Australia day has been and gone - Anzac day is yet to come. Many people will welcome it with fear and trepidation because of the anticipated mayhem caused by packs of young people, many of them draped with the Australian flag.
It seems that just about any public holiday is now becoming an excuse for groups of young men - and now often young women - to get blind drunk and exert the " pack mentality " associated with wild animals such as wolves.
They roam the streets smashing beer bottles, harassing others that catch their attention and damaging cars, homes and public facilities. It seems to be a mindless rampage to draw attention and be obnoxious.
The amazing thing is that as individuals most of them are nice people, reasonably considerate - and obviously someone's son or daughter. Yet when they form a pack with others their behaviour becomes entirely out of character.
The one evident " trigger " for this mayhem is - alcohol !
Alcohol free zone legislation has been tried - and failed. Increasing the price of popular drinks has been tried - and failed. What is the next step to regain our streets on public holidays ?
A police crackdown would be the choice of many, but even that has it's limitations.
There are necessary laws governing civil liberties. Citizens are permitted to have a drink and citizens are permitted to join friends to celebrate. How many restrictions are possible before we have crossed the line into a society which could be described as a " police state ? "
Closing clubs and pubs early or restricting the sale of alcohol would only interfere with the rights of ordinary, well behaved citizens. The " hoons " would stockpile for coming events, and nothing would change.
So far there is no answer in sight. Because of this ongoing pack behavior many of the things we previously enjoyed are being withdrawn. Many clubs and pubs have ceased running " Two-up " schools on Anzac day because of crowd trouble.
Australia has always been a tolerant society. Unless we can find a solution to these pack rampages change will be forced upon us and the organizers of public events will scale them down - or abandon them entirely.
Saturday 31 January 2009
Friday 30 January 2009
School Age !
The New South Wales government proposes to change the school leaving age to seventeen. The intention is to increase the qualification level of students leaving school to enable them to better fit into the workforce and to therefore achieve a better pay grade and work opportunities.
Few would argue with that intention, but it seems to be a " one size fits all " measure.
Not all kid's are academically minded and forcing those that fit badly into the school community to conform will only be disruptive to classes.
The option seems to be to achieve a higher academic grade, or seek special permission to leave to take up an apprenticeship or start a paying job.
The problem with that is we are entering at least a severe recession - and possibly a mind numbing depression - and as a consequence apprenticeships and any form of paid work is going to be hard to find.
Consequently a lot of kid's who hate school and have no interest in learning are going to be stuck in the system until they are seventeen, and in today's culture they are young adults on the cusp of parental freedom.
This idea will only work if TAFE is expanded to teach functional skills that the non academic can use when they do eventually leave school. There is no point in herding people into class rooms if they are better served learning something practical that they can put to use in earning a living.
The danger is that this plan will not be supported by the funding needed to provide an alternative for the non academics.
If that happens, the plan will be counter productive. Not only will the bright ones have their chance of higher learning wrecked by the disaffected forced into classrooms, but we will lose the skills of those who normally augment the trades that are so dismally lacking in numbers at present.
The idea is good. The implementation needs work !
Few would argue with that intention, but it seems to be a " one size fits all " measure.
Not all kid's are academically minded and forcing those that fit badly into the school community to conform will only be disruptive to classes.
The option seems to be to achieve a higher academic grade, or seek special permission to leave to take up an apprenticeship or start a paying job.
The problem with that is we are entering at least a severe recession - and possibly a mind numbing depression - and as a consequence apprenticeships and any form of paid work is going to be hard to find.
Consequently a lot of kid's who hate school and have no interest in learning are going to be stuck in the system until they are seventeen, and in today's culture they are young adults on the cusp of parental freedom.
This idea will only work if TAFE is expanded to teach functional skills that the non academic can use when they do eventually leave school. There is no point in herding people into class rooms if they are better served learning something practical that they can put to use in earning a living.
The danger is that this plan will not be supported by the funding needed to provide an alternative for the non academics.
If that happens, the plan will be counter productive. Not only will the bright ones have their chance of higher learning wrecked by the disaffected forced into classrooms, but we will lose the skills of those who normally augment the trades that are so dismally lacking in numbers at present.
The idea is good. The implementation needs work !
Tuesday 27 January 2009
Invasian day ?
Recently we celebrated " Australia Day ", that event in 1788 when the first fleet arrived and set the foundations for modern Australia.
Some Aboriginal people find little to celebrate. To them, 1788 was " Invasian day ", when the Europeans rowed ashore, planted a flag on the beach and simply annexed their home and reduced them to second class citizens.
They certainly have a point. For at least a century and a half they were not counted in the census, were not allowed to vote, were forbidden alcohol - and received none of the social services awarded to white Australians.
We have only recently apologised, but it is useless to judge the conduct of our ancestors two hundred years ago by the standards of today.
In 1788 a starving woman could be transported for stealing a loaf of bread to feed her children. Slavery was common in many parts of the world. Minor infringements were punished with vicious floggings.
The countries of Europe considered they had a right to dominate other world countries, hence the invasion of Australia was not a matter of " if " but of " when ".
It could have been the Dutch. They had conquered Indonesia and their explorers had sailed our waters without establishing a settlement. It certainly would have been the French, except that their ships were wrecked by a cyclone and they never returned to a France distracted by revolution - and so it was the British who added this great continent to their empire.
The Aboriginal people would be wise to look forward rather than look backward. This land has progressed - and is one of the choice targets for refugees from other parts of the world.
The past can not be undone, but any person living in Australia has the prospect of a good life if they engage with the social and business opportunities available to all.
Aborigines were the first Australians. Today they can proudly hold up their heads - and be counted as first amongst equals !
Some Aboriginal people find little to celebrate. To them, 1788 was " Invasian day ", when the Europeans rowed ashore, planted a flag on the beach and simply annexed their home and reduced them to second class citizens.
They certainly have a point. For at least a century and a half they were not counted in the census, were not allowed to vote, were forbidden alcohol - and received none of the social services awarded to white Australians.
We have only recently apologised, but it is useless to judge the conduct of our ancestors two hundred years ago by the standards of today.
In 1788 a starving woman could be transported for stealing a loaf of bread to feed her children. Slavery was common in many parts of the world. Minor infringements were punished with vicious floggings.
The countries of Europe considered they had a right to dominate other world countries, hence the invasion of Australia was not a matter of " if " but of " when ".
It could have been the Dutch. They had conquered Indonesia and their explorers had sailed our waters without establishing a settlement. It certainly would have been the French, except that their ships were wrecked by a cyclone and they never returned to a France distracted by revolution - and so it was the British who added this great continent to their empire.
The Aboriginal people would be wise to look forward rather than look backward. This land has progressed - and is one of the choice targets for refugees from other parts of the world.
The past can not be undone, but any person living in Australia has the prospect of a good life if they engage with the social and business opportunities available to all.
Aborigines were the first Australians. Today they can proudly hold up their heads - and be counted as first amongst equals !
Monday 26 January 2009
How black is black ?
It is strange that the whole world is referring to Barak Obama as " the first black American president " - because he is not black !
Obama's ancestry stems from a black Kenyan father and a white American mother, and in any reasonable sense he is therefore half black and half white.
This does not detract from the fact that for the first time in history a man with some black blood in his veins has attained the highest office in the land, and in the future it has set precedent that may include all manner of races, including Inuit, members of the native tribes - and Latinos.
It is also inevitable that somewhere in the future - and most probably the very near future - American will elect a woman as it's president.
It seems strange that people of all colours are ignoring the white blood element that goes as part of the person who is Barak Obama. It is understandable that America's blacks are proud of his achievement and cling to the hope that his attaining office will bring about a change in the attitudes that have dogged their race for so many centuries.
At the same time white Americans seem to have dismissed the half of their president which is white - and view him as a totally black man.
The colour of America is changing, and probably Barak Obama represents the colour of the future.
Inter marriage of black and white was almost unheard of a century ago, and now a huge proportion of the population is of mixed blood. Viewing any crowd scene at a sporting events presents a vista of black and white, but an ever increasing number of people whose skin shade is somewhere in between.
This is becoming the face of America - but if you look closely - it is also fast becoming the face of the world in which we live !
Obama's ancestry stems from a black Kenyan father and a white American mother, and in any reasonable sense he is therefore half black and half white.
This does not detract from the fact that for the first time in history a man with some black blood in his veins has attained the highest office in the land, and in the future it has set precedent that may include all manner of races, including Inuit, members of the native tribes - and Latinos.
It is also inevitable that somewhere in the future - and most probably the very near future - American will elect a woman as it's president.
It seems strange that people of all colours are ignoring the white blood element that goes as part of the person who is Barak Obama. It is understandable that America's blacks are proud of his achievement and cling to the hope that his attaining office will bring about a change in the attitudes that have dogged their race for so many centuries.
At the same time white Americans seem to have dismissed the half of their president which is white - and view him as a totally black man.
The colour of America is changing, and probably Barak Obama represents the colour of the future.
Inter marriage of black and white was almost unheard of a century ago, and now a huge proportion of the population is of mixed blood. Viewing any crowd scene at a sporting events presents a vista of black and white, but an ever increasing number of people whose skin shade is somewhere in between.
This is becoming the face of America - but if you look closely - it is also fast becoming the face of the world in which we live !
Saturday 24 January 2009
Political donations !
There is one word that comes to the mind of many people when they hear " political donations " mentioned. That word is " bribery ! "
The two main political parties are lamenting a sharp drop in political donations from developers since the furore over money changing hands for building approvals in a recent Wollongong council fiasco.
Now that new laws require developers to list any political donations they may have made when submitting plans for a development project, giving money to politicians and their parties has suddenly gone out of fashion.
