The Irvine Index by Jessica Irvine, economics writer
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday November 28, 2009
At the end of the day, it all comes down to the numbers. If only the Liberal Party spent this week doing the numbers on the science of climate change, rather than on leadership, it might have been a more edifying week. As it was, the only numbers that mattered on Wednesday were 48 and 35 - the number of Liberals voting for Malcolm Turnbull's leadership, and the number voting for a spill.Colleagues ran the numbers on a Kevin Andrews leadership but they didn't stack up. One of the numbers haunting any Andrews leadership bid is 12 - the number of days Mohamed Haneef was detained without charge in 2007. For Tony Abbott, 1988 stands out as a particularly troublesome number, being the year in which he voted Labor in the NSW state election.But come yesterday, the only number that mattered was seven. A traditional lucky number it was also the number of Coalition senators needed to support the Government's emissions trading scheme to make it law.Meanwhile, the climate community began the countdown until Copenhagen, with a little over nine days to go. Just like the one out of three residents of Copenhagen who cycle to work, Malcolm Turnbull could be on his bike by then. But he's not the only one who has been working overtime. According to The Australia Institute, Australians work a total of 2.14 billion unpaid overtime hours each year, adding up to a $72 billion gift to employers. No wonder four out of five working couples with children feel under pressure. On Tuesday the Reserve Bank makes its next decision on interest rates. Markets are tipping 50/50 odds of a pre-Christmas rate rise, but it's up to the Reserve governor, Glenn Stevens, to make the numbers stack up on that.1989Year in which International Panel on Climate Change was established.36Percentage of Copenhagen residents who cycle to work, school or university.436Number of nuclear reactors operating around the world.350Concentration, in parts per million, of greenhouse gases in atmosphere at which scientists believe climate havoc can be avoided.387Concentration, in parts per million, of greenhouse gases in atmosphere now.$72 billionValue of overtime Australians work each year.80Percentage of dual-income families where at least one parent feels under pressure some or most of the time.1.23Percentage points by which financial markets expect interest rates to rise in coming year.$16 millionBox office takings for The Twilight Saga: New Moon on its opening weekend.$178 millionBRW magazine's estimate of Malcolm Turnbull's wealth.14Months since Malcolm Turnbull became Opposition Leader.13.5Months Mark Latham lasted as Opposition leader.5Times Malcolm Turnbull said "I am the leader" in press conference on Tuesday.200Kilometres Kevin and Margaret Andrews cycled when they did the "Fruit Loop" bike ride around Victoria.12Days Indian physician Mohamed Haneef was detained without charges in 2007.1988Year in which Tony Abbott voted for Labor in the NSW State election.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald