National Interest

On last week's program we spoke to Bruce Mitchell, the Gold Coast developer of environmentally friendly industrial estate.

Anne, in New South Wales, thinks Bruce Mitchell deserves a gong for his work:

"What a terrific thing he is doing, showing everyone that it is possible to do things another and BETTER way."

But listener David in South Australia was disappointed by my questions to Bruce Mitchell:

"You questioned him as if he were some sort of weirdo, placing environmental issues ahead of economics. Not that this is an either/or issue - you can usually satisfy both... But surely you can be more positive towards people like Bruce Mitchell. It is way past time that we required things to satisfy economic criteria first, unless you want to be with the dinosaurs of climate change deniers."

And if you missed that interview, you can find a transcript of it by clicking here.

Regular Canberra listener Dylan, was similarly disgruntled with the questions I put to ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope on last week's program:

"You interviewed Jon Stanhope in the same way that you'd interview a somewhat remote state premier. This guy is well known to us - he shops where we shop, rides his bike or walks where we do and takes questions from callers regularly on local radio... and he resolves most of their gripes. [...] OK, he's occasionally grumpy - aren't we all? - but he has beliefs and principles and I think that should count for something in this era of cheap expediency. I'm sorry that you tried to make that seem like a negative rather than a positive quality, when you said he was "grandstanding" on human rights issues. Most people would appreciate a leader standing up for human rights. Or is that just "grandstanding" in your cynical opinion?"

Listener Di also admires Jon Stanhope's conviction politics - even though she said she wouldn't vote for him:

"I'm sure that Mr Stanhope's stand on the bigger issues has meant that he is less popular with some voters, as you suggested in your interview. For me, those are the things that he has done right (for the most part). The things he hasn't done right are the decimation of library services and the closures of the schools and other local issues which have really affected the Canberra community. I hope we do get a minority government that listens rather than the strange arrogant sledgehammer that Mr Stanhope's majority government seems to have become.

Of course, we now know that a minority government is exactly what Canberrans have just got.

And listener John took issue with comments by the leader of the Canberra Liberals' Zed Seselja:

"Zed tells us that he has Canberra's future as central to his policies - patently wrong! He is a NIMBY [a 'not-in-my-back-yard' politician]. Why? Because he opposes a power station in the industrial zone about two kilometres away from his home. Currently it has a sawmill, which is probably as noisy as a gas power station... A little more noise but greater benefits for Canberra as a whole... hence, he's a NIMBY!"

If you'd like to add your comments to today's program, the number for our feedback line is 1300 936 222; or click on the "Have Your Say" button at the top of this page.

Presenter

Peter Mares

Producer

James Panichi