Writer
Gary Moorhead
Most recently consultant to the St Baker Energy Innovation Fund (Sep 2019 – March 2020). Previously Chief of Staff to Senator Kim Carr (Shadow Minister/Minister for Innovation, Industry Science and Research 2017-2019; 2009 - 2013). Other experience includes senior executive roles at Professionals Australia (2016-2017), in the Commonwealth Department of Human Services (2013-2015), CEO of Sports Medicine Australia (1999-2009), adviser to other federal Labor politicians (Brian Howe, Jenny Macklin, Lindsay Tanner 1995-1999), various roles in the contemporary music industry and as a TAFE and secondary school teacher.
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(Un)common sense in the National Electricity Market grid design
In a recent (21 October) edition of Pearls and Irritations, Roger Beale suggested (amongst other things) that the Commonwealth should “seize sole control of the national electricity market” (the NEM) to bring stability to the energy transition and stop the states going their own way. Continue reading »
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Too late to avoid an electricity transition catastrophe?
About two years ago, I wrote an article for Pearls and Irritations (December 1, 2020) suggesting Australia was tracking to repeat and reap the mixed railway gauges folly of the Nineteenth Century in our handling of the transition from fossil fuel to renewable electricity generation. Continue reading »
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Dentists, overtreatment and policy deficiencies
A recent article in Pearls and Wisdom discussed the issue of “overtreatment” (the provision of unnecessary or low priority care) in dentistry and the associated issue of the conflict between ethics and profits. Continue reading »
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“The most lamentable engineering disaster in Australia”…?
Echoes of one of the great public policy failures of this nation are starting to grow louder. Continue reading »
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“You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone…..” Like manufacturing!
As part of the post-COVID recovery, the Morrison Government has announced a “package” to revive manufacturing. But why does manufacturing need to be revived? Continue reading »
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Hydrogen, but not for the Hindenburg
In Mafia folklore, when faced with an existential crisis, the mobsters would “go to the mattresses” a euphemism for dropping everything to engage in a life and death struggle with their enemies. Continue reading »
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It’s a gas, gas, gas.
With the Federal Government announcement of a gas-lead recovery (and as a potential centrepiece having the large coal-fired power station, Liddell in NSW, replaced by gas generation) Australians can now have both lower emissions and lower energy prices. High fives all round. Continue reading »
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Managing Perception: what’s real and what’s not
How much should we, as a nation, stress about how others perceive us – and what can we do about it? Continue reading »
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The perils of privatisation and outsourcing.
Waste of government money is the inevitable consequence of government’s funding the private sector to deliver a public good. Continue reading »
