ETS - smoke and mirrors !

The government claims that low income families will actually be better off financially from the introduction of it's Emissions Trading Scheme ( ETS ).

Anyone that actually believes that must still believe in the Tooth Fairy !

According to the government, 2.9 million low income households will be better off by $ 190 a year. Costs will increase by $ 420 a year, but they will be compensated by grants of $ 610.

That may be so if the only factors taken into account are increased gas and electricity prices, but the ETS will apply across the whole spectrum of manufacturing and services. It will have impact on grocery prices, council rates, car expenses - in fact on every aspect of everyday living.

The government is trying to pull a huge con on the public. It admits that middle income people will only be partly compensated - and that ETS will soak the rich - but claims that " the little people " have nothing to worry about.

For how long ?

The aim of ETS is to increase the cost of those activities that generate carbon to ensure that industry moves to more expensive methods that generate less carbon. Because of the tax - these more expensive methods will bring long term benefits.

So - we pay more because the people who provide the goods that we need have an increase in costs !

The obvious question to ask is " Where does this compensation money come from ? "

Because ETS is a new tax it will be a source of income for the government which allows compensation for the more obvious immediate cost increases - gas and electricity - but can do nothing for the general increase in costs that will occur across the board.

When it comes to tax - enter the wide world of smoke and mirrors.

And remember that adage - " Never give the suckers an even break ! "

Spending money wisely !

It seems to be a fact of life that if you want something built - and you want the cost to be reasonable - make sure that the government has nothing to do with organising the work !

A Wollongong public school has been allocated a budget of $ 2.5 million to provide a school hall to cater for 320 students.

It may not happen, because the bureaucrats responsible for drawing up the plans and getting the work done have blown out costs to an amazing $ 12,500 a square metre.

The estimates contain a cost of $ 126,700 for " preliminaries " - whatever that may be. Then there is $ 127,334 for " design and documentation " , followed by another $ 126,700 for " electrical services ", presumably erecting a power box for site construction.

It all boils down to " making work " for the army of civil servants who must have some sort of input to justify their jobs - and which automatically pushes any government job way out of kilter with what would be reasonable in the commercial world.

Of course it has never been any different. Governments - both Federal and state - and city councils for that matter - are simply not good at getting anything done at a reasonable cost.

Sadly, if we could somehow manage to streamline government work to fit within commercial parameters every school would have decent buildings, air conditioning and plenty of computers - and there might even be enough money left over to provide a half decent road system.

But - don't hold you breath waiting !

Half price stamp duty !

We have a dire shortage of rental accommodation in this state. Rents are sky high - and predicted to jump another thirty percent in the short term.

That would seem to be a good reason for a rush of investors to put their money into rental housing, given that stamp duty has been cut in half - and will not end on December 31 as planned - but will be extended until June next year.

Reduced stamp duty is part of the Housing Construction Acceleration Plan ( HCAP ) under which 1934 new dwellings have been built, worth $ 850 million - with a stamp duty saving of $ 14,8 million.

There is deep suspicion that most of these homes would have been built anyway, and that few were investments destined for the rental market. This is confirmed by the ever widening rental shortage - and the upward pressure on rents driving a home out of reach for many people.

The question is - why are investors shunning the rental market at a time when it is offering such golden returns ?

It could be that investors have long memories - and they are aware that we have socialist governments in power in both Sydney and Canberra.

Socialist governments have long held that those who own property for rent are capitalist enemies of the working class - to be treated accordingly.

Two phrases come to mind from the era of the second world war - " Protected tenant " - and " rent control ". Both were " temporary " measures that lingered - and both were aimed at " social engineering " to disadvantage owners of rental property.

If private wealth shuns the rental market the only alternative is public housing, and we already see the dead hand of socialism in that field, ignoring widely held housing standards to create twenty-first century slums with few amenities.

What we need is the creation of a legal charter that will protect the rights of both landlords and those renting - and ensure that both get a fair deal.

An old adage comes to mind. " Once bitten - twice shy " !

Invasion of privacy.

Anyone who watches TV crime shows knows that the cops can trace the signal from a mobile phone, and by triangulation can pin down it's location with great accuracy.

The relentless march of technology has extended that capability to those who have invested in the latest mobile phones. Those with the necessary know how have the ability to keep track of their friends - and can even fine tune that location to a particular shop, pub, park or housing address.

It has advantages. Users can share information by exchanging photographs of their locations and invite friends to join them, and those same maps can provide information on facilities available nearby, including their opening hours.

But - there is a downside.

There is an inevitable lack of privacy - which hackers will exploit, and at present this technology is unregulated in Australia.

Is there ever a time you would prefer your wife/husband/friends not to know where you were - and what you were doing ? That sort of privacy may be a thing of the past, because if you have your mobile phone with you the world will have that information immediately available.

Something to think about - and maybe a good reason to go and find an unsophisticated mobile phone that has none of this state of the art gadgetry.

Remember the days when mobile phones simply let you make - and receive - phone calls ?

Maybe they were " the good old days " !

Win some - lose some !

Air travellers in Australia have regained the right to board an aircraft carrying a whole range of things that were previously banned. Little old ladies can happily continue their knitting now that knitting needles have been removed from the list, and innocuous items such as nail clippers and umbrellas will no longer have to be abandoned in the departure lounge.

That is the good new for air travellers. The bad news is that you may be travelling with a fellow passenger who intends to crash the plane. Maybe you would treat someone from the Middle East with suspicion, but a recent " mad bomber " hailed from Nigeria - in Africa - and was influenced by al Qaeda.

This character smuggled some sort of powder and some sort of liquid onto the aircraft, found a way to mix them together - and then tried to set them off to create an explosive.

The result was more akin to a mild fire cracker, but he did manage to injure himself - and he was jumped on by fellow passengers and will now probably spend the rest of his life in an American prison.

The sad thing is that just when the world is slowly recovering from the threat of an economic depression we have people so immersed in politics and religion that they think they are achieving something by sacrificing their own lives in a glorious suicide attempt to harm a whole bunch of otherwise innocent people.

When you want to kill people you absolutely do not know - because some religious zealot makes that request - it throws the whole concept of religion into question.

Perhaps religion has not advanced further from the days when human sacrifices were offered to the Gods to promote a good harvest !

Supply - and demand !

Australia has encountered a lot of criticism because it is the world's largest supplier of coal - and coal is a prime source of carbon pollution.

There are calls for coal exports to be curbed - and protests against new coal mines being established, but all this tends to run counter to the rules that apply to a basic tenet of commerce - the laws of supply and demand.

Without demand, there is no reason for supply to exist. It is a fact of life that the cheapest way to generate electricity in the quantities needed to light cities and drive industry is to burn coal.

If Australia reduced the supply of this commodity two things would happen. New mines would immediately appear in other countries to meet this demand - and the price of coal would increase because of the scarcity.

The only way coal use will be reduced for power generation is when science develops a better method that can reliably deliver the quantities needed at somewhere near the cost of burning coal - and so far that is a distant dream.

Work is in progress on everything from " hot rocks " deep in the earth to wave action, wind and solar - and steady progress is being made. In the interim, it is senseless to blame Australia for obeying a law of nature.

While demand exists - supply will follow !

The lucky country !

And so the sun rises on another Christmas day in Australia.

What a strange day it must be to new arrivals from other parts of the world. A day when the vast majority of people have a holiday. The roads are mostly free of cars - and there are no newspapers or news broadcasts on radio and TV - and the only shops open for business are petrol stations - and the odd corner store.

Nomatter what their religion, it will not take long for those new arrivals to adjust and accept that Christmas brings a work free day. Devout Christians flock to church services. The less devout head to the beach - or have a BBQ somewhere.

Then there is the Santa Claus custom. Hordes of children will wake early, wide eyed and anxious to see what the man in the red suit brought them. Many people of other religions have adopted this Christian fable as part of their Australian life.

It is even reported that Christmas gift giving has had an impact in Muslim Indonesia. The department stores in Jakarta and the other big cities have started to decorate for Christmas and promote the festival, and the gift giving is starting to take hold, specially as a reward for good children.

Unfortunately there will also be the sad side of Christmas. Some people will be homeless and many will go hungry. There will inevitably be some deaths on our roads and abuse of drugs and alcohol will deliver a miserable Christmas for some.

Christmas will be what each individual makes of it. Approach it in the right frame of mind and it will be a happy time. A day off. A good feed. Good company with loved ones - who could ask for more on the twenty-fifth of December each year ?

Moral banditry !