The whole purpose of a political party was to publish an agenda and invite members of the public to support those objectives by way of funding the party and voting for it at elections. If kept within that framework, politics would be both clean and fair.
It is said that money is the root of all evil, and it didn't take long for politics to stray into schemes where the promise of gain by way of political decisions could be enhanced by financial support of the party in power, with donations to the party in opposition as an each way bet.
Then there is the anomaly of the trade union movement. Many are forced to join a union because the " no ticket - no job " rule is still illegally enforced.
The union movement supports just one party - and the money extracted from union members by way of dues and levies takes no consideration of the political views of those individual members.
It is galling to some who hold a belief that well intentioned independents are preferable to party hacks toeing the party line. Their money - without their consent - is being used to keep those " time servers " in safe seats - in almost perpetuity.
From time to time the funding of political parties is touted for reform, but in reality very little changes - nor can we expect that to happen in the foreseeable future.
The people who make the laws will always be reluctant to change a system that keeps them in power. After all, the first law of politics is to be certain of retaining power by whatever means necessary - and in that context fairness and " within the law " have little meaning !
The more things change - the more they stay the same !
The two main political parties are lamenting a sharp drop in political donations from developers since the furore over money changing hands for building approvals in a recent Wollongong council fiasco.
Now that new laws require developers to list any political donations they may have made when submitting plans for a development project, giving money to politicians and their parties has suddenly gone out of fashion.
The whole purpose of a political party was to publish an agenda and invite members of the public to support those objectives by way of funding the party and voting for it at elections. If kept within that framework, politics would be both clean and fair.
It is said that money is the root of all evil, and it didn't take long for politics to stray into schemes where the promise of gain by way of political decisions could be enhanced by financial support of the party in power, with donations to the party in opposition as an each way bet.
Then there is the anomaly of the trade union movement. Many are forced to join a union because the " no ticket - no job " rule is still illegally enforced.
The union movement supports just one party - and the money extracted from union members by way of dues and levies takes no consideration of the political views of those individual members.
It is galling to some who hold a belief that well intentioned independents are preferable to party hacks toeing the party line. Their money - without their consent - is being used to keep those " time servers " in safe seats - in almost perpetuity.
From time to time the funding of political parties is touted for reform, but in reality very little changes - nor can we expect that to happen in the foreseeable future.
The people who make the laws will always be reluctant to change a system that keeps them in power. After all, the first law of politics is to be certain of retaining power by whatever means necessary - and in that context fairness and " within the law " have little meaning !
The more things change - the more they stay the same !
Friday 23 January 2009
Dodgy food !
Whenever we eat out we take a health risk. The vast majority of hotels, restaurants and cafes have strict hygiene standards, but scattered amongst them are food servers who range from the filthy to the slightly careless.
All those who prepare food to be served to the public are subject to regular inspection by food inspectors. There are laws to be observed, and harsh penalties apply for putting public health at risk.
The problem is that enforcement of these laws is not uniform. In some cases the inspectors rely on constant warnings and recently there have been moves to " name and shame " dodgy " operators.
Even that introduces controversy. Should " name and shame " occur at the first breach of the rules ? What constitutes an offence serious enough for such a draconian penalty ? How do you ensure that the offender is not the victim of an over zealous or spiteful official ?
Food inspection will always be suspect when it is administered by a local authority. Politics come into the equation and those with influence will be treated differently to the small operator striving to make a living, but without the skills and background to do it well.
The inspection of food facilities would be better regulated on a state basis. A better result would be obtained by people with no affinity to any particular region making irregular and un-announced visits to all food outlets, and with the authority to close those found to be unacceptable until the required improvements are demonstrated.
Illness and disease from poorly prepared food is a serious matter. At present the regime for weeding out dodgy operators leaves a lot to be desired.
Perhaps the only option for those who value their health is to be selective in choosing eating out venues. There is a lot to commend those small businesses where the cooking is done in front of the patron.
There is safety in the motto of " What you see is what you get ! "
All those who prepare food to be served to the public are subject to regular inspection by food inspectors. There are laws to be observed, and harsh penalties apply for putting public health at risk.
The problem is that enforcement of these laws is not uniform. In some cases the inspectors rely on constant warnings and recently there have been moves to " name and shame " dodgy " operators.
Even that introduces controversy. Should " name and shame " occur at the first breach of the rules ? What constitutes an offence serious enough for such a draconian penalty ? How do you ensure that the offender is not the victim of an over zealous or spiteful official ?
Food inspection will always be suspect when it is administered by a local authority. Politics come into the equation and those with influence will be treated differently to the small operator striving to make a living, but without the skills and background to do it well.
The inspection of food facilities would be better regulated on a state basis. A better result would be obtained by people with no affinity to any particular region making irregular and un-announced visits to all food outlets, and with the authority to close those found to be unacceptable until the required improvements are demonstrated.
Illness and disease from poorly prepared food is a serious matter. At present the regime for weeding out dodgy operators leaves a lot to be desired.
Perhaps the only option for those who value their health is to be selective in choosing eating out venues. There is a lot to commend those small businesses where the cooking is done in front of the patron.
There is safety in the motto of " What you see is what you get ! "
Thursday 22 January 2009
Jobs !
There seems no doubt that Australia will see an avalanche of job losses in the months ahead. BHP Billiton has announced the retrenchment of six thousand jobs from it's world workforce - three thousand three hundred of them in Australia.
In some cases this is a matter of trimming production lines that are no longer either relevant or profitable. BlueScope steel is shutting it's tin mill at Port Kembla, leaving eighty jobs in question. Most will be relocated to other sections of the plant - and the company is pressing ahead with the costly relining of it's number five blast furnace in anticipation of an upturn in steel demand in the future.
The tin mill is vintage second world war technology and more modern Asian mills have lower production costs. BlueScope made a wise decision because their product is facing a dwindling market.
Fifty years ago most non-fresh products were sold in tin cans, but today these have been replaced by either frozen products or by the use of plastics and cardboard. That trend can only increase !
It looks like we are facing a jobs massacre in the retail area. Go-Lo and Sam's Warehouse chains have been put into receivership and the closure of a Domayne store sends an ominous message. There are also job losses signalled at the top end of the market with David Jones retrenching workers.
Discount stores are not new. Way back before the second world war speciality shops worked on the principle of no item on sale with a price exceeding sixpence. This concept was based on SPQT - small profit - quick turnover !
Unfortunately job losses send a shiver down the spine of those still employed - and this causes them to shut their wallets.
It then becomes a vicious cycle. As people defer spending because of fear of the unknown future, more stores close their doors and more people join the ranks of the unemployed.
World leaders talk up the prospects of an end to this cyclical downturn, but it seems that the worst is yet to come. The most annoying aspect is that the greedy ones in high places who sent the economy into a downward death spiral are the ones whose lifestyle is least affected.
It seems that " fairness " and " justice " are two words destined to remain poles apart !
In some cases this is a matter of trimming production lines that are no longer either relevant or profitable. BlueScope steel is shutting it's tin mill at Port Kembla, leaving eighty jobs in question. Most will be relocated to other sections of the plant - and the company is pressing ahead with the costly relining of it's number five blast furnace in anticipation of an upturn in steel demand in the future.
The tin mill is vintage second world war technology and more modern Asian mills have lower production costs. BlueScope made a wise decision because their product is facing a dwindling market.
Fifty years ago most non-fresh products were sold in tin cans, but today these have been replaced by either frozen products or by the use of plastics and cardboard. That trend can only increase !
It looks like we are facing a jobs massacre in the retail area. Go-Lo and Sam's Warehouse chains have been put into receivership and the closure of a Domayne store sends an ominous message. There are also job losses signalled at the top end of the market with David Jones retrenching workers.
Discount stores are not new. Way back before the second world war speciality shops worked on the principle of no item on sale with a price exceeding sixpence. This concept was based on SPQT - small profit - quick turnover !
Unfortunately job losses send a shiver down the spine of those still employed - and this causes them to shut their wallets.
It then becomes a vicious cycle. As people defer spending because of fear of the unknown future, more stores close their doors and more people join the ranks of the unemployed.
World leaders talk up the prospects of an end to this cyclical downturn, but it seems that the worst is yet to come. The most annoying aspect is that the greedy ones in high places who sent the economy into a downward death spiral are the ones whose lifestyle is least affected.
It seems that " fairness " and " justice " are two words destined to remain poles apart !
Wednesday 21 January 2009
Mission impossible !
The state government has given the go-ahead for a somewhat dubious " Tourist Facility " at Maddens Plains. This bare stretch of ground between the F-6 and the Princes Highway is devoid of electric power, water and sewerage facilities, and is well known for fogs and high winds.
The approval is conditional. The original plan called for one hundred and eighty tourist villas. These have been reduced to one hundred and twenty seven - and will only be available for one hundred and fifty days a year - with a limit of forty two days consecutive occupation.
In addition to the tourist villas there will be one hundred serviced apartments, one hundred hotel rooms, a two hundred seat conference centre, plus a swimming pool, golf clubhouse and a gymnasium.
The cost of this project is estimated at $ 108 million.
What introduces a jarring note is the plan to endow the " village " with a nine hole golf course.
This whole concept hinges on attracting tourists who are supposed to flock to the area for a relaxing golfing holiday. The figures simply do not add up !
There will be accommodation for three hundred and twenty seven families - and it would be physically impossible for that number of people to play a round of golf on a nine hole golf course in any one day. More so, if each visitor was accompanied by a golf playing spouse.
It looks suspiciously like an " end run " plan to create a new suburb and profit from the eventual sale of homes - and this suspicion is heightened by the fact that Maddens Plains would never be approved for residential housing because of it's environmental fragility.
Approval reeks of deals done in smoke filled rooms. Conditions of approval are sanctions only if they are enforced - and past history is not encouraging in that respect !
