MP seeks Gippsland wind farm moratorium

The Liberal Member for McMillan, Russell Broadbent, has called for a two year moratorium on wind farms in South Gippsland, in eastern Victoria.

Mr Broadbent has asked Environment Minister Ian Campbell to ban new wind farms until more is known about their impact on birds.

Mr Broadbent says wind farms at Dollar and Bald Hills have the potential to wipe out local populations of migratory birds and wedge-tailed eagles.

He says the Senator could use his influence to put the wind farms on hold.

“We have to know exactly what’s going on with migratory birds so we can take a stand on behalf of the people of South Gippsland and on behalf of the environment as a whole… I’ve never seen a wind turbine give way to a wedge-tailed eagle, have you?” he said.

No, I haven’t, but we are talking about a bird that can see a rabbit from several hundred feet while flying flat out. I think he would recognize the danger and accordingly, give way to the rotating turbine.

When I was in Albany, WA I had to drive past the local wind farm to visit my sister and noted the apparent slow rotation of the blades. At 22 RPM max any eagle would have to be a very low scorer in the hand wing/eye coordination skills to get hit.

Western Power has five wind farms in Western Australia and so far claim to have had only one bird strike.

Pic of the Albany Wind Farm. With no land mass between Albany and the Antarctic it has to be one of the best sites for a Wind Farm anywhere. I know, I grew up in the cold hole of a place.

What is it with Wind Farms? Why do people go on about them.

To me they’re clean and green and getting more efficient as time rolls on. The Albany farm produces 75% of the town’s power needs and being on the coast most probably only kills the odd seagull and who cares about those greedy, bludging, carping birds.

The annual Running of the Bulls at San Sebastian de los Reyes just north of Madrid ends in drama when a bottleneck of young thrill seekers develops and is split open by several 600 kg bulls.

A RUNNING of the bulls in a Spanish town outside the capital today left 63 people injured after the crowd was trapped at the entrance to the bullring.

I’ve done some work with bulls in my time, have always treated them with utmost respect and have never thought to get involved in a race with them. They simply move faster than humans…at least this one.

Just seems kind of stupid to me

Barnaby Joyce has become a headline himself – just use his christian name and every one knows who and what.

The press are having a field day. In the absence of a viable opposition they have to find doom and gloom for the government where they can. Barnaby Joyce and his confused stance on politics have given them the opening. Letters to the editor are illuminating as to how many do not understand party politics.

Even one of my ex commanders, Barry Caligari, now living in Yungaburra thinks every politician should be an independant.

NO, Mr Howard. First loyalty to any party is a dictatorship, while first loyalty to an electorate distinguishes a democracy. Unfortunately, party leaders often confuse the subtle difference.

Beg to differ, Sir, but Barnaby was elected as a Senator for Queensland and while he is obliged to do what is best for the state of Queensland, that often translates as a part of policy that dictates what is best for the nation. In addition, the final sum on what is good for the state of Queensland needs imput from more than just Barnaby’s experience. It in fact, needs input from the party room where what is best for each locality or state is balanced against the greater need of the country. If we start giving handouts to every local problem then we are managing piecemeal and that is not the game.

If Barnaby was a ALP Politician and said the words ‘cross the floor’ he would be labelled ‘Rat’, disenfranchised and he would be pilloried, not the party.

Lively politics is good and Barnaby will slowly see the need to be a part of a winning team rather than a loosing individual. It happens in every new parliament and all the senior players are well versed on the process and contrary to all the Howard haters in the Australian today, it is democracy in action.

Just enjoy it while Barnaby enjoys his fifteen minutes of fame.

And he breaks down! I don’t know about you but I would like to think that someone chosen to head up a coronial inquest could face the problems without breaking into tears and walking away.

The pic with the article has Greg Cavanagh being consoled by deputy Helen Roberts.

It was all too much for him so he eventually returned and promptly adjourned the inquiry.

They need help not tears. The mother of the lad that sniffed in front of Greg and caused such abject misery, Ms Goodwin, wipes a tear from her eyes and says;

… [my] son had been sniffing a “long, long time”.

“We can’t stop nothing,” she said. “When they sniff, they don’t listen to mother, father, family.”

So stop him sniffing, ban petrol in the community, lock him up, try discipline – try anything but don’t just sit there and cry.

DUCK and quail hunting have been banned in Queensland in a move welcomed by animal welfare groups.

Environment Minister Desley Boyle today announced a permanent ban, saying she was contacted 700 times in the past year on duck hunting and only 15 of those were in favour of the practice.

There’s the formulae guys, it doesn’t take long to organize 700 letters/emails on any subject and you too can enjoy the power of governing by protest.

Ministers falling on their swords all over Queensland so let’s introduce a measure to pick up a few animal rights votes and take everyones attention off the resignations.

Government by protest…way to go.