The battle continues for Peter Ridd.
James Cook Uni lost every single point against Peter Ridd. Today at the penalty hearing we find out they plan to appeal.
The fake fish uni has learnt nothing:
Charlie Peel, The Australian
James Cook University risks contempt rap for response to verdict
James Cook University is poised to appeal against the Federal Court finding that its sacking of physics professor Peter Ridd was unlawful.
JCU’s response was so far from the mark, apparently Justice Vasta is considering whether to refer it to the Federal Court Marshall. Vasta said the statement attributed to Chris Cocklin of JCU was “almost contemptuous”.
The IPA, bless them, filed an FOI to find out how much money was burnt in the quest, and says it’s high time JCU stops:
Gideon Rozner: The details of a freedom of information request lodged by the Institute of Public Affairs with James Cook University and released today reveal the University has already spent at least $630,000 on legal fees in the Dr Peter Ridd case.
“The very fact that an Australian university is willing to force the weight of an entire administration backed by taxpayer funds to stifle an academic’s freedom of speech sends a massive chilling effect to any academic engaging in public debate in Australia,” said IPA Director of Policy, Gideon Rozner.
“James Cook University’s shameful actions prove without doubt there is a crisis of free speech at Australian Universities.
“It is staggering to think that after the Federal Circuit Court ruled on every point in Dr Ridd’s favour, JCU is contemplating an appeal.
“Australian universities receive billions of dollars in taxpayer funding for the purpose of free intellectual inquiry. Now JCU wants to go to a higher court to prove it can shut down the freedom of speech on academic issue by one of its professors. It is outrageous. Taxpayers fund JCU to do education and research, not engage in vexatious litigation against its own staff.
It’s easy to stop JCU from behaving like this
Education Minister Dan Tehan or PM Scott Morrison could fix this in five minutes. All they have to do is tell JCU they’ll get no more grant money until the institute guarantees free speech and shows accountability for the people who flagrantly wasted over half a million dollars.
JCU grant money is better spent elsewhere. All the research they produce is now tainted and effectively worthless– no matter what any Professor says, everyone knows they are not free to criticize other staff, or procedures, or point out flaws. They’re scared to use their email addresses. We’ll never know what any JCU researcher is holding back.
JCU is the text-book example of what happens when government funding strangles science. The people in charge of JCU’s “science” department — deciding what “the consensus will be” are the administrators, not the academics.
This is not a one off. JCU has a pattern of evicting, blackbanning, and ousting people who disagree with the bureaucrats pet fashions (vale, Bob Carter!). In this culture, more funding means more strangling. So just stop.
h/t Jennifer Marohasy.
The Peter Ridd story:
- Prof Peter Ridd says the Great Barrier Reef recovers, our science institutions are failing us.
- Professor Peter Ridd is facing misconduct charges for not selling peer review as sacred?
- JCU bans Prof Peter Ridd from criticizing scientific institutions. Defiant, he refuses, fights on!
- Professor Peter Ridd sacked: James Cook Uni goes nuclear on free speech:
- Don Aitken tells it: Peter Ridd was sacked because he threatened the Money Making Engine at Uni
- Staff at JCU are too scared to use their uni email – this is what “academic freedom” looks like?
- Fake science on fake fish from James Cook Uni?
- Peter Ridd’s Court Case — Free Speech versus James Cook Uni.
- Peter Ridd: The Great Barrier Reef has about the same amount of coral as in 1985
As Australian universities become unsafe for conservatives to merely present their views, and academics swing further to the left, indoctrinating the next generation of overqualified baristas, we watch our tertiary institutions slide down the international rankings, and no one seems to care.
This is something that the ABC could certainly investigate, to identify how left leaning bias destroys debate, stifles freedom of speech, fails to deliver a quality product for Australians, and is therefore a total waste of government funding. Recommendations to reduce government waste, and funding, would be sure to follow. Come on, our ABC!
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Ah, come on Pauly,
The left-leaning ABC investigate the left-leaning universities!!?? You’ve gotta be joking.
I prefer Jo’s solution. Just cut their funding. Now.
Cheers
Dave B
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Give them a free market to operate in.
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Peter Ridd’s own thoughts on the situation cited in Whats Up With That article:
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/07/19/jcu-tries-patience-of-judge-at-peter-ridd-firing-penalty-hearing-doesnt-go-well/
Comments also very good.
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Just a sample of the great clear-thinking comments.
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Not quite right. Top management should be sacked for using public funds to pursue their own prejudices, biases and opinions rather than working for the good of the institution.
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In one sense this post is uplifting.
At least the summary comment by the officer of the Court seems to be saying “The buck stops here”, put an end to this, turn around and make amends.
Sadly this approach is atypical of what would be the norm in modern Australia but it only takes one voice of reason to begin change.
There are Many good and decent people in Australian universities who deserve better than the type of mindset in management that has created this conflict.
Through all levels of government, through all our public institutions there is a need for change, serious change and in providing leadership in that I applaud Peter Ridd and the judge who presided over the case.
It seems that there are now two Australians who have broken out into the sunlight.
KK
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‘There are many good and decent people in Australian universities who deserve better’
Almost.
There are many good and decent cowards in Australian universities who deserve better
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Like in the Truman show, when the beautiful actress-extra wearing a “How’s it going to end?” badge wanders onto, and is forcibly removed from the set, is it the truth of the whole situation which sets us free.
“The Global Warming Show” was never actually about saving the planet.
It’s all about dictatorial control over everything…and no doubt, it was good for the JCU “Christof” bureau in the issue to watch how the fear they created caused money to pour into their wallets.
But to accomplish this, they have to fabricate a fake world where no opposition exists.
How’s it going to end?
Ultimately, it is the truth found in the reports from skeptic climate scientists that will set us free to know with certainty that there’s nothing to fear after all about this issue, whereupon we can hold the people behind this fake issue and the complicit news media accountable for their lies and deceit.
h/t-paraphrased from this: The Global Warming Show — how’s it going to end?
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/07/the_global_warming_show__hows_it_going_to_end.html
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Always remember KISS –
“Keep it simple stupid”.
This is a corrupt university admin in Australia.
That believes it has the right to be corrupt.
Disabusing these idiots of that is the aim.
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As need Scully and Mulder!
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TTJ #3, I had replied earlier but for some inexplicable reason the reply simply vanished after posting.
Like most shows that end, the theatre goes dark and another ritzy shiny show captures the lights down the road. Only this time, the sane should be forewarned and en garde when it comes to new ritzy shiny shows down the road that hijack freedom, prosperity and hope in the name of power and control. Indeed, any Trojan horse of the Left should be easy to spot and disembowel or eviscerate, merely as passing entertainment or banal amusement. The Left is so revealingly fragile, delicate and easy to shatter into rainbow coloured shards of navel gazing, triggered narcissistic pathology.
But on a bright note, akin to the positive nature of this thread, the unsettled science of the settled politics takes another delicious bite out of the rainbow splintered buttocks of the corporatist globalist Left:
Finnish Scientists: Effect of human activity on climate change insignificant
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BHP is diving noticeably into the Global Warming trade.
This can be attributed to Al Gore’s “protection” of the RET via his proxy in our government the PUP. That RET has built the trade to a level that BHP can’t ignore.
BHP has made its prediction of the future of trading and is acting on that prediction. This is representative of a large part of the current business environment.
Shareholders should raise questions at coming AGMs.
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Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of U.N.’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, admitted that the goal of environmental activists is not to save the world from ecological calamity, but to destroy capitalism. “This is the first time in the history of mankind that we are setting ourselves the task of intentionally, within a defined period of time, to change the economic development model that has been reigning for at least 150 years, since the Industrial Revolution,” she said
. Referring to a new international treaty environmentalists hope will be adopted at the Paris climate change conference later this year, she added: “This is probably the most difficult task we have ever given ourselves, which is to intentionally transform the economic development model for the first time in human history.”
Ottmar Edenhoffer, one of the co-chairs of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said in an interview with German NZZ Online,“One must say clearly that we redistribute defacto the world’s wealth by climate policy. One has to free oneself from the illusion that international climate policy is environmental policy.”
In the light of this revelation,you would think that OUR BETTERS would be going after the”Global Warming”scammers.Why are they not??????
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Stop funding such a university. It is a prime example of the necessity of stopping feeding them. A decade without public funding is inadequate punishment for what they have done.
Run the institution based upon voluntary private sourced tuition only. Either that or turn it into a facility for the treatment of the criminally insane. Stop the pretense that it’s purpose is education and scientific research.
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That’s the way! This government must tell JCU to stop this waste – if not funding will be curtailed or withheld.The university council and the VC should be sacked.
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A strange response, make everything right wing and ban all dissent, or we cut your funding?
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Morning sir ….
JCU needs to be brought back to the centre or lose their funding.
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Who determines the centre? What you are saying is that unless you conform to a particular view, the definition of which is uncontestable, you will lose funding. Can you or I define such a standard?
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“Who determines the centre?”