The approval is conditional. The original plan called for one hundred and eighty tourist villas. These have been reduced to one hundred and twenty seven - and will only be available for one hundred and fifty days a year - with a limit of forty two days consecutive occupation.
In addition to the tourist villas there will be one hundred serviced apartments, one hundred hotel rooms, a two hundred seat conference centre, plus a swimming pool, golf clubhouse and a gymnasium.
The cost of this project is estimated at $ 108 million.
What introduces a jarring note is the plan to endow the " village " with a nine hole golf course.
This whole concept hinges on attracting tourists who are supposed to flock to the area for a relaxing golfing holiday. The figures simply do not add up !
There will be accommodation for three hundred and twenty seven families - and it would be physically impossible for that number of people to play a round of golf on a nine hole golf course in any one day. More so, if each visitor was accompanied by a golf playing spouse.
It looks suspiciously like an " end run " plan to create a new suburb and profit from the eventual sale of homes - and this suspicion is heightened by the fact that Maddens Plains would never be approved for residential housing because of it's environmental fragility.
Approval reeks of deals done in smoke filled rooms. Conditions of approval are sanctions only if they are enforced - and past history is not encouraging in that respect !
Tuesday 20 January 2009
Then - and now !
Ambience - the biggest retail building project in the northern suburbs of Wollongong - has been placed in administration.
It joins Gravity and the doubling of the CBD retail Keira street project in failed dreams caused by the economic meltdown, and leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
These three projects were all proposed in boom times and all had enthusiastic backing from financial institutions whose projections assured them to be profitable. In the case of Ambience, Coles were committed to be the head tenant, bringing another major food store to Fairy Meadow.
The Ambience project is well past half finished - and in fact the major expenses of excavating an undergrounds car park and the retail area means that it will be of interest to other developers.
Whether Coles is still interested is another matter. There are bound to be escape clauses in the event of delay and the appointment of an administrator, and in the present economic climate plans can change.
Completing the half finished project will involve risk for another builder. Whoever puts their hand up will be working on foundations and formwork not of their doing, but they will have the responsibility of guaranteeing the soundness of the finished structure. Such builders hope and pray that there have been no " short cuts " in the original development work.
No doubt Ambience - or whatever it is finally called - will be completed, but probably in an abbreviated form. Too much money has been already spent for it to be abandoned, but whatever happens will involve a massive loss to some of the parties involved.
That's the problem with projects that take years to complete. When work starts the economic sun is shining - but it may not remain sunny. A phrase familiar to project builders comes to mind.
" That was then - and this is now ! "
The " now " is a good time to have an umbrella handy !
It joins Gravity and the doubling of the CBD retail Keira street project in failed dreams caused by the economic meltdown, and leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
These three projects were all proposed in boom times and all had enthusiastic backing from financial institutions whose projections assured them to be profitable. In the case of Ambience, Coles were committed to be the head tenant, bringing another major food store to Fairy Meadow.
The Ambience project is well past half finished - and in fact the major expenses of excavating an undergrounds car park and the retail area means that it will be of interest to other developers.
Whether Coles is still interested is another matter. There are bound to be escape clauses in the event of delay and the appointment of an administrator, and in the present economic climate plans can change.
Completing the half finished project will involve risk for another builder. Whoever puts their hand up will be working on foundations and formwork not of their doing, but they will have the responsibility of guaranteeing the soundness of the finished structure. Such builders hope and pray that there have been no " short cuts " in the original development work.
No doubt Ambience - or whatever it is finally called - will be completed, but probably in an abbreviated form. Too much money has been already spent for it to be abandoned, but whatever happens will involve a massive loss to some of the parties involved.
That's the problem with projects that take years to complete. When work starts the economic sun is shining - but it may not remain sunny. A phrase familiar to project builders comes to mind.
" That was then - and this is now ! "
The " now " is a good time to have an umbrella handy !
Monday 19 January 2009
A phoney truce !
Officially the shooting has stopped in Gaza - but it seems that this is only a temporary measure.
Israel has agreed to cease bombing Hamas targets, but it's troops will stay in place and will return fire if attacked. Hamas has not agreed to cease firing rockets into Israel and it seems inevitable that at least sporadic fire fights will continue.
Much has been said about civilian casualties in this crowded enclave. It is hard to define exactly what constitutes " civilians ". The people of Gaza elected Hamas to govern them in the full knowledge that it would use terrorist tactics to harass, kill and main Israeli citizens living in the Israeli state.
Citizens of the Gaza strip stream into the streets waving Palestinian flags and cheering Hamas at every opportunity. They have full knowledge that Hamas is fighting a war against Israel and they give their support and do nothing to even try and stop the rocket barrage. In such circumstances they can legitimately be considered enemy combatants.
Hamas seems to encourage civilian casualties because of the sympathetic coverage by the world media. It continues to fire rockets from areas with a heavy concentration of civilians in the sure knowledge that return fire will kill and main women and children. This seems to them to be an acceptable price for waging a propaganda war.
There is no hope of a lasting peace while present attitudes remain. Hate sabotages every peace plan so far put forward and both sides will eventually have to face up to two basic realities.
Israel is not going to go away - and that means that Palestinians will have to accept the loss of the land the Israeli state occupies.
The Palestinian people are entitled to form a self governing state of their own and a world body such as the UN will need to recognise that state, accept it's borders and welcome it into the community of nations.
Unless these two tenets of reality are accepted no settlement is possible, and the future seems certain to be ongoing guerilla warfare - until eventually some Arab terrorist organization manages to get their hands on a nuclear weapon - and obliterates an Israeli city such as TelAviv.
If that happens the entire Middle East will disappear under mushroom clouds - and right and wrong will become a rhetorical question.
The clock is ticking - and the hands are approaching midnight !
Israel has agreed to cease bombing Hamas targets, but it's troops will stay in place and will return fire if attacked. Hamas has not agreed to cease firing rockets into Israel and it seems inevitable that at least sporadic fire fights will continue.
Much has been said about civilian casualties in this crowded enclave. It is hard to define exactly what constitutes " civilians ". The people of Gaza elected Hamas to govern them in the full knowledge that it would use terrorist tactics to harass, kill and main Israeli citizens living in the Israeli state.
Citizens of the Gaza strip stream into the streets waving Palestinian flags and cheering Hamas at every opportunity. They have full knowledge that Hamas is fighting a war against Israel and they give their support and do nothing to even try and stop the rocket barrage. In such circumstances they can legitimately be considered enemy combatants.
Hamas seems to encourage civilian casualties because of the sympathetic coverage by the world media. It continues to fire rockets from areas with a heavy concentration of civilians in the sure knowledge that return fire will kill and main women and children. This seems to them to be an acceptable price for waging a propaganda war.
There is no hope of a lasting peace while present attitudes remain. Hate sabotages every peace plan so far put forward and both sides will eventually have to face up to two basic realities.
Israel is not going to go away - and that means that Palestinians will have to accept the loss of the land the Israeli state occupies.
The Palestinian people are entitled to form a self governing state of their own and a world body such as the UN will need to recognise that state, accept it's borders and welcome it into the community of nations.
Unless these two tenets of reality are accepted no settlement is possible, and the future seems certain to be ongoing guerilla warfare - until eventually some Arab terrorist organization manages to get their hands on a nuclear weapon - and obliterates an Israeli city such as TelAviv.
If that happens the entire Middle East will disappear under mushroom clouds - and right and wrong will become a rhetorical question.
The clock is ticking - and the hands are approaching midnight !
Sunday 18 January 2009
Life gets harder !
When the banks began closing branches several decades ago many people expected that they would increase the number of ATM's to compensate. They didn't ! Instead private firms began to install independent money machines in petrol stations, corner stores, clubs and pubs.
It has always been more expensive to use a privately owned ATM than the machine provided by your own bank - and when the banks combine to allow their machines to service other bank's customers higher charges apply - but from March all bets are off !
New laws come into force on March 1 that allow the owners of private ATM's to charge whatever they like - and to vary charges according to the time of day or the amount seeking to be withdrawn.
Opportunistic owners will no doubt consider what competition exists near their machines and how far to the nearest bank owned ATM. The charge may vary widely to accommodate opportunity. How desperate are late night customers seeking urgent cash ? How fortunate to own the only ATM in a small town or a distant suburb.
Then there is the non-cash use of ATM's. Someone wants to know their account balance. Another person wants to pay a credit card debt. These could become very expensive transactions once the first of March ticks over.
At this stage there is a remedy - and that is EFTPOS. Dodge the ATM and instead use the late opening branches of Woolworths and Coles - who at this stage welcome people using their services to withdraw cash.
But - we are told that hard times are ahead in all sections of commerce. The world is staring down recession - and that " D " word is sending shivers down many people's spines.
The " easy money " times are over. The day may be coming when having a wad of money in your wallet is the only way to dodge exorbitant bank and ATM fees. How long before even EFTPOS becomes an opportunity to increase merchant's profits by making a charge for dispensing cash ?
The public are well advised to take the time to read the small print advising of the fee regime applicable to ATM's before they start pressing buttons - before they becomes victims of " the Ides of March ! "
It has always been more expensive to use a privately owned ATM than the machine provided by your own bank - and when the banks combine to allow their machines to service other bank's customers higher charges apply - but from March all bets are off !
New laws come into force on March 1 that allow the owners of private ATM's to charge whatever they like - and to vary charges according to the time of day or the amount seeking to be withdrawn.
Opportunistic owners will no doubt consider what competition exists near their machines and how far to the nearest bank owned ATM. The charge may vary widely to accommodate opportunity. How desperate are late night customers seeking urgent cash ? How fortunate to own the only ATM in a small town or a distant suburb.
Then there is the non-cash use of ATM's. Someone wants to know their account balance. Another person wants to pay a credit card debt. These could become very expensive transactions once the first of March ticks over.