A priest in Britain has suggested that desperate people are justified in shoplifting - provided they play by the rules.

The rules are simple. Take only what you need - and avoid shoplifting from small, family owned corner stores. The big end of town will simply slap a few cents on to compensate and therefore spread the cost across the population base.

This seems to be an interesting mix of socialism and the "Robin Hood " syndrome. The only problem is that if people take it seriously it would introduce a new style of moral banditry.

Perhaps we would see a new ethos apply to armed holdups ! The criteria for selecting a victim would involve an appraisal of girth - to ensure the victim is well fed - and inspection of clothing worn - as an indication of wealth.

Having demanded that persons wallet, the " underprivileged poor " would be obliged to only take what is necessary for immediate survival - the cost of an overnight bed in a cheap motel - and the cost of a McDonald's meal. Other funds should remain in the wallet, which would be immediately returned to it's owner.

It would be ethical to use the victim's mobile phone to call home and have a chat with Mum and the family, but the call should be brief - and the phone returned immediately afterwards.

It seems that this priest's outlook on charity is not shared by his church - and it is doubtful if either the police or the courts would accept this excuse to overlook a crime.

But it is comforting to know that the next time we fall victim to a bandit we are only taking part in a social engineering experiment !

Unrecorded convictions.

This week a twenty-one year old female student was before the court, trying to convince a magistrate to apply an " unrecorded conviction " to her act of stupidity - which cost a mining company $ 900,000 in lost production.

This student - and three others - trespassed on the work site of the Dendrobium coal mine and chained themselves to machinery forty metres above the ground. They refused to release their chains - the police were called - and after several hours the rescue people cut them loose and arrested them

During this " demonstration " the mine was shut down and the safety of miners underground put at risk. The reason for this act of vandalism ? The demonstrators are opposed to coal mining because the burning of coal contributes to global warming.

As a result of this sabotage the four were fined a mere $ 1,500 between them and were convicted. They now object to the recorded conviction on the grounds that others previously charged with similar offences - in some instances were given " unrecorded convictions ".

So - what is the difference between a " recorded " and an " unrecorded conviction " ?

A recorded conviction means that the person has a permanent criminal record - and that may be taken into account when applying for employment, and in some cases will automatically reject that person from further employment consideration.

For instance, a criminal would not be considered for entry into the Police academy or for some government employment avenues, or to become a member of the armed services.

This young woman and her friends knowingly committed a criminal act because they considered that their personal opinions were above the law. They caused disruption to other people's working lives - and monetary loss of near a million dollars.

The magistrate gave the right decision when he rejected their appeal - and commented that " They got what they deserved ! "

The death penalty !

Those advocating the return of the death penalty for major crime have their case eroded by the success of DNA in proving that many innocent people have been convicted and gaoled for crimes they did not commit.

The relentless march of released prisoners - some after decades in prison - is proof that judges and juries do not always get it right.

At the same time that DNA is releasing the innocent from incarceration, it is also being mishandled and sending the innocent to prison.

The difference is that without the death penalty there is some hope that a mistake may eventually be recognised - the prisoner released - and compensated for the time spent behind bars.

The death penalty delivers a punishment that is total - and permanent !

Australia is one of many countries to abolish the death penalty. The relentless march of science is proving that decision to be a wise one !

Justice denied !

It is said that when " justice is delayed - then justice is denied ".

At this moment, anyone charged with an offence in Wollongong will not have a hope of going to trial before May or June next year, and that is if there is no further delay caused by unexpected circumstances.

It has been suggested that the situation could be relieved by opening a second court, but this has been rejected - because there are not enough public prosecutors to prepare cases for trial.

This area requires the services of three public prosecutors. It has just two as one is on extended sick leave - and the office of the director of Public Prosecutions has no plans for appointing a relief officer. Budget restraint is the quoted reason !

Perhaps now would be a good time to examine " cause and effect " from that decision.

When there is delay in bringing the accused to court many defendants will spend time behind bars on remand. Not only is this an infringement on the accused's right to " innocent until proved guilty " - but it costs the state a lot of money.

Running a prison is expensive. To incarcerate a person on remand is far more expensive than the salary of a single prosecutor - who could get the court system moving again and reduce trial delays.

Once again an example of the " bean counters " approach to decision making, which suffers from that well known adage - " penny wise - and pound foolish ".

A predictable outcome.

The conclusion of the Copenhagen climate conference was pure politics. When something fails completely - announce that failure as a great victory and accept the plaudits of a bemused world.

It might be more correct to detail what it didn't achieve !

There is no agreement on a common denominator of how far C02 will be contained and global warming reduced. Each country will set it's own target level, and there will be no mechanism to chart compliance - or penalty for failure to comply with promises given.

No doubt most countries will make some effort to create newsworthy projects such as solar arrays and wind farms, but these will run in parallel with coal burning power plants and all this will amount to mere tinkering about the edges of the main problem.

What will interest Australians is the degree to which Kevin Rudd intents to apply the ETS to this country. If socialist principles hold sway over common sense we will cripple our own economy to a degree not matched by other parts of the world.

The message delivered by Copenhagen was stark. Efforts to reduce global warming will only be in balance with maintaining a healthy economy.

Get used to a warmer world !

Calendars.

We live in an ever changing world and at this time of year it was traditional for many firms to offer a new year calendar. In the past this resulted in a flood of calendars - from the butcher, the chemist, the greengrocer - and the people who delivered bread to every street in the city.

Each year the offering of calendars has been shrinking, both because of cost and the reduction of services as we use our cars to concentrate purchases at a supermarket.

We still get calendars but now they are mainly " freebies " - appearing in our letter boxes along with vast volumes of junk mail, and their advertising purpose has changed from those supplying us goods - to those who are looking for new customers.

The business being advertised on next year's calendars is very predictable. There will surely be several from real estate agents. Whoever is the local member of both state and Federal parliament will have one to remind us of their existence - and of course we will get one from Wollongong council to remind us which wheelie bin to put out each week.

The one thing these will all have in common is - a magnet on the back and a suitable size to stick on the fridge door.

Gone are the huge calendars of yesteryear - some with floral scenes of great beauty to adorn our walls - and some " girlie " calendars more suitable for the tool shed in the backyard.

Just one more change - in this ever changing world !

School holiday speed trap !

The school holidays started yesterday. Every family with kids knows that - because they have the kids at home celebrating - but if they hop in the car and go Christmas shopping an evil fate awaits them !

For reasons that make absolutely no sense school zone speed limits have not been gazetted to end - until 4-30 pm this afternoon - and just to deliver a double whammy - because the Christmas safety blitz has started - double demerit points will apply.

The bureaucracy - or whatever pack of halfwits that make these decisions - have decided that the Friday following the start of school holidays is really" a pupil free day ". The teachers will be there finishing off the year - but no kids !

Now why would any reasonable mother of father expect to be required to obey a school safety regulation when they are aware that no children are still at school - and the holidays started the previous day.

And what benefit is derived by the kids, the school or the public generally by this act of stupidity ?

Just another example of the extent to which efforts are maintained to keep that " revenue raising " juggernaut rolling along !

A new Sydney airport !

Once again any decision on a new Sydney airport has been dumped back into the " too hard file ". The only certainty now - is that Badgery's Creek has been finally rejected.

This decision comes at the same time that Boeing conducted the first test flight of it's new aircraft - the 787 " Dreamliner ". New aircraft design and proposed airports have a lot in common when it comes to " problem solving ".

The Dreamliner is a whole new concept in aircraft type. It is composed a fifty percent fibre reinforced resin bonded material - carbon and titanium, replacing the traditional aluminium to reduce weight - and to use 20% less fuel and give an extended range than comparable planes.

The other great gain ? It is much quieter !

Whenever a new airport is proposed those living in the area are opposed because of the noise factor. Sydney's existing airport is ham strung because of curfew restrictions and now similar measures are being proposed for Brisbane airport.

It is unlikely that plans for a new airport will ever be welcomed by those living nearby, but measurable progress is being made in low noise engines - and like it or not - air travel is not going to go away any time soon !

The enigma awaiting this state's residents will come when the government is finally forced to make a decision on the next airport site !

Censorship - and the Web !

The mighty world wide web has introduced the greatest source of knowledge the world has ever seen. Nomatter where you live - nomatter what language you speak - once your computer is connected to the web you have the ability to research every subject known to mankind.

Now we have the prospect of a ban to reject any material that " has been refused classification ".

Refused classification by whom ? Presumably the government !

