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Australia lost in space

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Put aside the rubber band and icy pole stick jokes. Australia is going into space. Soon. well, soon-ish. Weather permitting.

In typical Australian fashion, the government has decided a space agency sounds like it might be a good idea and have immediately announced a committee to see if it really is a good idea and after that committee reports, the government will review it immediately or in the fullness of time, whichever comes first and move straight to establishing a working party to announce the formation of a commission to get cracking on creating a new committee to conduct a feasibility study. When that’s done, the sky’s the limit or it might be if a bunch of government consultants decide it is.

“This is really a way to bring the whole issue to a head,” Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos says in a statement announcing the review.

At this pace we should have a space agency around the time Burkina Faso sends its first manned mission to Pluto.

Full column here.

263 Comments

  • Carl on the Coast says:

    Yes, a certain former US vice president has no shame.

    He’s at it again polluting our shores , scaring the bejesus out of the gullibles with more of his gory, groundless, unsubstantiated predictions.

  • Milton says:

    The bow legged swantoon – I hope you’re reading mate as you may be able to help on a query of mine. I have 2 passports, an Australian and a British one. Is it legal/acceptable/acceptable for me to leave Australia showing my Oz passport, and rock up in Heathrow or Athens waving my British passport?? And then continue on my travels using my British passport (where it may be more expedient) and only wave my Oz passport back at Briz airport?
    Not sure if this is a customs matter but you may know and you may also hold the same passports.

    • Tracy says:

      Often thought of that Milt, although I haven’t been back for 29 years.

    • Boadicea says:

      I think it is okay to swap passports around the traps? This is just from a comment someone made on my recent travels. Can’t remember the scenario though. But I would imagine an Aussie passport would be fine anywhere really. Where are you off to?

    • Trivalve says:

      Milton, nothing wrong with that to my knowledge. The Brits are fairly relaxed about us these days though. And they might ask for some tax? 🙂

    • smoke says:

      forget about bowie

    • Dwight says:

      Milton,

      I do that now. Leave here on Oz passport, arrive in US on American one, and vice versa. DHS has now linked the two so I can use either on arrival in USA.

  • JackSprat says:

    Those who “are born to rule” – th relites whoever they my be must be getting worried.

    Article in today’s Sunday rag about why we should be thinking about getting rid of compulsory voting in Australia – Simon Jackson of the US Studies Centre at Sydney U seem to be at the forefront.

    Then there is the talk fest at QLD U on the divide between the inner suburban trendies who have secure jobs in a globalised world and are more interested in the rights of small percentages of the population ( eg gays) than the financial well being of those whose jobs are at risk through Gobalisation and shifting technologies and of whom the vanguard is the 20 or so percent who are unemployed or underemployed in this country.

    What come through in the articles as reported is that “Our right is to govern and we are losing that ability and we have to do something about it “ – when it should be “We have lost our ability to be inclusive and what should we be doing about it”

    We live in interesting times.

  • JackSprat says:

    He was 3 when he came to this country Dwight.

  • Henry Blofeld says:

    You magnificent bastard Michael Matthews! Australia’s Michael Matthews, a Canberra lad, has won the 14th stage of the Tour de France, Mr Insider, and although he doesn’t as yet lead outright this is a huge effort in the “holy grail” of Cycling. And speaking of “magnificent bastards” the great Roger Federer on Centre Court tonite 11pm EST as he plays for what may be his 8th Wimbledon title, a record if he wins. He plays Marin Cilic.

    • Boadicea says:

      Yep great effort from Matthews, HB. He’s a nice lad.
      My money is on the Fed tonight! A true gentleman of the game.

  • Dwight says:

    Kid Rock for the Senate? Well with Al Franken there, it can’t get much weirder.

  • Bill Grieve says:

    I’m getting sick and tired of these sex sandals in sport , is that all these football people think about ? …

  • jack says:

    have just been catching up with some of the Yassmin news, I think a large part of the problem is that she was considered by the ABC as a model minority, a term they used about her, and that seems to set people up for failure.

  • Huger Unson says:

    I must admit, Jack, to being encouraged by the apparition of Old Mr Howard at centre-stage. It’s almost as though he has his clammy hands firmly around the scrawny neck of the Liberal party. Do you remember when he fondled that core belief during his momentous campaign in 2007? It may have looked like a plastic orang-utan, but closer inspection would have shown it to be the heart & soul of the Nats.
    I reckon it’s time for another hand-shaking contest. Plenty of contenders, too many to mention.

  • Boadicea says:

    An astute comnent from OTOS.

    Getting Hird to present the Norm Smith medal is akin to asking Lance Armstrong to present the prizes on the podium at the TDF.

    Agree.

    • jack says:

      on the evidence i have seen he was no Lance Armstrong, but i wouldn’t have him handing out the Norm Smith.

      likely to attract a few boos i think.

    • Penny. says:

      Bullshit…you have no idea what you are talking about. To equate James Hird with Lance Armstrong is absolutely pathetic. I know you make comments Yvonne to get yourself noticed, but can you please put your brain into gear before you make ridiculous comments like these? You and a few others are the reason I don’t visit the site very often any more. Make an informed comment by all means, but you have absolutely no idea about what has happened to James Hird over the last few months…..it must be nice to live your sheltered, privileged little life. You continually knock anyone who doesn’t fit into your nice, white bread and butter life and you have personally managed to drive a few other people from this site because of your sniping, nasty comments. I have not contributed for quite some time because of the self congratulatory, smug comments you continually make. Go for it Yvonne, but you seriously have ruined this blog for me.

      • JackSprat says:

        A slightly partisan comment (maybe better described as a rant) there Penny?
        I am not an AFL fan but I do know about Essendon drug ( sorry “supplement”) debacle and the AFL should distance itself from all concerned when it comes to prestigious events such as the one in question.
        I have no idea what has happened to the man over the last 6 months. It is the image of what this action portrays in the mind of all AFL fans and the general public that counts.
        It is just another action by a sporting body’s management that is totally out of touch with public perception. There are a few of them going around at the moment.

        Diversity of opinion is what makes this blog great – if you cannot hack that I am sure you can find a nice mono-opinion site that re-enforces your own personal echo chamber.

      • Boadicea says:

        I didn’t make the comment – someone in some publication did.
        I previously commented here that it as an unwise decision – I don’t retract that. He would be wise to stay out of the limelight for a while. Particularly in light of his mental state recently. Why risk further issues that could arise.
        I do not denigrate anyone on this site. Dismayed constantly denigrates me, But I don’t care. Just give it back. Sorry to have ruined the blog for you.
        Free speech and all that.

        • Milton says:

          True, and i’m happy to be proved wrong, Boa but I’ve noticed a lack of the ad hom by you towards fellow bloggers and if you vented spleen it was directed at the deserved…

          • Dismayed says:

            Do dual citizens get a vote here? HAHAHA. You are wrong most of the time. The kool aid is flowing in the cons club.

          • Boadicea says:

            Well I guess if we all conformed to the same opinion on everything this blog would not exist, Milton!
            Taking very personal pot shots at fellow bloggers whose personal circumstances I know zilch about, is not, and never has been, my modus operandi.
            The one notable exception could be Dismayed – and one expects it from him and just fires back!! I’m not alone there.
            For the rest some amicable argument is stimulating – n’est ce pas?

        • Dismayed says:

          Always the victim Yvonne. You are the first to have a go at people and the first to claim victim status when addressed in kind. No surprises.

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