Look FAR, FAR to your right, PF.
See that little dot in the distance.
THAT is the centre. !!
As I said.. you haven’t got the vaguest clue what a “balanced” viewpoint is.
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‘Can you or I define such a standard?’
Freedom to speak and say the data is dodgy must be a prerequisite.
Peter Ridd should get his job back and be able to state that coral bleaching is not caused by industrial CO2.
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Peter Ridd has now indicated that he is not seeking reinstatement.
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OK thanks.
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Who chooses? The individual for himself, by himself,and for himself. The fact that you don’t agree, object, and are offended by his choice is irrelevant to its correctness.
Freedom, Liberty, ans Self Ownership is NOT optional. That is if you want to live. The arrogance that you can simply assert what is that is totally counter to what is and that you have a RIGHT to force that upon those who don’t agree is absurd to the max. Such is not Truth even if it accidentally happens to be true. Each has the right to live his OWN life without coercion from others.
Truth is not optional and not a simple matter of “agreement” among like minded people no matter how numerous. Truth must be discovered and PROVEN. A single individual can know what is true even if it is counter to the belief/faith/convictions of everyone else on earth.
The central fact of reality that to live REQUIRES one to think/choose/act consistently with what is. To do otherwise is the path to death.
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Fitzy, we don’t care about any particular view, whether it be left, right or centre. Whether it be Peter Ridd or Joe Bloggs. What we care about is freedom to express that view. This is freedom of speech, which of course equals freedom of thought. That’s what we all want. I think you understand this well enough, but you just can’t help yourself and you just want a little argument. Am I correct? No hard feelings I trust.
Regards GeoffW
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I’ll cheerfully do that!
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Poor PF, knows NOTHING of balance or responsible behaviour.
A TRUE leftist.
I hope this funding to defend their intolerance isn’t coming from CUTTING other parts of their budget..
… you know, like TEACHING and RESEARCH.
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So Peter you support more funding going towards an appeal, when the Court ruled in favour of Peter Ridd on ALL counts bought against him?
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No, I’m against all attempts to threaten and bully the university by cutting funding.
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JCU is corrupt
It is not worthy of any public funding !
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Like the Banks? Like the restaurant owners and their workers? Like the insurance industry? Like mortgage brokers? Are you saying the entire university is corrupt?
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“Are you saying the entire university is corrupt?”
Certainly the administration that is pushing this free speech HATRED, is corrupted, to the core.
We know that, because YOU are trying to defend them.
Have you notice that about yourself… ALWAYS defending leftist corruption!
Now why would that be 😉
“Like the Banks? Like the restaurant owners and their workers? Like the insurance industry? Like mortgage brokers?”
Now, which one of the things you just mentioned has Federal funding and is therefore MEANT to be “balanced” and “apolitical”, and not meant to WASTE OUR MONEY on frivolous totalitarian leftist agendas.
You are creating strawmen and red herrings again, in you FAILED attempt to justify the unjustifiable.
Poor PF.
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Why not stay on topic Peter
If you wish to heard ?
If you wish to really engage in this conversation ?
We know the JCU admin is corrupt
From it’s behaviour towards it’s academic staff.
In fact as someone else pointed out it’s
now removed the ‘EBA clause’
Which places them in violation of the Higher Education Standards Framework” s
Set by the Federal government.
That framework is the law Peter..
Surely you uphold the law ?
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“Surely you uphold the law ?”
Unless it goes against his little AGW agenda.
Its called HYPOCRISY, and PF reeks of it, always.
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‘Are you saying the entire university is corrupt?’
Academia has steadily moved in that direction through a corrupted peer review.
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Remind us Peter, who funds the public sector and who funds the private sector?
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I agree that Peter Ridd, and his IPA supporters have the right to free speech. What I’m against is the bullying and intimidation implicit in the threat to defund the institution, which was what I was talking about at the start of this comment. The point I’m making (and which you are all ignoring) is that using that threat, you are no better than the people who first started this bunfight. If you want freedom, it has to be for everyone, not just those who pass your selection criteria, and have demonstrated correct thought.
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They obviously have more of OUR taxation dollars than they need for their purpose of TEACHING and RESEARCH.
A LOT more.
So much more that they can afford to WASTE it on the leftist totalitarian agenda.
Therefore there can be no logical argument against decreasing their Federal funding.
They also MUST abide by Federal law and ethical practices if they expect to have continued Federal funding.
They ARE NOT abiding by either.
But you don’t comprehend “logic” or “laws” or “ethics”, do you PF,
… just leftist SJW “feelings”
And you are correct, you have got to the stage where everybody just ignores what you are saying, except to counter your leftist ravings.
You have nothing of an ethical, scientific or moral nature to contribute to any discussion. You are bereft.
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“If you want freedom, it has to be for everyone”
They can SAY what they like (within the judicial allowances of contempt, which they are very close to treading over), but they SHOULD NOT be using taxpayer funding to further their ATTACK on freedom of speech.
Wouldn’t you agree, PF !
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“the bullying and intimidation implicit “
… in using TAXPAYER FUNDING to attack freedom of speech.
Stop trying to SQUIRM your way around the facts, PF.
You are only making a FOOL of yourself.
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‘What I’m against is the bullying and intimidation …’
Luv the irony.
‘ … using that threat, you are no better than the people who first started this bunfight.’
They are only words comrade, Morrison won’t get involved. Any thoughts on Peter Ridd’s future employment opportunities?
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Mr Ridd, if he has one or more of these 3 attributes, many post grads, high number of published papers, ability to attract funding, will not find it hard to continue his career. He has in 19 years managed 70 odd publications (all with co-authors), no info on the number of post grads, and also none for any research funding.
I would suggest that if the original court ruling is upheld, there would be a very good case for damages, given the hurt his career has suffered.
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Peter is calling it Adani 2, possibly a Queensland agricultural consortium could fund a fight back on misinformation. The GBR is healthy so the tourists can return, and the farmers and graziers have no negative impact on the GBR.
Adani could use his expertise.
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Peter,
Don’t you know yet that everything outside of the denier bowl is corrupted ?.
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JCU obviously have OUR taxpayer funds to WASTE on frivolous LEFTIST causes like the suppression of free speech.
They should at the very least have the amount WASTED on this HATRED of free-speech deducted from their Federal funding on a PA basis.
Wouldn’t you agree, little PF. !
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Free Speech? are you saying that Free Speech is only what you say it is?
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Poor SJW petal. Does not even know what free speech is. !!
You are a SAD case of empty, PF.
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Interesting to note that you don’t think Peter Ridd should have been allowed to point out obvious scientific malpractice.
Gotta keep all that leftist AGW hype and LIES hidden, right PF. 😉
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‘… are you saying that Free Speech is only what you say it is?’
In those hallowed halls the academics should have the freedom to express a contrarian view. Even if its heretical, like coral bleaching is caused by a drop in sea level.
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Free speech is exactly how it sounds, paying someone to suppress it using my tax dollars isn’t.
If they fund the University entirely on their dime then they can spout all the Communist bullsh$t they want.
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Yet the bulk of the funding is called public funding: taxes taken by force from those who produced the values taken. So you are claiming the right to take by force funds that are used to silence the voice of your critics.
You, PF, are nothing but a common back alley thug trying to fake that you are oh so virtuous. In fact, you are lower than that thug. At least he places his life on the line to take what he wants. You, on the other hand, want the government to take what you want and to put it to use for ends not agreed to by your victims. That makes you the lowest of the low in that you are thug by proxy and pretend that makes your theft proper and moral.
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But Fitzy, who’s bullying who?!
GeoffW
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I suspect that being ordered not to speak to your wife about being investigated and reprimanded and eventually being sacked, does not count as JCU bullying Peter Ridd, in Peter’s mind.
Now that is an indication of a very closed biased mind unable to see another’s perspective.
But hey ho, with that type of mind, he would be excellent for ‘appointment’ by the Green Labor alliance to the Fair Work Commission. Or to the Federal court in place of Judge Vasta !
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Peter, the strange response is yours.
Via the comments here, I don’t see widespread support to “make everything right wing and ban all dissent”. Far from it. I think the vast majority of people welcome opinions from others, whatever their political views, and it looks to me like few if any mind to be challenged and even argued with.
if the blog host, and commenters here wanted only to see their own viewpoints parroted back at them, then how is it that you are still able to post? Have you stopped to consider the facts looming large before you?
The ability for any academic to be able to speak their mind is what seems to be in demand. If we cannot have a relatively free exchange of views at universities, and other places of research and learning, then where can we expect to have them?
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Right on James.Civil discourse with the ability to consider each argument in turn. Rarely are there absolutes.
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PF:
I assume that if you had been present in 1854 after the Light Brigade had suffered 50% casualties in a futile charge, that you would have been urging another charge.
Bear in mind Lord Raglan’s words to L. Cardogan after the event were “What the devil do you mean, by charging entrenched infantry without support, contrary to all the usages of war?” Of course, Cardogan had no idea (being quite incompetent) and no answer. He departed to his private yacht for a hot bath and champagne leaving his troops to a choice of starving or freezing to death.
