It was announced that the federal budget would be in surplus next year.

Before we pop the corks, please know that the government is simply pledging to spend less than it collects in taxes next year.

According to official government figures, the federal government is still over $600 billion in debt but who cares?

I HESITATE to write about the weather, I guess the meteorologists (it is a science) do their best, and it is often predicting the unpredictable even with today’s technology.

The low-pressure system goes off in a different direction it is supposed to etc.

The weather bureau gets it right about 60 per cent of the time, but as a friend said, the December 13 to 16 forecasts were alarmist for Launceston.

I use public transport, so I determine my activities around the weather.

On December 13 and 14 it was predicted to be heavy rain and storms, so I stayed at home.

Both turned out to be perfectly fine days.

I know town and gown, had to be cancelled on the Saturday but the rest of the day was fine.

On Sunday, the severe weather did not eventuate for Launceston.

Accurate weather forecasts are vital for, planning, safety, transport, farming etc.

What is going to happen if and when it is moved to Melbourne?

Maybe Newstead has a wonderful micro-climate the sort of “Riviera of Launceston” as the bad weather never seems to reach here, it certainly hasn’t in the past four days in spite of the forecasts. 

The Golden Rule, “do unto others what you would have them do to you,” can be found in some form in most ethical traditions.

It follows then that placing people in the offshore processing centres of Nauru and Manus Island for an indefinite period is something that Australians would be happy to accept for themselves and members of their own families.

Both major parties justify their refugee policies by stating that it stops the boats and saves lives.

It is highly questionable that this holds water ethically when such vile treatment of a group of human beings is countenanced as a deterrent to people smugglers.

Asylum seekers, and particularly children, are protected by international United Nations covenants such as the Declaration on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

The 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Refugee Protocol have also been signed by Australia making the present refugee policy highly questionable.

Christmas is an excellent time to reflect on whether the Golden Rule has any place in our political, cultural and social lives.

IT’S great to be Tasmanian at this time with our state doing very well economically, expansion the order of the day and significant investment in such things as berry growing and tourist facilities.  

Recent good rains have ensured crop success. I find joy these days in travelling the Midland Highway and seeing the prosperity there.

There are pressures being felt by some with housing difficulties, but solutions are being offered.

We enjoy the cheapest retail electricity prices and are on the cusp of substantial surplus power going to the mainland with a new connector in the offing.

Hospital expansion is nearing completion in Hobart, Launceston and St Helens, in an area where we will never meet demand.  

Better to practice good health outcomes and try to avoid hospitals. The prolonged dispute of government employees demands concessions on both sides.  

Maybe, instead of a 50 per cent increase on the government’s offer, employees could negotiate at 25 per cent, which the government would be wise to accept to overcome the impasse?

And a joyful festive season to all.

THE Commonwealth Integrity Commission was announced recently by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

A more appropriate name for the new federal body would be the Claytons Integrity Commission, a commission when you are not having a commission?

Evidently, the commission will be divided into two: a law enforcement integrity division (including the Australian Federal Police), and a public sector integrity division (including federal members of parliament).

The law division will have public hearings when in the public interest, but the public division will not. 

This is indeed an inconsistent juxtaposition, “where everyone is equal before the law, just that some are more equal than others”.

The commission will not be able to initiate investigations, only by referral, which may have a bearing on its independence?

Requiring “reasonable suspicion” of corruption before initiating an investigation would also limit the effectiveness of the commission, as not all corruption is of a criminal nature, but the exposure of such activities is a very important part of the democratic process.