Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Australia’s Federal left wing opposition leader Bill Shorten, who has repeatedly demanded far more ambitious greenhouse gas cuts than the current Australian government, has just been busted on video sending a mobile text message, while driving a SUV.
According to the Australian ABC;
Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has been fined $455 and has lost four demerit points after he was caught using his mobile phone while driving in Melbourne.
A video, obtained by News Corp, showed Mr Shorten driving along Kings Way in August this year with his phone in hand.
Today he made a public apology for the incident.
“Like most drivers, I always try to do the right thing,” he said.
“But there’s no doubt that using your phone while driving is the wrong thing to do — there’s no excuse for it.
“I shouldn’t have done it and won’t do it again.”
Mr Shorten told reporters he had contacted Victorian Police about the vision and would accept any fine that is issued.
Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-11/shorten-apologises-for-using-mobile-phone-while-driving/7020104
Lets be charitable – as a politician of the green persuasion, Bill Shorten’s SMS message was undoubtably a vital part of his campaign to save the planet from global warming. No doubt Shorten was driving a SUV rather than riding his bicycle, because his bicycle was in for repairs, due to wear and tear from overuse. Shorten is an example to us all!
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Don’t you just love it when Karma strikes?
It actually struck twice – 2 weeks ago he crashed his mother’s car in to three stationary vehicles when he spilled hot coffee from his mobile phone shaped cup into his lap.
Shorten claimed it was caused by spilling hot coffee. I suspect that the hot coffee explanation was a cover up for a previous texting episode.
“Shorten claimed it was caused by spilling hot coffee.”
What precisely was he doing with hot coffee when he was driving?
“I always try to do the right thing”
Except when I don’t.
Is he being fined for using the phone, driving an SUV, being a green opposition leader or driving a SUV and being a green opposition leader?
Should commit himself to community service at the very least! 😉
Cheers
Roger
http://www.thedemiseofchristchurch.com
Too bad his “Karma” doesn’t run over his own “Dogma.”
Bit disappointed that he wasn’t reported to have been using his other hand to eat a giant hamburger.
…..or using his other hand to eat ……
https://youtu.be/A7AfZm-0Wx4
Eating dried up human mucus must be the Soylent Green version of beef jerky.
Sort of like Greens everywhere. SUV’s are ok for them but not us Hoi Polloi …
I’d like to see what is parked on the ramp at Le Bourget right now…
My search for a webcam at Le Bourget and Orly came up empty
http://airportwebcams.net/airport-webcams-by-country/
Do as I say, not as I do.
The Gore style of leadership.
He’s actually the leader of the “Labour” party, not the Greens who are even further into fairyland than “Labour”.
So what if he is a law-breaker and has a carbon footprint the size of a dino? He’s “saving the planet”. That’s what matters. Sheesh.
SUV??
Sports Utility Vehicle.
4WD off road capable.
unless it’s muddy
but hardly ever used off road
When driven by police they are Law and Order – SUVs.
Mine’s just an UV — utility vehicle — not much sport. But good on bad roads. It’s also old enough not to care too much if the road eats it.
Sorryass Uninformed Vigilante
I had to look up SUV. I must have led a very sheltered life. Perhaps I should buy one.
Toy Wheel Drive.
I am 100% sure he runs on biofuels.
Bio is best, right?
Absolutely ! Especially the real energy-negative stuff that is heavily subsidized by the tax-payer.
We here downunder use the term Trans-fuels so as not to discriminate against any one type of fuel.
+1
Eric Worrall ,At the bottom of the of the link you provided there is another link to a spilled coffee incident Mr. Bill Shorten was involved in. Teach him to take his coffee black; with milk he could have gone to the voters and insurance Co. and reminded that there’s no use in crying over spilled……
michael
Speaking of jumping sharks the BBC’s Roger Harrabin is just about (Radio 4 ‘Feedback’, 16:30 GMT) to undergo self criticism for not mentioning climate change enough! Several members of staff were sent for re-education last week for putting out a programme gently teasing the Met Office. We really are living through interesting times.
We are indeed. We live an age of taboos. Not a good sign for the poli.
At least he’s paying a little more attention than this Greenie !!!
http://a57.foxnews.com/media2.foxnews.com/BrightCove/694940094001/2015/12/11/144/81/694940094001_4657042491001_468b5b84-c9cc-4e14-ac6f-0ca373dcfa3b.jpg
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4657019566001/oblivious-cyclist-runs-straight-into-speeding-train/?intcmp=hpvid1#sp=show-clips
This is the video clip !!
Marcus
In Portland OR. other cyclists would probably hunted down the train driver down.and demanded the cops arrest him after roughing him up.
michael
. . LOL..Sad but probably true !!!