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You continue to amaze, the judge at the trial says Peter, and the government of Queensland should say to the university, settle, if you continue to waste our money on flogging this dead horse then you are fired. It’s not about ideology, it’s about wasting public money on an unwinable ideological battle that they comprehensively lost 17 times already. Only one of Ridds 17 arguments has to stand for him to win and last time he won all 17.
This is a lost cause and we the public should not be funding it. Let the VC personally pay, like Ridd has to.
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But Bobl, nothing was lost — that was obviously a fake judgement (17 times) from a fake court using a fake judge. Of Course it’s got to be appealed — there’s no doubt about it. We, the University Departmental Administrators, are Always Right. We dismissed him, according to The Rules, see there? Dated yesterday. so dismissed he shall stay.
Here’s the form — See? As prescribed by our Rules, and designed yesterday, it’s all filled in correctly. There’s his name with no spelling mistakes. All the `i’s are crossed and all the `t’s are dotted. Therefore, it is correctly filled in, all according to The Rules.
So he’s gone and stays gone. We Say So. No fake judge in a fake court can say “Nay!”
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Where is anybody saying that? And in what way is coral bleaching Left or Right?
This is SCIENCE. You say what you think the evidence shows. It is the solutions that are Left and Right, not the science.
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“Education Minister Dan Tehan or PM Scott Morrison could fix this in five minutes. All they have to do is tell JCU they’ll get no more grant money until the institute guarantees free speech and shows accountability for the people who flagrantly wasted over half a million dollars”.
We are only in this situation because of the complete cowardice of conservative politicians. Why would you expect them to step up now?
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The problem with that is that there is no politician with big enough balls to do what is necessary, therefor it will be the normal SNAFU.
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Queensland has a Public sector Ethics Act which applies to all Qld Universities (in regulations) also also to contractors to the Public sector (including the Universities). JCU and its lawyers have breached sections of this Act. The Qld. State Government could charge various persons in the administration and the lawyers (who should lose their registration). The Qld. Government could put in an Administrator as they have with some local government councils. However, the present Labor government is unlikely to do anything because they also have an agenda to curb free speech, support global socialism and denigrate those do not agree with their agenda. This could change next year when Queenslanders vote in local government and the state government elections.
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The institutional Left is so used to getting its way that the arrogance and power on display is as mundane as it is breathtaking. Many will realise this is quite in keeping with historical precedents. Make no mistake, the JCU administration is a totalitarian canary, now trapped in the limelight. It cannot back down. To do so is such a damning indictment and admission their resignations en masse would be required, nay, demanded and insisted upon. We all recognise that the ideological infestation at JCU exemplifies on a smaller scale what large corporations, bureaucracies, governments, state funded broadcasters and the MSM, and the UN have been insidiously undertaking for decades. The intentionally malevolent corporatist globalist ideologues of the deep State, funded by Soros et al., the Search Engine Manipulation Effect at the Goolag (Epstein et al. PNAS 2015) and the crowds of paid, unwitting useful idiots in a multiplicity of domains, all actively eroding freedoms, destroying education, tampering, adjusting and losing data, crushing free speech, stealing hope and prosperity and wrecking the methodology, integrity and transparency of science … all for the sake of absolute power.
And we all know what that does, absolutely.
In this instance, peddling a Trojan horse of Green totalitarian dogma invariably permits no room for disagreement. The virtue signalling charade must go on … only it is not. The wheels are indeed coming off, not just in Australia but all around the World, whether expressed through the massive rise of national populism at the ballot box, yellow shirts, woke is broke, tanking PC SJW NPC gender fluid Hollyweird and their silly PC culturally inverted films, the blossoming of alternate social media sites that do not engage in censorship, the growing trend of and rise in a new conservative age.
In essence, we’ve discussed this ad nauseam here at this site over the years. We acknowledged that the collective of dictators at the UNEP, UN IPCC and UNFCCC would be telling us that global warming was reaching a crescendo as the ice sheets were grinding over Manhattan. The narrative will not change, cannot change, and the microcosm of JCU is no exception. They are proving us prescient and correct all at once.
Eventually, there will be a statue on a column in the centre of Cairns, Singapore and Townsville to Peter Ridd … lest we forget
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but heres the thing – all the uni students are seeing whats going on. So in terms of how not to behave, its a great tutorial.
I gave warned off my law-studying neice from anything left wing. She and her mates used to mock PC at her public high school.
PC will ve trashed by the young, as they see it for the pile of steaming stuff it is….
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It has always been the nature of youth to rebel and thats how it will be on this occasion, but to ease the way we require young satirists.
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You make it too complicated. Give them no more grant money, end of story.
There’s plenty of other uses for the money, paying back the national debt for starters.
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The loss of grant money alone would be an almighty shock to the system, not only JCU but all other universities. The reason the staff toe the bureaucratic line is for money. No grants, no research students, no papers published, complete loss of academic prestige, no-one overseas interested in speaking to them. That alone will provoke a revolt against the JCU hierarchy.
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JCU is doing catastrophic damage to its reputation and image. What student would want to do a degree in a Stalinist gulag? But one feature of the wokerati is they will ride their plane right into the earth rather than do anything sensible like bail out.
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That’s only half right. JCU is an institution, which is a paper construct, it can have a reputation but it cannot make decisions.
People make decisions, and in this case the people are the JCU employees … who in theory should be working to improve the reputation of that institution, but as employees then can easily leave and work somewhere else. These people don’t much care if they destroy the institution in the process of achieving their personal goals, because they still get to keep their wages regardless of the outcome.
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The problem with institutionalization ….of people….is they cease to think for themselves.
This whole sad saga has a whiff of “One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest”…..
I know who plays the role of Nurse Ratchett….
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Tel:
The problem for many is that they cannot leave for other employment. Age, Senority, Superannuation, tenure etc.
And you have to distinguish between the Academics and the bureaucrats. The latter instinctively try to silence any dissent, any suggestion that all isn’t well, because they deal with politicians and public servants who don’t want adverse publicity. That also serves to frighten any academic thinking of breaking ranks about the quality of the ‘research’.
And JCU has done very nicely, thank you, out of “The REEF is Dying” scare for many years, so anybody questioning the truth is immediately a threat to those supposedly running the university. So this reaction is explainable even before you factor in the probable belief in AGW/Climate Change/dreams of UN World government etc. And that is why they think they must appeal otherwise the media, followed by the politicians will start questioning the value they get from funding JCU.
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Graeme ” JCU has done very nicely, thank you, out of “The REEF is Dying” scare for many years”
Yes and the JCU is just one example of ‘scientists’ seeking to guarantee their own future careers and incomes.
By spreading alarmist nonsense.
30
Yes it could be as simple as the type of people the hard left attracts are just showing their personas.
For some in society confidence in ability can override ambition and an institution that rewards compliance would be a natural attraction to the former.
Where one set of rules is relevant to a workplace they’re completely inappropriate in another, JCU has taken the OH&S from a Foundry and applied it to an Art School.
40
Jo,
Thanks so much for posting this update.
It has been a really tough couple of days for Peter Ridd in the Federal Circuit Court.
With the appeal by JCU now pending, everything is going to drag on. Peter Ridd is not getting his life back any time soon … it is also really tough on his wife Cheryl.
They spent tens of thousands of their own money this last week on legals.
Peter Ridd is going to have to fund raise again to defend the original ruling, to fight the appeal. He is going to be really needing your support over the next few years.
Thank you so much for being here today with this blog, with your blog, for explaining where things are at.
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Jennifer, he can be assured of our support.The strain on himself and family is another thing.He has right on his side. I wish them all the best.
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An important battle that must be won.Those who helped before, I’d surmise, will help again.’ O say can you see by the dawn’s early light’… keep the flag of free speech flying
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I’m sure Peter Ridd may count on our financial support in court of appeals. It’s sad that the case will continue, but then again, JCU admins have shown no remorse here, so it was expected.
I hope his lawyers do their best here, this is an important case.
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Attorney-General Christian Porter has told Coalition MPs that the Commonwealth could assist in supporting costs for sacked academic Peter Ridd to help him in his legal fight against James Cook University.
News Report -23/08/ ‘The Australian has been informed by multiple sources that Mr Porter left the door open for the Commonwealth to play a role in supporting Dr Ridd in today’s joint party room meeting and identified a scheme which could be used to assist the academic.
The internal discussion in the party room comes as JCU moves to appeal a Federal Court finding that the university’s sacking of the physics professor was unlawful, with several Coalition MPs voicing their concerns in today’s joint party room meeting at the appeal.
Sources told The Australian that Education Minister Dan Tehan told the joint party room meeting that he was concerned by the decision of JCU to appeal the April decision by judge Salvatore Vasta.’
11
Thanks Beth,
Great News!
Which is a very good start. I would be even happier if Dan Tehan had said that he would withhold JCU funding if they planned to waste taxpayer money in that way.
