The ultimate betrayal.

What a curious story to come out of Austria. A father imprisons his daughter in a bunker underneath his home, sexually abuses her and fathers her seven children.
One child dies, three are brought up as normal members of the family in the home above - and three reach the cusp of adulthood without ever seeing daylight not seeing a blue sky or the sun shining.

This act of betrayal will continue to make news for years. Two of the imprisoned children are now aged eighteen and nineteen - and face the incredible journey of mind to encompass a world they can never have imagined.

Presumably they received no education in that bunker. Imagine the cultural shock of for the first time experiencing the hustle and bustle of a city - motor transport - television and cell phones - and more importantly - a world that is inhabited by six billion other human beings.

No doubt their story will be a compelling subject for the media to follow and will command the attention of psychiatrists for decades to come.

The father who committed this crime will no doubt spend the rest of his life in prison, but his victims will be unlikely to ever fully adjust and take a normal place in society.

The recycling dilemma.

New South Wales is considering implementing a refundable deposit on all forms of drink containers. This has been in place in South Australia for many years - and that state leads the nation in recycling rate statistics.

This is not a new idea. New South Wales had just such a scheme in place many years ago until it was dropped because of opposition from retailers and lack of interest from the public.

Small children were enthusiastic about earning pocket money from cashing in bottles left in public parks, but high school students and others of an older age considered such activity " uncool " - and much to the annoyance of parents - refused to be seen by their peers cashing in bottles.

The idea certainly has merit - but the government would be wise to consider all the pros and cons before making a decision.

Retailers will certainly voice opposition if they are nominated as the collection point. Not only will it involve precious space to house these returns until they are moved to a central collection point, but staff will be involved in making the transactions and doling out money for the returns.

Then there is the fine point of the law. Retailers will no doubt be required to accept the return of drink cans they sell, but what happens if a collector arrives with a barrow load from a nearby park ? Lawmakers should be careful to ensure that reasonable limits apply.

It is almost certain that if such a deposit scheme is implemented there will be pressure from retailers for a price increase in bottled and canned drinks to compensate for the secondary service imposed by the government.

Then there is the impact on those charities that collect aluminium cans as a source of revenue. This could go either way. If the source of such cans dries up because the public are cashing them in - then their source of income diminishes.
If the expansion of credits to all bottles and cans increases opportunities they could well become the primary collector - and see their income soar.

One thing is certain. The public have had the opportunity to recycle cans and bottles for many years. Every council provides recycling bins for households and many people scrupulously wash tins, bottles and cans and put them in these bins for pickup.

The problem is that more don't bother - and in particular - we seem to be a throw-away society. After every sporting event or public concert the grounds are littered with food containers, paper and cans and bottles.

Perhaps a deposit scheme may reduce the number of cans and bottles within this litter - but so far no plan has emerged to make us better citizens and reduce the mess we leave behind in public places !

Sanity - and that Olympic torch !

People with mountain climbing experience will be horrified to learn that the Olympic torch is now at a base camp on Mount Everest - and an attempt will be made to take that torch to the roof of the world.

Obviously the torch bearers will not be runners in shorts and singlets - but even the toughest and most experienced mountain climbers know that Mount Everest is not to be taken lightly. The summit is littered with the bodies of climbers from previous expeditions who have perished from cold and lack of oxygen.

It is doubtful that the Olympic torch can stay lit during this journey. Lack of air may extinguish the flame - and it will most certainly not have the army of Chinese " attendants " accompanying it.

This seems to be an unfortunate extension of the Chinese government's obsession with showcasing China to the world. It could backfire if weather conditions close in suddenly - and result in tragic loss of life.

It seems likely that the use of a torch relay to herald future Olympics may have to be abandoned. Protesters giving publicity to events in Tibet have ensured that future Olympics will be used as a medium for whatever protest cause that involves the host country. It is likely that the relay will be abbreviated to an event held in a stadium under tightly controlled conditions.

The world will hold it's breath as this symbol of sport ascends the world's highest mountain !

Putting the alcohol genie back in the bottle !

Kevin Rudd has acted swiftly to put curbs on binge drinking by teenage girls. He has raised the tax on so called " Alco-Pop " drinks by twenty-five percent - increasing the price by about one dollar per drink.

