Issue 88 20 December, 2016 to 4 February 2017 Letter from CanberrSaving you time for nine years. a When Dacey Rode the Mule BY PATERSON, A. B., 'BANJO' 'Twas to a small, up-country town, When we were boys at school, There came a circus with a clown, Likewise a bucking mule. The clown announced a scheme they had Spectators for to bring — They'd give a crown to any lad Who'd ride him round the ring. The band struck up with “Killaloe”, And, gentle reader, do not scoff And “Rule Britannia, Rule”, Nor think a man a fool — And “Young Man from the Country”, too, To buck a porous-plaster off When Dacey rode the mule. Was pastime to that mule. Then Dacey, in a furious rage, The boys got on; he bucked like sin; For vengeance on the show He threw them in the dirt, Ascended to the monkeys' cage What time the clown would raise a grin And let the monkeys go; By asking, “Are you hurt?” The blue-tailed ape and chimpanzee But Johnny Dacey came one night, He turned abroad to roam; The crack of all the school; Good faith! It was a sight to see The people step for home. Said he, “I'll win the crown all right, The elephant went off his trunk, Bring in your bucking mule.” The monkey played the fool, For big baboons with canine snout And all the band got blazing drunk Are spiteful, as a rule — When Dacey rode the mule. The people didn't sit it out When Dacey rode the mule. But soon there rose a galling shout Of laughter, for the clown And from the beasts that made escape, From somewhere in his pants drew out The bushmen all declare, A little paper crown. Were born some creatures partly ape He placed the crown on Dacey's head And partly native-bear. While Dacey looked a fool; They're rather few and far between, “Now, there's your crown, my lad,” he said, The race is nearly spent; “For riding of the mule!” But some of them may still be seen In Sydney Parliament. Serious Reflection Edition And when those legislators fight, And drink, and act the fool, • Post American Election Just blame it on that torrid night When Dacey rode the mule. • Climate Change • Renewable Energy • Gas production and prices up • Water flow need, and happening In This Issue • Cattle prices good • Agricultural Looking Good. • Sexy Stuff • Free Speech 18 C • Essendon. Watch this Space • New ASIO book Letter From Canberra // Issue 88 Letter from Saving you time for nine years. CanberrA monthly digest of news from around Australia. a Saving you time; now in its ninth year. About Us Contents Affairs of State 43 Richmond Terrace STOP PRESS ...........................................3 Media ....................................................... 9 Richmond, Melbourne, 3000 Victoria, Australia Governance .............................................. 4 IT .............................................................. 9 P 03 9654 1300 [email protected] Party Happenings ................................... 5 Justice ....................................................... 9 www.affairs.com.au Industrial Relations and Employment .. 5 Welfare ....................................................10 Letter From Canberra is a monthly public affairs bulletin, a simple précis, distilling and Business, Economy, Manufacturing, Transport ................................................10 interpreting public policy and government Finance .................................................... 6 decisions, which affect business oppor- Foreign Affairs .......................................10 tunities in Victoria and Australia. Trade .........................................................7 Written for the regular traveller, or people Defence ................................................... 11 with meeting-filled days, it’s more about Tax ............................................................7 business opportunities than politics. Health ..................................................... 11 Climate Change, Environment and Letter from Canberra is independent. It’s not Sports .....................................................12 party political or any other political. It does not Energy ......................................................7 have the imprimatur of government at any level. Society ....................................................12 The only communication tool of its type, Agriculture, Cattle and Water ................ 8 Letter from Canberra keeps subscribers The American Election ...........................14 abreast of recent developments in the policy Mining ..................................................... 9 arena on a local, state and federal level. ABOUT THE EDITOR— ALISTAIR URQUHART, BA LLB Published by A.B Urquhart & Company Alistair Urquhart graduated from the Australian National University in Canberra, in Law, Pty Ltd trading as Affairs of State. History and Politics. He may even hold the record for miles rowed on Lake Burley Griffin. Disclaimer: Material in this publication is He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor to the Supreme Court of Victoria, and remains a (non-prac- general comment and not intended as advice ticing) member of the Law Institute of Victoria. Previously, he graduated from high school in Bethesda, on any particular matter. Professional advice Maryland, and had many opportunities to become aware of the workings of Washington D.C. should to be sought before action is taken. For 30 years, he listened every Sunday evening to the late Alistair Cooke and his Letter from America. Alistair’s Material is complied from various sources early career was mostly in the coal industry, where he became involved with energy, environmental and water including newspaper articles, press releases, gov- issues, and later in the SME finance sector. ernment publications, Hansard, trade journals, etc. He found time to be involved in a range of community activities where he came to understand Copyright: This newsletter is copyright. No part some of the practical aspects of dealing with government and meeting people across the political may be reproduced, stored in or introduced spectrum. He now chairs a large disability employment service, including its British operations. into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission from the publisher. Affairs of State respects your privacy. While we do believe that the information contained in Letter from Canberra will be useful to you, please advise us if you do not wish to receive any further communications from us. Edited words in this edition: 14,210 Staff Editor Alistair Urquhart [email protected] Sub-editor Will Pasznyk [email protected] Design Andrew Morley [email protected] Subscriptions & Advertising Editor having Coffee with Family and French Friends at Barwon Heads Alistair Urquhart, as above. 2 20 December, 2016 to 4 February 2017 We in Australia are starting the Year without An objective discussion on the newer Topic Churchill. Not quite sure where it is going. It of Violence between males and females will is more serious that most people think, if they emerge in the next year or so, unlike the present are Thinking. Turnbull is trying to balance AAA subjective/percentage-oriented bias. In the Conservatives as well as other/normal Liberals meantime down here/there in Victoria, Police conservatives and also some progressives within are about bound so that they can do almost his own Party. Some conservatives are sprinting out nothing to contribute to a civil Society. in the media or some more practically as is Cordi This is and will be a year for serious reflection. Bernardi. Parliamentarians are not alone to blame. If we have a Love for our Australia. People going their own way and leaving EDITORIAL: DEMOCKORY their traditional Party. History is being put STOP PRESS — A WORRYING TIME to the side. As is the future of where energy Bernardi Leaves the Liberal Party to comes from and where much of our food and It has been a busy six weeks since the last edition. form his own conservative Party. technological and manufactured things will As well as Christmas cheer, Friends and Dog come from. Where milk comes from, etc. (Independentish) Senator Hinch has changed walking, your Editor has been reading deeply his mind over Christmas, and supported the and widely, and hopefully wisely. The Media Media. Too much emotion especially about more immediate changes to the Industrial Party has distractingly made the news in this climate change’ and sex. Their subjectivity relations legislation, to give businesses more period very intense, on Issues across the Pacific is locking out objectivity and Facts. ABC 7.30 freedom rather than needing agree to regula- and in the Hills around Canberra. Editor does journalists Leigh Sales and Q&A and Charlie tions which would have benefited Unions. use Australian lighter literature on the pillow Pickering do not have as ideological base, a later in the evening. He found a Banjo Paterson balanced middle of the road approach. The Victorian Branch of the Liberal Party, at least, favourite, which he has put on the Cover. Perhaps will give a priority to One Nation in its next election, A former Archbishop of Canterbury recently it brings together History, Art, Life, Education, as that party now stands for a wider set of values. suggested that progressives protest without care Government, Politics, Parliament, Democracy, for democracy. We have this in Australia. Every President Trump still has not clear regulations Humour, Sadness, Self-Discipline—the new word