It sounds very reasonable. The objective is to remove offensive materials - and that includes " child sexual abuse, bestiality, sexual violence and instruction in crime and drug use " - all of which most people would agree.

The only problem is the matter of " interpretation ". It is suggested that these bans would be implemented by an " independent body - at arms length from the government ".

How often have we heard that claim ? The people appointed to such organizations get a fat fee and it is natural for governments to reward those who provide political support with " jobs for the boys and girls ". In return, the appointees tend to follow the governments wishes.

We have an example of censorship affecting the web. In China, the censor dictates what you can see - and what you can research. As a result, any form of political dissent is promptly expunged. Do we want that here ?

Lack of censorship brings both rewards - and risks. It may be better to put up with a degree of offensive material rather than run the risk of an over zealous censor giving way to government control of what we see and hear.

And the government should realise that human ingenuity is very good at surpassing control measures. Remember when the Communist block tried to jam Radio Free Europe broadcasts to it's satellites ?

A bandit relents !

What an extraordinary act of kindness ! New state premier Kristina Keneally has agreed to waive water fees for six hundred drought stricken farmers in the Lachlan Valley of New South Wales.

Drought now covers 80.8% of this state and many of it's farmers have not had a profit from farming since the year 2000, and yet the government still puts it's hand out for water fees. In the case of the Lachlan Valley, they have been forced to pay water fees of about $ 6000 for each farm, despite receiving absolutely no water for the past three consecutive years.

Just imagine if the supermarket decided to not supply you with groceries, but insisted that you pay their bill anyway !

A demand for water fees when their is no water available to be supplied makes no sense at all. We live in a supposedly democratic country and that act of banditry would be impossible for anyone other than a government - which makes it's own laws !

It is noted that these fees are merely " waived ". Presumably the heavy hand of Treasury will again extend at the first sign of rain, whether or not that means the end of the drought.

Time for a rethink on laws that contravene the basics of fair trade !

Speed limits - and human nature !

Road safety experts are calling for the Picton road speed limit to be lowered from 100 to 90 kph. If accepted, this will bring an arbitrary imposition into conflict with driver common sense.

We already have many arbitrary speed limits imposed on motorists - one of them is the 50 kph limit on all except arterial roads. It is probably the least obeyed law governing motoring behavior.

Apart from the percentage of idiots that speed nomatter what limit is imposed, the average driver forms his or her opinion of what is a safe speed - and drives to it. We see this daily in the traffic flow speed which varies above and below the posted speed, depending on the conditions on the day.

There is a suggestion that Picton road be fitted with speed cameras. Money has already been spent on installing five police correction bays. These will only catch drivers unfamiliar with the road. The regular drivers know where the " revenue raisers " are located - and drive accordingly until they are past the danger zones.

All lowering the speed limit will achieve will be a good excuse to avoid spending money to install jersey barriers - and other lower cost accident prevention barriers.

You can not make a bad road safe by diktat. The government created the problem by increasing road traffic using Picton road. It is up to that government to spend where necessary to solve the problem !

Fixed terms - and elections !

Holding an election costs a lot of money - and hence it should be avoided if held too often.

Back in 1995 it was decided that the election of state governments in New South Wales would be held after each four year fixed term. The idea was to avoid cynical premiers rushing early to the polls when circumstances favoured their re-election.

Now there are moves to repeal this fixed term arrangement in favour of the right of the voters to call an early election and judge the competence of the government by putting it to the vote. A petition is under way for a referendum on this subject.

This is obviously a product of general dissatisfaction with the appalling performance of the present state government and the fact that we have to put up with them for over a year before they can be legally turfed out of office.

Unfortunately introducing a " voter recall " would introduce a new factor into the political equation. From time to time every form of government has to make an unpopular move in the general interest and once such a recall clause was in place it would be too easy for agitators to demand that the voters have a say on the measure.

Woe betide the state that can only make popular decisions !

Those thinking of signing a petition calling for such a referendum should think long and hard about what sort of governing regime would evolve from a system where an unpopular decision could lead to a snap election.

We might be better off gritting our teeth and putting up with the present incompetents in the sure knowledge that judgement day will arrive in due course - and the fact that they are in office is the result of a previous poor decision on our part !

Gift cards !

In the last minute shopping to buy a Christmas gift many people opt for a gift card. This takes away all the chances of a bad choice. The card allows the recipient to choose whatever suits them - to the value of the amount nominated on the card.

In the past decade a strange thing has been happening with gift cards. Most now come with a " use by " date - after which they become valueless !

There is absolutely no justification for that imposition. The trader has money in the till without the outlay of immediately supplying goods - and that money is obviously earning interest until it is presented - whenever that may be.

Cancellation after a period of time is simply - robbery !

It seems to be a form of banditry that has spread from the government to commercial shopping interests. Perhaps the idea drew credence when the state government imposed a twelve month limit on Lotto and lottery wins, quickly followed by the TAB which imposed a similar cut off date on betting wins.

In the past a win was valid whenever the winning ticket was produced, even many years after the event. Not any more ! After twelve months any unclaimed money disappears into that entity known as " consolidated revenue " - never again to see the light of day.

Nowadays it seems that even Santa is in the bandit business !

The debt trap !

Good news for those trapped in debt to the state government - and therefore condemned to a life of not being able to drive a car or enter a pub or club, despite being of legal age.

The State Debt Recovery office has a stranglehold on any hope of a normal life by barring those owing money to the government from holding a drivers license, registering a motor vehicle - or even acquiring a legal proof of age certificate, the sole requirement for entry into venues with an age restriction.

Lack of a driving license - or proof of age certificate - can be the deciding factor in obtaining a job, hence we often have the contradiction of the denial of one being the reason that repayment of the other is not possible.

This applies to young people who have amassed a debt by youthful indiscretion - travelling on trains without a ticket - riding a bicycle without a helmet - and similar offences.

The state is ruthless in trying to recover money owed to it, and in the process it often thwarts the offenders chances of getting a job, turning his or her life around and becoming a worthwhile citizen.

Now such people are being offered relief. It is possible to settle that debt by an arrangement with the State Debt Recovery office by undertaking training, volunteer work or counselling.

But - as with all such government initiatives - there is a major snag.

This is only available to under twenty-fives who are either homeless, mentally ill - or in acute financial hardship.

What about the thousands of young people who are not mentally ill, not homeless but the sons or daughters of parents who can't afford to help pay off their debts - and are still victims of the government debt trap which will deny them entry to the work force ?

Another good idea that got fatal limitations in the hands of the Mandarins - and which is badly in need of further thought !

A hidden delight.

This state government has been accused of using advertising for political purposes, but a recent concession seems to be a carefully hidden secret.

" Family Fun Sundays " allows families to go anywhere on trains, buses and ferries with an all day ticket costing just $ 2.50 per person.

The government spells out it's definition of a " family " - and that is at least one adult, accompanied by at least one child. The definition of a " child " is someone aged up to 15 years - or I6-I8 with a valid school travel pass.

This presents an opportunity for people to make use of this state's transport systems to have fun and travel at very little expense on a day when such systems are vastly under used. The problem is - few know about it.

What a pity that this is not screaming from billboards - radio and television advertising - in place of the meaningless drivel at present being served up.

For once this state government got something right - and choose to hide it from the public like a dark secret !

The " Shark Patrol ".

Most Illawarra swimmers feel more secure when they see the Australian Aerial Patrol's fixed wing aircraft flying above the beaches, keeping a lookout for sharks and giving warning of their presence.

Not only is this information immediately available to the public and life savers, but the aircraft can sound a siren to warn swimmers to leave the water if a shark is heading in their direction.

The state government is clearly not interested in this service, but public pressure has forced them to provide a " Clayton's shark patrol " - the shark patrol you have when you are not having a shark patrol.

The government has reluctantly ordered a helicopter to do a beach sweep, but has restricted this to weekends and public holidays - and only for the period starting December 19 and ending on January 10.

Clearly this is a sop to head off criticism and give the impression of interest. To add insult to injury, the helicopter service has been gagged - and will only supply information to lifesavers. The public will not be warned, hence those using beaches unpatrolled by lifesavers will be - on their own !

Fortunately the Bendigo bank has stepped in with a donation of $ 210,000 over three years to keep that important fixed wing aircraft in the air, providing coverage - and direct reporting - right through the swimming season.

In the long run, the government could have had a better service for less money had they stuck with the Australian Aerial Patrol - but that was not the choice of the Mandarins who make decisions on our behalf !

