Is Garrett a Hypocrite?

[knocker]

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has defended his decision to approve a new uranium mine in South Australia. The Greens have criticised Mr Garrett for approving a mine they think will pollute groundwater at the Four Mile site.

The Opposition agrees with the Government, but has accused the former rock star and anti-uranium mining activist of hypocrisy.

Mr Garrett says he has been assured the mine is safe and says his conscience is clear.

"I became a member of the Government and I said at the time I would accept as a team player the decisions the Government took," he said.

Well, well, well, another three holes in the ground. The whole thread has been unravelled by the above statements. Whale Oil Beef Hooked !

We are all correct in our ethos !

Yep more bs from krudd and his merry cohorts. Bring it on, aus the sinking island lol

 

[trainspotter]

Yep more bs from krudd and his merry cohorts. Bring it on, aus the sinking island lol

Soon to be the "radioactive" sinking island formerly known as Australia but has since changed name by international deed poll to "Banana Republic Land"

 

[Ghetto23]

http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/on-the-borderline-20090719-dpdo.html?page=-1

Trainspotter, what are your opinions on this article?

 

[trainspotter]

My opinion is that it is an extremely well written, factual, piece of lierarture opined by an associate editor who is trying to put forward a balanced point of view. Nothing more, nothing less.

Ghetto 43 ... quite a few of the posts have said this same stuff, mine included.

"Too true Macquack. I have softened my approach on PG due to his transparent actions of late. It must be terrible to be shown as a flip flop merchant. He does have a tough job, I commend you on pointing this out to me. But it seems he has forsaken his principles somewhat? No? "

and another:

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" could be his philophosy. By working from the inside out would be his best chance at actually achieving something. So far he has managed to disenfranchise many of the Green voters that he spent so long building his reputation on.

AND

Ohhhhh the irony of it all. It must be gut wrenching for him to sign off on the white papers.

All my stuff. Difference of opinion really.

 

[Macquack]

My opinion is that it is an extremely well written, factual, piece of lierarture opined by an associate editor who is trying to put forward a balanced point of view. Nothing more, nothing less.

I agree with you Trainspotter.

Garrett's responsibility was to act on advice about the environmental impact of the Four Mile mine, not to make a decision on the merits of uranium mining. That had already been taken by the Rann Government, which wants more mines.

Rudd should have given him a different portfolio. Having him in environment confuses his past as an activist with his current status and his wider obligations as a cabinet minister.

Being a fan of Peter Garrett, I have to agree with this journo's view that he should have a different portfolio. It is too easy for the opposition to savage Garrett on just about anything he does because he is responsible for the tough decisions.

The people that bagged him for signing off on the Four Mile mine would be the same people who would criticise him if he rejected the project.

As the journo says

Garrett is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

 

[trainspotter]

Fantastic reply Macquack. I am currently listening to 10 -----> 1 Midnight Oil in my car. I really like the song whereby Garrett asks the question:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgukduYJZ44

Conquistador of Mexico
The Zulu and the Navaho
The Belgians in the Congo, Short memory

Plantation in Virginia
The Raj in British India
The deadline in South Africa, Short memory

The story of El Salvador
The silence of Hiroshima
Destruction of Cambodia, short memory

Short memory, must have a, Short memory
Short memory, must have a, Short memory

The sight of hotels by the Nile,
The designated Hilton style
With running water specially bought, short memory

A smallish man Afghanistan
A watch dog in a nervous land
They're only there to lend a hand, short memory

The friendly five a dusty smile
Wake up in sweat at dead of night
And in the tents new rifles hey, short memory

Short memory, must have a, Short memory
Short memory, must have a, Short memory
(repeat)

If you read the history books you'll see the same things happen again and again
Repeat repeat short memory they've all got it
When are we going to play it again
Got a short, got a short, got a short, got a short
They've got a short must have a short they've got a short aah
Short memory, they've got a.

Talk about Daniel in the Lions den. He has a very tough job. It does not help his well known political stance. The guy must want to be asking himself as to why he accpeted this post???????? I guess he needs to reasess his position that he has spent so long building up. If he would like to retain any credibility with his followers he should take great pains to explain his point of view. Something like this:-

" Whilst I accept that the decision I am about to make will inflame a certain majority, I make this decision with a heavy heart. For Australia to keep in front of the nuclear program it is necessary for the 4 Mile Project to proceed. I am against this decision due to my stance that has been well documented. Unfortunatley, I have been voted against in caucus. The decision I have made is not without regret. I have been advised that the mine in question will be of the worlds best practice and I GAURANTEE that no pollutants will leach into the groundwater or the atmosphere."

Hmmmm ....... I would like to see that !!!!!

 

[Buckeroo]

I agree with you Trainspotter.

