octave

Well, in that case, surely GON would have a good case to have the fines waived. It is hard to believe that during the weeks you can postal vote GON does not go into town to buy food, petrol or anything else. Where I used to live, neighbours would always ring and say they were going into town, and did we need anything? We would also do this for others. Perhaps people in the country are no longer kind and helpful to each other. As I say, I have failed to vote twice, and on both occasions the fine was waived. In any case, my point is that GON chooses to pay a fine, but there are alternatives. In Australia, voting in federal elections is compulsory. If you’re enrolled but don’t vote in an election run by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), you may receive a “Failure to Vote” notice asking you to explain why. You won’t be fined if the AEC accepts that you had a “valid and sufficient reason.” The law doesn’t give a strict list, but these are commonly accepted examples: 1. Illness or medical emergency Being seriously ill on election day Being in hospital or caring for someone with a medical emergency 2. Being outside Australia If you were overseas and unable to access overseas voting or postal voting in time. 3. Religious beliefs If voting conflicts with genuine religious beliefs. 4. Natural disaster or major disruption Floods, bushfires, severe storms, or other events preventing travel to a polling place. 5. Unexpected work commitments If work made it genuinely impossible to attend a polling place or vote early/postally. 6. Travel or remoteness Being in a remote location where voting options were not reasonably available. 7. Accident or unforeseen events Car breakdown, transport failure, or similar unexpected problems preventing you from voting. 8. Administrative issues You were not properly enrolled or believed you were not required to vote. Reasons usually not accepted Examples that normally won’t be considered valid: “I forgot” “I was busy” “I don’t like the candidates” “I don’t believe in voting” What happens if the reason isn’t accepted The AEC usually issues a small fine (about $20). If unpaid, it can escalate through the court system and become larger. ✅ Important: In Australia you don’t actually have to vote for a candidate — you only have to attend a polling place or submit a ballot. You can cast a blank or informal vote if you choose.

How do you get mail delivered? When I lived in a rural area, the postie would pick up letters to be posted as well as deliver mail. Apart from that, on two occasions I did not vote (accidentally), I got a notice, and I just said I was sick that day, so no fine for me. By the way, it is not illegal to fail to register to vote, but once on the electoral roll, you are required to vote. The fine from memory is ridiculously small, however, if you hate the government, then why give them your money?

You know, there is probably a smarter way to do this. If you want to send a message and avoid a fine, you could either go to the poll and get checked off and still not vote, or, if it is inconvenient, get a mail ballot and, instead of a valid vote, write a short message across your ballot. I know for a fact that each party's scrutineers do note such things. Why are you so keen to punish yourself with a fine?

Are you saying that someone who is not third-generation is not truly Australian? I can't quite discern your meaning.

A strength of our system is the fact that the PM can be ditched by the party. There are many examples in recent history where PMs have been ditched (Gorton, Hawke, Rudd, Gillard, Abbott, Turnbull). Whilst people may find this annoying, it is much better than the US system. Republicans know that Trump is a disaster and will cost them at the midterms, but there is nothing they can do about it.

I am not sure what you mean by this. Care to expand on it?

I well remember Abbott saying this: "Abbott claimed that the vast majority of Australians did not need, nor want to pay for, the high-speed fibre network proposed by Labor, suggesting it was simply a tool to allow people to watch movies." In 2020 during Covid fast internet was the saviour of the economy and many, many workers, including me. Today, many people work either full or partially from home, freeing up roads and public transportation and improving people's working lives.

I also use both Flight Radar 24 and Flight Aware when my wife has been away on a solo trip. This happens about 4 times a year. We have the pickup down to a fine art. I park at a large service station a couple of KMs from the airport (free). I can then find her flight on either of these apps. and see exactly where it is. This means I can get to the pickup zone at just the right time. Another purpose I use it for is following other people's flights. Recently, my son and partner spent 3 weeks in China. I tracked all of their flights, not out of concern but out of interest.

Here you go OT. Flight Radar 24 historic flights. Untitled 552.mp4

I am not sure if you can do that or not on the free versions of FR24 or Flight Aware but there is a site run by Air Services Australia called WebTrak. II think its main purpose is for reporting aircraft noise. You can go back 3 months, I think, only for capital cities, though https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/community/environment/aircraft-noise/webtrak/

You can also type an aircraft's registration on FlightAware for example VH-*** for historic data.

This was my last flight from Adelaide to Melbourne Untitled 551.mp4

FlightAware allows you to search for past flights for free

If you close the ad I think it takes you to the subscription page. I suspect this is what is happening. The free version is sponsored by an ad. Here is how I use this app Untitled 549.mp4

I am not sure why you are trying to register. It is free to use and does not require registration unless you want the paid version.

Definitely free with no need to register or pay. You can upgrade to the paid version for more features but I have never thought it necessary. I used to do a bit of aircraft photography near Melbourne airport. Radar 24 is great to see what is coming in. For following a specific aircraft there is another app called Flight Aware also free.

Flight Radar 24 is free to use. There is a paid version but I use the free version.

Trump confirms US has launched 'major operation' in Iran

Good job GON. Even if you only save a small amount, it is good take action and feel that you have some control.

The good thing about today is that modern technology supersedes candles, etc. Modern LED lighting, cheap solar panels, lower cost batteries mean that even without a full-on rooftop system with battery, you can cobble together quite a good backup power system. Action is better than whinging.

Just out of interest, what are you paying per kWh

PM, do you believe new coal or nuclear (and I am not anti-nuclear) can be built without increasing electricity bills? The fact that you use the tired old "woke" to describe a valid method of generating electricity. My woke panels mean that for me , electricity bills are not really an issue. So do antivaxxers.

It is a matter of data isnt it? I assume that you don't accept the figures from CSIRO or AEMO?

GON, you are comparing the cost of building solar and wind with building nothing. Let's say we stopped solar and wind, we would need to build new coal power stations. Whatever source we choose has to be paid for. In Australia, renewables (wind and solar) are currently the cheapest sources of new-build power generation, even when accounting for integration costs. According to the latest CSIRO GenCost Report, utility-scale solar and onshore wind maintain a significant cost advantage over fossil fuel and nuclear alternatives. The important figure to look at is the Firmed Renewables. The point is, whatever the cost is now does not tell you how much you would need to pay if they replaced the coal power stations that are nearing the end of their life. Technology Source Estimated Cost (AUD/MWh) Solar PV (Utility-scale) $44 – $65 Onshore Wind $45 – $57 Firmed Renewables (with storage/transmission) ~$81 – $91 Gas (Combined Cycle) $65 – $111 Black Coal (New Build) $87 – $118 Nuclear (Small Modular Reactors) $230 – $382+

People sometimes get the idea that if we stopped building solar and wind, then everything would be much cheaper without considering that something has to be built. Old coal was mostly built by the government (the taxpayer). Building a host of new coal power stations or refurbishing old ones would come at a cost that would be borne by the taxpayers or the electricity customers. The question is which is cheaper to build and operate?