Indecision on health.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - speaking at the Council of Australian Governments ( COAG ) conference - stated that " Health is too important to get it wrong ".

It is also far too important to be left in limbo !

When Mr Rudd was seeking election he promised that if the state's didn't get their act together and improve the public health and hospital system - the Federal government would move to take them over nationally.

The states did not improve the health system - and the Federal government has not moved on a takeover - despite Mr Rudd now being in office for over two years !

Health can be described as a bottomless money pit. Costs are ever increasing as the scope for healing improves - and it is evident that this has moved far outside the capacity of the states to provide adequate funds.

The only organization with sufficiently deep pockets is the Federal government, and if we are to have a decent national health system it will have to come from the public purse - and be paid for by our Federal taxes.

We may not like the tax impost that will be necessary to fund health Federally, but the only alternative is to see health stumbling along on it's present course, woefully underfunded and subject to the wide disparity of control by individual states.

Health is literally a matter of life or death !

Time the Federal government ceased procrastination - and made the only decision possible !

Picton Road carnage !

Five more people dead - and once again the venue was Picton road !

This vital linking of Wollongong and western Sydney has become a deadly mix of cars and heavy trucks - and twenty-one people have died in accidents there since 2000.

Two things need dong. Picton road needs an upgrade to become a divided highway - and the Maldon Dombarton rail link needs to be completed to take freight off the road and decrease the movement of heavy trucks.

Once again we have another enquiry into the economics of Maldon Dombarton, but even if this gives a positive return there is no sign of political will to get work started, and a little money has been granted for minor improvements to Picton road - but once again this is just tinkering around the edges.

The real problem is Wollongong politics !

Wollongong is a safe Labor seat haven, and while it remains that way and there is a Labor government in power the money will be spent elsewhere - where vital votes can be bought in marginal seats.

We look like being on the verge of a coming change of government, but unfortunately that will not solve our problems.

Why would an incoming Liberal government spend money in a safe Labor seat area ?

Damned if we do - and damned if we don't !

A voting enigma !

Yesterday's two by-elections did not follow the course predicted by the pundits. There was not a sharp swing against the Liberal party, despite the leadership change and the controversy over the ETS.

Both were relatively safe Liberal seats. Sydney's Bradfield had been held by former leader Brendan Nelson with a 13% margin, and Melbourne's Higgins by former treasurer Peter Costello by a more modest 7%.

Labor did not field candidates and so the opposing option was left to the Greens. These by-elections should have seen them in their element as climate change is their prime concern and reason to be in politics. They increased their vote, but only by a modest margin and nowhere near the swing predicted.

Then there was the reaction of women to Tony Abbot's Catholic beliefs. He has stated opposition to " no fault " divorce and there are indications that he is less than supportive of extending women's rights. Once again, the predicted backlash simply did not happen.

The conclusion seems to be that voters are keeping their powder dry and adopting a " wait and see " attitude. They are not rushing to make a judgement and will let events unfold.

The biggest surprise is on the question of the ETS. Many people have doubts now and are prepared to consider both sides of the argument. Science and emotion are in conflict and the voters need to sort that out before we implement change that could be disastrous to the Australian economy.

One thing is fast becoming certain. The decision on global warming - and it's cause and possible solution - will require more than just hysterical claims before people finally make up their minds.

Mega financial institutions.

Some will lament- and some will cheer at the news that the merger between the IMB and the Illawarra Credit Union is - off ! Incompatibility between their chosen IT systems has been cited as the cause.

Some subscribe to the " bigger is safer " credo and in that respect it is certainly true that smaller institutions are vulnerable to takeover by the sharks, but then these monolithic mega institutions are cold, formal and so lacking in empathy that dealing with them is a misery.

Take the banks for an example. Decades ago there were about a dozen banks competing for our business and this striving for customers was the golden age of " personal service ".

Mergers reduced the numbers - and then the governments - both Federal and state - got out of the banking business - and now we are reduced to just four behemoths.

A new golden age started to appear when a plethora of non-bank mortgage houses appeared and began to compete with " the big four " in both rates offered and individual terms. The disaster of the recession of over a year ago saw them starved of funds - and swallowed by the rapacious banking giants.

It is a comfort that here in the Illawarra we still have two medium sized mortgage lenders who are prepared to sit down and talk to those needing a loan without the coldness of a rigid lending structure.

It lends credence to those who still think " small is beautiful " !

The power behind the throne !

Yesterday saw a change of leadership in New South Wales - or did it ?

Nathan Rees was voted out of the premiership and replaced by Kristina Keneally, but the real power in this state rests in the hands of two powerful faction chiefs who control every aspect of government policy.

Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi head the two factions that make up the Labor party. Who sits in the premier's chair - in fact who gets a seat in the state parliament - is at the discretion of these two men.

Nathan Rees bucked the dictates of Joe Tripodi - and paid the price. He sacked Tripodi from the ministry and within days faced a spill motion - which he lost 43-25.
The rank and file followed the royal edict - and Kristina Keneally got the job with a 47-21 margin.

The power of these two faction lords is immense. They control the money spigot that can be used to " stack branches " with voting members to bring about the results the factions desire, and because they control the preselection of sitting members they can influence the results they desire.

It all boils down to money. A political party lives or dies by the donations it receives to fund elections - and getting re-elected. The faction bosses can deliver results because they control votes - and that's a good reason for those seeking a result to be generous when making political donations.

Kristina Keneally will have the glory of wearing the premier's mantle, but she will be very aware that her hold on power in tenuous - and in the hands of the two Labor power brokers.

She should also be aware of names such as Joan Kirner and Carmen Lawrence. The ALP has a past history of appointing women to the top position of regimes in their last, desperate days - only to see them fail at the ballot box.

At least there seems an exception to that rule - in the form of Anna Bligh in Queensland.

It will depend if the faction bosses give her room to move !

No lose legislation.

What a weird world we live in !

An enquiry is under way into gambling with the objective of creating new laws making it easier for those who lose to get " better legal redress " in seeking compensation from gaming venues.

It seems nobody is complaining when they win - but the losers demand their money back !

This goes against the whole concept of gambling.

Every form of gambling - from playing a poker machine to buying on the share market - is a calculated risk. There is a chance that lady luck will look the other way and we will lose money - but there is also the chance that lady luck may smile - and we will make a motza.

If we over indulge in risk taking we have only ourselves to blame !

There is merit in reducing the legal amount that can be gambled in a single instance to reduce the temptation on problem gamblers, but we interfere with the principle of gambling at our peril.

All forms of gambling are weighed with the odds favouring the house. If we gamble consistently - we lose. The law of averages takes care of that.

The only reason we gamble is because chance exists that for a small outlay we will get extremely lucky and receive a rich reward.

Once that principle is overturned legal forms of gambling will wilt and die - and be replaced by illegality conducted out of sight - and then the odds will be really stacked against the gambler !

" Funny " money !

Yesterday the Reserve bank hiked interest rates by 25 basic points to $ 3.75%. Within minutes Westpac announced it would hike mortgage interest rates by 45 basic points, nearly double this official rate. Similar action by the other banks seems inevitable.

The average person has a problem understanding interest rates. All they know is that when rates rise they have to increase their monthly payments on their house mortgage. Because of the recession, rates have been at an all time low during the past twelve months.

To put it simply, interest rates are the thing that controls the money supply.

Our present home mortgage was possible because we tapped into yesterdays money supply. New money is needed to service the demand for mortgages and other loans that will be required today - and on the world stage this country's interest rate regime determines if we get our share from the world money pool.

But - this is a two way street ! The people who have money to invest need to get a decent return. A lot of investment money comes from superannuation and savings and the owners need that income for day to day living. Low interest rates have forced many self funded retirees onto the old age pension.

The money the banks are offering on loans is money they have borrowed - and they claim the cost of borrowing is rising and they need more than that .25 basic points to keep the money flow viable. Of course, what is not stated is that they intend to maintain their profit margin - and increase it if possible.

In some countries interest rates are pegged by government decree. In Australia, market forces prevail - within the basic underlying structure set by the Reserve bank.

What you pay for the money you borrow will be determined by the deal you negotiate with the lender - and those that take the trouble to do their homework will find that it pays a dividend.

The curse of leadership.

Before the sun sets on this Tuesday in December the leadership of the Liberal party will have experienced change. The scene is set for a spill - and the likely contest will be between present leader, Malcolm Turnbull and leadership pretender Tony Abbott - and heir apparent Joe Hockey.

