Ron Fenton and Andrew Elsbury join me in a discussion on the need for better forest management in Australia, and especially in Victoria.   

To recap from a year ago, the Guardian revealed “The royal commission into the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, which killed 173 people on 7 February 2009, recommended that 5% of Victorian public land be burnt each year. But planned burning in Victoria declined from more than 125,000 hectares in 2016-17 to about 74,000 hectares in 2017-18, the environment department’s annual report shows.”  

This recommendation has been set aside by the State Government of Victoria. The report going into the background in this noted "the 390,000 hectare target may not have been achievable, affordable or sustainable "can be found here - https://www.igem.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/embridge_cache/emshare/original/public/2017/07/57/efb9f25f5/VictorianBushfiresRoyalCommission2015ProgressReport.pdf  

This episode contains material used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015)

Tonight's show once again features Andrew Elsbury and Ron Fenton, as we go over some serious issues with the National Disability Insurance Scheme.  

We discuss flaws in the system, including that over 1200 people have passed away while waiting to go on the system.  

The full Flinders University research paper can be found here -https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/programs-services/for-people-with-disability/national-disability-insurance-scheme/ndis-evaluation-consolidated-report  

This episode contains material used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015)

Tonight we go over the issue of planned burns, and if it is contributing to the fires of today. From the guardian article (below), this means in the last three years of planned burning, it is at a level either equal to or less than the 130,000 hectares the 2009 Royal Commission called inadequate. 1.7% burned at best despite the royal commission flagging the need for 5%.  

Back in 2019, the ABC wrote in an article which warned of a possible problem "I've been begging them [Forest Fire Management Victoria] for 20 years to burn off the state forest at the back of our place and still to this day it hasn't happened, I honestly believe the ferocity of that fire was fuelled by the trash in the bush — I think my place might not have been impacted nearly as much, it would have been much more controllable if there'd been some forest management out there." 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-05/lack-of-backburning-blamed-for-fire-losses-in-gippsland/10869018  

In the same year, the Guardian revealed “The royal commission into the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, which killed 173 people on 7 February 2009, recommended that 5% of Victorian public land be burnt each year. But planned burning in Victoria declined from more than 125,000 hectares in 2016-17 to about 74,000 hectares in 2017-18, the environment department’s annual report shows.” 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/05/victoria-bushfires-fuel-reduction-burns-would-not-have-saved-homes-says-minister  

Have to thank the firefighters all over the country, putting their lives on hold, and at risk, fighting these fires. Lets hope when the dust settles, that governments will learn lessons. For Victoria, that is lessons clearly set out in the 2009 royal commission.    

RECOMMENDATION 56  

The State fund and commit to implementing a long-term program of prescribed burning based on an annual rolling target of 5 per cent minimum of public land.

This episode contains material used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015)

THIS SHOW IS NOT FOR KIDS  

In tonight's show, and again in front of a live studio audience, we go over our top four things that will cause the Marvel Cinematic Universe to decline. With guest's former State MP Andrew Elsbury, and former police officer Ron Fenton.   

In tonight's show, in front of a live studio audience, we go over our top four reasons Victorian Labor is letting our state down. With guest's former State MP Andrew Elsbury, and local community advocate Lisa Heinrichs.   

We often hear people having a go at Government, that they are slow, stupid or both. Well in this show, I go over three recent examples of what I would call Government stupidity.   

Some of these articles come up during the deep dive: 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-1... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGxC7... 

https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__dat... https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-2... 

https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/... 

https://www.aer.gov.au/system/files/s... 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia... 

https://www.google.com/maps/@-37.8133... 

This episode contains material used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015)

Tonight I go over some worrying developments in Australia, including allegations of a Chinese spy effort to install an agent into the Australian parliament. And has money from foreign sources influenced the future of this great land.  

