Let’s focus on fixing potholes

The Viral Titanic Pothole Meme

From The Spectator's "Double Shot" newsletter:

Michael de Percy makes a salient point with the most prosaic of examples. Make our governments get out of identity politics, rent-seeking and pursuing the ideological agendas of the few, and get back to providing reliable services for the many – starting with fixing potholes. It’s a message that should be heeded by all three levels of our government.

Here is my latest article in The Spectator Australia's Flat White, Fixing potholes is a policy we can all agree on.

Fixing potholes is a policy we can all agree on

Imagine if councils actually did what they were paid for - fixing potholes and taking out the garbage instead of moaning about the date of Australia Day.

Would the world be a better place?https://t.co/HWErBzcyop

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) October 30, 2023

Coastal wind farms: On Sunday, the people said ‘no’ again

Coastal Wind Farms [Photo: Unsplash CC0]

When the first coastal wind farms were announced by Energy Minister Chris Bowen, I thought I was dreaming.

Australia has some of the best beaches in the world. People come to this country to see its unspoilt natural beauty. Despite a 42 per cent decline following the lockdowns, tourism remains Australia’s 14th-largest export industry. Along with education, it is one of the most sustainable industries that contributes to our standard of living.

Nobody wants to come to Australia to see rotting wind turbines at our beaches.

They can visit their own failed renewable energy white elephants at home. To make matters worse, our Energy Minister is pitching his vibe to elite activists while refusing to listen to ordinary Australians.

Groups of those aforementioned ordinary Australians are turning to social media in their thousands, particularly Facebook, to vent their frustration and to organise protests. These are farmers, fishers, tourism operators, tradies, surfers – everyday Australians. You might call them the forgotten people. They are slow to move but once motivated, they grow like a snowball.

Today they will gather in the surf near Port Stephens. The protest is called Paddle Out. Like many other groups who do not want to bear the cost of Mr Bowen’s fantasy, the people of Port Stephens have a Facebook group and theirs is a movement we should all support.

Here is my latest article in The Spectator Australia's Flat White, Coastal wind farms: this Sunday, the people say ‘no’ again.

Paddle Out protest against coastal wind farms!

Nobody wants to come to Australia to see rotting wind turbines at our beaches.

Today, Australians will gather in the surf near Port Stephens to protest against Bowen’s environment-ruining wind fantasy.https://t.co/xzY5O7uvzH

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) October 29, 2023

Albo gives EV drivers a free ride

EVs relaxing at Chernobyl

It is no secret that federal fuel excise revenues have been in decline for years, and something needs to be done about it. In fact, along with prominent transport industry experts, we wrote a book about it some five years ago. But the High Court, in a 4/3 split decision, has landed the problem in the Albanese government’s lap. What they do about it will impact us for decades to come.

Here is my latest article in The Spectator Australia's Flat White, Albo gives EV drivers a free ride.

Albo gives EV drivers a free ride

It is no secret that federal fuel excise revenues have been in decline for years, and something needs to be done about it.

How do we make sure EV drivers pay their fair share without a fuel excise?https://t.co/Vn5FbdQ2yX

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) October 26, 2023