The debate has finally begun to shift towards the role of privatisation policies in this debacle. But no one seems to have aired the fact that a  significant 10 per cent of the energy bills is GST; the bigger your bill the more the federal government rakes in.

Some years ago Lithgow Council initiated a campaign among local government bodies around Australia seeking the abolition of the GST on energy in areas of extreme climate where residents were being unfairly disadvantaged. Quite a few councils came on board and the campaign gained momentum when the then ALP leader Kim Beazley signalled support. 

But when Kevin Rudd took the rains he dismissed it out of hand when interviewed in Lithgow. Council lost the will to pursue  the mission and that was that. Now the energy chickens have truly come home to roost — plus 10 per cent.

Psst! Did you hear about...? During the week there were news report of a new and potentially lucrative crop for NSW farmers — alkaloid poppies. Now this source of opiates is the flower of choice for hopheads and Taliban bagmen. But what we're talking about here is a legal cash crop is for medical applications not dope for dopes. Announcing the development one TV announcer declared '..for obvious reasons we can't disclose the location of the trial crops in the Central West ..' but then went on to interview and name the farmer. And there are only two by that name in the region so take your pick. 

NOT a great deal specifically for Lithgow in the state budget. Seeing it was a budget that was the envy of the western world it's a pity just a smidgin of cash couldn't have been found to do something positive with the dreadful eyesore the Sandford Avenue railway bridge precinct.