Some exhibits to check out:  

From 2017 "The amount of Australian farm land owned by Chinese interests has surged tenfold in the past year, climbing above 14 million hectares or 2.5 per cent of all agricultural land." - https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/china-now-owns-10-times-the-amount-of-australian-land-it-did-last-year-20170930-gyrxia.html?fbclid=IwAR0PoMsylpDjZXPGe9uUEhV7e4egKLlgN14_SCDF6HE6oJOxZaFgnGPjRRE  

"In 2017, ANZ found foreign buyers owned up to 400,000 Australian homes. Today, Mr Driscoll estimated that figure would be “close to 500,000”. ANZ also estimated foreign investors bought between 30,000 and 50,000 new dwellings in 2015-16. At that rate, Mr Driscoll said it “won’t be too long” before a million homes were in foreign hands" -  https://www.news.com.au/national/fears-one-million-aussie-homes-could-soon-be-owned-by-foreign-buyers/news-story/c50a4112bab4f3ed8fae27277f313f54?fbclid=IwAR2ydtBEr_v1OTmT3-JghX_QcAKx9UczrXGmhBgsENv0VnIkBuvNvZWLaRw  

"A Chinese 'spy' who claimed he was paid $1million to infiltrate Australian politics had been photographed attending a meeting at embattled MP Gladys Liu's home. Photos have emerged showing Bo 'Nick' Zhao at an event for the Victorian Liberal Party's eastern multicultural branch hosted by Ms Liu in Glen Iris in 2016. In both pictures, which had been posted on the group's social media, Zhao is seen sitting and standing directly next to the Chisolm MP.   Zhao, a car dealer who had allegedly claimed communist agents offered him money to run for parliament, was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room in March. " - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7742615/Gladys-Liu-photographed-Chinese-spy-Nick-Zhao-event-home-2016.html  

"The ferrari-driving developer-stroke-consultant has admitted to all sorts, including an elaborate scheme to pay the former mayor of Casey $5000 per month so he could supposedly procure racehorses for wealthy Chinese buyers. And Racing Minister Martin Pakula, while serving as attorney-general, accepted a political donation from Woodman last year, according the evidence, although Pakula disputes the amount. The IBAC inquiry has heard that the campaigns of Pakula’s Labor colleagues Deputy Premier James Merlino, Children’s Minister Luke Donellan, Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards, Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas, Carrum MP Sonja Kilkenny, Ringwood MP Duncan Halse and defeated Ferntree Gully candidate Julie Buxton all benefited from a total of nearly $160,000 in donations to Labor." - https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/seven-labor-candidates-took-donations-from-a-man-who-d-been-front-page-news-had-they-never-heard-of-google-20191126-p53ed2.html  

This episode contains material used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015)

The pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have taken a quite deadly turn. In this episode, I use material from on the ground, as well as local reports, to highlight what is happening now. 

NOTE THAT THIS IS GRAPHIC IN NATURE.  

According to the Epoch Times, "According to various media reports, since the protests began in June, the number of reported suicide cases have soared. In the two months following June 12, the number of suicide cases reported was about 10 people in every ten-day period. Then, from Aug. 21 to Aug. 31, the number suddenly rose to 18. And in the following ten days, the number jumped to 49. So far, the total number has exceeded 100, and many of the victims were young protesters, according to various media reports. Needless to say, this is extremely abnormal."  

The protests are in response to a bill to allow Hong Kong extradite criminal fugitives to Taiwan and Mainland China. This bill is in response to Hong Konger Chan Tong-kai's murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Poon Hiu-wing while they visited Taiwan. As there is no extradition treaty with Taiwan, the Hong Kong government proposed an amendment to create a mechanism for case-by-case transfers of fugitives.  

But many Hong Kong residents saw that as an overreach, weakening Hong Kong's ability to self govern.  

To see more of what is happening on the streets of Hong Kong for yourself, the KBS documentary can be found here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DynNx8Yd8tU&t=7s  

The full Epoch times article can be found here - https://www.theepochtimes.com/high-suicide-rate-of-hong-kong-protesters-points-to-chinese-regime_3116492.html  

USA passes law backing Hong Kong - https://www.sbs.com.au/news/donald-trump-approves-legislation-backing-hong-kong-s-protesters  

If you want to read the about the murder that sparked this - https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/23/asia/hong-kong-taiwan-murder-intl-hnk/index.html   This episode contains material used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015)

Charlies Angels, Terminator Dark Fate, both went woke, went broke. There was a long list of these in 2019. With Millions lost across the studios. Agenda, as opposed to fun, is ruining entertainment.

To see the results yourself, check out Box Office Mojo for the two I discuss