He supports wind farms, Clover Moore’s cycle ways, wants to kick the Navy out of Sydney Harbour, wants to ban free speech, supports Gillard education ‘reforms’ (the only state to have signed up to them), supports same-sex marriage, etc…

At least he had the humility and good sense to go, unlike some:

Mr Baillieu resigned following a crisis meeting of Liberal MPs at parliament this evening called after MP Geoff Shaw quit the party, threatening the coalition’s grip on power.

Mr Baillieu said a leadership change was in the best interests of the government.

“I love this state, I love the Liberal Party and I love this role that I have had the honour to enjoy over the last two and a bit years,” Baillieu said.

“It is apparent to me that a change of leadership is in the best interests of the government.”

And there was no conspiracy to get rid of him as well, which reflects well on the Liberal Party.

East coast states should come together to lease such an aircraft for summer fire fighting.

FORMER NSW ALP Minister for Roads Eric Roozendaal is under ICAC investigation for allegedly accepting a free car; the transaction was designed to be hidden from public scrutiny.

And the man who was enlisted with finding the “top of the range” car has told the inquiry Moses Obeid told him the car was “to be bought for Eric, because Eric had done a few favours for Dad.”

The inquiry heard Mr Roozandaal told Mr Obeid he needed a new car, and that he was referred to Mr Obeid’s son Moses who “claimed to have connections in the motor industry.”

Gee, top of the range.

The man who found the car, which had to be black and fitted with “all the extras” was Peter Fitzhenry, who is the inquiry’s first witness.

Ticket all the options boxes. Must of been some car. However, the car turns out to be none other than a Honda CR-V. The sisterhood’s number one choice of transportation.

The shame of it all. If found to have done something wrong, Roozendaal would have to be the first man to go to jail for a CR-V.

Watching ABC 24′s coverage of the ACT election count. The ABC is doing its best to talk up the Greens disastrous result, with about a  5% swing against them so far.

I think two things are clear: the ACT electoral system is borderline incomprehensible, and the ACT should never be given statehood.

The NSW government has been taking flack from all quarters about their decision to cut the education budget by $1.7 billion. This criticism includes talk back radio. Virtually all of the cuts are from back office services, including freezing funding to non-government schools and cuts to government schools.

No part of government should be considered a sacred cow, especially education and health. The Coalition inherited a shocking fiscal mess, there are far too many people working in government and there is no point pretending otherwise.

Advocates for more spending should nominate how much tax they are willing to pay to fund further public largess and then we can have a mature discussion about funding public services.

According to the ABS, excluding the tertiary education sector, there were over one million state government employees in NSW, Victoria and Queensland as at June 2011.

MORE

Here’s hoping:

Ken Dixon, a former general manager of finance and administration, said the government’s decision to cut 400 administration jobs from the department was ”drastic”. He said a software program had been introduced to manage human resources, finance and payroll systems – to take the place of 1600 jobs.

”The 400 jobs are just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. ‘‘There were 1600 jobs factored into the business case.”

It really is rather simple. Tax-payers and the economy can no longer afford to pay for government largess – decisions have to be made. Along the way the less public servants the less ALP voters there will be as well.

Someone is honouring reality:

Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says more than 2,700 jobs will be axed from Queensland Health as part of the State Government’s cost-cutting campaign.

Meanwhile over at fantasy land:

At a press conference this morning, the Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, ducked four questions asking how many new wind turbines were required.

Wind power generates about 652 gigawatt hours of energy in NSW, but that would be lifted to something closer to 8000 gigawatt hours under the government’s plan – which means thousands more turbines dotting rural landscapes.

“Building a strong renewable energy industry is vital to supporting employment and helping grow the NSW economy,” Mr Hartcher said.

“We have heard loud and clear that people are fed up with soaring electricity prices, which is why consumers have been front of mind in developing this plan.”

It really is beyond belief that a Coalition government is pushing the Green’s agenda. Is there no one in government that is willing to stand-up for consumers and tax-payers. In case you need reminding.

One type of leader:

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman says 5000 public servants have lost their jobs so far and thousands more will go.

…Mr Newman declared Queensland was on the verge of bankruptcy and risked becoming the Spain of Australian States.

While in fantasy land:

PREMIER Barry O’Farrell locked lips with Jackie O this morning – but he said he got off lightly.

It was a game of spin the bottle with the 2DayFM morning hosts, which ended with Jackie O telling the Premier he had very “soft lips”

Idiotic.