Firstly, I was pleased to see the federal government announce it was buying some 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles (range 1,500 kilometres). For maximum effectiveness, it does need to put them on our six Collins Class submarines and not just on our three Air Warfare destroyers. It was also good to see AUKUS get up at the ALP Conference.
Closer to home I was very concerned to hear from some local Labor party rank and file members that despite the efforts of the Gungahlin Branch in passing a motion to have the ACT government conduct an independent review of the kangaroo cull, and then have 268 out of the 270 delegates at the ALP’s ACT conference back that motion, nothing has happened. I’m told, allegedly, it has been stymied by the Chief Minister’s office. I can’t see why Andrew Barr would not bow to the wishes of his rank and file and have an independent review. What could he lose by doing so?
I’m advised that the methodology to estimate the number of roos in Canberra is flawed. It overestimates the number by at least 30 per cent and doesn’t take into account the devastating effects of the Black Summer bushfires that destroyed 80 per cent of their habitat in Namadgi National Park. Apparently the “culling calculator” is used to determine the number of roos and it’s about as reliable as the robodebt algorithm.
It also seems the government ignores the fact that roos seem to keep weeds under control. My ALP sources tell me that more roos would probably have helped keep down the infestation of St John’s Wort (that dreadful prolific yellow weed). An example of this is Farrer Ridge where nearly all the roos were shot and the weeds then proliferated as a result.
The picture my ALP mates portrayed was one of an arrogant CM, who everyone in the party is afraid of crossing. If you are in power for too long, hubris and a dictatorial attitude can creep in. It seems the robust internal debate the ALP used to be famous for is missing now in the ACT.
That’s not good. I can recall in about 1998 our then CM Kate Carnell saying to the Liberal party room we should all agree with her on something as she was the best thing going for us. While she was probably right there, we all dismissed it with a “don’t be silly, Kate, no one is indispensable” – and she pulled her head in. I can also recall her sensibly saying that she would not be around forever.
I detect the population is tiring of Andrew Barr, but whether that’s enough for him to be voted out, or his party tapping him on the shoulder, is unlikely. I would, however, call on him to have an independent kangaroo cull review and think seriously about handing over the reins to someone else. Even the best politicians can stay too long – just look at the redoubtable Maggie Thatcher.
Editor’s note: Editor’s note: Bill Stefaniak is founder of the Belco Party and former Canberra Liberals MLA.