At this stage there is a remedy - and that is EFTPOS. Dodge the ATM and instead use the late opening branches of Woolworths and Coles - who at this stage welcome people using their services to withdraw cash.
But - we are told that hard times are ahead in all sections of commerce. The world is staring down recession - and that " D " word is sending shivers down many people's spines.
The " easy money " times are over. The day may be coming when having a wad of money in your wallet is the only way to dodge exorbitant bank and ATM fees. How long before even EFTPOS becomes an opportunity to increase merchant's profits by making a charge for dispensing cash ?
The public are well advised to take the time to read the small print advising of the fee regime applicable to ATM's before they start pressing buttons - before they becomes victims of " the Ides of March ! "
Saturday 17 January 2009
City gloom and doom !
New accounting standards applied to the city of Wollongong mean infrastructure is now assessed on replacement cost rather than on the original value. As a result, a forecast surplus of $ 8.6 million in 2011-12 has turned into a deficit of $ 13.2 million.
There is no doubt that the infrastructure of this city is crumbling. The most glaring aspect of this problem is shopping centre footpaths - and the road system.
Asphalt footpaths were replaced with pavers some years ago and at that time it became fashionable to have the work done by " work for the dole " unemployed.
They lacked the skill to do a professional job and the foundation work also left a lot to be desired. As a result, pavers have fallen away and in many cases sloping footpaths are an actual danger to shoppers.
This has been exacerbated by the gas and phone people, whose mains run under the footpath system. Extension and repair work has seen the pavers dug up and badly re-laid, resulting in anything but an even walking surface.
There are similar problems with our roads, under which the sewers and water mains are located. When streets need resurfacing with bitumen there is no attempt to realign inspection and stop tap access with the new road surface. As a result, motorists are confronted with holes that damage tyres and ruin suspension.
To do these jobs properly obviously costs more - and the council does not have the money. As a result we have sub-standard roads and footpaths which continue to decay because they were not brought up to scratch in the first place.
There is no obvious easy remedy. The sewers, water mains, gas and phone lines will always need work and as a result roads and footpaths will need to be dug up from time to time.
It seems that we can look forward to future rate increases just to maintain the status quo - with no prospect of real improvement because of the nature of what lies beneath our roads and footpaths !
There is no doubt that the infrastructure of this city is crumbling. The most glaring aspect of this problem is shopping centre footpaths - and the road system.
Asphalt footpaths were replaced with pavers some years ago and at that time it became fashionable to have the work done by " work for the dole " unemployed.
They lacked the skill to do a professional job and the foundation work also left a lot to be desired. As a result, pavers have fallen away and in many cases sloping footpaths are an actual danger to shoppers.
This has been exacerbated by the gas and phone people, whose mains run under the footpath system. Extension and repair work has seen the pavers dug up and badly re-laid, resulting in anything but an even walking surface.
There are similar problems with our roads, under which the sewers and water mains are located. When streets need resurfacing with bitumen there is no attempt to realign inspection and stop tap access with the new road surface. As a result, motorists are confronted with holes that damage tyres and ruin suspension.
To do these jobs properly obviously costs more - and the council does not have the money. As a result we have sub-standard roads and footpaths which continue to decay because they were not brought up to scratch in the first place.
There is no obvious easy remedy. The sewers, water mains, gas and phone lines will always need work and as a result roads and footpaths will need to be dug up from time to time.
It seems that we can look forward to future rate increases just to maintain the status quo - with no prospect of real improvement because of the nature of what lies beneath our roads and footpaths !
Friday 16 January 2009
Sanity on the water.
Getting a license to drive a car has become increasingly more difficult in recent years. The law requires a learner to keep a log book to record a set amount of driving practice and when this is complete that person has to exhibit a sound knowledge of the road rules - and pass an actual driving test.
Even then, the newly licensed driver has to pass through a phase of license categories - starting with the display of a red " P " plate - before becoming a fully licensed driver.
What a difference in obtaining a license to skipper a power boat. Until recently the applicant simply paid a fee - and without any sort of knowledge or practical test - was handed a full license.
Little had changed since the days after the second world war when power boat engines were puny compared with today's monsters. Inboard and outboard motors could propel a craft little faster than walking pace - and consequently a skipper was unlikely to get into any major degree of trouble.
Today's power boats are often capable of reaching well over a hundred kilometres an hour and hence a change in license regulations is long overdue.
New legislation will require a license applicant to keep a log book and attain a yet to be determined number of hours tuition under the watch of a licensed skipper.
The details have not been fully determined but presumably there will be a knowledge - and probably a practical test - before a license is granted.
Boat accidents have been steadily increasing as the number of pleasure boats on our waterways increase. The new licensing regime will bring a little sanity into water safety !
Even then, the newly licensed driver has to pass through a phase of license categories - starting with the display of a red " P " plate - before becoming a fully licensed driver.
What a difference in obtaining a license to skipper a power boat. Until recently the applicant simply paid a fee - and without any sort of knowledge or practical test - was handed a full license.
Little had changed since the days after the second world war when power boat engines were puny compared with today's monsters. Inboard and outboard motors could propel a craft little faster than walking pace - and consequently a skipper was unlikely to get into any major degree of trouble.
Today's power boats are often capable of reaching well over a hundred kilometres an hour and hence a change in license regulations is long overdue.
New legislation will require a license applicant to keep a log book and attain a yet to be determined number of hours tuition under the watch of a licensed skipper.
The details have not been fully determined but presumably there will be a knowledge - and probably a practical test - before a license is granted.
Boat accidents have been steadily increasing as the number of pleasure boats on our waterways increase. The new licensing regime will bring a little sanity into water safety !
Thursday 15 January 2009
An ugly shadow shades sport !
This week a new factor of spectator behaviour intruded on the " fairness " associated with sport.
At the night cricket in Brisbane a South African player running to take a catch had a laser beam shone in his eyes, temporarily blinding him - and causing him to drop the ball.
The incident did not affect the games outcome, but it opened a whole new prospect of urban terrorism seeking to distort the outcome of sport. No game is immune ! A player concentrating on a result will certainly be distracted if a beam of light affects his or her vision at a crucial time of play.
Lasers are cheap and readily available, and in recent times they have been directed at the pilots of incoming aircraft at Sydney airport - and used to harass police helicopter pilots seeking fugitives.
There are stringent laws against their misuse but the cricket incident opens up a whole new prospect of interference in sport to manipulate a result.
Betting is permitted on most sporting games and money can be made if an unfancied team achieves a win. In the hands of unscrupulous people the laser must seem like the perfect weapon to stage manage an outcome.
A flash of light at a critical time when a sportsperson is concentrating may disrupt a golf swing, make a batsman miss a ball, cause a basketballer to lose orientation - or a snooker player to duff a critical shot.
It could even influence turf racing. Who knows what reaction from a horse suddenly bereft of vision as it approaches the winning post.
The one saving grace is that a laser can not be undetected. The incident at the cricket was seen by many and there is a good chance that the perpetrator will be identified - and charged !
It seems that this will be one more hazard for games organizers to guard against. Cameras at sporting grounds and race tracks will need to be vigilant to spot the source of attack - and to move security people swiftly to apprehend the offender.
It will also be wise to move special legislation to make possession of a laser at any sporting function a crime - irrespective of the circumstances - subject to a draconian prison sentence.
Swift action now could nip in the bud this new menace to sport !
At the night cricket in Brisbane a South African player running to take a catch had a laser beam shone in his eyes, temporarily blinding him - and causing him to drop the ball.
The incident did not affect the games outcome, but it opened a whole new prospect of urban terrorism seeking to distort the outcome of sport. No game is immune ! A player concentrating on a result will certainly be distracted if a beam of light affects his or her vision at a crucial time of play.
Lasers are cheap and readily available, and in recent times they have been directed at the pilots of incoming aircraft at Sydney airport - and used to harass police helicopter pilots seeking fugitives.
There are stringent laws against their misuse but the cricket incident opens up a whole new prospect of interference in sport to manipulate a result.
Betting is permitted on most sporting games and money can be made if an unfancied team achieves a win. In the hands of unscrupulous people the laser must seem like the perfect weapon to stage manage an outcome.
A flash of light at a critical time when a sportsperson is concentrating may disrupt a golf swing, make a batsman miss a ball, cause a basketballer to lose orientation - or a snooker player to duff a critical shot.
It could even influence turf racing. Who knows what reaction from a horse suddenly bereft of vision as it approaches the winning post.
The one saving grace is that a laser can not be undetected. The incident at the cricket was seen by many and there is a good chance that the perpetrator will be identified - and charged !
It seems that this will be one more hazard for games organizers to guard against. Cameras at sporting grounds and race tracks will need to be vigilant to spot the source of attack - and to move security people swiftly to apprehend the offender.
It will also be wise to move special legislation to make possession of a laser at any sporting function a crime - irrespective of the circumstances - subject to a draconian prison sentence.
Swift action now could nip in the bud this new menace to sport !
Wednesday 14 January 2009
Sharks !
Of all the ways to die, the one we fear most is to be taken by a shark !
This is probably irrational because the odds against that happening are huge. We stand a far greater chance of dieing in a car accident on the way to the beach, stepping on broken glass and severing an artery or being attacked by a dog than to fall victim to a shark.
Our fear of sharks is heightened by the media treatment of such an event. If a swimmer survives a shark attack this will certainly be front page on the national newspapers - and the lead item on TV news. It will far exceed the coverage of any mundane deaths from road trauma or other accidents.
The subject of sharks raises some interesting conjecture on the safety of Lake Illawarra. For years this lake has been closed to the sea and consequently fish and prawn stocks have declined.
We know that there are Stingrays present in great quantities, but there have been no reports of shark sightings - and the lake is widely used for prawning and fishing.
