Future Drought Fund
With much fanfare the Federal Government announced the establishment of the Future Drought Fund: It has now announced the spending of $100 million p.a from a fund that earns interest on $3.9 Billion.
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At $1 per cent interest this would be $39m! Should it be deemed with deeming at 2.25 per cent equals $97.5 million.
I am amazed that the administrators can't generate earnings above deeming rates (which it expects pensioners to do) or is this smoke and mirrors again.
Why is this low rate of earning being trumpeted by Minister Littleproud. Perhaps the Future Drought Fund should seek advice from Angus Taylor or Peter Dutton who seem capable of achieving much greater returns on capital based on their parliamentary register of assets.
Graeme Harris, Calala
Cold Comfort
Before sunrise yesterday, the grass temperature in Washpool, "Sunny Queensland" was minus 1.7 deg. There was no wind or sunshine. Wind turbines were becalmed and not even moonbeams energised our solar panels.
In that still, frosty darkness, green energy failed again. Not a watt came from becalmed wind "farms" or from subsidized solar panels cluttering many roofs (including ours). But we didn't need our diesel in the shed - we were saved by trusty Old King Coal, with maybe a dash of gas or hydro.
Reliable 24/7 generators provided pre-dawn power-by-wire for lights, heaters and coffee before we checked the frosty flats for new-born lambs.Yet politicians, academics and the UN-ABC relentlessly push unreliable"green"energy, promising it will promote global cooling.
They should be careful what they wish for. Neither sheep nor shepherds like frosty darkness.
Viv Forbes, Washpool Qld
To mask or not to mask
President Trump has drawn on the fable of the Lone Ranger to say that when he wore a mask, he "...thought it looked OK. Looked like the Lone Ranger...". Like many people raised on 50's and 60's TV the heroes of America, there was much to inspire including Superman who "fought for truth, justice, and the American way" although now he might be imprisoned as an illegal alien.
The writer's guide for the show included the requirement that the Lone Ranger "... always used perfect grammar and precise speech devoid of slang and colloquialisms" so President Trump's comparison is tenuous at best.
The Lone Ranger's mask went over his eyes to protect his identity whereas the masks that the President wore over his mouth to protect from spreading or getting an infection. There is a need to mask the president and to spread the message of safety not fear.
Put the mask over your mouth, everyone! Please.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne
