Jerry_Atrick

Part of the reason I am questioning is that I recently stumbled across the importance dingos provide the the biodiversity, and ultimately, the economic performance of agriculture in Australia, yet they are still baited and culled. Here's one example where a pastoralist sees the economic benefits for cattle farming: Of course, it may be a different story for a sheep farmer in terms of pedation rates, so there may have to be some more innovation of managing flocks with dingos, but clearly, it it can be managed without culling, the farmers will be much better off and more productive. Which is why evidence based policy in this area (as with any) will lead us to inversting the resources in activities that will really solve the problems - not the gut reactions that can make it worse for us

You raise a good point, Nev. Crocs do play an important part of the ecosystem: https://chatgpt.com/share/688464ca-87e8-8008-91e9-a7cb5f702e72 But feral pigs and waterbuffalo are also on their diet and they help keep the numbers down. Feral cattle may also be taken. So, it helps keep at least some of that population in check. Yeah, crocs are a threat to humans. But there are a lot more humans than crocs, and a lot of humans do frequent where crocs live. Yet, very few are taken. Of course, a croc isn't that fussy an eater and will take people, but people are normally very adept at living in their environment, which contributes to what appears to be an extremely low rate of fatalities. So, if we are going to invest in control of animals, it may be better for Australia's environment and food production to invest in control of the feral species, while maintaining investment in education and safety of the public. Also, I am not saying a cull isn't on the cards.. Over-population of any species should really be kept in check and if the apex predator is not taking care of its own numbers through territorial fighting, etc, but I would liketo see an evidence based approach rather than anecdotal based approach. I am not suggesting Chat GPT is accurate either.. If there's a case to supportit, it should be supported with the requisite quota in place to ensure no overculling. Would also like the controls in place to ensure there is no overvulling and leaving carcasses in situ to avoid detection.

Depends on who he ate, I guess 😉

I accidentally hit save and by the time I got the rest of the response in, my time was up, so here is the rest: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-30/fact-check-does-a-crocodile-kill-someone-every-three-months-/9202902 I checked how many head of cattle per year are taken by crocs, and it is estimated to be around 100: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-01-17/crocodiles-snapping-up-more-than-100-cattle-a-year/8187352. In the biullions of dollars that the Aussie beef industry is worth, I would expect that to be tuppance. Yep, those in affected areas have to spend a bit keeping their herds safe, but if it were not economic, they would get out of it. I wouold have thought snakes were more of an issue, but apparently not or there is little evidence, anyway. BTW. googleing current price for middle wight steers for beef in Australia yielded about $1900/head. That makes it less than $190K per year out of a multi-billion dollar industry. Say there are 500 farms/stations affected and they need to each spend 100K per year protecting their herds, that is $50m/year in a multi billion dollar industry.. I think it doesn't add that much to the price you pay in the supermarket or butcher. I couldn't find any information on the amount of food crocs take in Australia that would deprive humans of their food. I would wager that societal inequities are probably a far bigger contributor to malnutrition in Australia than the croc's diet. I have no idea if the above is accurate - there is very little to go on, but as humans, we adapt to changes in our environment are able to exert influences on our enviromnment more effectively than any other species.. Maybe we can lear to live with them - or maybe we already have?

I have no idea of the subject, but as always, I like to turn to facts. Suprisingly, when I key historical rate of crocodile fatalities in Australia into Mr Google, there really is scant info, but this did turn up, and was quoted in an ABC fact check that labelled as false Katter's claim a person is torn to shreds every three months by crocodiles in QLD alone: https://aussieanimals.com/reptiles/fatal-crocodile-attacks-australia-timeline/

I think you may have misunderstood my point. While I agree with it, the question or thought is why are people so afraid to talk about money; It is the thing that determines the quality of their life, yet most people shy away fom discussing it, learning about it, and the like You'e right - health is far more imporant, but on the socio-economic ladder, richer people are in general healthier and live longer lives (with better quality of life) than poorer people. I wasn't referring to greed, etc; and objectifying the wealthy v poor... That is a different topic altogether. This is sort of my point - and this probably stems from an aversion to talk about it. Somehow, as a society, we have become almost scared of it. We shouldn't be; being ipen about it will help bridge the gap. Can I borrow your SWMBO to deal with a couple of builders? 😉

Why are people so coy or embarressed to talk about money? I picked up a second hand sofa yesteday, handed the seller a white envelope with the money in it, but let her know I didn't count it, so if she wants to check before I go, I was happy. She very coyfully (if that is a word) grabbed the envelope, as if we were doing some shady deal, and in a hushed and hurried tone, said something like, "no, that's OK". and scurried off. It may have been stolen; I have no idea; but I doubt it looking at the couple and where they lived.. and the fact they haad a brand new sofa in their living room. A lot of people are like that - they don't want to negotiate, they don't want to check - they just want the thought of money to pass. It is such an important part of life, yet even my parents hushed up the topic. We can't do anything without it, and when we don't have enough - which will be differnt for different people - life can be a real pain. When my gardners (which I have for 2 hours a week - so not what you may be thinking) needed to up their rate during the cost of living crisis (aka inflation), he was very sheepish about broaching the subject, as if I may scold him. I said to him, as he was in busines now, he has to get comfortable talking about money and ensuring he is not getting ripped off.. I then proceeded to scold him (just kidding). I still teach my kids about money - and not to be afraid of it nor afraid to talk about it.