That cyclist guy with the train was very lucky that he wasn’t just a second or two earlier.
He went around the boom to do that. Just another example of a certain type of two-wheeled vehicle being driven on our roads by people who think they are above the law.
Krudd Gillard: “Just another example of a certain type of two-wheeled vehicle being driven on our roads by people who think they are above the law.”
Ah, but when you’re saving the planet you are absolved from observing the rules that apply to everyone else.
Pity trains don’t understand that!
Please don’t refer to them as ‘greenies – this makes them sound like naughty children.
What would you suggest they be called? (This could be fun.)
Greenshirts
I prefer the term watermelons. It is the most accurate description yet.
Well that is basically what they are. Most of them are about as sensible and self controlled as a 3 year old.
I’m with Hugh.
Watermelons.
Streaky green on the outside.
Bright red on the inside.
Auto
I also like Lord Monckton’s Traffic light correlation:
They say they’re GREEN
But they’re too YELLOW
To admit they’re RED
Eco-jihadists. They impose their beliefs and morals on you.
When Australia’s Greens were led by Bob Brown, I christened them as Bob Brown’s green shirts…pity he’s gone….no more Earthians.
I have always used Ecoloons, as they use the excuse of “protecting the environment” as the reason for their insanity…pg
I would never be caught texting while driving. I haven’t driven for the past few years and have only spent $10 on gas this entire century so far. I have ridden by bicycle several thousand kilometers so far this year. I do wear out my bikes. Why just a few weeks ago I borrowed my mothers bike because my bike needed a handle bar tightening. Unfortunately when I borrowed the bike and went to the coffee shop, it was gone when it came time to go home. This made me very sad. Date of bike theft November 16 +/- 1 day. Location Starbucks patio 2353 Ottawa St, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia V3B 8A4 Canada 49.256671, -122.747035
White ladies bike.
Shouldn’t we demand that the global nanny-state ban bicycles that lack self-tightening handlebars?
What sort of caddish tramp would abscond with a woman’s bicycle?
Gary, you say you have “only spent $10 on gas this entire century”.
Oh no, more Liberal math. How do you think the bike was made, transported and sold. How was the metal made and rubber heated. How were the lights powered during assembly and for that matter, how was that coffee heated after the raw materials (coffee, cups, etc) were transported to McDonald’s in the first place. It may not feel good but you’ve spent a lot more then $10. Need to stop bicycling and drinking coffee to be really “green”.
He is certainly an example to us all. An example of the rank hypocrisy that is roaching out people’s faith in the governing elities. “The new boss. Same as the old boss” The Who
Unfortunately the “We won’t get fooled again” lyrics may be over optimistic.
I don’t want “meet the new boss, same as the old boss” to happen to the world.
Can I say though, that Pete Townshend kind of sums up the popular conception of reality by the anti-humanist crowd in the song ‘Street In The City’:
How many carbon-generated electrons were harmed in this texting incident?
Give me a million dollar grant and I’ll find out !!
Marcus
Give me a half-million dollar grant each year until I retire and I’ll find out !!
Help – indeed, fixed – at no cost to you.
Good luck my researcher!
Auto
Yes, fodder for political rivals, served on a silver platter. Doesn’t get much better than that.
2nd time…From the ABC News :
” It follows an incident last month where Mr Shorten sideswiped a number of cars in Melbourne, after he spilled coffee on himself. “
Jezus and this guy who can’t be left responsible with a car for five minutes thinks he’s fit to be responsible for a nation?
Was it McDonald’s coffee? Inquiring
mindspersonal injury lawyers want to know.Despite their obsession with the doom laden reporting of war and weather events, even the ABC seems to have decided Bill Shorten can’t win.
When they want someone out, say Abbott, they just keep on reminding viewers of supposed bad things and link to others.
They even do so when he’s gone.
As for Shorten they either ignore him, unless he is talking about something green, or link to some indescretion.
I’m sure the report forgot to mention that it is a solar-powered SUV. It goes along with the solar-powered planes they all took to Paris.
“has lost four demerit points” ??
didn’t he gain them ?
(I know – picky)
This happened in the southern hemisphere, that’s where everything goes the opposite way.
Yes the opposite way, but the right way.
Regards
Climate Heretic
Perhaps the thinking is “One man’s loss is another man’s gain.”
…Still no reason to use the double negative.
do you think sharks worry about their appearance ?
That’s why they are so snappy.
Right, but this one’s a hammer-head.
California liberals are crazier then Aussie Liberals !… Wonder how many starving people could have been fed with this money ?
