May 23, 2013

The Buswell-Carles affair

Troy Buswell

I mentioned yesterday there have been two larger-than-life stories in the news this week. One concerned the rugby league salary cap scandal; the other involved Western Australia’s (former) Treasurer Troy Buswell and his affair with Greens MP Adele Carles. I don’t need to comment on the Buswell affair. The facts are clear and the public [...]

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Influence rather than conflict

WA Nationals leader Brendon Grylls

Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t believe politics has to involve confrontation, opposition and conflict as it does under the two-party system. Despite the spin which is already being trotted out, the Queensland election result delivers the people’s verdict on the merger of the National and Liberal parties. They didn’t want it. Politicians wanted it [...]

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WA election result

Western Australia voted last weekend and the result is still unknown. I’ve avoided commenting until now, even though I have much to say. I voted for Tony Crook (Nationals) in Kalgoorlie. He lost on preferences, but the state Nationals are almost certain to hold the balance of power and decide the next government. I have [...]

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Cost of living

Exchange Hotel, Kalgoorlie

It’s very expensive to live in remote towns such as Kalgoorlie. It’s worse in the Pilbara, from what I can tell, but Kalgoorlie certainly isn’t cheap. We had subsidised housing there, which made it reasonably affordable. When considering a move to Mount Gambier we calculated the impact of losing the housing assistance against lower costs [...]

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Crossing the Nullarbor

Eucla, Western Australia

We successfully crossed the Nullarbor in two cars with four kids and arrived safely today in Moonta Bay on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. We’re resting here a couple of days while waiting for our furniture to catch up. We’ll head to Mount Gambier on Thursday and unpack on Friday. We bought a house in [...]

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