The opening of the lake in recent times - and the attack on a man snorkeling near the Windang bridge raise an interesting question.
The most likely attacker was a Bull shark - and these creatures are known to inhabit coastal waters with a preference for rivers and lake entrances. They are also capable of inhabiting fresh and brackish water, hence even after heavy rain they could remain in the lake.
The assumption that this lake provides a safe place for children to play in the water must now be questioned.
The chance of being the victim of a shark are longer than winning the lottery - but many people will not take the chance. This must be good news for the home swimming pool industry !
This is probably irrational because the odds against that happening are huge. We stand a far greater chance of dieing in a car accident on the way to the beach, stepping on broken glass and severing an artery or being attacked by a dog than to fall victim to a shark.
Our fear of sharks is heightened by the media treatment of such an event. If a swimmer survives a shark attack this will certainly be front page on the national newspapers - and the lead item on TV news. It will far exceed the coverage of any mundane deaths from road trauma or other accidents.
The subject of sharks raises some interesting conjecture on the safety of Lake Illawarra. For years this lake has been closed to the sea and consequently fish and prawn stocks have declined.
We know that there are Stingrays present in great quantities, but there have been no reports of shark sightings - and the lake is widely used for prawning and fishing.
The opening of the lake in recent times - and the attack on a man snorkeling near the Windang bridge raise an interesting question.
The most likely attacker was a Bull shark - and these creatures are known to inhabit coastal waters with a preference for rivers and lake entrances. They are also capable of inhabiting fresh and brackish water, hence even after heavy rain they could remain in the lake.
The assumption that this lake provides a safe place for children to play in the water must now be questioned.
The chance of being the victim of a shark are longer than winning the lottery - but many people will not take the chance. This must be good news for the home swimming pool industry !
Tuesday 13 January 2009
A spy in the sky !
One of the tasks of a parent is to keep track of the kids. That has been made easier with the development of a wrist watch which includes the technology from the navigation instrument many of us have in our cars.
All Mum has to do is click her computer mouse to summons up a Google map - showing the position of the wearer to within an accuracy of just two metres.
Should the child remove the watch - and that is not easy - the parent will be warned by a text message.
To some this is an invasion of privacy, but we live in a world where privacy is fast disappearing. Most of us carry a mobile phone, and that acts in a similar manner to this child's wrist watch monitor.
When the phone is switched on the phone company can track us - and if necessary - make this information instantly available to the police or any national security agency.
The electronics shops can provide an amazing array of sound and visual equipment that will enable us to secretly film and hear events - and wherever we go these days there is every chance we are being recorded on CCTV cameras.
At present these watches to record the movement of children are costly, but inevitably the combination of competition and the factories of China will drive prices down to affordable levels - as happened to that car navigation device.
It should be a lesson to us to remember that this is the age of surveillance.
It is said that " honest people have nothing to fear ". Just remember that - next time temptation taps you on the shoulder !
All Mum has to do is click her computer mouse to summons up a Google map - showing the position of the wearer to within an accuracy of just two metres.
Should the child remove the watch - and that is not easy - the parent will be warned by a text message.
To some this is an invasion of privacy, but we live in a world where privacy is fast disappearing. Most of us carry a mobile phone, and that acts in a similar manner to this child's wrist watch monitor.
When the phone is switched on the phone company can track us - and if necessary - make this information instantly available to the police or any national security agency.
The electronics shops can provide an amazing array of sound and visual equipment that will enable us to secretly film and hear events - and wherever we go these days there is every chance we are being recorded on CCTV cameras.
At present these watches to record the movement of children are costly, but inevitably the combination of competition and the factories of China will drive prices down to affordable levels - as happened to that car navigation device.
It should be a lesson to us to remember that this is the age of surveillance.
It is said that " honest people have nothing to fear ". Just remember that - next time temptation taps you on the shoulder !
Monday 12 January 2009
A " health tax " ?
It is absolutely certain that any idea of a new tax is swiftly taken up by all those in a similar situation.
Many Sydney councils charge a fee when personal trainers use parks or beaches to improve the health of their clients. Wollongong council is salivating at the chance to extract additional money from publicly owned land.
One of the problems is the method of setting this fee. The council is considering calling tenders for the use of suitable places. This will disadvantage smaller groups and may end up placing facilities in the hands of a monopoly - resulting in sky high prices for any training activities held outside gymnasiums.
A fairer system would simply involve a fee per person - which would allow the trainer of a small group to compete on equal terms with the big companies offering health training.
Such a fee should not be restricted to a particular facility. Trainers may wish to range their training activities over many different venues, from calisthenics in the park to a hard slog up sand hills to achieve peak fitness.
The question of fees for those providing fitness training also raises the question of whether council should be seeking money - or encouraging public health by letting publicly owned parks and beaches be used free of charge.
This seems to go in tandem with the present debate on installing parking meters. Our streets are public property - paid for by a mix of government taxes and council rates.
The same criteria applies to parks and beaches - and many pieces of public land was originally a gift bestowed on council by citizens.
There may be a case for parking meter money being used to pay for off-street parking facilities, but it is drawing a rather long bow to slug the citizens and their trainers for the chance to live a longer life !
Maybe it's time council did a little navel gazing - and reconsidered it's priorities !
Many Sydney councils charge a fee when personal trainers use parks or beaches to improve the health of their clients. Wollongong council is salivating at the chance to extract additional money from publicly owned land.
One of the problems is the method of setting this fee. The council is considering calling tenders for the use of suitable places. This will disadvantage smaller groups and may end up placing facilities in the hands of a monopoly - resulting in sky high prices for any training activities held outside gymnasiums.
A fairer system would simply involve a fee per person - which would allow the trainer of a small group to compete on equal terms with the big companies offering health training.
Such a fee should not be restricted to a particular facility. Trainers may wish to range their training activities over many different venues, from calisthenics in the park to a hard slog up sand hills to achieve peak fitness.
The question of fees for those providing fitness training also raises the question of whether council should be seeking money - or encouraging public health by letting publicly owned parks and beaches be used free of charge.
This seems to go in tandem with the present debate on installing parking meters. Our streets are public property - paid for by a mix of government taxes and council rates.
The same criteria applies to parks and beaches - and many pieces of public land was originally a gift bestowed on council by citizens.
There may be a case for parking meter money being used to pay for off-street parking facilities, but it is drawing a rather long bow to slug the citizens and their trainers for the chance to live a longer life !
Maybe it's time council did a little navel gazing - and reconsidered it's priorities !
Sunday 11 January 2009
A fine for the unwary !
On the first of December, 2008 a new law came into force in New South Wales. All those " No Standing " signs were deemed to legally become " No Stopping " signs -= and the fine for disobeying rose from $ 75 to $ 185.
Eventually, when councils get around to it - the signs will be changed, but before that happens the police and council rangers will cheerfully hand out tickets and extract money from those who are uninformed.
One of the traps that many will fall into concern Australia Post letter boxes.
These roadside letter boxes all have " No Standing " printed on the side facing the road - and despite this change of legislation being advertised way back in 1999 this government department has made no effort to change the signage.
Under the old " No Standing " rules it was perfectly legal to stop and post a letter. That legislation allowed for a car to stop and pickup or let down a passenger and remain for any purpose no longer than two minutes - with the proviso that the driver should not move more than three metres from the vehicle.
The new law makes it an offence to stop the car - for any reason !
A lot of people will fail to recognise that this " deeming " law change means that it is now illegal to stop momentarily to post a letter - and as a consequence those fine-happy rangers will make a motza.
It will be interesting to see how many years - or maybe centuries - it will take before Australia Post gets around to updating the signs on their letter boxes - and how long it will take councils before the last " No Standing " sign is sent for recycling.
It would have been a much fairer deal if these old signs had remained legal - until they were replaced. That would have provided an incentive for councils to get the job done - and improve the revenue flow from fines.
As it stands there is no rush for councils or any other government agency to move on the issue. Once again the mug taxpayers are being hit with a confusing law change, a big increase in the amount of the fine - and a trap that the beneficiaries are in no hurry to change !
Eventually, when councils get around to it - the signs will be changed, but before that happens the police and council rangers will cheerfully hand out tickets and extract money from those who are uninformed.
One of the traps that many will fall into concern Australia Post letter boxes.
These roadside letter boxes all have " No Standing " printed on the side facing the road - and despite this change of legislation being advertised way back in 1999 this government department has made no effort to change the signage.
Under the old " No Standing " rules it was perfectly legal to stop and post a letter. That legislation allowed for a car to stop and pickup or let down a passenger and remain for any purpose no longer than two minutes - with the proviso that the driver should not move more than three metres from the vehicle.
The new law makes it an offence to stop the car - for any reason !
A lot of people will fail to recognise that this " deeming " law change means that it is now illegal to stop momentarily to post a letter - and as a consequence those fine-happy rangers will make a motza.
It will be interesting to see how many years - or maybe centuries - it will take before Australia Post gets around to updating the signs on their letter boxes - and how long it will take councils before the last " No Standing " sign is sent for recycling.
It would have been a much fairer deal if these old signs had remained legal - until they were replaced. That would have provided an incentive for councils to get the job done - and improve the revenue flow from fines.
As it stands there is no rush for councils or any other government agency to move on the issue. Once again the mug taxpayers are being hit with a confusing law change, a big increase in the amount of the fine - and a trap that the beneficiaries are in no hurry to change !
Saturday 10 January 2009
The food " Gestapo " !
When a bunch of nuts like PETA get together just about anything is possible.
Calling themselves " the people for ethical treatment of animals " they are now demanding that we no longer refer to the creatures that swim in the sea as fish - and that hence forth they be called " Sea Kittens ".
Their rationale is that the word " fish " not only refers to the denizens of the deep, but it also refers to what they describe as a barbarous practice - namely baiting a hook and embedding it in that creatures mouth.