At the same time New South Wales premier Nathan Rees will be looking over his shoulder as his party plots to replace him with either Frank Sartor or treasurer Eric Roozendaal. Lurking in the background are the " danger people ", John Della Bosca and Planning minister Kristina Keneally.

The Liberal party gives as it's reason for leadership change a sharp difference of opinion on the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme ( ETS ), but in reality both Liberal and state Labor unrest over leadership boils down to a single factor - the inability of the present leaders to attract the voters.

Both have low approval ratings and neither give their party confidence that they are heading for a win at the next election.

The game of " musical chairs " will continue in both houses of parliament until a person emerges with that magical charisma to which the voters flock.

Leadership challenges only become a thing of the past when the person leading the party is seen as a clear " election winner " !

Water pressure reduction.

The state government has announced that it is implementing a reduction in water pressure in several Wollongong suburbs, including Fairy Meadow.

What is surprising is that this has drawn absolutely no comment from the department most likely to be affected - the fire brigade.

According to the government PR office, reducing water pressure will result in fewer burst water mains and a reduction in other maintenance costs. We are assured that most people will notice little difference. Just a little longer filling the bath perhaps !

There are questions that need answers. What will be the position with those buildings fitted with automatic fire sprinklers. Such buildings have a tank on the roof to provide immediate response, but need pressure from the mains to maintain the flow once this is exhausted. Will the lower pressure regime meet the fire safety standards under which these systems are constructed ?

In a bushfire many residents are hosing down nearby shrubbery and dealing with burning embers. Will lowered mains pressure be able to accommodate this increased demand, and will it leave the fire brigade units short of essential water ?

The fire brigades are a government instrumentality. Have they been gagged and ordered to maintain silence on any hazards involved in reducing mains pressure ?

If there is no cause for alarm, it would help if the fire people were able to make a supporting comment !

Rise of the " Nurse Practitioner ".

Our health care needs are changing. The days of our old stalwart - the General Practitioner - are fading as they age and morph into the era of " Superclinics ".

Now a new source of medical knowledge is emerging. The " Nurse Practitioner " is already taking some of the load in these " Superclinics " and in rural areas - where GP's are scarcer than hen's teeth - they have been given the authority to order scans and blood tests - and to write prescriptions.

Now Nurse Practitioners are being added to the staff of pharmacies in areas where there is a shortage of GP's. It is hoped that this source of medical help will take pressure off hospital emergency departments and result in the better treatment of minor ailments such as colds and flu.

As usual, the medical fraternity is screaming blue murder. The AMA describes the move as " a threat to public health " and insists that all medical advice should be in the hands of a qualified doctor.

It is called " turf protection ". Doctors hold a position of privilege and they will fight tooth and nail to protect their realm - and their high incomes.

Really, all that has changed is an upgrading of what is already happening in pharmacies.

Chemists - and their staff - are a cluey lot. They may not hold a medical degree, but they know the symptoms of common ailments - and they know the medications that alleviate them. What we are now getting is a trained medical person in the form of a Nurse Practitioner who can carry that diagnosis one step further - and who has the know how to send a person to a doctor or a hospital when necessary.

Perhaps the biggest advantage is availability. Many people hesitate to see a doctor because of cost or the time involved. They are much more likely to have a chat to a nurse practitioner in a pharmacy - hence the number on untreated ailments should drop.

This seems to be a logical step in the provision of medical services to our ever expanding urban population.

World finance !

It is said that the difference between success and failure in finance is the ability to read impending world signs - and act upon them !

There are some very ominous signals in both the international and local business spheres. Gold is attracting a world record price - and gold has always been the ultimate hedge to which worried money flees when risk appears on the horizon.

It is also said that money talks all languages. Behind the great trading names of world commerce exists a comfortable club of movers and shakers. This club advises governments of what is possible in the real world and is the main reason there is balance between jobs, trade and orderly markets on an international basis.

Occasionally, events slip out of hand and confound this powerful club. Apparently the " toxic securities " debacle was one such instance which plunged the financial world into recession - and near depression. The " club " has regained control - and the world is headed towards recovery.

There is a major fly in the ointment - the phenomenon of world warming.

The evidence seems irrefutable that during the course of this century we will see rising sea levels, more powerful Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons - and a big rise in the world temperature.

It is possible to contain this threat, but at a cost. We will need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and adopt a new lifestyle. There will be job losses and a redirection of industry - and at the same time a growing world population will probably outstrip the food supply.

The " wise men of money " have examined this scenario - and believe that it can not be achieved without totally wrecking the world order and bringing disaster to the developed world - and for that reason it is getting the thumb's down.

Big business has opted for the lesser of two evils. We can tinker around the edges and make small improvements, but to implement a world ETS would be the ultimate disaster - and thus we have no option other than to learn to live with world warming.

Why else would well educated and academically gifted men like Nick Minchin, Wilson Tuckey, Andrew Robb, Kevin Andrews - and a wide swathe of backbenchers suddenly claim that " world warming " was unscientific twaddle - and set out to wreck any chance of an ETS becoming law in Australia - even though in so doing they were wrecking their own political party ?

The people most attuned to the big business of this world seem to have made a choice between the financial disaster that will accompany an ETS and the certain disaster of rising sea levels. The only difference is that the rich developed countries will have the means to prepare defences and shield their populations - something that will be denied other nations.

The stage seems set for Copenhagen. There will be agreements on targets, but these will not be set in concrete. There will be no penalties for those who make a promise - and then do nothing. In effect, Copenhagen will be a meaningless gab fest !

For those who read financial signs, perhaps the real world is sending a message on global warming that reads - " GET USED TO IT ! "

A jihad on trees.

It is obvious that someone living near Towradgi park is determined that trees will not spoil the view !

Many attempts to establish shade trees in this reserve have met with guerilla tactics and this week three Norfolk pines - planted just twenty-four hours earlier - were ring barked, despite being protected by stainless steel guard enclosures.

Ironically, Norfolk pines are trees least likely to spoil the view of nearby residents. Their foliage does not extend near the ground, allowing a " see through " situation, but they do provide excellent shade which is much sought after during hot summer days.

Wollongong council is faced with some sort of " Mexican standoff ". These trees cost $ 300 each and there seems every prospect that replacements will suffer a similar fate.

A view of the sea has a dramatic effect on the value of property and some home owner is determined that the view will not be obstructed by trees, despite the threat that if caught the fine could be greater than the value of his or her property.

It looks like becoming a battle of wills. The council is determined to establish shade trees and a resident is equally determined to sabotage all efforts.

Various ploys have been tried by other councils, including erecting semi permanent signs to mimic the view blocking effect the trees would have presented, but of course this also punishes innocent residents.

We live in an electronic age and the answer is probably the installation of hidden mini surveillance equipment to trap - and identify - the culprit.

A park without trees - is not a park at all !

Time for a reality check !

Amazing scenes in Federal parliament yesterday. Calls for a spill - and the opposition leader survived to fight another day.

There seems to be a huge lack of perception between some members of the Liberal and National parties - and some scientists - on this global warming question, and even that argument is split on several lines.

There are those who think that increased Co2 has absolutely nothing to do with global warming, and in fact results in a healthier planet.

Others contend that planet earth has had natural ice ages and warmer periods and this melting of the ice caps is simply a cycle that will run it's course.

A third line of thinking agrees that human activity is causing climate change, but objects to an ETS on the grounds that nothing will halt what is occurring naturally - and the consequences of taxing carbon will shatter the world economy and result in ruin. This group promotes the only answer as - " Get used to it ! "

Public opinion polls reveal that the vast majority of people are convinced that the Co2 spewed out by the industrialized world is causing the ice caps to melt and the seas to rise, and are prepared to endure some pain to try and reverse this danger.

There is little point in Australia embarking on an ambitious harm reduction programme if the rest of the world gives it the flick pass - and it seems likely that is what will happen next month in Copenhagen.

All the indicators are that there will be no binding targets set and all that will eventuate is a lot of vague promises - that sound great but have no meaning on actual action.

If so, global warming and rising seas will find themselves consigned to " the too hard basket " - and the only remaining option will be " get used to it ! "

Coma !

A medical report out of Europe must send a chill down the spine of all thinking people.

A man involved in a road accident spent twenty-three years in a supposedly vegetative state - in a coma - but able to hear every word his doctors spoke, but unable to achieve any form of communication.

Written off by the medical community he was only saved when another doctor detected evidence of brain activity - and now this false diagnosis has been set aside, remedial work has enabled him to communicate via a specially designed computer keyboard.