The people that bagged him for signing off on the Four Mile mine would be the same people who would criticise him if he rejected the project.

Its all to do with trust - Garrett's has shown that he's the type of person that would sell his soul to the devil to get some advantage. He doesn't stand up to his own principals.

You have to remember, a few of years back, he would have destroyed peoples livelihoods for his principles - now, so that he can keep his position of power, those principles count for nothing.

Now why would I respect the guy?

Cheers

 

[Julia]

Its all to do with trust - Garrett's has shown that he's the type of person that would sell his soul to the devil to get some advantage. He doesn't stand up to his own principals.

You have to remember, a few of years back, he would have destroyed peoples livelihoods for his principles - now, so that he can keep his position of power, those principles count for nothing.

Now why would I respect the guy?

Cheers

Exactly. If Labor had really valued Garrett for genuine ability, rather than 'star power' they'd have given him the whole portfolio.

Instead, Penny Wong gets the much higher profile 'Climate Change' while Garrett just gets the left overs.

 

[trainspotter]

*clap, clap, clap, clap for Julia* I beat my plates of meat together on this one !! For a man of his principles and guile he is currently being portrayed as a toothless tiger. Shame the Labor Party could not make more of him and his followers.

 

[Calliope]

No he's not a hypocrite. At long last he's grown up

Janet Albrechtsen | July 22, 2009
Article from: The Australian

THE Environment Minister's sensible decision to grow up makes him an excellent role model for all manner of foolish young idealists.

NOW that the dust has settled, it's worth looking back at Peter Garrett's epiphany on the way to the Four Mile uranium mine in far northern South Australia. There are indeed many lessons to be learned. But not the ones most commonly asserted by those quick to criticise the former Midnight Oil frontman. Garrett's experience in approving the first new uranium project in his time as Environment Minister is an important lesson about idealism.

Not a lesson about a once noble young man whose idealism has been corrupted by power. It is about the follies of idealism. Garrett's youthful idealism was a foolish, childlike indulgence overtaken by maturity, wisdom and the need to confront the world as it is. The lesson is not to fantasise about a world that could never be, as Garrett did when he was head of the Australian Conservation Foundation or sought out a Senate seat as a member of the Nuclear Disarmament Party.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25816660-7583,00.html

 

[Mr J]

Its all to do with trust - Garrett's has shown that he's the type of person that would sell his soul to the devil to get some advantage. He doesn't stand up to his own principals.

You have to remember, a few of years back, he would have destroyed peoples livelihoods for his principles - now, so that he can keep his position of power, those principles count for nothing.

Now why would I respect the guy?

Cheers

I don't think we can really judge him. I don't know what his principles are, who he really is, and whether or not he's changed from his younger days. It's possible he is a hypocrite, but it's also possible that he not as naive as he seemed in his earlier days. It's possible that he was never naive, or that idealists in generally aren't naive, but just take the extreme viewpoint to be heard, and make their point.

 

[trainspotter]

FAIL !! This guy (Peter middle name hypocrite Garrett) is a total HYPOCRITE Oooohhhhh I sang for 29 years against anti unranium mining ... Ooohhh I preached AGAINST the Labor party ideals. Oooohhhh the beds are burning. My BLOODY OATH they are burning Peter Garrett. For you!!!!!!

No softie liberlaism here. This guy wore a "SORRY" T shirt for his final gig to John Howard. WHERE ARE THE MORALS NOW PETER? Ooooooooooooops .. excuse me. I must toe the party line !!!!!! PISHAW I SAY..

I recognise the Aboriginals are sacred to this earth and I have made millions from singing their plight and I feel empathty for them and they have an affiliation to the gwandanaland. BUT .... I'm gonna give approval to a urnaium mine in SA. WTF .... No I say .... WTF ????

DIRTY STOP OUT !!!!!

Wake up people ... if someone like this can be bought ... who is next?

 

[trainspotter]

Wow ... I was really angry and had fat fingers (spelling mistakes) when I wrote that !! Ooops.

Anyways ... I still think he is a hypocrite.

 

[Macquack]

FAIL !! This guy (Peter middle name hypocrite Garrett) is a total HYPOCRITE Oooohhhhh I sang for 29 years against anti unranium mining ... Ooohhh I preached AGAINST the Labor party ideals. Oooohhhh the beds are burning. My BLOODY OATH they are burning Peter Garrett. For you!!!!!!

No softie liberlaism here. This guy wore a "SORRY" T shirt for his final gig to John Howard. WHERE ARE THE MORALS NOW PETER? Ooooooooooooops .. excuse me. I must toe the party line !!!!!! PISHAW I SAY..

