The Australian Bite

Cowboy hats . . . and grass-fuelled aeroplanes?

28 August 2009

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On this week’s Australian Bite, we meet an Australian scientist who says that one day aeroplanes could be flying on fuel made from Australian native grasses.  We talk to the President of the National Union of Students about the state of student services in Australian universities, in light of the Senate”s rejection of the Student Services and Amenities Bill.  And cowboy hats – we find out about the latest trends and fashions being worn by those sartorially elegant blokes up North.

Plan to fuel growth with bio-energy

The Australian federal parliament recently committed Australia to generating 20 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2020.  But what about other types of power, like liquid fuel for cars, trucks and aeroplanes? A new analysis on so called “second generation biofuels” conducted by Southern Cross University’s Centre for Plant Conservation Genetics, argues that by the year 2025, thirty per cent of Australia’s petrol could be provided by locally produced biofuel – including fuel produced from native trees and grasses. To find out more I spoke with the Director of the Centre for Plant Conservation Genetics at Southern Cross University, Professor Robert Henry

Cowboy, you sure look good!

You see them when they come to town with their bow legs, freshly laundered jeans and big belt buckles.  They’re the station hands and managers, the horsemen and camp drafters we call cowboys.  But is a cowboy a cowboy if he’s not wearing a hat? And what types of hats are favoured by aussie blokes in the bush?  Penelope Bergen reports from Alice Springs.

Check out more photos at the ABC Rural website

Setback for Uni Student Services Bill

The Senate – the upper house of Australia’s federal parliament – last week rejected the Government’s bid to introduce a new fee of up to $250 for university students. The fee was aimed at providing and improving a range of student services that were previously provided by student unions. It would have been paid directly to universities and was intended to help them deal with the estimated $170 million shortfall caused by the scrapping of compulsory student union fees back in 2005. The President of the National Union of Students, David Barrow, spoke with Richard Aedy about the defeat of the Student Services and Amenities Bill, and what it will mean for students.

This story was originally broadcast on Radio National’s Life Matters program.

Music (not in podcast)

He was born in New Zealand, grew up in Australia, moved to Nashville and made it big in the USA, battled and beat a cocaine addiction, and then went on to marry Australian movie star Nicole Kidman.  it’s Australian country music star Keith Urban, of course!

Artist: Keith Urban

Track: I’m in

Album: Defying Gravity (2009)