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The Labor Party’s latest proposal, spearheaded by Chris Bowen, to impose stringent fuel efficiency standards on vehicle manufacturers reflects a troubling trend towards government overreach and paternalistic control. Under this policy, Australians would find themselves compelled to opt for vehicles that meet the government’s specified fuel efficiency criteria, potentially limiting consumer choice and imposing additional financial burdens.

This heavy-handed approach not only infringes upon individual freedom but also neglects the diverse needs and preferences of Australian consumers. By effectively dictating which cars citizens “must drive,” Labor is undermining the principle of free market dynamics and stifling innovation within the automotive industry. Rather than empowering consumers to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances, the government is imposing its will in a manner reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.

Moreover, the unintended consequences of such a policy are manifold. While ostensibly aimed at promoting environmental sustainability by encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles, the reality is that it could exacerbate socioeconomic disparities. The inevitable rise in prices for popular vehicles like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Ford Ranger would disproportionately impact working-class Australians who rely on these vehicles for their livelihoods, such as farmers, tradespeople, and regional residents.

Furthermore, the lack of consideration for infrastructure readiness and affordability of alternative options like electric vehicles demonstrates a disconnect between policymakers and the realities faced by everyday Australians. Rather than coercing citizens into compliance with arbitrary mandates, the government should focus on fostering a supportive environment for technological advancements and offering incentives to encourage sustainable choices.

In summary, Labor’s proposal to dictate the types of cars Australians are permitted to drive represents an alarming encroachment on personal liberty and economic autonomy. Instead of paternalistic control, policymakers should prioritize empowering individuals to make informed decisions while fostering innovation and inclusivity within the automotive sector.

Yes Minister, a British sitcom that aired from 1980 to 1984, is often lauded for its astute portrayal of government bureaucracy and political maneuvering. Despite being set in the UK, many of its themes and scenarios resonate with audiences worldwide due to their universal applicability to governmental systems and human behavior.

It’s not uncommon for comedy shows, especially those centered around politics and bureaucracy, to offer insights into real-world issues and dynamics. Through satire and humor, they can often shed light on truths and realities that might be uncomfortable or inconvenient to acknowledge directly.

Given the nature of government and bureaucracy, it’s entirely plausible that the themes and scenarios depicted in Yes Minister could apply to Australia, or any other country for that matter. The show’s exploration of topics such as power struggles, political expediency, and the challenges of governance are certainly not limited by geographical boundaries.

In fact, many viewers and critics have pointed out the relevance of Yes Minister to contemporary politics and governance, highlighting its enduring insight into the complexities of governmental systems and the behavior of those who operate within them.

So, if you find parallels between Yes Minister and the political landscape of Australia, it’s not surprising. Comedy often has a way of illuminating truths that might otherwise remain obscured behind the facade of officialdom.

It is August 1918, World War I is not far from its’ end, but fierce, bloody battles still rage across the Western Front. The stagnant trench fighting has been replaced with a war of movement and during this phase many impressive acts of valour are recorded. However, perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all these deeds are those accomplished by the man who would become known as “Super VC”. And so today on the Ulysses Files we cover the extraordinary story of Australian Lieutenant Lawrence Dominic McCarthy.

ED: The following comment from John Clarkson was in my inbox this morning.

Hello Ray,

I enjoyed reading your article on Australia introducing National Service once again.  I agree that in some circles, the name ‘National Service’ may conjure up unpleasant thoughts and memories.  But I believe they would be in a distinct minority.

As I completely agree with your essay on the topic, I won’t go any deeper on that issue.  My input is to describe in some detail just how it might work, beginning from the time these 18-year-old men and women register for National Service.  As you would be aware, the last time it was introduced it was for 20-year-old men, and it was for the Army only, and it was through a ballot.  Yes, there were many complaints about how it was administered and most of those complaints were legitimate.

However, I suggest that ALL 18-year-old men and women should register for National Service, and that it be shared with all three services, Army, Navy and Air Force, and that it be for a term of two years full time service, plus a ten-year term of Reserve.  Also, at any time during their full time or part time service, if a National Service person were to volunteer to become a permanent member of the that service, then he/she would be welcomed into full time service.