That so easily could have been one of us, caused by anything from a car accident to a stroke. We wonder how many people here have suffered such a state and may be lying in a bed in a nursing home - or who have had their life support turned off because that has seemed the most merciful option.

What happens when a person is in a coma is one of the great unknowns. The fact that a false diagnosis is possible in a busy hospital makes it imperative that this must not become the final medical declaration - without every possible test having been undertaken.

It also a very good reason for a further medical appraisal by a doctor skilled in detecting brain activity be required before any decision on turning off life support is taken.

This report from Europe must now create indescribable anguish for those family members who have had to make that decision !

Creating a slum !

Councils have building codes to ensure that new buildings comply with community standards. They apply to everyone - except the government's whose law enforces them.

The state government is proposing to build a block of fifty eight apartments in Market street, Wollongong, designated for the elderly and those with disabilities. This will be public housing.

This proposed building breaches just about every council regulation on the statute books !

It exceeds the height limit. It exceeds the floor space ratio. It ignores off-sets, and as a result it will be deficient in communal and private space for the area concerned - and most glaring of all - it provides just eleven car parking spaces.

Council requirements for a development of this magnitude require sixty-three residential parking spaces, plus an additional six for visitors. Should this go ahead by government diktat it is obvious that the surrounding streets of the CBD will have to absorb residents forced to seek street parking.

It is the principle involved that really stinks !

We are a country that is supposedly civilized. We live within a system of law and order and there is punishment for those who break the rules.

Along comes a government department that simply thumbs it's nose at those rules, totally ignores them - and gets away with it !

That's enough to bring the citizenry to the barricades - the start of some sort of community jihad.

Maybe it's about time we taught the government that they are a servant of the people - and they are expected to abide by the same rules that apply to us.

And we have the option of delivering them a pink slip - at the ballot box !

A place in the human jungle.

Drug users - drug pushers - prostitutes - people with mental illness - have as much right to public housing as any other member of the community.

This was the response from a spokesperson from Youth and Family Services, commenting on the " human jungle " of public housing in the Greene, Todd and Bent streets precinct at Warrawong.

That is perfectly correct, the only problem is that few would welcome such people as their next door neighbour. If that did happen, complaints would be certain and there would be a push to have them moved elsewhere.

It seems that the Youth and Family people simply designated this area as home for all of society's misfits - on the basis that they deserve each other. There is the added benefit that by corralling them in a central block the police can be used to reduce the worst of human failings.

Unfortunately some people fall through the cracks in the system - and some unfortunate families with children find themselves imprisoned in this " human jungle ".

Money is being spent to upgrade housing and the worst offenders are being moved elsewhere. Progress is being made and eventually this evil precinct may see better times.

But that will be at the expense of other public housing suburbs. Every time a misfit is moved from this ghetto - expect a new problem where it didn't occur before !

Compassion for some equates to pain for others !

Juvenile savings revival.

The Commonwealth bank has rediscovered an old way to generate a customer base - " get 'em while they are young ".

Half a century ago this bank was a regular guest at primary and high schools, handing out money boxes and exhorting students to " save for a rainy day ! "

Of course, those were the days when the Commonwealth bank was government owned, and once it became a bandit and joined " the gang of four " it dropped any interest in small change - and kids !

Along with the rest of the banks the days of money boxes are long gone. Coins are now regarded as a " nuisance " and the banks either make a hefty charge for counting coins - or refuse to provide such a service. In most cases they will only accept coins if they are packaged in standard wrappings.

How strange that the pubs and clubs have no problem accepting coins ! If you take the the coins that collect in a bedside tray and want to exchange them for poker machine money you are made welcome.

The coins are dropped into a bin on a scale and this instantly determines the value. No manual counting involved - and you have instant money to play the machines.

Presumably the gambling industry either converts these coins into paper wrapped rolls - or uses it's muscle to demand the banks relax their coin policy.

So - the Commonwealth bank is back to touting for business in the schools and hopes to enlist 300,000 new accounts who will stick with them when they become salary earners.

Whats the betting this approach will be more in keeping with modern times. Not a money box handed out - but a portion of pocket money saved by being transferred monthly from either Dad or Mum's account to that special account which the kid's can access online - and " watch their savings grow ! "

It certainly gives credence to that old adage - " The more things change - the more they stay the same ! "

A " politically correct " finding !

Why are we not surprised that an upper house enquiry into bribery and corruption in land rezoning in western Sydney has resulted in " no wrongdoing " being found.

This enquiry arose from the murder of businessman Michael McGurk and the revelation that a tape recording existed that it was claimed had secretly recorded bribery arrangements between Labor parliamentarians and government officials in exchange for favourable land rezonings.

It seems strange that the enquiry did not even bother to hear this tape !

Some would conclude that this enquiry was so " politically correct " - that it would have had difficulty tracking an elephant through a snow drift !

There are none so blind as those who do not wish to see !

Fortunately this upper house enquiry was only one of the three enquiries under way, and we are still waiting for a response from both the police and the ICAC investigations.

The suggestion of corruption leaves a bad smell that lingers. The only way to clear the air is to have a full and honest enquiry that drags all the facts - kicking and screaming into the open.

That does not seem to be " the politically correct " way !

A fire storm looms !

For the first time, some parts of New South Wales will endure a day when the fire danger will be termed " catastrophic ". This new extreme designation has been coined to describe a situation where " flee early " replaces " stay and fight " as the wise decision in danger areas.

Unfortunately past experience makes it certain that a day of extreme fire danger will bring out arsonists who will deliberately set the bush alight to satisfy some perverted demand in their psych.

The experience of decades past has been that death and destruction have in many cases resulted from a fire deliberately lit by such an arsonist. There is reason to believe that such action is a form of mental illness - and even if an offender is caught and punished - the urge to light fires will persist.

The police and the courts maintain awareness lists of people with a history of lighting fires and perhaps we need a law change to protect the innocent on the few days of the year when " catastrophic " fire events are predicted.

As part of the sentencing procedure it might be necessary for those convicted of past arson to be rounded up and held at police stations for the duration of the extreme danger period.

In this way, those most likely to reoffend and create death and destruction would be kept secure from the opportunity.

It would be a precaution in keeping with gravity of this new fire category.

Cooking smells !

Another Wollongong council fiasco !

It has been found that two up-market restaurant/coffee shops in Cliff Road have been operating without council approval - for six years. Construction was approved, but for some unknown reason Council never got around to signing the clearance for " day to day operations ".

Now nearby residents are demanding that they be shut , because - amongst other things - they object to " cooking smells ".

If that happens the proprietors of two viable Wollongong businesses will lose their source of living, a number of employees will get the sack - and those closed premises will no doubt attract the attention of graffiti gangs.

It seems strange that cooking smells should attract the ire of Wollongong council as a reason for closing cafes which are ideally placed to serve visitors to the famed " Blue Mile " that the council is building.

Several years ago a huge apartment building was constructed at north Wollongong, immediately behind a concentration of fast food outlets which included McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, Red Rooster - and at that time - Chillis.

That complex had no problems with cooking smells - but than again - it's residents were mainly University students.

Wollongong council is also in the process of approving an eight story Housing Commission apartment complex in Market street, close to a plethora of hotels, night clubs and restaurants. No cooking smell problems there either - but then would welfare people complain ? Much too grateful to finally get public housing !

It seems that if all comes back to who you are - and who you know !

And it helps to get a favourable decision if the apartment you live in costs well over a million dollars and has ocean views.

Pity the poor owners and staff - trying to make an honest living - and having their business virtually confiscated - because the council botched the approval process !

Disability parking woes !

Any driver turning seventy-five will receive a demand from the RTA that they visit their doctor for a mandatory health check. The doctor will need to certify that they are mentally and physically capable of continuing to hold a drivers license, or if that license should have restrictions.

This form also contains a declaration that will instill fear into the hearts of those who have a disability parking permit, which allows them to park in the special disability parking spaces - and allows extra parking time where kerb parking is time restricted.

The notice states that the RTA will compare this form with it's records to see if the driver has a disability parking permit, and if so that permit may be cancelled.

It seems that if the doctor thinks you are fit to drive your car, then you are too fit to also have a disability parking permit.

The state government thinks that too many people have these permits and has devised a second use for elderly driver medicals - to strip those who pass of this entitlement.

The only conclusion seems to be hostility from the government against the elderly driving cars and a wish to force them off the road and onto public transport - when that exists.

This is a new law - with a hidden agenda !

" Green slip " failure !

