Talking Politics

[Rosy]

If this decision has a negative impact on the Reef the Libs and Nationals will be front of the blame queue in my mind. I'd be ashamed if I'd voted for them and gave them the power to destroy such an important area. The odds concern me considering they're a walking disaster zone since they got into power. Did the other parties have any say in the decision? Even if they didn't I'm disappointed at the apparent silent acceptance.

 

[AngryAnt]

2. It's also a disgrace that the Greens have been pre-occupied for a decade or more with trees, social justice and refugees at the expense of agitating over the Great Barrier Reef. I think they have their priorities all wrong. The Reef has been under threat for a long time and I've heard very little from the Greens until it becomes a populous issue.

In other words "stuff the environment, unless its a part of the environment that I actually care about - then why the hell haven't the Greens been active on my behalf?".

 

[Brodders17]

In other words "stuff the environment, unless its a part of the environment that I actually care about - then why the hell haven't the Greens been active on my behalf?".

its those crazy greens again. giving a *smile* about things like social justice and refugees.

whilst im not aware the greens have ignored the great barrier reef, if they havent put as much emphasis on it as other things it could be because they do not have MPs from the area, and dont get as much support in Queensland in general.

 

[poppa x]

I think it's a bit harsh blaming the Greens rather than the Liberals, the Nationals, and Labor.

I don't blame them, but I do criticise them for not agitating over the Reef for a decade or more when it's obviously been under threat.
The Greens didn't have the Parliamentary Power to stop the dams in Tasmania, but through public "stirring" they rightly got it stopped.
Their lack of interest in the Reef and their public preoccupation with non environmental issues is disappointing. They seem to be moving away from the interests of their support base. Or should that read their support base has changed to inner city trendies?

 

[Azza]

I don't see you criticising the Libs or Nationals for actually causing the damage Poppa.

 

[Rosy]

There's plenty to criticise about all parties poppa but the coalition are the ones who have approved these changes that could put the reef at great risk. Surely they are the ones who deserve to be criticised most. Do you think the decision was made with the "interests of their support base" in mind? I don't believe they gave their support base a $econd$ thought when making the decision.

 

[Baloo]

I'm pretty sure the coalition gets most of their funding from big business so it's fair to say they did make the decision in the interests of their support base.

 

[AngryAnt]

I don't blame them, but I do criticise them for not agitating over the Reef for a decade or more when it's obviously been under threat.
The Greens didn't have the Parliamentary Power to stop the dams in Tasmania, but through public "stirring" they rightly got it stopped.
Their lack of interest in the Reef and their public preoccupation with non environmental issues is disappointing. They seem to be moving away from the interests of their support base. Or should that read their support base has changed to inner city trendies?

The Greens in Australia came out of state based environmental activism that chrystalised around the Franklin dams issue, but always had a strong social justice component - and yes, the Greens did form from a mixed bag of environmentalists/left/social justice movements. The Greens as a fully developed political party have always had the platforms of conservation, social justice, sustainablity and non-violence/peace. If you don't know this, get educated. If you don't like this, join the Greens and change their platforms or form your own party.

As for their electoral support, this was always inner city trendies - and God love inner-city trendies for being the only folks in Australia to consistently give a **** about environmental issues of this type, because Liberal/National party voters don't seem to care - until it affects something in their own back yard of course. But really it all gets back to your confusion in blaming - sorry, "criticising" - a party that you don't support for not fighting enough for the environmental causes you happen to believe in. Put the blame for the new coal ports where it is deserved - the current Minister for the Environment.

 

[bullus_hit]

The Greens in Australia came out of state based environmental activism that chrystalised around the Franklin dams issue, but always had a strong social justice component - and yes, the Greens did form from a mixed bag of environmentalists/left/social justice movements. The Greens as a fully developed political party have always had the platforms of conservation, social justice, sustainablity and non-violence/peace. If you don't know this, get educated. If you don't like this, join the Greens and change their platforms or form your own party.

As for their electoral support, this was always inner city trendies - and God love inner-city trendies for being the only folks in Australia to consistently give a **** about environmental issues of this type, because Liberal/National party voters don't seem to care - until it affects something in their own back yard of course. But really it all gets back to your confusion in blaming - sorry, "criticising" - a party that you don't support for not fighting enough for the environmental causes you happen to believe in. Put the blame for the new coal ports where it is deserved - the current Minister for the Environment.

Hard to argue with any of that, and I think it's pretty clear that Greens cop an absolute savaging at the hands of the media. News Corpse in particular love dishing out the loopy luvvie insults but are more than happy to embrace 'maverick' politicians who revert to outrageous commentary as long as it accords to their prejudices. As for the Greens campaigning for the Reef, I'll think you'll find they are a lone voice out there with both the major parties being conspicuously silent on the issue.

