Wyperfeld …
Spent a few days at Wyperfeld National Park in north-west Victoria.
It is the eastern fringe of the Big Desert and ranges from dune scrub to mallee with Black Box woodland in the parts that flood (on very rare occasions). There are two main camping areas, Wonga in the south and White Plains in the north. On this occasion I stayed in the south although I had a run up to White Plains to test out the recently acquired short wheelbase Prado on the desert track. It performed beautifully.
Also working as well as expected was the recently acquired Kwik Kampa.
The Pod Trailer is a delight to tow, I had a previous version that went all the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria with us but the first tent design was nowhere near as elegant as the trailer it was mounted on. This version is quick, simple, light and efficient. And Stockman Products are a delight to deal with.
The country was a riot of flower, the mallee sections especially …
The weather was kind and some of the locals were making good use of it …
Highlights of the bird list included good views of Mallee Fowl in the south and Orange Chat and Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo in the north.
And overpriced …
Boats, what boats … ?
Mr Abbott’s new policy of not telling the media about illegal boat arrivals is not a policy I like. It does make it difficult for the interested observer to judge whether Mr Abbott’s key promise is being made good.
On the other hand, when was it the job of government to do the news gathering for the media? There was a time when news reporters went out and gathered it for themselves. There is nothing to stop them putting a reporter on Christmas Island and watching the docks. It’s a job I wouldn’t mind myself, despite the lack of ice-cream.
Auntie …
Like the very wealthy son of a rich family, you don’t learn the value of money.
And our ABC is really very much the same. Time to fix it.
Veggie day …
Meanwhile in Germany …
A dramatic fall in the polls for the Green party has been blamed in no small part on their Veggie Day proposal, in which canteens would be obliged to offer only vegetarian food once a week, with Germans (among the most enthusiastic carnivores in Europe) encouraged to follow suit at home … The Greens have fallen in the polls by between four and five percentage points since August – and a staggering 10 points since 2011. They are now predicted to get just 9%-10% on 22 September.
And the Worst Headline …
A harmless prank …
Dizzying heights …
These Southern Stars do not play soccer …
The hot air buffoon …
Will he make it? It’s a nail biter, a cliff hanger. Latest news is that Mrs Palmer’s little boy (who’d have thought that Mrs Palmer could become pregnant?), who was romping away in the soon to be capital of FNQ, has had his lead slashed to a mere 64 votes.
Clearly, this is the result of a conspiracy, possibly involving the CIA, FBI, AEC, LNP, YMCA, Uncle Tom Cobbly and the CWA.
A recount is a must, we owe it to Australian politics to get this guy over the line. Parliamentary privilege was invented for a man like him. Can you just imagine it?
Canberra here we come …
Shaw thing …
“Victoria Police has charged a 45-year-old Frankston man with 23 charges of obtain financial advantage by deception and one count of misconduct in public office,” Victoria Police spokeswoman Cath Allen said.
“The charges relate to an investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office by a serving member of the Victorian Parliament in 2011.”
Mr Shaw has been summoned to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on 8 October. <HeraldSun>
The parallels between the federal government propped up by the execrable Craig Thomson and the Victorian state government and Mr Shaw are uncanny. The leaders concerned both put their government survival ahead of any thoughts of ethical behaviour, whilst both alleged miscreants will find themselves in court fairly soon.
Mr Shaw has apparently repaid $1250. Which brings us to another interesting parallel …
JULIA Gillard wrote a personal cheque for $4243 to the Department of Finance because her partner, Tim Mathieson, had misused her taxpayer-funded car to drive around Victoria selling shampoo and other haircare products in breach of parliamentary rules.
Documents released to The Australian under Freedom of Information laws yesterday show that Ms Gillard made the payment on March 9, 2007, as deputy leader of the opposition because of concern over a breach of rules forbidding the use of the car for commercial purposes. The documents were provided yesterday after a 10-month battle by the former prime minister and her office to prevent the Department of Finance from following through on its decision to release the material. <TheAustralian>
Can we look forward to Miss Gillard’s appearence on similar charges?
bobmcgee 