The measure will look good in the media - but it will have little effect in the medium term. Girls will certainly grizzle at the price rise - and some may experiment with other forms of liquor - but three months from now those same girls will simply pay the higher price and continue to binge drink as before.

Price is never a constraint to addiction. Just look at cigarettes and illicit drugs. Tobacco attracts ever increasing taxation but the drop in smoker's numbers is more a case of the successful advertising of health risks. The advertising people have been very clever at depicting the long term health effects of smoking - but the one age group with disregard for health - is teenagers !

Perhaps there is an opportunity to reduce binge drinking by teenage girls if the advertising industry can conjure up a message to show that binge drinking reduces their attraction to boys.

Teenage girls will go to any length to be " cool " and attired in the latest fashion. They will become anorexic to ape the models depicted on fashion magazines.

The " magic bullet " to making the average girl stop and think before opening that bottle has yet to be found, but it may well be a stroke of genius from some advertising designer which hits the right note in convincing girls that excess drinking is a sure turnoff for the opposite sex.

In the meantime, Kevin Rudd's move will go a long way to free more funds for anti-alcohol advertising - and the vast residue from the tax increase will disappear into that bottomless pit known as " consolidated revenue " !

The one day of the year.

The ranks thin - but the Anzac day march is now attracting the young to proudly wear father or grandfather's medals and join the parade.

Anzac day is a contradiction. It is a time to remember fallen comrades and the solemn part of the day starts with the dawn service. Later in the morning - the march is a time to proudly display regimental colours and receive the thanks of citizens who line the streets - and then in the afternoon it is a time for comradeship - over a few beers and a game of two-up.

Unfortunately not all commemorate the spirit of Anzac. In recent times pubs and clubs have imposed a closing time on traditional two-up games - and many now close their doors before darkness falls.

It is not veterans who are cuasing trouble but those feral Australians to whom Anzac day is simply a day off work - and a chance to get drunk and get involved in a fight.

The police report numerous brawls as groups of mainly young men empty out of licensed premises and fight in the streets.

Measures have been taken to reduce this problem. Many clubs and pubs serve only low alcohol beer - and half nips of spirits - on Anzac day, but it is an insult to veterans that such measures should be necessary on their " one day of the year ".

Just as the ranks thin in the march - so the syle and content of Anzac day seems to be changing. In the future we may see fewer venues willing to host games of two-up - and even greater restrictions on the serving of alcohol on that day.

We commemorate freedom bestowed by the sacrifice of our veterans. What a pity that the actions of the few are rolling back the right to celebrate that day in traditional style !

The perils of public office !

Across Australia - the thousands of citizens who have the honour to be elected to sit on councils must be following the travails of Shellharbour council with a degree of consternation.

Shellharbour council degenerated into open warfare between rival political groups and this culminated in accusations that confidential information was leaked to a web site by one of the factions.

The council then took the unusual step of starting legal action in the Land and Environment court. This quickly degenerated into farce, but the action dragged on and ratepayers became alarmed at the steadily increasing legal costs. Eventually, the state government intervened and ordered council to resolve the matter swiftly.

The Land and Environment court finally handed down a ruling. It exonerated one councillor on all charges, dismissed two of three charges against Councillor Helen Stewart - but found her guilty on one charge of passing confidential information to a third party. The court reserved it's decision on costs to be delivered at a later date.

The aftermath of this unfortunate court case is a barrel or worms that will provoke angst for months to come. The council's legal costs are estimated to be at least $ 1.2 million. In all probability, the council will be liable for the legal costs of the exonerated councillor - and may have to pay Helen Stewart's costs in regard to the two dismissed charges.

The unknown is what costs will be awarded against Councillor Stewart is regard to the guilty verdict on one charge. Whatever the outcome of that decision, Councillor Stewart has spent an estimated one hundred thousand dollars of her own money defending the charges in court. She has mortgaged her home to meet these costs.

What must have councillors sitting on councils throughout Australia pondering is the ramifications of political in-fighting resulting in court action - as happened at Shellharbour council.

Being elected a councillor was once an honour. That person gave of his or her time to serve the community - and there was no question of personal financial loss.
The Shellharbour case changed all that. If for matters of political expediency a council decides to take legal action against it's own councillors - then that person can end up financially ruined by the cost of mounting a defence.

