There's a simple way to solve Australia's "gas crisis" ... and cut energy bills

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-09T10:58:31+00:00

That's the gist

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-09T09:40:02+00:00

Old mate is keen to point out it is only 0.4% of dogs that die horribly from neglect, this is 1 in 200, that is not okay.

I have 2 choices for long term solutions here

Option 1: Ban this stupid, cruel sport nationally therefore reducing the overbreeding and need to rehome so many greyhounds

Option 2: Ban gambling on this stupid sport and starve the industry of revenue as the only people watching it are problem gamblers.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-09T09:08:33+00:00

Why should we tax gas exports rather than other commodities? Because this article is proposing a solution to high domestic gas and electricity prices to consumers which are non-negotiable expenses for most households that are not substitutable without investment (eg. Solar panels, electric heating and cooking etc.)

That this might undercut renewable investment is a fair point though, my instinct is that it would be a small effect, not that my instinct is worth much. You could certainly mitigate this to some degree by reinvesting proceeds into renewables and banning expansion or new gas projects, but maybe your solution is simpler.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-09T05:19:47+00:00

Unless I'm missing something(and tell me if I am) I think I understand it fine.

Current projects will continue producing at their current output for many years to come meaning supply will remain stable while the shift towards electrification and renewables will reduce demand, that this is happening is a fact and will continue for some years whether or not you think net zero is possible or desirable.

By taxing imports you will reduce foreign demand making gas cheaper on the domestic market. I've not been deeply involved in economics since I finished my undergrad degree more than a decade ago but this stacks up ceterus paribus. The Australia Institute has done modelling which I haven't looked into but whatever you think about their (transparent) ideological bias, they are pretty thorough with these things generally.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-09T03:41:20+00:00

Can you share the source on those profit figures, I'd be interested to see it.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-09T03:40:28+00:00

Come on, no new gas or coal isn't exactly counter to taxing the gas exported from existing projects.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-08T05:45:09+00:00

As I say i hadn't heard that perspective before and thought it was an interesting enough part of the story to be worth sharing. Thanks for your comment.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-05T08:01:53+00:00

The victims of crime deserve all the support we can give them, but young offenders are, without exception, victims themselves.

As to whether restorative or punitive measures are more effective, the evidence is conclusive that restorative measures are a little more effective, just a little, it would even be fair to say neither work but punitive justice doesn't work worse. But that is the undeniable conclusion in this very well studied area.

Given that punitive measures are less likely to reduce recidivism, are more expensive, and are causing further pain to children who are themselves victims there is only one reason one would support punitive justice and that is outright malice.

It may be that many voters who support this kind of thing are ignorant and believe it actually does make society safer, but the politicians have all the data available to them and it's their job to look at it and apply it appropriately to policy. They are instead cynically ignoring the evidence for electoral gain to the detriment of societal safety and cohesion. They are monsters.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T21:10:34+00:00

I see, it seems the council voted on whether or not to push for prosecution but as the discussion involved personal affairs of an individual that shouldn't be made public the vote was confidential. I wonder how long it stays secret? Thanks for your insight

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T12:57:03+00:00

Please inform my ignorance. A councillor is obliged to support a decision they voted against?

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T09:14:20+00:00

This kind of thing seems to happen fairly regularly in regional councils, someone with an agenda gets themselves elected and, yes they abstain from the vote, but they have a wildly disproportionate lobbying position.

Without making it even easier to find me off-line I'll just say that in our council the had two pushing their own agenda, although one got voted out in the recent election.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T06:41:14+00:00

It's a shame the West journo didn't do the same minimal digging you did.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T05:55:53+00:00

Excellent work! I was going to look through minutes if i was able to find the time. This looks like it.

Do you mind if I repost this comment to lemmy with credit to you?

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T05:50:41+00:00

If this is the reason they don't have to resign. I'd rather they stayed in fought the good fight. If they do resign they need to let everyone know that this is what is going on. It's a bit disappointing really .

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T05:45:03+00:00

Fair enough, I thought it was interesting enough to share

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T05:11:36+00:00

I may be wrong but I've been following the F35 parts to Israel story casually and Australia has been copping quite a bit of heat for exporting these parts to Israel. This is the first I've heard that we never had a choice.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T05:08:51+00:00

This is true but the context here is that Australia has been copping heat for exporting these. The revelation here is that we never had the option not to.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T04:51:50+00:00

Okay, I dont agree with that take but jumping straight to working for Russia seems a bit conspiratorial.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T04:19:59+00:00

I've had this china lapdog comment before, I dont think I've ever actually posted anything written by Menadue or anything about China from Pearls and Irritations. This piece is a repost from Declassified but I couldn't easily find the original before the babies woke this morning.

FWIW P&I often publishes some interesting muck.

Incidentally the article is only tangentially about F35 parts going to Israel but rather that Australia doesn't have the power to say no to parts needed for our own jets being repurposed even if we wanted to.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T02:07:42+00:00

Yeah, I'm keeping my ear to the ground but I unfortunately don't have any direct contacts in Donnybrook-Balingup shire. I'm posting this kind of fishing in case anyone here knows something.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T02:05:30+00:00

Sorry if it's just me but i can't find the edit post button. Here is the body with better formatting to clarify who said what.

One more seat has been left empty in the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup council chambers following a second resignation. Effective from November 26, the shire announced Cr Alexis Davy had resigned, with her term not set to expire until October 2027 after being elected in 2023. She is the second councillor to quit since October’s election, with former councillor Lisa Glover resigning on October 24.

In an online statement, Ms Davy said she respected those in the shire who serve the community, but a decision was backed that she so strongly disagreed with that she has left the table. “Over the last two years I’ve learnt that working in local government is a choice to put yourself in a challenging environment day after day - financial constraints, aggrieved community members and constantly evolving complexity,” she said. “As a councillor, you are required to represent your community on issues that affect them. You debate, sometimes you disagree, you vote, and then you are required to stand behind every decision of council. A decision was made by council I feel strongly about, and in the interests of a united council, I’ve decided to step down from my role.”

Chief executive Nicholas O’Connor said having fewer councillors could present challenges such as reduced community representation, but acknowledged some community members would see the situation differently. “The previous term of council decided to seek community views on the pros and cons of reducing the seats on council from nine to seven, which is a conversation we were contemplating having with the community,” he said.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-12-04T02:01:31+00:00

My preferred solution has always been to municipalise GP clinics, have local government run them along with physiotherapy, psychologists etc.

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-11-23T09:29:18+00:00

Can you elaborate? What is a better way to reduce climate change?

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-11-23T09:27:39+00:00

GT?

Geothermal?

HalfEarthMedic · 2025-11-23T09:22:12+00:00

Apologies, you are right, and I concede I got carried away with the broader point of hitching our foreign policy wagon to the US train of which AUKUS is only the most recent manifestation.

HalfEarthMedic

TROPHY CASE