11
Given that JCU has now removed the EBA clause that Ridd relied on, they now have no academic freedom protection, which places them in violation of the Higher Education Standards Framework. This framework is the law. Dan Tehan has the obligation to enforce it.
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2dogs — good point about the EBA Clause. This is an easy line to draw in the sand. It’s so simple to measure. Do universities allow their staff free speech in employment contracts?
I don’t think Dan Tehan has any need to enforce blatantly politicized employment contracts. Instead, future government grants should only be available to academics who are free to speak.
The problem with this line is that it’s not enough — a legal contract is just the bare minimum — who wants to go through a court battle? So we need the right employment contracts but we need more than that too.
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It is outrageous that the JCU have ‘removed the EBA clause’. Really? How do you just walk out of a legally binding “Agreement”?
What is an enterprise agreement if you can do this?
“An enterprise agreement is between one or more national system employers and their employees, as specified in the agreement. Enterprise agreements are negotiated by the parties through collective bargaining in good faith.”
It is on the basis of this that most staff took their jobs. A deal is a deal. If the JCU management has simply chosen to pretend it is no longer binding, the judge may have an opinion on that as well. It is really a sign of extreme bad faith.
Where is the government on such outrageous behaviour. I mean Labor and the Conservatives. Or don’t education employees have rights when oppressed? Doesn’t so called Fair Work Australia have an opinion on such a unilateral declartion that an EBA is null and void?
Where is the Education Union? Or is Climate Change something they need, so such a declared unfair attack on an employee at the University justified because he threatens one core of their articles of faith, votes or income that Global Climate Change is killing the reef? Is shutting Dr Ridd up as important to Labor and the Liberals and the Education Union as it is to the university?
80
To get action on this line in the sand, would it be worthwhile to start a complaint campaign here?
https://www.teqsa.gov.au/complaint-form
20
As the Vice Chancellors earn most of a million dollars a year, you have to add Sandra Harding’s salary and that of the Provost there is an enormous and pointless and inexcusable cost to run the JCU side of this in persecuting a member of staff fired illegally. I suppose they should be pleased they have made it practically impossible for Peter Ridd to return, destroying his career. This clearly was one of their objectives well beyond censure and it still continues in their intention to appeal while they have infinite funds, our cash, and no personal liability. Yet.
At what point do the governments of Queensland and the Federal government decide that these people are not doing their jobs and wasting our money?
And their jobs certainly do not include silencing staff from giving professional opinions. They, not Dr Ridd, have brought the whole university into disrepute and they still have their jobs and massive salaries and clearly nothing better to do than spend as much time and money again in appeal, having lost on every point of law. At the very least, they should be dishonorably discharged without pensions and liable for the unwarranted and massive costs in persecuting a member of staff, because that is what it is. Where is the University administration? Who is reponsible here because the VIce Chancellor and Provost are out of control? The Provost has even been reported to the Marshal for potential offences in his comments on the result. Should we pay for this too?
At what point does this become a matter for personal damage against these two people who do not have the right, according to the judge, of doing what they are still doing with our money, not theirs.
These are public servants, not billionaire business people wasting their own time and money. The cost is now well over a million for the university. Power gone mad. End this personal vendetta. Fire them both.
300
It is really outrageous that Malcolm Turnbull in his last act of personal generosity can give $444Million (7.5 tons of 24 carat gold) to people who did not ask for it, to ‘save’ the Great Barrier Reef. Now the key university is prosecuting at million dollar costs a senior staff researcher for saying there is nothing wrong with the reef. Is there no accountability in modern public life, or is the fact that the Great Barrier Reef is the key issue behind $6Billion a year in stolen funds, many more millions of our money going to pay administrators and all based on a lie? Is that why they want Peter Ridd silenced?
At what point do the people say, enough is enough? That is our money. We want it back!
As for the Queen of JCU and her consort, they can go into exile. And pay the money back. It’s not their university. It’s not their money. And what they are doing is the height of evil in public life.
291
Even Green leader Bob Brown is saying enough is enough. We are destroying the environment. And at enormous expense. For nothing.
131
It would be more appropriate for Sandra Harding and Chris Cocklin to say sorry and hope to keep their day jobs, where they are still conspiring to harm Dr Peter Ridd for telling the truth no less.
Where is the culpa mea, culpa mea, culpa maxima mea?
Peter Ridd is now facing another half million dollar cost in their appeal against a decision that they behaved illegally and now in the fact of their appeal clearly with malice. This total unfairness cannot be allowed let alone at our expense.
220
Does anyone have email addresses for these two oxygen thieves, Sandra and Chris ?
I feel the need to drop them both a personal note.
(Yes, I know neither will read or take any notice, but I will feel a whole lot better giving them a blast)
31
Hmmm…
“Foundation” with Superman comic name and shoestring staff – but with plenty of board members! – cops 444 big ones from exiting PM. Turnbull of Panama, no less.
Question nothing. Just think of the children and grandchildren who will never know what coral is. Or snow. Or…whatever.
110
Don’t forget that a mere $87 million of the 444 was designated as “administration costs” to be spent over I think 5 years for that shoestring staff. 17 million a year? I’ll administer it for them for half that.
80
The administration of JCU have to face up to the fact they LOST. Period. They were wrong and acted illegally. Period.
They should all be sacked if there was any honesty in the system. They are a disgrace to the university system.
Get rid of these useless administrators and put the management back with the professorial board.
170
In two words, irresponsible and unconscionable. Ask them to justify themselves and what they did or pay the money back. Then sack them.
150
Peter Ridd thinks the agricultural sector needs to stand up and be counted.
https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/6259848/stand-up-for-right-reef-regulations/
110
Very O/T but
New unit of measure – GPG. When more than OSP is needed
More at
https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2019/07/09/w-o-o-d-9-july-2019/#comment-114812
20
JCU is pursuing an appeal for specific reasons.
1. JCU lost on Every Single element. That destroys their credibility on this and perhaps other issues.
2. The ideologues at JCU cannot accept the present legally binding situation.
3. Along with the loss of “face” comes the loss of Power, loss of Influence, and loss of Authority.
4. The only way out of this is for them to appeal and win on at least One element. It doesn’t matter which one, but simply One will be satisfactory so that single win on a single element allows them to smokescreen what, at the moment, is a complete shutout. Thereby, future narratives can be spun.
I’d suggest that Ridd et al countersue for malicious and specious lawfare upon JCU at some enormous multiple of awarded damages. Say, 100 times damages for malice aforethought, 300 times damages for punitive damages.
This is about Power, Authority and Money, plus controlling the environmental narrative.
Arrogance combined with ignorance produces weapons grade stupidity.
280
Well I suppose by seeking to appeal, the JCU Vice chancellor and Board can tell the serfs it’s supporting nullius in verba. (sarc.)
60
Their noses need to be rubbed in it…..
30
They only have one strategy, which is to always escalate.
20
Peter Ridd deserves to be awarded about ten million dollars .
Cut JCU admin salaries in half till it is paid off 😉
160
OT, but great news
https://farmers.org.au/news/pm-backs-100-billion-target-for-farm-sector/
particularly like this part.
“and to pass the promised strengthened laws against on-farm intrusions within the fortnight.”
130
‘Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the announcement will come as welcome news for NSW farmers as the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts depict no rain in the near future.’
BoM hasn’t a clue, massive floods are coming to the MDB by Xmas 2020.
In this land of drought and flooding rain, Morrison should be focussed on bringing permanent fresh water to the MDB.
80
Bring it on EG! May it come down from a great height.
40
Sorry but I can’t share your enthusiasm Andy.
Grand empty statements. Bozo Morrison “pledges to set up a new parliamentary committee”. Wow, I guess that will end the drought and the suicide plague within a day or two. We can all relax now. The dams will overflow at his mere words, like the Flannery effect.
By the time Morrison gets his ar$e into gear there’ll be no farms left to save over large tracts of eastern Oz. He’s concerned with inter-generational succession. What a joke. Does he realise that you couldn’t flog kids enough to make them stay on the farm after what they are witnessing their parents go through now? The man was and is a clown. The number of young people entering the rural workforce has plummeted over the past 25 years for good reason.
As to the farm invasion legislation: unless they make its penalties both substantial and watertight, green judges will continue to pat perpetrators on the head and tell them to be good little boys and girls. $1 fines will be all the rage. They’ll be back again next week to invade another property, exactly like the XR idiots that have been gluing themselves to central Brisbane, although they haven’t even been charged for their invasion of everyone else’s rights to unimpeded travel.
80
Perhaps individuals can write to the new Chancellor, former ambassador to the Phillipines, Bill Tweedle.
https://www.jcu.edu.au/news/releases/2015/november/jcu-university-council-elects-next-chancellor
The promised Appeal needs intervention. The Vice Chancellor and her Provost were found to be wrong on every point of law in dismissing Dr. Ridd.