It is a sobering thought. Maybe now pundits in the insurance industry will plug that gap by offering those in public office insurance protection against such court costs - and maybe the more affluent in society may decide against standing for the local council !

Peril on the trains !

The letters columns of daily newspapers are full of complaints from passengers who have had unfortunate experiences while travelling on our trains.

Many women simply refuse to use trains after dark for fear of rape - and even well built men blanch at the prospect of being assaulted by the vicious thugs who infest the rail network.

The government says it is doing it's best to provide safety. It maintains squads of security guards who patrol trains to a random schedule. Money has been spent on huge numbers of CCTV cameras installed in all carriages and covering stations and their approaches.

None of this deters gangs of drunken youths who travel in a pack, drinking alcohol and smoking in carriages, harassing other passengers and in many cases deliberately creating havoc by damaging the fittings.

Security guards work in pairs. Who could blame them when they see on CCTV such a pack further along the train if they turn and go the other way ?

The problem will not be solved until the government gets serious and takes decisive action. What is happening on trains can be viewed at the CCTV centre - and from there instructions should be forwarded to a flying squad of police to board the train and arrest the offenders. The evidence is there - recorded on CCTV film.

That will be useless - unless the court system is also revised to hand out punishment - instead of a joke ! How many times do we read in the papers of seventeen year olds - before the court for a rap sheet yards long - awarded another bond, a warning or a small fine - which is never paid ?

Despite the bleats of the civil liberty people - these so called " youths " are grown men capable of vicious crimes. They will continue to plague society until society hits back and delivers a degree of punishment which instills fear.

They will continue to offend just so long as they know they can get away with it. Take that comfort away - and the problem will diminish - but not disappear.

Unfortunately there are some who suffer from a mental illness - and nothing we can do will stop the actions of the deranged - except confinement to a mental institution !

Serendipity !

Coincidence is a strange thing ! People tend to be suspicious when seemingly unrelated events converge.

The state government of New South Wales recently introduced legislation to enable them to acquire private property when a refusal to sell or negotiate would thwart a commercial development.

The government has long had the ability to forcibly acquire private property when refusal to yield would prevent a public works programme from proceeding.
For instance, when your home stood in the way of a new freeway.

The difference in this new law is that it allows the government to intercede in what was previously a purely private enterprise matter. The government can acquire property at a valuation established by the Valuer General - and then on-sell it to a developer at any price it cares to nominate.

And that is where coincidence rears it's ugly head !

The city of Wollongong has recently had a bad press because of corruption. The council has been sacked and administrators appointed. Now it seems that there is a new development with a problem.

A plan is at an advanced stage to raze an entire city block within the CBD to double the size of the shopping precinct with a six story development. This multi-million dollar project is in competition with a similar proposal at the other end of the CBD and it is likely that one - but not both - will be commercially viable.

The problem with the demolition plan is that the development has not yet received formal approval - and is waiting for Development Minister Frank Sartor to give it the nod.

The other problem is that the developer does not own one crucial property in the centre of the block to be developed. This is tenanted by a leading whitegoods discounter - who states that they have no plans to move !

Many could be forgiven for thinking that this new piece of legislation and the obstacle to the development proceeding could be linked.

At the same time, many would be intensely interested to know what - if any - donations that developer has made to the Australian Labor party !

With that level of interest it is inevitable that such questions will eventually be answered !

Unmasking the mirage !

In the New South Wales health system complying with government benchmarks is the difference between a promising and a failed career. The edict " Do more with less " applies - and Illawarra hospitals find themselves the poor relation to the Sydney hospital system.

It is therefore necessary to give full marks for innovation - and applying that criteria doctors at Shellharbour hospital must go to the top of the list at near genius rating.

Hospital emergency departments are judged on the time patients spend in their care. Seven hours is a critical time factor in which they should be treated - and either discharged - or moved to a bed within a ward of that hospital.

The problem arises when all beds are fully occupied - which is a normal occurrence in hospitals operating at one hundred percent capacity - against an ideal benchmark of eighty percent. There simply is no place to settle a patient in a ward bed when that magic seven hour deadline is approaching.

