Way back in August 2020 Ernesto wrote an article about the appalling stuff up in Aged Care. You can read it here to refresh your memory.
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https://www.sheppnews.com.au/ernestos-manifesto/2020/08/11/1497448/a-broken-system
So the question is why are we here again?
But today I wish to discuss a more pressing issue.
Whats more important than the Pandemic I hear you ask?
Yep you got it-
The rapidly looming Environmental Emergency.
A couple of weeks ago the federal treasurer, Josh Fraudenberg bought down a budget that committed future generations of Australians to a massive mountain of debt, but no mention of any funding to reduce the environmental debt being passed on to our children and grandchildren.
- Against a backdrop of constant and increasingly dire scientific warnings of the threat to our planet from rising temperatures, we do nothing.
- In spite of the threat from the USA and EU to impose a carbon tax on imports from countries not doing their bit to reduce emissions, we still do nothing.
- Even following increasing action from state governments and local councils to achieve emissions reduction, our federal government still refuses to provide a framework to achieve the transition to a zero carbon future.
Meanwhile we see all the smart money flowing out of the country to jurisdictions that are taking the transition to renewables seriously and have a national plan/framework to get there.
This inaction from our federal government means Australia will miss out on the technology, jobs and export opportunities afforded by the renewable revolution.
Then, on the same day as the release of the International Energy Agency’s new report, "Net Zero by 2050: a Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector" ,which warns there should be no new oil and gas fields approved, and no new coal mines or mine extensions if we are to achieve this goal, what do the dinosaurs in Canberra announce?
Yep, $600 million of TAXPAYERS money to build a new gas fired power plant in the Hunter Valley that will only operate 2% of the time.This announcement came a couple of days before a state by-election in the Hunter Valley.
Surely that money could be of better use upgrading our antiquated power transmission network to better integrate all the renewable energy that will inevitably force the redundancy of all coal and gas plants in the country.
Consider this,
- Despite the Coalitions normal mantra of "private is good, public is bad".
- Despite the fact no private energy company will touch this uneconomic project.
- Despite the warning from the IEA and other scientific world bodies on the dangers of expanding the fossil fuel industry.
- Despite the taxpayer being left with a stranded asset costing $600million.
We find ourselves here.
Why?
An interesting article on this issue from Alan Kohler is available via the link below. I recommend you read it.
Considering the massive donations the LNP rake in from the fossil fuel industry and the massive subsidies (estimated at $70,000 a minute) we should not be surprised at them pandering to their masters.
The ALP are not much better on these issues either.
They take donations from the same industry and are still trying to sit on the barbed wire fence re fossil fuel mining, just as Shorten did with the Adani issue at the last election.
They will never be elected as long as they just portray themselves as Liberal-Lite.
But despite all the obvious reasons I have listed above for the COALitions inaction on climate there may well be other reasons the dinosaurs in Canberra do nothing in this space.
It involves the Prime Ministers religion.
Pentecostalism.
Estimates vary as to how many other Pentecostals are in the Morrison Cabinet but one standout is Stuart "Robodebt" Robert" and we all know how many times he has stuffed up but maintains his position, presumably due to the protection afforded by his fellow believers.
Among Pentecostals beliefs are,
- Miracles happen.
- All history and the future is in the control of GOD. If the end of the world through climate change is God's will, there is nothing we can (or will) do about it.
- The fate of creation will be determined by Jesus Christ when he remakes heaven and earth, NOT by the burning of fossil fuels.
These beliefs go a long way to explain the Morrison governments lack of action to counter the environmental damage wrought by climate change.
It is interesting to note that most "mainstream" protestant religions and the catholic church are now sounding warning bells about the predicament the planet finds itself in, but not the Pentecostals.
Having a religious fundamentalist for a leader is not in the interests of this country or the planet.
We may as well have voted for someone who believes the Earth is flat!
Bruce