Backlash NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann’s bill to legalise cannabis is now making its way through parliament. And because we are led by the smartest and best among us, the result will no doubt be a mature and informed decision: its legalisation. It’s what other countries are doing. Imagine all the taxpayer money saved if the annual Mullumbimby Pot Festival, featuring Sydney based police, was itself eradicated? Ms Faehrmann’s Just Legalise It petition is at www. catefaehrmann.org/legaliseit. Q Q Q Q
iPhone 7 From $299 ! p o r D e c i Pr 9 6 2 $ m o Now Fr DEVICE TRADER
1/ 130 Jonson Street Byron Bay
02 6685 5585
devicetrader.com.au
DISPLAY OPEN
So, as we have all guessed by now, the Liberal party is nothing more a rape protection racket, with a toxic male culture headed by a PM who employs an empathy coach and needs to be told by his wife that rape is bad. Remember the time when Tony Abbott made himself the minister for women? Ah, such innocent times. See Margo Kingston’s take, page 10. Q Q Q Q
A Tourism Product Development fund is on offer to local businesses from the NSW guvmint, whereby $3m of taxpayer dosh will be available for a Refresh and Renew Fund ($1m) and an Experience Enhancement Fund ($2m). Applications close March 31 and can be accessed via https://bit. ly/3sz4cIK. Q Q Q Q
Did an asteroid really wipe out dinosaurs? The Times reports that Belgian university researchers believe that the theory is confirmed, ‘and that a seven-mile-wide asteroid which hit the Earth 66 million years ago off the coast of Mexico caused the dinosaurs to die off. The researchers
‘Meh, good enough’ – Mediocrates
Briggs and Tony Pagone: ‘At times in this inquiry, it has felt like the government’s main consideration was what was the minimum commitment it could get away with, rather than what should be done to sustain the aged care system…’ Q Q Q Q
claim that the discovery of ‘asteroid dust’ buried within the impact site of the asteroid means that it is ‘indisputable’ that this asteroid led to the extinction event. Q Q Q Q
The National Australia Bank is being accused of ‘unconscionable conduct’ by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), regarding allegations they overcharged customers on periodic payment fees. The Australian reports that ASIC believes that NAB was overcharging customers on periodic payment fees as far back as 2001. Q Q Q Q
The guvmint’s news media bargaining code and the Facebook standoff was always about benefiting the one per cent and not about public interest journalism. Crikey’s Bernard Keane says the Code’s explanatory memorandum definition provides ‘no requirement that the content be produced by a journalist… And there is no requirement that a single cent of the money secured from tech companies [will] be directed toward journalism by News Corp, Nine, Seven, Guardian Australia or any other big media beneficiaries’. Q Q Q Q
Labor MP Andrew Leigh says Harvey Norman’s ‘stonking’ $644m half year profit (up 114 per cent) should come without JobKeeper subsidies the company has benefited
from. He told parliament, ‘They don’t need a cent of it, and should repay it today’. Q Q Q Q
A new UN report on the health of the planet proposes a radical shift in the way mankind thinks about it. CNN reports that, ‘It argues that amid our pursuit of wealth and security, humans must now learn to value the fundamental “natural capital” as well’. Wasn’t that called the “triple bottom line” about a decade ago? Q Q Q Q
This is from Aged Care Royal commissioners Lynelle
What’s with the flurry of edits on Attorney-General Christian Porter’s Wiki page? Is something about to happen? Q Q Q Q
A friendly reminder: The Echo is a locally-owned, independent media company that does not donate to political parties, nor cheerlead for them. Instead, we are committed to public interest journalism and employ locals. We are happy to pay tax so that society can function, unlike multinationals, who avoid it by lobbying compromised political actors.
Happy y hours s at t happy y Timbers!!
Fri 5th & Sat 6th March 8am -3pm 40 Foxs Lane, Tyagarah
Timber yard sale ONLY SUSTAINABLE TIMBERS
Hardwood slabs (camphor, silky oak, black butt) • Posts & building materials • Flooring (iron bark) • Pavers • Iron • Wood turning materials • Free fire wood
www.happytimbers.com
MOULDY HOME? • Protect Your Health • Protect Your Home
Professional Advice & Solutions 0HHW \RXU ORFDO TXDOLŘHG %XLOGLQJ %LRORJLVW 0RXOG 5HPHGLDWRU
Build it Better Tesla battery at 2020 prices, limited stock only Enphase IQ7 for smarter, safer, solar systems
COME CHECK OUT OUR DISPLAY AT 20 BANGALOW RD, BYRON BAY
Sunpower high performance AC modules LG Mono X for high efficiency at great prices
Corner of Bangalow Road and Constellation Close
Call us on 0425 256 802
Open every Tuesday 2–6pm WWW.BYRONBUILT.COM (02) 56 24 50 20 ‘So much more than just a granny flat.’
48 The Byron Shire Echo lëſĈIJ Ǫǽ ǩǧǩǨ
LG Sunpower Enphase Tesla p 0408 540 467 e rhys@consciousenvironments.com.au w www.consciousenvironments.com.au
Our Habitat, Office 26, 20-1 Porter St, Byron Bay
www.junoenergy.com.au
0425 256 802 sales@junoenergy.com.au electrical licence no. 255292C CEC member since 2010
North Coast news daily in Echonetdaily www.echo.net.au