Innovative doctors at Shellharbour hospital solved that problem. They nominated four beds within the emergency department as a virtual ward - dedicated to the treatment of emergency department patients who required further treatment.

It solved all their problems. The patients continued to get care while waiting for a bed vacancy in the general wards. The hospital records showed that emergency patients were removed from that department within the stipulated seven hours - and by sleight of hand a major miracle was achieved ! Four beds appeared out of thin air !

Unfortunately the grim face of officialdom didn't see it that way. The hospital is facing an enquiry and there will probably be reprimands.

The doctors concerned should be given a medal and promoted. They did nothing to decrease patient care - but simply rearranged a few " definitions " to meet an impossible situation.

Of course it would be too much to expect that the Health department would recognise the lack of beds at that hospital and provide more to solve the problem. That's not the way the system works in this state !

The 20-20 Summit.

The 20-20 Summit is over - and now comes the task of sifting through thousands of ideas submitted by the thousand delegates who applied their minds to prepare a plan of progress for this country.

It was an awesome gathering. There were rows of politicians representing the government, former political leaders, a heavy presence of trade union bosses, representatives of the military, priests and church leaders, academics, actors and luminaries from the media, captains of industry, leaders of charitable organizations - and worthy citizens who - for one reason or another - had won mention in the annual honours listings.

There was one glaring weakness. The assembly was that of hand picked invitees selected by the government - which means they were the selection of the Australian Labor party.

Noticeably absent were representatives of small business - the self employed who are the biggest employers of labour in this country. This summit ignored the family that runs the local newsagency, the mechanic who services your car, the milkman who delivers in all weathers, the man who mows lawns for a living, the woman who runs a day care centre, the local plumber with a string of apprentices - the men and women that make this country tick by providing the services we simply could not do without.

Their absence is understandable. This was a Labor party gathering - and by tradition there is no place for the self employed in a union run organization.
Decades ago the Labor party had universal nationalization of all industry as a plank. The self employed were seen as the enemy - employing a non-unionized work force and frustrating the dreams of socialism.

Times have moved on since then and the Labor party has moderated it's socialist views - but the self employed were excluded because the politicians would not have liked what they would have brought to the talkfest !

They would have pointed out that the ever growing government bureaucracy is stifling the opportunities to employ more people - and that this army of paper shufflers is erecting barriers to expansion. Business is confronted with a demand for information by way of endless forms to be completed and lodged - and yet to obtain permits for a plethora of tasks entails wading through a never ending paper jungle.

No doubt there will be worthwhile ideas from the summit that will bear fruit, but it is a pity that the greatest sector employing the most people was ignored.
Sadly, the opportunity to reform the obstacles that prevent an almost instant economic recovery have been missed !

The Boomerang syndrome !

Kevin Rudd's " 20-20 Summit " is as assembly of a thousand Australians designed to think-up ideas to guide this country to a better future. The ideas range from the insane to well thought through plans that deserve intense scrutiny and further evaluation.

One suggestion will send a shudder down the spine of most Australians - the proposal to allow the states to impose a state income tax in addition to that imposed by Canberra.

Australians have long memories - and they well remember the previous government introducing a concept known as the " Goods and Services Tax ". This " GST " was negotiated with the states as the answer to state finances. The tax - levied at ten percent on the majority of goods and services - but excluding food - was to be collected by the Commonwealth and provided in it's entirety to the states based on a per capita formulae.

The states enthusiastically endorsed this proposal - and agreed to the trade-off imposed by the Commonwealth. The GST was designed to relieve regressive taxes already in place. The states agreed that - after a five year honeymoon period - they would repeal payroll tax and stamp duty - and several other minor taxes.

When the five year honeymoon period ended - the Labor controlled states reneged on this commitment. They cried poor - claiming that they could not afford to lose the revenue generated despite the flow of gold from the GST.

The former Federal government let them get away with it - and the present Federal government has made no move to bring them into line. As a result, all Australians are being taxed twice. They are paying the GST and they are paying either directly or indirectly for the taxes the GST was supposed to remove.

Any suggestion of a state income tax would involve similar trade-offs to the GST arrangements. Who in this country would now trust the states to honour any deal made with the Federal government ?