I recognise the Aboriginals are sacred to this earth and I have made millions from singing their plight and I feel empathty for them and they have an affiliation to the gwandanaland. BUT .... I'm gonna give approval to a urnaium mine in SA. WTF .... No I say .... WTF ????

DIRTY STOP OUT !!!!!

Wake up people ... if someone like this can be bought ... who is next?

Trainy, how many (dozen) beers did you have before you penned this post?

You are usually "fair and reasonable", however this time you have lost the plot.

You know as well as anybody with a brain, that Garrett is part of the Labor Party, part of the Government and not a dictator in the Environment portfolio.

Critics of Garrett want him to woose out and throw in the towel. Trainspotter, you should know the mammoth job Garrett has in persuading his "principles" through the mine field of "capitilistic" realities.

 

[trainspotter]

You are right Macquack, I think there were a few Crownies too many passed the lips when that one sneaked in. I really did not engage the brain before changing the foot in my mouth did I? Still tastes like toe jam.

 

[darnsmall]

Not so much a hypocrite as an employee. The boss sets the rules for any organisation, some people like to wear their heart on their sleeve; which is fine so long as they don’t overstep the mark. Garrett seems to be towing the company line so I don’t think it has anything to do with his own personal views.

 

[trainspotter]

Peter Garrett:- "And this is how big the Urnanium mine is going to be in South Australia !"

Western Australia says "Anything you can do, we can do better" http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/23/2634459.htm?section=australia

 

[trainspotter]

Interesting to note that the Federal Minister for Resources has this to say: "While the export of uranium is a positive move for the nation's economy, the Government is still opposed to nuclear power generation in Australia."

WTF ??? It is OK to export it but not for Australia to generate electricity with it? Apparently because we have "alternative resources". I am not a smart man Jenny, but I know what urnaium does. (apologies to Forrest Gump) It creates clean and viable electricity and or blows the crap out of things with great efficiency.

Ummmmm ... seeing how we OWN 23% of the worlds uranium deposits including the largest SINGLE deposit at the Olympic Dam Mine in SA, why are we exporting it again? For the royalties to flow back into the Govt coffers? For other hostile countries to turn into nuclear weapons? OR for them to turn it into cheap, relaible power generation?

Yep ... Peter Garrett ... you are a dead set hypocrite.

 

[trainspotter]

I have never been against Uranium being used as a source of generating electricity. What I have said is that I am against Uranium/yellowcake being mined in Australia and shipped OS for the use of other countries. I have also stated that the vast deposits at the North West Shelf of LNG should be used in conjunction. Mean, clean and green is the answer.

Those who oppose the development of Australia’s uranium and LNG resources to generate electricity, need to answer the following two questions. (Hmmm ... this would be the government) Do they want Australia to have access to enviro friendly electricity? If so, how do they propose to generate it? The answers would be yes and renewables. Admirable, but impossible today as the government does not want us to have electricity generated by Uranium and ver limited LNG. I have yet to meet anyone who opposes the use of cheap, reliable renewable energy. However, the factors limiting the uptake of renewables remain very much political. We must have a rational, science-based pathway to overcome those hurdles.

Rudd’s ETS will heavily drive up the cost of electricity for traditional suppliers, which will flow through the economy and produce a higher rate of inflation. So either way, traditional or renewable energy approach, the economy will lose its major competitive and comparative advantage in the world economy because of this fixation on human carbon emissions.

So therefore Peter Garrett approving another Uranium mine has assisted in the inflationary process. In my mind .... hypocrite from his original ideals.

 

[trainspotter]

Environment Minister Peter Garrett expects to make a decision on whether he will give environmental approvals to the $50 billion Gorgon LNG project within the next week.

"I expect to make a decision in the next week but again I will take the time to go through all of the material in front of me very carefully," he told reporters. What about the flatback turtles Peter? Look deep inside your previous rhetoric and stance on these kinds of greedy BIG corporations Mr. Garrett. Look real deep. LOL.

A decision has to come before September 8. OMFG ... THE welfare of the Barrow Island mouse, the spectacled hare-wallaby, the golden bandicoot and burrowing bettong -- not to mention the flatback turtle -- is all that stands in the way of the $50 billion Gorgon gas contract with China.

Martin Ferguson had this to say:-

Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson said the unprecedented deal - which will see 2.25 million tonnes of gas exported to China each year during the next two decades - confirmed Australia's importance as a global energy superpower.

The project will be the biggest single investment ever made in Australia, breaking the record set a few years ago by the $12 billion Pluto LNG project now under construction in Western Australia.

"We are a country built on foreign investment and we continue to welcome investments that develop our resources for the benefit of all Australians," Mr Ferguson said in Beijing. Sounds like the decision has been made to me. LMAOOOOOOOO