The persecution and destruction of Dr. Ridd with public money is now well beyond any reasonable activity for the university. It is reprehensible and vindictive and adversely affecting the reputation of the university, which is Mr Tweedle’s responsibility. As for the effect on what Dr. Ridd had to say, it has achieved the exact reverse of the intention to silence him and made him a household name in the fight for academic freedom against an oppressive administration.
Surely this cannot stand and cannot continue. Even on the basis of employees’s rights, Dr Ridd has been personally and professionally damaged for having a professional opinion. His persecution is continuing and must stop. Then they need to deal with the professional responsibility of the Vice Chancellor and the Provost in how they acted within their responsibilities or outside them. They should be justifying their continued employment and even liability in these matters.
At the very least, the Appeal cannot proceed and the University should accept the judgement of the court. The losers in all this so far have only been Dr Ridd and James Cook University and the people of Australia, not the administrators who decided a public trial of an employee was a reasonable action and expense for the University.
130
It would be disturbing if this outcome was even partially overturned , as it could then open Australia to potential accusations of being without enforcable laws, and could mean iniversities are considered above the law.
50
I suggest it’s time to recognise that the JCU is corrupted beyond any point of salvation.
Solution : close it down
Replace it !
Meanwhile Peter Ridd is THE unemployed expert on the great Barrier Reef with integrity.
Dearly departed Turnbull gave $400 million
To an unknown foundation
For the GBR.
Scott Morrison should reallocate that money to a new
GBF Research Foundation directed by Peter Ridd.
Simples, Easy.
Done & Dusted !
180
You mean he’s not funded by Big Oil, as the warmists would no doubt have us believe?
72
Huhhhhhh ?
Peter Ridd has never been funded by big oil.
Why are you bringing that lie up here ?
61
Stupid me.
That was a bit sarc. Count a green thumb from me.
00
Bill before you get too excited, read what the green/left think of Vasta and why the Appeal might be successful.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/climate-science-deniers-make-hay-over-peter-ridd-case,12609
20
E G i have never read that rag before. I suspect it is a leftover from the Maoist Australian Communist party of the 1970’s.
And I notice that the author of this article, Graham Readfearn, states “In the interest of full disclosure, in the time since I first started writing about Ridd’s case, I’ve taken a part-time job at an Australian marine conservation charity as a media adviser.”
Ful disclosure ? But he . does not say which Australian Marine Conservation charity.. Wonder why ?
50
Graham has been around for years, once wrote for the Courier Mail until he got into a public debate with an English Lord and came out the worst for wear.
He still writes for the Guardian occasionally and gets a bit of work doing media releases for the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
20
it was inevitable they would appeal. if Ridd’s colleagues and students had protested en masse against an appeal, perhaps JCU would have backed down!
still nothing on Ridd in months at ABC but, like the entire worldwide FakeNewsMSM, they have this:
20 Jul: ABC: Former NFL player Mitch Petrus, who won Super Bowl with New York Giants, dies in Arkansas amid US heatwave
by ABC/Reuters
Updated 4 minutes ago
Former offensive lineman Mitch Petrus, who earned a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants in 2011, died on Thursday night of an apparent heat stroke.
Petrus, who was 32, had spent the day working outside of his family’s business near Little Rock in Arkansas.
The area has been under a heat advisory, with temperatures into the mid-30s Celsius…
“He was working at his family shop, outside … and suffered heat stroke,” Pulaski County Coroner Gerone Hobbs said.
“He was drinking water but not enough electrolytes.”…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-20/former-nfl-player-dies-in-us-heatwave/11328214
19 Jul: Accuweather: Ex-NFL player, 32, dies of heat stroke, officials say
By Mark Puleo
The high temperature of 92 F was in line with historical averages for July in Little Rock…
The normal high in mid-July is 93 degrees for the Little Rock area…
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/ex-nfl-player-32-dies-of-heat-stroke-officials-say/70008860
20 Jul: NBC: Former N.Y. Giants player Mitch Petrus dies from heat stroke in Arkansas at age 32
He succumbed to extreme heat while working for the family towing business, authorities said.
By David K. Li
The high temperature in Little Rock on Thursday was 92 degrees, with a heat index of 103 degrees, as the city like much of the nation is struggling through a brutal — and now deadly — heat wave…
The 6-foot-2, 350-pound Petrus did not appear to have any serious pre-existing medical condition that contributed to his heat-stroke death, according to Hobbs…
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-n-y-giants-player-mitch-petrus-dies-heat-stroke-n1031801
19 Jul: BBC: Mitch Petrus: Former New York Giants player dies from heatstroke
The US is currently experiencing a heatwave with temperatures set to exceed 100F (38C).
A heat advisory was in effect on Thursday in Arkansas, with temperatures reaching more than 90F…
Pulaski County Coroner Gerone Hobbs told NBC that Petrus did not have any pre-existing conditions that contributed to his heatstroke death…
Meteorologists say some cities may see their highest temperatures in years.
Earlier this month, the US state of Alaska, part of which lies in the Arctic Circle, registered record temperatures.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49053424
20
Updated 20 Jul: ABC: Murray-Darling Basin in ‘most severe’ two-to-three year drought conditions in 120 years of records, BOM says
ABC Weather By Kate Doyle
In a presentation on Thursday, climatologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Dr David Jones, said that the Federation drought (1891-1903) and the World War II drought were similar to this one.
“The general picture across the Murray-Darling Basin, for droughts lasting two to three years, this is the most severe we’ve now seen in terms of the rainfall totals and probably also in terms of the general runoff into dams,” he said…READ ON
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-19/most-severe-recorded-drought-across-the-murray-darling/11325216
20 Jul: ABC Analysis: Five things I learnt covering Australia’s drought crisis this week
ABC News Breakfast By Michael Rowland
This week I have travelled from Queensland’s Darling Downs to the NSW Central West as part of the ABC’s special coverage of the drought…
The Bureau of Meteorology, the CSIRO and any number of scientific bodies are pointing out that climate change will produce more frequent and severe droughts in the years ahead…
20 Jul: ABC: Researchers on international hunt for ‘climate change-resilient’ grains
ABC Rural By Lydia Burton and Amy McCosker
Scientists are forecasting the dry weather will continue because of climate change — an issue that was keeping many farmers awake at night, according to (Grains Research and Development Corporation GRDC northern panel chair John Minogue)…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-07-20/researchers-international-hunt-for-resilient-grains/11320498
20 Jul: ABC: ‘Flash droughts’ strike fast and hard, and researchers are still racing to identify them before they happen
ABC Weather By Kate Doyle
(David Hoffmann of Monash University) has been using computer modelling to study when and where flash droughts occur…
“So far, flash droughts have [also] been reported in the central or midwestern US, central south-eastern China.”…
Dr Hanh Nguyen has been going through the Bureau of Meteorology data searching for flash droughts…
She and her team are now trying to come up with a way of predicting future flash droughts…
The bureau is working with the Northern Australia Climate Program (NACP) and the Climate Mates service on this work…READ ON
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-20/how-flash-droughts-strike-fast-and-hard/11320654
12
meanwhile, amidst all the CAGW causes drought coverage, theirABC ran the first of the following twice in quick succession on News Radio last nite (they broadcast NPR programs, which are usually just as CAGW-obsessed as they are):
AUDIO: 19 Jul: NPR: Can The Current U.S. Heat Wave Be Linked To Climate Change?
by Rebecca Hersher, Morning Edition
TRANSCRIPT;
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Here to talk with us about the science of heat waves like this one is NPR science correspondent Rebecca Hersher…
INSKEEP: The question that naturally comes to mind for many people is – can we blame climate change?
HERSHER: Yes, sort of. Average temperatures are rising, right? The hottest days are getting hotter, heat waves are getting longer. So that means weather like this is more likely…
HERSHER: But, you know, the part of global warming that really helps you understand something like this is not the overall warming, it’s extreme weather. So as the Earth gets warmer – and it already is getting warmer. So it’s already about two degrees Fahrenheit hotter on our planet than it was in the late 1800s…
***HERSHER: Weather gets more extreme. So that means hotter hots, it means colder colds, it means wetter wets…
HERSHER: Well, let’s just look at this year. So there was record-breaking flooding all over the central U.S. So there was extreme rain that was falling, back-to-back-to-back storms, five, six, seven inches of rain falling in a short period of time. That’s because hotter air can hold more moisture, so that falls as rain. Or go back to the winter. Remember the polar vortex?…
HERSHER: Really cold, very terrible for a big part of the northern U.S. That was in part because the changing climate allowed cold air to seep down from the Arctic…
HERSHER: … Even though it’s really hot during the day. But so remember that’s because hotter air, it sucks up more moisture, and so we’re getting these really high overnight temperatures. And that happens especially in cities. So people who live in really dense areas, they’re actually at more risk. And that’s because concrete or asphalt, it soaks up heat and creates this island of extra hot air. And then at night, all those surfaces – they’re like little furnaces. They just radiate that heat back out into the surrounding area. It’s particularly dangerous for people who are already sick…ETC
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/19/743350964/can-the-current-u-s-heat-wave-be-linked-to-climate-change
Rebecca, pre-Barry:
13 Jul: NPR: Climate Change Fuels Wetter Storms — Storms Like Barry
by Rebecca Hersher
It’s a situation driven by climate change, and one that Louisiana has never dealt with, at least in recorded history. And it’s raising questions about whether New Orleans and other communities are prepared for such an onslaught.
