On this episode of Brigadoon Radio, Gerald Ashley and Marc Ross discuss Australia's federal election, how climate is splintering Australia's political parties, a controversial plan to allow Aussie first home buyers to dip into pensions, wheat imports and exports, a global economy with little fires everywhere, Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, calls on an 'apocalyptic' rise in food prices, a proposal calling for 25% of NYC's street space to be converted into walkable pedestrian plazas and green space by 2025, if the WFH revolution is hampering the EV revolution, and what they are reading and watching.
Show notes for this episode of Brigadoon Radio:
Australia will hold a federal election on Saturday.
+ Latest opinion polls point to a change in the ruling party after nine years of a conservative coalition government led by the Liberal Party
+ The incumbent, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, faces a challenge from opposition Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese
Economy key to Australian election: 5 things to know: National security vis-a-vis China is also a big challenge for the next government. Nikkei
How climate is splintering Australia’s political parties: This week’s election will be a lesson for governments around the world, as rising fossil fuel prices make energy a hazardous issue to navigate. David Fickling
The climate champions hoping to play kingmaker in Australia’s election: The pro-business, pro-environment ‘teal independents’ could help to usher in a greener government in the May 21 vote. FT
Ditching climate outcast tag may test a new Australia government: Election contenders in the fossil fuel powerhouse differ on diplomacy, though both offer only modest plans to cut emissions and will support the coal sector. Bloomberg
Dislike of Morrison remains the dominant factor in this campaign: There has never been such an orchestrated disavowal of a leader by a party and its members as there has of Morrison in this campaign. Niki Savva
Australia's election is a contest about character and competence: Six-week campaign has been uninspiring and at times unedifying. Michelle Grattan
Morrison enters last week with controversial plan to allow first home buyers to dip into super: SMH reports Prime Minister Scott Morrison has picked a policy brawl with Labor to shape the final week of the election campaign by unveiling plans to allow first home buyers to withdraw up to $50,000 from their superannuation to get into the property market.
CNBC: India bans wheat exports to try and tame prices as a scorching heatwave curtailed output
+ India has prohibited wheat exports, the government said in a notification late on Friday
+ The world’s second-biggest wheat producer is trying to calm local prices
Beware a global economy with little fires everywhere: Rich countries have shown impressive unity in helping Ukraine counter the Russian invasion. They now need to demonstrate the same level of resolve to prevent the global economic fallout from the conflict from destroying the lives or livelihoods of many of the world’s most vulnerable people. Mohamed A. El-Erian
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, speaks:
+ Britain faces 'apocalyptic' rises in food prices because of war in Ukraine
+ Admits Bank of England is 'a bit helpless' because 80% of drivers of inflation are external shocks
+ Households face 'very real income shock'
Asia's food crisis: Ukraine war triggers chain reaction of shortages: Deadly combination of conflict, misgovernance, and climate change threatens widespread hunger. Nikkei
NYC 25×25: The proposal calls for 25% of NYC’s street space to be converted into walkable pedestrian plazas, bike lanes, green space, and bus lanes by 2025.
Inside Google’s push to nail hybrid work and bring its 165,000-person workforce back to the office part-time: The search giant is one of the biggest companies ever to attempt to transition to a fully hybrid work model. Even the experts aren't sure it can be done: “I don’t know whether it will work. It sounds like Google doesn’t know if it will work either.” Fortune
Happy Odyssey - Adrian Carton de Wiart Amazon
Eddie the Eagle IMDb
Italy Unpacked: Art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon and chef Giorgio Locatelli travel to regions of Italy in `Italy Unpacked'. On a quest to discover the country's cultural heritage, history, food, art, and architecture. IMDb + BBC2
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better - Will Storr Amazon
For more information on Gerald, check out:
For more information on Marc, check out:
For more information on Kownacki Media Holdings, check out:
