Heard it on the radio yesterday that the coal industry has not only had lobbyists in Canberra for decades, but they are former public servants. And they brag to each other about how they write policy. They, quite simply, have access to the halls of power that no-one else has. And the other groups trying to lobby for more environmental approaches have discovered this are starting to cry foul.

More: the voting public is getting sick of it, too. The Howard government may have to choose, soon, between the coal industry and the voting public. I know if they piss off the voters enough, they lose government, but I'm not sure what would happen if they push the coal industry out of Canberra. Or even if they can do it at all in eight months.

Wade.