“It is noteworthy that we’re in our 260th day of a flood fight on the Mississippi River, the longest in history, and that this is the first time in history a hurricane will strike Louisiana while the Mississippi River has been at flood stage,” said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards in response to a question about climate change at a Friday news conference.
“If we anticipate that this could happen with more frequency going forward, then it has to inform a lot of things we do in the state of Louisiana to prepare for disasters in the future,” the governor continued…
The storm called Barry formed over hotter-than-usual water in the Gulf of Mexico, and that helped it gain strength and pick up moisture.
That makes Barry the latest in a string of recent tropical storms and hurricanes whose greatest threat is rain, not wind…
A study published last year found that hurricanes including Katrina, Irma and Maria are dumping about 5 to 10% more rain than they would have if global warming wasn’t happening.
Another study found that the amount of rain that fell on the Houston area during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was equal to the amount of water that evaporated from the Gulf into the storm as it formed…
It’s the latest, and one of the most extreme, examples of an uptick in the number of extreme rain events in many parts of the U.S. as the earth gets hotter.
“Increasing precipitation, especially heavy rain events, has increased the overall flood risk,” according to the most recent National Climate Assessment…
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/13/741324506/climate-change-fuels-wetter-storms-storms-like-barry
Rebecca, post-Barry:
15 Jul: NPR: Lessons Learned Helped Louisiana Minimize Barry’s Damage
by Rebecca Hersher, Morning Edition
NOEL KING, HOST: Much of southern Louisiana is experiencing relief this morning. Hurricane Barry did flood some areas south of New Orleans, but it didn’t do the kind of damage ***that forecasters initially feared. NPR’s Rebecca Hersher rode out the storm southwest of New Orleans…
REBECCA HERSHER, BYLINE: As the weekend began, the forecast was grim. Barry was a quadruple threat – wind, rain, and storm surge on top of an already swollen Mississippi River – and it was headed right for Terrebonne Parish in coastal Louisiana, which is flat as a board and marshy on a good day. Businesses got ready for flooding by putting out sandbags. Cari Jarreaux manages a Dollar General store, and on Sunday, she was removing sandbags from out front…
HERSHER: Jarreaux’s employee Daphne Brunet has lived in the area her whole life and was surprised the store didn’t flood…
You feel like you dodged a bullet?
BRUNET: Big time. Living on the bayou, thought it would be a lot worse with the weather and all. But it wasn’t that bad with the water and all…
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/15/741721716/lessons-learned-helped-louisiana-minimize-barrys-damage
01
pat:
Garbage. The Earth isn’t warmer by 2℉ (1.1℃) since the 1800’s. At best (or worst) 0.85℃ using debatable, and highly adjusted figures. Almost as warm as in the 1100’s A.D. and certainly not as high as it was (on lengthy occasions) 3,000 to 6,000 years before.
40
Just checked the BoM historical rainfall record for the MDB on their graph 1900 through to 2018.
The WWII-Drought, from 1943 to 1946, was worse (less rainfall), with 1944 the second-lowest annual rainfall (1902 is the lowest). 2018 was the sixth-lowest rainfall year, recorded from 1900 to 2018.
60
Now I might be a bit visually impaired, but this BoM graph of the MDB rain anomalies appear to show we had more low rainfall years before 1950.
Rainfall anomaly, MDB, 1900 to 2018
According to the BoM trend map from 1900 to 2018 rainfall is increasing 3.2 mm per decade.
Trend Graph
Maybe they (BoM) should look at their own data.
At least the BoM don’t homogenize rain data. I think!
30
John, The MDB is so huge..Roughly 30% of the Australian landmass.
How can anyone draw up a chart of the ‘rain fall anomaly’ for such huge area ?
Frankly I think it’s meaningless bumf propagated by capital city cafe late computer nerds who have not been outside recently
40
I was in a bookshop earlier today. Saw an old science book on the atmosphere. Of course it was at least 30 years old or more, didnt see the date. Described atmospheric circulation as it should be. Hadley cells, Coriolis effect and jetstreams. NO mention of any CO2 or GHG crap, as it should be. Nice pictures of cloud formations and descriptions of processes that drive weather.
How many people, mainly high school kids or undergrads, would actually read these things now.
160
Nothing surprising or outrageous about JCU. The Left believes in and follows scorched earth. The only issue is whether the politicians and the voters have a spine to burn them this time.
50
big fire Friday at Warwick East State School. wondered if there were any solar panels involved.
P11: Warwick East State School Queensland State School Reporting 2014 School Annual Report
Reducing the school’s environmental footprint
Data is sourced from the school’s annual utilities return and is reliant on the accuracy of these returns A bank of 24 solar panels attached to ***block A and the installation of energy efficient light tubes throughout the school contributed to the reduction of our environmental footprint…
TWEET: Grace Grace MP, (Qld) Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations
Thinking of the Warwick East State School community after a fire broke out in Block A today. Admin office & 2 classrooms were damaged. Thankfully, all students and staff were evacuated safely @QLDEducation will be in contact with parents over the weekend
PIC (Roof – solar panels?)
19 Jul 2019 (wrongly dated 18 Jul)
https://twitter.com/gracextwo/status/1152092516281286656
no mention of solar panels:
19 Jul: BrisbaneTimes: Students evacuate as heritage-listed Queensland school burns
By Toby Crockford and Felicity Caldwell
Emergency services were called to Warwick East State School, 83 kilometres south of Toowoomba, about 1.25pm on Friday.
Staff and students were evacuated to a school oval, on the corner of Lyons and Fitzroy streets…
(DARK PICS – CAN’T SEE ROOF – PLUS GRACE GRACE TWEET & PIC WITH ROOF)
***It was understood the fire tore through ***Block A, which contained two classrooms and an administration office…
The Queensland Police Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Service are investigating…
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/students-evacuate-as-heritage-listed-queensland-school-burns-20190719-p528vz.html
meanwhile, ABC went from this headline:
ABC Queensland: Fire engulfs building at heritage-listed Queensland school
Posted yesterday at 14:59
Firefighters extinguish a blaze at Warwick East State School on Queensland’s Southern Downs, one of the oldest schools in the state with a building that dates back to the 1850s
https://www.abc.net.au/news/qld/
to this, with no mention of Block A or solar panels:
VIDEO: 41sec: 19 Jul: ABC: Warwick East State School building engulfed by fire
Updated yesterday at 7:00pm
Sergeant Reid said by the time emergency services arrived, flames were “leaping high from the roof”…
“The scene will be guarded overnight with fire investigators from Brisbane attending tomorrow morning to continue investigations as to the cause,” Sergeant Reid said…
Its National School building, one of the original buildings, is heritage listed.
The school was first founded in 1850, before Queensland was a separate colony from New South Wales
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-19/fire-warwick-east-state-school-qld/11326304
20
Warwick has been at the centre of a solar farm concern, involving Uni of Qld:
Landowners in stoush over massive Darling Downs solar farm
Courier Mail-13 Jul 2018
WHEN Tom Shew retired, he headed for the hills outside Warwick…
6 Jun 2018: WarwickDailyNews: Council split, but solar farm decision final
by Marian Faa
Work to construct the 300 acre Warwick Solar Farm is expected to commence later this year after a controversial development application was approved today…
After months of protest from the Warwick community, 47 letters of objection, and a public meeting full of opposition, five of the nine local government representatives said “yes” to the controversial development, but four objected…
The saga over 300 acres of pristine agricultural land in Sladevale began in late February, when Mt Tabor residents received a letter notifying them of the proposed $100 million solar farm to be built in the Freestone Valley below…
The long list of concerns professed by members of the community have been addressed in the 37 conditions imposed on the development…
https://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/breaking-council-split-on-solar-decision-today/3434784/
30 May: RenewEconomy: Relief as Supreme Court nixes Queensland solar rule change, but government to appeal
by Sophie Vorrath
Australia’s large-scale solar industry – both ground mounted and rooftop – is breathing a sigh of relief after a rushed Queensland government solar rule change that had slammed the brakes on the state’s PV development pipeline was overturned late on Wednesday.
As RenewEconomy has already reported, the controversial rule – which as of May 13 required only licensed electricians to mount and fix solar panels on projects of 100kW and over – was declared “invalid” in the Queensland Supreme Court, after a legal challenge by a leading solar farm developer…
But the ruling is also a victory for the 1300MW of new utility solar generation capacity under construction in Queensland in 2019, which – according to CEC estimates – would have required in the order of 580 additional electricians under the amended regulation.