Except Brittin

This one seems to have slipped through the net: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-24/playschool-presenter-donald-macdonald-obituary/105562942 I recall watching him...

That delay cloud defo had a silver lining. The two hour flight I had from London City Airport to Frankfurt was very ordinary. The plane was shappy, seats small, cramped and not too comfy, and it was as noisy as sitting next to the wing on a Dash 8. To top it off, the in flight meal for the 2 hr morning flight was some granola bar. That was a BA flight and I don't normally fly them as they, in my humble opinion, are about theo only western airline that makes QANTAS look OK. Glad your flight was a good one.

Caused by this: I guess Musk is no longer in Donny's good books!

Yes we do... And when I am in Aus, I go out of my way to find Aussie ones.. There is just so much wrong about us importing food from the US (or anywhee else) when we produce perfectly good supply ourselves

I get it.. I never bought steak at the supermarkets in Aus when I lived there, but it made for comparisons... I just went to Tesco's website (would never buy steaks from there, either), but he cheapest I could find was over AUD$60/kg: https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/300400609?_gl=1*1g8m0c0*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTc0NDg2MTA3OS4xNzUzMzM2NDk0*_ga_33B19D36CY*czE3NTMzMzY0OTQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTMzMzY0OTQkajYwJGwwJGgxNTM0MzI4Mzg3 It's that bad they won't put an image up of it! I do buy my meat form Waitrose normally.. from the meat counter.. .it is definitely a better cut than their pre-packed stuff.. But, more expensive, not les 😞

Seems academic, but it will come down to price. If the American beef is cheaper and our Aussie beef can fetch prices higher (or more accurately profits higher), then more Aussie beef will be exported and we will be left with the crap Aussie beef and the crap US beef. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Beef-Choice-Angus-Sirloin-Tender-Steak-0-6-1-62-lb-Tray/930351681?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1200 Sirloin Steak - USD $15.94/lb or $35.14/kg. In AUD terms, would be around $54/kg. Woolies has porterhouse steak (presume its sirloin) at $40/kg: https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/243050/woolworths-beef-porterhouse-steak-butter But I would question the quality, as they have other porterhouse steak at $55/kg. So, I guess there probably is no incentive to provide American beef, unless they start dumping it.

Thankfully, Albo is rescuing us from paltry Aussie beef by allowing us to consume the much higher quality US beef: https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/australia-lifts-us-beef-ban-after-trump-demands-20250724-p5mhdv.html Block javascript to read

Whilst I respect police and the hard job they have.. there are times one wonders about some of those apples.. with or without guns: https://youtu.be/rUOoRiI8HVU?si=Ize7lO0RHpwcsxgo This was a rather infamous accident, but I can't help but think American culture is over exported. At least the UK police are generally unarmed (or without firearms)

I would take him over the aforementioned, but it's like taking a fractured arm over a broken one.

And Starmer and his cohorts, sadly, are following suit

They should for all the major parties. Just because a political party wears a label doesn't mean they have that label's values. There is something morally bankrupt about any government to want to remove a welfare payment from those that cannot bathe themselves through physical disability where that payment provides the assistance for them to get the care to have it done, yet leaves generous tax savings for the truly wealthy; and something pig-headed and callous about attempting to pursue it when there is a back bench revolt bigger than their massive majority that threatens to vote against it if not amended.. eventually the government amended the bill to do nothing.. but the government proceeded to suspend or remove the whip from some if the leaders of the revolt rather than accept true democracy. This is but one example of a continual stream of policy ans political failures of Labour since they were elected. Nigel can't believe the gifts the government give to reform daily.

Don't joke.. it may well happen In which case the conservatives and labour will have to take a good look in the mirror

You forgot lawyers. .

Sorry, Nev.. Another one to sadly announce.. Ozzy Osbourne, of Black Sabbath fame, died aged 76.. I can't say I was a great fan of a man who bites the head of a bat off on stage.. and his other antics, but Paranoid is a great song.

Obviously these AI robots have come a long way from the power banks of ols:

The Western world is in so much debt and there are two organisations that hold it.. The banks - usually through their high net worth investors.. and.. China. There are only two ways out, without handing control to either: 1. Print money, let hyperinfaltion take over and, these days, starve half your population to death... 2. World War Three. or some approximation.. Or... 3.. Jump on SpaceX to Mars.. (Note, there is some Sarcasm in the above.. just some.. .;-))

I was telling someone at work about it today... when we were discussing the increasingly onerous taxation the Labour government is inflicting on the very people it is supposed to champion equality for.. but forgeting to spread the tax burden to others that have broader shoulders.