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4656227993001/watters-world-art-basel-edition/?intcmp=hpvid1&playlist_id=trending#sp=show-clips
…Insanity !
only a couple of weeks ago Shorten pranged another car because the coffee he was drinking spilt on him. clearly he can’t do two things at once: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/bill-shorten-sideswipes-cars-after-spilling-coffee/news-story/743b9aa94c1a7a7ca6442916362bdef7
the other day there was a picture posted of Arnie in a Bugatti or something, looks like a nice car but the tyres seemed over inflated because of the wear or maybe tracking/camber/toeing ?
when that shark bites with his teeth babe, scarlet billows start to spread
This is a pretty good “gotcha”, but ultimately the whole thing boils down to the fact that CO2 does not do what these fools think it does. And even if CO2 did warm the planet in any detectable manner, it is up to them to prove it and to prove humanity would experience any harm from that.
Eric
So you think a story like this is worth publishing on a science site? Wow… just wow.
The “About” page says
I deem this commentary on puzzling things. I’ll never stop puzzling over politicians.
Exactly. This is National Enquirer stuff, not science content.
Highlighting the hypocrisy of the leaders of the anti-science green movement helps undermine their credibility.
Simon, like who are you to complain?
When you start paying the bills, you can start telling others what they are supposed to be interested in.
MarkW
So we have a climate conference going on that potentially will influence the lives of millions if not billions of people across the planet (by influence I mean good and bad) for the next however many years and here we have a story about some random politician texting while driving. A politician who immediately admitted his mistake and apologised. So Mark, let me get this straight, you think this is a story worthy of a site that in the past has been about the science? Really? Maybe that explains things.
..Want some cheese to go with that whine ?? Geez…….
So you think that conference is about science? Really? Also, I notice you skipped the part about the hypocrisy of a greenie politician who pushes “green” policy driving an SUV.
^ Obviously missed the point and therefore can’t begin to make a valid one in the comments.
Bruce, there are SUVs that get 30-40 mpg, they are not all gas hogs: http://www.intellichoice.com/10-16-18-2/suvs-30-40-mpg.html
” that potentially will influence the lives of millions if not billions of people across the planet”
No, not really.
catweazle666
” that potentially will influence the lives of millions if not billions of people across the planet”
No, not really.”
Keep up. If they decide to tax the richer countries, to subsidise the poor ones…. you will be influenced and I am guessing you wont be too happy either.
And RWturner, please tell what point I missed?
Simon: “Keep up. If they decide to tax the richer countries, to subsidise the poor ones….”
No Simon, you keep up, it seems you suffer from delusions.
There is no “they”, and there never will be any “they”. There is no supra-national organisation in the whole of the known universe with the power to tax the United States of America, Russia, China or India. Kerry has already stated that there will be no money forthcoming from the USA, and the Chinese and Indians have stated that they don’t believe in the whole AGW BS anyway.
This is the 21st time that this luxury pi$$-up for climate trough-snouters has taken place, there is no chance whatsoever of a clique of Third World no-account scroungers taxing anybody – even less this year than any previous COP fiasco.
You can take that to the bank.
catweazle666
Maybe do some reading before writing. China is very much worried about the long term affect of climate change on its people. And at this very point in time they (group in Paris) are trying to sort out just who does pay the most if any agreement can be reached. Your clueless rant merely highlights my point that articles like this distract from the real issue. And whether you like it or not and whether it is in Paris this month or not, sooner or later money will start to change hands between nations and I am certain people like you will be the first to wail “it’s not fair and how did that happen?” Let me tell you now, it will happen because you will have let it…. reading and supporting nonsense like this.
Simon: “China is very much worried about the long term affect of climate change on its people.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you just keep right on telling yourself that if it helps you sleep at night.
I can absolutely guarantee you this, absolutely nothing binding concerning taxation will be legislated as a result of COP21, and in a years’ time COP22 will take place, and no binding legislation will take place at that either, nor at COP23 a year after that.
Meanwhile, China and India in particular will continue to ramp up their usage of fossil fuels, and they won’t be the only nations to do so.
You can take that to the bank.
Oh, and China is worried about POLLUTION, which does not include CO2.
catweazle666
“I can absolutely guarantee you this, absolutely nothing binding concerning taxation will be legislated as a result of COP21, and in a years’ time COP22 will take place, and no binding legislation will take place at that either, nor at COP23 a year after that.”
Latest news from Paris re a proposed agreement…
“It also requires rich nations to maintain a US$100 billion a year funding pledge beyond 2020, and use that figure as a “floor” for further support agreed by 2025, providing greater financial security to developing nations as they wean themselves away from coal-fired power.”