The " Green slip " insurance scheme was supposed to provide compensation for those injured in accidents where the car at fault was not covered by liability insurance.

To access this safeguard certain provisions apply. The car must be legally registered - and the driver must hold a legal driving license.

In this recession we are seeing more and more unregistered cars - often with a driver who has had his or her license cancelled - detected by the police. In such instances the police merely remove the license plates from the vehicle, but do nothing to remove it from further use.

Damage to people or property caused by an unlicensed car or an unlicensed driver is not covered by the Green slip scheme. Unfortunately, in many cases this leaves the victim with catastrophic injuries and no hope of any form of compensation.

It would be in the interests of justice to remove as many unregistered vehicles as possible from the road - and removal of license plates does not guarantee that will happen. Plates are often stolen from other vehicles, and a visit to any wrecking yard or metal recycler will provide an unlimited supply.

There is no perfect answer to the unregistered car problem, but if each car so detected was automatically sent to the crusher and turned into scrap metal the numbers would certainly be reduced.

It would also be a deterrent to owners not to take a chance - and put the financial health of other road users at risk.

Anything that makes the Green slip insurance cover serve it's intended purpose is worth consideration !

The end of an era !

For over a century Labor party prime ministers and premiers have been forced to cobble together governments from a selection of ministers chosen by the various political factions.

That started to end when Kevin Rudd won office. He demanded - and was given - the right to choose his own ministry. The same demand was later claimed by Anna Bligh in Queensland - and this past weekend the Labor conference bestowed this choice on New South Wales premier Nathan Rees.

It can only be a matter of time before exactly the same demand is made by the Labor premiers of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, and it is hard to see it being denied.

When an era comes to an end it is not without consequences. The bun fight between the factions to nominate their candidates to the ministry and the power that conferred was the basis of trade offs on policy that defused tensions.

The Labor party has never been a singular political party. At best it is loose consortium of several different ideologies who tolerate one another because of united opposition to the alternative Conservative parties.

Now that the horse trading over cabinet posts has been abolished the factions will have to find new ways to demonstrate their strengths. Back benchers maintained discipline in the hope of being rewarded with advancement to the ministry. We may see faction bosses planning revolts from the rank and file to demonstrate that they still hold power.

Hopefully, Labor ministries may in future contain the brightest and best of the party rather than a weird collection of party hacks chosen because of their factional alliances.

It would be a brave soul that thinks that this new order will see the end of factional power plays - or that leaders will be assured of discipline by their ministers.

Politics is all about power - and power is a numbers game !

Wollongong " Danger Zone ".

The GPT group - developer of the Wollongong Mall and the company behind the delayed $ 311 million Keira street mall extension - has made a last ditch appeal for the Crown street mall to be opened to limited vehicle traffic.



There have been exhaustive public surveys and public opinion is clearly favouring keeping cars out of the mall, but another aspect has received little attention.



When the banks began closing branches and forcing customers to use ATM's Wollongong's northern and central areas saw the establishment of just two banking precincts - the Crown street Mall - and Corrimal.



All the banks concentrated their ATM's close to one another under some form of mutual agreement.



There is no doubt that the Crown street mall is a safe place to visit during the hours the shops are open, but when they close it becomes a very different safety proposition. Few would dispute that in the evening the mall becomes a haven for drunks, drug pushers and juvenile gangs of anti social people.



Not exactly an ideal place for women or the elderly to visit if they need to get money from an ATM !



Not a place that can be accessed without the difficulty of finding a car park and taking a long walk to the selected ATM - and then retracing that journey with withdrawn funds in your wallet or purse.



The concern of the GPT group is obvious. Many people living in the suburbs surrounding central Wollongong will not put themselves at risk by walking though this dangerous area at night to visit an ATM. They prefer using their car and driving to Corrimal, where parking is easy and the ATM streetscape has the safety of car traffic and pedestrians.



Plans are in progress for a massive retail development in Corrimal and the GPT group can clearly see danger to their Crown/Keira streets mall. If Corrimal adopts night trading it would deal a damaging blow to the deserted central Wollongong shopping centre - and all Wolongong council is proposing is a $ 17.8 million redevelopment which will remove the " birdcage " - but leave the mall a deserted " no mans land " at night.



One of the keys to success or failure is making access to ATM's safe - and so far that is not even on the drawing board.

Taken with a grain of salt !

Today Premier Nathan Rees will be in Wollongong to launch the " Green jobs action plan ".

This ambitious project has at it's centre a " Cogeneration project " in conjunction with Bluescope steel to use the gases from the steelmaking process to fire up electricity production. It would create 2,000 construction jobs, eliminate one million tonnes of greenhouse gases - and cost a billion dollars to create !

There is also a plan to bring a wave energy power generation plant to fruition, although details of this are scarce. Most Wollongong people remember the hoop-la surrounding the tests of such a plant off Port Kembla - and the deafening silence when it ran into technical problems.

There is also a plan to create a street of about ten " display homes " that are marvels of sustainability ". Each will create 100% of it's own electricity needs and recycle water.

This state government is big on making announcements - but unfortunately few of them ever see the light of day by being converted into reality.

It is all a matter of money - and that is something that this state government does not have. The only hope of any of these ideas proceeding further is if the Federal government chips in with the funds.

That Bluescope steel Cogeneration project is just another recycled idea that attracted a lot of fanfare decades ago - and just as quickly slipped into obscurity. It would be great if it happened - and many people think it is a practical idea. It would also become a useful anchor for ensuring that the Wollongong steel industry survives whatever the world economy may deliver in the future.

Unfortunately few people here will get too excited about the hoop-la that will surround this announcement.

We have heard it all before - and we know that the best reaction is to take it with a grain of salt !

The question of personal responsibility !

Once again the matter of alcohol and personal responsibility has been the subject of a High Court decision.

The High Court of Australia has struck down a Tasmanian Supreme Court finding that a publican had a duty of care to a patron who was drinking alcohol.

This man handed the keys to his motor bike to the publican while sober as a precaution against driving while drunk. Later, after consuming a considerable amount of alcohol which would have affected his mental state - he demanded the keys be returned. They were - and he attempted to drive home, crashed - and was killed !

From time to time in jurisdictions throughout the world various decisions and laws have been enacted to try and establish the ground rules of responsibility.

It is illegal to serve further alcohol to a person already under the influence in most cases, but that's where the definition of responsibility becomes blurred - and changes dramatically from country to country.

In this case the patron's intent seems clear. While sober he intended to drink alcohol to the point where he could become inebriated, and he sought to eliminate the chance that he might break the law by driving while under the influence. He handed the keys to the publican in trust with the understanding that they would not be returned until such time as he was not affected by alcohol.

The court decision absolves the publican of responsibility to act as some sort of referee. Had he refused to return those keys it is possible such a decision could have led to violence.

It also redirects responsibility back to the publican's client. He chose to drive a motor bike to a place where alcohol was served - with the intention of drinking alcohol.
Perhaps that responsibility rested with him to arrive by some other means of transport and leave the vehicle safely at home, where he would not be tempted to drive while in an intoxicated state.

Unfortunately this decision does nothing to establish clear rules about the shared responsibility of drinker's and their hosts. It remains a grey area - and it seems that in the future it will return again and again to the courts.

The only certainty is that alcohol and responsibility are not compatible !

Nuclear power.

There seems a certain inevitability that the world is about to embrace nuclear power generation to phase out CO2 producing coal - and secure the continuous 24/7 baseload that underpins a modern society.

The United Kingdom is about to commit to building ten new nuclear power plants. Germany is in the process of reversing a decision to phase out existing nuclear power plants and will move in the opposite direction - and France, the world leader is drawing 80% of it's power needs from uranium - will lift that figure even higher.

Australia is still mired in a fear of things nuclear, but opinions are changing. Research shows that 40.1% of Newcastle people now think nuclear is an acceptable option. Here in the Illawarra acceptance stands at just 30%.

Wind/wave/solar will continue to increase and deliver a proportion of our electricity needs, but we would be courting disaster if we relied on these sources to deliver a reliable baseload. Our needs are ever expanding and the sheer volume of wind farms and solar arrays needed would be overwhelming.

We had a taste of what would happen without reliable electricity when a contractor disrupted a key cable and plunged central Sydney into darkness recently. Without electricity the city simply stopped. Stores closed because cash registers and EFTPOS failed. Computers shut down. ATM's stopped working. Offices and homes went dark - and most forms of commerce stopped.

