Australian Politics and Culture

Home About Music Podcast Gallery News Contact       A Slice of Life commentary on issues in politics, culture, environment and technology 25 Feb 10 In an interview with Mike Bowers on ABC TV’s Insiders program , 07/02/2010, Warren Brown commented: “Well one of the things about Abbott is whether you like him or not, he’s so out there with what he believes in. And I think Australians like that. They don’t really care what you...Read Full Story

Former prime minister John Howard believes he would have been seen as "a coward" if he had stepped down voluntarily for Peter Costello but would have quit had a delegation of senior ministers demanded him to. Mr Howard's views and those of other key figures are contained in a recent essay by Sydney Institute executive director Gerard Henderson . John Howard has been described by some as “Australia’s greatest Prime Minister”. History might well see him in a different light. Despite almost...Read Full Story

"I do not come to the leadership of the Liberal Party from a lifetime of privilege. I know what it is like to be very short of money..." "I know what it is like to live in rented flats. For a time daddy and I had to rent a dingy penthouse in Double Bay..." "Daddy even had to drive the Rolls Royce himself for a time when we couldn't get a chauffeur; good help can be hard to find..." "The other boys at Sydney Grammar laughed at me when I drove my new MG to school; they all drove Porsches and...Read Full Story

On Friday 04/07/2008, in the first comprehensive assessment of the impact on Australia of climate change, Professor Ross Garnaut reported that Australians must pay more for food, petrol and energy or risk a rising death toll, economic loss and destruction of natural wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef. The Howard Government’s policies on the environment, climate change and global warming: scepticism, inactivity and a steadfast refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol did little or nothing to...Read Full Story

Telecommuting is a synonym for the use of telecommunications to work outside the traditional office or workplace, usually at home. Could telecommuting be an answer to the fuel crisis? The definitive answer is yes and no. On the yes side: If an increased number of people were able to work from home, huge reductions in emissions could be made. As telecommuting increased, the volume of commuter traffic would decrease. Huge savings would be made in fuel costs. Huge savings would also be made in...Read Full Story