jamesnixon.com

THE THINKING MAN'S EDDIE

Melbourne identity Steve Vizard rightly raises the population issue and this author is not against the concept of raising public debate or Mr.Vizard - who was recently described by an ABC talkback caller as ‘the thinking man’s Eddie McGuire’. But when is a journalist or editor going to pick up on these two points: This is a national issue, so why is a State Premier pushing it instead of handing it to the federal head of his party? It has all been done before by Barry Jones’ Committee Investigating Sustainable Development which included many wise people and was science-based. Why rake over old ground? If Steve wants to read its outcome, why doesn’t he just go to the Parliamentary Library or, better still, ring Barry Jones? Alas, it appears that no-one in the media can remember back to the late 1980s. Maybe those who would have their names associated with this weeks’ expensive summit have no interest in just sitting quietly and applauding the excellent work of those who have gone before. The fact that an airline will be flying many 'snout-in-the-trough' representatives to Melbourne for free during Grand Prix week has probably got nothing to do with it at all ... February 23rd 2002 Postscript: 0930 Monday 25th Feb 2002. At the start of the summit it was announced that Barry Jones was being invited to speak ...