I also agree with your proposal that if a young man or woman did not pass the medical examination, then they could very well be offered to several other excellent services such as the SES, Bush Fire brigades, St John Ambulance Service, Coast Guard, and several other worthwhile groups.

However, back to the training programme.  Upon enlistment into one of the three services, each would undergo the same recruit training programme as those who enter for full time service.  Upon completion of the recruit training, they be allocated to undergo training into any one of the many service elements.  These would include for Army, infantry, Artillery, transport, Aviation, both maintenance and operations, Engineering, and many others.  Likewise, for Air Force and Navy, upon completing their recruit training, each one would be offered entry into one of the hundreds of vocations within the service.

I think one of the contentious issues during the last programme was the fact that National Service personnel were eligible for posting to Active Service.  It is true that many of these did serve in Active Service areas and many served with distinction.  However, back home, that topic was one of the most contentious.  Therefore, I suggest that any National Service member not be eligible for Active Service unless he/she openly and genuinely, officially applies for such a posting.

I realize that there would be many other topics which would need to be addressed prior to the introduction of such a service, but I think I have outlined the backbone of the issue.  To finish my little essay, I shall attach a little story, which I included in my book “War Stories and other Tales”, written in 2005/06.  This is a story about an Army fellow who befriended we RAAF fellows at the Re-Arm pad at Nui Dat during the 1971 period.

Reference has been made in previous chapters about the Anti-Vietnam marches. Well on one occasion I saw the result of one of those marches during one of my tours in Nui Dat.  One young Army fellow became a regular visitor to our Re-Arm pad and we enjoyed his company over a can or two.  He was with the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME) unit and had befriended us over a period of months.  On one occasion, this fellow came down to see us at the Re-Arm area in a very depressed state to have a chat with us.  We began to worry about how or what we should say, perhaps he may have lost a mate??  However, this day he was really down. He showed us a copy of the Melbourne Age newspaper, which would have been about ten days old by this time and showed us the front page.  On the front page was a very large photo of three women displaying a sign, “Save our Sons!”, whilst taking part in an Anti-Vietnam rally.  He identified one of these ladies as his mother.  He said as soon as he saw the paper he wrote to his mother telling her NEVER to do that again. In his letter he told her that before he was called up to the Army, he was a bum!  Now, he told her, “I have a trade”.  Also, he told her that he had just signed up to transfer from being a National Serviceman to a Regular Soldier and a fully trained Electrical Fitter.  He emphasised that he had progressed from being a 20-year-old uneducated bum to a responsible person who had a trade as well.

It is stories like this which need to be told far and wide.

Kind Regards – and keep up your good work.

John.

ED: If you would like to comment please send to my email [email protected]

1. Recently – Otago University – the oldest in NZ, and founded with pure Scottish history by new immigrants – my ‘Alma Mater’ for my 6 years undergraduate study in Medicine, and where 2 grandchildren are recent graduates and 2 are presently attending there – has recently – ‘wait for it’ -unbelievably announced a name change to that of the invented M?ori title of ‘Otakou Whakaihu’. Of course, Māori had a lot to do with the foundation of Otago University in 1869 – like ‘zilch’!!!

TODAY we also hear the news that previous Deputy PM and Minister of Finance, Grant Roberson – after destroying our economy and putting NZ into a huge unbelievable debt position – is leaving politics to take up the position of no less than Vice Chancellor (the CEO) of the University of Otago!

One has to wonder as to the University of Otago Council who made these two decisions.

2. Today we also learn that St. John of NZ – now renamed ‘Hato Hone’ by its ‘Knights of St John’ administrators, is having to cut back on its services (largely government funded anyway) because of financial difficulties. It is understood that many longtime annual donors – including my family for 40 years- have ceased their contributions because of the change to a Māori name – which St John officially refuses to alter.

