There is a distinct air of deja vu drifting down from the north east of Oz these days. Take blatant political corruption, some unknown journalist at the ABC is quoting Tony Fitzgerald who says: “Access can now be purchased, patronage is dispensed, mates, supporters are appointed, and retired politicians can exploit their political connections to obtain ‘success fees’ for deals between business and government”.
Another aspect of life in Queensland that seems to be reviving is its contempt for the natural world as Marian Wilkinson in the SMH reports. Apparently the government has declared an end to widespread land clearing starting anytime soon. Of course as history has shown, imposing future limits on such destruction merely increasing the current rate of destruction, a fact that can be observed across the country where National Parks are declared and adjoining farmers then exterminate any native vegetation. But the scale of land clearing in Queensland is staggering, an area equal to the ACT in a single year.
Queensland, beautiful one day, cleared and corrupt the next. Joh would be proud!
