The fake left might be the single most evil entity since WWII.
For years, I have tried to make the fake left see reason on gas. We need it for the energy transition. But we don’t need it from a monopoly cartel that drives electricity prices mad.
The worst offender on this front is Melbourne University’s Grattan Institute, which the gas cartel sponsors to produce pro-gas propaganda.
Recall that it was the Grattan Institute that argued Australia’s east coast did not need gas reservation when LNG exports ramped up in 2013. The result has been nosebleed prices locally ever since.
I questioned Grattan’s toxic conflict of interest years ago with Danielle Wood, then CEO of the Grattan Institute and now chief of the Productivity Commission, and she defended it by pointing out that the sponsorship was actually with the Origin Foundation, not gas cartelier Origin Energy:
I have a bridge to sell you if you believe that that matters.
More recently, Melbourne University’s other public outreach operation, The Conversation, published a piece condemning the fossil fuel capture of the wider media.
I wrote to Misha Ketchell, editor of The Conversation and former Crikey Warrior for Truth, to point out that The Conversation was as guilty as anyone by publishing Grattan Institute gas propaganda.
Yesterday, I received the response from his proxy, “Mike”:
Dear David, thanks for getting in touch and providing this info.
Grattan Institute is a member institution of The Conversation as well as being, as you mention, affiliated with Melbourne University which is one of our founding members.
There are no current plans to change this situation although we always take into consideration every author’s competing interests when commissioning, including refraining from commissioning particular articles in the event of a clear commercial conflict of interest, as per our editorial policy.
Best regards,
Mike
In short, the Grattan Institute and The Conversation are in cahoots to keep publishing gas cartel propaganda as they hide behind “policy”.
Put another way, Melbourne University’s public outreach is bought and paid-for gaswhoring.