Ref http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/75044403/paris-climate-talks-world-climate-accord-hailed-as-turning-point-from-fossil-fuels
Oh dear…..
Simon: “Oh dear…..”
So let’s take a look…
Here’s what good old Jailbird Jim Hansen has to say:
James Hansen, father of climate change awareness, calls Paris talks ‘a fraud’
The former Nasa scientist criticizes the talks, intended to reach a new global deal on cutting carbon emissions beyond 2020, as ‘no action, just promises’
Mere mention of the Paris climate talks is enough to make James Hansen grumpy. The former Nasa scientist, considered the father of global awareness of climate change, is a soft-spoken, almost diffident Iowan. But when he talks about the gathering of nearly 200 nations, his demeanor changes.
“It’s a fraud really, a fake,” he says, rubbing his head. “It’s just bullshit for them to say: ‘We’ll have a 2C warming target and then try to do a little better every five years.’ It’s just worthless words. There is no action, just promises. As long as fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuels out there, they will be continued to be burned.”
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/12/james-hansen-climate-change-paris-talks-fraud
And here’s John Kerry, Secretary of State:
Speaking in Paris, Kerry said:
The fact is that even if every American citizen biked to work, carpooled to school, used only solar panels to power their homes, if we each planted a dozen trees, if we somehow eliminated all of our domestic greenhouse gas emissions, guess what – that still wouldn’t be enough to offset the carbon pollution coming from the rest of the world.
If all the industrial nations went down to zero emissions – remember what I just said, all the industrial emissions went down to zero emissions – it wouldn’t be enough, not when more than 65 percent of the world’s carbon pollution comes from the developing world.
http://dailysignal.com/2015/12/11/john-kerrys-surprising-comments-on-international-regulations-and-climate-change/
So the “Father of Climate Change Awareness” says the COP21 agreement is a fraud – no action, just promises, and the Secretary of State says it’s not worth the US or any of the developing World doing anything about it because it won’t make any difference.
Oh dear indeed.
And here……
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/626235/Britain-set-to-face-multi-billion-pound-bill-for-climate-change-measures
Oh dear dear………
So the can gets kicked down the road again, and you think that is somehow going to make any difference?
Get a grip!
catweazle666
Perhaps it is time for you to take your hands off your glands and focus on what is happening…
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2015/12/13/paris-cop21-agreement-watered-down-but-still-dangerous/
Simon: “Perhaps it is time for you to take your hands off your glands and focus on what is happening…”
Oh, I think that’s you actually, sunshine. I’m absolutely certain what’s happening.
Apart from the fact that any US agreement to legal obligation requires 2/3 Senate approval – and the chances of that are zero – you seem to have missed this little nugget, the almost toothless COP21 has just had its last tooth knocked out.
has now become
Can you spot the difference Simon?
See here for chapter and verse.
https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2015/12/13/mystery-over-last-minute-change-to-paris-agreement/
I can assure you, it is extremely important, you bedwetters have lost, big time, you’re going to have to keep sleeping on your rubber sheet.
Just you did at COP 1 through 20.
And I’m going to keep right on driving my very thirsty chipped BMW Alpina that pushes me back in the seat when I gas it at 135 MPH on the progressively cheaper and cheaper gasoline, guaranteed by that nice Mr. Putin.
Russia plans $40 a barrel oil for next seven years as Saudi showdown intensifies
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/12046185/russia-opec-saudi-arabia-bluff-40-oil-price.html
Oh happy day!
Live with it!
Aw, c’mon guys, let’s not be too critical. An SUV is merely a bicycle: that has four wheels instead of two; sorta’ like two bicycles next to each other. With tires that are different only because they’re a lot bigger. And operate at a much lower air pressure. And with bodywork to protect the rider from the elements. It’s constructed out of steel ’cause it’s gotta’ be constructed out of something. So it weighs a couple thousand or more pounds. And, because of that, it’s too much weight for the rider to pedal. So it needs an engine. Of course, the engine needs something to develop power. Bill Shorten needs carbohydrates for energy to pedal and the engine for his SUV bicycle needs hydrocarbons for the engine to make energy: not much difference.
See, he’s just like you and me
No wanton display of hypocrisy
As he tools around in his SUV
Moreover, his green creds
You may soon see
As he texts and drives his SUV
We may soon find him
Hugging a tree
Many cars no longer use much steel like they did in the 50’s and 60’s of the last century. They’ve been getting lighter and lighter. As a side comment, I’ve been puzzled as to why they call themselves green when they fight feeding the plants more food.
…and driving on the wrong side of the road.
Losing 4 demerit points makes no sense.