They used to have Lang Hancock on speed dial re 'CounterTrade' but I think the bugger went to hell before mobile phones came along

It’s time to reset the NDIS to ensure it is there for those who need it the most | Martin Laverty Mark Butler’s proposed plan offers a significant opportunity to redefine the scheme for people with permanent and significant disabilities

A very cogent synopsis of the NDIS changes and the reasoning behind them (in my non-expert opinion)

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Seven network tilting at windmills?

Excellent work Graham, as usual, thanks. Shameful work by Bartlett, as usual

Coalition launches One Nation attack ads via obscure Facebook accounts ahead of Farrer byelection Liberals create negative ad campaign ahead of 9 May poll that includes a page called ‘One Nation. No Solutions’

Siri. Show me a definition of 'having an each-way-bet'

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Ray, you know I like to nitpick. As of today, 20 days after the end of Mar2026, I'd reckon @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social is close enough to be entitled to use the word "around" before 15M litres

KAKISTOCRACY, the new word in my vocabulary today thanks to the cryptic crossword in The Guardian, is "a system of government led by the least qualified, most incompetent or most unscrupulous citizens"

Kakistocrary was used to describe the Trump 1.0 regime a few times. Just as apt for Trump 2.0

Go the NAVY BLUE (and a touch of red)

Thank you to them and to you Adam. I read it carefully, shared it and sent comments to Chris Bowen

The safeguard mechanism has a long way to go if it is to play its part in achieving the national targets for greenhouse gas emissions. Practice needs to better reflect the principles of the mechanism

It would be disappointing if the real data doesn't improve by next year @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social

Australia’s coalmine emissions are increasing. Is this how a major policy to cut climate pollution is meant to work? The Albanese government overhauled policy and promised significant pollution cuts – but carbon offsets are still being used as an excuse

" ... large decarbonisation initiatives were yet to be adopted ... under the safeguard due to the long lead time and high cost of clean solutions in some industries ... (that could) change ... as off-grid mines invest in renewable energy and electric machinery.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

I thought hell would freeze over before I agreed with the pope. But in a world riven by cruelty, that day has finally come | Rebecca Shaw It’s a relief to see the pontiff decrying brutality, because it seems most current world leaders lack the necessary spine

Much to appreciate, enjoy and reflect on in this piece by Sydney writer Rebecca Shaw

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

"(The Age/SMH) has learned ... that Labor was working with the states to turbo-charge the rollout of electric trucks by changing road standards to allow for more new-age vehicles, which are wider and heavier than normal trucks."

FYI @adammorton.bsky.social

Since when do we judge our government's pro-cleantech work by how many announcements it makes?

I rate the actual work being done by @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social in this space highly, despite non-stop resistance from the opposition, the fossil-fuel industry and, lately, the QLD gov't. Progress is real

Politicians and media can’t imagine a fossil-fuel free world - and it’s holding Australians back from huge EV savings | Adam Morton Australia is well behind other countries in embracing clean cars – it’s past time we kicked into gear on going electric

I got more value from the piece below by Adam Morton. Adam got down to tin tacks, with numbers and specific regulatory measures

"Accelerate renewables ... deployment". How would you achieve that, given all the planning boxes to be ticked from start to finish

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Sorry for shouting at you Ray

I'll read the article you and Peter wrote

Going to the museum at Naracoorte Caves later this year. I wonder if I'll see more about the giant echidna

Ray, please, are you actually listening to what @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social is saying?

What a dame!

Free public transport in Victoria - trains and trams packed, including regional rail services to all six terminii

I don't fully agree with the two Profs. In this case, I prefer the message from @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social - "the Government is working to BOTH get the country through this short-term crisis AND drive the clean energy transition to reduce our reliance on petroleum products"

In his dreams, he's still our PM and he will declare war on Hungary and send in our troops to give them a purpose in life

ABC fans in the majority. Many Pies supporters turned back at Bordertown Passport Control gate

Maybe Mrs Trump is keen to differentiate herself from Mr Trump

But who cares? Not this little black duck!

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Certainly doesn't help the quest to reduce the level of anti-semitism in Australia

Just reward for care and patience

Carlton never loses another match

You've said similar things before Jonathan

I'm a lifetime Essendon fan and my wife leans towards the Cats out of loyalty to her late father. We decided a few years ago to stop watching football matches that were devoid of watch-ability - which now constitutes a majority of games - that works for us

Based on recent interactions between Trump and its PM, as well as being a disinterested party re all the historical and current hatreds and blood-lusts that infect the Middle East, I nominate Japan

As I was saying but not as well as Jonathan Horn says it here

@greenj.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/a...

Don't you just love it when a one-factor crisis morphs into multiple opportunities?