting to build it can’t crack it for a chat with anyone in NSW or federal politics.
3 I understand addictions but I will never understand the addiction some people have for these video games. The report this week that a bloke was charged with assault after allegedly being captured on video being violent to his partner at Oran Park after she asked him to stop playing was disturbing. It appears some young men need to spend less time gaming and more time with their families.
4 In light of that story is a wonderful move by the state government to ban mobile phones in primary schools across the state. I know there’ll be some parents who’ll say “But I must contact with my little boy or girl”. No you don’t! The children are safe at school and up until 20 years ago we all survived a day at school having no contact with mum or dad.
5 I applaud the move by Australian airlines Virgin and Qantas to get tough on carry-on luggage. I’d hate to see us get to the stage they have in the US, where people seem to have crack of getting everything from golf clubs to oversize bags in the overhead locker.
6 While the federal government has its problems NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian should be able to come through the Christmas-New Year break unscathed leading into a March election. Only a major stuff-up could see the current government lose to Labor. But it will be interesting to see what Mark Latham and his new team One Nation can achieve at the 2019 poll.
7 I cannot imagine the grief experienced by Olga Edwards after her ex-husband murdered their two children before killing himself. The poor woman was found dead this week and there are no suspicious circumstances. Her life must have been unimaginable after the deaths of her precious son and daughter. Lifeline’s number is 13 11 14.
8 The Australian Rugby Union is a strange beast. It met this week to decide on the future of coach Michael Cheika after one of the Wallabies’ most disastrous seasons ever but decided to delay their decision.
Perhaps given its inability to make tough decisions it should sack itself and leave it to someone else to find a new coach.
9 I don’t know where the Shane Flanagan situation is going to end up at the Sharks but the club is perilously close to being tipped over the edge both figuratively and literally.
The NRL has made it clear there’ll be no more financial bailouts of clubs in the future.
10 This is my last offering for 2018 before a break from my radio program on 2GB. It’s been a tough but rewarding year completely dominated on a personal level by the birth of the most beautiful little baby I’ve ever seen, my granddaughter Ava.
My thanks to my daughter Laura and her husband Brad for allowing me to be such a large part of Ava’s life.