Basically, the PETA people seem to be consist of vegetarians who object to the use of animals in any way - for any reason. They abuse people who use fur for warmth or fashion. They are against most farming practices, including keeping hens in other than free range conditions - and they would prefer sheep to suffer an agonising death from fly strike in preference to the temporary pain of "muleising".
The day can't be far off when they will object to the harvesting of wheat and corn on the basis that these poor plants must suffer agony when the machinery chops their heads off in the field.
It seems that if " Sea Kittens " are to be protected from the barbarity of fishing - and join the legion of animals that can not be used to feed or clothe us there is a better than even chance that many on this planet will die of famine.
Few would disagree with the wish that all animals, fish and birds be treated humanely and not made to suffer unnecessarily. It is just the stupidity of their fundamentalist outlook - which is similar to the religious outlook of many - that takes an impossible stance that would deny the citizens of this world the right to the nourishment that sustains life.
Many support this insane credo - because it has become a fashionable fad without being subject to intelligent questioning !
Calling themselves " the people for ethical treatment of animals " they are now demanding that we no longer refer to the creatures that swim in the sea as fish - and that hence forth they be called " Sea Kittens ".
Their rationale is that the word " fish " not only refers to the denizens of the deep, but it also refers to what they describe as a barbarous practice - namely baiting a hook and embedding it in that creatures mouth.
Basically, the PETA people seem to be consist of vegetarians who object to the use of animals in any way - for any reason. They abuse people who use fur for warmth or fashion. They are against most farming practices, including keeping hens in other than free range conditions - and they would prefer sheep to suffer an agonising death from fly strike in preference to the temporary pain of "muleising".
The day can't be far off when they will object to the harvesting of wheat and corn on the basis that these poor plants must suffer agony when the machinery chops their heads off in the field.
It seems that if " Sea Kittens " are to be protected from the barbarity of fishing - and join the legion of animals that can not be used to feed or clothe us there is a better than even chance that many on this planet will die of famine.
Few would disagree with the wish that all animals, fish and birds be treated humanely and not made to suffer unnecessarily. It is just the stupidity of their fundamentalist outlook - which is similar to the religious outlook of many - that takes an impossible stance that would deny the citizens of this world the right to the nourishment that sustains life.
Many support this insane credo - because it has become a fashionable fad without being subject to intelligent questioning !
Friday 9 January 2009
A " health " tax ?
It is said that a camel is a horse designed by a committee !
Such a committee has advised the government that the best way to fight obesity is to slap a heavy tax on unhealthy food.
The only problem with that sort of approach is - it simply doesn't work !
The trouble with unhealthy food is that it tastes good - it is freely available from a huge range of franchised brand businesses - and people enjoy eating it.
Put the price up and people whinge - some temporarily cease buying, but old habits quickly return and within a short time it is back to " business as usual " - with one difference. The government has reaped a new tax bonanza !
One of the casualties of this proposed tax is the Australian icon - Vegemite. The sin sheeted home to Vegemite is a surplus of salt, but there is no mention of the range of benefits - including essential Vitamin B - contained in this yeast extract.
If the Mandarins in Canberra up the price of Vegemite to a level that bars it from school lunch boxes then many Australian kids will miss out on adequate levels of Vitamin B.
That would be a typical case of throwing out the baby with the bath water.
The only way the obesity demon will be tamed is if we employ two methods of persuasion - education and knowledge.
If people genuinely want to create a desirable body change they will usually succeed. Adding to the family tax burden provides no incentive !
Such a committee has advised the government that the best way to fight obesity is to slap a heavy tax on unhealthy food.
The only problem with that sort of approach is - it simply doesn't work !
The trouble with unhealthy food is that it tastes good - it is freely available from a huge range of franchised brand businesses - and people enjoy eating it.
Put the price up and people whinge - some temporarily cease buying, but old habits quickly return and within a short time it is back to " business as usual " - with one difference. The government has reaped a new tax bonanza !
One of the casualties of this proposed tax is the Australian icon - Vegemite. The sin sheeted home to Vegemite is a surplus of salt, but there is no mention of the range of benefits - including essential Vitamin B - contained in this yeast extract.
If the Mandarins in Canberra up the price of Vegemite to a level that bars it from school lunch boxes then many Australian kids will miss out on adequate levels of Vitamin B.
That would be a typical case of throwing out the baby with the bath water.
The only way the obesity demon will be tamed is if we employ two methods of persuasion - education and knowledge.
If people genuinely want to create a desirable body change they will usually succeed. Adding to the family tax burden provides no incentive !
Thursday 8 January 2009
The disappearing pay phone.
Once upon a time - and not very long ago - a familiar sight in every city and town was the public telephone.
In those times not every home had a landline phone and it was well before the mobile phone was anything more than an idea in a Dick Tracey comic strip.
The pay phone is on the way to becoming a rarity. Because of the huge expansion of private mobile phones patronage has decreased to the point that they are no longer a profit earner for Telstra - and in fact because of vandalism they make huge losses for their owner.
Telstra is a publicly owned company and it has an obligation to make a profit for it's shareholders. It makes good business sense to withdraw a service that is no longer commercially viable.
The problem is that the pay phone is still needed. Not everyone has a mobile phone - and even those that do sometimes find they are out of credit when they need to phone home to arrange to be picked-up.
The pay phone is also often the only means of communication to summons the ambulance, police or the fire brigade in the event of an emergency.
Times change. Desperate people begging a coin from strangers to use a pay phone are now replaced by people begging to be allowed to use a stranger's mobile phone. At accident scenes, people of goodwill often offer their mobile to let a victim make contact with their family.
It seems inevitable that pay phones will eventually disappear from the majority of locations. This will only increase the number of children issued a mobile by anxious parents and add to the number who keep an otherwise unused mobile in the glove box of their car - just in case it breaks down in a remote spot and they need to call for help.
There was something reassuring about that pay phone on the corner - a point of contact of last resort for many. As they diminish the need to own a mobile phone for safety's sake increases exponentially - and the familiar cabinet with a plastic Telstra sign on top fades into urban myth !
In those times not every home had a landline phone and it was well before the mobile phone was anything more than an idea in a Dick Tracey comic strip.
The pay phone is on the way to becoming a rarity. Because of the huge expansion of private mobile phones patronage has decreased to the point that they are no longer a profit earner for Telstra - and in fact because of vandalism they make huge losses for their owner.
Telstra is a publicly owned company and it has an obligation to make a profit for it's shareholders. It makes good business sense to withdraw a service that is no longer commercially viable.
The problem is that the pay phone is still needed. Not everyone has a mobile phone - and even those that do sometimes find they are out of credit when they need to phone home to arrange to be picked-up.
The pay phone is also often the only means of communication to summons the ambulance, police or the fire brigade in the event of an emergency.
Times change. Desperate people begging a coin from strangers to use a pay phone are now replaced by people begging to be allowed to use a stranger's mobile phone. At accident scenes, people of goodwill often offer their mobile to let a victim make contact with their family.
It seems inevitable that pay phones will eventually disappear from the majority of locations. This will only increase the number of children issued a mobile by anxious parents and add to the number who keep an otherwise unused mobile in the glove box of their car - just in case it breaks down in a remote spot and they need to call for help.
There was something reassuring about that pay phone on the corner - a point of contact of last resort for many. As they diminish the need to own a mobile phone for safety's sake increases exponentially - and the familiar cabinet with a plastic Telstra sign on top fades into urban myth !
Wednesday 7 January 2009
A nod and a wink !
Anybody who thinks that Gunns pulp mill proposal for Bell Bay, on the Tamar river in Tasmania is a doubtful starter must believe in fairies !
The Tasmanian government is desperate for the jobs and tax income it will provide - and little matters like environmental concerns are way down on their list of priorities.
The Tasmanian government is Hobart-centric. They would not allow anything to despoil the state capital - with it's magnificent harbour and towering Mount Wellington, but the rest of the state simply does not figure in their rush to attract industry.
The Federal government - of the same political persuasion - is torn between the need to bolster a faltering economy and it's need to keep the Green movement onside. By putting off a final decision it is hedging it's bets. Three years from now the economy could be in such dire straits that any sort of new industry would be welcomed with open arms, despite a few pollution problems.
Gunns pulp mill will need to find a financier willing to risk $ 2.1 billion and the project has got the go ahead to start building. The mill can be built but final approval for it to start operating will depend on the government accepting it's plans for the removal of waste - a known major problem for all engaged in the wood pulp industry.
It seems that the " nod and wink " scenario is in place. That financier will no doubt have a secret understanding that final approval will be coming and it would be beyond belief to imagine that a fully constructed, $ 2.1 billion plant would be left to sit idle on the banks of the Tamar river - because it lacked a signature on a final approval certificate.
The only question remaining is a decision on how the waste will be treated. There is a plan to dump it in deep water in Bass Strait, but this could harm a fishing zone and the most likely scenario could involve using a tanker to take it south and disperse it in the Great Southern Ocean - as is the practice used by another polluting Tasmanian industry, despite protests from the Greenies.
This is the usual smoke and mirrors of politics. Nobody wants to create a political storm by making a firm decision - so bets are hedged with " ifs, buts and maybes ".
It would be interesting to see what odds bookmakers would give on that plant starting operations in three years time !
The Tasmanian government is desperate for the jobs and tax income it will provide - and little matters like environmental concerns are way down on their list of priorities.
The Tasmanian government is Hobart-centric. They would not allow anything to despoil the state capital - with it's magnificent harbour and towering Mount Wellington, but the rest of the state simply does not figure in their rush to attract industry.