But one thing's for certain, most Australians couldn't give a rats arse about the environment, that's been a long standing tradition since early settlement. It is the very reason why environmentalists and more recently scientists, have been labelled as fringe dwellers and heretics.

 

[poppa x]

Where did I say I don't blame the Abbot Minister?
Of course I do. He made the change - that can't be denied and may he suffer an electoral backlash because of it.
But I'm also saying that for the better part of 10 years when the Reef was in trouble and for most of this period the Labor/Greens had a government alliance they did SFA about it. Sure they didn't approve the current project, but there was a lot more nasty things happening on and to the Reef which they turned a blind eye to.

I think I'm pretty open minded about this. It seems others have their heads in the sand wanting to only blame Abbot (correctly) and fully supporting the other mobs (incorrectly).

 

[Azza]

Where did I say I don't blame the Abbot Minister?
Of course I do. He made the change - that can't be denied and may he suffer an electoral backlash because of it.
But I'm also saying that for the better part of 10 years when the Reef was in trouble and for most of this period the Labor/Greens had a government alliance they did SFA about it. Sure they didn't approve the current project, but there was a lot more nasty things happening on and to the Reef which they turned a blind eye to.

I think I'm pretty open minded about this. It seems others have their heads in the sand wanting to only blame Abbot (correctly) and fully supporting the other mobs (incorrectly).

Do you regret Abbott being in power? Would you vote for him if you knew he'd do this - ie who would you preference first, the Libs or Labor??

 

[AngryAnt]

I think I'm pretty open minded about this. It seems others have their heads in the sand wanting to only blame Abbot (correctly) and fully supporting the other mobs (incorrectly).

So you were wrong about the Green's history, their policy platform, and their historical electoral support. Zero for three so far. Like I say, thank God for the inner city trendies or we'd have no Greens and pretty much no pristine environment left at all.

Your contention that the Greens have done sweet FA for the reef in the last ten years is wrong too - simple search for Green activity around the reef in, say 2005 - http://greensmps.org.au/portfolios/great-barrier-reef-coral-sea?page=11 displays all the stuff the Greens have been banging on about regarding the reef as far back as 2005. Google is your friend.

Of course, the ever-present degradation of the reef which some estimates put at already having killed 50% of the reef is due to coral bleaching - which in turn is due to higher sea temperatures - due to, you guessed it, climate change. Something else the Greens having been bangin' on about for the last ten years or more Poppa.

Of course we don't want to talk about climate change though, do we.

 

[Rosy]

....

I think I'm pretty open minded about this. It seems others have their heads in the sand wanting to only blame Abbot (correctly) and fully supporting the other mobs (incorrectly).

My original comment about the topic was obviously out of concern for the Barrier Reef rather than having my head in the sand about Abbott. I certainly don't fully support any mob over it. The difference to me is you stated your concerns by firing off at the Greens and with no mention of those who are actually responsible for the decisions. Hence the question asked of you. No need for it to be personal or compartmentalised into perceived perception of partisan support. The decision stinks imo. No respect from me for any party who supports it....especially the party who approved it.



I reckon

 

[KnightersRevenge]

Wasn't Tony Bourke planning to (or maybe did already) extend marine conservation regions including the reef? Not SFA. Didn't the PM say he was planning to dismantle the new marine park expansion? Pretty harsh to tag the Greens with this. EDIT: Newman/Abbott/Joyce/Palmer/Reinhart seem to be the ones pushing this.

 

[bullus_hit]

Isn't it interesting that imbeciles like Corey Bernardi can liken gay relationships to bestiality yet if someone dare support gay marriage like Malcolm Turnbull, they ought to stand down. This government must be one of the most oppressive, far right administrations that I can remember.

 

[Bill Haverchuck]

And the best is yet to come , the TPP...

 

[Sintiger]

Isn't it interesting that imbeciles like Corey Bernardi can liken gay relationships to bestiality yet if someone dare support gay marriage like Malcolm Turnbull, they ought to stand down. This government must be one of the most oppressive, far right administrations that I can remember.

I am actually starting to get worried about what is to come from this Government.

We need a coup from Malcolm Turnbull. I am not a massive fan of his (too much of an Investment banker type for my liking) but he is not philosophically mean, which is where Abbott is taking us.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Nothing surprises me from Abbott. What a shocking state of affairs to have this twat as our PM.

 

[Giardiasis]

What a shocking state of affairs to have this twat as our PM.

Hey, don't be philosophically mean.

 

[Sintiger]

Hey, don't be philosophically mean.

You are so funny. I am laughing so much I can hardly stand up.

I suspect that the words mean, caring or anything that describes an emotional response to National or world issues doesn't fit into Politics for you but being a Leader is also about what sort of person you are . We are seeing what sort of person Tony Abbott is now.

Mean.