***One such project is the University of Queensland’s 64MW Warwick Solar Farm, which – once completed – will help make UQ (UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND) the first major university in the world to offset 100 per cent of its electricity usage through its own renewable energy assets…
But they’re not out of the woods yet. The Queensland government on Thursday afternoon announced it would appeal and apply for a stay of the Court’s decision, so that while the technical legal matters were resolved, the new safety measures would be maintained…
Electrical Safety Commissioner Greg Skyring has welcomed the government’s decision to appeal the decision, which he said put workers installing solar panels at risk of “electrical shock and fire.”
“Contrary to some of the commentary I’ve seen in the media, these risks are very real and very serious and they need to be addressed,” he said.
These views are supported by the Queensland chapter of the Electrical Trades Union – thought to have been the main driver behind the introduction of the rushed rule…
This is not the view of Master Electricians Australia, however…READ ON
https://reneweconomy.com.au/relief-as-supreme-court-nixes-queensland-solar-rule-change-but-government-to-appeal-92016/
7 Jun 2018: Uni of Qld: UQ to set world standard with 100 per cent renewable energy
“The 64 megawatt (MW) solar farm located just outside of Warwick, on Queensland’s Southern Downs, will provide research, teaching and engagement opportunities in addition to its environmental and financial benefits,” Professor Høj said.
“We are already the largest solar generator among Australian universities, and this initiative will complement the 50,000 existing solar panels on our campuses…
The proposed solar farm will generate about 154,000 megawatt hours of clean energy each year – enough to power 27,000 average homes – more than offsetting UQ’s current and projected future annual electricity usage…
“The solar farm will offset UQ’s current $22 million annual expenditure on grid electricity once it is fully operational in 2019,” Professor Høj said…
20
if it turns out solar panels played a part in the recent fire, the Qld Govt needs to take care with the following:
16 Nov 2017: WarwickDailyNews: Warwick schools to go solar under Labor
by Jonno Colfs
A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will invest in 94 schools in Darling Downs/South West region as part of a $97 million plan to install solar on the roofs of more than 800 of the state’s 1239 schools.
The roll-out of the landmark solar energy program over the next three years will save $10.2 million a year on energy costs across the state and reduce schools’ carbon footprint…
In phase one, five schools from Warwick have been earmarked to benefit from the initiative – Glennie Heights State School, Warwick Central State School, Warwick East State School, Warwick State High School and Warwick West State School.
https://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/warwick-schools-to-go-solar-under-labor/3267164/
13 Mar 2018: ToowoombaChronicle: The 83 schools preparing to go solar in our region
SCHOOLS across our region will be some of the first to benefit from $97 million worth of funding kicked in by the State Government to help them go solar.
The Advancing Clean Energy Schools program, announced this morning by Education Minister Grace Grace, will be provided to 83 schools on the Darling Downs in a bid to and lessen the education sector’s impact on the environment and cut its power bill.
“Kilcoy State High, Kingaroy State High, Stanthorpe State School and Toowoomba State High School (and 79 others in the region) will be part of the more than 800 schools over the next three years to have the installation of solar power and energy efficiency measures,” Ms Grace said…
The schools targeted for the funding are listed below…
https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/83-schools-preparing-go-solar-our-region/3359587/
11
18 Apr: WarwickDailyNews: Warwick Solar Farm construction launch not open to public
by Marian Faa
AN EVENT to mark the start of construction on the $125 million UQ Warwick Solar Farm is not open to the public due to occupational health and safety regulations…
Professor Høj said the event marked a significant milestone for UQ…
“We are proud to become a part of the Southern Downs community through this project, and to help generate regional jobs in our home state.
“This will become a centrepiece of our education and research into renewables, and the Southern Downs region can expect regular visitors from UQ and further afield over the 25-year life of the solar farm.”…
Local suppliers involved in the early stages of the project have provided services ranging from quarry material and cement to office supplies and accommodation.
The UQ Warwick Solar Farm is scheduled to be completed late this year, and will employ about half a dozen staff – including a UQ facility manager – on an on-going basis.
Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie said she was thrilled to see Lendlease, UQ’s lead construction contractor, working on the site.
“UQ’s investment gives this renewables project the extra dimensions of education and research – setting it apart from other solar farms being developed in regional Queensland.
The 64 megawatt solar farm is expected to be generating power by early 2020.
https://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/warwick-solar-farm-construction-launch-not-open-to/3705782/
20
Off topic, but don’t miss this special sale of electricity.
At 1.05pm on Saturday July 20, AEMO reported spot prices of $0.00 in NSW/Qld, and negative in Vic/SA/Tas down to -$68/MWhr.
Cause is lots of wind (3 GW) and solar (6 GW) when demand is low (24 GW) on weekend.
In SA wind is being curtailed, and gas mandated to keep the grid stable.
90
On topic, from Dr Ridd..
“I should let you all know that we are no longer seeking reinstatement because JCU’s response since the decision indicates that if I went back, I would have a very troubled existence that would also threaten all my colleagues in the Physics Department.
But the big news is that JCU stated firmly that they will appeal. This is a frightening prospect that will be horribly expensive both financially and emotionally, but at least we know for sure. I have little doubt that we will win. JCU has just not faced reality.
JCU have three weeks after the Judge hands down his “penalty” decision to file the appeal documents. We will hold off reopening the funding appeal until then. I expect it will be late August. You have already done your bit and I have no doubt that many others will step up to the plate and join us. This matter is now very well known.
On a more amusing note, the Vice Chancellor and the Provost (Chris Cocklin) might be in big trouble for an email and public statement they made within hours of the decision being made public in April. To quote The Australian newspaper
“Justice Vasta said the statement attributed to Chris Cocklin was “almost contemptuous” and could be referred to the Federal Circuit Court ¬Marshal”
Again Peter is ‘amused’. At JCU, amusement is not allowed. What a waste of people’s lives and our money. Worst of all, in a coverup of very poor and unvalidated alleged science. JCU is a fake science news industry, not a university seeking the truth. The sooner the two responsible people are called to account for their vast waste of our money, the better. This publicly funded arbitary vendetta by JCU against one man and his professional opinion cannot continue. Or is it an attempt to intimidate everyone else and considered money well spent? If so, JCU is a criminal employer and the firing of Dr Ridd is part of a coverup. It certainly looks like it. That is one of the good reasons the Chancellor must act.
Chancellor: “The Chancellor is the CEO. The individual usually oversees all externally-facing functions of the university, including fundraising, alumni affairs, government relations, and community relations. ”
Surely they could have settled with Dr. Ridd for much less than has been spent plus what will be awarded and the cost of an appeal. If nothing else, they need to cut their losses and stem their bleeding reputation.
110
Hi TdeF, totally agree. But you are assuming that JCU have an ounce of common sense and a grain of decency. There’s your problem…
Cheers,
Mike
90
You hit the nail on the head when you wrote that Scott Morrison could stop this madness in five minutes. The question is, why doesn’t he?
90
“… why doesn’t he?”
Because if he pressures JCU to re-admit a professor who was fired for calling foul on research casting doubt that emissions are destroying the reef, it might start a trend.
Other profs might be emboldened to start whistle -blowing on other aspects of the con.
Why would Morrison want the lid blown off the greatest government money-grab con in modern times?
And what would the UN say about if he did?
30
A leftist university, part of the leftist university sector, which is part of the leftist education sector, which is governed by a leftist public service, which is overseen by leftist governments (and I include the Libs in that) is never going to be rigorously challenged or examined by a leftist media.
The gravy train will roll on unchecked.
110
Just a non PC tangent:
Has anybody else noticed that most of the recent big public scandals in Australia involved women in the leading positions of authority?
Are we seeing the consequences of the “Golden Skirts” phenomenon?
110
Its just a coincidence, striving for parity has its pitfalls and Golden Skirts is only a Norwegian fad.
20
Its funny it seems most of the Palychook govt seems to be female, bar a couple of patsy.
50
Equal opportunity implies equal responsibility and accountability. What it doesn’t guarantee is that the ability to make bad decisions, poor judgement, fail to accurately predict future consequences or not understand the risks involved is gender biased.
In other words, there are likely to be more female senior executives spectacularly falling from grace as more females climb to these lofty positions. Gender diversity does not improve or remove human failings.
20
Equal opportunity implies equal responsibility and accountability. What it doesn’t guarantee is that the ability to make bad decisions, poor judgement, fail to accurately predict future consequences or not understand the risks involved is gender biased.
In other words, there are likely to be more female senior executives spectacularly falling from grace as more females climb to these lofty positions. Gender diversity does not improve or remove human failings.
30
Hi Everyone.
Question for you. Would you put a degree from JCU on your CV? Me either.
From now on, JCU might as well print their degrees on pieces of strong, absorbent paper, roughly 4 inches square. Preferably in perforated rolls, with the Vice-Chancellor’s face prominently displayed…
Cheers,
Mike
90
And it appears that no academic from JCU has the internal fortitude to stand up and support Peter Ridd – all just bystanders?
80
There is one.