It is said that there is little difference between government and a drug addict. Once government gets a source of money they become addicted - and are incapable of doing without their " hit ".

Like the returning boomerang - their performance in reneging on solemn commitments made on the GST will hit the state governments behind the ear - and doom any suggestion of a state income tax to failure !

The looming abyss !

How do you define bankruptcy ? To most people, that occurs when it becomes impossible to satisfy creditors - because income is less than the amount owing.
In that scenario - the United States of America is bankrupt - and has been for well over a decade.

This is not an unusual situation. At the end of the first world war Great Britain was bankrupt - and that became a well kept secret by the rest of the world right through the 1920's and 1930's.

International money trading is a matter of preserving the status quo. Treasurers and money men operate in a incestuous little world of secrecy, careful to use the right words whenever they speak publicly to avoid doing anything that may create a panic.

The public should have been alerted in 1933 when Great Britain dropped the " Gold Standard ". This was a mechanism used when the first paper currency was mooted. Many were skeptical about accepting paper in place of gold and silver coins, so the Bank of England made it's currency a promissory note.

Each one pound note carried a promise that - if presented to the bank - it would be immediately replaced with it's value in gold. To honour that promise, the bank guaranteed that for every paper note issued it would hold the value of those notes in it's vaults in gold. Thus was established " the Gold Standard " - and the division of the world's currencies into " convertible " and " non-convertible " segments.

It suited the world to ignore Great Britain's bankruptcy - just as it suits the world now to ignore America's. In that era Great Britain was reputed to be the richest country in the world. Any question of that status would have sent money markets into a spin - and provoked a world catastrophe of unimaginable context.

America replaced Great Britain as the world's premier nation during the second world war and afterwards used it's financial clout to rebuild Europe and create the greatest military empire the world has seen.

Trade in many commodities will continue to be made in American dollars because the essential for money markets is stability - but America would be well advised to grasp the nettle and exercise internal discipline to curb the tendency of the American people to spend beyond their means and accumulate ever increasing debt.

A dark shadow is waiting in the wings. China may appear to be a major trading partner, but the Chinese government is ambitious and has long coveted becoming the greatest financial and military power in the world. To achieve that, it has to replace the United States of America.

If America continues a course of serendipity then one day China may decide it will take the chance of a huge trade upheaval impacting on it's world trade - and call in it's American debts. Such a move would panic financial markets - and it could safely be assumed that such a panic would apply to the oil producing countries.

The mere suggestion of an American insolvency would cause them to demand up-front payments for oil - and without oil the American military machine would be crippled.
Such a move by China would be unlikely in the short term, but Chinese ambition should never be treated lightly - and now would be a good time for America to put it's house in order !

The razor gang strikes !

New CEO David Farmer has used the opportunity of Wollongong council's sacking and the appointment of an administrator to put council finances in order.

His razor gazng exercise will reduce the $ 15 million deficit to $ 4.4 million, but this will not be without pain for just about everybody. Council staff face overtime bans. Ambitious projects such as " The Blue Mile " and badly needed renovations to the city mall will go onto the backburner - and may face years in the wilderness.

Ratepayers face a 5.7% rate increase, adding about $ 50 to the average bill - and annual fees and charges are scheduled to increase from a return of $ 26 million to $ 38 million by 2017/18. Expect everything from the fee to register your dog to the fee to dump rubbish at the tip to go through the roof !

One important project that will feel the razor's thrust is the proposed West Dapto access road. The cost is simply beyond Wollongong Councils resources at this stage and it seems that the suburbs of West Dapto and Horsley will have to make-do with the overloaded Bong Bong Road - the only access to these suburbs.

The problem with Bong Bong road is that it is incapable of handling the present traffic volumes, given that it is intersected by a busy rail line - and it floods on a regular basis. The proposed new road over the F-6 was promised decades ago and is deemed essential - given that the government is proposing a massive land release and a population surge in the West Dapto area.

If this access road is to be again deferred - it would be reasonable to expect that a similar ban be imposed on any further land release for home building in West Dapto. The chaos on Bong Bong road at morning and afternoon peak - and at school times is simply unbelievable. Citizens have a right to expect reasonable access to their homes. It is not acceptable to be stuck in traffic jams, waiting for long goods trains to pass through the intersection - and be isolated from work, shops, schools and families on a regular basis after heavy rain.