The Federal government - of the same political persuasion - is torn between the need to bolster a faltering economy and it's need to keep the Green movement onside. By putting off a final decision it is hedging it's bets. Three years from now the economy could be in such dire straits that any sort of new industry would be welcomed with open arms, despite a few pollution problems.
Gunns pulp mill will need to find a financier willing to risk $ 2.1 billion and the project has got the go ahead to start building. The mill can be built but final approval for it to start operating will depend on the government accepting it's plans for the removal of waste - a known major problem for all engaged in the wood pulp industry.
It seems that the " nod and wink " scenario is in place. That financier will no doubt have a secret understanding that final approval will be coming and it would be beyond belief to imagine that a fully constructed, $ 2.1 billion plant would be left to sit idle on the banks of the Tamar river - because it lacked a signature on a final approval certificate.
The only question remaining is a decision on how the waste will be treated. There is a plan to dump it in deep water in Bass Strait, but this could harm a fishing zone and the most likely scenario could involve using a tanker to take it south and disperse it in the Great Southern Ocean - as is the practice used by another polluting Tasmanian industry, despite protests from the Greenies.
This is the usual smoke and mirrors of politics. Nobody wants to create a political storm by making a firm decision - so bets are hedged with " ifs, buts and maybes ".
It would be interesting to see what odds bookmakers would give on that plant starting operations in three years time !
Tuesday 6 January 2009
Failed laws !
" Those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it "
Once upon a time a wise person thought that imposing demerit points on drivers who speed would be a way of curbing the practice. Unfortunately politicians - in their never ending quest for voter approval - extended this penalty until now just about any offence that warrants a fine also includes the loss of demerit points - leading to many driving license cancellations.
The by-product of this extension is a huge increase in unlicensed drivers - and any vehicle driven by an unlicensed driver is not covered by insurance.
The end result is misery and grave financial loss for law abiding members of the community.
In a state with abysmal public transport for some families the car is the only way for the bread winner to get to work - or for the children to get to school. With or without a license - the only option is to keep on driving.
Now there is a proposal to confiscate the cars of P plate drivers who are caught exceeding the speed limit by twenty kilometres per hour or more.
There is also the suggestion of crushing confiscated cars of repeat offenders.
This is the first step on a very slippery slope. At first glance speeding twenty kph over the limit sounds a heinous crime - but first we need to have a long, hard look at the tangled traffic laws of this state.
Firstly, the mandatory fifty kph limit in built-up areas must be the most widely ignored speed limit in the country. Suburban traffic continues to follow the old sixty kph regime and imposing the lower limit is ignored by the police.
Then we have the forty kph limit in areas surrounding schools. This is enforced by police, but there are anomalies. At the start of the school year the restriction starts at a time when students are not attending school - which makes absolutely no sense - and is confusing to drivers from homes devoid of small children.
Then there are the streets that for no known reason have a forty kph limit imposed on them. There is even a section of the Princes Highway at Engadine - which is a divided, four lane arterial road that has an almost unbelievable fifty kph section which seems to serve as a state revenue raiser.
One of the outcomes of car confiscation will be a surge in police pursuits and the consequent danger to other road users. Young drivers - and the not so young - fearing loss of their vehicle are likely to try and out run the police in sheer desperation.
There is also the inevitability that politicians will curry public favour by increasing the reasons for confiscation. It happened with demerit points !
By all means seize cars by drivers of any age doing ridiculous speeds - like those caught on the Hume Highway and the F6 travelling at double the posted 110 kph limit.
But forget the idea of a special law for " P " platers doing exactly what the average driver considers a safe speed - but unlawful because of contrary and confusing posted speed limits.
Otherwise - history will repeat itself !
Once upon a time a wise person thought that imposing demerit points on drivers who speed would be a way of curbing the practice. Unfortunately politicians - in their never ending quest for voter approval - extended this penalty until now just about any offence that warrants a fine also includes the loss of demerit points - leading to many driving license cancellations.
The by-product of this extension is a huge increase in unlicensed drivers - and any vehicle driven by an unlicensed driver is not covered by insurance.
The end result is misery and grave financial loss for law abiding members of the community.
In a state with abysmal public transport for some families the car is the only way for the bread winner to get to work - or for the children to get to school. With or without a license - the only option is to keep on driving.
Now there is a proposal to confiscate the cars of P plate drivers who are caught exceeding the speed limit by twenty kilometres per hour or more.
There is also the suggestion of crushing confiscated cars of repeat offenders.
This is the first step on a very slippery slope. At first glance speeding twenty kph over the limit sounds a heinous crime - but first we need to have a long, hard look at the tangled traffic laws of this state.
Firstly, the mandatory fifty kph limit in built-up areas must be the most widely ignored speed limit in the country. Suburban traffic continues to follow the old sixty kph regime and imposing the lower limit is ignored by the police.
Then we have the forty kph limit in areas surrounding schools. This is enforced by police, but there are anomalies. At the start of the school year the restriction starts at a time when students are not attending school - which makes absolutely no sense - and is confusing to drivers from homes devoid of small children.
Then there are the streets that for no known reason have a forty kph limit imposed on them. There is even a section of the Princes Highway at Engadine - which is a divided, four lane arterial road that has an almost unbelievable fifty kph section which seems to serve as a state revenue raiser.
One of the outcomes of car confiscation will be a surge in police pursuits and the consequent danger to other road users. Young drivers - and the not so young - fearing loss of their vehicle are likely to try and out run the police in sheer desperation.
There is also the inevitability that politicians will curry public favour by increasing the reasons for confiscation. It happened with demerit points !
By all means seize cars by drivers of any age doing ridiculous speeds - like those caught on the Hume Highway and the F6 travelling at double the posted 110 kph limit.
But forget the idea of a special law for " P " platers doing exactly what the average driver considers a safe speed - but unlawful because of contrary and confusing posted speed limits.
Otherwise - history will repeat itself !
Monday 5 January 2009
Tempting fate !
During the glorious Australian summer it seems inevitable that our newspapers will have numerous reports of swimmers saved from drowning on our beaches.
Visit any beach that is patrolled by lifesavers and you will see the majority in the water between the flags - and a vast number scattered along the unpatrolled length of that beach, many putting themselves in danger because they lack water proficiency.
We are advised to obey the rules demanded by the lifesavers, but they lack the legal authority to insist that we swim only between the flags - and it must be very tempting to governments to enforce beach rules with a law - thereby ensuring both public safety - and providing a new form of revenue raising by way of fines for law breaches.
It is a tragedy when someone loses their life in the surf, but one of the great joys of being an Australian is to have freedom of choice on what we wish to do. Over the years, that freedom has become increasingly restricted by laws intended to save us from our own folly.
We may be fined for riding a push bike without a helmet. It is an offence punishable by a heavy fine for being in a moving vehicle without a seat belt buckled.
We no longer may let off fireworks to celebrate an event. Lighting a cigarette just about anywhere will incur the wrath of a fine imposing ranger.
It seems inevitable that somewhere down the track our freedom to swim where we choose will be curtailed. In particular, this will probably start with a ban on some unpatrolled beaches with known safety hazards.
Any ban will be the thin edge of the wedge. But then - older folks will remember the lazy, carefree days of summer long past when kids rode their bikes without helmets - and cracker night was something that the whole family enjoyed.
Bit by bit - the screws tighten !
Visit any beach that is patrolled by lifesavers and you will see the majority in the water between the flags - and a vast number scattered along the unpatrolled length of that beach, many putting themselves in danger because they lack water proficiency.
We are advised to obey the rules demanded by the lifesavers, but they lack the legal authority to insist that we swim only between the flags - and it must be very tempting to governments to enforce beach rules with a law - thereby ensuring both public safety - and providing a new form of revenue raising by way of fines for law breaches.
It is a tragedy when someone loses their life in the surf, but one of the great joys of being an Australian is to have freedom of choice on what we wish to do. Over the years, that freedom has become increasingly restricted by laws intended to save us from our own folly.
We may be fined for riding a push bike without a helmet. It is an offence punishable by a heavy fine for being in a moving vehicle without a seat belt buckled.
We no longer may let off fireworks to celebrate an event. Lighting a cigarette just about anywhere will incur the wrath of a fine imposing ranger.
It seems inevitable that somewhere down the track our freedom to swim where we choose will be curtailed. In particular, this will probably start with a ban on some unpatrolled beaches with known safety hazards.
Any ban will be the thin edge of the wedge. But then - older folks will remember the lazy, carefree days of summer long past when kids rode their bikes without helmets - and cracker night was something that the whole family enjoyed.
Bit by bit - the screws tighten !
Sunday 4 January 2009
Spin over substance !
The New South Wales government has a cute way of fixing problems - simply move the goal posts, declare victory and the game over - and ignore any protests from the taxpayers.
The peak in petrol prices forced many commuters to leave their cars at home and take public transport - and the present economic meltdown has maintained passenger numbers well above normal capacity at peak times.
One of the problems was the late arrival of trains. People were late for work and employers began rejecting job applicants with a distant home address.
The state government solved this with a stroke of the pen. They declared that " on time " running would include trains that were up to five minutes late. This solved nothing - but at least it made the statistics look better !
Now they are focusing on train overcrowding. This is said to occur when those on the train reach one hundred and thirty five percent over the number of seats provided.
The present standard states that this should not exceed five percent of journeys - but the government proposes to extend that standard to seventeen percent of journeys - and official surveys reveal that overcrowding at this time is already at sixteen percent of journeys - and that includes all peak running.
We then have a fatuous remark by Transport Minister, David Campbell claiming that this overcrowding illustrates what a good job the government is doing with it's rail system.
The minister has the temerity to claim " increased patronage shows confidence our rail network is improving ".
Nothing could be further from the truth. We have less trains - running at slower times - over full of distressed passengers jammed in like sardines - some without toilets on long journeys - and all this is supposed to be a show of confidence by the travelling public !
