Up to 60,000 households will get interest-free loans or discounts on new washing machines, fridges and water heaters under an ambitious $61.5-million election pledge by the Baird government to boost energy efficiency.

Under the policy, tradespeople will also be able to offer upfront discounts on the purchase and installation of energy-efficient air conditioners and heaters.

Environment Minister Rob Stokes said that, for the first time, gas appliances would be included in the energy savings scheme, recognising rising gas prices in NSW.

Almost half of the funds - $26.8 million - will go to help low-income households cut their power bills by purchasing expensive but very efficient whitegoods and major appliances.

The Evening Standard newspaper said the Prince would complete a six-week secondment to an Australian military unit before he leaves the army.

Following his secondment, the Prince is expected to join his father Prince Charles at the 100th anniversary Anzac Day dawn service in Gallipoli.

The popular ABC program is considering implementing what is effectively a Twitter-based "truth-o-meter". 

Or as executive producer Peter McEvoy puts it: "Tony asks someone about the budget. We could then ask [viewers via Twitter]: 'Is this politician answering the question or dodging the question?"'

The results of this snap poll might then be flashed on screen and conveyed to Jones. And if viewers decide the panelist is talking through their hat, Jones could inform them of this, then insist on a clear and direct reply.

"I cannot find them, I am sorry. I had them on a notepad."

With that bumbling, mumbled apology on Tuesday, the Attorney-General's Department's new secretary, Chris Moraitis, may have spared himself and his minister, George Brandis, from a criminal investigation.

How so? Without Moraitis' missing notes, the Australian Federal Police is powerless to act on Labor's urging that it investigate whether Brandis sought to bribe the Human Rights Commission president, Professor Gillian Triggs, into resigning.

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison says wholesale changes to the welfare system are "necessary", but he has signalled they will be introduced slowly and in stages.

from the The Anti-Empire Report

from PoliticOz ….

"By any measure, the threat to Australia is worsening," Abbott said. "The signs are ominous. ASIO currently has over 400 high-priority counter-terrorism investigations. That's more than double the number a year ago." And so on. This may be factually correct, but is it a prime minister's job to engender fear among his people? Isn't that the terrorists' job?

from PoliticOz …..