The new access road seems to be a council matter - but the land release is under the control of the state government. Unfortunately governments - and this government in particular - have a habit of ignoring similar problems and granting consent for new suburbs, regardless of the chaos their decision imposes on all concerned.

It seems to be a case of " To the barricades - citizens of Wollongong ". If the state government seeks to go ahead with the West Dapto land release - then the people of Wollongong must demand that the state government pickup the tab for this new access road.

A promise will not do. Before the first block is sold, a tender must be let - and the first sod turned. Given the performance of this government in the area of broken promises - nothing less will suffice !

A bridge too far !

It had to happen sooner or later - but in the opinion of many people the Tasmanian proposal to enter a state team in the national Australian Rules competition is a case of tilting at windmills.

Our smallest state has a population less than half a million people. It would be difficult to attract the financial support necessary for such a venture - and another problem would be selecting the home base for such a team.
Tasmanians tend to be parochial and there is intense rivalry between Hobart, Launceston and the cities of the north-west coast. Finding a home for the team would be like finding agreement between Sydney and Melbourne !

If the proposal did succeed it would be necessary for the code to introduce a " no poaching " clause - and be ready to enforce it. Tasmania has long been a training ground and nursery for the cashed-up Melbourne clubs.
Any local player showing merit attracted the attention of the ever present talen scouts and was promptly offered huge incentives to sign up and cross Bass strait. Players could not be blamed for deserting Tasmania - given the chance to become rich and famous in the big time. Melbourne clubs have a sprinkling of former Tasmanians amongst their ranks and some went on to coaching positions.

There is also a danger that such a Tasmanian team could be a trap for players with outstanding skill. Without the financial backing necessary to compete with the big clubs such a team could forever languish at the bottom of the table, and a " no poaching " clause would effectively quarantine any promising Tasmanian player to remain in that state forever.

The proposal deserves careful consideration, but it also requires forward thinking by the board of the code. Australian Rules is a fast expanding game and if Tasmania is to be included in the national competition it would be worth supporting financially. Hopefully, big minds will be applied to thinking this through - and making bold decisions - if the code is to become an all states game !

This changing world !

Older folks will fondly remember the golden era of motoring - back in the 1950's when a visit to a service station involved a mass of people descending on the car. One cleaned the windscreen. One checked oil and water. One checked the tyre pressure - and one filled the tank. In many cases, such a visit resulted in a promotional gift - ranging from a set of steak knives to a boxed set of drinking glasses.

What is termed " progress " saw this sort of service degenerate into motorists pumping their own petrol in " service stations " in which that word " service " was sadly missing.

Now we are entering a new era. The price of petrol has climbed so high that it has become a prime target of thieves. Petrol resellers are encountering drivers who have stolen number plates disguising the true plates on their vehicle. They fill up with fuel - do " a runner " - and discard the bogus plates around the next corner.

Many service stations require cash or a credit card to be lodged at the pay desk before the pumps are activated at night - and now that custom is being extended to 24/7 operation.

Unfortunately petrol resellers have also become a prime target of hold-up thieves. They suffer the twin disability of being lightly manned - often by a single attendant - and because of the price of petrol - quickly amass a considerable sum of money in the till.

We are accustomed to getting our money from an ATM these days. Surely the day must fast be approaching when petrol stations will be equipped with with money acceptance slots - similar to the ones on poker machines.

When we require petrol we put a banknote in the slot and the machine dispenses that value in petrol. There is no attendant to hold-up - and the machine may or may not offer change.

It sounds futuristic - but then back in the 1950's - who would have thought it possible that the source of cash for most people would be a machine set in the wall of a bank - and open twenty-four hours ?

Corporate privacy.

It seems that we are about to engage in a debate over privacy in the workplace. At issue is the right of employers to oversee the emails that their employees send and receive.

What seems to be the sticking point is the difference between official company emails - and the private emails that employees send - in company time - to friends or in pursuit of information and prices of goods for private purchase.

Company business emails fall into the same category as company letters. Official letters comprise a copy for the company files and management has always had the right to inspect such documents for accuracy and to ensure that the contents comply with policy. Emails from employees may contain quotations on price and sales details that the company has ever right to inspect.