Can we believe that this ancient ‘order’ was founded by Monks in Jerusalem in about 1080 to provide first aid, healthcare, and support – especially to many pilgrims- and is a movement established in about 40 countries worldwide. My postgraduate teaching hospital in London founded in 1805 has had a 200 Year history of mutual cooperation with that of the St John hospital in Jerusalem.

We can see how intimately NZ Māori has had such an association with St John, that its name here has such justification to be now changed to ‘Hato Hone’ – with such tragic financial results!

Dr Hylton Le Grice

Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite announced a $5.445 million grant for RSL Victoria to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in the Surf Coast/Geelong region.

Geelong RSL will expand to accommodate the new Hub, which will also include satellite support sites in the Surf Coast region.

RSL Victoria has a proven track record of providing localised support for current and former Australian Defence Force personnel. RSL Victoria is the lead organisation for the recently established Wodonga Veterans’ and Families’ Hub, and also runs a network of hubs in Melbourne, Frankston and Warrnambool, delivering tailored support in partnership with state and local governments, ex‑service organisations and other community groups.

The new Hub will be tailored to the needs of local veterans and families. It will offer services to support health and wellbeing, advocacy, education, skills and employment, housing and accommodation support, and more.

This is great news for the region’s 6,600 veterans and family members who will receive the support they need and deserve much closer to home. The Hub will be open to all current and former Australian Defence Force members, including reservists, and families.

The Surf Coast/Geelong region Hub is part of a $46.7 million 2022 Budget commitment by the Australian Government to establish eight new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs across the country.

Visit the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs webpage to learn more.

From Professor Ian Rutherford Plimer – an Australian geologist, professor emeritus of earth sciences at the University of Melbourne, professor of mining  geology at the University of Adelaide.  He has published 130  scientific papers, six books and edited the Encyclopedia of Geology.

PLIMER: “Okay, here’s the bombshell. The volcanic eruption in Iceland. Since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet – _all of you._

Of course, you know about this carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress – its that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans and all animal life.

I know….it’s very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kids “The Green Revolution” science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacation in Bali getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cent light bulbs with $10.00 light bulbs…..   well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tubes in just four days.

And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud at any one time – EVERY DAY.

I should also mention that when the volcano Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in all its years on earth.

Of course, I shouldn’t forget to mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, _which keeps happening despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change. _

And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud, but the fact of the matter is that the bush fire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years. And it happens every year. Just remember that your government just tried to impose a whopping carbon tax on you, on the basis of the bogus ‘human-caused’ climate-change scenario.

And, how interesting is it that now they don’t mention ‘Global Warming’ anymore, but just _”Climate Change”. Why? It’s because the planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century and these global warming alarmists got caught with their pants down. And, just keep in mind that you might yet be stuck with an Emissions Trading Scheme – that whopping new tax – imposed on you that will achieve absolutely nothing except make you poorer.

Welcome back to the FLUCTUS channel to witness various rapid insertion and extraction techniques of the United States forces.

Courtesy of the Department of Defence 

Bomber Command veteran, 101-year-old Ray Merrill, recently presented RAAF Base Edinburgh with a special gift.

He donated framed photographs, a biography and a signed letter written by General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during the Second World War (and later the 34th president of the United States), which is now on permanent display in the officers’ mess.

Flight Lieutenant Robin Karumba, from 462 Squadron, said the mementos will inspire aviators visiting the mess, and remind them of the service and sacrifice of those who served during the war.

‘It was a great opportunity to compare and contrast the evolution of Air Force culture after having Ray share his experiences with his old unit,’ Flight Lieutenant Karumba said.

‘Ray’s escapades and ability to relate to aviators who have a different mustering made him the most interesting person in the room.’

Born in Port Augusta, Ray enlisted in the RAAF on Anzac Day 1943, at age 20. After completing his training, he deployed to Britain as a tail gunner, flying Lancaster and Stirling aircraft with the Royal Air Force’s 218 Squadron.

He completed 36 missions for Bomber Command on various operations, including Operation Glimmer, which supported D-Day by tricking German forces into thinking the landings would occur at Calais rather than Normandy.

During one mission, incendiary bombs crashed into Ray’s aircraft from a plane above. Showing immense courage, he jumped from his position and quickly freed the bombs from the fuselage, throwing them out of his aircraft. For this action, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), representing ‘skill and fortitude in operations against the enemy’.

Ray missed the opportunity to receive the award from the King at Buckingham Palace due to another ‘priority’. His favourite greyhound had the inside track in a race at Sheffield and was unbeatable. The dog won but left Ray in trouble with his commanding officer for failing to go to Buckingham Palace. He eventually received his DFC in Australia.

462 Squadron honours Ray on a daily basis, with a conference room named after him. Commanding Officer 462 Squadron Wing Commander Duncan Scott said seeing Mr Merrill was a reminder of the squadron’s heritage.

‘It gives us the need to honour the service and sacrifice of our past serving members,’ he said.

Ray holds a photo of his crew while Air Commodore Adrian Maso, left, holds a memento for Ray and Wing Commander Mark Sweet holds the letter signed by Eisenhower, at the RAAF Base Edinburgh officers’ mess. 

US Republican Senator JD Vance has issued a stern caution to European leaders, urging them to take significant steps towards bolstering their own security measures. He characterizes Europe’s failure to do so as an “implied burden on the American people,” with far-reaching consequences.

Since Russian troops breached Ukraine’s borders in early 2022, Europe’s illusion of a peaceful hiatus from historical conflicts has been shattered. This awakening was long overdue, considering the impact of unfettered economic globalization and the erroneous belief in the absolute triumph of liberal democracy, epitomized by Francis Fukuyama’s “End of History” theory.

Today, we find ourselves facing the harsh reality of autocratic powers asserting themselves globally, while the established post-World War II order, both economic and strategic, faces a steady decline. From major powers like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy to smaller yet influential nations like Spain, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, the increasingly multipolar world poses significant security challenges across Europe.

This predicament isn’t new; European nations, especially the larger ones, opted to shirk their defence responsibilities, leaning heavily on the United States’ unparalleled military might following the Soviet Union’s collapse. NATO’s collective security umbrella further entrenched this dependency. European powers focused on niche forces and expensive yet limited military platforms, failing to invest adequately in their own defence.

This approach has bred resentment, particularly in the United States, where a growing consensus questions why America should bear the brunt of defence expenditures. JD Vance, now a Republican senator for Ohio and formerly a venture capitalist, echoes this sentiment in his piece titled “Europe Must Shoulder Its Defence Burden.”

Vance highlights the staggering amount Europe could have invested in defence had it maintained Cold War-era spending levels. He argues that Europe’s reluctance to do so effectively places a burden on American taxpayers for European security.

Criticism of Europe’s defence posture isn’t exclusive to Vance or the Republican Party; it dates back to the Obama administration. President Obama himself chastised European allies for not pulling their financial weight within NATO. Vance emphasizes that this sentiment transcends partisan lines.

The conflict in Ukraine serves as a glaring example of Europe’s weakness. Despite possessing robust economies, European nations have neglected their military capabilities. Vance questions why the US should bear the burden of aiding Europe when it should have the capacity to handle such conflicts independently.

Moreover, the vulnerability of Europe’s defence industrial base has become increasingly evident. Fragmented industries on both sides of the Atlantic struggle to produce essential weaponry swiftly and at scale, leaving Europe ill-prepared to face potential conflicts.

Vance’s message to Europe is clear: it must reassess its defence readiness and commit to rebuilding its military capabilities. He also challenges the US to prioritize rebuilding its defence industrial base to maintain global stability in the face of rising geopolitical tensions.

As Europe grapples with its security challenges, Australia faces similar dilemmas in the Indo-Pacific region. The need for a robust defence posture and industrial capacity has never been more urgent. Failure to act decisively could leave both regions vulnerable to aggression and coercion from revisionist powers.

In conclusion, Vance’s warning underscores the imperative for both Europe and its allies to step up their defence efforts in an increasingly uncertain world.