And to add insult to injury - the fares charged were hiked within the past few days !
The peak in petrol prices forced many commuters to leave their cars at home and take public transport - and the present economic meltdown has maintained passenger numbers well above normal capacity at peak times.
One of the problems was the late arrival of trains. People were late for work and employers began rejecting job applicants with a distant home address.
The state government solved this with a stroke of the pen. They declared that " on time " running would include trains that were up to five minutes late. This solved nothing - but at least it made the statistics look better !
Now they are focusing on train overcrowding. This is said to occur when those on the train reach one hundred and thirty five percent over the number of seats provided.
The present standard states that this should not exceed five percent of journeys - but the government proposes to extend that standard to seventeen percent of journeys - and official surveys reveal that overcrowding at this time is already at sixteen percent of journeys - and that includes all peak running.
We then have a fatuous remark by Transport Minister, David Campbell claiming that this overcrowding illustrates what a good job the government is doing with it's rail system.
The minister has the temerity to claim " increased patronage shows confidence our rail network is improving ".
Nothing could be further from the truth. We have less trains - running at slower times - over full of distressed passengers jammed in like sardines - some without toilets on long journeys - and all this is supposed to be a show of confidence by the travelling public !
And to add insult to injury - the fares charged were hiked within the past few days !
Saturday 3 January 2009
Guilty - of what ?
A change of regime in the United States brings with it the promised closure of Guantamo Bay prison in Cuba. Australia is being asked to provide residence for some of the prisoners to be released.
We have a perfect right to ask precisely what crime they have been charged with before we consider that request !
It seems that sixty prisoners have been cleared for release, but can not be repatriated to their home countries because the regimes in power there would probably execute them as a matter of course.
The whole concept of justice at Guantamo Bay is murky at the least. There is no doubt that some captured terrorist leaders were consigned there, but it is equally clear that minor cogs in the Taliban movement were shipped to Cuba in the hope that useful information could be extracted.
Australian David Hicks seems to be a case in point. Hicks was captured serving with the Taliban. There is no evidence that he killed or wounded anyone and yet he served five years in "Gitmo" - and he claims he was tortured.
At the end of that term the United States seemed keen to get rid of him and plea bargaining ensured. He was offered a deal. Plead guilty to something that he maintains he didn't do and receive an almost " time served " sentence that involved repatriation to Australia and a few months in a prison here. He is now a free man.
The detainees that Australia is being asked to accept are not Australian citizens and if they come here they will be termed " migrants ". They may still have fundmentalist sympathies and if we accept them we will be engaging in blind trust that they will accept our laws and way of life - and not become some sort of fifth column tring to white ant our security.
One very clear question needs to be asked before this request receives any sort of consideration.
If these people are innocent of any major crime why are they held in Guantamo Bay ? - and why are they considered unsuitable for settlement in the United States ?
We have a perfect right to ask precisely what crime they have been charged with before we consider that request !
It seems that sixty prisoners have been cleared for release, but can not be repatriated to their home countries because the regimes in power there would probably execute them as a matter of course.
The whole concept of justice at Guantamo Bay is murky at the least. There is no doubt that some captured terrorist leaders were consigned there, but it is equally clear that minor cogs in the Taliban movement were shipped to Cuba in the hope that useful information could be extracted.
Australian David Hicks seems to be a case in point. Hicks was captured serving with the Taliban. There is no evidence that he killed or wounded anyone and yet he served five years in "Gitmo" - and he claims he was tortured.
At the end of that term the United States seemed keen to get rid of him and plea bargaining ensured. He was offered a deal. Plead guilty to something that he maintains he didn't do and receive an almost " time served " sentence that involved repatriation to Australia and a few months in a prison here. He is now a free man.
The detainees that Australia is being asked to accept are not Australian citizens and if they come here they will be termed " migrants ". They may still have fundmentalist sympathies and if we accept them we will be engaging in blind trust that they will accept our laws and way of life - and not become some sort of fifth column tring to white ant our security.
One very clear question needs to be asked before this request receives any sort of consideration.
If these people are innocent of any major crime why are they held in Guantamo Bay ? - and why are they considered unsuitable for settlement in the United States ?
Friday 2 January 2009
Fame - and fortune !
Robbie Madison of Kiama is the latest to join the ranks of the rich and famous. The twenty-seven year old amazed new year crowds at Los Vegas when he successfully made a motorcycle jump from a ramp to the top of a ten storey replica of the Arc de Triomphe - and then did a thirty metre free fall to land perfectly on an inclined escape ramp below.
This feat pushed the boundaries of possibility - and with it the danger of death or serious injury. It will become the yardstick from which others will devise stunts of even greater magnitude.
For Robbie Madison - already the holder of earlier stunt records - a rich life awaits. We reward those who stand out from the crowd in so many ways with fame and fortune.
Stephanie Rice won gold in the Olympic swimming pool. Leighton Hewitt is a master on a tennis court. Greg Norman and Tiger Woods became multi millionaires as a result of their prowess with a gold club. Albums by the Beatles command record prices. Football and basketball stars live a life of luxury with bank accounts rivalling movie stars.
We mere mortals must wonder. Skill is certainly a factor - but so is luck !
No wonder those with stars in their eyes will do just about anything to acquire their fifteen minutes of fame - because that fame is the key to unlock the vault that bestows immense riches on those who achieve fame.
Unfortunately fame and an obscene amount of money do not guarantee a happy life.
There comes a day when a carefully planned stunt goes wrong. When skill deserts a sportsman or sportswoman - when tastes change and audiences turn their back on a popular singing style - when a musician loses touch.
The only advice life can offer is - " Enjoy it while you can ! "
This feat pushed the boundaries of possibility - and with it the danger of death or serious injury. It will become the yardstick from which others will devise stunts of even greater magnitude.
For Robbie Madison - already the holder of earlier stunt records - a rich life awaits. We reward those who stand out from the crowd in so many ways with fame and fortune.
Stephanie Rice won gold in the Olympic swimming pool. Leighton Hewitt is a master on a tennis court. Greg Norman and Tiger Woods became multi millionaires as a result of their prowess with a gold club. Albums by the Beatles command record prices. Football and basketball stars live a life of luxury with bank accounts rivalling movie stars.
We mere mortals must wonder. Skill is certainly a factor - but so is luck !
No wonder those with stars in their eyes will do just about anything to acquire their fifteen minutes of fame - because that fame is the key to unlock the vault that bestows immense riches on those who achieve fame.
Unfortunately fame and an obscene amount of money do not guarantee a happy life.
There comes a day when a carefully planned stunt goes wrong. When skill deserts a sportsman or sportswoman - when tastes change and audiences turn their back on a popular singing style - when a musician loses touch.
The only advice life can offer is - " Enjoy it while you can ! "
Thursday 1 January 2009
The need for speed !
The high speed Jet-Cat ferry service connecting Manly with Circular Quay is no more. This competitor to the slower but traditional Manly ferry was discontinued because the government considered it unreliable - and too costly to maintain.
It seems likely that the River-Cats presently serving Parramatta to Circular Quay may also be numbered.
Sydney has one of the best harbours in the world, and yet using it as a means of moving commuters is declining.
The key to operating a successful ferry service is to use vessels that are economical in both cost of servicing and running - and which carry a large number of passengers on each trip.
When the owner of this service is the state government a different equation applies. The tax payers demand that fares to kept in moderation - and not necessarily covering costs - and that the times of service suit individual needs, not just the most popular journey times.
Very few things the state government runs makes a profit. The rail system and the ferry service operate at a huge loss and annual drain on government revenue.
In all fairness, few - if any - world rail systems make a profit, and the ferry service just discontinued was previously owned by private enterprise - which failed commercially and went broke.
Which brings us to a fact of life. Big, slow ferries are the cheapest to maintain and run - and they carry the most passengers.
Smaller, faster ferries use more fuel - are more complex in design and maintenance - and carry fewer passengers.
We are therefore faced with a dilemma. If we persist with fast ferries a realistic fare will probably reduce patronage and make them a further drain on the tax payer's purse - or ferry passengers will simply have to accept longer journey times and make do with the older, slower existing services.
The state government claims to be negotiating with private enterprise to install a privately run Manly-Circular Quay fast ferry, but given previous history there is little chance that this can be commercially successful.
Maybe its time to face reality and slow down - and use the morning and evening commute to appreciate this beautiful, world class harbour !
It seems likely that the River-Cats presently serving Parramatta to Circular Quay may also be numbered.
Sydney has one of the best harbours in the world, and yet using it as a means of moving commuters is declining.
The key to operating a successful ferry service is to use vessels that are economical in both cost of servicing and running - and which carry a large number of passengers on each trip.
When the owner of this service is the state government a different equation applies. The tax payers demand that fares to kept in moderation - and not necessarily covering costs - and that the times of service suit individual needs, not just the most popular journey times.
Very few things the state government runs makes a profit. The rail system and the ferry service operate at a huge loss and annual drain on government revenue.
In all fairness, few - if any - world rail systems make a profit, and the ferry service just discontinued was previously owned by private enterprise - which failed commercially and went broke.
Which brings us to a fact of life. Big, slow ferries are the cheapest to maintain and run - and they carry the most passengers.
Smaller, faster ferries use more fuel - are more complex in design and maintenance - and carry fewer passengers.
We are therefore faced with a dilemma. If we persist with fast ferries a realistic fare will probably reduce patronage and make them a further drain on the tax payer's purse - or ferry passengers will simply have to accept longer journey times and make do with the older, slower existing services.
The state government claims to be negotiating with private enterprise to install a privately run Manly-Circular Quay fast ferry, but given previous history there is little chance that this can be commercially successful.
Maybe its time to face reality and slow down - and use the morning and evening commute to appreciate this beautiful, world class harbour !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)