Some companies forbid the use of private emails while others are more tolerant and now it seems that the law is to be changed to allow the boss to oversee all and every email passing through the company computer system.

Opposition to such a right seems to stem from the notion that even if an employee sends an email critical of the firm or containing matter that could injure that firm's reputation - the boss has no right to intercept it - much less take disciplinary action. The principle of " freedom of speech " is therefore extended to " freedom of email message ".

Most firms are tolerant of a reasonable amount of email traffic of a private nature - just the same as they tolerate private telephone calls during office hours - but it would not be unreasonable to expect employees to restrict content to subjects that they feel comfortable with if intercepted.

It seems to be the province of activists and stirrers who demand the right to send offensive emails and denigrate the company and it's officials who demand the right to privacy.

If the law is changed then such people have already been warned - and if they persist and continue to send offensive emails then whatever form of contribution falls on their shoulders is of their own making !

Apocalypse Now !

Many Australians are irritated by ever rising food prices at the supermarket. It will throw more strain on welfare agencies but it is unlikely that any Australian citizen will actually starve to death as a result.

Few have bothered to think through the effect of rising world food prices on countries such as India, China, Bangladesh - all of Africa - where millions of people exist on as little as two dollars a day.

The rising food prices phenomenon can point the finger at our love of the automobile. The food producing and exporting countries are those of the developed world - and that devloped world is reducing farmland from grain crops for food to grain crops for ethanol production. This invokes the first rule of commerce. Shortage of supply equates to a rise in that products price.

The developing world is hit with a double whammy. Not only are food prices rising rapidly, but the price of the other essential - cooking fuel - is a victim of price increases as the cost of crude exceeds a hundred dollars a barrel.
Already there have been riots and the burning of market stalls in places like Haiti and parts of India as the poor react in the only way they know.

But the worst is yet to come. Just as it takes little to spook a herd of cattle to produce a stampede, the spectre of famine causes vast populations to vote with their feet. International borders mean nothing to hungry people and we are about to see the balance of this new century produce turmoil as a billion people seek to rearrange the planet as they head for where they hope food will be available.
There will be resistence to that migration from those whose lands are being invaded - and for much of the world that means conflict.

The automobile has a lot to answer for. This is not a case of a huge food shortage. The quantity being produced has only dropped fractionally, but that drop has induced entrepeneurs who control supply to raise prices - and once the price cycle starts moving is seems impossible to stop.

We are arriving at the stage where there is a plentiful supply of food on the shelves of the world's shops - but the price asked is beyond the meagre wages of individuals. The multitude starves in sight of plenty !

Those reports of food riots at present occupying small paragraphs in the centre pages of newspapers will shortly become front page banner headlines. Food shortages are about to invoke a mass movement of people not seen since the middle ages - and Australia will not be exempt.

Politics - and the Olympics.

The Olympic torch relay is fast fading into history. When the time comes for the next Olympics in 2012 one thing is certain - the traditional torch relay will bear no relation to the spectacle that has prevailed in the past.

The age of protest has discovered this symbol and converted it into a political statement to be used to highlight whatever is the grievance appropriate for that occassion.

China was taken by surprise when protests erupted over Tibet - and yet their emergence should not be surprising. Unrest has been simmering in the mountain kingdom for years, stoked by brutality and an attempt by the central authorities to dilute Tibetan culture and stack the country with Han Chinese to make the Tibetans a minority in their own land.

If the next Olympics is to be held in London one thing is certain. The Tibetan revolt will show the way for whatever grievance is the order of the day to be exploited by way of demonstrations and attempts to disrupt the games.

Most likely the torch relay will survive in a different form. The idea of runners carrying it through the streets may be abandoned in favour of some sort of mechanical journey over land and water, but the magic will be gone and whatever journey is chosen will be the target of protest.

What remains to be seen is if this Olympics survives as a contest between the athletes of world countries - or if the protest mentality actually manages to invade the games themselves - stopping events and causing death and destruction.

World politics is now a part of the Olympics. The question is - can the Olympics survive in a form acceptable to the majority of the world ? Or is the spirit of Olympic competition now a thing of the past ?