2012 I am a farmer and small business operator; as was my father and his father. My great grandfather captained his own brigantine, chasing cargoes around the world. Thus it is not surprising that I am a staunch supporter of the philosophy of free enterprise. I am also a student and admirer of Adam Smith and those other Scottish dons who created an intellectual hub of the Enlightenment in Edinburgh and Glasgow. These brave souls challenged the orthodoxies of the time, taking on the conservative ...
The Hon. Andrew Abstention
Video: https://youtu.be/UHaffArhC_s The Hon. Andrew Abstention, Minister for Energy, Mining and the Environment. Thank you for that kind introduction, Mr Speaker...I’m sorry, I mean Madam moderator. Mr. Speaker. I am afraid that I do not quite understand the honourable gentleman’s argument. Do away with economic growth? That makes no sense. How can you have an economy that doesn’t grow. We have to have economic growth or,...or....well I hate to think Mr Speaker... I mean ...
Celebrating Diversity
Whilst I agree with your basic sentiment, I cannot but feel that your argument is a little glib. My dear old Dad was much given to the aphorism, “everything is relative”. Compared to Japan, Britain has been ethnically diverse for millennia. The original tribal groupings were overlaid by successive waves of invaders, culminating in those new chums, the Normans. So, whilst the Scots and Welsh and Northern Irish have long celebrated their cultural differences to their English siblings ...
Dear Senator Abetz,
Thankyou for replying to my email. I very much appreciate your personal response, particularly as I am not one of your constituents. It is a courtesy I rarely encounter in my dealings with busy people. It is not surprising that I disagree with many of your observations. I would first take issue with your suggestion that my character is in some way impugned and my arguments concerning climate change compromised, by my suggestion that political parties are capable of cynicism in their ...
The Market Economy’s Dirty Little Secret
Or how we learned to stop worrying and cook the books. ...
The Ugly Country
Donald Horne’s epithet, “The Lucky Country” may have been ironic and the campaign slogan, “The Clever Country” may have been political hubris, but that Australia is indeed the ugly country, there can be little doubt. From the necrotic sterility of outer suburbs, to the frenetic visual assault of arterial roads, where the harbingers of commerce demand homage to their jealous God; the automobile has moulded our built environment more convincingly than the people who designed both. Motor ...
Stephen Matchett #2
Dear Sir, Your article entitled “No argument for evil” (Sunday Australian 5/8/06) caught my eye. At first glance, I thought it an unusual perspective for one of Rupert’s chaps to take, but then I arrived at your concluding paragraphs and realised that you were in fact sticking to the party line. The banality of your conclusions compels me to offer a rebuttal. The vehicle for your venture into the “Culture Wars” is a review of a book, which I understand, examines the relative and ...
Counterpoint
Dear Mr. Duffy, I am an enthusiastic, if spasmodic listener to Radio National - spasmodic because of my work patterns. Fast moving, noisy machinery is not the best companion for radio. I have in fact noticed a correlation between the amount of noise an agricultural machine makes and its potential for removing unattended bits of one’s anatomy. I am enthusiastic because of the variety and quality of RN programmes. I prefer this medium to newspapers because it gives direct and ...
Dear Greenpeace
1992 Dear Lindy, Some months ago I wrote to you because of my concern that Greenpeace policy, with respect to kangaroo management and soil conservation, is to some extent, misguided and counter-productive. I had all but given up hope of receiving a reply and was beginning to conclude that constructive criticism was not welcome from rank and file supporters. However, last week I did receive a reply, on your behalf, from an individual called Powell Strong. I had been hoping for a closely ...