‘A James Cook University associate professor has resigned from her honorary position over the sacking of professor Peter Ridd, who was dismissed after he criticised the institution’s climate change science. Sheilagh Cronin resigned from the unpaid role at JCU.’ Oz
90
Thanks el gordo.
If she did that she is giving up a lot of perks.
Can you reference this news?
40
Cannot get behind the Oz paywall, but wuwt also ran the story.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/05/19/academic-quits-in-disgust-over-university-sacking-of-peter-ridd/
60
Thanks,
20
The Queensland State and the Australian Federal tourism industry should get behind Peter Ridd, they are very concerned about the reducing numbers of foreign tourists visiting the GBR based on the deceptive claims that the GBR is dying.
It is intolerable that any university, let alone JCU based in Townsville Queensland, would undermine tourism and the substantial revenue tourism contributes to our nation.
71
it is the consequences of shutting down CAGW dissent that concerns me most:
18 Jul: Gold Coast Bulletin: Factory fire at electrical business believed to have begun in solar panels
by Talisa Eley
A LARGE fire which broke out at a Southport business today is believed to have been sparked by a solar panel.
The blaze broke out in the Powertec outlet on Olsen Ave just before 12pm, with three fire crews working to extinguish the flames which started on the building’s roof.
A witness told the Bulletin the blaze was “massive” and the smoke could be seen from far away.
The 50m x 30m building was evacuated and the fire was put out by 12.10pm…
Several solar panels were damaged in the blaze, however the building suffered only slight internal damage…
Powertec’s Head of Sales Ran McDonald said only a minute after he sent someone to investigate the power outage he heard someone “yelling out that our roof was on fire”.
“We don’t know the extent of the damage yet, we’ve got sparkies and solar people in there now but yeah, bloody solar panels catching on fire,” he said.
“There were two separate fires up there, so one area of the panels caught fire and then another. Once those solar panels go up they burn really, really heavily.
“It’s only scorched the inside of the roof so luckily it didn’t get through and burn the whole building down.”…
https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/factory-fire-destroys-coast-electrical-business-smoke-delays-traffic/news-story/1acf4ae79f1b36d8b574e56babd25a24
Solar panels spark blaze at Southport business
myGC.com.au – 2 days ago
Faulty solar panels are being investigated as the cause of fire at a Southport business…
40
another fire in June – “intruders” suggestion potentially shot down by the Jeff Hunt quote:
PICS/VIDEO: Updated 15 Jun: ABC: Fire guts eight classrooms at Upper Mt Gravatt State School on Brisbane’s southside
By Talissa Siganto and Rachel Riga
A Brisbane primary school has been shut down and a crime scene declared after a “significant” fire destroyed several classrooms…
Police and fire investigators have returned to Upper Mount Gravatt State School this morning to investigate the blaze.
A blaze broke out on the top level and ***roof of a two-storey building just after 7:00pm on Friday and more than 10 fire crews worked quickly to bring the flames under control.
Deputy director-general of corporate services Jeff Hunt said the building would have to be demolished…
Police Inspector Geoff Acreman said the fire was being treated as suspicious.
“There were multiple intruder alarms in the classrooms where the fire has later been found,” he said…
(Deputy director-general of corporate services Jeff Hunt) said it was not yet clear what set off the security alarms.
“Heat and motion sensors were triggered and the alarm goes through the State Government security,” he said.
“We’re waiting for the forensic teams to do their work … I think it’s too early to say what the exact cause is.”…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-14/fire-fully-engulfs-upper-mount-gravatt-state-school-brisbane/11212818
15 Jun: BrisbaneTimes: Suspicious fire claims primary school building on Brisbane’s southside
by Jocelyn Garcia
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokeswoman said the fire was under control about an hour-and-a-half after the initial call
“The top level and ***roof were well involved in the fire and it spread to the lower ground level where firefighters reported it was partially affected,” she said…
1 Apr 2008: Qld Govt: Statement: Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara (Labor)
Seven South-east Queensland primary and secondary schools will now have access to solar power through the Queensland Solar Schools program…
The seven schools to join the program are:
(includes) ***Mt Gravatt State High School at Mt Gravatt ETC
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/57317
GreenGalaxies: Mount Gravatt State School
Lifetime (Solar) Stats Since Dec 2009
https://www.greengalaxies.net/schools/mount-gravatt-state-school
30
btw I’m not claiming solar panels necessarily caused the Mt Gravatt school fire. just wondering.
the Block A fire at Warwick school is more suspect, given it’s apparently the actual block where the solar panels were installed.
20
How can we tell when our ceiling’s burning.
Midnight Foil
60
posted the wrong Green Galaxies link. it should have been for “Upper” school:
Green Galaxies: Upper Mount Gravatt State School
Lifetime (solar) Stats Since Feb 2010
https://staging.greengalaxies.net/schools/upper-mount-gravatt-state-school
01
can’t access the rest:
19 Jul: Herald Scotland: Perth-based energy giant highlights renewables challenge
By Mark Williamson
SCOTTISH Hydroelectric owner SSE lost another 70,000 household customers in the latest quarter and saw renewable energy output fall well below expectations amid unhelpful weather conditions…
https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/17781225.sse-loses-customers-weather-poses-challenges/
but it’s all here:
19 Jul: HeraldNewspaperDirect: SSE loses customers as wind poses challenges
by MARK WILLIAMSON
However, SSE noted that the weather across the UK and Ireland meant renewable output in the three months to June 30 was around 20% lower than expected in a typical year.
The amount of rainfall and the strength of the winds experienced were both factors.
SSE’S experience highlights how dependent renewable energy generators are on weather conditions.
This puts the onus on the companies to deploy a range of technologies across the markets they serve to generate, store and transmit renewable energy…
In June SSE said it would need to invest more than £2bn in the power transmission network in northern Scotland in coming years to support the drive to tackle climate change.
It said a significant proportion of the investment will be in the north-east, with a particular focus on accommodating the growth in offshore wind.
The group noted yesterday that it will be seeking support for three renewable energy projects under the official Contracts for Difference scheme…
http://theherald.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
10
19 Jul: EnergyVoice: Millions of energy customers could see rise in bills as tariffs end
by Reporter
Millions of households could see their energy bills rocket by as much as £439 as hundreds of fixed-price deals come to an end in July, August and September, figures suggest.
Customers who do not move to a cheaper deal will be automatically rolled onto default standard variable tariffs (SVTs), which usually provide the worst value…
Some 276 expiring tariffs from 37 suppliers will add £426 million to the energy bills of approximately 1.6 million households if they do not switch, the comparison site (uSwitch) warned…
At least 44 energy companies have already increased the cost of their SVTs by up to 17% this year, following Ofgem’s decision to raise the level of the energy price cap in April…
https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/203947/millions-of-energy-customers-could-see-rise-in-bills-as-tariffs-end/
19 Jul: Guardian: Crown backs down and ‘refines’ plans for offshore wind auction
Tender process for seabed use made more transparent after warnings from energy firms
by Jillian Ambrose
The Crown Estate, which holds the rights to seabeds around the British Isles, told windfarm developers on Thursday that it has “refined” its controversial plans for the upcoming tender to make it more affordable to develop renewable energy…
The crown’s change of tack comes after the Guardian revealed that the auction could raise hundreds of millions for the Queen (LINK) while raising household energy bills…READ ON
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/19/crown-backs-down-and-refines-plans-for-offshore-wind-auction
30
‘The buck stops here’ just never seems to apply any more to public servants .
They should be accountable for use of all taxpayer funds .
Instead they seem to be protecting their own agenda .
60
“Public Servants”??? It’s starting to sound like we’re being sarcastic!
Cheers,
Mike
40
The general saying is that when you are in a hole, stop digging.
In the UK we say that if you keep digging you end up in Australia.
40
https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=210911
He could do something, if he wanted to.
The last minister, Simon Birmingham, expressed interest in the Peter Ridd case but did nothing.
40
Off-piste but fun
https://notrickszone.com/2019/07/20/join-the-skeptical-movement-hip-german-youths-push-back-on-climate-hysteria-post-skeptic-videos-go-viral/
30
Seems to be par for the course at Australian universities.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/2013/08/silencing-climate-change-dissenters/
https://mlsxmq.wixsite.com/salby-macquarie/page-1f
30
While we are talking about the silencing of dissenters, it is worthwhile to note that I have been having a war with the reader’s comments page of “The Australian” for some time now.
“The Australian” has established a list of protected species and subjects, and will delete any posting that is critical of these. But more specifically, it targets me; so that most of my posts are deleted, regardless of content. Clearly, “The Australian” is targeting individuals as well as content.
So our freedom of speech and avenues of discussion are slowly, but surely, being curtailed.
40
Re 42
Can you narrow that down a bit. What do they specifically reject?
10
I was so proud of my first degree from JCU, my excuse is that it was 40 years ago.
20
Proud to say I supported this man from the start. I see now it’s gone all the way to the top. If only politicians operating in and believing in democracy would realise that morality and ethical rigor is rewarded in the polls because we the people ain’t stoopid.
40