There are major cities in the world where electricity is under supplied and subject to rolling blackouts. Their governments failed to adequately plan and spend to create the necessary structures - and we know them under the title " third world ".

That is something that must not be allowed to happen here !

We have a rapidly expanding country, nearly a third of the world's uranium - and a huge continent in which to bury nuclear waste.

It is hard to find a valid reason why we should not join the rest of the world and accept the logical method of ensuring electricity production can meet our baseload needs.

To do less would be to sell this country short !

A forgotten hero !

The world celebrates the fall of the Berlin wall twenty years ago on November 9, 1989. This historic event ended the enslavement of millions of European people - and brought about the end of the cold war.

Strangely, the one man who made this possible gets scant attention - and very little praise.

Mikhail Gorbachev was the man at the pinnacle of Russian power - and Russia was the country that ruled the Communist satellite block of nations named as " the Warsaw pact ".

There had been other rumblings of discontent with Communism in the past, and on every occasion the Russian tanks had rolled to crush that dissent. The leaders of East Germany had no intention of allowing their wall to be breached and they looked to Gorbachev for the same support received from other Russian leaders.

Mikhail Gorbachev was a very different man. He was a man of vision and he could see that Communism was a failed system condemning half of Europe to misery, lack of progress - and the possibility of a third world war.

Re rejected those calls for help. The Russian tanks and troops remained in their barracks - and the wall came down and the people were free.

The power of decision rested with one man, and he is no longer the leader of Russia, but a retired citizen living quietly in Moscow.

It is strange that during these celebrations his name receives scant praise, and yet in many respects his resolve to change the world was one of the greatest events of the past century.

New law - old result !

The New South Wales government is waging a war against graffiti - which has become a blight on the community. New laws are being enacted to toughen penalties and increase police powers.

In future, it will be an offence to be in possession of a paint spray can without a lawful reason, and on conviction the offender could be sentenced to six months gaol.

It sounds impressive, but the final outcome will probably not see much change.

The imposition of all laws are at the discretion of the presiding magistrate or judge, and that discretion was established long ago to avoid " one size fits all " sentencing.

The most likely scenario is for some unfortunate individual to have the book thrown at him or her for a graffiti offence, just to show the government and the media that the new law is working, and most other offenders to get a gentle slap on the wrist.

What the public - and what the government - considers a heinous crime is often not seen that way by the judiciary - and they are a stubborn, opinionated lot. They cling to that power of discretion and in the past governments of differing political persuasion have had no luck in moving them.

And that is the corner stone of our judicial system. It exists at arms length from politics and the state - and is the reason we do not have arbitrary sentencing laws.

It looks like we will just have to put up with graffiti until we figure out how to instill civic pride in the offenders.

Sex education !

Here we go again ! A lot of wise men and women have been tasked with drawing up a " National sex education package " to guide our youngsters from primary through to their high school years.

What a thankless task !

The three things that most Australian's disagree over - are politics, football - and sex education !

Opinions range from the " teach them nothing " mob, who have the quaint notion that if kid's are kept ignorant they will not experiment with sex - to the " worldly wise " who favour " putting it all on the table " - and then letting the kid's figure out what to do with the knowledge.

And then there is the Catholic church !

Even the mere mention of contraception and abortion has them in a frenzy !

The Federal education minister, Julia Gillard calms the debate by promising that all interested parties will be " consulted ". That seems to be shorthand for an endless debate which will satisfy neither end of the moral spectrum.

Eventually some sort of compromise will be grudgingly reached - and then the second battle on sex education will begin. The parties who will have the task of implementing this package - the Teachers Federation and the Catholic Schools teachers will split into those " for " and those " against " whatever it contains.

Getting picked to serve on this task force is a bit like the opening scene from that venerable TV classic " Mission Impossible " - and the required task is similar !

Miming - is it fair ?

When you pay big money to see your favourite artist on stage - what do you expect ?

Most people expect to hear that artist entertain them in person - with renditions of favourite songs - and that's what they get.

There is one difference. The artist they see is that person in the flesh, visible in front of them on the night. The artist they hear is also that same person, but the song they are listening to was probably recorded at another time - in a studio in another country - and is being mimed for their entertainment.

Britney Spears is at present touring Australia and it has been suggested that all or part of her performance will be mimed. The question going the rounds - is this fair ?

New South Wales Fair Trading minister, Virginia Judge is looking into the matter and there is the suggestion that laws might be changed to force shows to indicate clearly in their advertising - and on their tickets - if miming will be part of the acts.

That seems to be a fair compromise, otherwise patrons might find themselves far from satisfied with some performances. In this technical age the wizards of electronics are able to enhance music in ways that are not possible in a packed concert hall.

Often miming is the only alternative if the artist is to be heard at his or her best, because the vocal that emerged from the recording studio bears no relation to what can be produced on stage without electronic backup.

It's just a matter of being honest - and letting the audience know exactly what they are getting for their money !

A new building code.

Rising sea levels will now be a factor in determining council approval of building plans.

Many people think this will only affect beach front land, and will therefore only apply to the rich people who can afford to live with the beach at their door - and marvellous water views.

The implications will be much wider, and eventually this will determine the value of land and existing homes across a huge swathe of Australian cities, towns and villages.

If we have a rise in sea levels the outflow of rivers and creeks will change. During flood rains that coincide with high tide water will not be able to drain away, hence land that did not previously flood will be inundated.

Council flood maps will illustrate this danger - and it will occur a long way inland from river entrances and the coast.

It signals a change in land values that will affect many people. Not only will some vacant land decrease in value because councils will no longer allow development, but existing homes will be shunned by mortgage lenders because of the risk factor.

There is also the prospect of such existing homes being excluded from flood insurance by the insurance industry.

The full implications have not yet been fully appreciated by many people, but for those considering either a land purchase or buying an existing home it would be a good idea to think long and hard about it's height above sea level, something that is difficult to determine at a casual glance.

Such a determination is likely to become a new industry. Just as property appraisal now involves many searches, in future height elevation above sea level is likely to be the determining factor in loan approvals.

An act of bastardry !

Two Sydney harbourside councils have announced they will be charging people who use their parks to watch the new years eve fireworks.

It will not be a gold coin entry either. These councils intend to gouge adults a twenty five dollar entry fee, with a charge of fifteen dollars for every child.

An old Chinese proverb says " that the longest journey starts with the first step ".

The first step is about to be taken to turn public parks into revenue raising opportunities for some councils, and it is inevitable that this will be taken up by other councils - and extended to events such as the crowds who gather to watch the start of the Sydney/Hobart yacht race on Boxing day.

It is essential that the state government step in and nip this act of bastardry in the bud. One of the delights of Sydney and it's glorious harbour is the ability of the public to gather in public places to watch the events that make Sydney a world city.

The very idea that councils with a " Scrooge " mentality should be allowed to dictate a fee for a stroll in the park is simply an extension of the " revenue raising " myopia that sees " fees and fines " unjustly levied wherever we drive, park or simply go about our daily lives.

If public parks attract an entry fee every time there are fireworks - or the presence of a major ocean liner or similar attraction - what is to stop councils erecting turnstyles and charging to go for a swim on city beaches ?

There is a line that should not be crossed - and this proposal just crossed that line !

Banks - control of the mortgage spigot !

There is a glaring difference between banks in Australia - and what happened to banks in America and the United Kingdom during the world recession.

American and British banks needed huge injections of government funds to keep their doors open, and now the government is their biggest shareholder. Accordingly, the government rules the roost when it comes to implementing divestment plans, management of toxic assets and limits on executive pay.

In Australia the big four rode out the recession without such help. All that was needed was a government guarantee that depositors funds were safe. In fact, the recession here handed the banks power to eliminate a surging threat to their dominance.

A fast emerging plethora of finance outfits offering home mortgages was driving down interest rates - and offering that word " competition " - which was anathema to the way banks traditionally conduct business.

The interruption to the money flow caused by recession panic cut off these home mortgage houses at the knees - and the opportunistic banks jumped in and quickly absorbed them - and kept them trading under bank management.

Now the good times are again starting to roll - and the banks are on top with majority control of the home finance spigot.

Interest rates are on the rise and the future looks bleak for those needing a home purchase mortgage. We are likely to see less innovation in lending practice and the " Scrooge " attitude of big institutions will prevail when applicants are forced to go - " cap in hand " to their bank manager for a loan.

Just when home finance was starting to loosen up and take on a modern image, along came a recession and tossed it back into the dark ages.

And the banks are now laughing - all the way to - the bank !