The Week That Was - 7 June 2012

This week – did you know that Fairfax’s woes are actually as a result of the carbon price? Rio is probably not dancing in the sand, world leaders are urged to invest in renewable technology and the tabloids call switching to a cheaper energy provider – people power.

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'Some editorial interference would have made the papers more readable in the past".
- Sydney radio tycoon John Singleton

Former Australian Prime Minister and founding ACF member Malcolm Fraser says Ms Rinehart’s interest in Fairfax and newspapers The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald – will result in no independent press for Australia.

Perhaps the person best qualified to comment on the matter is former Age editor Andrew Jaspan. He says the next two weeks will be defining moments for Australia.

On the other hand Queensland’s (why is it ALWAYS Queensland) Deputy Leader for the Opposition in the Senate George Brandis tells us Fairfax is cutting jobs because the carbon price is outrageous and makes it too expensive to print the papers therefore it is the government’s fault. I am sure Mr Brandis is well informed – but let’s just cross check with what the experts say at the International Monetary Fund. They say Australia’s carbon price starting at $23 is ‘reasonable’ and ‘credible’.

In the meantime the tabloids decide to launch their People Power campaign - One Big Switch which helps people to buy cheaper electricity. They say they 45,000 ‘Aussies ’have signed up to buy cheap electricity in bulk. Do let me know if you find a button anywhere on the site explaining how these same ‘Aussies’ could consume less electricity by becoming more efficient – because I had a good look and I couldn’t find it.

So let’s head overseas. In Rio, Don Henry and TCRP Presenter Linh Do are actively partaking in the negotiations. Don tells us it is time for Australia to secure its future by getting a bigger share of the green tech industry off the ground – and other important ideas he has to make the globe a safer place to be. Meantime Linh is busy speaking her mind. Meantime unfortunately as the conference closes – environmentalists are not happy.

While Julia is rushing home to Gippsland from the G20 to show her support to those affected by the earthquake, Mike Rann and Tony Blair teamed up to emphasise the need to get on with greater investment in green technology – and bring an end the global recession at the same time.

So let’s think positively and look forward to the end of all the ranting and raving about carbon price once it is in place in less than a fortnight’s time. In the meantime here’s a good rant about precisely that – when will the rant be over - written by Canberra-based Parliamentary sketch writer Jacqueline Maley.

Tony Abbott will be on tour for the first two weeks of July – no doubt to assess and highlight the damage post carbon price introduction. Hopefully someone out there will meet him in his travels and help him understand that the carbon price is not a tax.

It would seem the government’s household assistance ads which did not mention the C word – have been effective. And we are told we have a direct line to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission if the price of beer or pizza goes up. Can we use the same number if the price of pinot gris and camembert is inflated? That would get it into my smartphone.

And if you think the political situation at the moment stinks – well you might be right. In this important piece of research – pit yourself against your political opponents and see who comes out smelling of roses. In the meantime here is a mock-up of the Sydney Miners Herald made by Melbourne comedian Dan Ilic. Have a great week - stay tuned for slides coming your way soon Presenters!