Author Archives: andrew

Letter to Bill Shorten: don’t trash democracy

October 15, 2013 Dear Mr Shorten, My congratulations on your election to the leadership of the Parliamentary Labour Party comes with a caveat: don’t let Labour trash democracy. You and your newly elected Deputy The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, have … Continue reading

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When the weather forecast matters; the IPCC AR5

By Andrew L. Urban If September 26, 2013 wasn’t marked in your diary, chances are you’re not obsessive about climate change or climate change policies. This was the date the professional and just very interested ‘climate world’ awaited the IPCC’s … Continue reading

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A life half lived

By Andrew L. Urban “….the rigid orthodoxy of modern environmentalism” is the phrase that jumped out when I read Robert Stone’s Director’s Statement prior to the Australian release of his Sundance-selected doco, Pandora’s Promise. (It will have a few cinema … Continue reading

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Beyond abatement: democratising climate policy

By Andrew L. Urban This paper was submitted to the incoming Coalition Government via Prime Minister Tony Abbott MP, and others, on September 18, 2013. “The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good … Continue reading

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Climate: a change needed

By Andrew L. Urban Climate change has changed an entire generation’s thinking; it has been framed (by both Al Gore in the US and Kevin Rudd in Australia) as a moral challenge, one that must be addressed by drastically cutting emissions … Continue reading

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My how to vote card 2013

By Andrew L. Urban Integrity. Transparency. Competence. If we apply these three KPIs (Key Performance Indicators in corporate jargon) to the Australian Government over the past 6 years of its Labour life, it is found wanting. Yet these are critical … Continue reading

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Another ‘Lindy Chamberlain’ miscarriage of justice

By Andrew L. Urban It is four years now that Sue Neill-Fraser has been in custody for a murder she vehemently denies and evidence for which is at best circumstantial. On August 20, 2009, Neill-Fraser was arrested on the charge … Continue reading

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Turning back the boats: Indonesia benefits

Open letter to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott MP, Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison MP, Immigration Minister Brendan O’Connor MP, by Andrew L. Urban June 6, 2013 Indonesia stands to benefit as much as does Australia – as do asylum seekers … Continue reading

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Framing policy: turning back the boats

An open letter to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison Dear Tony & Scott, Hearing Foreign Minister Bob Carr this morning (2/6/2013) on Australian Agenda (Sky News) talking about the asylum boats and the prospects of … Continue reading

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Disrespecting the PM

By Andrew L. Urban “Love her or hate her, to disrespect the PM is to disrespect our entire system,” writes Jacqueline Maley (Why it takes a flying crust to burst the political bubble, Sydney Morning Herald, June 1, 2013). Maley … Continue reading

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