Politics at the Coalface

Today at February’s Queensland Leaders forum there was a lot of reference, understandably, to the Global Credit Crisis, Queensland’s mining industry and of course, with guest speaker Lawrence Springborg, how poorly Queensland Labor are handling matters.

I had hoped, albeit naively, that from the LNP leader we might see less politicking in this smaller forum, than Premier Bligh, and Wayne Swan, when they visited.

Alas, that wasn’t the case. To give ‘The Borg’ credit, he arrived before any of the speeches commenced, stayed until well after they finished and was more than happy to take questions. Unfortunately, that was quite in contrast to the Premier when she visited.

Several interesting questions were thrown up to the Opposition Leader, one being his position on Climate change and Energy sources, given Queensland’s heavy dependence on Coal Mining and export for its  income.

One could have believed the room was loaded with reporters, given the response was very non committal and right down the line of:

We must support Coal, ideally Clean Coal (you know the technology living in the same cavern as the Holy Grail Chalice), because otherwise we would shoot ourselves in the foot. I can get that. In addition, of course renewable, gas, and all that stuff are good too. So ideally, a spread of energy sources progressing over time to be greener and more sustainable.

Sounds like a script from ”Sitting on the fence”, a new monologue from 75% of world politicians on doing something meaningful for the climate.

Today was a day where I must have felt ready to prod a few folk, as I, having already had a shot across the bows at Mr Telstra, who presented earlier, threw open this question to Lawrence:

“Given the success and heavy use of technology and particularly social media in the US elections, how will you and the LNP be using technology leading up to the state election?”

To give him credit he did crack a pretty big smile. I like someone who can see the humour! He stumbled his way through a predictable answer. Basically, they are using Facebook, and Youtube,

“but it isn’t prime time stuff!”

Sorry Lawrence poking Mrs Springborg on Facebook doesn’t constitute using Social Media.

While Social Media isn’t really Lawrence’s biggest problem, it is a shame that engaging with all communities in their electorates is put in the too hard basket for both sides of politics. Much like the complaint that we only see fixes to roads when many have died on them, why is it our politicians will only be dragged into the digital century when it is way too late.

Lawrence is going to need all the help he can get, given he is at the helm of the most underwhelming group of politicians running around. You know the ones, they resemble “lampposts”:

• You know they are useful, and serve a purpose.
• You are faintly aware they are there, doing their thing, while you quickly whiz by, but you aren’t really sure what differentiates them from the next lamppost.
• Well not until one of them falls down or their light goes out.

Do not expect Qld to be helping much with CO2 emissions or Technological change in the next few years folks.

Well that’s what Ireckon!

PS> Lawrence, what is with the Sardine picture.